cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Highly Oriented, Chemically Prepared Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 Thin Films

The authors have fabricated highly oriented, chemically prepared thin films of Pb(Zr[sub 0.40]Ti[sub 0.60])O[sub 3](PZT 40/60) on both insulating and conducting substrates. While (100) MgO single crystals were used as the insulating substrates, the conducting substrates were fabricated by RF magnetron sputter deposition of 100-nm-thick (100) Pt films onto (100) MgO substrates. For comparison, they also fabricated PZT 40/60 films that had no significant preferential orientation on platinized MgO substrates. Sputter deposition of an underlying amorphous Pt film was used to fabricate randomly oriented PZT 40/60 films. Highly (001) oriented PZT 40/60 films had higher remanent polarization (61 [mu]C/cm[sup 2] compared to 41 [mu]C/cm[sup 2]) and lower relative dielectric constant (368 compared to 466) than PZT 40/60 films that were randomly oriented.
Thin filament incorporation of an engineered cardiac troponin C variant (L48Q) enhances contractility in intact cardiomyocytes from healthy and infarcted hearts

Many current pharmaceutical therapies for systolic heart failure target intracellular [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)]i) metabolism, or cardiac troponin C (cTnC) on thin filaments, and can have significant side-effects, including arrhythmias or adverse effects on diastolic function. In this study, we tested the feasibility of directly increasing the Ca(2+) binding properties of cTnC to enhance contraction independent of [Ca(2+)]i in intact cardiomyocytes from healthy and myocardial infarcted (MI) hearts. Specifically, cardiac thin filament activation was enhanced through adenovirus-mediated over-expression of a cardiac troponin C (cTnC) variant designed to have increased Ca(2+) binding affinity conferred by single amino acid substitution (L48Q). In skinned cardiac trabeculae and myofibrils we and others have shown that substitution of L48Q cTnC for native cTnC increases Ca(2+) sensitivity of force and the maximal rate of force development. Here we introduced L48Q cTnC into myofilaments of intact cardiomyocytes via adeno-viral transduction to deliver cDNA for the mutant or wild type (WT) cTnC protein. Using video-microscopy to monitor cell contraction, relaxation, and intracellular Ca(2+) transients (Fura-2), we report that incorporation of L48Q cTnC significantly increased contractility of cardiomyocytes from healthy and MI hearts without adversely affecting Ca(2+) transient properties or relaxation. The improvements in contractility from L48Q cTnC expression are likely the result of enhanced contractile efficiency, as intracellular Ca(2+) transient amplitudes were not affected. Expression and incorporation of L48Q cTnC into myofilaments was confirmed by Western blot analysis of myofibrils from transduced cardiomyocytes, which indicated replacement of 18±2% of native cTnC with L48Q cTnC. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of directly targeting cardiac thin filament proteins to enhance cardiomyocyte contractility that is impaired following MI.
What designers want: Needs of interactive application designers

In order to inform the design of new tools for interactive application design, we used a grounded theory approach to find out what designers' needs are when designing such applications. This paper reports our findings (20 designer needs) from content analysis of five types of artifacts: surveys, Blend discussion list emails, Dreamweaver forum entries, Flash forum entries, and interviews with ten designers. These 20 needs were then validated in follow-up interviews and focus group sessions. The results of this work revealed trends regarding the importance of each need and show that flow is one of the most important needs.
Accurate SVM Text Classification for Highly Skewed Data Using Threshold Tuning and Query-Expansion-Based Feature Selection

A novel technique is described, wherein Support Vector Machines are used to perform relatively effective text categorization based on small numbers of positive examples (fewer than 10 in some cases). It is assumed that in addition to the positive examples a query describing the positive category is given (in the form of a set of key phrases or a sentence). The technique combines two innovations: a special way of altering the SVM score threshold based on looking at the distribution of scores across the training set; and, a method of feature selection that involves retaining only features that display semantic association to the content words in the query (according to a word-association database produced by statistical analysis of a parsed corpus). Examples are given on a number of test cases drawn from the Reuters and FBIS news archives.
Emergency Department Chest-Pain Center Imaging

In recent years many hospitals have instituted Chest Pain Centers (CPC) in hospital emergency departments (ED) for the purpose of efficient triage of patients with chest pain and normal or nonischemic rest ECG. The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology published a position paper on the use of radionuclide imaging in the ED (1) (on line http://www.asnc.org).
An artificial neural network method: for solving boundary value problems - With arbitrary irregular boundary conditions

