cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Help! Someone Stole My Laptop!: How RFID Technology Can Be Used to Counter the Growing Threat of Lost Laptops

This article examines the most frequent cause of data breach today—that of stolen or lost laptops. Over one million laptops go missing each year in the United States, creating tremendous problems and exposure for American companies, universities, government agencies, and individuals. This article first looks at the size and scope of the laptop theft problem and the ramifications of the loss of the hardware and data contained on the device. Then, the article examines new developments in the use of RFID (radio frequency identification) technology as a potential deterrent and detection device for laptop security. It concludes with an analysis of the impact of the application of RFID in this area, looking at the legal, IT, and financial aspects of the issues involved in enhancing laptop security. With laptop sales far-outpacing those of PCs and with form-factors shrinking, the issues involved with laptop security will only increase in coming years.
Porphyrin enzyme analysis in an oral pathology practice: A look back over four years

The porphyrias are defined by specific enzymes having diminished activity. More enzymes have become available for routine testing. Measurement of urine and stool porphyrin and porphyrin precursor elevations are important, but in many instances are not found or found in confusing patterns. The use of enzyme analysis can often be helpful in identifying those patients with a genetically diminished enzyme activity level. Looking back over the last four years, modifications in evaluating patients for porphyria were developed and are related in this article. In 91 patients, patterns of enzyme deficiencies were seen that have been observed by others; however, new observations have been made. While many of the enzymes in the porphyrin pathway are available for testing, others need to come on line as soon as possible, particularly protoporphyrinogen oxidase.
A pattern analysis of the second Rehnquist U.S. Supreme Court.

The second Rehnquist Court has remained unchanged in composition for 8 yr, resulting in a large temporally stable database. This paper reports on a mathematically objective analysis of this ensemble of rulings aimed at extracting key patterns and latent information. Although the rulings of a nine-justice Court require representation in nine dimensions, smaller spaces describe the Court's actions; e.g., a 2D subspace describes the margins of all decisions, and use of Shannon information shows that the Court acts as if composed of 4.68 ideal justices. Comparison is also made with the 1959-1961 and 1967-1969 Warren Courts. Both Warren Courts have remarkable parallels with the Rehnquist Court. In each instance, we present an optimal mapping of the justices between the Courts, which underscores the similarity in the workings of seemingly dissimilar courts.
An Experimental Study of Vane Clocking Effects on Embedded Compressor Stage Performance

Previous research has shown that vane clocking, the circumferential indexing of adjacent vane rows with similar vane counts, can be an effective means to increase stage performance, reduce discrete frequency noise, and/or reduce the unsteady blade forces that can lead to high cycle fatigue. The objective of this research was to experimentally investigate the effects of vane clocking in an embedded compressor stage, focusing on stage performance. Experiments were performed in the intermediate-speed Purdue three-stage compressor, which consists of an IGV followed by three stages. The IGV, Stator 1, and Stator 2 vane rows have identical vane counts, and the effects of vane clocking were studied on Stage 2. Much effort went into refining performance measurements to enable the detection of small changes in stage efficiency associated with vane clocking. At design loading, the change in stage efficiency between the maximum and minimum efficiency clocking configurations was 0.27 points. The maximum efficiency clocking configuration positioned the Stator 1 wake at the Stator 2 leading edge. This condition produced a shallower and thinner Stator 2 wake compared with the clocking configuration that located the wake in the middle of the Stator 2 passage. At high loading, the change in Stage 2 efficiency associated with vane clocking effects increased to 1.07 points; however, the maximum efficiency clocking configuration was the case where the Stator 1 wake passed through the middle of the downstream vane passage. Thus, impingement of the upstream vane wake on the downstream vane leading edge resulted in the best performance at design point but provided the lowest efficiency at an off-design condition.
Comparing aerosol surface-area measurements of monodisperse ultrafine silver agglomerates by mobility analysis, transmission electron microscopy and diffusion charging

