cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-disclosure responses to stigmatizing disclosures: Communicating with gays and potentially HIV+ individuals

Knowledge gained through symbolic and instrumental interpretations of attitudes toward persons with AIDS suggests that positive attitudes toward gays or persons with AIDS (symbolic factors) and less knowledge and greater fear ofAIDS contraction (instrumental factors) will lead to more convergence of self-disclosure outcomes in interactions with gays or persons withAIDS. The initial prediction, and the findings of the current investigation, are consistent with a communication accommodation theory prediction of greater convergence being related to greater liking or tolerance of an interaction partner's group membership. Finally, whereas the extant literature regarding whether more convergence should be evidenced in nonstigmatized, gay, or potentially HIV+ interactions was inconsistent, the current investigation found selfdisclosure convergence on privateness, emotional intensity, and social desirability across all interactions regardless of stigmatization condition. Convergence on uniqueness and vulnerabili...
Vacuum-sealed high temperature high bandwidth fiber optic pressure and acoustic sensors

A novel vacuum-sealed miniature optical fiber sensor for static pressure or acoustic wave measurement is presented. This pressure sensor functions as a diaphragm-based extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (DEFPI) sensor. The sensor can work at high temperatures because of its all-silica structure. In static pressure measurement, the sensor's measurement range can be set up to 15,000psi with different thickness diaphragms. For acoustic applications, the sensor resonant frequency is higher than 600kHz. Evacuation of the sensor's cavity eliminates the thermally induced inner pressure changes (which is a common problem in pressure sensors) and therefore improves the accuracy and repeatability. In addition, the sensor fabrication process is simple, fast, controllable and low cost. This fiber sensor is immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and corrosion resistant.
Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with treatment status in family members with obsessive‐compulsive disorder

This study investigated the demographic and clinical factors that influence treatment status in family members with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Six hundred and two subjects from the OCD Collaborative Genetics Study were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) to diagnose Axis I disorders, and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) for assessment of OCD symptoms. The demographic and clinical data were compared between subjects who had received treatment and those who had not. A precipitous onset of symptoms, severe illness, multiple obsessions and compulsions, and co-morbid affective disorders were all positively associated with receiving treatment. Older age and the presence of obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) or OCPD traits were negatively associated with treatment. Gender and age at onset of symptoms did not predict treatment history. The mean duration from onset of symptoms to receiving treatment was 13.8+/-SD 11.9 years, but there was a direct relationship between current age and time to treatment, with younger subjects receiving treatment sooner. Clinical factors are predominant in predicting treatment status in family members with OCD. Although the mean duration from onset of symptoms to treatment was long, younger family members appear to receive treatment sooner.
Detailed protocol of ischemia and the use of noninvasive vascular laboratory testing in diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers are frequently complicated by the presence of arterial occlusive disease (PAD). It is often difficult to assess the severity of ischemia by history and physical examination alone; a combination of different types of noninvasive laboratory testing may be necessary. Pulse-volume recordings and segmental pressures should be routinely obtained. If questions persist, an anatomic study is warranted. Duplex ultrasonography can provide accurate information with little risk to the patient and so should be readily obtained.
RNA determinants of translational operator recognition by the DNA polymerases of bacteriophages T4 and RB69

The DNA polymerases (gp43s) of the two related phages T4 and RB69 are DNA-binding proteins that also function as mRNA-binding autogenous translational repressors. As repressors, T4 gp43 is narrowly specific to its own mRNA whereas RB69 gp43 is equally effective against mRNA for either protein. We used in vitro RNase-sensitivity and RNA footprinting assays to identify features of the non-identical T4 and RB69 mRNA targets (translational operators) that allow for their identical binding affinities and biological responses to RB69 gp43. We observed that T4 gp43 and RB69 gp43 produce identical footprints on RNA substrates bearing the T4-derived operator, suggesting that the two gp43s make identical contacts with this operator. In contrast, the footprint produced by RB69 gp43 on its autogenous RNA target was shorter than its footprint on operator RNA from T4. As expected, we also observed only weak protection of RB69-derived operator RNA from RNase by T4 gp43; however, photocross-linking studies suggested that T4 gp43 recognizes structural features of the RB69-derived operator that are not detected by RNase- sensitivity assays. The results suggest that RB69 gp43 and T4 gp43 differ in their abilities to use RNA-sequence-independent interactions to configure potential RNA targets for translational repression.
3,3,3‐Trichloropropyltriphenylphosphonium Chloride

