cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modified African Ngoma Healing Ceremony for Stress Reduction: A Pilot Study.

Abstract Objective: Indigenous people's ceremonies using rhythm and dance have been used for countless generations throughout the world for healing, conflict resolution, social bonding, and spiritual experience. A previous study reported that a ceremony based on the Central African ngoma tradition was favorably received by a group of Americans. The present trial compared the effects of the modified ngoma ceremony (Ngoma) with those of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in a randomized pilot study. Methods: Twenty-one women were randomized to either Ngoma or MBSR. Both groups had sessions on a weekly basis for 8 weeks and completed questionnaires at baseline, week 8, and 1 month after the intervention. Participants completed questionnaires, which included self-report of depressive and anxiety symptoms, health status (e.g., quality of life and functioning), social bonding, and perception of the credibility of the two interventions. Results: Both groups showed improvements in depression, anxiety, emot...
The Fallen Woman and Sexuality as “Their Own Weapon”: Victory, “Because of the Dollars,” and The Arrow of Gold

In Victory and The Arrow of Gold, Conrad addresses the figure of the fallen woman, considering the ways in which a male character’s acculturation to manhood entails a reductive, categorical view of womanhood, which the novels reject. Both novels place women in threatening sexual economies that reduce them to besieged erotic objects, and the heroines flee with sympathetic men to an Edenic refuge whose privacy temporarily allows for a more egalitarian and sexually liberated space. Yet this newfound liberty is undermined by aspects of the sexual double standard from which the women fled, and Conrad shows men and women to be subject to similarly destructive illusions about gender roles and the expectations they raise in relationships.
Organic Solute Transporter α-β Protects Ileal Enterocytes From Bile Acid–Induced Injury

Background & Aims Ileal bile acid absorption is mediated by uptake via the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT), and export via the basolateral heteromeric organic solute transporter α-β (OSTα-OSTβ). In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of enterocyte bile acid stasis in Ostα-/- mice, including the temporal relationship between intestinal injury and initiation of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Methods Ileal tissue morphometry, histology, markers of cell proliferation, gene, and protein expression were analyzed in male and female wild-type and Ostα-/- mice at postnatal days 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30. Ostα-/-Asbt-/- mice were generated and analyzed. Bile acid activation of intestinal Nrf2-activated pathways was investigated in Drosophila. Results As early as day 5, Ostα-/- mice showed significantly increased ileal weight per length, decreased villus height, and increased epithelial cell proliferation. This correlated with premature expression of the Asbt and induction of bile acid–activated farnesoid X receptor target genes in neonatal Ostα-/- mice. Expression of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-1 and Nrf2–anti-oxidant responsive genes were increased significantly in neonatal Ostα-/- mice at these postnatal time points. Bile acids also activated Nrf2 in Drosophila enterocytes and enterocyte-specific knockdown of Nrf2 increased sensitivity of flies to bile acid–induced toxicity. Inactivation of the Asbt prevented the changes in ileal morphology and induction of anti-oxidant response genes in Ostα-/- mice. Conclusions Early in postnatal development, loss of Ostα leads to bile acid accumulation, oxidative stress, and a restitution response in ileum. In addition to its essential role in maintaining bile acid homeostasis, Ostα-Ostβ functions to protect the ileal epithelium against bile acid–induced injury. NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus: GSE99579.
Examining training and skills development of youth and young adults in the Ghanaian context: an HRD perspective

ABSTRACTOver the years, Ghana like many other countries in Africa has adopted policies and initiatives to address the skills needs of the different segments of the population to meet its growth and...
Computing resonant modes of accelerator cavities by solving nonlinear eigenvalue problems via rational approximation

