cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DEVS Systems-Theory Framework for Reusable Testing of I/O Behaviors in Service Oriented Architectures

This paper presents a framework for testing at the I/O behavior level in a service-oriented architecture (SOA) environment. The framework derives minimal testable I/O pairs from a service component's behavior specifications. These minimal testable I/O pairs are mapped to reusable primitives and then synthesized into test models in the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism to meet different test objectives. We present the system theoretic foundation for I/O behavior testing and describe the inherently re-usable test development framework.
Massenspektrometrie und ihre Anwendung auf strukturelle und stereochemische Probleme CLXVII Langkettige Wasserstoffverschiebung in der Massenspektrometrie

The mass spectral fragmentation behavior of various α-substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives and their deuterium labeled analogs has been examined. It was established that the ester and hydroxy derivatives undergo ring fragmentation associated with long range hydrogen transfer. The mass spectra of the deuterium labeled samples provided evidence that direct hydrogen transfer takes place from positions as far as thirteen or more carbon atoms away from the oxygen function in preference to the McLafferty rearrangement. Examination of the spectra of the deuterium labeled derivatives shed further light on the mechanism of the loss of water from the molecular ion and various fragment ions.
Predictors of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Progression

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder associated with substantial variability in its natural course within and between affected families. Understanding predictors for rapid progression of this disease has become increasingly important with the emergence of potential new treatments. This systematic review of the literature since 1988 evaluates factors that may predict and/or effect autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease progression. Predicting factors associated with early adverse structural and/or functional outcomes are considered. These factors include PKD1 mutation (particularly truncating mutation), men, early onset of hypertension, early and frequent gross hematuria, and among women, three or more pregnancies. Increases in total kidney volume and decreases in GFR and renal blood flow greater than expected for a given age also signify rapid disease progression. Concerning laboratory markers include overt proteinuria, macroalbuminuria, and perhaps, elevated serum copeptin levels in affected adults. These factors and others may help to identify patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease who are most likely to benefit from early intervention with novel treatments.
A Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Combination With Gefitinib in Patients With Recurrent Malignant Gliomas

Purpose To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with gefitinib in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. Methods and Materials A Phase I clinical trial was performed. Eligible patients had pathologically proved recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma. Patients started gefitinib (250 mg/day) 7 days before SRS and continued for 1 year or until disease progression. SRS was delivered in three fractions over 3 days. The planning target volume (PTV) was the T1-weighted MRI postcontrast enhancing lesion + 2 mm. The first cohort received an SRS dose of 18 Gy, and subsequent cohorts received higher doses up to the maximum dose of 36 Gy. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was any Grade 3 toxicity. The MTD was exceeded if 2 of 6 patients in a cohort experienced DLT. Results Characteristics of the 15 patients enrolled were: 9 men, 6 women; median age, 47 years (range, 23–65 years); 11 glioblastoma, 4 AA; median prior RT dose, 60 Gy (range, 54–61.2 Gy); median interval since RT, 12 months (range, 3–57 months); median PTV, 41 cc (range, 12–151 cc). Median follow-up time was 7 months (range, 2–28 months). Median time on gefitinib was 5 months (range, 2–12 months). No patient experienced a DLT, and the SRS dose was escalated from 18 to 36 Gy. Grade 1–2 gefitinib-related dermatitis and diarrhea were common (10 and 7 patients, respectively). Conclusion Fractionated SRS to a dose of 36 Gy in three fractions is well tolerated with gefitinib at daily dose of 250 mg. Further studies of SRS and novel molecular targeted agents are warranted in this challenging clinical setting.
Treatment Factors Affecting Longitudinal Quality of Life in New Onset Pediatric Epilepsy

Objectives Recognizing the importance of patient-reported outcomes, this longitudinal, prospective study examined: Changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over seven months following antiepileptic drug (AED) initiation and the relationship of seizures, AED side-effects, and AED type to HRQOL. Method Parents of 124 children with newly diagnosed epilepsy completed measures of HRQOL and side-effects at each clinic visit. Treatment information was also collected. Results HRQOL remained stable over time; however, seizures and AED side-effects significantly affected multiple HRQOL domains. Higher seizure activity was associated with decreased Physical HRQOL. Side-effects were negatively associated with all HRQOL domains. Children taking carbamazepine who experienced higher side-effects early in therapy demonstrated declining emotional functioning compared to children experiencing no/some side-effects. Conclusions AED side-effects, AED type, and seizure frequency were associated with longitudinal HRQOL in children with newly-diagnosed epilepsy. Routine assessment of AED side-effects and HRQOL may be useful for clinical decision making.
Three approaches to the evaluation of knowledge

What follows is a byproduct of a larger work in progress that tries to show the benefits of a ‘thought-oriented’ linguistics, in contrast to the traditional ‘sound-oriented’ approach (Chafe, in pre...
Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase II is associated with the outer membrane when overexpressed in Escherichia coli