[804482-50-6] C21H19Cl4P (MW 444.16) (three-carbon homologation reagent) Physical Data: mp 138–145 °C. Solubility: sol alcohol, halogenated solvents. Form Supplied in: white crystals. Purification: recrystallized from dichloromethane. Preparative Methods: prepared in three steps starting from 2-chloroethanol. The alcohol was heated with slight excess of triphenylphosphine at 100 °C to afford β-hydroxyethyl triphenylphosphonium chloride. Dehydration of this phosphonium chloride was accomplished by heating with oxalyl chloride. Trichloromethide, generated by heating trichloroacetic acid in acetonitrile, was added to vinyl triphenylphosphonium chloride to give the desired phosphonium salt (eq 1). (1)
Enhancement of information transmission efficiency by synaptic failures

Many synapses have a high percentage of synaptic transmission failures. I consider the hypothesis that synaptic failures can increase the efficiency of information transmission across the synapse. I use the information transmitted per vesicle release about the presynaptic spike train as a measure of synaptic transmission efficiency and show that this measure can increase with the synaptic failure probability. I analytically calculate the Shannon mutual information transmitted across two model synapses with probabilistic transmission: one with a constant probability of vesicle release and one with vesicle release probabilities governed by the dynamics of synaptic depression. For inputs generated by a non-Poisson process with positive autocorrelations, both synapses can transmit more information per vesicle release than a synapse with perfect transmission, although the information increases are greater for the depressing synapse than for a constant-probability synapse with the same average transmission probability. The enhanced performance of the depressing synapse over the constant-release-probability synapse primarily reflects a decrease in noise entropy rather than an increase in the total transmission entropy. This indicates a limitation of analysis methods, such as decorrelation, that consider only the total response entropy. My results suggest that synaptic transmission failures governed by appropriately tuned synaptic dynamics can increase the information-carrying efficiency of a synapse.
Exchange Rate Expectations and the Current Exchange Rate: A Test of the Monetarist Approach

The monetarist model of the exchange rate includes expectations of the future exchange rate as a determinant of the current exchange rate. This paper investigates whether expectations are a significant determinant of the exchange rate. An expectations process that is consistent with a basic monetarist exchange rate model is considered. Alternative mea- sures of expectations are generated using this process. In the empirical tests, while the standard forward exchange premium measure of expectations is statistically insignificant, some of the alternative measures are observed to be statistically significant.
On the Rhetoric and Politics of Ethnographic Methodology

In a variety of ways, all ethnographies are politically cast and policy relevant. Each of three recurrent political rhetorics is related to a unique set of fieldwork practices. Ethnographies that report holistically on journeys to “the other side” build policy/political significance by contesting popular stereotypes. Theoretical ethnographies draw on political imagination to fill in for a lack of variation in participant observation data and to model an area of social life without attempting to rule out alternative explanations. Comparative analytic studies build political relevance by revealing social forces that are hidden by local cultures. Each of these three genres of ethnographic methodology faces unique challenges in relating fieldwork data to politically significant explanations. By shaping the ethnographer’s relations to subjects and readers, each methodology also structures a distinctive class identity for the researchers—as worker, as aristocrat, or as bourgeois professional.
Relation of central adiposity and body mass index to the development of diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program

Background: Greater central adiposity is related to the risk of diabetes. Objective: We aimed to test the hypothesis that central adiposity measured by computed tomography (CT) is a better predictor of the riskofdiabetesthanisbodymassindex(BMI),waistcircumference (WC), waist/hip ratio (WHR), or waist/height ratio. Design: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured at the L2–3 and L4–5 disc spaces in 1106 of the 3234 participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program. Sex-specific proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between VAT and SAT at both cuts, BMI, and other measures of central adiposity as predictors of the development of diabetes. Results: Men had more VAT than did women. White subjects had more VAT at both cuts than did other ethnic groups. The ratio of VATtoSATwaslowestinAfricanAmericansofbothsexes.Among menintheplacebogroup,VATatbothcuts,WC,BMI,waist/height ratio,andWHRpredicteddiabetes(hazardratio:1.79–1.44per1SD of variable). Among women in the lifestyle group, VAT at both cuts predicted diabetes as well as did BMI, and L2–3 was a significantly betterpredictorthanwasWCorWHR.SATdidnotpredictdiabetes. None of the body fat measurements predicted diabetes in the metformin group. Conclusions:In the placebo and lifestyle groups, VAT at both cuts, WHR,andWCpredicteddiabetes.Nomeasurepredicteddiabetesin
Isocitrate Lyase and Malate Synthase Genes from Brassica napus L. Are Active in Pollen