Author(s): Van Beeumen, R; Marques, O; Ng, EG; Yang, C; Bai, Z; Ge, L; Kononenko, O; Li, Z; Ng, CK; Xiao, L | Abstract: We present an efficient and reliable algorithm for solving a class of nonlinear eigenvalue problems arising from the modeling of particle accelerator cavities. The eigenvalue nonlinearity in these problems results from the use of waveguides to couple external power sources or to allow certain excited electromagnetic modes to exit the cavity. We use a rational approximation to reduce the nonlinear eigenvalue problem first to a rational eigenvalue problem. We then apply a special linearization procedure to turn the rational eigenvalue problem into a larger linear eigenvalue problem with the same eigenvalues, which can be solved by existing iterative methods. By using a compact scheme to represent both the linearized operator and the eigenvectors to be computed, we obtain a numerical method that only involves solving linear systems of equations of the same dimension as the original nonlinear eigenvalue problem. We refer to this method as a compact rational Krylov (CORK) method. We implemented the CORK method in the Omega3P module of the Advanced Computational Electromagnetic 3D Parallel (ACE3P) simulation suite and validated it by comparing the computed cavity resonant frequencies and damping Q factors of a small model problem to those obtained from a fitting procedure that uses frequency responses computed by another ACE3P module called S3P. We also used the CORK method to compute trapped modes damped in an ideal eight 9-cell SRF cavity cryomodule. This was the first time it was possible to compute these modes directly. The damping Q factors of the computed modes match well with those measured in experiments and the difference in resonant frequencies is within the range introduced by cavity imperfection. Therefore, the CORK method is an extremely valuable tool for computational cavity design.
Neurosteroids in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Neurosteroids have been implicated in the pathophysiology of mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders, as well as syndromes specific to women such as premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, postpartum depression, peri- and post-menopausal depression. This review summarizes the role of neurosteroids in the neurobiology of stress and that of pharmaceuticals that modulate neurosteroids in the treatment of these disorders. Neurosteroids may provide novel treatments of mood and anxiety disorders. While endogenous neurosteroids have poor bioavailability, there are other means by which neurosteroid activity may be pharmacologically modulated. Various synthetic neurosteroids are under investigation. In addition, naturally produced exogenous molecules that positively modulate neurosteroid action at GABAA, as well as agents targeting enzymes that degrade or promote synthesis of neurosteroids, are being used to manipulate neurosteroid systems. Neurosteroids act on a wide variety of neuroreceptors, particularly GABAA, playing roles in both homeostasis and the pathophysiology of stress. There is evidence that many pharmaceuticals used for mood and anxiety disorders including antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers may be effective secondary to their ability to modulate neurosteroids. Synthetic versions of neurosteroids, as well as pharmaceuticals that act indirectly to increase synthesis of neurosteroids, are being studied as possible treatments for a variety of mood and anxiety disorders.
Scanning electrochemical microscopy with conducting polymer probes: Validation and applications.

Abstract Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) allows spatially and temporally resolved measurements of a broad range of reactive surfaces and specimens, typically using electrochemically active metal probes. While conducting polymers (CPs) present several analytical properties of interest due to their chemical versatility, potentially enabling the measurement of ionic fluxes as well as redox processes, they have not been widely used as probe materials for SECM. CPs can be modified and fine-tuned to improve experimental parameters and they can be easily prepared by electrodeposition. In this paper, we show a new type of CP probe for SECM that retains the spatial resolution of conventional metal probes and introduces the possibility to exploit a wide range of ionic and redox systems. Poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) was electrochemically deposited on flat and recessed Pt microdisks to generate CP SECM probes. To demonstrate their usefulness, an insulating substrate with conducting features was imaged. Well-defined SECM feedback images were observed for both the CP well-probe and the Pt probe, proving the efficiency of the new electrode to image redox reactions. Additionally, an organosulfur compound was used as mediator taking advantage of the electrocatalytic effect PEDOT has on the molecule's kinetics. Finally, these probes were also used in a mediator-less fashion, taking advantage of the ion flux required to electrochemically oxidize the PEDOT deposit. We investigated the impact of anion size and concentration on current-distance relationships for SECM probe positioning. CP probes pose exciting prospects for the imaging and measurement of combined redox and ionic processes in energy materials.
Abstract TP60: Comparison of Predicted vs. Actual Enrollment Into the NIH StrokeNet DEFUSE 3 Trial: Effectiveness of a Population-Based Epidemiology Feasibility Assessment in Improving Enrollment Into Clinical Trials

Introduction: The NIH StrokeNet trial network aims to improve recruitment and retention into stroke clinical trials. In addition to StrokeNet infrastructure, a population-based feasibility assessme...
Perception and Impact of Life Events in Medically Hospitalized Patients With Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders.

OBJECTIVES: We describe the prevalence and perceived impact of life events reported by medically hospitalized patients with somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD) and highlight patient characteristics and outcomes associated with highly impactful life events. METHODS: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted of patients with SSRD at a tertiary pediatric hospital who were seen by the psychiatry consultation service and completed various instruments while medically admitted, including a de novo life events checklist. Descriptive statistics, correlations, χ2 tests, and internal consistency analyses were used. RESULTS: Charts of 70.2% of patients with SSRD who completed the life events checklist (N = 172; age range 8–25 years) were reviewed. Of those studied, 94% reported at least 1 life event in the last year, with academic events most prevalent, 81% reported life events across multiple domains, and 56% perceived the life event(s) as having a great impact on their lives. Patients who perceived more great impact life events were older, from households with lower median incomes, had higher self-reported somatization, greater functional disability, more comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, required more psychotropic medications, and had longer medical admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reveal that although the majority of medically hospitalized patients with SSRD reported at least 1 relevant life event, it was the patients’ perception of the impact of the life event(s) that correlated with high levels of disability and health care use. An assessment of the perception of life events in patients with SSRD may help hospitalists and interdisciplinary providers identify high-risk patients for whom early psychiatry referrals can be made.
A 49-Year-Old Man with Limb Weakness and Painful Skin Lesions

