cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mechanical behavior of beryllium at high pressure

Abstract The pressure dependence of the flow and fracture behavior of polycrystalline beryllium has been studied at room temperature and constant strain rate. Specimens were strained in tension under constant hydrostatic pressures up to 10 kilobars (~150,000 psi) and the true stress and strain obtained from direct measurements of load and specimen cross section during the tests. The structural changes accompanying deformation and fracture were examined by both optical and transmission electron microscopy. Two types of well characterized beryllium—ingot and powder metallurgy—were studied in order to determine the influence of metallurgical variables. The yield behavior is found to be unaffected by pressure, whereas the fracture stress and strain increase with increasing pressure. At the higher pressures, plastic instability (necking) develops with 3-dimensional ductility and leads to area strains at fracture as high as 70%. Deformation mechanisms observed to operate, in addition to basal and prism slip, are non-basal slip and a new phenomenon, micro-kinking. An increase in strain hardening rate observed for the ingot Be under pressure is shown to be associated with the formation of observed sessile vacancy loops during plastic straining. The dominant fracture mode of the ingot Be is transgranular cleavage. For the pm Be, fracture is predominantly intergranular up to 6 kilobars and then becomes transgranular with a corresponding increase in the pressure dependence of fracture stress. These differences are shown to be associated with the presence of oxide particles at the grain boundaries in the pm material. The measured pressure dependence of fracture stress compared with that predicted from current theory points to a possible effect of pressure and/or strain on the effective surface energy for crack propagation. The theory is not in good agreement with the observed incidence of micro-cracks and the pressure dependence of fracture at low pressures. The observations on pm Be indicate the need to incorporate the intergranular fracture mode in any general theory of the pressure dependence of fracture.
Economic hardship and the development of five- and six-year-olds: Neighborhood and regional perspectives.

The present study examines the association between neighborhood characteristics and the development of 5- and 6-year-olds. We also explore how region might moderate the effects of neighborhoods on children, thus considering both larger (regional) and smaller (community) contexts of families. We find that structural aspects of the neighborhood at the census tract level are associated with child development in the early school-age period. For the sample as a whole, neighborhood factors play a role in both cognitive and socioemotional outcomes, even when family factors are controlled. Yet only modest support for neighborhood influences on child development is evident in our main effects models. It appears that neighborhood influences on child development are underestimated or masked unless the associations are examined separately by two areas of the United States: the Midwest and Northeast versus the South and West. Significant associations between neighborhood variables and children's development are seen in the Northeastern and Midwestern regions, but less so in the Southern and Western regions of the United States. Greater economic and social resources as measured by average neighborhood SES (income, education, occupation) and greater ethnic congruity as measured by more neighbors of the same racial heritage as the child are related to higher cognitive functioning, but only in the Northeast and Midwest. Furthermore, children in these regions show more competent behavioral functioning when the relative presence of adults to children in the neighborhood is higher. In these regions, African-American but not white children show higher levels of behavior problems when community male joblessness rates are higher. We speculate about processes that might underlie these neighborhood and regional effects and point to directions for further research.
Laboratory Studies on the Developmental Period and Feeding Behavior of Aphidecta obliterata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), an Introduced Predator of the Balsam Woolly Aphid

Aphidecta obliterata completed its developmental period (egg through pupal stage) in 53 days at 15Â°C and 75% RH. Feeding studies showed that a straight-line relationship existed between length of larvae and the number of balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg), eggs consumed per capita per day. The average number of aphid eggs consumed per capita during larval development was 1853, with a range from 1579 to 2456. In the 4th stage, larvae consumed more eggs per capita than they did in the 1st 3 stages combined. The consumption of prey was reduced when predator density increased.
The absence of steroid estrogens in plants

Abstract Evidence for the presence of estrone in palm kernel residue could not be confirmed. In the residues examined, a maximum of less than 10 μg of estrone per kg could have been present. This value is 200 times less than the purported occurrence of estrone from this source 2 . Critical evaluation of the reported presence of steroid estrogens in other plants places doubt on the identity of the material isolated. At present, there are no reports to prove that steroid estrogens occur naturally in plants.
Unusual physical properties of KCu 7 − x S 4 at diffusive one-dimensional ordering transitions

Single crystals of quasi-one-dimensional sulfides KCu{sub 7{minus}x}S{sub 4} with x=0.00,0.12, and 0.34 were prepared by electrochemical methods. Temperature-dependent properties of resistance, thermal conductivity, thermoelectric power, and heat capacity C{sub P} were studied on single-crystal samples. These measurements show several anomalies which we associate with phase transitions, with the transition temperatures and physical properties depending strongly on x. Most interestingly, measurements of C{sub P} with an ac technique show very unusual hysteresis and frequency dependence. The present work indicates that these phase transitions are due to vacancy ordering involving Cu{sup +}-ion diffusion along the Cu(2)-Cu(2) zigzag chains. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
A CMOS switched-capacitor fractional bandgap reference