To investigate if pollen possesses glyoxysomal function, we analyzed the activities of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase genes. Because the activities of these enzymes were exceedingly low in pollen extracts, we constructed fusion genes encoding [beta]-glucuronidase (GUS) that are regulated by isocitrate lyase or malate synthase promoters from Brassica napus L. to increase the sensitivity of our assays. Expression of the fusion genes in transgenic tobacco was qualitatively similar to that of the endogenous genes; GUS activity was low in dry seeds, maximal in seedlings, and very low or undetectable in leaves, indicating that the promoters are regulated correctly. We showed that isocitrate lyase and malate synthase genes are active at specific stages of pollen development and that their activities are not enhanced during pollen germination in transgenic tobacco. We also confirmed that the endogenous genes are active by showing that the corresponding mRNAs could be detected in pollen at specific stages of development. The activation of the isocitrate lyase and malate synthase genes suggests that glyoxysomal function is induced during pollen development.
Review of Trimester-Specific Gestational Weight Gain and Childhood Adiposity

Childhood obesity is a global epidemic and a major public health challenge. There has been increasing evidence that intrauterine exposures, such as alcohol, smoking, and maternal nutritional status, may affect both the long and short term health consequences of the mother and offspring. Childhood adiposity may be affected by the mother’s pre-pregnancy weight and her weight gain during pregnancy. Consequently, interventions may need to start before conception of the child to prevent childhood obesity. In 2009, the Institute of Medicine updated its gestational weight gain recommendations by incorporating rates of gestational weight gain in the second and third trimesters based on the mother’s pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index. There is extensive research on the association between total gestational weight gain and short-term offspring adiposity. However, this review focuses on the association between trimester-specific gestational weight gain and childhood adiposity for singleton pregnancies with respect to the Institute of Medicine’s newly defined weight gain recommendations as very few studies have examined the association between the gestational weight gain during each trimester and childhood adiposity. Identifying the trimester that is most associated with childhood adiposity may help in the development of targeted interventions, guide physician’s nutritional and weight-gain recommendations for child-bearing mothers, and direct future research. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i1.8429 J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(1):48-53
A study of mass-mailing worms

Mass-mailing worms have made a significant impact on the Internet. These worms consume valuable network resources and can also be used as a vehicle for DDoS attacks. In this paper, we analyze network traffic traces collected from a college campus and present an in-depth study on the effects of two mass-mailing worms, SoBig and MyDoom, on outgoing traffic. Rather than proposing a defense strategy, we focus on studying the fundamental behavior and characteristics of these worms. This analysis lends insight into the possibilities and challenges of automatically detecting, suppressing and stopping mass mailing worm propagation in a enterprise network environment.
Near drowning in frigid water: A case study of a 31-year-old woman

A 31-yr-old woman demonstrated intact neuropsychological functioning after being submerged for at least 30 minutes in icy cold water. Following submersion, the patient received CPR for approximately 1 hr. Eight hours after submersion, the patient's temperature was 31 degrees C (87 degrees F). She remained nonresponsive for 2 days after the accident. Extensive neuropsychological testing was completed 3 mo after the accident with no objective or subjective deficits evidenced. This case of hypothermically mediated neuroprotection from anoxia in an adult supports the need for further research on the putative neurophysiological mechanisms invoked and the potential for application of clinically induced hypothermia in the acute management of other types of cerebral insults.
Risk Pricing Models: Applications

This chapter provides a number of examples and problems applying the pricing models set in Chaps. 7 and 8. These models are assuming essentially that risk models are complete in the sense that states are countable and accountable while kernels are defined theoretically based on economic rationalities and practically based on parametric distributions or on ad-hoc statistical principles helpful in defining appropriate probability-state prices. A number of approaches to valuing and pricing are used to highlight their differences. Applications to debt and international assets pricing are considered as a multi-agent CCAPM model.
Maternal Literacy, Facility Birth, and Education Are Positively Associated with Better Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status among Ugandan Children

Background: Understanding maternal factors that influence child feeding is necessary to inform intervention planning in settings in which mothers experience substantial social vulnerabilities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess maternal sociodemographic factors that may constrain womens caring capabilities and subsequent child nutrition in Uganda. Methods:We analyzed data from the 2006 and 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys to model the associations between maternal sociodemographic factors, child feeding practices, and anthropometry with multivariate logistic regression models. Results: The proportion of children fed according to recommended guidelines declined in Uganda from 2006 to 2011. Mothers who lacked literacy skills were less likely to achieve recommended complementary feeding indicators; however, literacy was not associated with breastfeeding practices. Mothers in the upper 60% wealth percentile were more likely to meet minimum meal frequency, diversity, and adequacy indicators. Mothers who gave birth at health facilities (2006 OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.91; P < 0.05) and who were in the upper 60% wealth percentile (2011 OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.69) were less likely to exclusively breastfeed up until 6 mo. There were no significant associations between age at first pregnancy, maternal education, and infant and young child feeding practices. Women with a formal education had children with lower stunting and underweight probabilities in both time periods (OR range: 0.43‐0.74). Women who delivered in childbirth facilities were less likely to have a child with low weight-for-age, length-for-age, or weight-for-length zscores (OR range: 0.59‐0.82). Marital status, the age at first child birth, not accepting domestic violence, freedom to travel away from home, and involvement in household and reproductive decisions were not associated with child anthropometry in either time period. Conclusions: Mothers with low literacy skills, who deliver their children at home, and who lack formal education are particularly at risk of poor child feeding and represent a group that may benefit from enhanced interventions that address their particular vulnerabilities. Factors that contribute to improved maternal feeding capabilities but may impair breastfeeding practices need to be better understood. J Nutr doi: 10.3945/jn.115.214346.
Initiating Differentiation in Immortalized Multipotent Otic Progenitor Cells

