cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Particle Filtering for Bearing Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Wind Turbine Drivetrain Gearboxes

Bearing is the major contributor to wind turbine gearbox failures. Accurate remaining useful life prediction for drivetrain gearboxes of wind turbines is of great importance to achieve condition-based maintenance to improve the wind turbine reliability and reduce the cost of wind power. However, remaining useful life prediction is a challenging work due to the limited monitoring data and the lack of an accurate physical fault degradation model. The particle filtering method has been used for the remaining useful life prediction of wind turbine drivetrain gearboxes, but suffers from the particle impoverishment problem due to a low particle diversity, which may lead to unsatisfactory prediction results. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an enhanced particle filtering algorithm in which an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system is designed to learn the state transition function in the fault degradation model using the fault indicator extracted from the monitoring data; a particle modification method and an improved multinomial resampling method are proposed to improve the particle diversity in the resampling process to solve the particle impoverishment problem. The enhanced particle filtering algorithm is applied successfully to predict the remaining useful life of a bearing in the drivetrain gearbox of a 2.5 MW wind turbine equipped with a doubly-fed induction generator.
Do Autopsies Still Matter? The Influence of Autopsy Data on Final Injury Severity Score Calculations.

Abstract Background Despite a proven record of identifying injuries missed during clinical evaluation, the effect of autopsy on injury severity score (ISS) calculation is unknown. We hypothesized that autopsy data would alter final ISS and improve the accuracy of outcome data analyses. Materials and methods All trauma deaths from January 2010 through June 2014 were reviewed. Trauma registrars calculated Abbreviated Injury Scale and ISS from clinical documentation alone. The most detailed available autopsy report then was reviewed, and AIS/ISS recalculated. Predictors of ISS change were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Results Seven hundred thirty-nine deaths occurred, of which 682 (92.3%) underwent autopsy (31% view-only, 3% with preliminary report, and 66% with full report). Patients undergoing full autopsy had a lower median age (39 versus 74 years, P Conclusions Autopsy data significantly increased ISS values for trauma deaths. This effect was greatest in patients who died early in their course. Targeting this group, rather than all trauma patients, for full autopsy may improve risk-adjustment accuracy while minimizing costs.
Time-Series Analysis

Analysis of epidemic time series is a large endeavor because of the richness of dynamical patterns and plentitude of historical data (Rohani and King 2010). A wide range of tools are used, some of which are borrowed from mainstream statistics other of which are “custom made.” The classic “mainstream” methods belong to two categories: the so-called time-domain and frequency-domain methods. The autocorrelation function and ARIMA models belong to the former class and spectral analysis and the periodogram belong to the latter. Hybrid time/frequency methods have become increasingly prominent in the form of wavelet analysis because it allows the study of changes in disease dynamics through time (Grenfell et al. 2001). This chapter discusses a variety of “mainstream” methods using a variety of time-series data.
Walking and running to benefit breast cancer: descriptive characteristics of participants in the 2017 Walk for Life events.

Aims:The prevalence of charities and other non-profit organisations sponsoring for-cause physical activity (PA) events has continued to rise. Few studies have examined for-cause events through a public health perspective to determine the reach and potential for public health and PA promotion. This study described participants in a for-cause event supporting breast cancer to determine the reach of the event and identified possible leverage points of for-cause events for public health promotion.Methods:Participants registered online for the Walk for Life events in Columbia, SC (Half marathon, 10k, 5k, and Walk-a-thon), were included in this study. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel.Results:Over 6,000 people participated in the event and 4,942 registered online. Of online registrants, most participants were women (n = 3,800, 78.95%) and most participants, completed the walk-a-thon (n = 3,539), followed by the 5k (n = 829), half-marathon (n = 236), and 10k (n = 209). The average age of participants was ...
A Novel Nonanuclear Hafnium Oxide—Hydroxide—Sulfate Cluster Crystallized from Aqueous Solution.

Single crystals of (NH4)14 [Hf9O8(OH)6(SO4)14] ·nH2O (n ≅ 12.5) are grown by heating an aqueous solution of HfOCl2, (NH4)2SO4, and H2SO4 (pH 0.93, sealed glass vial, 80 °C, 10 d; 54% yield).
Hierarchically Structured CeO2 Catalyst Particles From Nanocellulose/Alginate Templates for Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Vapors.

