cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autoimmune thyroid disease.

Marked alterations in the level of circulating thyroid hormone frequently induce cutaneous changes. Such visible sequelae of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can be among the first manilestationsot thyroid dysfunction. The etiology of such thyroid dysfunction is frequently attributable to autoimmune thyroid disease, as manifested by Graves' disease (diffuse toxic goiter) or Hashimoto's thyroid it is (chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis). What is the primary immunologic disturbance that induces or facilitates autoimmune thyroid disease? Although many details remain to be elucidated, the hypothesis expounded by Voipe is attractive and appears consistent with the experimental and clinical data available.' In his view, each autoimmune endocrine disorder is due to an organ-specific defect in suppressor T lymphocyte function which allows the survival of a "forbidden" clone of self-reactive T lymphocytes. Having arisen by normal random mutation, the forbidden clone is then free to interact with its antigen, initiating a localized cell-mediated immune process. The same self-reactive T lymphocytes also function as "helper" lymphocytes, influencing the antibodyproducing B lymphocytes to manufacture self-directed antibodies. As suggested by Volpe's hypothesis, both cell-mediated and humoral immunity appear to play a dominant role in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The specific defect and its sequelae in each disease process will be detailed further under separate headings. Although Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis are best viewed as separate entities, both diseases coexist in some patients. The extent of such an association may be dependent upon that patient's specific defect in immune surveillance (suppressor T cell function) and the random appearance ofthe appropriate clone. Why both diseases affect women four times more frequently than men is unknown.
Entropy based audio watermarking in image using wavelet transform

In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for robust audio watermarking in image using wavelet transform based on an image entropy. The motivation of choosing image as a cover is driven by the fact that human visual system is less sensitive than human auditory system thus an image provides better masking effect. The algorithm is based on decomposition of images using Daubechies wavelet basis. The technique proposed in this paper resolves the problem of severe distortion caused by watermarking audio in an image by developing a scaling function that achieves maximum robustness and transparency prior to its embedding. The property of texture is used as a criterion to identify the target area for embedding the watermark. The security of the algorithm is enhanced by performing a random permutation of the watermark. The hidden data can be recovered reliably under certain attacks such as global tampering, localized tampering and contrast enhancement.
Robust embedding of longitudinal position into tape servo signals

In linear tape open technology, the longitudinal position (LPOS) on magnetic tape is embedded into the timing-based servo format by modulating the positions of magnetic transitions during the servo-writing process. An efficient method for embedding LPOS information into tape servo signals that is robust to LPOS detection errors is presented. The proposed concept is based on the serial concatenation of three data-processing stages: a lossless compression stage with a fixed compression ratio, an error-correction coding (ECC) stage and a runlength-limited coding stage. Various algorithms have been designed to compress and decompress the LPOS information. Error-correction codes, such as Hamming codes, Reed–Solomon codes and Golay codes, are used to protect LPOS and manufacturing information from detection errors. Finally, the random-error and the burst-error performance of various compression/ECC schemes are evaluated by computing the LPOS word error rate for servo signals corrupted by additive white Gaussian noise and by determining the burst-error correction capability of the proposed LPOS formats, respectively.
Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) Classification Performance Using Hyperspectral and Multispectral Sensors

Two demonstration sites in southeast Idaho were used to extend the scope of remote sensing of leafy spurge research toward investigating coarser scale detection limits. Hyperspectral images were obtained to produce baseline leafy spurge maps, from which spatially and/or spectrally degraded images were subsequently derived for comparative purposes with Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM). The baseline presence/absence maps had an overall accuracy of 67% at the Spencer study site and 85% at the Medicine Lodge study site. Unexpectedly high-accuracy results were produced from the images that were spectrally degraded to the bandwidths of Landsat 5 TM, which suggests that high spectral resolution is not critical to leafy spurge detection. However, a classification using a Landsat 5 TM image indicates that the sensor is inadequate for regional distribution monitoring. The differences in results between the actual and degraded images suggest that a sensor with comparable resolutions but improved instrumentation (e.g., signal to noise) may offer an alternative to hyperspectral data for mapping leafy spurge at regional scales.
Immediate-Release Oxybutynin for the Treatment of Clozapine-Induced Sialorrhea

Objective:To describe a case of clozapine-induced sialorrhea alleviated by immediate-release oxybutynin.Case Summary:A 53-year-old female with schizoaffective disorder–bipolar type was admitted to ...
Research on Product Lifecycle Oriented Quality Management System Based on Networked Manufacturing

To cope with the challenges of quality management system applied in the production mode of networked manufacturing enterprises, a product lifecycle oriented quality Management mode under networked manufacturing, and corresponding functional modules and framework were all put forward. This mode dealt mainly with constructing and running product lifecycle oriented quality Management system under networked manufacturing, integrated several enabling technologies such as collaborative-supported-computer-work (CSCW), Statistical Process Control (SPC) and comprehensive evaluation. Furthermore, some of key enabling technologies were studied in detail, including collaborative quality design based on CSCW, dynamic process quality control, quality evaluation oriented to product lifecycle. The quality management prototype system of product lifecycle oriented quality Management mode under Networked Manufacturing is developed, which was introduced to demonstrate the rationality and validity of the method as an example of some Heavy Machinery Ltd.
Initial management strategies for follicular lymphoma

