cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of gold and silver colloidal nanoparticles for the surface-enhanced Raman spectrometric analysis of melamine and 4-aminobiphenyl

Colloidal nanoparticles of gold and silver were used in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) analysis of melamine and 4-aminobiphenyl. Gold colloids allowed the SERS detection of melamine at levels below 0.1 μg/L using a previously unreported SERS peak at 275 cm–1 and yielded better detection limits compared to silver colloids. For 4-aminobiphenyl, the detection limits were found to be similar for both colloids at 0.05–0.1 mg/L. Analysis by transmission electron microscopy showed that the morphology of both Ag and Au nanoparticles were uniformly spherical with average diameters that were 69.3 ± 23.1 nm and 41.6 ± 19.1 nm, respectively. The SERS spectral intensities of both compounds were found to increase as the sample pH increased. The optimal signals were obtained at pH = 8.5 for 4-aminobiphenyl and pH = 11.5 for melamine. The enhancement factors for the determination of melamine are in range of 3.5 × 104–6.3 × 104 for the silver colloid and 5.2 × 107–2.1 × 109 for the gold colloid.
Dynamic Regulation of AP-1 Transcriptional Complexes Directs Trophoblast Differentiation

Placentation is a process that establishes the maternal-fetal interface and is required for successful pregnancy. The epithelial component of the placenta consists of trophoblast cells, which possess the capacity for multilineage differentiation and are responsible for placenta-specific functions. FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1), a component of AP-1 transcription factor complexes, contributes to the regulation of placental development. FOSL1 expression is restricted to trophoblast giant cells and invasive trophoblast cells. In the present study, we characterized the FOSL1 regulatory pathway in rat trophoblast cells. Transcriptome profiling in control and FOSL1 knockdown cells identified FOSL1-dependent gene sets linked to endocrine and invasive functions. FOSL1 was shown to occupy AP-1 binding sites within these gene loci, as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Complementary in vivo experiments using trophoblast-specific lentiviral delivery of FOSL1 short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) provided in vivo validation of FOSL1 targets. FOSL1 actions require a dimerization partner. Coimmunoprecipitation, coimmunolocalization, and ChIP analyses showed that FOSL1 interacts with JUNB and, to a lesser extent, JUN in differentiating trophoblast cells. Knockdown of FOSL1 and JUNB expression inhibited both endocrine and invasive properties of trophoblast cells. In summary, FOSL1 recruits JUNB to form AP-1 transcriptional complexes that specifically regulate the endocrine and invasive trophoblast phenotypes.
Cost-Effectiveness of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Initial Evaluation of Hypertension in Children

Objective The goal was to determine the cost-effectiveness of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the initial evaluation of stage 1 hypertension. Methods Retrospective chart review of data for children referred to Texas Children's Hospital hypertension clinic between January 2005 and August 2006 was performed. We compared the costs of standard evaluations versus the initial use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for children with clinic blood pressure measurements suggesting stage 1 hypertension. Charges for clinic visits, laboratory tests, and imaging were obtained from the Texas Children's Hospital billing department. Results A total of 267 children were referred. One hundred thirty-nine children did not receive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; 54 met clinical indications for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring but did not receive it because it was not a covered expense (44 children) or the family refused the study (10 children). One hundred twenty-six children received clinically indicated ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, paid for either through insurance or by the family. Fifty-eight children (46%) had confirmed white-coat hypertension, 62 (49%) stage 1 hypertension, and 6 (5%) stage 2 hypertension. With the observed prevalence of white-coat hypertension, initial ambulatory blood pressure monitoring use yielded net savings after evaluation of 3 patients, with projected savings of $2.4 million per 1000 patients. Conclusions Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the initial evaluation of suspected childhood hypertension is highly cost-effective. Awareness of cost saving potential may increase the availability of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for evaluation of new-onset hypertension.
A semiautomatic method for assigning elevation in contour maps

Assigning contour elevations during digitalization process of topographic charts can be a very time-consuming task and liable to human errors. The method here presented for this purpose is based upon the integration of three elements: the definition of nesting tree, a formal set of rules linking neighboring contour elevations and the concept of ambiguity interval. The information provided by the chart control points and its propagation on the nesting tree for ambiguity interval update allows to automatically evaluate a considerable number of elevations, typically 60%. The remaining curves are assessed with the help of an operator where an strategy is employed to minimize human interaction. At the end of the process, the typical figure describing the number of elevations requested by the system is around 20%.
Chemokine treatment rescues profound T-lineage progenitor homing defect after bone marrow transplant conditioning in mice.