Use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) or embryonic stem cells (ESC) for cell replacement therapies holds great promise. Several limitations including low yields and heterogeneous populations of differentiated cells hinder the progress of stem cell therapies. A fate restricted immortalized multipotent otic progenitor (iMOP) cell line was generated to facilitate efficient differentiation of large numbers of functional hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) for inner ear cell replacement therapies. Starting from dissociated cultures of single iMOP cells, protocols that promote cell cycle exit and differentiation by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) withdrawal were described. A significant decrease in proliferating cells after bFGF withdrawal was confirmed using an EdU cell proliferation assay. Concomitant with a decrease in proliferation, successful differentiation resulted in expression of molecular markers and morphological changes. Immunostaining of Cdkn1b (p27(KIP)) and Cdh1 (E-cadherin) in iMOP-derived otospheres was used as an indicator for differentiation into inner ear sensory epithelia while immunostaining of Cdkn1b and Tubb3 (neuronal β-tubulin) was used to identify iMOP-derived neurons. Use of iMOP cells provides an important tool for understanding cell fate decisions made by inner ear neurosensory progenitors and will help develop protocols for generating large numbers of iPSC or ESC-derived hair cells and SGNs. These methods will accelerate efforts for generating otic cells for replacement therapies.
Improved temporal and spatial resolution in junction-mixing ultrafast scanning tunneling microscopy

The growing field of nanotechnology requires special tools capable of probing ultrafast dynamics of nanostructures on atomic scales. Recently, two possible practical realizations of such technique were proposed, which combine the high spatial resolution of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and femtosecond temporal resolution of the nonlinear optical spectroscopy [1,2]. One of them, photoconductively-gated STM is believed to be limited in its spatial resolution to several tens of nanometers due to capacitive coupling between the tip and the sample under study [3]. On the other hand, junction-mixing STM (JM-STM) relies only on the intrinsic nonlinearity of the tunneling junction current-voltage characteristic and should provide the atomic resolution of a conventional STM. In order to confirm this assumption, experiments have been performed, which demonstrated the spatial resolution of JM-STM to be of the order of 1 nm and the temporal resolution to be more than 35 ps (full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the detected transient current pulses) [4]. Unfortunately, this temporal resolution is not yet sufficient for the ultrafast dynamics studies. Here we present recent results for JM-STM with a greatly improved temporal resolution of less than 13 ps FWHM and with a spatial resolution of 1 nm.
Are New Criteria Needed for Making Agricultural Loans

THE difficulties encountered in gaining control of the necessary resources for operating an adequate family farm business are increasing. The consumer wants quality products; the processor wants a uniform flow of material through his plant, and the retail merchant a dependable supply of goods on his shelves. These desires are forcing production toward quantity output on individual farms and concentration of supplies in relatively small areas. The small farmer with a diversity of enterprises has difficulty in meeting these requirements. Very few processors are interested in the volume and quality of products the unspecialized small producer has for sale. The bulk tank is replacing the milk can. The cream station has disappeared from most rural villages. The average price of eggs from small farm flocks does not meet production costs. A few bushels of tomatoes or apples in excess of the needs of a farm family are economic waste. The grower cannot afford to take them to a consuming market and there is no demand for them locally. In other words, a considerable volume of output is essential to a profitable business; and superior skill is required to set up and operate a farm business that will turn out this volume. The problem has many facets, but the discussion here will deal with the need for capital, and for new procedures in making it available to farmers. The investment in a general livestock farm in central Missouri that will return $4,500 a year to labor and management is about $61,500.1 A Missouri dairy business that will return $5,700 a year will require an investment of approximately $50,000.2 In the Cornbelt it is not unusual to have investments approaching $200,000 in commercial family farms. Satisfactory poultry businesses can be set up with less money than is required for dairy farms, but investments are fairly large regardless of type of major enterprise. If it is assumed that these investments represent normal values, the equities required to finance satisfactory businesses at conventional debt ratios vary from $20,500 to $82,000. In a general farming area, the business requiring $20,500 would be the smallest that could be considered adequate. A high percentage of farms do not come up to this standard.
Dose calibrator assay of iodine-123 and indium-111 with a copper filter.