SUMMARY Follicular lymphoma (FL) can vary markedly in its initial presentation, and no single standard approach for its initial management has been adopted. Available options for the initial management of FL include watchful waiting, radiation, single-agent rituximab and combination of rituximab and chemotherapy with strategies segregated for patients who have low and high tumor burden disease based on established criteria. However, marked debate occurs regarding the role of watchful waiting in the modern era for low tumor burden, asymptomatic patients, the optimal timing of rituximab, the selection of chemotherapy regimen to partner with rituximab in high tumor burden patients, and strategies for the management of relapsed disease. We provide an evidence-based discussion on these and other issues regarding the management of FL, and propose a mathematical modeling approach for addressing some of these questions.
Cigarette butts near building entrances: what is the impact of smoke-free college campus policies?

Background Indoor and outdoor tobacco-free campus policies for schools, hospitals and universities are increasingly being adopted. Yet, little direct evidence exists on the impact of tobacco-free campuses on tobacco outcomes. Objectives To identify differences in cigarettes smoked at main campus building entrances by campus policy strength. Methods Researchers collected cigarette butts (n=3427) at main building entrances (n=67) at baseline and follow-up on 19 community college campuses stratified by strength of campus outdoor tobacco policy (none, perimeter/designated area, 100% tobacco free). Outcome measures included the number of butts per day at building entrances averaged to create a campus score. Analysis of variance techniques examined differences in scores by the strength of campuses9 outdoor tobacco policy. Results One hundred per cent tobacco-free community college campuses had significantly fewer cigarette butts at doors than campuses with no outdoor restrictions. Butts on community college campuses with partial policies were not statistically different from campuses with no policy or campuses with a 100% tobacco-free policy but indicated that a dose–response relationship may exist. Conclusions This study provides some of the first evidence on the impact of 100% tobacco-free outdoor policies on college campuses using an objective and reproducible measure. Such policies likely provide a more healthful environment for students, staff, faculty and visitors.
Service-Learning by Doing: How a Student-run Consulting Company finds Relevance and Purpose in a Business Strategy Capstone Course

A challenge for undergraduate learning in strategy is that the students lack professional work experiences. Without a rich background of experience, many strategic management topics are difficult t...
Anomalous iridium enrichment at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, Blomidon Formation, Fundy basin, Canada

We present new analyses that confirm Ir enrichment (up to 0.31 ng/g) in close proximity to the palynological Triassic-Jurassic boundary in strata near the top of the Blomidon Formation at Partridge Island, Nova Scotia. High Ir concentrations have been found in at least two samples within the uppermost 70 cm of the formation. Ratios of other PGEs and Au to Ir are generally higher by an order of magnitude than in ordinary chondrites. No impact-related materials have been identified at #is horizon in the Blomidon Formation, therefore we cannot confirm an extraterrestrial source for the anomalous Ir levels. We consider, however, the possibility that regional basaltic volcanism is a potential source for the Ir in these sediments. The elevated Ir concentrations are found in reduced, grey colored mudstones, so redox concentration is a possible explanation for the distribution of Ir in these strata.
Hydrothermal Growth of Manganese Dioxide into Three‐Dimensional Hierarchical Nanoarchitectures

Novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical nanoarchitectures of e-MnO 2 have been synthesized by a simple chemical route without the addition of any surfactants or organic templates. The self-organized crystals consist of a major e-MnO 2 dipyramidal single crystal axis and six secondary branches, which are arrays of single-crystal e-MnO 2 nanobelts. The growth directions of the nanobelts are perpendicular to the central dipyramidal axis, which shows sixfold symmetry. The shape of the e-MnO 2 assembly can be controlled by the reaction temperature. The morphology of e-MnO 2 changes from a six-branched star-like shape to a hexagonal dipyramidal morphology when the temperature is increased from 160 to 180 °C. A possible growth mechanism is proposed. The synthesized e-MnO 2 shows both semiconducting and magnetic properties. These materials exhibit ferromagnetic behavior below 25 K and paramagnetic behavior above 25 K. The e-MnO 2 system may have potential applications in areas such as fabrication of nanoscale spintronic materials, catalysis, and sensors.
USING DBASEIII + IN ADMINISTRATION

Five years ago, the administration of Clark Libary, San Jose State University in California, contracted with a programmer to design a personal computer system to provide management information about the student payroll. Before this, information on budgeting for student personnel, hours worked, and costs were kept manually, requiring an inordinate amount of clerical time. Because DBASEII was the leading program for database management at that time, it was the program of choice. Since then, the resulting system has been upgraded to DBASEIII + and is being revised using DBASEIV.
Hospitalized Women’s Willingness to Pay for an Inpatient Screening Mammogram

