cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Studies on Folding Intermediates of Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase Using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer

Previous studies have demonstrated that the in vitro folding pathway of Escherichia coli serine hydroxymethyltransferase has both monomer and dimer intermediates that are stable for periods of minutes to hours at 4 degrees C (Cai K., Schirch, D., and Schirch, V. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 19294-19299). Single Trp mutant enzymes were constructed and used in combination with other methods to show that on the folding pathway of this enzyme two domains rapidly fold to form a monomer in which the amino-terminal 55 amino acid residues and a segment around the active site region of Lys229 remain in a largely disordered form. This partially folded enzyme can form dimers and slowly undergoes a rate-determining conformational change in which the unstructured segments assume their native state (Cai, K. , and Schirch, V. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 2987-2994). To further assess the kinetics and structural details of the intermediates during folding, fluorescence energy transfer and fluorescence anisotropy measurements were made of the three Trp residues and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, attached covalently to the active site by reduction to a secondary amine by sodium cyanoborohydride. These studies confirmed that the basic kinetic folding pathway remained the same in the reduced enzyme as compared to the earlier studies with the apoenzyme. Both equilibrium and kinetic intermediates were identified and their structural characteristics determined. The results show that the active site Lys229-bound pyridoxyl 5'-phosphate remains more than 50 angstroms from any Trp residues until the final rate-determining conformational change when it approaches each Trp residue at the same rate. The environment of each Trp residue and the pyridoxyl phosphate in both an equilibrium folding intermediate and a kinetic folding intermediate are described.
The association of neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI with incident dementia and Alzheimer disease.

Objectives Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at high risk of developing dementia and/or Alzheimer disease (AD). Among persons with MCI, depression and anxiety have been associated with an increased risk of incident dementia. We examined whether neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI increased the risk of incident dementia (all-cause) and incident AD. Design Longitudinal cohort study followed annually (median: 1.58 years). Setting National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database combining clinical data from 29 Alzheimer's Disease Centers. Participants A total of 1,821 participants with MCI. Measurements 1) Progression to dementia (all-cause) or AD, 2) Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), 3) Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), 4) Clinical Dementia Rating Global Score and Sum of Boxes, and 5) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The association of covariates with risk of incident dementia or AD was evaluated with hazard ratios (HR) determined by Cox proportional-hazards models adjusted for age, ethnicity, Clinical Dementia Rating Global Score and Sum of Boxes, and MMSE. Results A total of 527 participants (28.9%) progressed to dementia and 454 (24.9%) to AD. Baseline GDS > 0 was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.17–1.84) and AD (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.14–1.83). Baseline NPI > 0 was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.12–1.66) and AD (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.09–1.66). Conclusions Neuropsychiatric symptoms in MCI are associated with significantly an increased risk of incident dementia and AD. Neuropsychiatric symptoms may be among the earliest symptoms of preclinical stages of AD and targeting them therapeutically might delay transition to dementia.
Optimal Phasing and Inventory Decisions for Large-Scale Residential Development Projects

The model presented in this paper utilizes and extends the real options framework to concurrently estimate optimal phasing and inventory decisions for large-scale residential development projects. Economies of scale in construction, pricing power, carrying costs, signaling effects, demand momentum and demand volatility are all considered to examine the potential impact of these variables on production strategies in real estate markets with different underlying characteristics. The results offer insight into the housing production process and help explain the behavior of firms engaged in the conversion of raw land into residential lots.
The ballad of Thundercluck: Chicken of Thor

Half mortal. Half god. All natural chicken. This is the story of Thundercluck, a viking chicken with the power of thunder.
A MULTIPLIER GLIDING HUMP PROPERTY FOR SEQUENCE SPACES

We consider the Banach-Mackey property for pairs of vector spaces E and E0 which are in duality. Let A be an algebra of sets and assume that P is an additive map from A into the projection operators on E. We define a continuous gliding hump property for the map P and show that pairs with this gliding hump property and another measure theoretic property are Banach-Mackey pairs,i.e., weakly bounded subsets of E are strongly bounded. Examples of vector valued function spaces, such as the space of Pettis integrable functions, which satisfy these conditions are given.
Genetic tool monitor (GTM) for micro-end-milling operations

Almost all existing tool condition monitoring methods require either the critical parameters of models which are experimentally found or the self-learning algorithms that are trained with existing data. Genetic Tool Monitor (GTM) is proposed to identify the problems by using an analytical model for micro-end-milling operations and genetic algorithm. The current version of the GTM is capable to monitor the micro-end-milling operations without any previous experience and is able to estimate symmetrical wear and local damages at the cutting edges of a tool. Genetic algorithms (GA) are found as a promising health monitoring tool if an expression exists and the necessary computational time is allowable in that particular application. GTM generates meaningful information about the ongoing operation and allows the establishment of rules based on the operators' experience.
Real-time acquisition and tracking for GPS receivers