Development of T cells in the thymus requires continuous importation of T-lineage progenitors from the bone marrow via the circulation. Following bone marrow transplant, recovery of a normal peripheral T-cell pool depends on production of naive T cells in the thymus; however, delivery of progenitors to the thymus limits T-lineage reconstitution. Here, we examine homing of intravenously delivered progenitors to the thymus following irradiation and bone marrow reconstitution. Surprisingly, following host conditioning by irradiation, we find that homing of lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors and common lymphoid progenitors to the thymus decreases more than 10-fold relative to unirradiated mice. The reduction in thymic homing in irradiated mice is accompanied by a significant reduction in CCL25, an important chemokine ligand for thymic homing. We show that pretreatment of bone marrow progenitors with CCL25 and CCL21 corrects the defect in thymic homing after irradiation and promotes thymic reconstitution. These data suggest new therapeutic approaches to promote T-cell regeneration.
Metabolism of hepatic and plasma triglycerides in rabbits given ethanol or ethionine

The formation and transport of hepatic tri- glyceride fatty acids (TGFA) were studied after intravenous ad- ministration of pa1mitate-l-l4C or ~almitate-g,lO-~H rabbits pretreated with ethanol or ethionine. Administration of ethanol produced significant hypertri- glyceridemia without consistent accumulation of hepatic fat. The isotopic studies suggest that plasma free fatty acids were the major precursors of TGFA in d < 1.006 lipoproteins and that fatty acids synthesized in the liver were not the source of the hypertriglyceridemia in the ethanol-treated animals. Administration of ethionine resulted in an increased concen- tration of TGFA in the liver, a decreased level of TGFA in d < 1.006 lipoproteins and a very low specific activity in this plasma fraction. These findings suggest that the development of fatty liver after administration of ethionine is in part accom- panied by impaired release of TGFA from the liver.
A Review of Bainitic Steels for Wheel/Rail Contact

The potential of bainitic steels for applications involving wheel/rail contact is reviewed. Particular attention is paid to wear resistance because this is where bainitic steels have been perceived to be inferior to pearlitic steels. Five new experimental, low carbon bainitic steels have been produced to answer some of the unresolved questions.
Interspecific and Locational Differences in Heavy Metal Levels in Four Species of Birds Near Sydney, Australia

We examined the levels of cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in four species of birds near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in January, 1996. Molted contour feathers were collected from silver gull, Larus novaehollandiae (Royal National Park and downtown Sydney), sulphur-crested cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea (Blue Mountains, Royal National Park, and Sydney), Australian white ibis, Threskiornis molucca (Sydney), and rock dove Columba livia (Royal National Park and Sydney). We tested the null hypothesis that there were no species or locational differences in metal levels. There were significant species differences in all metals, with rock doves having the highest levels of cadmium, chromium, lead, and manganese, and silver gulls having the highest levels of mercury and selenium. Metal levels were generally low in cockatoos, and were lowest in those from the Royal National Park. For silver gulls, cadmium, lead, and chromium levels were highest at Sydney, and there were no locational differences in manganese, mercury, and selenium levels. For rock doves, cadmium, chromium and manganese were higher in Sydney, and there were no locational differences in lead, mercury, and selenium. Overall, cadmium and chromium levels were significantly higher in Sydney than in the Royal National Park for all species, and there were no locational differences in mercury levels. Although the levels of most metals in feathers from these Australian birds were within the ranges reported worldwide, lead levels in ibises and rock doves were among the highest reported worldwide, suggesting a cause for concern.
Onset of Combustion Instabilities During Transition to Supercritical Fuel Injection in High Pressure Combustor

This paper describes a study of the onset of severe combustion instabilities (i.e., with peak to peak amplitudes of up to 0.97MPa) in a high pressure (PC >500psia or 3.45MPa) air breathing combustor as the inlet temperature of the injected liquid fuel (n-heptane - C7 H16 ) was varied over the 20–335°C range, achieving supercritical conditions when the temperature exceeded 300°C. The attainment of supercritical operation was determined by a specially developed probe that illuminated the liquid spray with a laser beam and collected the light scattered off the spray. As the temperature of the fuel was increased, the spray disappeared when the fuel attained a supercritical state and the scattered signal could be no longer detected. Two different unstable modes (i.e., ∼100 and ∼400Hz) were excited in the combustor as the fuel temperature was increased from low to supercritical conditions and then cooled again. The lower frequency instability (∼100Hz) was excited and then disappeared when the fuel temperature was well below supercritical values (i.e., TFUEL 250°C). It’s shown that the dynamics of the excitation and disappearance of these modes as well as their limit cycle amplitudes strongly depend upon the direction in which fuel temperature varies and also upon the temperature of the combustion air. Significantly, the results of this study strongly suggest that combustion instabilities may be excited in future high performance aircraft combustor that will operate at very high-pressures and with supercritical fuel injection.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Flow of Water Adjacent to Smooth Hydrophobic Solids

The boundary flow condition for water near a hydrophobic plate was determined by measuring the force acting on a hydrophilic sphere as it was driven toward a hydrophobic plate in water. Comparison ...
Skull Characters and the Cladistic Relationships of the Hispaniolan Dwarf Twig Anolis