Abstract Three methods—scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and diffusion charging (DC)—for estimating aerosol surface area were evaluated and compared. The aerosol used was monodisperse silver particles, having morphologies that range from spherical to agglomerated particles, with corresponding fractal dimensions from 1.58 to 1.94. For monodisperse silver particle agglomerates smaller than 100 nm, the DC response was proportional to the mobility diameter squared, regardless of morphology. For particle sizes from 80 to 200 nm, the DC response varied as the mobility diameter to the power 1.5. The projected surface area of agglomerates analyzed by TEM agreed well with that estimated from particle mobility diameters for particles smaller than 100 nm. The surface area of monodisperse particles, measured by DC and SMPS, was comparable to the geometric surface area below 100 nm, but in the size range of 100–200 nm, the methods used underestimated the geometric surface area. SMPS, TEM, and DC-based measurements of surface area were in good agreement with one another for monodisperse aerosol particles smaller than 100 nm.
Bias in the development and use of an expert system: implications for life cycle costs

Suggests that the development and use of an expert consulting system is vulnerable to biases in the subject‐matter expert, knowledge‐engineer, validators, maintainers and end‐users. An expert system, developed at a large insurance company, is used to study these biases. An economic model is then built to evaluate the trade‐offs which must be considered in the process of managing the source of these biases over the life cycle of an application.
Chromatographic amino acid analysis of protein hydrolysed in polyacrylamide after removal of ammonia

A simple method for the removal of NH3 from amino acids is presented. The method is based on a cation-exchange resin from which amino acids are eluted with NH4OH. The eluent is then removed under reduced pressure. The method allows the ninhydrin-based detection of amino acids after hydrolysis of stained protein bands in polyacrylamide gels. This was previously not possible since NH3 produced by the hydrolysis of polyacrylamide interferes with the ninhydrin-detection of basic amino acids. The method should also be applicable to the detection of amino acids with o-phthalaldehyde.
Transcatheter Embolization of an Ovarian Artery Pseudoaneurysm: An Elusive Source of Post-hysterectomy Bleeding

Abstract Endovascular management of obstetric and gynecologic hemorrhage has seen the rapid growth of uterine artery embolization for the treatment of symptomatic fibroids, or leiomyomas. However, patients do continue to undergo hysterectomies and are thus prone to the known complications of surgical procedures. We report the case of a 37-year-old woman who underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy for fibroid-related menometrorrhagia. She presented 15 days following this procedure with severe abdominal pain, secondary to a large pseudoaneurysm arising from the right ovarian artery. This was successfully treated with endovascular embolization. This case emphasizes the importance of considering this vessel as a potential source of pelvic hemorrhage following hysterectomy and highlights transcatheter embolization as a suitable management choice.
Should We Manage Patients With Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Renal Failure With an Invasive Strategy?

Szummer and colleagues raise an important question: Should we manage patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with an early invasive strategy?1 It makes good sense to do this. We know that patients with renal dysfunction are at high risk,2 and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology guidelines both recommend an early invasive strategy for patients with unstable angina/NSTEMI who are high risk.3,4 Neither guideline, however, specifically notes that renal dysfunction should be a specific indication for an invasive strategy. Article see p 851 The investigators analyzed 23262 consecutive NSTEMI patients who had been included in a nationwide coronary care unit registry between 2003 and 2006 called the Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies (SWEDEHEART).1 Patients were divided into medically or invasively treated if revascularized within 14 days of admission. They found that for patients with worse renal function, the rate of performing revascularization was lower. This “risk paradox” has been seen in other registries, in which higher-risk patients are actually managed less intensively.5 They also found that 1-year mortality was substantially higher for those on dialysis or having an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <15 mL/min (≈55%) versus ≈40% for those with estimated GFR 15 to 29 mL/min and <5% for those with normal renal function. Thus, estimated GFR is clearly an important risk marker. They went on to compare mortality between medically managed patients and those who had revascularization and found overall a difference in mortality, with 36% lower adjusted mortality among those who had revascularization. They then split out the group by baseline renal function and found a lower mortality for those who had been revascularized versus not in most groups but not …
Hybrid Filter Banks With Fractional Delays: Minimax Design and Application to Multichannel Sampling