Current GPS receivers spend much time in base-band processing, performing acquisition and tracking. This is due to the large number of required operations in the software-based signal processing. This paper presents a novel signal acquisition and tracking method that reduces the number of operations, simplifies hardware implementation and decreases the acquisition time. The implementation of this method in an FPGA provides very fast processing of incoming GPS samples that satisfies real-time requirements.
Some Consequences of the Meadian Self

Mead’s conception of the self is analyzed as an internal interaction process, with the “I” viewed as taking perspectives rather than being simply a biologic response. Conceptualizing the self as an intrapersonal process of interaction from differentiated perspectives permits a better understanding of false fronting, autonomy, and creativity. Emergence theory allows us to take a Phenomenological view of the self. Several levels of consciousness in Mead’s theory are analyzed, and connections with Berger and Luckmann’s conceptions of objectivation and the symbolic universe are suggested. Sociological writers from as diverse traditions as positivism, functionalism, and phenomenology, as well as symbolic interactionism, have incorporated into their theories George Herbert Mead’s “I” and “me” conception of the self. The implication-and a correct one, I believe-is that Mead’s notion of the self is a cornerstone of the sociological perspective, bringing together in common focus as it does reflective consciousness, communication, thinking, and the coordination of the phases of the social act. For all that potential, it is remarkable that the vast bulk of the references to the implications of Mead’s theory of the self in the literature and in research are limited to three notions: (1) that the individual gains self-consciousness through the “me”; (2) that one’s self-conception derives from the responses others make toward one; (3) that social control is in large part self-control exercised over the “I” by the “me”, especially in the form of the “generalized other.” If these implications were all Mead had contributed, he would not have gone much beyond Cooley or William James. In this paper I want to suggest some lines along which an elaboration of Mead’s theory, in some cases beyond just what he said or even intended, has promise of contributing much more to social psychology and sociology than is commonly recognized.
Quantitative quality control in microarray image processing and data acquisition

A new integrated image analysis package with quantitative quality control schemes is described for cDNA microarray technology. The package employs an iterative algorithm that utilizes both intensity characteristics and spatial information of the spots on a microarray image for signal–background segmentation and defines five quality scores for each spot to record irregularities in spot intensity, size and background noise levels. A composite score qcom is defined based on these individual scores to give an overall assessment of spot quality. Using qcom we demonstrate that the inherent variability in intensity ratio measurements is closely correlated with spot quality, namely spots with higher quality give less variable measurements and vice versa. In addition, gauging data by qcom can improve data reliability dramatically and efficiently. We further show that the variability in ratio measurements drops exponentially with increasing qcom and, for the majority of spots at the high quality end, this improvement is mainly due to an improvement in correlation between the two dyes. Based on these studies, we discuss the potential of quantitative quality control for microarray data and the possibility of filtering and normalizing microarray data using a quality metrics-dependent scheme.
Motion Alphabet Augmentation Based on Past Experiences

Multi-modal control is a commonly used design tool for breaking up complex control tasks into sequences of simpler tasks. It has previously been shown that rapidly-exploring randomized trees (as well as other viable approaches) can be used for reachability computations given a set of modes, and reinforcement learning can be performed over the reachable set to obtain the optimal control sequence. In this paper, we investigate the problem of adding new modes to a motion description language in a structured manner. We formalize an approach for augmenting the motion alphabet by adding new modes to reduce the complexity of the control program. In particular, we show a general technique for combining recurring mode sequences into one smooth "meta-mode". This problem is solved using a variational approach and numerical examples illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
Self-monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG): Now and the Future

In 2002, the cost of diabetes in the United States reached $132 billion. There is a well-established relationship between blood glucose control and the risk of diabetes-related complications. Tight blood glucose control, through intensive diabetes therapy, reduces the risk and delays the onset of diabetesrelated microvascular complications. Regular and consistent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is and should be a part of all diabetes disease state management programs. Pharmacists can truly increase the numbers of patients who use SMBG by being aware and familiar with the monitoring devices available to patients and identifying the physical and psychological issues surrounding SMBG. Results from SMBG and hemoglobin A1C are the basis formost of the medical decisions made for patients with diabetes. This review discusses the best time for patients to test their blood glucose, information regarding blood glucose monitoring devices, alternative site testing, and the newest technology available in gluco...
Results of Some Base Pressure Experiments at Intermediate Reynolds Numbers with M=2.84

Base pressure data are presented for a cone-cylinder model at Mach Number 2.84 and Reynolds Numbers from 45,000 to 400,000. These data verify the maximum in base pressure coefficient (pb/p) predicted by Crocco and Lees which occurs between the completely laminar and turbulent flow regimes. Sting length requirements for this model are summarized reflecting the growth of the critical wake region with decreasing Reynolds Number. Results from varying the base pressure orifice location and sting diameter are also given.
Content Design Frameworks for Internet Studies Curricula and Research.