Skull characters were examined and combined with postcranial osteological, external, allozyme, DNA sequence, and chromosome data from the literature to estimate the phylogenetic relationships of the Hispaniolan dwarf twig Anolis (A. sheplani, A. insolitus, and A. placidus). A survey of most species of Anolis species for which skeletons are available found two osteological character states unique to these species, a convex parietal roof and crenulated parietal edges, thus suggesting that the Hispaniolan twig dwarfs form a monophyletic group. To assess this hypothesis of monophyly and to estimate the phyletic placement of these species in the genus Anolis, parsimony analyses were undertaken including all proposed close relatives of the Hispaniolan twig dwarfs and a taxonomically and geographically diverse sample of congeners. Diagnostic synapomorphies found in this analysis were surveyed more widely in Anolis. Characterization difficulties of the skull data were addressed by using three coding methods to differentially code intraspecific and continuous variation. Confidence in the Hispaniolan twig dwarf relationships was assessed with the bootstrap, the test of Templeton, and the agreement between results from the three coding methods. The monophyly of the Hispaniolan twig dwarfs was strongly supported. The nearest relatives of the Hispaniolan twig dwarfs appear to be twig species from Hispaniola (A. darlingtoni), Puerto Rico (A. occultus), and South America (tigrinus group, i.e., A. solitarius), and Phenacosaurus. Wider taxonomic and character sampling is needed to assess the robustness of these clades, but present evidence suggests an invasion of Hispaniola or Puerto Rico from South America and, counter to the usual opinions of ecomorph occurrence by intra-island adaptive radiation, a clade of twig species on three different land masses.
Polythioether Particles Armored with Modifiable Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

Facile and scalable fabrication methods are attractive to prepare materials for diverse applications. Herein, a method is presented to prepare cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets covalently attached to the surface. Alkene-modified GO serves as a surfactant in a miniemulsion polymerization, and the alkene functionalities of GO exposed to the oil-phase are incorporated into the polymer particle through thiol-ene reactions, leaving the unreacted alkene functional groups of the other face of GO available for further functionalization. The surface of GO-armored polymer particles is then modified with a small molecule fluorophore or carboxylic acid functional groups that bind to Fe2 O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles. This methodology provides a facile route to preparing complex hybrid composite materials.
Barriers and facilitators to preventive cancer screening in Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients: Physicians' perspectives.

Background: Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients receive fewer recommended preventive screenings than English-speaking patients. Studies have explored patients’ perceptions of the factors that contribute to this disparity, but little research has focused on physicians’ perceptions. The objective of this paper is to describe physicians’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to preventive cancer screening in LEP patients, based on semi-structured interviews with eight primary care physicians from Wisconsin, systematically coded to illuminate important themes. It was found that a variety of barriers specifically hinder LEP patients’ receipt of cancer screening, including poor language proficiency, lack of transportation, unfamiliarity with the concept of prevention, complex scheduling systems, poor interpretation, and limited physician time to discuss preventive care. While physicians identified many factors that facilitate preventive screening in general, they mentioned few that are perceived as specific to LEP patients. We found that primary care physicians attribute the low rates of preventive cancer screening among LEP populations to a variety of patient, provider, interpreter, and system factors, most of which go beyond simple language barriers. Interventions designed to reduce these barriers and enhance the impact of identified facilitators should be multifactorial and designed to engage primary care physicians.
Analysis of limiting effect of 500kV autotransformer neutral grounding by small reactance on ground short-circuit current

Aiming at the issue that part of 220 kV bus single-phase short-circuit current exceeds the three-phase short-current,the network structure,network characteristics and the structural characteristics of transformer in North China Power Grid,and why 220 kV single-phase short-circuit current increases sharply are analyzed.According to the high load data of North China Power Grid in winter of 2009,this paper selects the Anding Station,Shunyi Station,Binhai Station and Baobei Station in the North China Power Grid,and uses the Power System Analysis Software Package(PSASP) to make short-circuit current calculation of main transformer neutral grounding via low resistance.According to short-circuit current calculation,it analyzes the limiting effects of 500 kV autotransformer neutral grounding by small reactance on 220 kV single-phase short-circuit current,the effects of grid structure on limiting the low reactance current,and gives a project guidance about small reactor's selection.
On the "Zero" Narrate-style of Bai Xianyong's Works

As "the flower of short-story-writer in Chinese", Bai Xianyong's works attracted many landmass readers with its deeply historical implication, tragic,and unique write still. The author talks about his "zero" narrate style and humanitarianism established in the fine still of the works. 
Improved Student Learning through a Faculty Learning Community: How Faculty Collaboration Transformed a Large-Enrollment Course from Lecture to Student Centered