This paper is motivated by multichannel sampling applications. We consider a hybrid filter banks consisting of a set of fractional delays operators, slow A/D converters with different antialiasing filters, digital expanders, and digital synthesis filters (to be designed). The synthesis filters are designed to minimize the maximum gain of a hybrid induced error system. We show that the induced error system is equivalent to a digital system. This digital system enables the design of stable synthesis filters using existing control theory tools such as model-matching and linear matrix inequalities. Moreover, the induced error is robust against delay estimate errors. Numerical experiments show the proposed approach yields better performance compared to existing techniques.
Biofilms Formed by Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae In Vivo Contain both Double-Stranded DNA and Type IV Pilin Protein

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) strains are members of the normal human nasopharyngeal flora, as well as frequent opportunistic pathogens of both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Recently, it has been shown that NTHI can form biofilms both in vitro and in vivo. NTHI strains within in vitro-formed biofilms differentially express both epitopes of lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and the outer membrane proteins P2, P5, and P6, whereas those generated either in a 96-well plate assay in vitro or in a mammalian host have been shown to incorporate a specific glycoform of sialylated LOS within the biofilm matrix. While DNA has been identified as a key component of the biofilm matrix formed in vitro by several bacterial pathogens, here we demonstrate for the first time that in addition to sialylated LOS, the biofilm formed by NTHI in vivo contains both type IV pilin protein and a significant amount of double-stranded DNA. The DNA appeared to be arranged in a dense interlaced meshwork of fine strands as well as in individual thicker "ropes" that span water channels, suggesting that DNA could be imparting structural stability to the biofilm produced by NTHI in vivo. The presence of type IV pilin protein both appearing as small aggregates within the biofilm matrix and tracking along DNA strands supports our observations which showed that type IV pili are expressed by NTHI during experimental otitis media when these bacteria form a biofilm in the middle ear space.
Phase Shift Characteristics of Dielectric Loaded Waveguide

An investigation of waveguide phase-shifting techniques was conducted for the purpose of establishing the design criteria for a device capable of meeting the following specifications: a phase-shift variable over a minimum range of 360/spl deg/ and a maximum phase error of /spl plusmn/ 5/spl deg/ at any phase setting over at last a 10 per cent frequency bandwidth. The dielectric loaded waveguide is the basis of a device which meets the design requirements. In this paper the analytical expressions applicable to the dielectric loaded waveguide cross section are derived using the transverse resonance procedure. A rigorous description of the propagation characteristics of this structure for various parameter values is obtained through the use of a high-speed computing machine. The excellent correlation between computed values and the data obtained from an experimental model is presented.
Safety levels-an efficient mechanism for achieving reliable broadcasting in hypercubes

We consider a distributed broadcasting algorithm for injured hypercubes using incomplete spanning binomial trees. An injured hypercube is a connected hypercube with faulty nodes. The incomplete spanning binomial tree proposed in this paper is a useful structure for implementing broadcasting in injured hypercubes. It is defined as a sub-tree of a regular spanning binomial tree that connects all the nonfaulty nodes. We show that in an injured n-dimensional hypercube with m faulty nodes, there are at least 2/sup n/-2/sup m/ source nodes (called l-nodes), each of which can generate an incomplete spanning binomial tree. A method is proposed to locate a large subset of the l-node set using the concept of safety level. The safety level of each node in an n-dimensional hypercube can be easily calculated through n-1 rounds of information exchange among neighboring nodes. An optimal broadcast initiated from a safe node is proposed. When a nonfaulty source node is unsafe and there are at most n-1 faulty nodes in an injured n-dimensional hypercube, the proposed broadcasting scheme requires at most n+1 steps. >
Patient-controlled analgesia combined with either ondansetron or ondansetron plus prochlorperazine for control of pain and nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Abstract Study Objective To compare ondansetron with ondansetron plus prochlorperazine, added to a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) solution for control of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Design Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. Setting University hospital. Patients 150 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Interventions Patients were given a PCA morphine solution containing either 30 mg of ondansetron (Group O), 30 mg of ondansetron plus 20 mg of prochlorperazine (Group OP), or no antiemetic (Group C; control group). Measurements Demographic data were recorded, along with anesthetic and surgical time, total fluid intake, frequency of Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) PONV, discharge time and length of stay, frequency of PONV while on the hospital floor, highest nausea scores, total PCA morphine use, and PCA utilization times. Main Results Demographic and intraoperative variables were similar in all groups. In the first 24 hours after surgery, nausea was higher in Group C than Group OP. Emesis in Group C was twice that of either Group O or Group OP. No differences were noted between groups in PACU PONV. Patients receiving ondansetron plus prochlorperazine when on the hospital floor had a lower frequency of nausea, while patients receiving ondansetron alone had a lower frequency of vomiting than did the control group. The adjusted odds of vomiting doubled for every 12 hours for Group C patients when receiving PCA. Conclusions Combination antiemetics added to PCA reduced emetic symptoms after abdominal surgery.
Sleep medicine clinical and surgical training during otolaryngology residency: a national survey of otolaryngology residency programs.