This article examines instructional frameworks for university‐level education in Internet content design. Examined are academic constructs, philosophies and strategies from two disciplines traditionally associated with content ‐ herein defined as instructional science and informational studies. These approaches are then extended into a curricula paradigm for academic studies in Internet content design. The intent of the article is to begin dialog on the development of university‐level curricula and degree programs in Internet studies.
The experimental determination of equivalent networks for a coaxial line to helix junction

Equivalent networks were determined for a right angle transition between a coaxial line and a shielded helix. By employing a movable mercury short on the helix it was possible to determine these equivalent circuits through the use of well-known microwave measurement techniques. Utilizing the possible physical connection which might exist between the junction and its equivalent circuit, an attempt was made to measure quantitatively the effect of varying various parameters in the junction. For the limited number of cases studied, no simple connection between the elements of the equivalent circuit and the physical parameters of the junction was discovered. Although the results for the equivalent networks were very sensitive to small experimental errors, by using these networks it was possible to calculate reasonably accurate values of input impedence in the coaxial line for known impedance terminations on the helix.
Revision of the workplace bullying checklist: the importance of human resource management's role in defining and addressing workplace bullying

Human resource professionals (HRPs) in the US are important actors in workplace bullying (WB) situations. Most WB research currently focuses on the target but fails to include the individual most often left to interpret and respond to complaints of bullying – the HRP. We argue that because HRPs must work to identify, understand and deal with victims and bullies; HR should have a voice in assessing WB. The difficulties HRPs report in effectively responding to employee complaints of WB have been attributed to a number of factors, including conflicts among multiple HR roles in the organisation, a paucity of specific organisational policies and guidelines for dealing with bullying, and ambiguous definitions and criteria for behaviour to be considered bullying. The impetus for the study reported here was the need to clarify the definition of bullying incorporating the HR perspective, determine what behaviours and criteria are seen as bullying by HRPs. Scale use and limitations are discussed as well as theoretical and practical implications.
The sources of skill in seriating cups in children, monkeys and apes

Is a concept of either reversibility or of hierarchical forms of combination necessary for skilled seriation? We examined this question by presenting seriating cups to adult capuchin monkeys and chimpanzees and to 11-, 16- and 21-month-old children. Capuchins and chimpanzees consistently created seriated sets with five cups, and placed a sixth cup into a previously seriated set. Children of all three ages created seriated five-cup sets less consistently than the capuchins and chimpanzees, and were rarely able to place a sixth cup into a seriated set. Twenty-one-month-olds produced more structures containing three or more cups than did the younger age groups, and these children also achieved seriated sets more frequently. Within all participant groups, success at seriating five cups was associated with the frequency of combining three or more cups, regardless of form. The ability to integrate multiple elements in persistent combinatorial activity is sufficient for the emergence of seriation in young children, monkeys and apes. Reliance on particular methods of combination and a concept of reversibility are later refinements that can enhance skilled seriation.
THE SLOW-DRIFT MOTION OF ARRAYS OF VERTICAL CYLINDERS

The large-amplitude rectilinear ‘slow-drift’ oscillation of a floating body constrained by a weak restoring force in random waves is considered. The free-surface flow is approximated by a perturbation series expansion for a small slow-drift velocity and wave steepness. A model slow-drift equation of motion is derived, the time-dependent slow-drift excitation force and wave damping coefficient are defined and the complete series of free-surface problems governing their magnitude are formulated. The free-surface problem governing the wave-drift damping coefficient in monochromatic waves is studied and an explicit solution is obtained for a vertical circular cylinder of infinite draught. This solution is extended for arrays of vertical circular cylinders by employing an exact interaction theory. The wave-drift damping coefficient is evaluated for configurations of interest in practice and an expression is derived for the steady drifting velocity of an unconstrained body in regular waves.
Optical assessment of nonimaging concentrators

An optical measurement method for nonimaging radiation concentrators is proposed. A Lambertian light source is placed in the exit aperture of the concentrator. Looking into the concentrator's entrance aperture from a remote position, one can photograph the transmission patterns. The patterns show the transmission of radiation through the concentrator with the full resolution of the four-dimensional phase space of geometric optics. By matching ray-tracing simulations to the measurement, one can achieve detailed and accurate information about the geometry of the concentrator. This is a remote, noncontact measurement and can be performed in situ for installed concentrators. Additional information regarding small-scale reflector waviness and surface reflectivity can also be obtained from the same measurement with additional analysis.
Discussion of “Some Controversial Multiple Testing Problems in Regulatory Applications”