Hierarchically structured porous materials often exhibit advantageous functionality for many applications including catalysts, adsorbents, and filtration systems. In this study we report a facile approach to achieve hierarchically structured, porous cerium oxide (CeO2) catalyst particles using a templating method based on nanocellulose, a class of renewable, plant-derived nanomaterials. We demonstrate the catalyst performance benefits provided by this templating method in the context of Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis (CFP) which is a promising conversion technology to produce renewable fuel and chemical products from biomass and other types of organic waste. We show that variations in the porous structures imparted by this templating method may be achieved by modifying the content of cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose nanocrystals, and alginate in the templating suspensions. Nitrogen physisorption reveals that nearly ten-fold increases in surface area can be achieved using this method with respect to commercially available cerium oxide powder. Multiscale electron microscopy further verifies that bio-derived templating can alter the morphology of the catalyst nanostructure and tune the distribution of meso- and macro-porosity within the catalyst particles while maintaining CeO2 crystal structure. CFP experiments demonstrate that the templated catalysts display substantially higher activity on a gravimetric basis than their non-templated counterpart, and that variations in the catalyst architecture can impact the distribution of upgraded pyrolysis products. Finally, we demonstrate that the templating method described here may be extended to other materials derived from metal chlorides to achieve 3-dimensional networks of hierarchical porosity.
Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to Mosaicism

Introduction Genotype-phenotype discordance occurs occasionally in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Its causes are largely unknown. We describe a case of monochorionic, diamniotic twins with discordant clinical presentations of CAH, and show evidence for this being due to mosaicism resulting from a postzygotic full gene deletion of CYP21A2 prior to twinning. Case description A 7-day-old 36-week gestation female infant (Twin A) presented to the emergency department with elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP). Her identical twin (Twin B) had normal 17-OHP on newborn screening. Both twins showed signs of virilization, more pronounced in Twin B. Molecular genetic testing of both twins and their parents showed a WT paternally-inherited CYP21A2 and a maternally-inherited copy containing the c.293-13C>G mutation. Both twins were also found to have a 5'-CYP21A1P/CYP21A2-3' hybrid (product of the common 30-kb deletion), derived from the deletion of the paternally-inherited CYP21A2. Neither mother nor father carried the deletion. Conclusions The genetic findings are consistent with mosaicism for two CYP21A2 cell lines in both twins. The first cell line is expected, based on parental results, while the second line is due to a postzygotic full gene deletion of the paternally-inherited WT CYP21A2. The resultant genotype, compound heterozygosity for c.293-13C>G and a CYP21A2 full gene deletion, is consistent with a salt-wasting CAH phenotype. Differential distribution of the second cell line between the twins is most likely the cause for their discrepant phenotypes. We believe this is the first report of somatic CYP21A2 mosaicism, and represents a novel cause for discrepant CAH phenotypes in monozygotic twins.
Bariatric surgery as a proxy for nutritional stress in stable isotope investigations of archaeological populations

Abstract Pathophysiological fractionation of stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes during periods of nutritional stress has the potential to bias investigations of ancient diets using such methods, particularly when no corroborating evidence of stress is apparent. More stable isotope analyses of human proxies for nutritional stress are therefore necessary to resolve this issue of diet vs. stress. We show here that individuals undergoing bariatric surgery are an ideal proxy for studying pathophysiological fractionation among humans. Using sequential samples of hair from two individuals, we construct an isotopic timeline demonstrating a 1‰ enrichment in δ15N values immediately following bariatric surgery, reflecting the catabolism of body tissues. Stable carbon isotopes show little systematic change with tissue catabolism.
ICEKAT: an interactive online tool for calculating initial rates from continuous enzyme kinetic traces

Continuous enzyme kinetic assays are often used in high-throughput applications, as they allow rapid acquisition of large amounts of kinetic data and increased confidence compared to discontinuous assays. However, data analysis is often rate-limiting in high-throughput enzyme assays, as manual inspection and selection of a linear range from individual kinetic traces is cumbersome and prone to user error and bias. Currently available software programs are specialized and designed for the analysis of complex enzymatic models. Despite the widespread use of initial rate determination for processing kinetic data sets, no simple and automated program existed for rapid analysis of initial rates from continuous enzyme kinetic traces. An Interactive Continuous Enzyme Kinetics Analysis Tool (ICEKAT) was developed for semi-automated calculation of initial rates from continuous enzyme kinetic traces with particular application to the evaluation of Michaelis-Menten and EC50/IC50 kinetic parameters, as well as the results of high-throughput screening assays. ICEKAT allows users to interactively fit kinetic traces using convenient browser-based selection tools, ameliorating tedious steps involved in defining ranges to fit in general purpose programs like Microsoft Excel and Graphpad Prism, while still maintaining simplicity in determining initial rates. As a test case, we quickly analyzed over 500 continuous enzyme kinetic traces resulting from experimental data on the response of the protein lysine deacetylase SIRT1 to small-molecule activators. ICEKAT allows simultaneous visualization of individual initial rate fits and the resulting Michaelis-Menten or EC50/IC50 kinetic model fits, as well as hits from high-throughput screening assays. In addition to serving as a convenient program for practicing enzymologists, ICEKAT is also a useful teaching aid to visually demonstrate in real-time how incorrect initial rate fits can affect calculated Michaelis-Menten or EC50/IC50 kinetic parameters. For the convenience of the research community, we have made ICEKAT freely available online at https://icekat.herokuapp.com/icekat .
CT Fluoroscopy Guided Thoracic Biopsies (CTTB) Are Highly Accurate and Safe: Outcomes and Predictive Modeling of Complications Utilizing Machine Learning.