An architecture for generating a voltage reference at a fraction of the silicon bandgap is proposed. It uses a two-phase switched-capacitor network to add multiples and fractions of Vbe and ΔVbe to achieve a near zero temperature coefficient without the use of resistors or op-amps. The 0.0055mm2 circuit, implemented entirely on-chip in 65nm CMOS, produces a voltage of 423mV, has a measured σ of 2.2%, and consumes 138nA while operating at a supply as low as 750mV at −35° C.
Mapping historical forest types in Baraga County Michigan, USA as fuzzy sets

Data on tree location and species in a portion of Northern Michigan were gathered from General Land Office (GLO) survey notes (ca. 1850), digitized, and generalized to represent forest types. Fuzzy membership values describing the degree of membership of each species in each forest type were derived from (a) semantic information in the forestry literature and (b) a fuzzy clustering routine applied to data from randomly placed circular plots. The fuzzy membership values assigned to each tree point for each forest type were interpolated to form continuous surfaces using kriging and co-kriging. Advantages of this method over traditional discrete mapping methods include: (a) multiple options are available for the display and analysis; (b) classification uncertainty and the continuity of natural vegetation can be represented; and (c) the classification scheme is applied systematically across the entire map area and can be altered to produce alternative maps. The subset of available display and analytical products presented include: discrete forest type maps; a surface representing the confusion between forest types; fuzzy logical overlays of forest types; and discrete class maps with color value altered within each class to indicate degree of confusion at each location.
Distributed Detection with Consulting Sensors and Communication Cost: The Gaussian Case

The problem of distributed detection with consulting sensors is formulated and solved when there is a communication cost associated with any exchange of information (consultation) between the sesnors. We consider a system of two sensors, S1 and S2, in which S1 is the primary sensor responsible for the final decision u 0 , while S2 is a consulting sensor capable of relaying its decision u 2 to S1 when requested by S1. In the scenario that is considered, the final decicion u 0 is based either on the raw data available to S1 only, or, it may, under certain request conditions, also take into account the decision u 2 of sensor S2. Random and non-random request schemes have been analysed and numerical results for both request schemes are presented for a slowly fading Rayleigh channel.
A network assessment of community-based participatory research: linking communities and universities to reduce cancer disparities.

Objectives. We sought to determine whether a community-based initiative designed to reduce cancer disparities among Pacific Islanders in Southern California increased communications between community-based organizations and university researchers. Methods. We conducted network analysis among 11 community-based organizations (CBOs) and 5 universities by interviewing 91 and 56 members of these organizations, respectively, at 2 points in time. We estimated random effects probit regression and stochastic actor-oriented network dynamic models. Results. We found that, during the 2-year study period, CBOs increased their connectedness with one another (b= 0.44; P < .05) and to the universities (b = 0.46; P < .05), but that university researchers did not increase their connectedness to each other or to CBOs. Conclusions. Cancer awareness, cancer education, and access to cancer services are low among Pacific Island groups, and this study provides an initial attempt to reduce these disparities. Community-based initiatives can strengthen a CBO network, creating the potential for increased community-informed cancer research and improved community access to cancer research resources.
Analysis of Process-Dependent Maximal Switching Frequency, Choke Effect, and Its Relaxed Solution in High-Resolution DPWM

This letter uses the fanout-of-4 (FO4) metric to analyze the semiconductor process (SP) dependent maximal switching frequency (MSF) of a digital pulsewidth modulator (DPWM). After discussing the choke effect in a self-oscillating hybrid (SOH) DPWM and its impact on MSF, this letter further shows that separating the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and the delay mux line is an effective way to relax the choke effect so that the MSF in the SOH could be almost doubled, together with 10%-20% power saving. Taking a low-cost AMI06 SP and 9-bit-resolution specification as an example, this letter predicts that 8 MHz switching frequency could be achieved with the proposed SOH. The SOH chip was custom-designed and fabricated in a 0.703 mm2 die via the metal oxide semiconductor implementation service (MOSIS) educational program. The chip test demonstrated that the MSF is 7.4 MHz with 1.07 mA power consumption, and the adjustable switching frequency range is from 1.8 to 7.4 MHz.
Whitewashing Diversity The Conservative Attack on the “Stealth Fairness Doctrine”

This article examines the relationship between conservative discourse, racial politics, and broadcasting policy in the United States. It explores how conservative media personalities, pundits, and activists in 2009 claimed that efforts to increase broadcast diversity were, in actuality, attempts by liberals to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine—a policy that had required broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues—through “the backdoor.” Reframing media diversity policies as masquerades to silence conservative voices, conservatives both denied the existence of barriers to participation for people of color and extended a narrative of conservative victimization. In contextualizing and analyzing the crusade against the “stealth Fairness Doctrine,” this article demonstrates how media policy discourse has operated as a site where conservative claims of injury occlude the continued existence of structural barriers to people of color and deny the importance of racial difference in the United States.
How to review a paper for Heart.