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this paper. We focus on two issues in the “multiple doses and multiple endpoints” setting. The first issue is, as pointed out by the authors, whether inf...
Observing transaction-time semantics with /sub TT/XPath

Transaction time is the time of database transactions that create, modify, or destroy facts. It is used to record when facts exist in a database. Accounting for transaction time is essential to supporting audit queries that delve into past database states and differential queries that pinpoint differences between two states. In a web context, transaction time is a problematic concept because there are no transactions. Browsers and other consumers of web data can observe snapshots of resources like XML documents but are rarely active participants in their creation or destruction. This paper presents the TTXPath data model and query language. TTXPath extends XPath with support for transaction time. XPath is a specification language for locations in an XML document. It serves as the basis for XML query languages like XSLT and XQuery, XPath has no temporal semantics. To construct a TTXPath data model, snapshots of an XML document are obtained over time by an observer The snapshots are then merged and transaction times are associated with each edge and node. The TTXPath query language extends XPath with a transaction-time axis to enable a query to access past or future states, and with constructs to extract and compare times. TTXPath maximally reuses XPath hence the changes needed to support transaction time are minimal and TTXPath is fully backwards compatible with XPath.
Review of the Hylomyscus denniae complex (Rodentia: Muridae) in Tanzania, with a description of a new species

ABSTRACT Based on morphological and morphometric comparisons, a new species of Hylomyscus, H. arcimontensis (Muridae: Murinae), is identified from Mount Rungwe and the Eastern Arc Mountains of central and eastern Tanzania. The new species is confined to wet montane forests of these mountains and represents another vertebrate endemic to the Tanganyika-Nyasa Montane Forest biotic region (sensu Moreau 1966). It is most closely related to H. anselli, a form described from mountains in northern Zambia as a subspecies of H. denniae and here elevated to species rank. Morphological evidence supports the view that the nominal species H. denniae is a composite of several species whose interrelationships and differentiation patterns indicate two species complexes: the H. denniae group centered in Central East African mountains (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zaire) and the H. anselli group distributed across more southern mountains (Angola, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia).
Exploring temporal patterns in classifying frustrated and delighted smiles (Extended abstract)

We created two experimental situations to elicit two affective states: frustration and delight. In the first experiment, participants were asked to recall situations while expressing either frustration or delight. The second experiment tried to elicit these states naturally with a frustrating experience and a delightful video. There were two significant differences between the acted and natural occurrences of the expressions. First, the acted instances were much easier for the computer to classify. Second, in 90 percent of the acted cases, participants did not smile when frustrated. In 90 percent of the natural cases, participants smiled during the frustrating interaction, despite self-reporting significant frustration with the experience. As a follow up study, we develop an automated system to distinguish between naturally occurring spontaneous smiles under frustrating and delightful stimuli by exploring their temporal patterns, given video of both. We extracted local and global features related to human smile dynamics. Next, we evaluated and compared two variants of Support Vector Machines (SVM), Hidden Markov Models (HMM), and Hidden-state Conditional Random Fields (HCRF) for binary classification. While human classification of the smile videos under frustrating stimuli was below chance, a dynamic SVM classifier obtained an accuracy of 92 percent in distinguishing smiles under frustrating and delighted stimuli.
Dual Flexural Plastic Hinge Design for Reducing Higher-Mode Effects on High-Rise Cantilever Wall Buildings

The paper explores the notion of detailing reinforced concrete structural walls to develop base and mid-height plastic hinges for better control of the seismic response of tall cantilever wall buildings to strong shaking. This concept, termed here dual flexural plastic hinge concept, is used to reduce the effects of higher modes of response in high-rise buildings. Higher modes can significantly increase the flexural demands in tall cantilever wall buildings. Buildings with 10, 20 and 40 stories are designed according to three different approaches: ACI-318, Eurocode 8, and the proposed dual plastic hinge concept. The buildings are designed for and subjected to three specific historical strong near-fault ground motions. The investigation clearly shows that the dual hinge design concept is effective at reducing the effects of the second mode of response. An advantage of the concept is that, when combined with capacity design, it can result in relaxation of special reinforcing detailing in large portions of the walls.
Sustainability for Suburbs