Purpose CT guided transthoracic biopsy (CTTB) is an established, minimally invasive method for diagnostic evaluation of a variety of thoracic diseases. We assessed a large CTTB cohort diagnostic accuracy, complication rates, and developed machine learning models to predict complications. Materials and Methods We retrospectively identified 796 CTTB patients in a tertiary hospital (5-year interval). We gathered and coded patient demographics, characteristics of each lesion biopsied, type of biopsy, diagnostic yield, type of diagnosis, and complication rates. Statistical analyses included summary statistics, multivariate logistic regression and machine learning (neural network) methods. Results Seven hundred ninety-six CTTBs were performed (43% fine needle aspirations, 5% core biopsies, 52% both). Diagnostic yield was 97.0% (73.9% malignant, 23.1% benign). Complications occurred in 14.7% (12.7% minor, 2.0% major). The most common complication was pneumothorax (13.1%), mostly minor. Multivariate logistic regression models could predict severity of complications with accuracies ranging from 65.5% to 83.5%, with smaller lesion dimension the strongest predictor. Type of biopsy was not a statistically significant predictor. A neural network model improved accuracy to 77.0%–94.2%. Conclusion CTTB performed by thoracic radiologists in a tertiary hospital demonstrate excellent diagnostic yield (97.0%) with a low clinically important complication rate (2.0%). Machine learning methods including neural networks can accurately predict the likelihood of complications, offering pathways to potentially improve patient selection and procedural technique, in order to further optimize the risk-benefit ratio of CTTB.
Computational Discovery of Inorganic Electrides from an Automated Screening

Summary Electrides, with their excess electrons distributed in crystal cavities playing the role of anions, exhibit a variety of unique properties that make these materials desirable for many applications in catalysis, non-linear optics, and electron emission. While the first electride was discovered almost four decades ago, only few electride materials are known today, which limits our fundamental understanding as well as the practical use of these exotic materials. In this work, we propose an automated computational screening scheme to search for interstitial electrons and quantify their distributions inside the crystal cavities and energy space. Applying this scheme to all candidate materials in the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database, we report the identification of 167 potential electride materials. This work significantly increases the current library of electride materials, which enables an in-depth investigation of their chemistry-structure-property relations and opens new avenues for future electride design.
Top priorities for the next decade of nursing health services research.

Abstract Background The U.S. health care system faces increasing pressures for reform. The importance of nurses in addressing health care delivery challenges cannot be overstated. Purpose To present a Nursing Health Services Research (NHSR) agenda for the 2020s. Method A meeting of an interdisciplinary group of 38 health services researchers to discuss five key challenges facing health care delivery (behavioral health, primary care, maternal/neonatal outcomes, the aging population, health care spending) and identify the most pressing and feasible research questions for NHSR in the coming decade. Findings Guided by a list of inputs affecting health care delivery (health information technology, workforce, delivery systems, payment, social determinants of health), meeting participants identified 5 to 6 research questions for each challenge. Also, eight cross-cutting themes illuminating the opportunities and barriers facing NHSR emerged. Discussion The Agenda can act as a foundation for new NHSR – which is more important than ever – in the 2020s.
Darden Investment Sales

TJ, a manager at an investment company, is alarmed when, during an evening out with Leslie, his female colleague, and five male prospective clients, the men behave in an overly familiar way with her. Although Leslie assures TJ that she can handle this type of attention, TJ nonetheless is very uncomfortable with the situation. What should he do? Excerpt UVA-E-0423 Oct. 3, 2019 Darden Investment Sales TJ walked into the office Friday morning exhausted after a late night with clients and somewhat uncomfortable with what had transpired the previous evening. As his coworker, Leslie, sat down next to him, TJ thought about everything that had happened. TJ and Leslie, both salespeople, had entertained five prospective male clients during a game at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia, followed by drinks at a local bar. TJ knew his three clients extremely well because they were big revenue drivers year after year, and Leslie was meeting her two for the first time. Shortly after the clients had arrived at the arena suite and introductions were made, TJ had noticed that the clients were paying Leslie a lot of attention, including the physical variety. For example, the clients had put their hands on her arm and back multiple times. Worried that Leslie was feeling uncomfortable, TJ had pulled her aside to check if she was okay and whether he could do something to help her. Leslie had responded that she was fine—and that she had "been in the sales game long enough to know how to handle herself." Over the course of the evening, almost every client asked Leslie for her personal phone number as well as her Instagram name so they could see the pictures she posted to her account. Things had escalated even more after the game ended, and they all went to the Bull's Head Tavern. As the drinks flowed, the clients became rowdy and the physical contact increased. At one point, TJ had even positioned himself between Leslie and one client whose hand kept getting lower and lower on her back. But Leslie had been adamant that she could handle herself and that this was just part of the job. The clients were having a great evening, and TJ thought that would help close a deal that would earn TJ and Leslie their largest commission of the year. At 1:00 in the morning, TJ and Leslie went home, leaving the clients to stumble toward a strip club down the street from the bar. . . .
Financial Development, Firm Growth, and Aggregate Productivity Divergence in Europe