An artificial neural network (ANN) method was developed for solving boundary value problems (BVPs) on an arbitrary irregular domain in such a manner that all Dirichlet and/or Neuman boundary conditions (BCs) are automatically satisfied. Exact satisfaction of BCs is not available with traditional numerical solution techniques such as the finite element method (FEM). The ANN is trained by reducing error in the given differential equation (DE) at certain points within the domain. Selection of these points is significantly simpler than the often difficult definition of meshes for the FEM. The approximate solution is continuous and differentiable, and can be evaluated at any location in the domain independent of the set of points used for training. The continuous solution eliminates interpolation required of discrete solutions produced by the FEM. Reducing error in the DE at a particular location in the domain does not necessarily imply improvement in the approximate solution there. A theorem was developed, proving that the solution will improve whenever error in the DE is reduced at all locations in the domain during training. The actual training of ANNs reasonably approximates the assumptions required by the proof. This dissertation offers a significant contribution to the field by developing a method for solving BVPs where all BCs are automatically satisfied. It had already been established in the literature that such automatic BC satisfaction is beneficial when solving problems on rectangular domains, but this dissertation presents the first method applying the technique to irregular domain shapes. This was accomplished by developing an innovative length factor. Length factors ensure BC satisfaction extrapolate the values at Dirichlet boundaries into the domain, providing a solid starting point for ANN training to begin. The resulting method has been successful at solving even nonlinear and nonhomogenous BVPs to accuracy sufficient for typical engineering applications.
THE NATURAL BUSINESS YEAR: A SHIFT FROM PROACTIVE TO REACTIVE BEHAVIOR BY ACCOUNTANTS

There has been a noticeable decline in accounting publications and research on the natural business year since the early 1960's, the same time that the AICPA Committee on Natural Business Year ended. Accountants and accounting institutional bodies up to that date had taken a strongly proactive stance on the topic. Since then, and especially since 1970, almost all of the literature on the natural business year has been reactive to IRS pronouncements. This article traces these changes from proactive to reactive behavior, and from financial/managerial accounting considerations to taxation issues. The article ends with support for accountants to be proactive once again on the natural business year and to regain the vitality of the financial/managerial accounting literature on the topic.
Early Menarche as an Alternative Reproductive Tactic in Human Females: An Evolutionary Approach to Reproductive Health Issues

The age at which a female reaches sexual maturity is critical in determining her future reproductive health and success. Thus, a worldwide decline in menarcheal age (timing of first menstrual period) may have serious long-term consequences. Early menarcheal timing (first menstrual period before age 12) can have a negative effect on fecundity, as well as the quality and quantity of offspring, and may consequently influence population growth or decline. In this paper, we apply an evolutionary framework to modern human health, and assess both proximate and ultimate consequences of declining menarcheal age. Examination of human reproductive health within an evolutionary framework is innovative and essential, because it illuminates the ultimate consequences of a declining age of menarche and facilitates new ways of thinking about the long-term and intergenerational transmission of health and disease; thus, an evolutionary framework lends itself to innovative public health and policy programs. In this paper, we examine whether or not early menarche is an alternative reproductive tactic that modern human females employ in response to a stressful environment, and whether or not early menarche is ultimately beneficial.
The Prediction of Therapeutic Change

One of the more fascinating and important questions in psychotherapy research is the prediction of who is likely to gain from the treatment experience. Still applicable today is Frank’s (1979) comment: After decades of research, the amount of well-established, clinically relevant knowledge about psychotherapeutic outcome still remains disappointingly meager. Although some relationships between determinants and outcome have attained statistical significance, few are powerful enough to be clinically relevant, and most of [these] ... are intuitively obvious. An example is the finding that patients who begin therapy at a high level of functioning terminate at higher levels than those who begin at lower levels. In other words, the healthier one is to start with, the healthier one is at the end (Garfield, 1978). ... [R]esearch ... to date suggest that the major determinants of therapeutic success appear to lie in aspects of patients’ personality and style of life (pp. 310, 312).
Abstract 21: Infarct Distributions Differ in Pediatric Sickle Cell Patients With or Without Large Vessel Vasculopathy

Introduction: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have a high risk of ischemic strokes in diverse spatial distributions, but mechanisms responsible for these different patterns are unclear. Methods: MRIs and MRAs from 2006-2014 were retrospectively collected on SCD children with an overt stroke history. Hemispheres were categorized based on presence or absence of large vessel vasculopathy (Vsc) on MRA. Manually delineated infarcts on FLAIR were individually co-registered to the corresponding T1 MPRAGE maps, and then co-registered onto a common space. Left and right hemispheres were separated with a mask in the common space. Hemispheres were flipped so all with Vsc were oriented as right hemispheres, and those without Vsc as left. Co-registered infarct maps were warped into the final anatomic space and averaged to create a lesion density map. A cerebral blood flow (CBF) map was created from average pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeled measurements prospectively collected on 7 children with SCD and no...
Hydrologic and Pollutant Removal Performance of a Bio-Infiltration BMP

Infiltration Best Management Practices (BMPs) have become a major component of stormwater designs (Traver 2003). These BMPs are designed to address runoff volume and quality criteria’s, augmenting and in some cases replacing traditional detention based methods. While the function of the Bio-Infiltration BMP’s may be understood, many questions remain on their design, maintenance, and how to best utilize these devices as part of a watershed plan. To address these issues, Villanova University has constructed and is monitoring a BioInfiltration “RainGarden” through the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership (VUSP). Flow data from this effort has been used to create a representative computer model of the watershed, allowing analysis of its performance (Heasom et al 2006). Results indicate that the site outperforms the original design specifications, and that maintenance may be required in the future to continue its high level of performance. Further information on the site is available through the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership website - www.villanova.edu/vusp.
Mechanism to Valve a Cabrol Fistula for Bleeding Control.