Cellulose degradation is essential for the future production of many advanced biofuels. Cellulases from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei are among the most efficient enzymes for the hydrolysis of cellulosic materials. One of the cellulases from T. reesei, cellobiohydrolase II (CBH2), was studied because of its industrial relevance and proven enzymatic activity. Using both crude and rigorous membrane fractionation methods we show that full length T. reesei CBH2 is exclusively localized to the outer membrane when expressed recombinantly in Escherichia coli. Even fusing signal sequence-free maltose-binding protein to the N-terminus of CBH2, which has been shown to increase solubility of other proteins, did not prevent the outer membrane localization of CBH2. These results highlight the difficulties in producing fungal cellulases in bacterial hosts and provide a stepping stone for future cellulase engineering efforts.
DISEASE EMERGENCE IN BIRDS: CHALLENGES FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

THE PAPER BY Hartup et al. (2001) on House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) conjunctivitis is an example of the rapid geographic spread that can result from disease emergence in naive populations. That event was neither novel nor transient relative to its occurrence or effects. Disease emergence and reemergence are hallmarks of the latter part of the twentieth century (Center for Disease Control 1994, Levins et al. 1994, DaSilva and Laccarino 1999, Gratz 1999). Current examples involving domestic animals include the problems in Europe with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or ‘‘mad cow disease’’) (Brown 2001) and foot-andmouth disease (FMD) (Kitching 1999). Human health has been affected by diseases caused by an array of viruses (Morse 1993, Nichol et al. 1993, Murphy and Nathanson 1994), bacteria (Dennis 1998, DaSilva and Laccarino 1999), rickettsia (Walker and Dumier 1996, Azad et al. 1997), protozoans (Tuerrant 1997, Saini et al. 2000), and metazoan parasites (Hildreth et al. 1991, Gubler 1998), as well as other causes. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has received the most notoriety of those diseases (Hahn et al. 2000, Schwartlander et al. 2000). A similar pattern exists on a global scale for free-ranging wildlife populations (Table 1) (Friend 1994, 1995; Epstein et al. 1998, Daszak et al. 2000). However, in comparison to disease emergence affecting humans and domestic animals, response to emerging diseases of wildlife is generally superficial. We present concepts and data to support our contention that failure to adequately address disease emergence in free-ranging wildlife is resulting in a diminished capability to achieve and sustain desired geographic distributions and population abundance for species of wild birds, including some threatened and endangered avifauna.
Learning from Collaboration: The Role of Teacher Qualities:

In special education, professional collaboration is viewed as a powerful tool for helping teachers serve students with disabilities. An underlying assumption is that general educators will improve practice if they have opportunities to participate in collaborative professional development aimed at improving instruction for students with disabilities. Although sustainability studies suggest that teachers benefit from such collaboration, evidence also demonstrates that they profit differently. This study examined how teachers who readily adapt and adopt strategies acquired in collaboration differed from those who do not. Findings revealed differences in knowledge of curriculum, pedagogy, student management, and student-centered instruction, as well as differences in ability to reflect on and adapt instruction. Implications for improving professional collaboration in schools are provided.
Circular dichroism of polyethylenimine containing optically active thymine derivatives as grafted pendants

Optical properties of linear polyethylenimine containing optically active (+)- or (−)-2-(thymin-1-yl)propionyl group as grafted pendant were investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and compared with those of the related monomer and dimer model compounds. CD spectra of the polymer in neutral aqueous solution were different from those of related model compounds, which suggest that the polymer exists in some ordered conformation (at least locally) to allow exciton coupling of π–π* (B2u) transition in the base chromophores along the polymer chain. This ordered conformation tends to be randomized on heating. The effects of complementary base pairing on the CD spectra have also been studied by using a linear polyethylenimine containing (±)-2-(adenin-9-yl) propionyl grafts and its related monomer and dimer models.
Emergency department visits and revisits for nontraumatic dental conditions in Iowa.

Objectives To examine the characteristics associated with emergency department (ED) utilization in Iowa for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs), and those associated with having multiple visits to the ED for NTDCs before the Medicaid expansion program in Iowa. Methods State Emergency Department Database for Iowa was used for 2012, which comprised of all outpatient ED visits in the state. Logistic regression was used for bivariate and multivariable analyses to model the odds of visiting the ED for NTDCs, relative to other conditions, and odds of visiting the ED multiple times relative to a single time in 2012 for NTDCs. The hospital charges associated with the NTDC ED visits were also examined. Results ED visits for NTDCs comprised 1.41% of all ED visits in Iowa during 2012 with a mean charge of $557. Of the patients presenting for NTDCs in 2012, 17% presented multiples times. Young adults, Medicaid enrollees or uninsured, and those residing in metropolitan areas had greater odds of presenting to the EDs for NTDCs compared with other conditions, and presenting multiple times to EDs for NTDCs. Those with more chronic conditions also had greater odds of repeatedly visiting the ED for NTDCs. Conclusions Low-income young adults in Iowa rely on EDs for their dental needs that can have substantial costs. The Dental Wellness Plan (DWP) is intended to facilitate dental care access by providing dental coverage to low-income Iowans. This study provides baseline data that will be used to evaluate the success of DWP in improving access to dental care.
INFRARED ABSORPTION OF EXPLOSIVE MOLECULE VAPORS