Undergraduate introductory biology courses are changing based on our growing understanding of how students learn and rapid scientific advancement in the biological sciences. At Iowa State University, faculty instructors are transforming a second-semester large-enrollment introductory biology course to include active learning within the lecture setting. To support this change, we set up a faculty learning community (FLC) in which instructors develop new pedagogies, adapt active-learning strategies to large courses, discuss challenges and progress, critique and revise classroom interventions, and share materials. We present data on how the collaborative work of the FLC led to increased implementation of active-learning strategies and a concurrent improvement in student learning. Interestingly, student learning gains correlate with the percentage of classroom time spent in active-learning modes. Furthermore, student attitudes toward learning biology are weakly positively correlated with these learning gains. At our institution, the FLC framework serves as an agent of iterative emergent change, resulting in the creation of a more student-centered course that better supports learning.
Orthopedic Emergencies: Expert Management for the Emergency Physician

Acute care physicians are frequently faced with diagnosing and treating orthopedic emergencies with limited resources and without immediate specialist availability. Orthopedic Emergencies focuses on the acute management and stabilization of orthopedic injuries with specific recommendations on procedures and the stabilization of fractures and dislocation. The topics are organized anatomically with additional chapters on Procedures, Reduction Techniques, and Immobilization and Splinting. The information needed for a rapid diagnosis is available instantly through the bullet-point-style text, diagrams, images, pearls and pitfalls. There are specific recommendations on which splint to apply and how to position the affected limb, as well as advice on when to arrange follow up with an orthopedist or sports medicine physician. The spiral binding allows the book to lay flat for easy use at the bedside, making Orthopedic Emergencies the ideal companion for all emergency medicine providers including emergency department physicians, sports clinics, family medicine practitioners and mid-level providers.
Trading On Heterosexuality College Women's Gender Strategies and Homophobia

In this study, the author uses ethnographic and interview data from a women's floor in a university residence hall to examine how some heterosexual women's gender strategies contribute to their homophobia. The author describes a prevailing heterosexual erotic market on campus—the Greek party scene—and the status hierarchy linked to it. Within this hierarchy, heterosexual women assign lesbians low rank because of their assumed disinterest in the erotic market and perceived inability to acquire men's erotic attention. Active partiers invest more in this social world and prefer higher levels of social distance from lesbians than do others. These women also engage in same-sex eroticism primarily designated for a male audience. They define their behaviors as heterosexual, reducing the spaces in which lesbians can be comfortable. Finally, the author concludes by discussing the unique nature of women's homophobia and the links between sexism and heterosexism.
Affinity-Based Biosensors: Stochastic Modeling and Figures of Merit

This chapter contains sections titled: Modeling Biosensors: Introduction Biosensor Model: Deterministic and Stochastic Signal - to - Noise Ratio and Noise Figure Definitions Transient Signal - to - Noise Ratio Analyis Simulations Conclusion References
Preventing injury in older adults

Accidental injuries are the seventh-leading cause of death among older persons in the United States. Leading mechanisms of accidental injuries in this age group include falls, motor vehicle crashes, auto-pedestrian injuries, and fire-related injuries. This article describes ways of thinking about injuries, common mechanisms of injuries, assessing older persons for risk of injuries, and practical interventions to help prevent accidental injuries.
Odyssey of Multivalent Cathode Materials: Open Questions and Future Challenges

The rapidly expanding field of nonaqueous multivalent intercalation batteries offers a promising way to overcome safety, cost, and energy density limitations of state-of-the-art Li-ion battery technology. We present a critical and rigorous analysis of the increasing volume of multivalent battery research, focusing on a wide range of intercalation cathode materials and the mechanisms of multivalent ion insertion and migration within those frameworks. The present analysis covers a wide variety of material chemistries, including chalcogenides, oxides, and polyanions, highlighting merits and challenges of each class of materials as multivalent cathodes. The review underscores the overlap of experiments and theory, ranging from charting the design metrics useful for developing the next generation of MV-cathodes to targeted in-depth studies rationalizing complex experimental results. On the basis of our critical review of the literature, we provide suggestions for future multivalent cathode studies, including a...
Isolation and Evaluation of the Saccharide Components of Starch Hydrolysates. I. Isolation

SUMMARY A series of oligosaceharides of DP 3–10 was isolated from acid-converted 42-DE corn syrup with large-scale carbon chromatography. The samples thus isolated, obtained as amorphous powders, were shown to be chromatographically pure by paper chromatography.
Maiden Voyage: Excursion into Sexuality and Identity Politics in Asian America

(1994). Maiden Voyage: Excursion into Sexuality and Identity Politics in Asian America. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 1-18.
Pain in the Stroke Rehabilitation Patient

Central post-stroke pain and post-stroke shoulder pain are chronic pain conditions. Both conditions are seen in a stroke patient population can be challenging to recognize, as they are often diagnoses of exclusion. Effective treatment requires coordination of efforts between several members of the multidisciplinary team, including the physician, neuropsychologist, and therapist.
Factors Associated With Increases in US Health Care Spending, 1996-2013