Lower rates for breast cancer screening persist among low income and uninsured women. Although Medicare and many other insurance plans would pay for screening mammograms done during hospital stays, breast cancer screening has not been part of usual hospital care. This study explores the mean amount of money that hospitalized women were willing to contribute towards the cost of a screening mammogram. Of the 193 enrolled patients, 72% were willing to pay a mean of $83.41 (95% CI, $71.51–$95.31) in advance towards inpatient screening mammogram costs. The study’s findings suggest that hospitalized women value the prospect of screening mammography during the hospitalization. It may be wise policy to offer mammograms to nonadherent hospitalized women, especially those who are at high risk for developing breast cancer.
ESSENTIAL-ATTENDING: Building Expert Critiquing Systems

ESSENTIAL-ATTENDING (E-ATTENDING) is a “system-building system” designed to assist in the implementation of an expert critiquing system. E-ATTENDING has been refined in the process of implementing several developmental critiquing systems, including VQ-ATTENDING and HT-ATTENDING. It is currently being applied in areas of medical management, patient workup, and differential diagnosis.
Making the Statute Book a Better Tool: I

Mq EN ARE a mob until grouped in units, for separate purposes, they are made an executive organization. Facts are miscellaneous nothings until, segregated according to subject matter, they become science and philosophy. Names in an alphabetical directory have only an isolated and general use; but arranged by trades and professions, we have in the classified directory an efficient business tool, which collects all material for the special end in view, and eliminates what is nonessential to the immediate purpose. Each business unit today provides a place or floor where are assembled those that assist in one special department or duty for the whole enterprise. The Illinois Bar Association became effective by arranging itself in Sections. For like reasons, the time is ripe to have a purpose classification for printed legislation for Illinois. The writer proposes the following physical arrangement for the I937 one volume book (273 chapters grouped in twenty classes):
What Does It Mean To Be Korean Today? One Hundred Years of Koreans in America and More

No doubt President Bush's infamous State of the Union Address in January 2002 that condemned North Korea as part of the "axis of evil" along with Iran and Iraq has heightened tension in the Korean peninsula. With the anti-terrorism campaign in full swing, the North Korean nuclear crisis and the threat of war in the Korean peninsula received high profile media coverage in the U.S. American viewers have been bombarded with daily reports on the North Korean nuclear crisis and thus perceive North Korea as one of the most dangerous threats to world peace. More importantly, the American media's demonic portrayal of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as a fanatical, insane, evil, and mad dog character inflamed rhetoric and justifies a unilateral preemptive strike against North Korea.
Distributed Situation Assessment under Varying Environmental Conditions

This paper describes a study that is currently examining distributed problem solving performance in a simulated, dynamic battlefield situation assessment task, using computers as the interface between problem solvers and the simulated environment. There are four objectives of this study. First, identify any possible heuristics or strategies used by the group members in dealing with the problem. Second, observe how distributed situation assessment performance varies with environmentally imposed demands. Third, study human communication in both stressed and unstressed situations. Finally, examine how specific group communication protocols employed under different environmental conditions influence situation assessment performance. Thus, the overall objective of the study is to help identify and characterize human problem solving performance and human-machine performance characteristics that emerge when a computer intermediary resource is made an integral part of a distributed problem solving situation.
Spiral CT in the evaluation of flank pain: Overall accuracy and feature analysis

Purpose: Our goal was to assess test reliability and identify those features that have the strongest positive and negative predictive values in the diagnosis of renal colic using spiral CT. Method: Fifty non-contrast-enhanced CT scans (5 mm slice thickness) obtained in patients presenting with flank pain were reviewed by three radiologists blinded to the final diagnoses. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for nine pertinent findings were determined as compared to clinical follow-up. Results: Twenty-nine cases had findings of ureteral obstruction. Findings with the strongest positive predictive values (>0.90) were ureteral stone, hydronephrosis, hydroureter, periureteral stranding, and ureterovesical junction edema. Findings with the strongest negative predictive values (>0.89) were absence of hydronephrosis and hydroureter. The areas under the receiver operating curves for Readers 1, 2, and 3 were 0.970 ± 0.030, 0.942 ± 0.036, and 0.982 ± 0.020. Conclusion: Absence of hydroureter and hydronephrosis on spiral CT images should prompt a search for a diagnosis other than an obstructing ureteral stone.
Unofficial thaw in the Cold War

Unofficial exchanges, tourism, and, trade are rapidly increasing contacts between U.S. and Soviet citizens, establishing mutual good will that should eventually be reflected on the official level.
Trepanematosis in 19th Century USA: Evidence of Dependency and Stigma in an American Institution