Objective. The authors sought to assess the otolaryngology residency training experiences in adult sleep medicine and sleep surgery in the United States. Study Design. Internet survey. Setting. US academic otolaryngology residency programs. Subjects and Methods. This Internet survey was emailed to the program directors of 103 US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved otolaryn- gology residency programs in 2010. Results. A total of 47 program directors responded, repre- senting 46% of programs surveyed. In 59% of these pro- grams, there was at least 1 faculty member with clinical practice dedicated to adult medicine. Most commonly, these clinicians spent less than 50% of their clinical time on adult sleep medicine. While most otolaryngology residents were reported being well trained in commonly performed proce- dures such as septoplasty and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), the training on hypopharyngeal or multilevel sur- geries, such as partial glossectomy, tongue base resection, hyoid or tongue suspension, or geniotubercle advancement, was considered less frequent. The overall exposure to edu- cation regarding the interpretation of original data of laboratory-based sleep studies or portable home monitoring devices was infrequent. A significant portion of respondents indicated that they would like to expand their residents' exposure to adult sleep medicine and sleep surgery. Conclusion. This survey provides a starting point to further assess the rigor of sleep medicine/sleep surgery training in US residency programs. Continued assessment and strengthening of the current curriculum are crucial to keep residents up to date with this evolving field. This result calls attention to the importance of bolstering sleep medicine and surgery curriculum to meet the academic requirements of otolaryngology training.
Aging, Habitual Exercise, and Dynamic Arterial Compliance

Background—A reduction in compliance of the large-sized cardiothoracic (central) arteries is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease with advancing age. Methods and...
MICRO-HEAT ENGINES, GAS TURBINES, AND ROCKET ENGINES -THE MIT MICROENGINE PROJECT-

This is a report on work in progress on microelectrical and mechanical systems (MEMS)-based gas turbine engines, turbogenerators, and rocket engines currently under development at MIT. Fabricated in large numbers in parallel using semiconductor manufacturing techniques, these engines are based on micro-high speed rotating machinery with the same power density as that achieved in their more familiar, full-sized brethren. The micro-gas turbine is a 1 cm diameter by 3 mm thick SiC heat engine designed to produce 10-20 W of electric power or 0.050.1 Nt of thrust while consuming under 10 grams/hr of H 2 . Later versions may produce up to 100 W using hydrocarbon fuels. A liquid fuel, bi-propellant rocket motor of similar size could develop over 3 lb of thrust. The rocket motor would be complete with turbopumps and control valves on the same chip. These devices may enable new concepts in propulsion, fluid control, and por table power generation.
Personality dimensions reflected by the Rorschach and the 16PF.

This study examined the relationships between Rorschach variables and the 16PF in a sample of 62 university students. Good form level was associated with ego strength, and Popular responses were associated inversely with a scale of rebelliousness. The results did not support some hypotheses, for example, that the Difference score, inaminate movement, and diffuse shading would correlate with 16PF indicators of good coping. On the contrary, the Difference score was associated with a scale that suggests anxiety. Further examination revealed that EA, M, and M + also were associated with 16PF scales of guilt and anxiety. FC +, T, and to a lesser extent S, were associated with indications of good, relatively anxiety-free functioning.
Regulation of Ryanodine Receptors in the Heart