Peer review is a core component of the scientific method. Pre-publication peer review for a medical journal serves two purposes. First, the review process assists the editorial team in selecting which papers should be published, based on several factors such as originality, scientific validity, match with the journal's scope and readers’ interest. Second, peer review improves the quality of the final published papers, particularly in terms of presentation of the study design, data analysis and research results. Some aspects of the review process are similar across scientific journals, while others are specific to the focus of each journal.1–4 This article presents suggestions for reviewers for Heart , an international journal that publishes clinical and translational cardiovascular research. Most of us have experienced the peer-review process both as an author and as a reviewer. Authors of previous publications are the peer reviewers for submitted manuscripts; your peer reviewers in the future will be the authors of papers you review today. We should be courteous to each other and respectful of scientific work. Part of that respect is an impartial and fair review. Write your review in a style as if you have your name declared, as many journals now request.3 Authors appreciate a short review cycle; currently, the rate-limiting step in the review cycle is the time that reviewers take to respond and submit their reviews. Reading a paper and writing the review typically only takes 2–3 hours; if you have time and the paper is within your area of expertise, accept right away and download the file to read as soon as possible. Submit your review on time, or even early. If you are unable to review, decline immediately so the editors can invite an alternate reviewer. My approach to reviewing a paper is to first read the abstract. …
Classroom Presenter: Enhancing Interactive Education with Digital Ink

Classroom Presenter is a Tablet PC-based interaction system that supports the sharing of digital ink on slides between instructors and students. Initial deployments show that using the technology can achieve a wide range of educational goals and foster a more participatory classroom environment.
Rice bran: Composition and potential food uses

Abstract Qualitative and quantitative aspects of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and antinutritional factors in rice bran and its subfractions are described. The nutritional value measured in animal feeding tests is summarized for bran, defatted bran, stabilized bran, and protein concentrates derived by alkaline extraction of bran. Stabilization of rice bran and how this process may lead to a quantum change in its utilization in foods and for recovery of edible oil is discussed. Present uses of rice bran in foodstuffs are described.
Multiple pathways in the midline regulate concordant brain, heart and gut left-right asymmetry

The embryonic midline in vertebrates has been implicated in left-right development, but the mechanisms by which it regulates left-right asymmetric gene expression and organ morphogenesis are unknown. Zebrafish embryos have three domains of left-right asymmetric gene expression that are useful predictors of organ situs. cyclops (nodal), lefty1 and pitx2 are expressed in the left diencephalon; cyclops, lefty2 and pitx2 are expressed in the left heart field; and cyclops and pitx2 are expressed in the left gut primordium. Distinct alterations of these expression patterns in zebrafish midline mutants identify four phenotypic classes that have different degrees of discordance among the brain, heart and gut. These classes help identify two midline domains and several genetic pathways that regulate left-right development. A cyclops-dependent midline domain, associated with the prechordal plate, regulates brain asymmetry but is dispensable for normal heart and gut left-right development. A second midline domain, associated with the anterior notochord, is dependent on no tail, floating head and momo function and is essential for restricting asymmetric gene expression to the left side. Mutants in spadetail or chordino give discordant gene expression among the brain, heart and gut. one-eyed pinhead and schmalspur are necessary for asymmetric gene expression and may mediate signaling from midline domains to lateral tissues. The different phenotypic classes help clarify the apparent disparity of mechanisms proposed to explain left-right development in different vertebrates.
Vav Activation and Function as a Rac Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor in Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor-Induced Macrophage Chemotaxis

Signal transduction mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) is regulated by hydrolysis of its products, a function performed by the 145-kDa SH2 domain-containing inositol phosphatase (SHIP). Here, we show that bone marrow macrophages of SHIP(-/-) animals have elevated levels of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI (3,4,5)P(3)] and displayed higher and more prolonged chemotactic responses to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and elevated levels of F-actin relative to wild-type macrophages. We also found that the small GTPase Rac was constitutively active and its upstream activator Vav was constitutively phosphorylated in SHIP(-/-) macrophages. Furthermore, we show that Vav in wild-type macrophages is recruited to the membrane in a PI 3-kinase-dependent manner through the Vav pleckstrin homology domain upon M-CSF stimulation. Dominant inhibitory mutants of both Rac and Vav blocked chemotaxis. We conclude that Vav acts as a PI 3-kinase-dependent activator for Rac activation in macrophages stimulated with M-CSF and that SHIP regulates macrophage M-CSF-triggered chemotaxis by hydrolysis of PI (3,4,5)P(3).
People teaching people: a cooperative education venture