Venereal trepanematosis is reported in the Vigo County Home, a nineteenth century custodial institution for various categories of dependency. The frequency of syphilitic infection (18.2%) is the highest observed in any North American historic period bioarchaeological study. It is also discussed that syphilic infections from historic period North American contexts are only reported in institutional contexts, whereas bioarchaeological studies of family and community skeletal samples, such infections are not observed. This study suggests that, as a long term chronic infection, syphilis rendered its sufferers to a dependent state that resulted in institutionalization and possible exposure to stigmatized assumptions about the transmission of the trepanemal infection.
An Effect Evaluation on the Intervention Mode of AIDS High-risk Behaviors

Objective To explore and assess the intervention mode consist of governments,professional organizations and volunteers for AIDS high- risk behaviors. Methods Commercial sex workers,gays,venereal outpatients and other target population were chosen to be under intervention measures by AIDS high- risk behaviors intervention team consist of government,CDC and volunteers. Then awareness rate,use rate of condom and care rate of infectious were calculated. Results A team of 313 volunteers were set up. The cadres,students and owners of public places were trained and it reached 42 000 person training times in 2012. The awareness rate of AIDS- prevention knowledge among commercial sex workers increased from 76. 67% to 91. 41% and the use of condom increased from 66. 67% to 89. 74%. The care rate of infections / patients increased from 0 to 100%. Conclusion This model plays an important role in the AIDS prevention and treatment. It is a good working mechanism to build the intervention mode consist of governments,professional organizations and volunteers.
Hereditary Onycho-osteodysplasia (nail-patella Syndrome): A Report Of Nine Kindreds

1. Nine unrelated kindreds with onycho-osteodysplasia are presented from a small population source suggesting relative frequency of this syndrome. 2. The presence of albuminuria in 39 per cent of affected persons tested supports the inclusion of renal dysplasia as a component of the syndrome. The nature of this dysplasia needs further definition. 3. Mild reduction of stature is demonstrated to be a component of the syndrome. 4. The finding of foot deformity in 46 per cent of affected persons examined suggests that this is also a component of the inherited syndrome. Calcaneovalgus deformity of the hind part of the foot with supination of the fore part of the foot was found to be the predominant deformity.
Auxiliary Hyperkinetic β Subunit of K+Channels: Regulation of Firing Properties and K+ Currents in Drosophila Neurons

Auxiliary Hyperkinetic β subunit of K+channels: regulation of firing properties and K+ currents in Drosophila neurons. Molecular analysis and heterologous expression have shown that K+ channel β su...
Predicting Health Care Utilization After Behavioral Health Referral Using Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning

Mental health problems are an independent predictor of increased healthcare utilization. We created random forest classifiers for predicting two outcomes following a patient’s first behavioral health encounter: decreased utilization by any amount (AUROC 0.74) and ultra-high absolute utilization (AUROC 0.88). These models may be used for clinical decision support by referring providers, to automatically detect patients who may benefit from referral, for cost management, or for risk/protection factor analysis.
Comparison of fixed and variable temporal resolution methods for creating gated cardiac blood-pool image sequences

In each of 50 resting subjects, two gated blood-pool image sequences were created from the same LIST mode data set. One sequence was created using a sorting method that spans each individual cardiac cycle with the same number of images (the "variable temporal" or VT method), while the other (the "fixed temporal" or FT method) spans the average cardiac cycle with images of fixed temporal duration. Left ventricular time-activity curves were extracted from each sequence using identical regions-of-interest and analyzed with identical methods to obtain estimates of ejection fraction, peak ejection rate, peak filling rate, and the times of occurrence of these peak rates. Differences among certain of these parameters in kind and amount support the hypothesis that estimates of resting cardiac function are more accurately portrayed by the FT method. The magnitudes of these differences are small for systolic parameters but large for early diastolic parameters. Thus, although both methods might be used for measuring systolic function, the FT method will yield a more accurate estimate of peak filling rate in resting subjects.
DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS OF THERMALLY REVERSIBLE GELS

A thermally reversible gel is one which on the application of heat reverts to a fluid. The latter, on cooling, again undergoes gel formation. Thermally reversible gels are not only scientifically interesting but are also of commercial importance. Gelatin gels form the basis of photographic silver halide emulsion preparation. Aqueous gels of agar-agar are used as media for bacterial cultures, and pectin and gelatin for the manufacture of certain gelling food products.
Genomic Analysis by Oligonucleotide Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization Utilizing Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissues

Formalin fixation has been used to preserve tissues for more than a hundred years, and there are currently more than 300 million archival samples in the United States alone. The application of genomic protocols such as high-density oligonucleotide array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, therefore, opens an untapped resource of available tissues for research and facilitates utilization of existing clinical data in a research sample set. However, formalin fixation results in cross-linking of proteins and DNA, typically leading to such a significant degradation of DNA template that little is available for use in molecular applications. Here, we describe a protocol to circumvent formalin fixation artifact by utilizing enzymatic reactions to obtain quality DNA from a wide range of FFPE tissues for successful genome-wide discovery of gene dosage alterations in archival clinical samples.
A bow-tie photoconductive antenna using a low-temperature-grown GaAs thin-film on a silicon substrate for terahertz wave generation and detection