Importance Health care spending in the United States increased substantially from 1995 to 2015 and comprised 17.8% of the economy in 2015. Understanding the relationship between known factors and spending increases over time could inform policy efforts to contain future spending growth. Objective To quantify changes in spending associated with 5 fundamental factors related to health care spending in the United States: population size, population age structure, disease prevalence or incidence, service utilization, and service price and intensity. Design and Setting Data on the 5 factors from 1996 through 2013 were extracted for 155 health conditions, 36 age and sex groups, and 6 types of care from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s US Disease Expenditure 2013 project. Decomposition analysis was performed to estimate the association between changes in these factors and changes in health care spending and to estimate the variability across health conditions and types of care. Exposures Change in population size, population aging, disease prevalence or incidence, service utilization, or service price and intensity. Main Outcomes and Measures Change in health care spending from 1996 through 2013. Results After adjustments for price inflation, annual health care spending on inpatient, ambulatory, retail pharmaceutical, nursing facility, emergency department, and dental care increased by $933.5 billion between 1996 and 2013, from $1.2 trillion to $2.1 trillion. Increases in US population size were associated with a 23.1% (uncertainty interval [UI], 23.1%-23.1%), or $269.5 (UI, $269.0-$270.0) billion, spending increase; aging of the population was associated with an 11.6% (UI, 11.4%-11.8%), or $135.7 (UI, $133.3-$137.7) billion, spending increase. Changes in disease prevalence or incidence were associated with spending reductions of 2.4% (UI, 0.9%-3.8%), or $28.2 (UI, $10.5-$44.4) billion, whereas changes in service utilization were not associated with a statistically significant change in spending. Changes in service price and intensity were associated with a 50.0% (UI, 45.0%-55.0%), or $583.5 (UI, $525.2-$641.4) billion, spending increase. The influence of these 5 factors varied by health condition and type of care. For example, the increase in annual diabetes spending between 1996 and 2013 was $64.4 (UI, $57.9-$70.6) billion; $44.4 (UI, $38.7-$49.6) billion of this increase was pharmaceutical spending. Conclusions and Relevance Increases in US health care spending from 1996 through 2013 were largely related to increases in health care service price and intensity but were also positively associated with population growth and aging and negatively associated with disease prevalence or incidence. Understanding these factors and their variability across health conditions and types of care may inform policy efforts to contain health care spending.
Closing In on Treatment for Hemophilia B

Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive genetic bleeding disorder that occurs in two major forms. Approximately 80% of patients with hemophilia have mutations in the factor VIII clotting-factor gene (h...
Suppression of Aflatoxin Production in Aspergillus Species by Selected Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Stilbenoids

Aspergillus flavus is a soil fungus that commonly invades peanut seeds and often produces carcinogenic aflatoxins. Under favorable conditions, the fungus-challenged peanut plant produces and accumulates resveratrol and its prenylated derivatives in response to such an invasion. These prenylated stilbenoids are considered peanut antifungal phytoalexins. However, the mechanism of peanut–fungus interaction has not been sufficiently studied. We used pure peanut stilbenoids arachidin-1, arachidin-3, and chiricanine A to study their effects on the viability of and metabolite production by several important toxigenic Aspergillus species. Significant reduction or virtually complete suppression of aflatoxin production was revealed in feeding experiments in A. flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nomius. Changes in morphology, spore germination, and growth rate were observed in A. flavus exposed to the selected peanut stilbenoids. Elucidation of the mechanism of aflatoxin suppression by peanut stilbenoi...
Unrealized Global Temperature Increase: Implications of Current Uncertainties

Unrealized increase in global mean surface air temperature (GMST) may result from the climate system not being in steady state with forcings and/or from cessation of negative aerosol forcing that would result from decreases in emissions. An observation-constrained method is applied to infer the dependence of Earth's climate sensitivity on forcing by anthropogenic aerosols within the uncertainty on that forcing given by the Fifth (2013) Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Within these uncertainty ranges the increase in GMST due to temperature lag for future forcings held constant is slight (0.09–0.19 K over 20 years; 0.12–0.26 K over 100 years). However the incremental increase in GMST that would result from a hypothetical abrupt cessation of sources of aerosols could be quite large, but is highly uncertain, 0.1–1.3 K over 20 years. Decrease in CO2 abundance and forcing following abrupt cessation of emissions would offset these increases in GMST over 100 years by as little as 0.09 K to as much as 0.8 K. The uncertainties quantified here greatly limit confidence in projections of change in GMST that would result from any strategy for future reduction of emissions.
Overstory cohort survival in an Appalachian hardwood deferment cutting: 35-year results