The purpose of this paper is to encourage dialogue resulting in action to address unsustainable suburban sprawl. This paper focuses upon suburbs out of recognition that regional and global sustainability is not approachable until the adverse impacts of suburban sprawl and decline are resolved.
How Partisan Conflict in Congress Affects Public Opinion Strategies, Outcomes, and Issue Differences

Scholars are increasingly interested in how partisan conflict in Congress affects public evaluations of institutional performance. Yet, existing research overlooks how the public responds to one of...
Viewpoint: Unresolved mysteries

in an editorial in the March 2012 issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology , Nieman ([11][1]) highlighted a topic that has simmered below the surface for decades, i.e., how does the lung acinus expand with lung inflation. Indeed, the topic may be the last frontier of gross anatomy, but it is one
Two decades of research on luxury hotels: a review and research agenda.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to execute a review of 65 journal articles published between 1994 and 2013 that pertain to luxury hotels. The articles were sorted by research theme, country of origin, methodology, year of publication, and publishing journal. Among the nine research themes, marketing, human resources, and technology were examined most frequently. The majority of the studies utilized quantitative rather than qualitative approaches, and employed a diversity of statistical analysis techniques. The present study is a pioneer in assessing studies on luxury hotels as well as identifying future research opportunities.
Autoignition of Binary Fuel Blends of n-Butanol and n-Heptane in a Rapid Compression Machine

Autoignition of binary blends of n-butanol and n-heptane was studied in a rapid compression machine at an equivalence ratio of 0.4 and a compressed pressure of 20 bar with the compressed temperature varying from 700 K to 907 K. Within the temperature range covered in this study, no cool flame or negative temperature coefficient behavior was observed for neat n-butanol. With the presence of n-heptane in the binary fuel mixture, the overall ignition delay is appreciably shortened as compared to that for neat n-butanol. In addition, all of the n-butanol/n-heptane blends investigated in this study exhibit pronounced cool flame behavior at low temperatures. The difference in total ignition delay between neat n-butanol and an n-butanol/n-heptane blend is observed to be temperature-dependent. Furthermore, a nonlinear relationship between the total ignition delay and the mole fraction of n-butanol in the binary fuel mixture is observed at low temperatures.
The National Practice Patterns of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Post-Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Background:The rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE) post-cardiothoracic surgery are not well understood. The american college of chest physicians (CHEST) guidelines report weak recommendations for...
234 COOL DIALYSATE: A NOVEL APPLICATION.

Background Endothelial dysfunction and impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is implicated as the underlying abnormality in hypertension; this effect may be mediated by cytokines. As cytokines have been shown to be temperature sensitive both in vivo and in vitro, we tested the effect of decreasing dialysate temperature on blood pressure and cytokines. Methods The sample included 24 stable HD subjects randomized to either a control (n = 13) or experimental (n = 11) group. Each individual patient was followed in the study for 9 months, divided into three 3-month phases. During Phase 1 and Phase 3, both groups of subjects received standard treatment (warm dialysate). During Phase 2, the patients were randomized to treatment with either warm dialysate (378C) or cool dialysate (18C lower than the mean pre-HD oral body temperature during the baseline 3 months). Serum samples for IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha were collected for 9 subjects at the end of each 3-month period and were measured in duplicate by using a multiplex assay (R&D). Results There was a significant improvement in prehemodialysis systolic blood pressures in Phase 2 in the experimental group (150.99 6 20.5 vs145.17 6 16.3, p = .04 by repeated measures ANOVA) as compared to the control group. The prehemodialysis diastolic blood pressures (85.09 6 14.1 vs 81.64 6 10.8, p = .06) also showed a similar direction of change. The mean pre-HD IL-1 beta (3.02 6 1.6 vs 1.24 6 0.26, p = .06) and TNF-alpha (21.11 6 30.21 vs 7.39 6 3.62, p = .06) were also lower in the experimental group after 3 months in the cool condition. Our hypothesis was further supported by the observation that there was a decrease in serum ferritin, an acute-phase reactant (709.2 6 299.6 vs 579.7 6 212.9) in the experimental group, which is also regulated by these same cytokines (IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha) and could possibly be related to improvement in inflammatory changes. Conclusions These data suggest that using cool dialysate during HD decreases pre-HD systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This effect may be mediated by an improvement in endothelial function, as measured by a decrease in selected markers of inflammation. Further study is warranted to explore the long-term beneficial effects of these changes on outcomes related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Role of general pulmonary function test in diagnosis and treatment of children's asthma