Objective: The accurate measurement of radionuclides in a dose calibrator can be affected by container geometry especially for low-energy photons. This study investigated the effectiveness of using copper filtration for selective absorption of low-energy x-rays during the measurement of 123I and 111In to minimize variations in measurement as a function of geometry. Methods: Copper absorbers of varying thickness were used to define the absorption profile of low-energy x-rays in the 20- to 50-keV energy window with 125I and a gamma scintillation spectrometer. Iodine-123 and 111In standards were assayed in a dose calibrator, with and without a copper filter positioned in the ion chamber well, to determine new isotope calibration settings for these nuclides with the copper filter. Samples of 123I and 111In, of constant activity but various volumes, were assayed in 1-ml, 3-ml and 10-ml plastic syringes and a 10-ml glass vial with and without copper filtration to assess the influence of geometry on the accuracy of measurement. Results: A copper thickness of 0.6 mm removed 99.5% of 125I photons in the 20- to 50-keV window and significantly reduced the low-energy component of 123I and 111In. Activity measurements of 123I and 111In in the dose calibrator varied with container type and volume without copper filtration but were essentially unchanged when a copper filter was used. Conclusion: A copper filter ≥ 0.6 mm thick eliminates the need for geometry correction factors for measuring 123I and 111In with the dose calibrator.
Robust Brain-Machine Interface Design Using Optimal Feedback Control Modeling and Adaptive Point Process Filtering.

Much progress has been made in brain-machine interfaces (BMI) using decoders such as Kalman filters and finding their parameters with closed-loop decoder adaptation (CLDA). However, current decoders do not model the spikes directly, and hence may limit the processing time-scale of BMI control and adaptation. Moreover, while specialized CLDA techniques for intention estimation and assisted training exist, a unified and systematic CLDA framework that generalizes across different setups is lacking. Here we develop a novel closed-loop BMI training architecture that allows for processing, control, and adaptation using spike events, enables robust control and extends to various tasks. Moreover, we develop a unified control-theoretic CLDA framework within which intention estimation, assisted training, and adaptation are performed. The architecture incorporates an infinite-horizon optimal feedback-control (OFC) model of the brain’s behavior in closed-loop BMI control, and a point process model of spikes. The OFC model infers the user’s motor intention during CLDA—a process termed intention estimation. OFC is also used to design an autonomous and dynamic assisted training technique. The point process model allows for neural processing, control and decoder adaptation with every spike event and at a faster time-scale than current decoders; it also enables dynamic spike-event-based parameter adaptation unlike current CLDA methods that use batch-based adaptation on much slower adaptation time-scales. We conducted closed-loop experiments in a non-human primate over tens of days to dissociate the effects of these novel CLDA components. The OFC intention estimation improved BMI performance compared with current intention estimation techniques. OFC assisted training allowed the subject to consistently achieve proficient control. Spike-event-based adaptation resulted in faster and more consistent performance convergence compared with batch-based methods, and was robust to parameter initialization. Finally, the architecture extended control to tasks beyond those used for CLDA training. These results have significant implications towards the development of clinically-viable neuroprosthetics.
The case of the traveling salesman.

The article discusses how a seemingly unsolvable mathematical problem, called the traveling salesman problem (TSP), offers insight into the limits of computation. An overview of the TSP problem and a computational tool, called linear programming, that assigns fractions to roads that join in pairs of cities rather than deciding whether to use the road or not when attempting to find the shortest route to individual cities is presented.
The Geography of the Creative Mind: A Cross-Cultural Study of Implicit Theories of Creativity Between the USA and Singapore

The “term” culture does not have a unilateral definition. Culture allows us to define who we are and what is meaningful, as well as to manage our physical and social milieu. As a result, our cultures have a tremendous influence on the way we think and feel, the way we view the world, the way we communicate, and the way we behave. Culture is not a static construct but created daily through contacts, exchanges, and communication between individuals and their social landscapes. The underlying assumption is that people’s thoughts and actions are guided by their own personal definitions of creativity, and they have their own beliefs about how to foster and judge creativity, which may be similar to the theories developed by experts in the field of creativity. This chapter explores the extent of influence of culture on implicit theories of creativity among laypeople from the USA, a predominantly Western culture, and Singapore, a predominantly Eastern culture, as well as the ethnic groups in Singapore, in regard to adaptive and innovative styles of creativity and their own conceptions of creativity.
Measurements and Analysis on UHVDC Conductor's Audible Noise in Unipolar and Bipolar Corona Cages