Calciphylaxis is a rare and devastating condition that typically affects patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis. Painful skin lesions are often the hallmark of the disorder, although it can systemically affect any organ system including muscle. Skeletal muscle involvement from calciphylaxis often causes a painful myopathy due to muscle ischemia. A high index of clinical suspicion is needed to make an early and accurate diagnosis. Although skin biopsy is often diagnostic, advanced tissue necrosis may mask the underlying pathology. Muscle biopsy can be useful in such cases where myopathy is a clinical feature.
GRIP: Multi-Store Capacity-Optimized High-Performance Nearest Neighbor Search for Vector Search Engine

This paper presents GRIP, an approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) search algorithm for building vector search engine which makes heavy use of the algorithm. GRIP is designed to retrieve documents at large-scale based on their semantic meanings in a scalable way. It is both fast and capacity-optimized. GRIP combines new algorithmic and system techniques to collaboratively optimize the use of memory, storage, and computation. The contributions include: (1) The first hybrid memory-storage ANN algorithm that allows ANN to benefit from both DRAM and SSDs simultaneously; (2) The design of a highly optimized indexing scheme that provides both memory-efficiency and high performance; (3) A cost analysis and a cost function for evaluating the capacity improvements of ANN algorithms. GRIP achieves an order of magnitude improvements on overall system efficiency, significantly reducing the cost of vector search, while attaining equal or higher accuracy, compared with the state-of-the-art.
EFFECTS OF BUFFER COMPOSITION ON THE LOW-SPIN ESR SPECTRUM OF CYTOCHROME P-450

ABSTRACT Liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 (P-450 LM ; EC 1.14.14.1) prepared from phenobarbital pretreated rats has been shown to be predominantly in the low spin state. In this study the effect of buffer composition on the ESR spectrum, i.e. asymmetry in the g x and g y signals, has been examined. In potassium phosphate (KPi) or morpholinopropane sulfonate (MOPS) buffer the spectrum of cytochrome P-450 LM was symmetric with single g x and g y signals. The addition of Tris, sucrose, or Tris-sucrose resulted in varying degrees of asymmetry in these signals. Similar variations were observed with the soluble, bacterial cytochrome P-450. In each buffer the double integrated intensity of the low-spin spectrum remains constant. Buffer composition seems important with respect to the hemin environment since different low-spin spectra are obtained in different buffers. These data indicate that extreme care must be exercised when interpreting ESR spectra with respect to possible cytochrome P-450 heterogeneity and that conditions for studying substrate interactions must be carefully chosen.
Transformative learning curriculum for short-term study abroad trips

The purpose of this article was to propose a model of transformative learning for short-term study abroad programs. The proposed study abroad program has been developed and implemented by faculty f...
Is Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Necessary for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Patients Undergoing Mastectomy

BackgroundCurrent treatment guidelines for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated with mastectomy recommend sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). In the modern era, there is a trend toward minimizing...
Tolerance in the Age of Immunotherapy.

Immune Tolerance The immune system distinguishes between “self” and “nonself” and remembers dangerous exposures. Elaborate mechanisms control immune responses, but in some cases, the response eithe...
Aflatoxin effects on spice seed germination and root elongation

CommercialPimpinella anisum (anise) andCuminum cyminum (cumin) seeds were allowed to imbibe with 2.5 and 5.0 μg/ml aflatoxin B1 medium to determine whether ;ow toxin concentrations might affect their germination and subsequent root elongation. This imbibition did not markedly inhibit either anise or cumin seed germination. However, there was a marked retardation of root elongation for both seed types. The higher toxin concentration caused a more severe degree of retardation. Whereas both aflatoxin B1 concentrations significantly inhibited anise root elongation, only 5.0 μg/ml medium significantly impaired this elongation for cumin. These results suggest that elevated aflatoxin levels within seeds could be detrimental to the early and perhaps the later development of both anise and cumin plants.
Impact of Global Governance of Extractive Resources on Ethiopian Extractive Resource Policy and Legal Framework

Ethiopia has policies and laws meant to govern the extractive resources and industries. The policies and laws in place share a cohesion compared with the fragile global governance system dominated by bilateral and multilateral treaty arrangements and voluntary standards. A closer scrutiny of the existing legal and policy regime reveal the influence the global forces of the world have on their content as well as structure. Natural resources being of high importance to economic development and the associated political tension raised in benefit sharing, call for a governance regime that responds both to the domestic demands as well as international competition. The continued influence of global actors and globalization on the domestic policy and legal space specifically manifested by liberal thoughts of ‘transparency in resource governance’ can act as a barrier to the resource gain threshold or as a God send in battling resource curse. This paper argues that Ethiopian EIs policy and legal regime is influenced and will continue to be influenced by the global governance structure and there is a need for a contextual approach and further study on governance of extractive industries as a way to escape the fears of globalization while guaranteeing its benefits.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Online Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Support Community Members: Survey Study.