Objective To investigate role of general pulmonary function test in diagnosis and treatment of children's asthma and evaluation of therapeutic effect.Methods The general pulmonary function of 21 children with asthma in different stages were tested by using Master Screen System: 21children in acute attack period and 28 children in remission period completed the test respectively.At the same time,the data of other 30 children in acute attack period who received bronchodilatation test were analyzed.T-test and Chi-square test were used to compared the data in different stages.Results In general pulmonary function test results: forced vital capacity(FVC),forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1.0),forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity ratio(FEV1.0%),forced expiratory flow after 25%~75% of vital capacity has been expelled(FEF25~75) and peak expiratory flow(PEF),these were significant differences between the attack group and the remission group(t=2.47~5.37,all P0.01).The total abnormal rate of FEF25~75reached 100.00% in attack period and 53.57% in remission period,suggesting that dysfunction in small airway occurred even in remission period.These were significant differences between the attack group and the remission group in abnormal rates of FVC,FEV1.0,FEV1.0%,PEF and FEF25,FEF50 and FEF75(χ2=45.23,34.71,10.90,22.19,17.90,5.64,13.27,respectively,all P0.05).In bronchodilatation test,after atomization inhalation of ventolin,FVC,FEV1.0,FEV1.0%,PEF,FEF25~75of the children were increased significantly(t=4.76~7.01,all P0.01),suggesting that atomization inhalation of ventolin could decrease resistance of the airway quickly and improve pulmonary ventilation,which further demonstrated that the obstructed airway of the children with asthma was reversible and could be resolved.Conclusion The general pulmonary function test can be used in diagnosis and treatment of children's asthma.
Orthogonal factors of cardiac intervals and their response to stress.

Abstract Left ventricular intervals were determined on 61 middle-aged men in basal condition, during and after mental concentration and after submaximal exercise. Four orthogonal factors were determined from a factor analysis, using varimax rotation. The tests with the highest loadings for the four factors were mechanical systole, diastole, isovolumetric contraction period, and electromechanical lag. The effects of mental arithmetic and a submaximal ergometer ride on these intervals were determined by an analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range. The mental arithmetic caused significant reductions in diastole (23 standard scores), mechanical systole (17 SS), electromechanical lag (11 SS), and isovolumetric contraction period (4 SS). Exercise caused significant reductions in mechanical systole (46 SS), isovolumetric contraction period (33 SS), diastole (20 SS), and electromechanical lag (8 SS).
The reliability of lumbar motion palpation.

Objective This review surveys the literature regarding reliability studies of lumbar motion palpation. Data sources Using the indexing terms motion palpation lumbar spine and palpation, the following English language databases were surveyed: a) Medline, including back file; b) Embase; c) Cinahl; and d) Epic. Additionally, a manual search of the Chiropractic Research Archives Collection and JMPT was performed and researchers at Western States Chiropractic College were consulted. Pertinent references cited in bibliographies of retrieved papers were included if contributory. Study selection Studies pertaining to intra- and interexaminer reliability of lumbar motion palpation were reviewed. Data extraction Statistical analysis, subject selection, method of palpation and sources of error are discussed. Data synthesis Multiple variations were noted in type of palpation, subjects examined, statistical analysis and experience of examiners. Conclusions To date, most studies have demonstrated marginal to poor interexaminer reliability, while good to moderate intrarater reliability has generally been reported.
Overall Approach to the Evaluation and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Men

Publisher Summary This chapter intends to integrate the information concerning many of the factors concerning clinical evaluation of osteoporosis in men and the process of therapeutic intervention in a way that yields a current approach for use in clinical situations. Unfortunately, guidelines for efficient, cost-effective evaluations of patients having, or suspected of having, osteoporosis are poorly validated for either sex. Current practice is based on existing knowledge of the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of osteoporosis rather than upon models that have been carefully tested in prospective studies. Nevertheless, the information available concerning men has expanded considerably in the last decade and allows the formulation of a reasonable approach. Bone mineral density (BMD) is highly predictive of fracture risk in men and, in patients who have experienced fracture or who have conditions associated with low BMD, the measurement of BMD should be strongly considered. As above, clinical judgment is needed to make a decision to measure bone density in men with the conditions not so clearly related to fracture risk. In these situations, BMD measurements can be useful in several ways, including contributing to the diagnosis of skeletal fragility, gauging its severity and guiding decisions concerning therapy. Therefore, bone mineral density measurements have become a common part of the evaluation of fracture risk in men, but there are a number of challenging issues that still confront the choice and interpretation of those measures.
Corrosion of Metals in Concrete