See related article, pages 819–829 In response to exercise or other stresses, catecholamines are released into the circulation and within the heart. Catecholaminergic stimulation of β1-adrenergic receptors (β1ARs) in the heart increases heart rate (chronotropy) and contractility (inotropy), resulting in increased cardiac output during acute stress. Concurrent stimulation of β2-ARs dilates blood vessels, which increase blood flow to exercising muscles, thereby matching increased cardiac output to metabolic demands of the organs. The inotropic mechanisms investigated by Valdivia and colleagues1 in the current issue of Circulation Research are essential for the acute stress-dependent increase of cardiac output. Each of the millions of muscle cells in the heart (cardiomyocytes) contribute to myocardial force development. Cardiomyocyte contraction is controlled by intracellular Ca2+ release through a process called excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) that involves the following steps: (1) an action potential (AP) depolarizes the cell membrane; (2) voltage-dependent plasma membrane L-type calcium channels (Cav1.2) opening results in a whole-cell inward Ca2+ current ( I Ca); (3) I Ca activates cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2)/Ca2+ release channels located on the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (jSR), a process referred to as Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR); (4) Ca2+ binds to troponin C (TnC) leading to cross-bridge formation between myosin and actin and contraction of the sarcomere. Cardiomyocyte relaxation is signaled by a return of intracellular [Ca2+] to resting levels attributable to the following major mechanisms: (1) Cav1.2 inactivation; (2) RyR2 inactivation; (3) Ca2+ reuptake into the SR by SERCA2a pumps; and (4) Na+/Ca2+ exchange extrusion of Ca2+ to the extracellular space. Under resting conditions, net SR Ca2+ release contributes approximately 66% of Ca2+ necessary for myofilament activation in large mammals including humans, and approximately 90% in rodents.2 Stimulation …
Identification of single stranded regions of DNA by enzymatic digestion with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization analysis.

Elucidating structure function relationships of DNA in cellular processes requires fast, reliable methods that can be applied to picomole amounts of sample. Higher order structure can be inferred by distinguishing paired and unpaired regions. It is shown here that enzymatic digestion coupled with product analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is able to identify unpaired bases within structured DNA regions. The method is demonstrated with DNA duplexes having a five nucleotide mismatch as a 5′ overhang, a 3′ overhang, and an internal loop. Exo- and endonuclease digestions are performed under solution conditions (temperature, annealing, and enzyme buffers) which promote base pairing and specific enzyme activity. For each type of mismatch, the length and sequence of the single stranded region can be inferred from MALDI spectra taken as a function of digestion time.
Enhanced rat β-cell proliferation in 60% pancreatectomized islets by increased glucose metabolic flux through pyruvate carboxylase pathway

Islet β-cell proliferation is a very important component of β-cell adaptation to insulin resistance and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, we know little about the mechanisms of β-cel...
Enhancer-driven chromatin interactions during development promote escape from silencing by a long non-coding RNA.

Background Gene regulation in eukaryotes is a complex process entailing the establishment of transcriptionally silent chromatin domains interspersed with regions of active transcription. Imprinted domains consist of clusters of genes, some of which exhibit parent-of-origin dependent monoallelic expression, while others are biallelic. The Kcnq1 imprinted domain illustrates the complexities of long-range regulation that coexists with local exceptions. A paternally expressed repressive non-coding RNA, Kcnq1ot1, regulates a domain of up to 750 kb, encompassing 14 genes. We study how the Kcnq1 gene, initially silenced by Kcnq1ot1, undergoes tissue-specific escape from imprinting during development. Specifically, we uncover the role of chromosome conformation during these events.
Stylocephalus occidentalis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Stylocephalidae) from Trimytis pruinosa (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Stylocephalus occidentalis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida) is described from Trimytis pruinosa (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) collected from Keith County in the Sandhills of western Nebraska. Measurements are means in micrometers. Developing trophozoites solitary; epimerite a complex of terminal epimerite and intercalating diamerite; epimerite shallowly ovoid to transversely elliptoid, with transverse basal constriction at junction with diamerite, length 0.5–1 times width, approximately 3–4 times that of diamerite; width approximately equal to that of diamerite; diamerite roughly cylindrical to spindle-shaped, without significant anterior taper, little or no evidence of longitudinal folds, length approximately twice width. Association late, frontal, isogamontic. Gamont protomerite depressed ovoid to very broadly ovoid, length 27.3, width 35.1, anterior distance to widest point 15.4. Protomerite–deutomerite septum clearly marked and constricted, width 34.6. Deutomerite often with distinct marginal crenula...
Targeted inactivation of Gαi does not alter cardiac function or β-adrenergic sensitivity