Background: A circular aortic stapler has been developed to anastomose the open end of the aorta to a size-matched Dacron tube graft in one quick motion and without having to pull sutures through the aortic wall. Methods: A prototype was developed, and its design and function were tested in bench experiments and compared with hand-sewn anastomosis. The basic design of the stapler is a central rod (anvil) surrounded by 10 stapling limbs, which can be closed over the anvil in a full circle, with staples extruded by turning a knob at the back. To test its function, a Dacron tube graft was inserted in the middle of a length of bovine aorta. One side was anastomosed with the stapler and the other hand-sewn in each of 10 experiments. Bovine blood was infused under increasing pressure. Results: It took considerably less time to complete the stapled anastomosis than the hand-sewn side (3 minutes, 46 seconds versus 15 minutes, 42 seconds). Initial leak occurred at low pressures on the hand-sewn side (mean pressure 40 mm Hg) compared with the stapled side (mean pressure 70 mm Hg). In 7 of 10 experiments, the leak became too brisk on the hand-sewn side to sustain pressure, compared with 3 of 10 with stapled anastomoses. The stapling device performed well in all cases except when the bovine aorta was too thick for the staples (two cases) or when there was a missed branch at the anastomotic site (one case). Conclusions: These experiments validate the concept and the design of this aortic stapler. There are some limitations in the current design, which will need to be modified before its use in live animals or clinically.
Solid Boronizing on the Surface of Pure Titanium TA1 and Titanium Alloy TC4

The solid powder boronizing,on the surface of titanium alloys with matrix structureα-Ti of TA1 and( α + β)-Ti of TC4,was investigated. The morphology of boride layer was observed by polarizing microscope and scanning electron microscope( SEM). The phase composition of boride layer was analyzed by X-ray diffraction( XRD). The results show that when boronizing temperature is in the range of 850 ~ 1 000 ℃,diffusion layers on TA1 in a multilayer structure are paralleled to the surface of the substrate,which composes of Ti3 O and TiB phases.When the temperature is higher than 920 ℃,TiB becomes the major component in the diffusion layer with TiB2,and the content of titanium borides increases with temperature. When the temperature is lower than 1 000 ℃,Ti3 O and TiB are the major components of the layer on TC4.When it is higher than 1 000 ℃,the layer is TiB2 and TiB whisker. Boronizing temperature above1 000 ℃ is the sufficient condition for the formation of titanium borides.
Position Change in Colonoscopy-A Turn for the Better?

To the Editor: We read with great interest the two separate randomized controlled trials by Vergis et al. (1) and Lee et al. (2) that examined the effects during colonoscopy of alternative patient positioning on cecal intubation time (CIT) and adenoma detection rate (ADR), respectively. These studies are the more recent of emerging literature evaluating the influence of positioning on the efficacy and efficiency of colonoscopy, and while we value their efforts, we would like to raise a few points regarding the methods and findings.
A New Soft Robot Control Method: Using Model Predictive Control for a Pneumatically Actuated Humanoid

Traditional rigid robots, such as those used in manufacturing, have been effective at precise, accurate, rapid motions in well-structured environments for many decades now. However, they operate largely behind cages due to the danger of injury when moving in close proximity to people. A significant and recent shift in robotics involves trading rigid links and rigid actuators for soft, deformable links and compliant actuators. These soft robots generally have lower inertia and avoid many of the problems caused by the high effective inertia resulting from the high gear ratios necessary for rigid robots.
Tibial Stress Fractures in Athletes

Tibial stress fractures are common in the athlete. There are various causes of these fractures, the most common being a sudden increase in training intensity. Most of these injuries are treated conservatively; however, some may require operative intervention. Intervention is mostly dictated by location of the fracture and failure of conservative treatment. There are several surgical options available to the treating surgeon, each with advantages and disadvantages. The physician must understand the nature of the fracture and the likelihood for it to heal in a timely manner in order to best treat these fractures in this patient subset.
Abstract B87: Assessing racial disparities in oral cancer screening utilizing the Health Belief Model