This paper presents heterogeneously integrated bow-tie emitter–detector photoconductive antennas (PCAs) based on low-temperature grown-gallium arsenide (LTG-GaAs) thin-film devices on silicon-dioxide/silicon (SiO2/Si) host substrates for integrated terahertz (THz) systems. The LTG-GaAs thin-film devices are fabricated with standard photolithography and thermal evaporation of metal-contact layers of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and gold (Au). They are etched selectively and separated from their growth GaAs substrate. The LTG-GaAs thin-film devices are then heterogeneously integrated on bow-tie antenna electrodes patterned on the surface of a SiO2/Si host substrate for THz emitters and THz detectors. Cost-effective and selective integration of LTG-GaAs thin-film devices on a Si platform is demonstrated. THz radiation from the fabricated THz PCAs is successfully measured using a pump–probe THz time-domain configuration. The THz temporal duration was measured at full width half maximum of 0.36 ps. Its frequency spectrum exhibits a broadband response with a peak resonant frequency of about 0.31 THz. The demonstration illustrates the feasibility of creating heterogeneously integrated THz systems using separately optimized LTG-GaAs devices and Si based electronics.
Japan at Home: The Corporatist State

During the summer of 1991, Japan was rocked by the revelation of two immense interrelated financial scandals. In June an investigation by the Tax Office of twenty-one Japanese securities firms revealed that they had kicked back over $1.5 billion to over 600 favored clients, including organized crime bosses (yakuza) and a government pension fund. The Big Four securities firms — Nomura, Daiwa, Nikko, and Yamaichi — accounted for about $1 billion of the total. Then in August it was revealed that Japan’s largest banks and other financial institutions had handled over $5 billion in fraudulent loans. Yet even these huge amounts of money and types of corruption were considered only the iceberg’s tip.
Digital Evaluation of Three Splinting Materials Used to Fabricate Verification Jigs for Full-Arch Implant Prostheses: A Comparative Study.

Purpose The primary aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of different splinting materials to make implant cast verification jigs. The secondary aim was to assess the effect of 20° implant angulation on the accuracy of casts. Materials and Methods An edentulous mandibular arch with five internal connection tissue level implants served as control. The three implants in the anterior region were parallel to each other and the two implants in the posterior region were distally tilted 20° bilaterally. Verification jigs were fabricated with three different materials by splinting prefabricated bars to temporary abutments, resulting in three different groups (n = 15 specimens). Test casts were fabricated with low expansion type IV stone, and subsequently digitized with reference scanner. The STL files from the test casts and the control were superimposed, in order to determine the three-dimensional (3D) deviations. Results Group 1 (GC Pattern Resin) had a mean (SD) value of 36.59 (12.47) μm; Group 2 (Fixpeed Resin) had a mean (SD) value of 35.9 (10.13) μm; and Group 3 (Triad Gel) had a mean (SD) of 34.12 (7.10) μm. One-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.790). For the comparative analysis of the effect of implant angulation, data were normally distributed for Groups 1 and 3 (GC Resin and Triad Gel), but not for group 2 (Fixpeed Resin). The difference between parallel and tilted implants was significant for all three groups: GC Resin (p = 0.024; paired t-test), Fixpeed Resin (p = 0.002; Wilcoxon signed-rank test), and Triad Gel (p = 0.002; paired t-test). Conclusions There were no statistically significant differences between the 3D deviations of the test casts fabricated from verification jigs made by three materials (GC Pattern Resin, Fixpeed Resin, and Triad Gel). Parallel implants had nominally significantly less 3D deviations compared with 20° distally tilted implants, but not clinically significant. Clinical Significance The results of the present study indicate that more than 20° of angulation, has an effect on the 3D accuracy. However, even though the tilted implants had nominally significantly more 3D deviation, it was not clinically significant. The clinical implications of this in vitro study are relevant to the popular full-arch implant rehabilitation concept of tilted and axial implants such as the All-on-four concept. Tilting the posterior implants to increase the antero-posterior spread increases the implant angulation which is then corrected with 30° angulated abutments. This in vitro study shows that even after correction with angulated abutments if the remaining angulation is up to 20°, framework fit may still be achieved. Verification jig is essential tool to achieve the framework fit. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:102–109, 2017)
Behavior of Virulent Yersinia enterocolitica During Manufacture and Storage of Colby-like Cheese

The ability of Yersinia enterocolitica to grow and survive during manufacture and storage of Colby-like cheese was determined. Pasteurized whole milk artificially contaminated with two virulent strains of Y. enterocolitica (separately) was used to make cheese. Y. enterocolitica was enumerated by surface-plating of samples on Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin (CIN) agar. Y. enterocolitica increased 1000-fold, to about 1 × 106/g of curd, during the manufacturing process. After this point, numbers of Y. enterocolitica in cheeses generally decreased over a period of weeks. One strain could not be detected in cheese after 7 weeks at 3 ± 1°C. However, the other strain persisted at numbers in excess of 200/g after 8 weeks at the same temperature.
Inhibition of Clostridium botulinum Type E Toxin Formation by Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride in Hot-Process (Smoked) Whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis ).