Since the information and communications technology (ICT) revolution, productivity growth in Southern European countries has been substantially lower than in developed European countries. I use firm-level data for Spain and Germany to document that Spanish firms have lower productivity growth, lower intangible capital growth, lower leverage, smaller firm size, and lower firm growth than German firms. The disparity is larger among smaller firms. To rationalize these findings, I build a model featuring endogenous firm productivity growth and size-dependent financial frictions. Financial frictions affect productivity through two channels: innovation investment and misallocation. Quantitatively, I illustrate how differences in financial frictions interacted with the ICT revolution, leading to differential transitional growth. The model finds that financial frictions account for 11% of the aggregate TFP growth difference in the data. The model mechanism and predictions are also supported by evidence in other European countries.
Engineering Doctoral Degree Trend of Asian-American Women in theUnited States, 1994-2013

In the U.S., while Asian-Americans are overrepresented in engineering, women are underrepresented based on their share of the U.S. population. Asian-American women are unique because they belong to both groups. Using data from the Survey of Earned Doctorates, this paper compares the engineering doctorate trends of Asian-American women with those of other demographic groups and describes Asian-American women's doctoral degree trends in selected engineering subfields in two decades (1994-2013). The findings show a consistent but somewhat narrowing gender gap in earning engineering doctorates among Asian-Americans during this period. Asian-American women's share of doctorates relative to Asian-American men was lower in many years than those of African American and, to some degree, Hispanic women but higher than that of white women relative to men of their respective races/ethnicities. Furthermore, among Asian-Americans, the gender gap was smaller in chemical and materials engineering than in electrical and mechanical engineering. For Asian-American women, the influence of Asian tradition or preference for engineering for social mobility has been somewhat counteracted by the social and institutional barriers that women experience in engineering.
Nuclear Models Relevant to Evaluation

The widespread use of nuclear models continues in the creation of data evaluations. The reasons include extension of data evaluations to higher energies, creation of data libraries for isotopic components of natural materials, and production of evaluations for radioactive target species. In these cases, experimental data are often sparse or nonexistent. As this trend continues, the nuclear models employed in evaluation work move towards more microscopically-based theoretical methods, prompted in part by the availability of increasingly powerful computational resources.
Hyperfine structure of high- L states in i 1 4 3 , 1 4 5 by atomic-beam laser-rf double resonance

The atomic-beam laser-rf double-resonance technique has been used to study the hyperfine structure (hfs) of the metastable {sup 7}{ital L}{sub 5--11} and {sup 7}{ital K}{sub 4} states of the 4{ital f}{sup 4}5{ital d}6{ital s} configuration in {sup 143,145}Nd I. Four zero-field intervals were measured in each state and the results used to assign the conventional hfs constants {ital A} and {ital B}. Comparison of the results with predictions of the Sandars-Beck model allowed evaluation of the relevant single-electron radial hfs integrals. These are compared with earlier results from the Nd I atomic ground term and with extrapolations from other rare-earth elements. The unusually large orbital-angular-momentum values ({ital L}=7 and 8 for the states studied) do not appear to have introduced any anomalous effects. {ital Ab} {ital initio} calculations are not yet feasible for the complex 4{ital f}{sup 4}5{ital d}6{ital s} levels studied.
Small cell osteosarcoma of bone. Review of 72 cases.

BACKGROUND Small cell osteosarcoma of bone is a rare form of osteosarcoma, with an incidence rate of 1.3%. This tumor must be differentiated from other small cell malignancies because of treatment considerations, particularly patient response to chemotherapy. METHODS Clinicopathologic findings in 72 cases (22 from Mayo Clinic files and 50 from consultation files) of small cell osteosarcoma of bone were studied. RESULTS The femur was the most common bone involved, although the tumor was found in all portions of the skeleton. Radiographic features (available in 35 cases) suggested a diagnosis of osteosarcoma in 20 cases, Ewing's sarcoma or lymphoma in 14 cases, and giant cell tumor in 1 case. Histologically, there were four types according to the predominant cell size and cytologic features. Osteoid production was identified in all tumors. Complete treatment and follow-up data were available for 45 cases. Generally, in those cases without surgical treatment, greater than 60% of patients died of disease within 2 years. If the surgical procedure was associated with a marginal tumor margin, the prognosis was poor. In the 30 patients with wide or radical surgical margins, at last follow-up 13 were alive with no evidence of disease, 2 were alive with disease, and 15 died of disease at 5 months to 13.1 years after diagnosis. In 16 of 22 Mayo Clinic patients, excluding those who presented with metastasis, the cumulative 5-year survival rate was 28.9%. Median survival time in patients who had surgery with additional chemotherapy was 13.4 years, compared with 1.4 years in patients who underwent surgery alone (P = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS Small cell osteosarcoma is a definite reproducible histologic entity. Treatment should be based on a protocol for osteosarcoma. Cancer 1997; 79:2095-106. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
DSML: A Proposal for XML Standards for Messaging Between Components of a Natural Language Dialog System