Significant racial disparities exist in the incidence, mortality, and stage of diagnosis for oral cancer. Early detection via oral cancer screening could reduce racial disparities. The main objective of this study was to examine differences in attitudes toward oral cancer screening between Black or African American (Blk/Afr Amer) and whites using the framework of the Health Belief Model. 2,000 participants (1,000 Bl/Afr Amers, 1000 White) aged 35 years or older, responded to a telephone survey. Participants were from two metropolitan areas of Florida (Tampa, Jacksonville) and were randomly selected from a commercial listing of household telephone numbers. Receipt of oral cancer exam as well as the main components of the health believe model (perceived severity, susceptibility, barriers to action and benefits to action) were assessed. T-tests were conducted to assess racial differences in the main components of the Health Belief Model and a p-value of 0.01 was used as criteria of significance. The majority of participants agreed that OPC was a severe disease (mean severity scores: white = 3.87, Blk/Afr Amer = 3.94) and one would benefit from having an OPC exam (mean benefit score: white = 4.18, Blk/Afr Amer = 4.09). Blk/Afr Amers were significantly more likely than whites to perceive there were barriers to receiving an OPC exam (2.33 vs. 2.05, p Intervention designed to decrease racial disparities in OPC by increasing early detection should focus on decreasing perceived barriers and increasing perceived benefits of OPC exam for Bl/Afr Amers.
Population scale data reveals the antidepressant effects of ketamine and other therapeutics approved for non-psychiatric indications.

Current therapeutic approaches to depression fail for millions of patients due to lag in clinical response and non-adherence. Here we provide new support for the antidepressant effect of an anesthetic drug, ketamine, by Inverse-Frequency Analysis of eight million reports from the FDA Adverse Effect Reporting System. The results of the examination of population scale data revealed that patients who received ketamine had significantly lower frequency of reports of depression than patients who took any other combination of drugs for pain. The analysis also revealed that patients who took ketamine had significantly lower frequency of reports of pain and opioid induced side effects, implying ketamine’s potential to act as a beneficial adjunct agent in pain management pharmacotherapy. Further, the Inverse-Frequency Analysis methodology provides robust statistical support for the antidepressant action of other currently approved therapeutics including diclofenac and minocycline.
Raccordation between Periodic Signals. * *This work was supported by NSF grant CPS1544857.

Abstract We present a method of smoothly connecting two different periodic orbits of linear systems. We first deal with the case when the periodic signals to be connected are of the same period and then move on to discuss the case of different periods. We use the behavioral theory as our framework to formulate the problem and present two approaches to finding a smooth transition between the periodic orbits. The first approach is a kernel method and the solution involves solving a single optimization problem. The second approach involves the use of a time warping function to reduce the problem to the situation where both functions have same period. It involves solving multiple simpler optimal control problems.
Metabolic acidosis and the role of unmeasured anions in critical illness and injury.

Acid–base disorders are frequently present in critically ill patients. Metabolic acidosis is associated with increased mortality, but it is unclear whether as a marker of the severity of the disease process or as a direct effector. The understanding of the metabolic component of acid–base derangements has evolved over time, and several theories and models for precise quantification and interpretation have been postulated during the last century. Unmeasured anions are the footprints of dissociated fixed acids and may be responsible for a significant component of metabolic acidosis. Their nature, origin, and prognostic value are incompletely understood. This review provides a historical overview of how the understanding of the metabolic component of acid–base disorders has evolved over time and describes the theoretical models and their corresponding tools applicable to clinical practice, with an emphasis on the role of unmeasured anions in general and several specific settings.
Biomarkers in Representative Population Surveys

Objective measures of health indicators have historically been very challenging to collect with large-scale representative population surveys. Cost, interviewer training, and the invasiveness of collection techniques were some of the primary barriers. However new methods in biological specimen or biomarker collection and analysis mean that a number of these barriers have been reduced or removed. This chapter discusses some of the existing studies that collect biomarkers in the United States as example cases for how new developments have changed the viability of collecting these measures at scale. In particular, dried blood spot (DBS) and DNA sampling and analysis are discussed as groundbreaking advancements in this area of data collection.
Ada 95: The Lovelace Tutorial

Lovelace provides an introduction to Ada 95, one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. Although the reader is assumed to have a basic understanding of programming, no prior exposure to Ada is assumed and all the basics of the language are covered. The book comprises eighteen chapters each of which is composed of short sections designed to cover a small number of key concept and to provide a test question to check the reader's understanding of the concepts covered. Each chapter then concludes with a small quiz to help ensure that the reader has grasped the principles covered in the chapter. One of Ada 95's new features, its object-oriented facilities, is covered in depth, and all of the essential features of Ada programming are covered thoroughly. In Ada 95 significant enhancements were also added to Ada's ability to interface with other programming languages (such as C, Fortran, and Cobol) and these are covered in one chapter. As a result both students and professional programmers learning Ada for the first time will welcome this new text.
Insulin- and Glucagon-Secreting Cells of the Pancreas