Abstract Deferment cutting is a two-aged regeneration method in which the majority of the stand is harvested and a dispersed component of overstory trees—approximately 15–20% of the basal area – is retained for at least one-half rotation and up one full rotation for reasons other than regeneration. Careful consideration of residual trees, in both characteristics and harvesting, is necessary to improve the chances that individual trees will survive until the next planned harvest. A long-term experimental deferment cutting study was established on the Fernow Experimental Forest and Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, USA in the early 1980s. Repeated tree measurements spanning the approximately 35-year study period permitted a survival analysis of the overstory cohort. The effects on survival were tested for three endogenous factors (dbh, species, crown class) and one exogenous factor (logging damage) using a Cox Proportional Hazards model, with stand effects (multiple trees measured within a stand) accounted for by using as frailty model. Survival rates were high, with 92% of trees surviving (910 of 985 trees). The mortality rate was low at six percent, (60 of 985 trees), and the number of trees cut or destroyed during logging was two percent (15 of 985 trees). Trees injured in the deferment harvest did not show increased risk of mortality, p = 0.91. Crown class also did not contribute to increased mortality, p = 0.35, as the majority of overstory trees retained were in the dominant and codominant classes. Six species, Liriodendron tulipifera L., Prunus serotina Ehrh., Quercus alba L., Quercus montana Willd., Quercus rubra L., Quercus velutina Lam., had sufficient sample sizes to test for species differences. However, species was not significant for survival, p = 0.10. The only significant factor in survival was dbh, p
Mandates for Mothers and Fathers: Perceptions of Breadwinners and Care Givers

The current experiment was designed to examine perceptions of employed and unemployed mothers and fathers in the context of Eagly's [(1987) Sex Differences in Social Behavior: A Social-Role Interpretation, Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum] social role theory of sex differences in social behavior. Participants, who were students from a private college with a primarily white student body, read a brief description of a mother or father who was employed or had given up employment in order to stay at home with a young child. Reasons for current or previous employment were either financial or for personal fulfillment. As predicted by Eagly's social role theory, participants rated employed mothers and fathers similarly and perceived them to be more agentic and less communal than unemployed mothers and fathers. Approval ratings deteriorated significantly when a father sacrificed financial security for care giving; the same behavior by mothers received high approval. These findings provided evidence of a continuing societal mandate for fathers (and not mothers) to provide financially for their families.
Synergistic mechanisms of bio-tribocorrosion in medical implants

Abstract: This chapter discusses synergistic damage mechanisms of modular implants due to mechanical stimulus and electrochemical dissolution. The influences of contact loads, plastic deformation, residual stresses, and environmental conditions are focused to illustrate mechanisms of damage and dissolution. Fretting corrosion is the most prevalent phenomenon that degrades the mechanical and chemical properties of implant materials. It has been explained as an alternating process of fracture and unstable growth of metal oxide film during fatigue contact motion in the corrosive environment. Stress-dependent electrochemical dissolution has also been identified as one of the key mechanisms governing surface degradation in fatigue contact and crevice corrosion of biomedical implants. This damage mechanism incorporates contact-induced residual stress development and stress-assisted dissolution. Understanding of the corrosion damage mechanism of metallic implants is very important in predicting the useful life of implants and optimizing the design of orthopedic implants.
Large Eddy Simulation of Stationary Premixed Flames Using a Subgrid Flamelet Approach

A subgrid combustion model is used to simulate premixed planar flames stabilized by stagnating flows and a confined swirl stabilized flame in an engineering combustor. Flamelet type combustion is assumed for both types of flames and experimental conditions are used for the simulations. The geometric characteristics of the flame surfaces and their effects on fluid dynamics are well predicted for the former type of flames. For the combustor simulation, the qualitative effects of heat release on the flow field are captured. The turbulence predictions in the combustor is highly sensitive to the characteristics of inflow turbulence. The turbulence modeling capability needs to be improved in order to better test the model in this case.
Additional Time Domain Topics

In this chapter, we present material that may be considered special or advanced topics in the time domain. Chapter 6 is devoted to one of the most useful and interesting time domain topics, state-space models. Consequently, we do not cover state-space models or related topics—of which there are many—in this chapter. This chapter contains sections of independent topics that may be read in any order.
Single, several, saturated: multilevel SNP analysis for Salmonella response in young chicks

vi CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 2 ANALYSIS OF FIVE GALLINACIN GENES AND SALMONELLA SEROVAR ENTERITIDIS RESPONSE IN POULTRY 40 CHAPTER 3 CHICKEN GALLINACIN GENE CLUSTER ASSOCIATED WITHSALMONELLA RESPONSE IN ADVANCED INTERCROSS LINE 57 CHAPTER 4 LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM LEVELS IN TWO F2 AND TWO ADVANCED INTERCROSS POPULATIONS 76 CHAPTER 5 HIGH DENSITY SNP ANALYSIS OF GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATIONS WITH POST-CHALLENGE BURDEN LEVELS OF SALMONELLA IN TWO ADVANCED INTERCROSS POPULATIONS OF CHICKENS 99 CHAPTER 6 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION 120 CHAPTER 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 138 APPENDIX 1 ANALYSIS OF CHICKEN TLR4, CD28, MIF, MD-2, AND LITAF GENES IN A SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS RESOURCE POPULATION 139 APPENDIX 2 FOUR GALLINACIN GENES AND SALMONELLA RESPONSE IN CHICKENS 155
Combining Deep Learning and Multi-atlas Label Fusion for Automated Placenta Segmentation from 3DUS.