Whitefish steaks were brined in NaCl, KCl, or equimolar NaCl:KCl to contain similar chloride ion concentration and inoculated intramuscularly with 10 or 100 spores of Clostridium botulinum type E per gram of fish. Steaks were then heated in a simulated (i.e., without smoke) hot-smoke process to internal temperatures of 62.8° to 76.7°C (145°-170°F) for the final 30 min of a 2- to 3-h process, packaged under vacuum in oxygen-impermeable film, and stored at abuse temperature of 25°C. During 7 d of storage, toxin production was inhibited in steaks containing more than 0.66 ionic strength NaCl, 0.64 KCl, or 0.71 equimolar NaCl:KCl. The results indicate that it is feasible to substitute KCl for NaCl in hot-process smoked fish for inhibition of outgrowth and toxin production by Clostridium botulinum type E.
Intra‐ and inter‐day reproducibility of low‐flow mediated constriction response in young adults

SummaryPurpose When assessing brachial endothelial function by reactive hyperaemia, stopping blood flow creates a period of low-flow-mediated constriction (L-FMC). As little is known about how this parameter influences flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), the purpose of this study was to better understand this relationship and to determine the intra- and interday reproducibility of brachial L-FMC. Methods Brachial L-FMC and FMD were measured on 26 healthy, young adults (13 males, 13 females; 24·6 ± 2·7 years). Each participant had two assessments conducted on two separate visits, separated by a minimum of seven days. Brachial artery baseline diameter was imaged during rest. Continuous imaging of the artery was performed during the last 20 s of cuff-occlusion to 180 s postcuff release. An L-FMC was considered present if the relative change from pre-occlusion baseline to L-FMC artery diameter was less than −0·1%. Results Overall, there was a strong, positive correlation between increased brachial L-FMC and blunted FMD (visit 1 test 1: r = 0·758, P<0·001; visit 1 test 2: r = 0·706, P<0·001; visit 2 test 1: r = 0·836, P<0·001; visit 2 test 2: r = 0·857, P<0·001). The reproducibility of intra- and interday L-FMC diameter was intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) = 0·627, coefficient of variation (CV) = 54·4% and ICC = 0·734, CV = 43·5%, respectively. Conclusion Vasoconstriction to low-flow conditions influences the subsequent maximal dilation during reactive hyperaemia. However, L-FMC is variable as evidenced by the weak intra- and interday reproducibility of the measure. Further research should study brachial L-FMC reproducibility among varying populations and the implications L-FMC has on the interpretation of FMD results.
Resistance diagnosis and the changing epidemiology of antibiotic resistance

Widespread adoption of point-of-care resistance diagnostics (POCRD) reduces ineffective antibiotic use but could increase overall antibiotic use. Indeed, in the context of a standard susceptible-infected epidemiological model with a single antibiotic, POCRD accelerates the rise of resistance in the disease-causing bacterial population. When multiple antibiotics are available, however, POCRD may slow the rise of resistance even as more patients receive antibiotic treatment, belying the conventional wisdom that antibiotics are "exhaustible resources" whose increased use necessarily promotes the rise of resistance.
Human-Computer Interaction

The main objective of this chapter is to summarize the authors’ recent work which studied the human-computer interaction for sketch-based passwords. However, before discussing the previous results, the features used specifically for implementation of SKS are discussed, and an overview of the database used for the HCI study (and some experiments and results in the subsequent chapter) is provided. The features used for the application of sketch-based passwords incorporates four fundamental properties: (1) shape, (2) direction, (3) order, and (4) pressure, which comprise a local 5D feature descriptor at every sketch sample point. The database used for this HCI study was constructed by the authors in (Riggan et al., A human factors study of graphical passwords using biometrics. Proc. of the 36th German Conf. on Pattern Recognition, 2014). This database considers a sufficiently large and complete set of users and many variations of sketch-based passwords. The previous HCI is useful to understand the connection between human perception and certain similarity measures, specifically for sketch-based authentication.
RECONSTRUCTING RACISM: TRANSFORMING RACIAL HIERARCHY FROM “NECESSARY EVIL” INTO “POSITIVE GOOD”

Our theoretical claim is that racism was consciously (though perhaps not intentionally) devised, and later evolved, to serve two conflicting purposes. First, racism served a legal-economic purpose, legitimating ownership and savage treatment of slaves by southern whites, preserving the value of property rights in labor. Second, racism allowed slave owners to justify, to themselves and to outsiders, how a morally "good" person could own slaves. Racism portrayed African slaves as being less than human (and therefore requiring care, as a positive duty of the slave owner, as a man cares for his children, who cannot care for themselves), or else as being other than human (and therefore being spiritually no different from cattle or horses, and therefore requiring only the same considerations for maintenance and husbandry). The interest of the historical narrative presented here is the emergence of racial chattel slavery as a coherent and fiercely defended ideal, rather than the "necessary evil" that had been the perspective of the Founders. The reason that this is important is that the ideology of racism persisted far beyond the destruction of the institution of slavery, through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and in some ways persisting even today. This work is an example of the problems of assuming that there is a "feedback" mechanism by which moral intuitions are updated and perfected; to the contrary, as suggested by Douglass North, even socially inferior ideologies can prove extremely persistent.
Angiotensin II Regulated Apoptosis in Cardiovascular Remodeling