Inhibitory Gαi protein increases in the myocardium during hypertrophy and has been associated with β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) desensitization, contractile dysfunction, and progression of cardiac ...
Shape-mediated margination and demargination in flowing multicomponent suspensions of deformable capsules

We present detailed simulations and theory for flow-induced segregation in suspensions of deformable fluid-filled capsules with different shapes during simple shear flow in a planar slit. This system is an idealized model for transport for blood cells and/or drug carriers in the microcirculation or in microfluidic devices. For the simulations, an accelerated implementation of the boundary integral method was employed. We studied the binary mixtures of spherical and ellipsoidal capsules, varying the aspect ratio κ of the ellipsoid while keeping constant either (a) equatorial radius or (b) volume. Effects of a variety of parameters was studied, including κ, volume fraction and number fraction of the spherical capsules in the mixture. In suspensions where the ellipsoids have the same equatorial radius as the spheres, capsules with lower κ marginate. In suspension where the ellipsoids have the same volume as the spheres, ellipsoidal (both oblate and prolate) capsules are seen to demarginate in a mixture of primarily spherical capsules. To understand these results, a mechanistic framework based on the competition between wall-induced migration and shear-induced collisions is presented. A simplified drift-diffusion theory based on this framework shows excellent qualitative agreement with simulation results.
Determining the Compressive Behavior of an Ultra-Thin Elastoviscoplastic Membrane Used in Sealing a Microchannel Hemodialyser

In past efforts, the conditions were determined for the hermetic sealing of a microchannel hemodialyser produced by pressing a hot-embossed polycarbonate microchannel lamina containing sealing bosses, against a 25 μm thick elastoviscoplastic hemodialysis membrane. In this paper, a procedure is developed for quantifying the compressive mechanical behavior of the membrane during loading. An energy balance, of the work of clamping to the strain energy within the membrane, is used to derive a model for predicting the force required to seal the membrane. The force model is used to predict the force required to press a boss a certain distance into the membrane, providing validation of the procedure for measuring the compressive properties of ultra-thin elastoviscoplastic membranes.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Coaching our kids to fewer injuries: youth sports safety research

Background Participation in team sports builds kids9 confidence, promotes teamwork, increases fitness, enhances social skills, and encourages healthy competition. Each year in the USA, 38 million children play organised sports. Yet, sports participation results in 3.5 million medical visits annually. Purpose The aim of this study is to assess coaches9, parents9 and children9s sports-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, with a focus on prevention of concussion, heat stroke and overuse injuries and promotion of safety gear use, pre-participation physical examinations and emergency planning. Methods Safe Kids Worldwide partnered with Salter Mitchell to conduct youth sports safety polls with 516 young athletes, 750 parents and 752 coaches. Results Misperceptions and uninformed behaviours are all too common. Nine in 10 parents underestimate the length of time kids should take off from playing any one sport during the year, and four in 10 underestimate the amount of fluids a typical young athlete needs per hour of play. Three in 10 kids think that good players should keep playing their sport even when they are hurt, unless a coach or adult makes them stop. Nearly half of all coaches report receiving pressure – either from parents or the kids themselves—to play an injured child during a game. Conclusion Safe Kids Worldwide is providing leadership and working together with parents, coaches, athletes, schools, safety advocates, athletic trainers, health professionals, legislators, the media, retailers, and manufacturers to help keep our athletes healthy and injury-free through advocacy, communications, and sports safety clinics nationwide.
Zinc-binding protein-89 (ZBP-89) cooperates with NF-κB to regulate expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in response to inflammatory cytokines