Personnel problems faced by DP executives will continue to be a major obstacle in developing systems for the 1980's. Both corporate and DP management are now viewing personnel development expenditures as an investment rather than an expense. This paper stresses the need for a career development program and a well planned education and training activity. It discusses the difficulty of providing the training, particularly classroom instructor-led courses. It next discusses a cooperative EDP Education Program (EDPEP) covering the concept, the establishing of a network of regional learning centers and the impact it has made. The program provides regularly scheduled classes to member companies at under $100/day. Since its inception in 1974, it has grown to 75 member companies. In 1980 over 3,600 students attended the courses.
Without Heirs? Assessing the Decline of Establishment Internationalism in U.S. Foreign Policy

Is establishment internationalism in decline? Conventional wisdom is becoming that structural shifts in the international environment along with generational, demographic, and cultural changes within the United States are inexorably leading to the decline of the broad, post-war internationalist consensus that dominated American foreign policy after 1945. Despite the frequent assertion that this change has taken place, very few studies have analyzed the extent to which establishment internationalism is in fact in decline. To answer this question, we first track trends in congressional foreign policy votes from the American Conservative Union (1970–2004) and Americans for Democratic Action (1948–2004). Our second set of indicators tracks the state of birth, educational profile, and formative international experience of a cross section of the U.S. foreign policy elite. Our third and fourth sets of indicators track elite attitudes as represented by presidential State of the Union addresses and major party platforms. We find support for increasing partisan polarization in Congress on foreign policy as well as increasing regional concentration of the parties. However, there is only mixed evidence to suggest that internationalism has experienced a secular decline overall. Support for international engagement and multilateral institutions remain important parts of elite foreign policy rhetoric. Moreover, we find that social backgrounds of U.S. foreign policy elites—save for military service—have not substantially changed from the height of the internationalist era.
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder and Neurodegenerative Disease

Importance The dream enactment of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is often the first indication of an impending α-synuclein disorder, such as Parkinson disease, multiple-system atrophy, or dementia with Lewy bodies. Objective To provide an overview of RBD from the onset of dream enactment through the emergence of a parkinsonian disorder. Evidence Review Peer-reviewed articles, including case reports, case series, retrospective reviews, prospective randomized trials, and basic science investigations, were identified in a PubMed search of articles on RBD from January 1, 1986, through July 31, 2014. Findings Under normal conditions, vivid dream mentation combined with skeletal muscle paralysis characterizes rapid eye movement sleep. In RBD, α-synuclein abnormalities in the brainstem disinhibit rapid eye movement sleep motor activity, leading to dream enactment. The behaviors of RBD are often theatrical, with complexity, aggression, and violence; fighting and fleeing actions can be injurious to patients as well as bed partners. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is distinguished from other parasomnias by clinical features and the demonstration of rapid eye movement sleep without atonia on polysomnography. Consistent with early neurodegeneration, patients with RBD demonstrate subtle motor, cognitive, and autonomic impairments. Approximately 50% of patients with spontaneous RBD will convert to a parkinsonian disorder within a decade. Ultimately, nearly all (81%-90%) patients with RBD develop a neurodegenerative disorder. Among patients with Parkinson disease, RBD predicts a non–tremor-predominant subtype, gait freezing, and an aggressive clinical course. The most commonly cited RBD treatments include low-dose clonazepam or high-dose melatonin taken orally at bedtime. Conclusions and Relevance Treatment of RBD can prevent injury to patients and bed partners. Because RBD is a prodromal syndrome of Parkinson disease (or related disorder), it represents a unique opportunity for developing and testing disease-modifying therapies.
The Effectiveness of Textbook Adaptations in Life Science for High School Students with Learning Disabilities

Secondary students with learning disabilities are at a disadvantage in science classes because they have difficulty reading and acquiring information from textbooks. One way to help those students is to adapt textbook passages to make them easier to comprehend. This article reports the findings of a study exploring the effectiveness of two types of textbook adaptations—graphics and study guides—compared to self-study. The results indicated that graphics helped secondary, life science students achieve significantly better scores on multiple-choice tests than either study guides or self-study. No significant differences were found between the scores for study guides and self-study.
The effects of the mutagen ethylmethanesulfonate on the murine immune response