In recent years there is growing interest in studying the placenta in vivo. However, 3D ultrasound images (3DUS) are typically very noisy, and the placenta shape and position are highly variable. As such, placental segmentation efforts to date have focused on interactive methods that require considerable user input, or automated methods with relatively low performance and various limitations. We propose a novel algorithm using a combination of deep learning and multi-atlas joint label fusion (JLF) methods for automated segmentation of the placenta in 3DUS images. We extract 2D cross-sections of the ultrasound cone beam with a variety of orientations from the 3DUS images and train a convolutional neural network (CNN) on these slices. We use the prediction by the CNN to initialize the multi-atlas JLF algorithm. The posteriors obtained by the CNN and JLF models are combined to enhance the overall segmentation performance. The method is evaluated on a dataset of 47 patients in the first trimester. We perform 4-fold cross-validation and achieve a mean Dice coefficient of \(86.3 \pm 5.3\) for the test folds. This is a substantial increase in accuracy compared to existing automated methods and is comparable to the performance of semi-automated methods currently considered the bronze standard in placenta segmentation.
Hospital variation in outcomes after surgery for prostate cancer.

28Background: Surgery for prostate cancer can lead to adverse outcomes, such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Studies have identified hospital variation in survival after surgery for other types of cancer; few studies have assessed hospital variation in outcomes after prostate cancer surgery. We sought to characterize hospital variation in incontinence/erectile dysfunction (IED) and overall survival (OS) after prostate surgery. Methods: Using SEER-Medicare claims, we identified men > 65 years old who had surgery for prostate cancer from 2009-13, excluding those with metastatic disease, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. We computed the difference in the number of days with claims for incontinence or erectile dysfunction in the year after versus the year before prostate surgery (IED score). Then, we assigned each patient to the hospital where prostate surgery was performed, and derived the mean IED score for hospitals that treated ≥10 patients (n = 239). Hierarchical linear and cox regression mod...
Can social media be used to convey reliable radiation oncology information

e17702 Background: As the volume of radiation oncology information increases, the ability to gather and critically appraise high quality information in order to answer clinical questions becomes in...
Control of Independent-Input, Parallel-Output DC/DC Converters for Modular Battery Building Blocks

Modular battery packs are desirable energy storage elements in applications such as DC microgrids and electric vehicles (EVs). Modular battery packs utilize DC/DC converters that are connected in series for high output voltage or connected in parallel for high output currents. An active battery management system (BMS) utilizes the cell state of charge (SOC) to control the cell current. The individual control to input current transfer functions vary with the number of converters in parallel. This paper presents a small-signal model for the parallel converters as a multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) system that shows the interactions among the input current transfer functions. The small-signal model is utilized to design the feedback loop. The paper uses hybrid feedforward control to reduce the interactions between the coupled input-current regulation loops; which simplifies the implementation, increases modularity, and eliminates the need for a central controller. that is generally employed in MIMO systems. The analysis is verified by simulations and by experiments. A 300 W module consisting of three parallel output 100 W boost converters for a cell active balancing management system is used for hardware validation.
Design Considerations for UAV-Delivered Opioid Overdose Interventions

With recent regulatory changes that allow for commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)operations, there has been increasing interest in using UAVs, aka drones, for delivery of medical care, especially in rural areas. Previous work has focused on Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)for people in possible cardiac arrest, but there are potentially many other emergency medical interventions that could be made more readily available through drones. One such use includes treatment for opioid overdoses, which could be significant given the current US opioid crisis. While drone delivery of blood has been established in Africa between medical professionals, there are no established applications of drones delivering emergency medical interventions for use by bystanders due to technical issues in the safe operation of drones in the air and in accessing and using the medical devices on the ground by laypersons. This paper examines how such a drone system should be designed in order to promote safe and effective operations for all stakeholders. This complex system design problem should be addressed at both local and global levels. At the local level, new theories and applications of human-technology interaction should be developed considering the need to promote safe and efficient human interaction between bystanders and drones delivering emergency medical interventions. Resulting models will need to consider how affordances can be designed into the technology given the use by untrained bystanders. Given that these emergency drones will need to be remotely supervised, the global aspect of this research should focus on the development of a drone supervision/dispatch capability, which will include interacting with the layperson who initiated the emergency call and determining how to integrate new network optimizations models so that dispatchers can understand when and where to dispatch drones and/or ambulances.
Selective effects of isoflurane on cortico-cortical feedback afferent responses in murine non-primary neocortex.