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the key issues of the corrosion of metals in concrete, with emphasis on chloride-induced deterioration, quantitative approaches to forecast corrosion performance, and strategies to improve durability in new construction. Chloride-induced corrosion is widespread and causes severe structural damage throughout the world. Many of the findings, forecasting and control methods described also apply, with appropriate modification, to the problem of carbonation-induced corrosion. A two-stage description of the corrosion process can be used for carbonation-induced corrosion. In that case, during the initiation stage, the concrete carbonation front penetrates through the concrete until the pH of the pore solution at the reinforcement surface becomes low enough not to support passivity. The chapter discusses key factors affecting each of the deterioration stages and describes approaches to improve the durability of reinforced concrete subject to reinforcement corrosion. The scope is limited to those measures that can be taken at the design and construction stage and that do not involve external added systems. Improved resistance of galvanized reinforcement to that mode of attack has been documented in laboratory investigations, such as those by Gonzalez and Andrade. Durability improvements for this mode could also be quantified in terms of a modified durability model. The overall galvanized reinforcement corrosion experience may be a promising starting point for future rational analyses based on the initiation-propagation model to glean effective values of the key durability parameters to supplement those to be derived from future research.
Testicular Torsion in a 62-Year Old Man

A 62-year-old man is described who had surgically confirmed testicular torsion. This is the second oldest reported patient with this condition. Although uncommon in men more than 30 years old, this diagnosis should be considered when evaluating the acute scrotum in all age groups.
Towards lean for sustainability: Understanding the interrelationships between lean and sustainability from a systems thinking perspective

Abstract Over the last years, there has been growing pressure on businesses to manage their operations responsibly in regards to their environmental and societal impacts. This has motivated companies and researchers to identify ways to implementing sustainable operations. Studying the relationships between lean and sustainability appears to be a tangible way to answer the question of how to integrate and, therefore, jointly deploy these two initiatives. Notwithstanding that the investigation of lean and sustainability interrelationships has been perhaps one of the most recently researched topics, the majority of the research efforts do not adequately frame their analysis on the triple-bottom-line aspects of sustainability. The limited perspective of previous studies leaves us with a fragmented understanding of the synergies between lean and sustainability, a prerequisite for developing integration approaches. This work expands previous literature reviews by analyzing lean and sustainability under a systems thinking lens, more specifically by using distinctions, systems, relations, and perspectives theory. To sharpen our understanding, we identify and analyze the interrelationships between lean and sustainability and their impact on performance from the operational, financial, societal, and environmental viewpoints. From our review, we identified a set of building blocks for developing a lean-for-sustainability integration framework with the intention of promoting the discussion on how companies can embed sustainability into their operations.
(2,2′-Bipyridine N,N′-dioxide-κ2O,O′)diiodomercury(II)

The title compound, [HgI2(C10H8N2O2)], is a further example of a mercury halide complex of the chelating BipyO2 ligand (BipyO2 is 2,2′-bipyridine N,N′-dioxide). As observed for similar compounds, the coordination polyhedron of the Hg atom is a severely distorted tetrahedron, in which Hg is coordinated by two I atoms and two O atoms of the ligand.
Serve and return: Communication foundations for early childhood music policy stakeholders

ABSTRACTServe-and-return interactions between a young child and caregiver are cited as integral to healthy child development and language development. In this article, the authors assert that serve-and-return interactions offer a relevant model for policy development in early childhood music education. They share contemporary evidence that music learning and development begins in the womb, continues during infancy, and needs to be prioritized in preschool and early elementary years. Next, they trace the policy landscape for early childhood education and music education in the United States since 2008. Although the landscape has remained stark, the authors offer recent glimmers of possibilities and conclude with actionable steps for improving early childhood music education policies.
Addiction Doesn’t Exist, But it is Bad for You

There is a debate about the nature of addiction, whether it is a result of brain damage, brain dysfunction, or normal brain changes that result from habit acquisition, and about whether it is a disease. I argue that the debate about whether addiction is a disease is much ado about nothing, since all parties agree it is “unquestionably destructive.” Furthermore, the term ‘addiction’ has disappeared from recent DSM’s in favor of a spectrum of ‘abuse’ disorders. This may be a good thing indicating more nuance in typing the heterogeneous phenomena we used to call ‘addiction’.
Flexible memristor based neuromorphic system for implementing multi-layer neural network algorithms

AbstractThis paper describes a memristor-based neuromorphic system that can be used for ex situ training of various multi-layer neural network algorithms. This system is based on an analogue neuron circuit that is capable of performing an accurate dot product calculation. The presented ex situ programming technique can be used to map many key neural algorithms directly onto the grid of resistances in a memristor crossbar. Using this weight-to-crossbar mapping approach along with the memristor based circuit architecture, complex neural algorithms can be easily implemented using this system. Some existing memristor based circuits provide an approximated dot product based on conductance summation, but neuron outputs are not directly correlated to the numerical values obtained in a traditional software approach. To show the effectiveness and versatility of this circuit, two different powerful neural networks were simulated. These include a Restricted Boltzmann Machine for character recognition and a Multilaye...
The social media response to Black Lives Matter: how Twitter users interact with Black Lives Matter through hashtag use