Angiotensin (Ang) II exerts major influences on the heart and blood vessels via its effects on systemic hemodynamics and blood volume as well as structural effects. The major cardiovascular actions of Ang II have been reported to be mediated by the type 1 Ang II receptor or AT1 receptor. Recently, we have cloned a second receptor subtype known as AT2 receptor. The existence and differential expression of two different subtypes of Ang II receptors in the human myocardium and the reciprocal expression of AT1 and AT2 receptor in myocardial infarction and cardiac failure suggest pathophysiological importance of these receptors in cardiovascular disease and remodeling. Moreover, documented evidences suggest that the cellular composition of the heart and blood vessels is determined by the balance between apoptotic cell death (programmed cell death) and cell survival, and the unbalanced cell death plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and remodeling. Our successful clonings of AT2 receptor cDNAs have provided a unique opportunity to study the biology and function of this receptor. Indeed, in our previous experiments, we have demonstrated that AT2 receptor activates tyrosine phosphatase(s) and inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, thereby exerting the proapoptotic and antigrowth effects in several cells including cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. These antagonistic actions may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and remodeling.
Evidence that an informal environmental summer camp can contribute to the construction of the conceptual understanding and situational interest of STEM in middle-school youth

Youth are introduced to STEM topics through informal settings like science camps, aquaria, and zoos. In these interactive and sensory-rich environments, a well-designed programme can help participa...
Inpatient Quality Improvement Interventions for Asthma: A Meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for the management of pediatric asthma, health care utilization remains high. OBJECTIVE: Systematically review the inpatient literature on asthma quality improvement (QI) and synthesize impact on subsequent health care utilization. DATA SOURCES: Medline and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (January 1, 1991–November 16, 2016) and bibliographies of retrieved articles. STUDY SELECTION: Interventional studies in English of inpatient-initiated asthma QI work. DATA EXTRACTION: Studies were categorized by intervention type and outcome. Random-effects models were used to generate pooled risk ratios for health care utilization outcomes after inpatient QI interventions. RESULTS: Thirty articles met inclusion criteria and 12 provided data on health care reutilization outcomes. Risk ratios for emergency department revisits were: 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06–14.47) LIMITATIONS: Linkages between intervention and outcome are complicated by the multimodal approach to QI in most studies. CONCLUSIONS: We did not identify any inpatient strategies impacting health care reutilization within 30 days of index hospitalization. Multimodal interventions demonstrated impact over the longer interval.
Medical Students Attitudinal Changes Associated with the Psychiatric Clerkship

This study explores the effects of the psychiatric clerkship on medical students’ attitudes toward mentally ill patients. Of 42 junior medical students in the study, 11 students were assigned to a primarily “Dispositional” unit and 11 to a “Treatment” unit. The control group consisted of 20 students with no psychiatric clerkship experience. All completed the Opinion about Mental Illness scale on the first and last days of the clerkship. The results demonstrate that the Dispositional Unit students experienced a decrease in Benevolence and an increase in Social Restrictiveness. The Treatment Unit students showed a decrease in Social Restrictiveness and an increase in Mental Hygiene Ideology.
Temporal Trends and Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Nonagenarians: A National Perspective

Abstract Objectives This study sought to assess temporal trends and outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in nonagenarians. Background With increasing life expectancy, nonagenarians requiring PCI are increasing even though outcomes data are limited. Methods The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify all hospitalizations for PCI in patients aged ≥90 years from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2014. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results Nonagenarians (n = 69,271) constituted 0.9% of all PCI hospitalizations, increasing from 0.6% in 2003 to 2004 to 1.4% in 2013 to 2014 (ptrend Conclusions The rate of in-hospital mortality, major bleeding, vascular complications, and stroke after PCI in nonagenarians changed significantly from 2003 to 2014. This study provides a benchmark for discussion of PCI-related risks among physicians, patients, and families.
MP60-18 ROBOT-ASSISTED RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY IN THE ELDERLY: A PROPENSITY-MATCHED COMPARISON OF ONCOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Radical prostatectomy is the recommended definitive surgical treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer in eligible men who meet the criteria for curative radical ther...
Do Status discrepancy and socioeconomic immobility really drive compensatory consumption