Abstract A single dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight of ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) given prior to antigenic stimulation by sheep erythrocytes produced a depression in the plaque-forming cell response and serum hemagglutinins in SJLJ, C57B1/6, and BALB/c mice and F1 hybrids (CBF1). A critical period for administration of EMS 8 hr prior to the antigen produced maximum effects. Genetic differences controlling the sensitivity to the drug were suggested.
Land‐use change and the carbon cycle

Changes in land use between 1850 and 1980 are estimated to have increased the global areas in croplands, pastures, and shifting cultivation by 891, 1308, and 30 × 106 ha, respectively, reducing the area of forests by about 600 × 106 ha, releasing about 100 PgC to the atmosphere, and transferring about 23 PgC from live vegetation to dead plant material and wood products. Another 1069 × 106 ha are estimated to have been logged during this period, and the net release of carbon from the combined processes of logging and regrowth contributed 23 PgC to the 100-PgC release. Annual rates of land-use change and associated emissions of carbon have decreased over the last several decades in temperate and boreal zones and have increased in the tropics. The average release of carbon from global changes in land use over the decade of the 1980s Is estimated to have been 1.6 ± 0.7 PgC y−1 almost entirely from the tropics. This estimate of carbon flux is higher than estimates reported in recent summaries because it is limited here to studies concerned only with changes in land use. Other recent analyses, based on data from forest inventories, have reported net accumulations of carbon as high as 1.1 PgC y−1 in temperate and boreal zones. Because the accumulation of carbon in forests may result from natural processes unrelated to land-use change, estimates based on these inventories should be distinguished from estimates based on changes in land use. Both approaches identify terrestrial sinks of carbon. The argument is made here, however, that differences between the two approaches may help identify the location and magnitude of heretofore ‘missing’ sinks. Before different estimates can be used in this way, analyses must consider similar geographical regions and dates, and they must account for the accumulation and loss of carbon in forest products in a consistent fashion.
Designing Personalized Treatment Engagement Interventions for Depressed Older Adults

Despite the benefits of treatment for late-life depression, underutilization of mental health services by older adults and nonadherence to offered interventions exist. This article describes psychosocial and interactional barriers and facilitators of treatment engagement among depressed older adults served by community health care settings. The authors describe the need to engage older adults in treatment using interventions that: (1) target psychological barriers such as stigma and other negative beliefs about depression and its treatment; and (2) increase individuals' involvement in the treatment decision-making process. Personalized treatment engagement interventions designed by the authors' group for various community settings are presented.
Outcome measurements in decision analysis: life versus quality of life.

Life expectancy has been the most popular outcome measurement for decision analyses. The effectiveness, or utility, of a strategy is expressed in years of life gained over a baseline state. This is particularly useful from a public health standpoint when a fixed budget must be used to serve a diverse population. For example, should money be spent on influenza vaccination programs or cholesterol screening? A decision analysis to answer this question might use cost per year of life gained as the primary outcome. Essentially, the public health provider is seeking to minimize cost while maximizing life expectancy. Strategies could be ordered and priority given according to rank. In the United States, life expectancy exceeds 70 years for the general population and has increased substantially over the past 50 years. The increase has been used to show the benefit of improvements in healthcare. Have we really improved life by increasing its span? Is life of any quality always better than death? Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) have invaded the medical literature and serve as the outcome measure-
Modeling Large-Particle Deposition in Bends of Exhuast Ventilation Systems

A new model is presented to describe particle deposition in 90° bends of exhaust ventilation systems. This model accounts for non-Stokes particle motion and for variable deposition patterns as a function of particle Stokes number. Estimates made with the new model and with two models previously published were compared to measurements of deposition in bends with geometries, particle characteristics, and airflow conditions similar to those found in industry—large duct diameters (15.4 and 20.3 cm), large particle sizes (19–140 μm), and turbulent airflow (Re = 203,000 and Re = 368,000). Whereas the two models published previously explain 30% or less of the variability in the data, the new model explains 85%. The mean residual with the new model, 0.6%, is nearer to zero than that of the two other models, 3.6% and 9.8%. The new model is applicable to mists and to solid particles that stick to bend walls.
The Endocrine System of the Squirrel Monkey

In 1968, when the first treatise on the squirrel monkey appeared, it was already apparent that the physiology of New World monkeys differed from that of Old World primates, but few investigators were aware of the extensive differences in hormone metabolism and secretion (Rosenblum and Cooper, 1968). Since that time, it has become increasingly evident that the endocrine system of New World monkeys is extremely divergent from the general primate pattern in terms of both absolute hormone levels and the synthetic pathways utilized. We now know that most of the Callithricidae and smaller Cebidae have unusually high levels of adrenal and gonadal hormones, although typical values are difficult to describe because of the remarkable diversity in their reproductive physiology [for a species comparison, see Hearn (1983)]. In this chapter we will review a series of recent studies on the endocrine system of the squirrel monkey, which has some of the highest hormone levels observed so far. The level and magnitude of the hormone responses in the squirrel monkey have also provided a unique opportunity for assessing the influence of psychological and environmental variables, which may exert less overt effects in species with lower hormone levels. We will discuss the influence of seasonal and diurnal rhythms and the effect of genetic and maturational variables, and finally consider several of the important psychological processes that affect endocrine function.
Citation of Studies