Abstract Infrared absorption spectra have been obtained for the high explosive molecules TNT, RDX, and PETN in the vapor phase. Integrated band strengths were measured for the symmetric and antisymmetric -NO 2 vibrations in each of these molecules. Ab initio calculations of vibrational frequencies and intensities were carried out for comparison with the experimental data. Previous measurements of the heats of vaporization of these materials were checked using the temperature dependence of infrared band intensities. Measurements were also carried out on ammonium nitrate; in this case, only the decomposition products NH 3 , HNO 3 , and N 2 O were observed in the vapor phase in equilibrium with the solid.
The Effect of Catholic Schooling on Math and Reading Development in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.

Abstract Prior research estimating the effect of Catholic schooling has focused on high school, where evidence suggests a positive effect of Catholic versus public schooling. In this article, we estimate the effect of attending a Catholic elementary school rather than a public school on the math and reading skills of children in kindergarten through fifth grade. We use nationally representative data and a set of matching estimators to estimate the average effect of Catholic schooling and the extent to which the effect varies across educational markets. When we use public school students nationwide or within the same county to provide a counterfactual estimate of how Catholic school students would have performed in public schools, we find strong evidence indicating that Catholic elementary schools are less successful at teaching math skills than public schools (Catholic school students are 3–4 months behind public school students by third and fifth grade), but no more or less successful at teaching reading...
MESOZOIC ORIGIN FOR MEGAMOUTH SHARK (LAMNIFORMES: MEGACHASMIDAE)

(2007). Mesozoic origin for megamouth shark (Lamniformes: Megachasmidae) Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 512-516.
Electron Microscopy Studies of BaTiO3-NaNbO3 Ceramics

Dielectric mixtures in the system (l−m2) BaTiO3− m2 NaNbO3 were prepared by both (i) solid-state and (ii) liquid-phase sintering. Data are reported for the dielectric compositions, thermal processing conditions, and the subsequent evolution of ceramic microstructures. Particular attention is paid to the role of chemical heterogeneities on dielectric properties. Results are given for analytical TEM and STEM studies of the resulting ceramic microstructures. For fast-fired (i.e., unequilibrated) liquid-phase sintered mixtures, a thin intergranular phase was identified by Fresnel imaging and diffuse dark-field imaging. In addition, EDS identified a chemically modified interfacial layer, rich in Nb, which extended into the grain interior. The grain cores remained unmodified BaTiO3. For comparison purposes, microstructural analysis of equilibrated (Ba,Na) (Ti,Nb)O3 ceramics determined Nb to be homogeneously distributed throughout the grain and boundary regions.
An exploration of the role of religion/spirituality in the promotion of physicians' wellbeing in Emergency Medicine

Background: Burnout is highly prevalent among Emergency Medicine (EM) physicians and has significant impact on quality of care and workforce retention. The objective of this study was to determine whether higher religion/spirituality (R/S) is associated with a lower prevalence of burnout among EM physicians (primary outcome). A history of malpractice lawsuits and maladaptive behaviors were the secondary outcomes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, survey-based study conducted among a random sample of physicians from the Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians mailing list. Burnout was measured using a validated 2-item version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Maladaptive behaviors (smoking, drinking, and substance use) and medical malpractice were self-reported. R/S measures included organized religiosity, religious affiliation, private R/S practice, self-rated spirituality, religious rest, and religious commitment. Logistic regression was used to model study outcomes as a function of R/S predictors. Results: Of 422 EM physicians who received the invitation to participate, 138 completed the survey (32.7%). The prevalence of burnout was 27%. No significant associations were observed between burnout and R/S indicators. Maladaptive behaviors (adjusted OR = 0.42, CI: 0.19 to 0.96; p = 0.039) and history of medical malpractice (adjusted OR = 0.32; CI: 0.11 to 0.93; p = 0.037) were less likely among physicians reporting to be more involved in organized religious activity and to observe a day of rest for religious reasons, respectively. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence for a possible protective association of certain dimensions of R/S on maladaptive behaviors and medical malpractice among EM physicians.
Reflective journaling: fostering dispositional development in preservice teachers