Alpha and beta cells are the predominant cell types in microscopic endocrine organs called the ‘islets of Langerhans’, which are scattered throughout the exocrine pancreas and produce, store, and secrete the hormones glucagon and insulin, respectively. Secretion of these hormones is regulated by fuels (glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids) or through neuroendocrine input. Insulin and glucagon in turn regulate the metabolism of these fuels. Loss of beta cells by autoimmune destruction or impairment of their function by poorly understood mechanisms are the causes of type I or type II diabetes mellitus (T1DM or T2DM), respectively. Individuals with T1DM require insulin substitution therapy for survival, and those with T2DM can manage their disease with diet restrictions, exercise, and a variety of drugs with different mechanisms of action. It is thus of critical importance to develop a comprehensive understanding of insulin- and glucagon-producing cells of the pancreas.
Can an energy-deficient heart grow bigger and stronger?

Since its initial description by two French pathologists more than a century ago [(1)][1], hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic model of cardiac hypertrophic response [(2)][2], has remained an intriguing disease that has fascinated clinicians and scientists alike. While it is easy to fathom
Decubitus Ulcers and Skin and Nail Changes after Spinal Cord Injury

Decubitus ulcers are a major cause of morbidity in the individual with spinal injury. In this article, skin anatomy and physiology are outlined, as are the etiology and epidemiology of pressure sores. Appropriate decubitus management and prevention are discussed. The injury-associated changes in skin and nails are evaluated, and the overall economic impact of pressure sores is examined.
Child Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Cohort Study.

This survey study queried children and parents on the child’s sexual orientation and gender identity.
Impact of Survivorship Care on Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer With Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms.

Objectives To assess post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) in young adult survivors of childhood cancer not receiving survivorship care and to determine whether attending a survivorship-focused healthcare visit was associated with changes in PTSSs. Sample & setting 44 young adult survivors from the Yale Cancer Center in Connecticut without prior survivorship clinic attendance. Methods & variables As part of a larger trial, participants were randomized to a model of survivorship-focused health care. The University of California at Los Angeles Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Reaction Index assessed PTSS severity and frequency before and after the visit. Results At baseline, almost half of the participants were classified as partial PTSD likely or PTSD likely. Many met criteria for elevated levels of individual symptoms, particularly avoidance or numbing. At follow-up, PTSSs did not differ significantly from baseline. Implications for nursing Survivorship care should be encouraged by nurses in healthcare settings that do not specialize in caring for long-term survivors. Nurses should facilitate screening for PTSSs and promote interventions among survivors completing cancer therapy to help them transition to survivorship care.
Cytomegaloviruses: Simian Cytomegaloviruses

Probably all nonhuman primates harbor ubiquitous but largely inapparent latent or persistent infections with host-species-specific cytomegaloviruses (CMVs). Research with CMVs from chimpanzee, rhesus macaque, baboon, African green monkey, and tree shrew has revealed many similarities to and differences from the better-studied human CMV. All primate CMVs are classified in genus Cytomegalovirus in the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae of the family Herpesviridae, and are typified by the formation of large nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in lytically infected cells. Aspects of the gene content, gene expression, and growth in cell culture of these viruses are described.
Performance of the Rule of 5 for Detecting Glaucoma Progression between Visits with OCT.

Purpose To evaluate whether loss of 5 μm or more in global retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness on spectral-domain (SD) between 2 consecutive visits is specific for glaucoma progression. Design Prospective cohort. Participants Ninety-two eyes of 49 control participants and 300 eyes of 210 glaucoma patients. Methods Patients completed at least 5 standard automated perimetry and SD OCT examinations at 6-month intervals over at least 2 years. Eyes were categorized as progressing from glaucoma if the average RNFL declined by 5 μm or more between 2 consecutive visits. The false-positive proportion was estimated by 2 methods: (1) 5-μm or more loss in control participants and (2) 5-μm or more gain in glaucoma. The false-positive proportion was subtracted from the cumulative proportion of eyes categorized with glaucoma progression to estimate the true progression prevalence. Main Outcome Measures False-positive and true progression prevalence of patients with glaucoma detected as progressing on SD OCT. Results After 5 years of semiannual testing, the cumulative proportion of false-positive results based on 5-μm or more RNFL losses between visits was 24.8% in the control participants. Although 40.6% of glaucoma eyes were diagnosed with progression at 5 years, only 15.8% would have been considered to show true progression based on the expected false-positive ratio from the control participants (i.e., 40.6%–24.8%). The cumulative proportion of an intervisit gain of 5 μm or more at 5 years was 27.4% in glaucoma eyes, suggesting that only 13.2% of eyes with glaucoma truly had progressed (i.e., 40.6%–27.4%). Conclusions Loss of 5 μm or more in average RNFL thickness between consecutive SD OCT tests is not specific for glaucoma progression. Application of this intervisit rule of 5 can result in a high cumulative proportion of false-positive results over time, which could lead to unnecessary interventions in patients whose disease is stable. More specific diagnostic criteria are needed to help clinicians determine whether patients with glaucoma are progressing so that therapy escalation is both timely and appropriate.
Active Surveillance vs Immediate Treatment—Which Has a Greater Financial Incentive for Urologists?