This paper focuses on the social media presence of Black Lives Matter (BLM). Specifically, we examine how social media users interact with BLM by using hashtags and thus modify the framing of the m...
A Formal Framework of Resource Management for VNFaaS in Cloud

Modern computer networks heavily depend on expensive and proprietary hardware deployed at fixed locations. Network functions virtualization (NFV), one of the fastest emerging topics in networking, reduces the limitations of these vendor specific hardware by introducing flexibility in the network architecture and elasticity in the deployment of innovative network functions. Service providers are offering virtual network functions as a service (VNFaaS), where consumers can use softwarized network applications running on a cloud infrastructure. NFV allows a flexible and dynamic implementation of virtual network functions in virtual machines deployed on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers in various locations, as well as in the core cloud infrastructure. However, allocating resources to these virtual machines is a large combinatorial problem, and requires a solution in a timely manner in terms of various requirements. In this work, we propose VNFSynth, an automated synthesis framework, to solve this problem. VNFSynth models the resource specifications, incoming packet processing requirements, bandwidth constraints, etc., with respect to the physical network, existing resources, and VNF properties, and determines the VM network architecture. It uses satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) to model this synthesis problem. The evaluation results demonstrate the scalability and usability of the solution.
Design for the illiterate: a scoping review of tools for improving the health literacy of electronic health resources

Nearly 1 in 5 people living in the United States cannot read at even a basic level, a condition which greatly affects health outcomes. Despite this, most electronic health resources are reliant not...
Utility of Risk Stratification for Paclitaxel Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Background Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) are a common impediment to paclitaxel therapy. Management strategies to guide care after a paclitaxel-induced HSR are needed. Objective The objective was to evaluate the utility and safety of risk stratification on the basis of severity of the initial HSR. Methods A risk stratification pathway was developed on the basis of a retrospective review of the management and outcome of 130 patients with paclitaxel-induced HSRs at Massachusetts General Hospital. This pathway was then studied prospectively in patients referred to Allergy/Immunology with paclitaxel-induced HSRs. Results The study population (n = 35) had a mean age of 56.1 ± 12 years and most were women (n = 33 [94%]). All 5 patients (15%) with grade 1 initial HSRs were successfully reexposed to paclitaxel, 1 patient at the standard infusion rate and 4 patients at 50% of the standard infusion rate. Thirty patients (85%) with grade 2 to 4 initial HSRs underwent initial paclitaxel desensitization based on the risk stratification pathway. No patients developed severe HSRs using the pathway. Eleven (31%) patients had HSRs that were mild to moderate in nature (grade 1, n = 4 [11%]; grade 2, n = 6 [17%]; grade 3, n = 1 [3%]) during their first desensitization. Sixteen (46%) of the 35 patients safely returned to the outpatient infusion setting for paclitaxel treatment at 50% of the standard infusion rate. Seven (20%) discontinued paclitaxel before the completion of the risk stratification pathway because of disease progression, completion of therapy, or death. Conclusions A management strategy using the initial HSR severity for risk stratification allowed patients to receive paclitaxel safely.
Preparation of aerochitin‐TiO2 composite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

An aerochitin–titania (TiO2) composite was successfully synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption isotherms. The photocatalytic activity of the composite was investigated on the degradation of the model organic pollutant, methylene blue (MB) dye, under UV irradiation. The aerochitin–TiO2 composite showed excellent adsorptive and photocatalytic activity with a degradation degree of 98% for MB. The first-order rate constants for the photodegradation MB by TiO2 nanoparticles and aerochitin–TiO2 composite were found to be (3.49 ± 0.04) × 10−3 and (1.82 ± 0.02) × 10−2min−1. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 135, 45908.
Accuracy of Angle Rate Measurements Using a Distributed Radar With a Correlation Receiver

Direct measurements of the angle rate of moving objects using a distributed radar have recently been demonstrated in theory and practice. In this letter, the theoretical accuracy of angle rate measurements using a simple correlation receiver is derived and compared to the theoretical accuracy of a more general but less intuitive root-multiplier receiver described in previous work. In particular, the correlation receiver bound on angle rate accuracy is shown to be dependent on the radiation intensity of the electric field rather than the field itself, as is the case for the root-multiplier receiver. The result is that the correlation receiver does not as closely represent the optimal form to achieve the theoretical bound on measurement accuracy. However, despite this, it is shown that there are clear operational regions where the correlation receiver nonetheless outperforms the more general root-multiplier receiver.