Abstract This research aimed to empirically explore whether impulsive consumption in the hospitality industry could be explained as a form of compensatory behavior that individuals engage in to cope with pessimistic self-evaluations. In this study, these self-evaluations have been operationalized as status discrepancy and perceived socioeconomic immobility. To test the hypotheses, this study used a three-way factorial design in two consumption settings: (1) leisure activities and (2) restaurant visits. Across the two studies, the results indicated that satisfactory self-assessments, rather than status discrepancy or socioeconomic immobility, lead to impulsive consumption. Despite the reversed findings, this study verified that participants jointly reflect status discrepancy and socioeconomic immobility in consumption contexts. Moreover, the findings suggest that millennials are more sensitive towards mobility information than older generations. This study sheds light on generational differences in impulsive consumption in the hospitality industry.
The Ultrapower Axiom and the GCH

The Ultrapower Axiom is an abstract combinatorial principle inspired by the fine structure of canonical inner models of large cardinal axioms. In this paper, it is established that the Ultrapower A...
Development of a digital astronomical intensity interferometer: laboratory results with thermal light

AbstractWe present measurements of the second-order spatial coherence function of thermal light sources using Hanbury-Brown and Twiss interferometry with a digital correlator. We demonstrate that intensity fluctuations between orthogonal polarizations, or at detector separations greater than the spatial coherence length of the source, are uncorrelated but can be used to reduce systematic noise. The work performed here can readily be applied to existing and future Imaging Air-Cherenkov Telescopes used as star light collectors for stellar intensity interferometry to measure spatial properties of astronomical objects.
Measuring the Quality of Early Childhood Education in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Young children’s access to early childhood education (ECE) is increasing in low- and middle-income countries, though often without attention to service quality. Monitoring quality requires classroom observations, but most observation tools available were developed in high-income Western countries. In this article, we examine key issues in measuring ECE quality in low- and middle-income countries and consider challenges and opportunities in balancing theoretical grounding, cultural- and contextual-adaptation, and empirical rigor. We then review the literature on observed classroom quality in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on process quality. We find limited evidence that the constructs identified in high-income countries replicate in low- and middle-income countries. Further, the very limited evidence that ECE quality measures used in low- and middle-income countries predict child outcomes is almost exclusively cross-sectional and associations are mixed. We conclude by discussing how future research can build a stronger knowledge base about ECE quality and child development globally.
Fluorescent Labelling of Nerve Terminals in the Living Isolated Mammalian Muscle Spindle

The fluorescent dye, 4 (4-diethylamino styryl)-N-methyl pyridinium iodide (4-Di-2-ASP), stains living neuromuscular terminals without producing evident damage (Magrassi, Purves and Lichtman, J. Neuroscience, 7: 1207, 1987) and has been used to follow the structure of these endings over long periods of time (Lichtman, Magrassi and Purves, J. Neuroscience, 7: 1215, 1987).
Contemporary Human Genetic Variation

Many patterns of contemporary human genetic variation reflect the history of our species. Neutral genetic variation (not affected by natural selection) shows our African origin, later dispersion throughout the world, and some interbreeding with other human groups, such as the Neandertals. Some variation also reflects natural selection to different environments, disease, and diet, and much of these changes have occurred since the origin and spread of agriculture.
SU-F-BRB-04: Comparison of Coplanar VMAT, Non-Coplanar VMAT, and 4π Treatment Plans

Purpose: The 4π non-coplanar radiotherapy delivery technique has demonstrated significantly better normal tissue sparing and dose conformality than the clinically used volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). It is unclear whether this is a fundamental limitation of VMAT delivery or the coplanar nature of its typical clinical plans. The non-coplanar basis of 4π is incorporated into VMAT treatment planning to compare its effect on plan quality. Methods: Clinical stereotactic body radiation therapy plans for 9 liver patients treated with 30–60 Gy using coplanar VMAT (cVMAT) were re-planned using non-coplanar VMAT (nVMAT) with 3 arcs and 4 π with 20 intensity-modulated non-coplanar fields. All plans were optimized to deliver 100% of the prescribed dose to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV), and nVMAT and 4π plans were tailored to match the maximum and mean PTV dose from the clinical plan. The conformality index (CI), 50% dose spillage volume (R50), normal liver volume receiving >15 Gy (VL>15), and doses to organs at risk (OARs) were compared for all three treatment plans. Results: Compared to cVMAT, the nVMAT and 4π plans reduced VL>15 by an average of 30.6 cm3 and 96.3 cm3, respectively. The average CI was also reduced from 1.22 (cVMAT) to 1.17 (nVMAT) and 1.14 (4π), indicating higher conformality in the same order. Similarly, R50 was reduced from 3.87 (cVMAT) to 3.58 (nVMAT) and 2.74 (4π). With the exception of the mean right kidney dose, which increased by an average of only 0.6 Gy for nVMAT, the dose differences to OARs were not statistically significant between the two VMAT plans. 4π plans either significantly decreased or maintained OAR doses. Conclusion: While the manual selection of intuitive non-coplanar arcs does show some improvement over coplanar VMAT, the automated beam selection for 4π still results in superior plan quality. This project is supported in part by Varian Medical Systems and NIH R43 CA183390.