The measurement approach of audible noises of UHVDC conductor inside positive-,negative-and bi-polar corona cages located in UHVDC power transmission test base of State Grid Corporation of China is researched.The simulation and finite element calculation of surface electric fields of UHVDC conductor inside mono-and bi-polar corona cages are performed.Calculation results show that if the voltage of the same voltage class is applied,the relative difference values of average maximum nominal electric field of UHVDC conductor surface inside mono-and bi-polar corona cages are less than 0.4%,and the influences of surface electric field strength on audible noise can be neglected.The full voltage measurement and analysis on audible noises of UHVDC positive-,negative-and bi-polar conductors inside mono-and bi-polar corona cages are performed.Results of measurement and analysis show that as for existing UHVDC transmission lines in China it is feasible to carry out audible noise test by positive mono-polar corona cage instead of bi-polar corona cage.
Discussion on the detection method of methanol in distilled liquors and confected liquors

Objective:To establish a method for detection of methanol in distilled liquors and confected liquors by capillary chromatogram column and external standard method.Methods: The methanol was detected by AT.LZP-930(25 m×0.32 mm×1.0 μm) capillary chromatogram column with programming temperature,under the best chromatographic parameters.Results: The relative standard deviation was between 1.3%～2.4% and the recovery was 96.8%～107.1%.The detection limit was 0.0020 g/100 ml with correlation coefficient of standard curve 0.9991.Conclusion: The method is accurate,reliable,rapid and sensitive.
Sending Mixed Signals: The Expanding Role of Molecular Cascade Mutations in Malformations of Cortical Development and Epilepsy

Advances in gene sequencing techniques have led to a dramatic increase in the number of signaling cascade and cytoskeletal assembly mutations associated with malformations of cortical development and epilepsy. At the forefront of this research are novel mutations found in regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade and tubulin-associated malformations of cortical development. However, there is limited understanding of the consequences of these newly discovered germline and somatic mutations on cellular function or how these changes in cell biology may lead to areas-large or small-of malformed cortex and recurrent spontaneous seizures. We summarize and discuss what is currently known in this field in an effort to shine light on vast gaps in our knowledge of relatively common causes of cortical malformations.
The Just War Tradition Faces the Remnants of War

The most obvious change wrought by 9/11 has been the initiation by the United States of two international wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The two wars share noticeable similarities (the inculcating of an international force prior to invasion, the overthrow of an oppressive government, the casus belli involving rogue countries giving support to terrorists); but there are also important differences between the two wars, including the size of the force involved, the comparative political instability of Afghanistan prior to invasion, and the degree to which the earlier invasion was widely supported by proponents of the just war tradition (henceforth “just warriors”) whereas those same proponents were deeply divided over decision to invade Iraq.
Primary Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: An Imperative for Developing Countries

The global prevalence of diabetes currently exceeds 400 million and is projected to increase to more than 600 million affected persons by the year 2035. Developing countries will account for the greater proportion of the projected increase in diabetes prevalence. Indeed, if current trends remain unabated, people with diabetes in developing countries will comprise >70 % of the global diabetes burden by the year 2035. Diabetes is now the leading cause of blindness, end-stage renal failure, nontraumatic limb amputations, heart disease, and stroke. These expensive complications inflict a major drain on the economies of even upper-income countries; indeed, most developing countries lack the resources for tackling the challenges of diabetes care delivery and effective management of its complications. There is now abundant evidence that type 2 diabetes (which accounts for greater than 90 % of diabetes worldwide) can be prevented: the challenge is how best to translate the results of clinical trials globally to communities with disparate resources and capabilities. This chapter makes the compelling case for primary prevention of diabetes as an imperative for developing countries and discusses how that can be accomplished, including the novel concept Community Diabetes Prevention Centers.
OWA Aggregation of Probability Distributions Using the Probabilistic Exceedance Method

We note the use of the OWA Operator in multi-criteria decision problems for aggregating the individual criteria satisfactions. We consider the situation where the criteria satisfactions have some uncertainty, are finite probability distributions. We note the requirement of needing to order these probability distributions. We note it is often not possible to obtain the required ordering over probability distributions. To circumvent this problem we introduce an approach called the Probabilistic Exceedance Method, PEM, which allows us to provide a surrogate for the OWA aggregation of probability distributions that doesn’t require a linear ordering over the probability distributions.
An evaluation of readiness assessment tests in a college classroom: Exam performance, attendance, and participation.