In this paper, we propose using standard XML messaging interfaces between components of natural language dialog systems. We describe a stock trading and information access system, where XML is used to encode speech acts, transactions and retrieved information in messages between system components. We use an XML/XSL based unification approach to display personalized, multi-modal system responses. We are proposing the creation of XML standards for all messaging between components of NLP systems. We hope that the use of XML in messaging will promote greater interoperability of both data and code. The working name of the proposed standard messaging language(s) is DSML (“Dialog System Markup Language”.)
What Use Do Multi-Touch Mobile Devices Have in Workplace Learning?

Mobile devices have taken the consumer and commercial industry by storm over the past few years. In the workplace, many professionals are equipped with a mobile device that allows them to keep in touch with their work no matter where they are. Multi-touch devices are the latest additions into the mobile device realm. This article primarily focuses on how multi-touch mobile devices can be used to enhance mobile learning capabilities in the workplace.
Hamilton, William Donald

William Donald Hamilton (1936–2001) was an evolutionist, theorist and field naturalist who explored the genetic relationship between close relatives. Keywords: kin selection; Darwin; local mate competition
Spectra of porphyrins: Part IX. Luminescence of vanadyl complexes☆

Abstract Emission spectra are reported for vanadyl etioporphyrin-I. The spectra show a fluorescence unusual for open shell transition metal complexes, in addition to the previously reported phosphorescence. Similar luminescence is shown by vanadyl tetraphenylporphin. That the vanadyl complex fluoresces, while Cu and Co complexes which also have one odd electron do not, is attributed to electron localization.
Expression of murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) in transgenic maize.

A murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene, driven by the maize ubi-1 promoter and intron region, was transformed into embryogenic maize callus, along with a bar and gusA gene-containing plasmid, using microparticle bombardment. Selection in the presence of either the herbicide Basta® or the adenosine analogue 2′-deoxyadenosine resulted in transgenic cultures that expressed GUS and accumulated a 41kD protein that immunoprecipated with an ADA-specific polyclonal antibody. ADA enzyme activity was observed in extracts from transgenic callus as well as regenerated plants and progeny. Cultures expressing ADA grew in the presence of 200mg/l 2′-deoxyadenosine, a concentration which completely inhibited the growth of non-transgenic cultures. ADA activity appeared to segregate in progeny of regenerated plants as a single, dominant Mendelian trait. These results suggest that ADA, in combination with adenosine analogue selection, represents a potentially viable selectable marker system for transgenic maize production.
Phase behaviour of metastable water

THE metastable extension of the phase diagram of liquid water exhibits rich features that manifest themselves in the equilibrium properties of water. For example, the density maximum at 4 °C and the minimum in the isothermal compressibility at 46 °C are thought to reflect the presence of singularities in the behaviour of thermodynamic quantities occurring in the supercooled region1 2. The 'stability–limit conjecture'3–5 suggests that these thermodynamic anomalies arise from a single limit of mechanical stability (spinodal line), originating at the liquid–gas critical point, which determines the limit of both superheating at high temperatures and supercooling at low temperatures. Here we present a comprehensive series of molecular dynamics simulations which suggest that, instead, the supercooling anomalies are caused by a newly identified critical point, above which the two metastable amorphous phases of ice (previously shown to be separated by a line of first-order transitions6,7) become indistinguishable. The two amorphous ice phases are thus incorporated into our understanding of the liquid state, providing a more complete picture of the metastable and stable behaviour of water.
Effects of temperature on penetration, development, and reproduction of Tylenchulus semipenetrans.

The influence of temperature on infectivity, development, and reproduction of the citrus nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans on 'Rough' lemon (Citrus limon) was studied. The average optimum temperature for penetration, development, and reproduction was 25° C. Penetration at 20° was greater than at 30°, whereas development and reproduction were slower at 20° than at 30° C.
The single-cell assay in cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Studies on the humoral antibody response were greatly advanced by the introduction in 1963 of the Jerne plaque assay which permitted direct enumeration of individual antibody-producing plasma cells(1). Studies of cellular cytotoxicity were limited until recently to the examination of whole populations of effector cells(2). Here, Benjamin Bonavida and his colleagues describe an assay in agarose which allows the study of single cytotoxic cells(3-5).
Accounting for Sub-Pixel Variability of Clouds and/or Unresolved Spectral Variability, as Needed, with Generalized Radiative Transfer Theory

Atmospheric hyperspectral VNIR sensing struggles with sub-pixel variability of clouds and limited spectral resolution mixing molecular lines. Our generalized radiative transfer model addresses both issues with new propagation kernels characterized by power-law decay in space.
Psychiatric nursing: What does biology have to do with it?