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have both protective and pathological roles in inflammation, and transcriptional mechanisms are important in regulating physiological levels to maintain health. Zinc-binding protein-89 (ZBP-89) is a transcription factor with roles in regulating vital cellular processes, acting through complex interactions with other proteins to ensure appropriate expression of tightly regulated genes. ZBP-89 binds the MMP-3 promoter at a polymorphic (5A/6A) site along with NF-κB. This polymorphism affects MMP-3 protein levels in tissues. In disease association studies, both over- and under-expression has negative consequences to health, and this promoter element is important in maintaining balanced expression. There is evidence that effects of the polymorphism vary under different conditions, but the role of ZBP-89 in these differences is not known. ZBP-89 was stably knocked-down in MG-63 osteosarcoma cells in order to study its role in regulation of MMP-3 expression in response to cytokines, and evaluate the functionality of a putative binding site in the MMP-1 promoter. Results show ZBP-89 is needed for maximal induction of both genes by IL-1β and TNFα. Binding of both ZBP-89 and NF-κB to both promoters was decreased in the knock-down cells under basal and TNF-induced conditions, and protein interactions between ZBP-89 and NF-κB were suggested. These data provide the first evidence of a role for ZBP-89 in regulation of MMP-1 expression, and suggest the possibility of a larger role for ZBP-89 in inflammation through interactions with NF-κB.
Effects of various gastrointestinal procedures on β-cell function in obesity and type 2 diabetes

Bariatric surgery is a gastrointestinal procedure that has emerged as the most effective treatment for weight loss. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are the main procedures currently performed. However, the benefits of bariatric surgery extend beyond weight loss. In fact, improvements in β-cell function occur before clinically meaningful weight loss and contribute to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) remission. Herein, we discuss evidence supporting the efficacy of bariatric surgery for weight loss and improved insulin secretion in patients with and without T2D. The exact mechanism by which bariatric surgery elicits a favorable change in β-cell function remains unclear, but a leading hypothesis is that rerouted nutrient flow to the gut alters enteroendocrine hormone production (e.g., glucagon-like polypeptide 1, polypeptide tyrosine-tyrosine, ghrelin), gut microbiome metabolites (e.g., lipopolysaccharides, short-chain fatty acids), and circulating bile acid changes that favor appetite suppression, metabolic rate, and insulin action. We also highlight the role of adipose-derived factors (e.g., pancreatic fat content, adiponectin) that may have an effect on β-cell function, as well as discuss the clinical determinants of diabetes remission (e.g., age and T2D duration). Taken together, the acute improvements seen with bariatric surgery are weight-independent and likely related to incretin-mediated effects on postprandial glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Over longer periods of time, increases in bile acids, reductions in pancreatic lipid content, and elevated adiponectin levels may also contribute to reduced disease risk. As a result, the gut appears to be a novel target for favorably preventing and treating obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Inheritance of steroid-independent male sexual behavior in male offspring of B6D2F1 mice

The importance of gonadal steroids in modulating male sexual behavior is well established. Individual differences in male sexual behavior, independent of gonadal steroids, are prevalent across a wide range of species, including man. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying steroid-independent male sexual behavior are poorly understood. A high proportion of B6D2F1 hybrid male mice demonstrates steroid-independent male sexual behavior (identified as "maters"), providing a mouse model that opens up avenues of investigation into the mechanisms regulating male sexual behavior in the absence of gonadal hormones. Recent studies have revealed several proteins that play a significant factor in regulating steroid-independent male sexual behavior in B6D2F1 male mice, including amyloid precursor protein (APP), tau, and synaptophysin. The specific goals of our study were to determine whether steroid-independent male sexual behavior was a heritable trait by determining if it was dependent upon the behavioral phenotype of the B6D2F1 sire, and whether the differential expression of APP, tau, and synaptophysin in the medial preoptic area found in the B6D2F1 sires that did and did not mate after gonadectomy was similar to those found in their male offspring. After adult B6D2F1 male mice were bred with C57BL/6J female mice, they and their male offspring (BXB1) were orchidectomized and identified as either maters or "non-maters". A significant proportion of the BXB1 maters was sired only from B6D2F1 maters, indicating that the steroid-independent male sexual behavior behavioral phenotype of the B6D2F1 hybrid males, when crossed with C57BL/6J female mice, is inherited by their male offspring. Additionally, APP, tau, and synaptophysin were elevated in in the medial preoptic area in both the B6D2F1 and BXB1 maters relative to the B6D2F1 and BXB1 non-maters, respectively, suggesting a potential genetic mechanism for the inheritance of steroid-independent male sexual behavior.
Miniaturized Implantable Loop Recorder in Small Patients: An Effective Approach to the Evaluation of Subjects at Risk of Sudden Death.