AbstractThis study investigated the self-identified dispositions of 183 preservice teachers enrolled in a required philosophy of education course. The researchers coded their reflective journaling for the two essential NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) dispositions of fairness and the belief that all students can learn, as well as for other recurring, self-identified dispositions. These preservice teachers self-identified fairness much more frequently than the belief that all students can learn. The results point to additional recurring dispositional themes for consideration: critical thinking, caring, openness, moral education, and individual freedom. Further examination of the data revealed great variation in the preservice teachers’ interpretation of fairness, categorized as fairness through (1) inclusion of all socioeconomic classes and abilities; (2) culturally responsive teaching; (3) differentiation of instruction; and (4) fostering a safe learning environment.
Fast Regions-of-Interest Detection in Whole Slide Histopathology Images

In this paper, we present a novel superpixel based Region of Interest (ROI) search and segmentation algorithm. The proposed superpixel generation method differs from pioneer works due to its combination of boundary update and coarse-to-fine refinement for superpixel clustering. The former maintains the accuracy of segmentation, meanwhile, avoids much of unnecessary revisit to the ‘non-boundary’ pixels. The latter reduces the complexity by faster localizing those boundary blocks. The paper introduces the novel superpixel algorithm [10] to the problem of ROI detection and segmentation along with a coarse-to-fine refinement scheme over a set of image of different magnification. Extensive experiments indicates that the proposed method gives better accuracy and efficiency than other superpixel-based methods for lung cancer cell images. Moreover, the block-wise coarse-to-fine scheme enables a quick search and segmentation of ROIs in whole slide images, while, other methods still cannot.
Microstructure evolution during the spray deposition of Ni3Al and Ni3Al composites

The mechanisms governing the morphological changes in the microstructure of spray-atomized and deposited Ni3Al and Ni3Al intermetallic-matrix composites were studied with particular emphasis on the formation of spheroidal grains and the interfacial interaction between Ni3Al and ceramic reinforcements. The various microstructural features present in the spray-deposited material were rationalized on the basis of thermal energy considerations.
Qualitative Physics of Defects in Quantum Wells: Interface Roughness

The electronic properties of interface roughness in a quantum well are described. Interface roughness is shown to always produce localized bound states. Thus intrinsic roughness can explain the giant oscillator strength observed for “free” excitons in quantum wells.
The life cycle of Xenopsylla minax and the its test for human-blood sucking

Objective To observe the life cycle of Xenopsylla minax Jordan,1926 under laboratory conditions and whether it could suck in human blood or not.Methods The specimens of X.minax collected from Rhombomys opimus haunting Mayile Mountain valley of Tuli county of Xinjiang were fed on white mice.The life cycle was observed under the conditions of 18-24 ℃ and 70%-90% RH.The two breeding methods,including the common medium method and plate culture of third instar ripe larvae and pupae,were used for the study.The first filial generation adults 1-3 d after emergence with an empty stomach were induced to suck human blood from the anterior arm and ankle skin of 4 volunteeres.Results It was found that the egg stage was at 10-11 d,the larva stage 18-19 d,the pupa stage 10-12 d,and the pregnancy 2-3 d.40-45 d was needed from oviposition of the adults to that of the first filial generation adults.Of the 34 tested fleas(15♂♂,19♀♀) 18♀♀ showed the behavior of sucking human blood,but 15♂♂ and 1♀did not.Conclusion It took 40-45 d for X.minax to complete a life cycle under laboratory conditions as stated.Almost all of the female first filial generation adults were able to suck human blood but the males were not.
The Design and Realization of the Fire Control Radar Operating Status' Surveillance Recorder

The equipments' full-time data record,including the most equipments operating state information,can give helps to the capability test and fault maintenance.A fire control radar operating status' surveillance recorder which controlled by the PIC24FJ SCM has been introduced in the paper,and its hardware circuit composition and work theory have been described,moreover the work software designing flow of epigynous computer and SCM has been given.It has been proved that the system which can give the radar's full-time data record has well capability,and the recorder characters that electromagnetism circumstance is complex and its work is continuous have been considered adequately.The system has low price but operates reliably,which import a new means for modern administration of complex electronic equipment.
Advertising in Bulgaria A Nation in Transition

Bulgaria is in the heart of the Balkans in southeast Europe. It is one of a number of formerly Communist countries in economic and political transition. That seems be the situation not just today for Bulgaria but also for much of its history. The Bulgarian territory was occupied by Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Slays before the Bulgarians made it their home. Bulgaria began emerging from 500 years of Ottoman rule in 1878 and after that lands were added and taken away through a progression of battles, wars and treaties. The nation was on the losing side in both World War I and II and then fell after 1945, along with other Eastern European nations, under the domination of the Soviet Union. Bulgaria is generally acknowledged to have been the most loyal of the Soviet Union’s European allies. While most Central and Eastern European nations shed communism during the tumultuous year of 1989, Bulgaria was slower to change its socialist heritage even as long-time leaderTodor Zhivkov was deposed on 10 November 1989. After a succession of shifts in government, the socialists gave way to a coalition of democratic forces during a disastrous stretch of hyperinflation and public demonstrations in 1996–97. Since then there has been a period of market reforms and privatization of state assets as the country moves toward integration into the European Union and NATO.
Graph's Topology and Free Energy of a Spin Model on the Graph