There is a plethora of research that investigates the mind/body connection. This article provides a review of the advances in biological psychiatry, which includes the areas of psychobiology and psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). Psychobiology is the branch of biological psychiatry that examines the biology of thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Current research findings that illuminate the neurotransmitter systems of the brain are highlighted. Psychoneuroimmunology is a relatively new branch of science that strives to show the connections between psychology, neurology, and immunology. Research in the area of PNI has yielded much information useful to nursing. Implications of this knowledge for psychiatric nursing are addressed.
Transients in Heart Sounds and Murmurs

A new approach to the analysis of heart sounds and murmurs has been developed. These acoustic phenomena are considered to be generated by a series of transient sounds which because of the long persistence of the low-frequency components of the sounds, tend ordinarily to fuse into a single sound. The separate events such as valve closures which produce discrete clicks, therefore tend to fuse, and time discrimination of these important events is lost. An apparatus which filters out the low frequencies has been developed. The remaining high-frequency, short duration waves can thereby be displayed as a series of separate events, each representing closure or opening of a valve. Several records obtained with this system are shown, and the potential value of this mode of analysis is discussed.
Ion Kinetics and Symmetric Charge-transfer Collisions in Low-current, Diffuse (Townsend) Discharges in Argon and Nitrogen

Translational kinetic-energy distributions of mass-selected ions have been measured in diffuse, low-current Townsend-type discharges at high electric field-to-gas density ratios (E/N) in the range of 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}18}$--2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}17}$ V ${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ (1--20 kTd). The discharges were generated in Ar and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ under uniform-field conditions and ion energies were measured using a cylindrical-mirror energy analyzer coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The mean ion energies determined from measured energy distributions of ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ in Ar and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{+}$ in ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ are compared with the mean energies predicted from solutions of the Boltzmann transport equation based on the assumption that symmetric resonant charge transfer is the predominant ion-neutral interaction. The results for ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{+}$ are consistent with predictions made using a constant (energy independent) cross section for which an effective ion temperature can be defined. However, for both ions, the measured mean energies tend to fall increasingly below the predicted values as E/N increases. The possible causes and significance of the differences between the measured and calculated mean ion energies are examined by considering collisions other than charge transfer that can affect ion energies as well as uncertainties in the charge-transfer cross sections used in the calculations. Measurements were also made of the relative contributions from ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{++}$ to the ion flux. Over the E/N range of interest, ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$ accounts for less than 15% of the ion flux in nitrogen and ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{++}$ accounts for less than 5% of the ion flux in argon.
MEFV mutations in Moroccan patients suffering from familial Mediterranean Fever

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF, MIM 249100) is an autosomal recessive disease mainly affecting patients of the Mediterranean basin. It is an autoinflammatory periodic disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of fever and abdominal pain, synovitis and pleuritis. FMF is caused by mutations in the Mediterranean Fever (MEFV) gene located on chromosome 16p13.3. Several mutations in the MEFV gene have been characterised in different populations. However, very little is known about mutations in the MEFV gene in patients with Moroccan origin. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical components of FMF and characterise mutations in the MEFV gene in Moroccan patients. The study was carried out on 120 unrelated Moroccan patients referred to the department of medical genetics in Rabat for suspicious FMF over a period of 10 years. Patients were screened for the most common MEFV mutations by direct sequencing of exons 2 and 10. Of the 120 unrelated patients investigated, 56 patients (47%) were carriers of one or two MEFV mutations, and 64 patients (53%) had no detected mutations. Of those with mutations, 24 were homozygous (44%), 13 were compound heterozygotes (24%), and 19 patients had only 1 identifiable mutation (32%). The most frequent mutation in Moroccan patients is M694V (47%), followed by M694I (32%), A744S (6.5%), M680L (4%), M694del (2%) and E148Q (6.5%). The R761H, K695R and I692del mutations were rarely encountered (less than 1%). The V726A mutation was not found in our study. Our data represent the first report of MEFV gene mutations causing FMF in Moroccans patients. The M694V and M694I mutations are the most common mutations found in MEFV gene in Moroccan population; while the most common mutation in Arabs from the Middle-East region, the V726A, was not found in our population.
Ultra low energy analog image processing using spin based neurons