To the Editor: We would like to respond to the commentary by Rothstein, Riddle, and Finucane on Bohannon's special communication entitled “Is the Measurement of Muscle Strength Appropriate in Patients with Brain Lesions?” ( Physical Therapy , March 1989, pages 225–236). We commend the authors for their thorough critique of studies cited by Bohannon relating muscle performance to functional capacity in patients with central nervous system damage. We recognize, however, the failure of Rothstein et al to cite sufficient studies concluding that muscle performance measurements of patients with brain injury do not correlate with functional capabilities. Furthermore, we are concerned about the lack of scrutiny given to the references cited by Rothstein et al. Two of the three articles cited by Rothstein et al do not even assess variables of a functional nature.1,2… [ ARTICLE][1] [ ARTICLE][2] [1]: /lookup/volpage/69/225?iss=3 [2]: /lookup/volpage/69/230?iss=3
Deleterious effects of telescoped bronchial anastomosis in single and bilateral lung transplantation.

PURPOSE To compare complication rates of telescoped versus end-to-end bronchial anastomoses in single and bilateral lung transplantation. METHODS One hundred and thirty adult lung transplant recipients were evaluated during a seven-year period for the presence of three types of major bronchial anastomotic complications (ischemia, dehiscence, and severe stenosis). Surgical technique, clinical course, and mortality in all patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS The three major complications, ischemia, dehiscence, and severe stenosis, were observed in 13 (32%), 10 (24%), and 13 (32%), respectively, of 41 telescoped bronchial anastomoses. In contrast, ischemia, dehiscence, and severe stenosis, occurred in 25 (19%), 14 (10%), and 11 (8%) of 135 end-to end anastomoses. These differences were statistically significant for the occurrence of dehiscence and severe stenosis (p=0.0350 and 0.0004, respectively), and not statistically significant for ischemia (p=0.0846). Five (12%) telescoped anastomoses required stent placement as compared with six (4%) end-to end anastomoses (p=0.1313). Early postoperative pneumonia was more common in the telescoped anastomosis group (57%) as compared to the end-to-end group (35%; p=0.0271). There was a trend to shorter survival in the telescoped anastomosis group (mean survival 1172+/-149 d) as compared to the end-to-end group (mean survival 1542+/-126 d), but these differences did not achieve statistical significance (p=0.2400). CONCLUSION In single and bilateral lung transplants, telescoped anastomoses are associated with a higher incidence of bronchial anastomotic complications and postoperative pneumonia than end-to-end anastomoses.
Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia in Infants and Young Children, Requiring Hospital Admission

Objective. This study evaluated patient characteristics, milk intake, and associated lab findings of children 6 months to 5 years old, admitted to a children’s hospital with severe iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Methods. A chart review was conducted on patients admitted with microcytic anemia (hemoglobin concentration less than 7 g/dL), accompanied by a low serum ferritin and/or low serum iron level between January 2000 and December 2006. Results. A total of 18 children with severe IDA were evaluated. Many had parents with private insurance and jobs. Almost all children drank >24 ounces of milk daily. Hemoglobin on admission was 3.8 g/dL, and the mean of the patients’ mean corpuscular volume was 52.8 fL. Median iron levels were 4 µg/dL. Conclusions. Severe IDA is still prevalent in children, yet physicians may not perform necessary testing. The devastating long-term effects of severe IDA should prompt clinicians to screen for severe IDA in children regardless of absent risk factors.
A Life That Mattered

This article explores some of Hannelore Wass's many contributions to the field of death, dying, and bereavement as well as her distinctive teaching and mentoring gifts. It chronicles the highlights of a 30-year relationship that began as shared interests in death, dying and bereavement, expanded into sharing of classroom techniques and models and ultimately became a lasting and treasured friendship.
Perioperative Diastolic Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Approach to Assessment by Transesophageal Echocardiography