In this Letter we investigate a direct relationship between a graph's topology and the free energy of a spin system on the graph. We develop a method of separating topological and energetic contributions to the free energy, and find that considering the topology is sufficient to qualitatively compare the free energies of different graph systems at high temperature, even when the energetics are not fully known. This method was applied to the metal lattice system with defects, and we found that it partially explains why point defects are more stable than high-dimensional defects. Given the energetics, we can even quantitatively compare free energies of different graph structures via a closed form of linear graph contributions. The closed form is applied to predict the sequence-space free energy of lattice proteins, which is a key factor determining the designability of a protein structure.
Mechanisms controlling diversification of olfactory sensory neuron classes

Animals survive in harsh and fluctuating environments using sensory neurons to detect and respond to changes in their surroundings. Olfactory sensory neurons are essential for detecting food, identifying danger, and sensing pheromones. The ability to sense a large repertoire of different types of odors is crucial to distinguish between different situations, and is achieved through neuronal diversity within the olfactory system. Here, we review the developmental mechanisms used to establish diversity of olfactory sensory neurons in various model organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, and vertebrate models. Understanding and comparing how different olfactory neurons develop within the nervous system of different animals can provide insight into how the olfactory system is shaped in humans.
Critical care management and intensive care unit outcomes following cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Critical care management and intensive care unit outcomes following cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy
Elastic properties of superconductors and materials with weakly correlated spins

It is shown that in the ergodic regime, the temperature dependence of Young's modulus is solely determined by the magnetic properties of a material. For the large class of materials with paramagnetic or diamagnetic response, simple functional forms of the temperature derivative of Young's modulus are derived and compared with experimental data and empirical results. Superconducting materials in the Meissner phase are ideal diamagnets. As such, they display remarkable elastic properties. Constant diamagnetic susceptibility gives rise to a temperature independent elastic modulus for ceramic and single crystalline superconductors alike. The thermodynamic approach established in this report, paves the way to tailor elastic material parameters through the design of magnetic properties.
A Role for Calcium-Activated Adenylate Cyclase and Protein Kinase A in the Lens Src Family Kinase and Na,K-ATPase Response to Hyposmotic Stress.

Purpose Na,K-ATPase activity in lens epithelium is subject to control by Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs). Previously we showed hyposmotic solution causes an SFK-dependent increase in Na,K-ATPase activity in the epithelium. Here we explored the role of cAMP in the signaling mechanism responsible for the SFK and Na,K-ATPase response. Methods Intact porcine lenses were exposed to hyposmotic Krebs solution (200 mOsm) then the epithelium was assayed for cAMP, SFK phosphorylation (activation) or Na,K-ATPase activity. Results An increase of cAMP was observed in the epithelium of lenses exposed to hyposmotic solution. In lenses exposed to hyposmotic solution SFK phosphorylation in the epithelium approximately doubled as did Na,K-ATPase activity and both responses were prevented by H89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. The magnitude of the SFK response to hyposmotic solution was reduced by a TRPV4 antagonist HC067047 added to prevent TRPV4-mediated calcium entry, and by a cytoplasmic Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM. The Na,K-ATPase activity response in the epithelium of lenses exposed to hyposmotic solution was abolished by BAPTA-AM. As a direct test of cAMP-dependent SFK activation, intact lenses were exposed to 8-pCPT-cAMP, a cell-permeable cAMP analog. 8-pCPT-cAMP caused robust SFK activation. Using Western blot, two calcium-activated adenylyl cyclases, ADCY3 and ADCY8, were detected in lens epithelium. Conclusions Calcium-activated adenylyl cyclases are expressed in the lens epithelium and SFK activation is linked to a rise of cAMP that occurs upon hyposmotic challenge. The findings point to cAMP as a link between TRPV4 channel-mediated calcium entry, SFK activation, and a subsequent increase of Na,K-ATPase activity.
The Epidemiology of Fiber and Colorectal Cancer

David Kritchevsky has noted on a number of occasions that the first known dietary experiment is recorded in the book of Daniel (Chapter 1). In fact, the first dietary study was an apple-feeding experiment on the population of the whole world (Genesis). Unfortunately, the scientist involved was so preoccupied with rushing into print on its significance for moral fiber, he never did write up the consequences of ingestion of the dietary fiber.
Get active? A meta-analysis of leisure-time physical activity and subjective well-being