In this work we present an ultra low energy, `on-sensor' image processing architecture, based on cellular network of spin based neurons. The `neuron' constitutes of a lateral spin valve (LSV) with multiple input magnets, connected to an output magnet, using metal channels. The low resistance, magneto-metallic neurons operate at a small terminal voltage of ~20mV, while performing analog computation upon photo sensor inputs. The static current-flow across the device terminals is limited to small periods, corresponding to magnet switching time, and, is determined by a low duty-cycle system-clock. Thus, the energy-cost of analog-mode processing, inevitable in most image sensing applications, is reduced and made comparable to that of dynamic and leakage power consumption in peripheral CMOS units. Performance of the proposed architecture for some common image sensing and processing applications like, feature extraction, halftone compression and digitization, have been obtained through physics based device simulation framework, coupled with SPICE. Results indicate that the proposed design scheme can achieve more than two orders of magnitude reduction in computation energy, as compared to the state of art CMOS designs, that are based on conventional mixed-signal image acquisition and processing schemes. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first work where application of nano magnets (in LSV's) in analog signal processing has been proposed.
Technology Integration Curriculum Framework for Effective Program Evaluation

This article explores whether and to what extent a doctoral program in Instructional Technology in the College of Education at a public Midwestern university reflects technology integration curricular framework principles, including those about the nature of the Net Generation learners and their learning process. This evaluation model is grounded on the constructivist and social knowledge construction theoretical framework. By outlining a systematic approach and procedures for conducting this evaluation, the researchers provide the groundwork for similar evaluations at other institutions. This framework could be used by potential students to determine whether specific academic programs provided by different academic institutions are well suited to their learning needs as digital natives.
Correlation theory of almost periodically correlated processes

A second-order stochastic process X is called almost periodically correlated (PC) in the sense of Gladyshev if its mean function m(t) and covariance R(t + τ, t) are uniformly continuous with respect to t, τ and are almosst periodic functions of t for every τ. We show that the mean uniformly almost periodic processes discussed by Kawata are also almost PC in the sense of Gladyshev. If X is almost PC, then for each fixed τ the function R(t + τ, t) has the Fourier series R(t+τ, t) ∼ ∑λ ϵ ∇τ a(λ, τ) exp(iλt) and a(λ τ) = limA→∞12A ∫A+C−A+C R(t+τ, t) exp(−iλt) dt exists for every λ and τ, independently of the constant c. Assuming only that a(λ, τ) exists in this sense for every λ and τ, we show a(λ, τ) is a Fourier transform a(λ τ) = ∫Rexp(iyτ) rlambda;(dy) if and only if a(0, τ) is continuous at τ = 0; under this same condition, the set Λ = {λ: a(λ, τ) ≠ 0 for some τ} is countable. We show that a strongly harmonizable process is almost PC if and only if its spectral measure is concentrated on a countable set of diagonal lines Sλ = {(γ1, γ2): γ2 = γ1 − λ}; further, one may identify the spectral measure on the k th line with the measure rλk appearing in (iii). Finally we observe that almost PC processes are asymptotically stationary and give conditions under which strongly harmonizable almost PC processes may be made stationary by an independent random time shift.
Zamiaceae endémicas del Perú

La familia Zamiaceae es reconocida en el Peru por presentar un genero, Zamia, y cuatro especies (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Stevenson, 2004), todas arbustivas, con tallos cortos menores de 2 m de alto o desde un tallo subterraneo. En este trabajo reconocemos dos endemismos, los cuales constituyen adiciones a la flora desde 1993 (Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004). Estas especies endemicas han sido encontradas en bosques de las regiones de Bosques Muy Humedos Premontanos y Humedo Amazonico, entre los 100 y 700 m de altitud. Una de ellas se encuentra representada en una de las areas naturales protegidas. Por lo atractivo de su follaje y valor ornamental, plantas en algunas poblaciones son extraidas ilegalmente para su comercializacion.
Differential involvement of protein kinase C in the regulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) secretion by porcine theca and granulosa cells in vitro.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been implicated in the regulation of ovarian follicle development. Little, however, is known regarding the regulation of TGF-beta expression within the follicle. To investigate this, granulosa and theca cells were isolated from small antral follicles of prepubertal porcine ovaries, maintained in monolayer culture, and treated with gonadotropins or intracellular activators of the protein kinase A and C pathways. TGF-beta secreted into the medium was measured using a proliferation inhibition bioassay with MvLu1 epithelial cells. Over a broad dose range, FSH and LH were ineffective in stimulating TGF-beta secretion relative to controls in granulosa and theca cells, respectively. Additionally, 8-bromo-cAMP, a direct activator of protein kinase A, was ineffective in stimulating TGF-beta secretion in either cell type. In marked contrast, PMA, a stimulator of protein kinase C, dose-dependently stimulated TGF-beta secretion in theca cells. Interestingly, however, PMA...
Gene expression in susceptible and disease resistant interactions of peas induced with Fusarium solani pathogens and chitosan