This study evaluated the use of frequent online assessments due prior to lecture, known as readiness assessment tests (RATs), in 2 sections of an upper-division psychology course. We compared the efficacy of RATs on students’ exam performance, in-class participation, and attendance using a nonequiva
Lopata, Helena Z. (1996). Current widowhood: Myths and realities

(1997). Lopata, Helena Z. (1996). Current widowhood: Myths and realities. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 137-141.
Long -Term Survival in Stage IV Esophageal Adenocarcinoma with Chemoradiation and Serial Endoscopic Cryoablation

Esophageal cancer has a poor overall prognosis and is frequently diagnosed at a late stage. Conventional treatment for metastatic esophageal cancer involves chemotherapy and radiation. Local disease control plays a significant role in improving survival. Endoscopic spray cryotherapy is a novel modality that involves freezing and thawing to produce local ablation of malignant tissue via ischemic mechanisms. Spray cryotherapy has been shown to be effective, particularly for early T-stage, superficial esophageal adenocarcinomas. We present the case of a 72-year-old-male with locally recurrent stage IV esophageal adenocarcinoma and long-term survival of 7 years to date, with concurrent chemoradiation and serial cryoablation. He remains asymptomatic and continues to undergo chemotherapy and sequential cryoablation. The findings highlight the long-term safety and efficacy of cryotherapy in combination with chemoradiation, and suggest that cryoablation may have an additive role in the treatment of advanced stage esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Atazanavir-Associated Crystalline Nephropathy

Crystalline nephropathy can occur following treatment with multiple therapeutic agents. We describe a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient treated for 2 years with combination antiretroviral therapy including atazanavir (ATV). Kidney biopsy revealed a crystalline nephropathy associated with diffuse chronic and granulomatous interstitial inflammation. Following the biopsy, treatment with ATV was discontinued and kidney function returned to pretreatment baseline levels. ATV, which has a well-established association with nephrolithiasis, is a rare but important cause of crystalline nephropathy. Recognition of this association and prompt withdrawal of the offending agent are critical to optimize outcomes.
Translational Regulation in Bacteriophages

In Escherichia coli, different translational initiation sites can vary 1000-fold in their intrinsic efficiencies.1,2 These differences are attributable to specific sequence features that are involved in ribosome-messenger (mRNA) interactions as well as to mRNA secondary structures that can inhibit ribosome binding. In addition to the variation in intrinsic strengths of different initiation sites, some sites are subject to regulation so that their efficiencies are modulated according to the state of the cell. For the purposes of this chapter, translational regulation means the action of a gene product that affects the rate of translational initiation for some protein. Other posttranscriptional effects on rates of translation, such as differential mRNA degradation and translational coupling, are not included.
Cluster Dynamics Model for the Hydride Precipitation Kinetics in Zirconium Cladding

Hydride precipitation in zirconium cladding is known to cause severe loss of toughness and greatly increase the risk of mechanical failure and fuel leakage. Modeling hydride formation kinetics is critical to the safety assessment of the fuel-cladding system and the entire reactor system. Existing reduced order models do not provide such details as number density and size distribution of hydride precipitates. We have recently developed a cross-scale cluster dynamics model with increased physical details and enhanced predictive capability for the hydride formation kinetics in zirconium. Our model takes information from atomistic simulations, such as migration energy of interstitial hydrogen and formation/binding energy of hydride embryos/clusters, as input, and establishes and solves a system of rate equations that describe the evolution of concentrations of freely migrating hydrogen as well as sessile hydride clusters of all different sizes. Used here to simulate an in situ hydride growth experiment on a TEM, our model is able to reproduce the linear growth behavior of pre-existing hydrides under hydrogen ion implantation and provide possible explanations for the estimated growth rate.
Epistemic gameplay and discovery in computational model-based inquiry activities

In computational modeling activities, learners are expected to discover the inner workings of scientific and mathematical systems: First elaborating their understandings of a given system through constructing a computer model, then “debugging” that knowledge by testing and refining the model. While such activities have been shown to support science learning, difficulties building and using computational models are common and reduce learning benefits. Drawing from Collins and Ferguson (Educ Psychol 28(1):25–42, 1993), we conjecture that a major cause for such difficulties is a misalignment between the epistemic games (modeling strategies) learners play, and the epistemic forms (model types) a given modeling environment is designed to support. To investigate, we analyzed data from a study in which ten groups of U. S. fifth graders (n = 28) worked to create stop motion animations and agent-based computational models (ABMs) to discover the particulate nature of matter. Content analyses revealed that (1) groups that made progress—that is, that developed increasingly mechanistic, explanatory models—focused on elements, movement, and interactions when developing their models, a strategy well-aligned with both animation and ABM; (2) groups that did not make progress focused on sequences of phases, a strategy well-aligned with animation but not with ABM; and (3) struggling groups progressed when they received guidance about modeling strategies, but not when they received guidance about model content. We present summary analyses and three vignettes to illustrate these findings, and share implications for research and curricular design.
Best Practices for Assessing, Managing, and Communicating Food Allergen Risks: An Introduction