AbstractIntroduction:We compared cumulative reimbursement to urologists following implementation of surveillance vs immediate treatment. Active surveillance for prostate cancer is widely considered...
Urgent Issues Facing Immigrant Physicians in the United States in the COVID-19 Era.

Physicians who received their medical training outside the United States constitute a substantial proportion of the physician workforce in states with a high burden of COVID-19 cases and deaths. As...
Lalit Mohan Srivastava (1931–2012): a highly-respected authority on plant growth, hormones, and environment

Abstract Lalit Mohan Srivastava (1931–2012) was a well-known plant developmental biologist. He was an authority on the molecular basis of the action of gibberellins and on the physiology, and biochemistry of the seaweeds. Here, we honor him by presenting a glimpse of his life and research; he had authored more than 60 research papers, of which we mention only a few.
All-Optical Switching of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions with Single Subpicosecond Laser Pulses

Injecting charge or spin current can switch the magnetization in a spintronic device without an applied magnetic field, at a speed limited by spin precession. Optical switching can beat this limit, but has been achieved only in single magnetic layers, not full devices. The authors demonstrate switching in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), the building blocks of spintronic technology, with 0.4-ps infrared laser pulses. Their junctions use Gd-Fe-Co alloy, which after being heated by a pulse spontaneously relaxes to the opposite magnetic state---at 100 times the record speed for MTJ switching.
ECM-regulation of autophagy: The yin and the yang of autophagy during wound healing

Wound healing is a complex sequence of tissue protection, replacement, and reorganization leading to regenerated tissue. Disruption of any of these steps results in the process being incomplete as an ulcer or over-exuberant as a hypertrophic scar. Over the past decade, it has become evident that the extracellular matrix and associated components orchestrate this process. However, the cellular events that are induced by the extracellular matrix to accomplish wound healing remain to be defined. Herein we propose that matrix-regulated cellular macro-autophagy is key to both the tissue replacement and resolution stages of healing by directing cellular function or apoptosis. Further, disruptions in matrix turnover alter autophagic function leading to chronic wounds or scarring. While the literature that directly investigates autophagy during wound healing is sparse, the emerging picture supports our proposing a model of the centrality of the matrix-autophagy modulation as central to physiologic and pathologic healing.
Remember Your Why… An Oncologist's Reflections on Running During the COVID-19 Pandemic

An oncologist reflects on purpose, gratitude, and resilience during this time of uncertainty, considering changes brought about by the COVID‐19 pandemic.
The Veterinarian's role in the production of quality milk

Advances in regulatory standards for milk quality in the USA since the end of the 19th century are traced. Laboratory tests used to assess milk quality, and the veterinarian's role in controlling disease and promoting milk quality, are discussed.
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION: A telehealth-based training model for an ambulatory care pharmacy skills course

Description: Increasingly, pharmacy services are provided using telehealth-based modalities. This paper describes a pharmacy skills course that utilised telehealth principles to train students on the technical and communications skills necessary for the ambulatory care setting. Zoom breakout rooms, electronic health records, YouTube video vignettes, and teaching assistants portraying patients/physicians simulated a telehealth-based ambulatory care setting. Evaluation: Five quizzes and six written assignments were utilised to measure student’s knowledge and skills. At the end of the course, students were evaluated through a three-station objective structured clinical exam (OSCE). Students also completed a pre/post attitudes survey. Result: Overall, students performed well on various assessments including quizzes and written assignments. The majority of the students performed well on the OSCE. Significant improvement was noted on all items in the attitudes survey. Conclusion: This study suggests that a telehealth training model can be effective in teaching pharmacy students both the technical and communication skills necessary for practice in the ambulatory care setting.
An Uphill Battle: Restitution for the Haitian Independence Debt Under the Theory of Unjust Enrichment

This paper discusses whether Haiti can recover from France payments for the independence debt under the legal theory of unjust enrichment. After exploring the possibility of raising a claim of unjust enrichment in U.S. and the likelihood of initiating a similar proceeding before an international forum, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the author concluded that although unjust enrichment may be a potentially viable claim both in the U.S. and at the ICJ, the procedural hurdles for such restitution claims will likely prevent both forums from adjudicating on the substance of the case. Particularly, it is difficult for U.S. courts and the ICJ to establish jurisdiction over France, and the likelihood of reactivating the statute of limitations is low.
Generational differences in the placement of clitic se in New York City Spanish