Abstract A first step for establishing the molecular basis of disease resistance in plants may be to identify genes whose expression closely follows the events occurring during infection. Nine pea clones were available from a prior screening of a cDNA library, developed from a single population of pea mRNA induced 8 h following inoculation with Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli . Transcription and accumulation of RNA homologous to these clones were compared over a 48 h infection course following the treatment of pea pods with either compatible or incompatible forms of F. solani or chitosan, a minor component of the fungal cell wall which is known to induce disease resistance. The incompatible reaction of the pea tissue is clearly distinguished from the compatible reaction on the basis of gene expression. Three of the cloned genes, designated Group I clones, show a large induction of their RNAs in disease resisting tissue which temporally correlates with the resistance observed cytologically. In the compatible reaction activation of Group I genes is commonly weaker or delayed, and is suppressed 12–24 h after inoculation, compared with the incompatible reaction. Genes homologous with Group II clones showed only a partial fit to the activity expected for resistance genes. We propose that selecting cloned genes whose time course of induction matches the response of plant issue to infection is a useful preliminary screening technique towards obtaining gene candidates for cross-species transformation experiments.
Free Fatty Acids Induce Insulin Resistance in Both Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Microvasculature in Humans

Free fatty acids induce insulin resistance in both cardiac and skeletal muscle microvasculature in humans, which may contribute to cardiac complications and insulin resistance in diabetes.
Pelvic fractures after radiotherapy for cervical cancer: implications for survivors.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pelvic fractures and associated risk factors was determined in women treated with curative‒intent radiotherapy for cervical cancer. METHODS: The records of 516 women treated with curative‒intent radiotherapy for cervical cancer between 2001 and 2006 at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center were reviewed. Among these, 300 patients had at least 1 post-treatment computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging study available for review, and they comprised our study population. All imaging studies were re-reviewed by a single radiologist to evaluate for fractures. RESULTS: Pelvic fractures were noted in 29 of 300 patients (9.7%). Fracture sites included sacrum (n = 24; 83%), sacrum and pubis (n = 3; 10%), iliac crest (n = 1; 3%), and sacrum and acetabulum (n = 1; 3%). Thirteen patients (45%) were symptomatic, with pain being the most common presenting symptom. The median time from the completion of radiotherapy to the detection of fractures on imaging studies was 14.1 months (range, 2.1-63.1 months), with 38% of patients diagnosed within 1 year and 83% diagnosed within 2 years of completing therapy. The median age of the patients at diagnosis was higher in the women who developed a fracture compared with the women who did not (56.5 years vs 46.7 years; P = .04). A higher number of women with a fracture were postmenopausal (62% vs 37%; P = .03). The median body mass index was lower in the women who had a fracture (26.0 kg/m2 vs 28.0 kg/m2; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic fractures were detected in a substantial proportion of women after radiotherapy for cervical cancer. Bone mineral density screening and pharmacologic intervention should be considered in these women. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Sivapalan receives 2011 Robert E. Horton Medal: Response

Murugesu Sivapalan was awarded the 2011 Robert E. Horton Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 7 December 2011 in San Francisco, Calif. The medal is for “outstanding contributions to hydrology.”
Skeletal volume enhancement: implants and osteotomies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Facial plastic surgeons are concerned with improving or restoring function and form. Most surgeons perform primarily soft tissue procedures, which alone are often sufficient. However, deficiencies in the underlying craniomaxillofacial skeleton must also be addressed. Facial skeletal augmentation remains an essential aspect of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. This article reviews the basic alloplastic biomaterials available for facial volume enhancement, discusses the zygomatic sandwich osteotomy for malar augmentation, and describes recent applications of distraction osteogenesis in the craniomaxillofacial region. An update in tissue engineering and computer modeling is also provided. RECENT FINDINGS High-porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has been developed to provide a softer feel with less shrinkage and migration because of better biointegration and cellular ingrowth. Long-term results with porous polyethylene have demonstrated superior biocompatibility and minimal complications. Hydroxyapatite cement has been associated with an immunoguided delayed inflammatory reaction that leads to thinning of the overlying skin and exposure of the implant.Applications of distraction osteogenesis are rapidly expanding and include deformities of the mandible, midface, and cranium. There has been a trend toward the use of internal hardware, and internal devices are being developed to deliver a greater degree of vector control. Biodegradable devices have been developed to eliminate the second surgical procedure necessary for hardware removal. In the future, successful tissue engineering could eliminate many of the drawbacks associated with implants and osteotomies. The ability to stimulate stem cells to generate autogenous bone has been demonstrated in the laboratory. A novel application of computer technology that integrates laser surface scanning and digitizing with computer-aided design and manufacturing to produce facial prostheses has been described. SUMMARY An abundance of alternatives exist for skeletal volume enhancement including alloplastic implants, standard osteotomies, and distraction osteogenesis. The surgeon must evaluate the pros and cons of each technique in the context of each individual patient to determine the most appropriate option. Technologic advances in biomaterials, distraction hardware, computer modeling, and tissue engineering will continue to supply the surgeon's repertoire with improved methods to augment and restore the craniomaxillofacial skeleton.