Abstract Background General anaesthetics affect loss of consciousness by disrupting information-passing and integration within thalamo-cortical (TC) networks. Feedback cortical connections that carry internally generated signals such as expectation and attention appear more sensitive to anaesthesia than feedforward signals. However, direct evidence for this effect in non-primary cortex is lacking. In addition, direct comparisons between TC core and matrix, and between cortico-cortical (CC) feedforward and feedback responses have not been reported. Methods We investigated the disruption of synaptic responses by isoflurane of four distinct afferent pathways to non-primary neocortex. We independently activated TC core and matrix and reciprocal CC (feedforward and feedback) pathways using optogenetic techniques, and compared the relative sensitivity of synaptic responses to isoflurane. Results Under control conditions, activation of axon terminals of all pathways evoked postsynaptic currents (recorded extracellularly) and postsynaptic potentials in pyramidal neurones. CC feedback responses were substantially more sensitive to isoflurane (0 to 0.53 mM) compared with TC core, TC matrix, or CC feedforward pathways. Conclusion Differential sensitivity of CC feedback synaptic responses to isoflurane in a clinically relevant range suggests a role for disruption of these afferents in the hypnotic effects of anaesthetic agents.
The Methylome of Bipolar Disorder: Evidence from Human and Animal Studies

Bipolar disorder is a chronic and often severe psychiatric disorder with a complex multifactorial heritability. While it is known that the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder involves the interaction of several genetic variants, each of small effect size, current molecular studies have failed to explain the high heritability of bipolar disorder based only on single nucleotide polymorphisms. Based on the known key role of the environment in modulating the risk of bipolar disorder, epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed as mediators of gene-environment interactions in this disorder. In particular, several studies have identified DNA methylation alterations that interact with susceptibility-conferring genotypes to modulate the expression of neurodevelopment genes, ultimately contributing to bipolar disorder pathogenesis and/or progression. This chapter aims to review recent genome-wide findings of alterations in DNA methylation in brain and blood of patients with bipolar disorder and in relevant animal models. In addition, it discusses the potential clinical implications, limitations, and future directions of the field of bipolar disorder epigenetics.
AMYLOID HEART DISEASE.

Abstract Twenty-eight cases of cardiac amyloidosis were observed on reviewing 21,300 postmortem examinations performed at Barnes Hospital between 1916 and 1962. Five of these have been presented in detail. The clinical, electrocardiographic and in some instances vectorcardiographic findings have been correlated with the postmortem findings of cardiac amyloidosis. Pertinent antemortem features are described which may permit a more accurate diagnosis of amyloid heart disease; particularly the combination of left axis deviation of QRS, low QRS voltage in the limb leads, a QS configuration and/or small R waves in V 1 to V 3 , with or without atrial fibrillation, occurring in the electrocardiogram of elderly patients in intractable congestive heart failure without a history of heart disease.
Vaccine hesitancy and influenza beliefs among parents of children requiring a second dose of influenza vaccine in a season: An American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) study.

To receive adequate protection against influenza, some children 6 months through 8 y old need two doses of influenza vaccine in a given season. Currently, only half of those receiving the first dos...
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking among Patients with Different Histologic Types of Kidney Cancer

Background: Cigarette smoking is causally linked to renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, associations for individual RCC histologies are not well described. Newly available data on tobacco use from population-based cancer registries allow characterization of associations with individual RCC types. Methods: We analyzed data for 30,282 RCC cases from 8 states that collected tobacco use information for a National Program of Cancer Registry project. We compared the prevalence and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of cigarette smoking (current vs. never, former vs. never) among individuals diagnosed between 2011 and 2016 with clear cell RCC, papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC, renal collecting duct/medullary carcinoma, cyst-associated RCC, and unclassified RCC. Results: Of 30,282 patients with RCC, 50.2% were current or former cigarette smokers. By histology, proportions of current or formers smokers ranged from 38% in patients with chromophobe carcinoma to 61.9% in those with collecting duct/medullary carcinoma. The aPRs (with the most common histology, clear cell RCC, as referent group) for current and former cigarette smoking among chromophobe RCC cases (4.9% of our analytic sample) were 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.50–0.67] and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.81–0.95), respectively. Other aPRs were slightly increased (papillary RCC and unclassified RCC, current smoking only), slightly decreased (unclassified RCC, former smoking only), or not significantly different from 1.0 (collecting duct/medullary carcinoma and cyst-associated RCC). Conclusions: Compared with other RCC histologic types, chromophobe RCC has a weaker (if any) association with smoking. Impact: This study shows the value of population-based cancer registries9 collection of smoking data, especially for epidemiologic investigation of rare cancers.
An outbreak of rotavirus-related acute gastroenteritis of childcare center in Guangzhou, southern China.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children under 5 y old in the world. The study aims to explore the relationship between rotavirus vaccination and infection in the outbreak ...