Background: People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research from the first two months of the pandemic suggests that a small proportion of people with OCD experienced worsening in their OCD symptoms since the pandemic began, whereas the rest experienced either no change or an improvement in their symptoms. However, as society-level factors relating to the pandemic have evolved, the effects of the pandemic on people with OCD have likely changed as well, in complex and population-specific ways. Therefore, this study contributes to a growing body of knowledge on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people and demonstrates how differences across studies might emerge when studying specific populations at specific timepoints. Objective: This study aimed to assess how members of online OCD support communities felt the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their OCD symptoms, around 3 months after the pandemic began. Methods: We recruited participants from online OCD support communities for our brief survey. Participants indicated how much they felt their OCD symptoms had changed since the pandemic began and how much they felt that having OCD was making it harder to deal with the pandemic. Results: We collected survey data from June through August 2020 and received a total of 196 responses, some of which were partial responses. Among the nonmissing data, 65.9% (108/164) of the participants were from the United States and 90.5% (152/168) had been subjected to a stay-at-home order. In all, 92.9% (182/196) of the participants said they experienced worsening of their OCD symptoms since the pandemic began, although the extent to which their symptoms worsened differed across dimensions of OCD; notably, symmetry and completeness symptoms were less likely to have worsened than others. Moreover, 95.5% (171/179) of the participants felt that having OCD made it difficult to deal with the pandemic. Conclusions: Our study of online OCD support community members found a much higher rate of OCD symptom worsening than did other studies on people with OCD conducted during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Factors such as quarantine length, location, overlapping society-level challenges, and differing measurement and sampling choices may help to explain this difference across studies.
Parental vaccine hesitancy and its association with adolescent HPV vaccination.

Despite the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for routine vaccination of adolescents, vaccination coverage remains low for many adolescent vaccines, particularly the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine [1]. In 2018, 68.1% of adolescents aged 13–17 years had received ≥ 1 dose of HPV vaccine, and only 51.1% were up to date with the HPV vaccine series, well below the Healthy People 2020 target of 80% [2,3]. More efforts are needed to understand barriers to vaccination and improve coverage for all recommended vaccines in this population. Low vaccine uptake can be attributed to various factors, including access issues such as vaccine availability, convenience, cost, and motivation [4]. Motivation refers to overlapping constructs of intention, willingness, acceptability, and hesitancy toward vaccines (e.g., perceived risk of disease, confidence in vaccine effectiveness, safety concerns associated with vaccines and vaccine administration) and the social environment (e.g., strength of provider recommendation, social norms surrounding vaccines, vaccine myths, and misinformation) [4]. Vaccine hesitancy can be defined as a delay in acceptance or the refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services [5,6]. For adolescents, vaccine hesitancy by parents is a significant barrier and has been a factor in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis [7]. Previous studies found that over a third of parents expressed concern about HPV vaccine effectiveness and side effects, and many did not think the HPV vaccine was necessary for their adolescent children [8,9] UTD. This study examines the association of parental vaccine hesitancy with receipt of HPV vaccination (≥1 and up-to-date (UTD) doses) among adolescents. Identifying characteristics of parents of adolescents with vaccine hesitant beliefs is an important step to understanding how such beliefs translate to vaccine uptake and developing strategies to improve communication with parents and adolescents.
Ruling in Turn: Political Rule Against Mastery in Aristotle's Politics

Aristotle’s political theory is often dismissed as undemocratic due to his treatment of natural slavery and women and to his conception of political rule as rule by turns. The second reason presents no less serious challenges than the first for finding democracy in Aristotle’s political theory. This article argues that Aristotle’s account of ruling in turns hinges on a critique of master rule and an affirmation of political rule, which involves both the rulers and the ruled in the project of ruling. Ruling in turns makes the rule shared, not merely an exchange of opportunities to rule as a despot.
Dietary Approaches for Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Clinician's Guide

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia. There is strong clinical evidence that reduction in at least 5-7% total body weight is associated with improvement in hepatic steatosis and regression of fibrosis, with weight loss representing the primary approach to treatment. This guide reviews recent data on dietary approaches studied in NAFLD management. The strongest evidence currently supports a hypocaloric diet to induce weight loss and subsequent improvement in liver enzymes and histology, as well as a Mediterranean diet, which can lead to improvement in steatosis even in the absence of weight reduction. The purpose of this paper is to provide clinicians with tools to engage patients in conversations about nutrition in the setting of NAFLD, ultimately guiding suitable personalized dietary recommendations.
Global Competition among Research Universities

A role of higher education in the fabric of societies has changed dramatically in recent years as internationalization has become an important influence. Research universities today are not only national organizations but increasingly international entities.
ESTIMATION OF CRASH INJURY SEVERITY REDUCTION FOR INTELLIGENT VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS

A novel methodology is presented to estimate the safety benefits of intelligent vehicle safety systems in terms of reductions in the number of collisions and the number and severity of crash-related injuries. In addition, mathematical models and statistics are provided to support the estimation of the crash injury reduction factor in rear-end, lane change, and single vehicle roadway departure collisions. Statistics on the distribution of vehicle types and weights in the United States are supplied. Moreover, mathematical equations are derived to estimate the average harm per collision. Finally, statistics on the average harm per occupant are obtained from the 1994 and 1995 Crashworthiness Data System crash databases. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E106371.
The End of Interrogatories: Why Twombly and Iqbal should Finally Stop Rule 33 Abuse