The public health issues associated with food allergens can only be tackled by taking an integrative approach that involves all sectors of the food industry and engages all who are involved in the manufacture, preparation, and service of foods. Significant advances have been made over the past two decades in our understanding of food allergens and in the development of control measures to minimize the public health risks associated with them (e.g., issuance of allergen labeling regulations, development of guidelines for managing allergens in food production and foodservice operations, and establishment of policies in communities and schools to manage food allergies). However, broad and successful implementation of allergen controls has yet to be achieved. Many gaps still exist, including the lack of hazard analysis and risk management approaches tailored to the needs of specific types of operations, absence of detailed documentation on best practices, insufficient dissemination of available information and resources to stakeholders, and shortage of tools and programs to train staff. This book is designed to address many of these gaps by highlighting best practices for the assessment, management, and communication of food allergen risks at various stages of the food chain, including manufacture of packaged food, serving meals in restaurants and other foodservice establishments, and preparation of food at home. The information presented also provides valuable resources for stakeholders to develop structured, risk-based training programs. This chapter provides an overview of current efforts to address public health issues associated with food allergens and the challenges that remain.
Abstract 11270: Liver Disease as a Novel Risk Factor for Atrial Fibrillation

Background: End-stage liver disease can significantly affect circulating inflammatory peptides, creating a pro-arrhythmic substrate. However, liver disease as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been previously studied and few studies have evaluated the incidence of AF in this population. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine incidence of AF in patients with cirrhosis and assess liver disease severity as a risk factor for AF. Methods: A single center retrospective chart review of adult patients evaluated for orthotopic liver transplantation between 1/2006 and 12/2015 was performed. Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) severity scores were calculated and presence of AF assessed from chart review and billing codes. Incidence of AF for MELD score severity was quantified and Cox proportional hazard models used to analyze effect of risk factors, including quartiles of MELD score, for AF occurrence. Results: Data from 1694 subjects (age 55±12 years, LVEF 61±7.4%) was analyzed. Mean MELD score was 16±8.5 and AF prevalence was 11.2%. Median follow up was 10.8 months (range 0.5-25). Hypertension was present in 12%, diabetes mellitus in 13%, sleep apnea in 0.7%, coronary artery disease (CAD) in 0.9%, valvular heart disease (VHD) 0.5%, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 0.8%. After adjusting for age, gender, VHD, sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, LVEF, left atrial enlargement, and LVH, the highest quartile (MELD >30) had a HR of 12 (CI 5.3-29) with decreasing hazard ratios for the third (MELD = 21 to 30, HR of 6.8 (CI 3.8-12)) and second (MELD = 11 to 20, HR of 2.9 (CI 1.8-4.8)) compared to the lowest quartile (MELD = 1 to 10). Older age, sleep apnea, hemodynamic instability, VHD and lower LVEF also proved statistically significant. Conclusion: Patient with cirrhosis have a notable prevalence of AF. Severity of liver disease proved to be an independent risk factor for AF, even after accounting for other traditional risk factors.
A rare case of a superior lumbar hernia secondary to penetrating injury.

Abstract Lumbar hernias are rare occurrences, with only 300 cases reported in the literature. We present a unique case of a superior lumbar hernia secondary to penetrating trauma to the right flank. We performed a herniorrhaphy using porcine mesh, and provided additional support by mobilizing the external oblique and latissimus dorsi into the defect. At follow up three months after repair, the patient was asymptomatic and exam revealed an intact lumbar abdominal wall with normal contour. Although literature displays a consensus on the need for lumbar hernia repair, specific repair techniques must be tailored to defect etiology, size, location, and contents.
Female Involvement in School Rampage Plots

Abstract Utilizing data from news media accounts, this study investigates 11 incidents of averted school rampage threats that involved female perpetrators as conspirators or co-conspirators in plots to attack their schools. While the vast majority of both attempted and completed school rampage attacks have been committed by boys and men, there are in fact cases that have involved females. In this study, we provide descriptive information about the largely unstudied phenomenon of school rampage threats involving females and analyze how the multifaceted role of gender impacts these events in terms of their level of threat, group dynamics, and relative lack of news coverage.
Tetration for complex bases

In this paper we will consider the tetration, defined by the equation F(z + 1) = bF(z) in the complex plane with F(0) = 1, for the case where b is complex. A previous paper determined conditions for a unique solution the case where b is real and b > e1/e. In this paper we extend these results to find conditions which determine a unique solution for complex bases. We also develop iteration methods for numerically approximating the function F(z), both for bases inside and outside the Shell-Thron region.
A Theoretical Model for Cell Electroporation: Quantitative Description of Electrical Behavior

A large number of studies have been performed on the application of electric field pulses to membranes. These studies have almost universally shown that reversible electrical breakdown and significant molecular uptake occur if the transmembrane voltage reaches about 0.5–1.0 V.1–3