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) has only recently been recognized as an important determinant of perioperative morbidity. Intraoperative echocardiographers have been slow to adopt assessment of LVDD into clinical practice. This has been partly attributable to the complex measurements required to characterize LVDD, which are in turn related to how our understanding of diastole has evolved. Additionally, the lack of effective therapeutic options has left many wondering whether it is worthwhile to characterize this pathology in the first place. However, therapies are developed more rapidly once a problem can be identified reliably. The assessment of LVDD is centered on how effectively the left ventricle can fill. Diastolic dysfunction affects intraventricular pressures and stiffness, which in turn affect the pressure relationship between the left atrium and the left ventricle thereby affecting transmitral flow. Since echocardiography can enable the measurement of flow velocities, transmitral diastolic filling flow patterns provide robust information on diastolic function. The impact of abnormal diastolic function on left atrial pressure has consequences for pulmonary venous flow, which can also be measured with echocardiography. However, given the limitations of flow velocity, direct measurement of tissue velocity can significantly improve the characterization of diastolic dysfunction. The evolution of Doppler and speckle-based methods of assessing tissue motion have vastly improved our understanding of diastolic function. With the development of simpler algorithms for categorization, and their gradual adoption by perioperative echocardiographers, LVDD should be better diagnosed and treated to improve postoperative outcomes.
Research advances of 1-hexene process by ethylene trimerization

The latest advanccs of 1-hexene process by ethylene trimerization in China and abroad were reviewed.The mechanism of ethylene trimerization was analyzed.The catalyst activety,selectivity of 1-hexene were compared between conventional ethylene oligomerization and ethylene trimerization of phillips The suggestion was made on the production of 1-hexene in China.
A Rapid Radioimmunoassay Method for Serum Luteinizing Hormone Utilizing Polyethylene Glycol and A Double-Antibody Method of Separation *

A method is described utilizing polyethylene glycol (PEG) combined with a double antibody for separation for rapid radioimmunoassay (RIA) of human luteinizing hormone (hLH). The total assay time is 3 hours with a 1-hour incubation period. Reliable comparisons with the 3-day assay have been shown. The average between-assay coefficient of variation was 11%, whereas the average within-assay coefficient of variation was 6%. The sensitivity of the assay was 7.5 mIU/ml. It is suggested that this reliable and rapid RIA for hLH will prove to be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of patients when timing of ovulation is imperative, such as for artificial insemination and harvesting of maturing human oocytes.
Easy inverse kinematics using genetic programming

This paper describes a method for inverse kinematics which uses genetic programming. This method is able to automate low-level motion control, yet still give animators control over the visual qualities of their work. The main advantage of this method is its simplicity and its speed when dealing with complicated specifications.
Gene Expression Profiling of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cells Preceding a Clinical Diagnosis of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction.

Author(s): Weigt, S Samuel; Wang, Xiaoyan; Palchevskiy, Vyacheslav; Gregson, Aric L; Patel, Naman; DerHovanessian, Ariss; Shino, Michael Y; Sayah, David M; Birjandi, Shirin; Lynch, Joseph P; Saggar, Rajan; Ardehali, Abbas; Ross, David J; Palmer, Scott M; Elashoff, David; Belperio, John A | Abstract: BackgroundChronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD) is the main limitation to long-term survival after lung transplantation. Although CLAD is usually not responsive to treatment, earlier identification may improve treatment prospects.MethodsIn a nested case control study, 1-year post transplant surveillance bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples were obtained from incipient CLAD (n = 9) and CLAD free (n = 8) lung transplant recipients. Incipient CLAD cases were diagnosed with CLAD within 2 years, while controls were free from CLAD for at least 4 years following bronchoscopy. Transcription profiles in the BAL cell pellets were assayed with the HG-U133 Plus 2.0 microarray (Affymetrix). Differential gene expression analysis, based on an absolute fold change (incipient CLAD vs no CLAD) g2.0 and an unadjusted p-value ≤0.05, generated a candidate list containing 55 differentially expressed probe sets (51 up-regulated, 4 down-regulated).ResultsThe cell pellets in incipient CLAD cases were skewed toward immune response pathways, dominated by genes related to recruitment, retention, activation and proliferation of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+ T-cells and natural killer cells). Both hierarchical clustering and a supervised machine learning tool were able to correctly categorize most samples (82.3% and 94.1% respectively) into incipient CLAD and CLAD-free categories.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that a pathobiology, similar to AR, precedes a clinical diagnosis of CLAD. A larger prospective investigation of the BAL cell pellet transcriptome as a biomarker for CLAD risk stratification is warranted.
The Optimization of Time-Frequency Control: Using Non-Autonomous Time-Delay Feedback Systems as Example