Interrogatories are good for only one thing: abuse. Interrogatories are formal, written questions that parties are supposed to use to obtain discoverable information under Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. But they rarely provide any useful information. Other discovery devices and motion practice are more effective at narrowing issues for trial and uncovering the true facts of a case. Interrogatories are inherently burdensome and frequently unreasonable, often demanding that a party disclose key aspects of its trial strategy, which a party itself may not know until the eve of trial. Likewise, interrogatory responses are evasive and rife with incoherent legalese. Nonetheless, many consider interrogatories a necessary tool to discover the detail underlying a plaintiff’s complaint under the federal “notice pleading” system. The Supreme Court’s recent decisions in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, however, heightened the federal pleading standard, raising the bar for plaintiffs to survive a pre-discovery motion to dismiss. Now, plaintiffs must include enough factual detail in their complaints to render their claims “plausible.” There is no longer any need for a discovery tool to obtain that same information. Thus, interrogatories function solely as a tactical weapon to force an opposing party to incur costs, delay litigation, and avoid a just disposition on the merits. In this article, I propose a series of reforms that will eliminate Rule 33 from the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, putting an end to the abusive tactics that come with it. To the extent that other procedures have not completely overtaken the legitimate functions of interrogatory practice, they can be expanded to do so. My proposal will not only help to curb discovery abuse, but also alleviate the increasing burdens on plaintiffs, who are already required to prepare numerous complex submissions before getting to trial.
Effects of gibrel on nitrification and sulfur oxidation in different Oregon soils.

Gibberellic acid, a metabolic product of the fungus Gibberella fujikuori, has been intensively studied during the past few years for its remarkable effects on cell elongation, flowering, and dormancy in higher plants by Brian and Grove (1957), Brian (1958, 1959), Phinney et al. (1957), Bukovac and Wittwer (1958), Stodola (1958), and Stowe and Yamaki (1957, 1959). There is, however, little information concerning its influence on microorganisms. Brian et al. (1954) reported that a number of common bacteria and molds were unaffected by the acid, although the acid was rapidly decomposed in soil, presumably by microorganisms. Lu et al. (1958) found that gibberellic acid increased numbers of Azotobacter chroococcum in a sandy loam soil; subsequently Lu and Bollen (1958) observed that 50 ppm Gibrel,' a water-soluble potassium salt of gibberellic acid, hastened decomposition of native and added organic matter and stimulated nitrogen fixation by Azotobacter in this soil. Since heterotrophic microorganisms as well as higher plants, which are autotrophic, are known to be influenced by Gibrel, it became of interest to determine what effect this substance had on the activities of autotrophic bacteria in the soil. Experiments on nitrification and sulfur oxidation therefore appeared desirable. These autotrophic processes are not only carried on by a physiologically distinct class of bacteria but they also are of great importance in soil fertility. The rate and extent of these transformations are influenced by environmental factors, which are in part determined by soil type. Therefore, 11 different soils representing a wide range of conditions and geographical locations in the state of Oregon were selected for the investigatioii.
Synergism in the solvent extraction of di-, tri- and tetravalent metal ions—V: Infra-red studies of the isolated complexes

Abstract In the synergistic extractions of metal ions with the systems 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-2′-thenoyl acetone (HTTA) and neutral organophosphorus compounds, stable complexes have been isolated from the organic phase. These have the following formulae: UO2(TTA)2S1, UO2(TTA)2S3, Th(TTA)4S1 and Rare Earth (TTA)3S2, where S = a neutral organophosphorus compound. The infra-red spectra of these complexes have been obtained and are discussed in terms of various possible structures.
Analysis of a failed clinical decision support system for management of congestive heart failure.

In order to increase compliance with The Joint Commission’s Congestive Heart Failure Core Measures, a rule based clinical decision support system (CDSS) was developed and deployed at a community hospital in our health system. We evaluated the performance of the CDSS in identifying patients with primary congestive heart failure (CHF) and identified problems encountered with its introduction. Performance of the CDSS was compared against a manual review of records of patients with diagnosis of primary CHF. The CDSS had a sensitivity of 0.79 and PPV of 0.11. The CDSS issued multiple alerts for majority of the patients (74%). The number of alerts issued for patients without primary CHF was large, and for a majority of patients (63%) physicians did not respond to alerts the first time. The CDSS performed poorly and was eventually withdrawn but provided insight into a subsequently successful method for managing CHF.
Two Japanese Adverbials and Expressive Content