Aims and objectives:This study analyzes the proclitic and enclitic positions of Spanish clitic se (e.g., ella se queria ir / ella queria irse ‘she wanted to go’) across two generations of Spanish s...
The system loss factor in sound and vibration

In 1930, Kimball wrote a paper entitled "The damping factor in vibrations" that appeared in the journal Product Engineering. That paper proposed a damping factor based on the decrement of a vibrating system with exponential decay. Kimball showed that the proposed damping factor was proportional to the ratio of the energy dissipated per cycle to the total vibrational energy. The total vibrational energy was defined as the maximum potential energy over a cycle. Since that time, the definition of total vibrational energy has been more thoroughly examined because the total vibrational energy varies within a cycle due to damping. In this presentation, a new definition is proposed that defines the total vibrational energy as the temporal average of the total vibrational energy over a cycle. This definition has the advantage of reducing the system loss factor to the modal loss factor under certain limits. Since 1930, Kimball's damping factor has appeared in various forms under various names, the most common of which is the system loss factor. This presentation discusses these appearances in order to understand energy losses in dynamic systems caused by a wide array of physical mechanisms. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the system loss factor in present-day numerical simulations, highlighting its independence from eigenvalue information. [Work supported by ONR under Grant N00014-19-1-2100.]
Elevated hyaluridase 1 expression in an in vivo tumor model predicts the metastatic phenotype.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 3101 Hyaluronic Acid, a very high molecular weight glycosaminoglycan, is a major component of the extracellular matrix in both normal and tumor tissues. It is secreted by many cell types, including tumor cells and its concentration in the peri-cellular stroma is controlled by a balance of synthesis by Hyaluron Synthases and degradation by Hyaluronidase enzymes. Elevated levels of Hyaluronidase enzymes, particularly Hyaluronidase 1 have been reported in several cancers, most notably bladder and prostate tumors. It is thought that degradation of the stromal Hyaluronic Acid within the tumor mass may promote extravasation and subsequent seeding of distant metastases. It is also known that the degradation products of Hyaluronic Acid are strongly pro-angiogenic. We used in vivo bioluminescent imaging to track the pattern of metastasis from implanted MDA MB-435 cells which formed a ‘primary’ tumor in the mammary fat pads of SCID mice. We identified lung, bone, brain and the adrenal glands as the major metastatic sites under these experimental conditions. Microarray analysis of metastases to bone, brain and lung originating from individual ‘primary’ mammary fat pad tumors showed that the metastases and their ‘primary’ tumors shared an almost completely identical gene profile, despite the very different conditions which would prevail at their sites of growth. The only notable difference in gene expression was in the Hyaluronidase 1 gene, where the level in the cells originating from the ‘primary’ mammary fat pad tumor was significantly lower than the levels seen in all metastases deriving from it. This preferential expression of Hyaluronidase 1 in metastatic foci was noted in several independent experiments. Hyaluronic acid zymography confirmed that the elevated gene expression correlated with the secretion of high levels of biologically active enzyme by the metastatic cells. Hyaluronidase 1 expression was also found to be elevated in the sera of mice which had metastatic lesions but was not observed in mice whose tumors had not yet metastasized from the orthotopic ‘primary’ site. These data indicate that serum levels of Hyaluronidase 1 might be predictive of active metastatic disease and we are currently studying this hypothesis in both melanoma and breast cancer patients.
Harmony Search Applications in Industry

In this chapter, the recently-developed music-inspired harmony search (HS) algorithm is introduced and its various industrial applications are reviewed.
Enflurane (Ēthrane) and isoflurane (Forane): A comparison with nine general anaesthetics during stress of hypoxia (spontaneous breathing)

EXCEPT WITH DIETIIYL ETHER, no appreciable metabolic disturbances develop during general anaesthesia even with mild I to severe ~ hypoxia (15 per cent and 10 per cent oxygen) for 90 minutes, provided that normal pulmonary ventilation is maintained. In a comparative evaluation of enflurane and isoflurane, we did not observe a deleterious circulatory response in dogs subjected to 30 minutes of apnoea induced by anaesthesia plus muscle relaxants, with oxygen insufflation ("apnoeie oxygenation"). All of the animals survived the test. 3 Thereupon we attempted a crossover study to determine the physiological and biochemical effects of general anaesthesia in dogs with acute hypoxia (8 per cent to 10 per cent inspired oxygen concentration) for 90 minutes with spontaneous breathing. The original design for the investigation was abandoned because most of the animals did not survive. Review of the data suggested several factors contributory to the high mortality. The depth and duration of anaesthesia was too great to permit adequate pulmonary ventilation and optimal myocardial contractility. Blood volume was significantly reduced by sampling for laboratory tests. Liver glycogen stores and blood sugar were depleted and serum potassium and plasma insulin were reduced. The degree of hypoxia was evidently more than a dog's heart could tolerate during deep anaesthesia with spontaneous breathing. 4,5 This report describes a modified experimental approach and compares the response to enflurane and isoflurane with the responses to seven other inhalation anaesthetics and two parenteral anaesthetics.
The use of computer algebra systems in computer science education