AbstractNational time use data shows that working adults typically spend their leisure time in passive activities (e.g. watching television), which may detrimentally impact worker well-being. While leisure time physical activity (LTPA) can be strenuous, it likely facilitates detachment from work demands, promotes a wide range of psychological needs, and instigates physiological mechanisms, which in turn can lead to higher worker well-being. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review to quantitatively synthesize the strength of effects between LTPA and subjective well-being (SWB; positive affect, negative affect, life satisfaction). We found that LTPA is associated with both positive affect (k = 7, n = 2,107, r = 0.21) and life satisfaction (k = 7; n = 2544; r = 0.12), but not with negative affect (k = 6; n = 2033; r = −0.05). Our results provide evidence for the importance of engaging in LTPA as a way of promoting SWB.
Prognostic impact of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level at diagnosis in resected stage I-III pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a U.S. population study.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly aggressive cancer, with surgical resection and systemic therapy offering the only hope for long-term survival. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) has been used as a prognostic marker after resection; however, the relationship between survival and pre-treatment CA 19-9 level remains unclear. This study evaluates pre-treatment serum CA 19-9 level as a predictor for long-term survival. Methods: The U.S. National Cancer Data Base [2004–2012] was reviewed for patients with clinical stages I–III resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma with recorded pre-treatment CA 19-9 levels (U/mL). Kaplan Meier and Weibull survival analyses were performed. Results: Four thousand seven hundred and one patients were included: 12.6% received neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), 27.4% underwent surgery, and 60.1% underwent surgery and adjuvant therapy. Amongst those who underwent initial surgery, there was no association between CA 19-9 levels ≤800 (≤100, 101–300, 301–500, 501–800) with survival (stage I P=0.7592, stage II P=0.5088, stage III P=0.9037). Levels >800 were associated with significantly worse survival in all stages (P≤0.0001, all). Amongst those who received NAT, levels >800 were associated with worse survival in early (stage I P=0.0001), but not advanced stage disease (stage II P=0.1891, stage III P=0.9316). In multivariable analyses, levels >800 demonstrated a 3.29 greater hazard of mortality with respect to patients with levels ≤100 (P Conclusions: Pre-treatment CA 19-9 levels >800 appear to be associated with advanced disease, and are negatively associated with long-term survival. However, levels ≤800 had no significant association with survival. Although this study suggests an association, further study is needed to evaluate whether patients with CA 19-9 levels >800 benefit from NAT.
Genetic Transformation in Citrus

More Citrus is produced on a world-wide basis than any other fruit crop. The genus includes a number of species grown for fruit and/or juice products, including sweet oranges (C. sinensis [L.] Osbeck), grapefruit (C. paradisi Macf.), mandarins (C. reticulata Blanco), lemons (C. limon [L.] Burm. f.), and limes (C. aurantifolia [Christm.] Swing.) (Hodgson, 1967). Other species, such as sour orange (C. aurantium L.), are primarily grown for use as rootstocks, to which scions are budded. Citrus species are diploid with a relatively low chromosome number (n=9) and a small genome (1c=0.62 pg) (Guerra, 1984). They are grown throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
Functional Neutral Orthoses and Shoe Modifications

The functional foot orthoses have become a valuable contribution to medicine. Understanding the biomechanics of the lower extremity helps the physician see the correlation between poor alignment and injury. By understanding proper alignment, one can see why functional orthoses can be used to correct structural pathology.
Automatic Eye Position Detection and Tracking Under Natural Facial Movement

Automatic and precise detection and tracking of facial features, and in particular the eyes, are important in many applications of Passive Eye Monitoring including Driver Fatigue Detection, Cognitive Driver Distraction and Gaze- Based Interaction. Generally, the facial feature tracking technologies could be classified into two categories: model-free and model-based tracking algorithms. The model-free tracking algorithms [65,217,220,229,384,497,563,624, 627, 720] are general purpose point trackers without the prior knowledge of the object. Each facial feature point is usually tracked by performing a local search for the best matching position, around which the appearance is most similar to the one in the initial frame. However, the model-free methods are susceptible to the inevitable tracking errors due to the aperture problems, noise, and occlusion. Model-based methods, on the other hand, focus on explicit modeling the shape of the objects. Recently, extensive work has been focused on the shape representation of deformable objects such as active contour models (Snakes) [314], deformable template method [708], active shape model (ASM) [105], active appearance model (AAM) [102], direct appearance model (DAM) [266], elastic bunch graph matching (EBGM) [682], morphable models [305], and active blobs [558]. Although the model-based methods utilize much knowledge on the face to realize an effective tracking, these models are limited to some common assumptions, e.g. a nearly frontal view face and moderate facial expression changes, and tend to fail under large pose variations or facial deformations in real world applications.
Novel Targeted Therapeutics for Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

The peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are a group of aggressive mature T-cell and natural killer cell (NK) neoplasm’s that present with great morphological and molecular heterogeneity (Anderson et al. 1998). They are relatively rare diseases, constituting <15 % of all NHL’s (Groves et al. 2000). The present 2008 WHO classification recognizes over 20 sub-types of mature T-cell and NK-cell malignancies (WHO 2008). These sub-types are listed in Table 1 along with the annual incidence rates and 3 year survival rates as reported in the SEER database (Seer Cancer Statistic 1975). The most common histologies include: PTCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS); anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). Similar to the B-cell neoplasm’s, the T-cell lymphomas can be broadly classified as aggressive or indolent malignancies. The most aggressive histologies include PTCL-NOS, hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, the gamma/delta T-cell malignancies and extranodal NK/T-cell nasal type lymphoma. PTCL-NOS is often viewed as a “wastebasket” category for those diseases that do not fit cleanly into the other sub-types. Most cases of PTCL lack distinct genetic or biological alterations and prognostic models have largely relied on clinical features or simple biological factors such as proliferation. Despite a relatively poor understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of these diseases, significant progress has been made in the understanding of many PTCL entities. For example, ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is considered a distinct disease entity which is distinguished from the provisional entity of ALK negative ALCL, due to the distinct molecular pathogenesis, relatively younger age group in which it presents and better prognosis. Based on the recent publications from the ‘The International T-cell Lymphoma Project’, an international effort of over 22 centers worldwide which collected data from over 1,314 cases of T-cell and NK -cell lymphoma, we now recognize that PTCL-NOS is a distinct entity from ALK negative ALCL as the former is associated with a markedly inferior prognosis (Vose et al. 2008) Table 2.
Sentiment Analysis of Surveys using both Numeric Ratings and Text Comments.

There are in general two ways of analyzing people’s opinions about some items in question. One is based on quantitative data collected from surveys using statistical approaches, and this approach has been around for many years. The second, which is referred to as sentiment analysis, is to extract the attitude from a set of text documents, as positive, negative, or neutral. These two approaches use different methods to tackle different sets of data and rarely mixed. However, there are cases where both numeric rating data and text documents are available for the same item set. In this paper, we propose a method of combining numeric ratings and written comments to address the problem of sentiment analysis with some experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Mazzola's model of fuxian counterpoint

This paper critiques Guerino Mazzola's derivation of traditional counterpoint rules, arguing that those principles are not well-modeled by pitchclass intervals; that Mazzola's differential treatment of fifths and octaves is not supported musically or by traditional counterpoint texts; that Mazzola's specific calculations are not reproducible; that there are a number of intuitive considerations weighing against Mazzola's explanation; that the fit between theory and evidence is not good; and that Mazzola's statistical arguments are flawed. This leads to some general methodological reflections on different approaches to mathematical music theory, as well as to an alternative model of first-species counterpoint featuring the orbifold T2/S2.
A pilot study of multiple paternity in three litters of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) off the South Carolina/Georgia coast

The spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is the target of the largest U.S. shark fishery where stock size is monitored and assessed. Understanding and defining regional populations is essential to conservation efforts. Previous work on spiny dogfish in U.S. waters has concentrated on sampling from New England and the North Carolina/Virginia coast. The migratory habits and reproductive traits of these sharks have been described, but little can be found about the southernmost part of the population, including those occupying the coast of South Carolina and Georgia. This pilot study investigated the reproductive biology of the spiny dogfish in the southernmost region. Three family groups of spiny dogfish were sampled and five microsatellite loci were used to screen for multiple paternity. Both litter size and overall genetic diversity were consistent with values reported in other parts of the range. In addition, no evidence of multiple paternity or parthenogenesis was found in the three family groups. The analysis of additional samples will provide clarity about the southern population and contribute to effective population management.
Association of Vitamin D Status with Chronic Disease Risk Factors and Cognitive Dysfunction in 50–70 Year Old Adults

Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has been primarily associated with skeletal disorders, however, since vitamin D receptors are found on multiple types of cells, there is also a link to increased chronic disease risk and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study was to examine whether deficient/insufficient vitamin D levels are associated with risk factors of chronic diseases and cognitive dysfunction in 50 to 70 year old adults. Participants completed the health status, three-day dietary record and vitamin D food frequency, sun exposure, and international physical activity questionnaires. Cognitive function of the participants was assessed using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics while body composition (percent body fat, android/gynoid ratio) was assessed using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Applanation tonometry was used to obtain pressure wave forms at the radial artery to examine arterial stiffness and central pressures. A fasting blood draw was taken to measure vitamin D, blood lipid and glucose levels. Fifty percent of the participants (36/72) were vitamin D deficient/insufficient. Individuals in the low physical activity (PA) group had lower serum vitamin D concentration compared to those in the high PA group (p = 0.04). Moreover, serum vitamin D levels were negatively related to risk factors of chronic diseases; blood glucose (r = −0.38; p = 0.01), triglycerides (r = −0.27; p = 0.02), and android/gynoid ratio (r = −0.32; p = 0.01). Deficient/insufficient vitamin D levels are linked to the risk factors of chronic diseases in men and women aged 50 to 70 years.
Synthesis of 1,3-connected polyarylmethanes