We can think of yoku and yoku(mo) as expressing the attitude of the speaker to the proposition cp in their scope. Both express that cp is surprising, but differ in that yoku expresses that the speaker feels positively about cp, while yokumo expresses that the speaker feels negatively about cpo Other subtle differences exist, as will be shown below. It should be noted that other uses of yoku (but not yokumo) exist, on which it means 'often' or 'well,' as in (3a) and (3b) respectively. This pattern, in which a complex use of an adverbial is parasitic on a more extensional use, is common cross­ linguistically. Waltereit (2001 ) cites German ja, which means 'yes ' but also can be used as a modal particle, and eigentlich, which ordinarily means 'proper' but also has a use as a relevance-marking particle. The particle use of ja will be discussed further in a later section.
Signal de-noising using adaptive Bayesian wavelet shrinkage

Shrinkage of the empirical wavelet coefficients is an effective way to de-noise signals possessing sparse wavelet transforms. This article outlines a Bayesian approach to wavelet shrinkage, in which the form of the shrinkage function is induced by a particular choice of prior distributions placed on the wavelet coefficients. Our priors are chosen to be mixtures of two normal distributions, one wide and the other narrow, so as to effectively model the sparseness inherent in the wavelet representations of many signals. This particular choice of prior also allows us to obtain a closed-form expression for the shrinkage function (posterior mean) and for the corresponding uncertainty (posterior variance). This uncertainty information is used in turn to generate uncertainty bands for the full signal reconstruction. An automatic, level-dependent scheme is used to adapt the shrinkage functions to each resolution level of coefficients, although subjective information may be incorporated quite easily.
Effect of Mengovirus Replication on Choline Metabolism and Membrane Formation in Novikoff Hepatoma Cells

Infection of Novikoff rat hepatoma cells (subline NlSL-67) with mengovirus resulted in a two- to threefold increase in the rate of choline incorporation into membrane phosphatidylcholine at about 3 hr after infection, without affecting the rate of transport of choline into the cell or its phosphorylation. The time course of virus-stimulated phosphatidylcholine synthesis was compared with the time courses of other virus-induced processes during a single cycle of replication. The formation of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase and of viral RNA commenced about 1 hr earlier than the virus-stimulated choline incorporation. Further, isopycnic centrifugation of cytoplasmic extracts indicated that the excess of phosphatidylcholine synthesized by infected cells is not located in the membrane structures associated with the viral RNA replication complex, but with structures of a lower density (1.08 to 1.14 g/cc). These membrane structures probably represent the smooth vesicles which accumulate in the cytoplasm of infected cells during the period of increased phosphatidylcholine synthesis between 3 and 5 hr after infection. They are formed with both newly synthesized phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine present prior to infection. However, concomitant protein synthesis is not required for the stimulated synthesis of membranes; the effect was not inhibited by treating the cells with inhibitors of protein synthesis at 3 hr after infection, although virus production was inhibited about 90% and virus-induced cell degeneration was markedly reduced and delayed. Production of mature virus began normally at about the same time as the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Treatment of infected cells with puromycin at 2 hr, on the other hand, completely inhibited the stimulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis.
Speech-clarity judgments of hearing-aid-processed speech in noise: Differing polar patterns and acoustic environments

This investigation assessed the extent to which listeners’ preferences for hearing aid microphone polar patterns vary across listening environments, and whether normal-hearing and inexperienced and experienced hearing-impaired listeners differ in such preferences. Paired-comparison judgments of speech clarity (i.e. subjective speech intelligibility) were made monaurally for recordings of speech in noise processed by a commercially available hearing aid programmed with an omnidirectional and two directional polar patterns (cardioid and hypercardioid). Testing environments included a sound-treated room, a living room, and a classroom. Polar-pattern preferences were highly reliable and agreed closely across all three groups of listeners. All groups preferred listening in the sound-treated room over listening in the living room, and preferred listening in the living room over listening in the classroom. Each group preferred the directional patterns to the omnidirectional pattern in all room conditions. We obs...
An internally combined volume-surface integral equation for 3D plasma scatterers

Plasmas drive many different technologies ranging from fluorescent/luminescent lighting to microelectronic device etching and medicine. To accelerate the pace of innovation and development in plasma science and engineering, fast and accurate electromagnetic simulators are called for. Unfortunately, the application of standard differential equation and volume integral equation (VIE) techniques to the analysis of fields inside highly-heterogeneous plasmas containing regions of negative permittivity often results in ill-conditioned system of equations that converge very slowly when solved iteratively.
An automated system for stable isotope and concentration analyses of CO2 from small atmospheric samples

We have developed an automated, continuous-flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) system for the analysis of delta(13)C, delta(18)O, and CO(2) concentration (micromol mol(-1)) ([CO(2)]) from 2 mL of atmospheric air. Two replicate 1 mL aliquots of atmospheric air are sequentially sampled from fifteen 100 mL flasks. The atmospheric sample is inserted into a helium stream and sent through a gas chromatograph for separation of the gases and subsequent IRMS analysis. Two delta(13)C and delta(18)O standards and five [CO(2)] standards are run with each set of fifteen samples. We obtained a precision of 0.06 per thousand, 0.11 per thousand, and 0.48 micromol mol(-1) for delta(13)C, delta(18)O, and [CO(2)], respectively, by analyzing fifty 100 mL samples filled from five cylinders with a [CO(2)] range of 275 micromol mol(-1). Accuracy was determined by comparison with established methods (dual-inlet IRMS, and nondispersive infrared gas analysis) and found to have a mean offset of 0.00 per thousand, -0.09 per thousand, and -0.26 micromol mol(-1) for delta(13)C and delta(18)O, and [CO(2)], respectively.
Neuropeptide Y Y1 Receptor Effects on Pulpal Nociceptors