Every student of Computer Science will encounter certain very important and fundamental data structures and algorithms. Many of those structures are relatively simple to understand conceptually, but exceedingly difficult to analyze, especially when average behavior is taken into account. Therefore, if students are to choose the best algorithm for a problem or optimize the parameters of an algorithm, they are faced with mathematical challenges beyond their means. We suggest that Computer Algebra tools can make a dramatic difference in the ability of students to analyze very common algorithms and data structures and make meaningful design decisions when implementing such structures. Initial studies in the classroom support our suggestion.
Theory of Interaction of Light with Insulating Crystals

The present work develops a formal theory of the interaction of radiation in insulators at zero temperature, from which one obtains expressions for the transition probabilities for elementary processes such as Raman scattering and direct absorption. Presentation of the theory is followed by various applications.
Human Rights for all: from the struggle against authoritarianism to the construction of an all-inclusive democracy - a view from the Southern Cone and Andean Region

The human rights and citizenship movement has been a key agent in the processes of democratic consolidation that have taken place in the Andean Region and the Southern Cone over the last two decades. Yet civil society organizations need to change their strategies in new post-dictatorial contexts. In this article, some of the central challenges that confront these organizations will be identified. I would especially like to thank all my colleagues at the Ford Foundation Office for the Southern Cone and Andean Region for their valuable feedback on earlier versions of this article. The suggestions of Alex Wilde and Michael Shifter were also extremely useful. Original in Spanish. Translated by Benjamin Chaffin.
Comparison of Fecal Microbiota in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Neurotypical Siblings in the Simons Simplex Collection

In order to assess potential associations between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) phenotype, functional GI disorders and fecal microbiota, we recruited simplex families, which had only a single ASD proband and neurotypical (NT) siblings, through the Simons Simplex Community at the Interactive Autism Network (SSC@IAN). Fecal samples and metadata related to functional GI disorders and diet were collected from ASD probands and NT siblings of ASD probands (age 7–14). Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) were assessed using the parent-completed ROME III questionnaire for pediatric FGIDs, and problem behaviors were assessed using the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL). Targeted quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays were conducted on selected taxa implicated in ASD, including Sutterella spp., Bacteroidetes spp. and Prevotella spp. Illumina sequencing of the V1V2 and the V1V3 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes from fecal DNA was performed to an average depth of 208,000 and 107,000 high-quality reads respectively. Twenty-five of 59 ASD children and 13 of 44 NT siblings met ROME III criteria for at least one FGID. Functional constipation was more prevalent in ASD (17 of 59) compared to NT siblings (6 of 44, P = 0.035). The mean CBCL scores in NT siblings with FGID, ASD children with FGID and ASD without FGID were comparably higher (58–62 vs. 44, P < 0.0001) when compared to NT children without FGID. There was no significant difference in macronutrient intake between ASD and NT siblings. There was no significant difference in ASD severity scores between ASD children with and without FGID. No significant difference in diversity or overall microbial composition was detected between ASD children with NT siblings. Exploratory analysis of the 16S rRNA sequencing data, however, identified several low abundance taxa binned at the genus level that were associated with ASD and/or first order ASD*FGID interactions (FDR <0.1).
Linking measurements and models in commercial buildings: A case study for model calibration and demand response strategy evaluation

Abstract This paper describes a step-by-step procedure for using measured end-use energy data from a campus building to calibrate a simulation model developed in EnergyPlus. This process included identification of key input parameters for reducing uncertainties in the model. Building thermal zones were modeled to match the actual heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) zoning for each individual variable air-volume (VAV) zone. We evaluated most key building and HVAC system components, including space loads (actual occupancy number, lighting and plug loads), HVAC air-side components (VAV terminals, supply and return fans) and water-side components (chillers, pumps, and cooling towers). Comparison of the pre- and post-calibration model shows that the calibration process greatly improves the model's accuracy for each end use. We propose an automated model calibration procedure that links the model to a real-time data monitoring system, allowing the model to be updated any time. The approach enables the automated data feed from simple measuring and actuation profile (sMAP) into the EnergyPlus model to create realistic schedules of space loads (occupancy, lighting and plug), performance curves of fans, chillers and cooling towers. We also field-tested demand response (DR) control strategies to evaluate the model's performance in predicting dynamic response effects. Finally, this paper describes application of the calibrated model to analyze control systems and DR strategies with the goal of reducing peak demand.