1,3-Connected polyarylmethanes were synthesized using repetitive additions of aryllithiums to carbonyl compounds. The polyarylmethanes with molecular mass up to 2900 amu were purified by chromatography and characterized using FABMS, NMR, and elemental analyses. FABMS and 2D COSY NMR were found particularly useful in characterization of large polyarylmethanes
Kidney Injury Detection and Prevention in Children (KIDPIC)

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) increases morbidity and mortality, yet remains difficult to diagnose in clinical practice even in the inpatient setting, where fewer than 0.4% of inpatients are correctly diagnosed with AKI. Multiple AKI definitions, the lack of baseline creatinine data in many children, and age-related creatinine changes make recognition of AKI in the fast-paced clinical environment, such as the emergency department (ED), especially challenging. …
Individual and neighborhood predictors of retention in care and viral suppression among Florida youth (aged 13-24) living with HIV in 2015.

Youth aged 13‒24 are less likely to be retained in HIV care and be virally suppressed than older age groups. This study aimed to assess predictors of retention in HIV care and viral suppression amo...
Near zero laser speckle liquid crystal device

Laser-based displays suffer from speckle noise due to the random inference patterns of scattered coherent light from rough surfaces. Commonly utilized solution, such as moving diffusers, creates time-varying speckle patterns that were averaged on the observer’s retina or the image sensor. This solution requires the use of motorized parts and can be bulky with the potential risk of mechanical failure. We present a liquid crystal device that reduces speckle noise by over 90%. It is electrically driven, compact, and with no motorized parts. The randomized, time-varying domains with mismatched refractive indices of the liquid crystals produce varying speckle patterns. A near zero speckle contrast is achieved.
Visualization of Hydrogen Evolution at Individual Platinum Nanoparticles at a Buried Interface

Electrochemical processes occurring at solid/solid and solid/membrane interfaces govern the behavior of a variety of energy storage devices, including electrocatalytic reactions at electrode/membrane interfaces in fuel cells and ion insertion at electrode/electrolyte interfaces in solid-state batteries. Due to the heterogeneity of these systems, interrogation of interfacial activity at nanometer length scales is desired to understand system performance, yet the buried nature of the interfaces makes localized activity inaccessible to conventional electrochemical techniques. Herein, we demonstrate nanoscale electrochemical imaging of hydrogen evolution at individual Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) positioned at a buried interface using scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM). Specifically, we image the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at individual carbon-supported PtNP electrocatalysts covered by a 100 to 800 nm thick layer of the proton exchange membrane Nafion. The rate of hydrogen evolution at PtNP at this buried interface is shown to be a function of Nafion thickness, with the highest activity observed for ∼200 nm thick films.
Chapter 165 – Metabolism

Publisher Summary Insects exhibit many unique metabolic characteristics. The brevity of this chapter only allows discussion of a few select examples. Metabolic studies with insects have focused on the biochemical bases for the unique physiological capabilities of insects and their arthropod relatives. Metabolism and utilization of the glucose disaccharide trehalose as the principal hemolymph or blood sugar is unique to insects and some other invertebrates. First described from an insect by G. R. Wyatt in pupae of the silk moth, Antheraea polyphemus, trehalose, a nonreducing sugar, occurs in many insects at variable but high levels. In lepidopteran insects, trehalose concentrations are commonly between 25 and 100 mM, levels greatly exceeding those of glucose in the blood of mammals. Blood glucose in man typically is about 5 mM, a low value for trehalose in hemolymph. With few exceptions, glucose occurs in insect hemolymph at levels less than 5 mM and often at less than 1 mM. Trehalose serves multiple functions, as a storage carbohydrate that serves as a fuel for flight and as a cryoprotectant, protecting insects from damage during overwintering in cold climes. Relatively few investigations have been conducted on molecular genetic aspects of metabolism and metabolic regulation. Available techniques in cell and molecular biology, including differential display and microarray analysis, offer marvelous opportunities to examine the “transcriptional physiology” of hormonal and nutritional regulation of intermediary metabolism.
Overview: Management of the Injured Patient.

Salman Ahmad, MD, FACS, is Assistant Professor of Surgery, Medical Director Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Acute Care Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, University of Missouri Healthcare, Columbia, Missouri. Contact: ude.iruossim.htlaeh@asdamha Open in a separate window