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an important modulatory neuropeptide that regulates several physiological systems, including the activity of sensory neurons. We evaluated whether activation of the NPY Y1 receptor could modulate the activity of capsaicin-sensitive nociceptors in trigeminal ganglia and dental pulp. We tested this hypothesis by measuring capsaicin-stimulated calcitonin gene-related peptide release (CGRP) as a measure of nociceptor activity. Capsaicin-evoked CGRP release was inhibited by 50% (p < 0.05) in trigeminal ganglia and by 26% (p < 0.05) in dental pulp when tissues were pre-treated with [Leu31,Pro34]NPY. The Y1 receptor was found to co-localize with the capsaicin receptor TRPV1 in trigeminal ganglia. These results demonstrate that activation of the Y1 receptor results in the inhibition of the activity of capsaicin-sensitive nociceptors in the trigeminal ganglia and dental pulp. These findings are relevant to the physiological modulation of dental nociceptors by endogenous NPY and demonstrate ...
Mitoferrin-2 (MFRN2) Regulates the Electrogenic Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter and Interacts Physically with MCU

Background: The mitochondrial calcium uniporter catalyzes electrogenic mitochondrial uptake of both Ca2+ and Fe2+ (JBC 1975;250:6433). More recently, Mfrn1 and 2 were identified to mediate mitochondrial iron uptake in hemopoietic and non-hemopoietic tissue, respectively (Mol Cell Biol 2009;29:1007), whereas the CCDC109A gene product (MCU) was discovered to be the core protein of the uniporter complex (Nature 2011;476:336&341). Here, our AIM was to determine the role of Mfrn2 in uniporter function. Methods: Respiration-driven Ru360-sensitive mitochondrial Fe2+ and Ca2+ uptake was measured in rat liver mitochondria (RLM) and permeabilized UMSCC1 and UMSCC22 squamous carcinoma cells. siRNA knockdown of Mfrn2 was also performed in UMSCC22A cells. Pull down assays were performed in HeLa cells expressing MCU-V5 and Mfrn2-GFP. Results: In RLM, Ca2+ and Fe2+ (250 μM) each stimulated respiration to a nearly identical degree, an effect completely blocked by Ru360. In UMSCC22A cells, mRNA and protein expression of Mfrn2 was 2-3-times that observed in UMSCC1 cells. High Mfrn2-expressing UMSCC22 cells also had 3-fold greater rates of mitochondrial Ca2+ and Fe2+ uptake. After Mfrn2 knockdown (55% decrease), rates of mitochondrial uptake of both Ca2+ and Fe2+ decreased by ∼75%. All uptakes were blocked by Ru360. In HeLa cells co-transfected with MCU-V5 and Mfrn2-GFP, anti-GFP beads pulled down MCU-V5, whereas anti-V5 beads pulled down Mfrn2-GFP. COX-IV was not pulled down by beads, indicating that the interaction between MCU and Mfrn2 was specific. Conclusions: 1) Mfrn2 positively modulates Ru360-sensitive respiration-driven mitochondrial uptake of both Ca2+ and Fe2+. 2) Mfrn2 physically interacts with MCU and appears to be a component/regulator of the MCU complex. 3) The mitochondrial calcium uniporter should more appropriately be called the mitochondrial Ca2+,Fe2+ uniporter.
Hybrid silicon mode-locked laser with improved RF power by impedance matching

We design and discuss an impedance matching solution for a hybrid silicon mode-locked laser diode (MLLD) to improve peak optical power coming from the device. In order to develop an impedance matching solution, a thorough measurement and analysis of the MLLD as a function of bias on each of the laser segments was carried out. A passive component impedance matching network was designed at the operating frequency of 20 GHz to optimize RF power delivery to the laser. The hybrid silicon laser was packaged together in a module including the impedance matching circuit. The impedance matching design resulted in a 6 dB (electrical) improvement in the detected modulation spectrum power, as well as approximately a 10 dB phase noise improvement, from the MLLD. Also, looking ahead to possible future work, we discuss a Step Recovery Diode (SRD) driven impulse generator, which wave-shapes the RF drive to achieve efficient injection. This novel technique addresses the time varying impedance of the absorber as the optical pulse passes through it, to provide optimum optical pulse shaping.
Responses to cortical injury: II. Widespread depression of the activity of an enzyme in cortex remote from a focal injury