A novel time-frequency nonlinear scheme demonstrated to be feasible for the control of dynamic instability including bifurcation, non-autonomous time-delay feedback oscillators, and route-to-chaos in many nonlinear systems is applied to the control of a time-delayed system. The control scheme features wavelet adaptive filters for simultaneous time-frequency resolution. Specifically Discrete Wavelet transform (DWT) is used to address the nonstationary nature of a chaotic system. The concept of active noise control is also adopted. The scheme applied the filter-x least mean square (FXLMS) algorithm which promotes convergence speed and increases performance. In the time-frequency control scheme, the FXLMS algorithm is modified by adding an adaptive filter to identify the system in real-time in order to construct a wavelet-based time-frequency controller capable of parallel on-line modeling. The scheme of such a construct, which possesses joint time-frequency resolution and embodies on-line FXLMS, is able to control non-autonomous, nonstationary system responses. Although the controller design is shown to successfully moderate the dynamic instability of the time-delay feedback oscillator and unconditionally warrant a limit cycle, parameters are required to be optimized. In this paper, the setting of the control parameters such as control time step, sampling rate, wavelet filter vector, and step size are studied and optimized to control a time-delay feedback oscillators of a nonautonomous type. The time-delayed oscillators have been applied in a broad set of fields including sensor design, manufacturing, and machine dynamics, but they can be easily perturbed to exhibit complex dynamical responses even with a small perturbation from the time-delay feedback. These responses for the system have a very negative impact on the stability, and thus output quality. Through employingfrequency-time control technique, the time responses of the time-delay feedback system to external disturbances are properly mitigated and the frequency responses are also suppressed, thus rendering the controlled responses quasi-periodic.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Myanmar Technical and Vocational Education Training System and Policy Reform

Myanmar has addressed the importance of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Myanmar in creating skilled labour for several years now. Many policy reforms have been under way. Specifically in the education sector, modifications and implementations of rules and regulations affecting the Myanmar economy in the direction of attaining ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) goals have been placed into effect. Beginning with a Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR) in 2012, the National Education Law 2014 was established. A few additional authorities that have been established under the reform to support the Myanmar TVET system included the Technical and Vocational Education Council for the implementation and enforcement of policy framework, TVET Task Force for quality assurance, National Skills Standard Authority (NSSA), National Skill Development Authority (NSDA), and National Qualifications Framework (NQF). CESR and the National Education Law 2014 are noteworthy because they are the foundation of TVET reform and the draft law. The chapter carries a comprehensive review of the education sector. The major policy recommendations are grouped in terms of access, quality, management, infrastructure, and other factors to improve TVET in Myanmar.
Postracial Fantasies and the Reproduction of Scientific Racism.

In a highly controversial paper published in Hypatia, a leading journal of feminist philosophy, Rebecca Tuvel (2017) defends the concept of transracialism, exploring the potential parallels between...
Effect of early embryonic deletion of huntingtin from pyramidal neurons on the development and long-term survival of neurons in cerebral cortex and striatum

We evaluated the impact of early embryonic deletion of huntingtin (htt) from pyramidal neurons on cortical development, cortical neuron survival and motor behavior, using a cre-loxP strategy to inactivate the mouse htt gene (Hdh) in emx1-expressing cell lineages. Western blot confirmed substantial htt reduction in cerebral cortex of these Emx-httKO mice, with residual cortical htt in all likelihood restricted to cortical interneurons of the subpallial lineage and/or vascular endothelial cells. Despite the loss of htt early in development, cortical lamination was normal, as revealed by layer-specific markers. Cortical volume and neuron abundance were, however, significantly less than normal, and cortical neurons showed reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and reduced activation of BDNF signaling pathways. Nonetheless, cortical volume and neuron abundance did not show progressive age-related decline in Emx-httKO mice out to 24months. Although striatal neurochemistry was normal, reductions in striatal volume and neuron abundance were seen in Emx-httKO mice, which were again not progressive. Weight maintenance was normal in Emx-httKO mice, but a slight rotarod deficit and persistent hyperactivity were observed throughout the lifespan. Our results show that embryonic deletion of htt from developing pallium does not substantially alter migration of cortical neurons to their correct laminar destinations, but does yield reduced cortical and striatal size and neuron numbers. The Emx-httKO mice were persistently hyperactive, possibly due to defects in corticostriatal development. Importantly, deletion of htt from cortical pyramidal neurons did not yield age-related progressive cortical or striatal pathology.
Medical and Social Transformations in an Aging World

How do we know and live old age today? What does it mean to be old in a time of the promise of high-tech medical interventions? Anthropologists and sociologists address the phenomenon of growing old both as experienced by individuals and their families and by the ways in which older lives are embedded in social, historical and political contexts. In recent decades a multitude of factors ensure that the very ideas of ‘aging’ and ‘health’ in late life are being transformed. As a result many social scientists have turned their attention to global developments in the spread of biomedical knowledge, the impacts of high-tech interventions on the practice of medicine in an aging world and shifting societal expectations about longevity.