As a part of a broader study of the reaction of the brain to injury, we report here an interesting loss of the activity of an enzyme in areas quite remote from the site of direct injury. At 36 h following a laceration or contusion injury to the hindpaw area of the motor cortex, a peculiar loss of staining for the enzyme alpha glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH) was noted. alpha-GPDH activity was markedly depressed in cortical layers II and III throughout the hemisphere on the side of the injury. The depression of alpha-GPDH activity extended far laterally across the rhinal fissure into the pyriform cortex. The decrease in alpha-GPDH staining was prominent 4 days after the injury: however, the staining pattern had returned to normal at 9 days. Enzyme changes in animals lesioned in the occipital cortex paralleled that seen in animals with a lesion in the motor cortex. Animals which had received an undercut lesion in the motor cortex 56 days earlier were contused in the occipital cortex. The old injury site presented the same sequelae of changes as seen in other lesioned animals. Additionally, a suction ablation injury involving only a small part of motor cortex resulted in the same widespread reduction of staining for alpha-GPDH in layers II and III. The derangement in energy metabolism suggests that cells in layers II and III of the cerebral cortex may be particularly vulnerable to perturbations induced by cortical trauma. These findings may be related to the diffuse and transient functional losses observed after head injury in man.
Economic returns from the biosphere

Industrial companies and environmentalists are traditional opponents. But conflict may not be necessary: there is money to be made in projects that embrace environmental goals.
Density-functional-theory formulation of classical and quantum Hooke's law

A fundamental property of solid materials is their stress state. Stress state of a solid or thin film material has profound effects on its thermodynamic stability and physical and chemical properties. The classical mechanical stress (σM) originates from lattice strain (ɛ), following Hooke’s law: σM=Cɛ, where C is elastic constant matrix. Recently, a new concept of quantum electronic stress (σQE) is introduced to elucidate the extrinsic electronic effects on the stress state of solids and thin films, which follows a quantum analog of classical Hooke’s law: σQE=Ξ(Δn), where Ξ is the deformation potential of electronic states and Δn is the variation of electron density. Here, we present mathematical derivation of both the classical and quantum Hooke’s law from density functional theory. We further discuss the physical origin of quantum electronic stress, arising purely from electronic excitation and perturbation in the absence of lattice strain (ɛ=0), and its relation to the degeneracy pressure of electrons in solid and their interaction with the lattice.
The regulation of MMP targeting to invadopodia during cancer metastasis

The dissemination of cancer cells from the primary tumor to a distant site, known as metastasis, is the main cause of mortality in cancer patients. Metastasis is a very complex cellular process that involves many steps, including the breaching of the basement membrane (BM) to allow the movement of cells through tissues. The BM breach occurs via highly regulated and localized remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is mediated by formation of structures, known as invadopodia, and targeted secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Recently, invadopodia have emerged as key cellular structures that regulate the metastasis of many cancers. Furthermore, targeting of various cytoskeletal modulators and MMPs has been shown to play a major role in regulating invadopodia function. Here, we highlight recent findings regarding the regulation of protein targeting during invadopodia formation and function.
The Excretion of Porphyrin in Pellagra

Summary1. Quantitative determinations of the excretion of porphyrin in a case of alcoholic pellagra are presented. 2. Both quantitatively and qualitatively abnormal excretion of porphyrin featured relapse and disappeared during the induced remission.
Magnetic field dependent microwave absorption evidence for a mixed liquid-solid vortex phase in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + x

Abstract The depinning of vortices can be observed as a change in the slope of the dependence of the surface resistance on B 1 2 . However, close to the transition magnetic field it is observed that there is a departure from the B 1 2 dependence. It is shown that this deviation is inconsistent with second order behavior associated with a vortex glass. The deviation, however, can be accounted by the existence of a mixture of solid and vortex liquid phases resulting from a magnetic field dependent distribution of pinning barriers.
The Traditional Doctrine of Divine Simplicity

Traditionally God has been considered absolutely simple. Some contemporary philosophers argue that this means that God is His attributes and hence is mere quality, and that all the divine attributes name exactly the same quality, which is incoherent. However, the contemporary debate misunderstands the tradition. God is not quality, He is act. Analogies from human experience can minimize the initial implausibility. There are worrisome corollaries to this doctrine, the most troubling being that God's nature is somehow dependent on the choices of His free creatures. This conclusion, though radical, is not as shocking as it appears.
Immunoregulatory defects in a family with selective IgA deficiency

Defects in regulation of the humoral immune system were examined in a family with selective IgA deficiency. Two patients (mother and son) were clinically well and had selective abnormalities of B lymphocytes that can differentiate into IgA plasma cells plus specific T cell suppression of IgA production. One patient (daughter) had several clinical problems and received nine monthly transfusions of normal plasma. Prior to therapy, this patient had abnormal immunoregulation of both B and T lymphocyte populations that cooperated in the formation of all classes of immunoglobulin-producing cells. After treatment, her clinical problems were resolved and her cellular abnormalities appeared identical to those in her mother and brother.