Background The etiological diagnosis of syncope and/or palpitations in children is often challenging. However, when noninvasive conventional examinations are inconclusive, the subcutaneous miniaturized implantable loop recorder (ILR) is recommended. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of miniaturized cardiac implantable devices in the early diagnosis of arrhythmias in children ≤6 years. Methods From March 2014 to May 2015, 21 patients (median age 5 years) underwent implantation of miniaturized ILR at our Institution after a complete cardiac work up. Median follow-up was 10 months. Results One patient underwent device removal for pocket infection and one needed a pocket revision. Eleven (52%) patients did not show any symptom and/or arrhythmia. Eight patients experienced symptoms during ILR monitoring: six had no electrocardiographic abnormalities, two had significant sinus pauses. Two patients had significant arrhythmias without symptoms and in one of these a pacemaker was implanted. The overall diagnostic yield was 47%. Conclusions Miniaturized ILR could be very useful to make a diagnosis and to decide future management strategies in small patients with undefined symptoms or severe cardiac diseases. Considering its characteristics, miniaturized ILR could start a new era in the diagnosis and follow-up of young patients with symptomatic and/or malignant arrhythmias.
High-Efficiency Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on TiO2-Coated ZnO Nanowire Arrays

Replacing the liquid electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with solid-state hole-transporting materials (HTMs) may solve the packaging challenge and improve the long-term stability of DSCs. The efficiencies of such solid-state DSCs (ss-DSCs), however, have been far below the efficiencies of their counterparts that use liquid electrolytes, primarily due to the challenges in filling HTMs into thick enough sensitized films based on sintered TiO2 nanoparticles. Here we report fabrication of high-efficiency ss-DSCs using multilayer TiO2-coated ZnO nanowire arrays as the photoanodes. The straight channel between the vertically aligned nanostructures combined with a newly developed multistep HTM filling process allows us to effectively fill sensitized films as thick as 50 μm with the HTMs. The resulting ss-DSCs yield an average power conversion efficiency of 5.65%.
Effect of Additives on Crystal Growth and Nucleation of Amorphous Flutamide

Understanding the effect of polymers on the crystallization behavior of low molecular weight organic compounds is important to a number of areas. Since crystallization is a combination of nucleation and growth, it is of interest to evaluate how these additives influence both these processes. In this study, the crystallization of supercooled liquid flutamide in the presence and absence of a number of synthetic vinyl polymers with different functional groups was investigated, at a constant molar ratio of polymer functional group. The impact of a structurally similar small molecule compound, nilutamide, was also evaluated. Isothermal crystal growth rates were measured using hot stage microscopy, while nucleation behavior was more qualitatively investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Polymers that formed better hydrogen bonds via their acceptor groups, as determined by infrared spectroscopy, were found to be more effective at reducing crystal growth rates, while nilutamide influenced growth rate...
Vibrational coherence from van der Waals modes in the native and molten-globule states of ZnII-substituted cytochrome c.

The low-frequency vibrational coherence from ZnII-substituted cytochrome c (ZnCytc) was characterized at room temperature in the native and acid/high-salt molten-globule states using femtosecond pump–probe, dynamic-absorption spectroscopy and impulsive excitation of the Soret absorption band. The pump–probe signals observed from the native state contain two types of modulation components in the vibrational coherence. The first type is a set of slowly damped (damping time γ > 1.5 ps) components with frequencies of 10, 30, 70, and 120 cm–1 that are assigned to out-of-plane vibrations of the porphyrin macrocycle following similar assignments in other porphyrin systems. A similar set of components is observed in the pump–probe signal from the molten-globule state, but the signal is much less strongly modulated. The second type is a strong, very rapidly damped (γ < 150 fs) 79 cm–1 modulation component that is assigned to van der Waals interactions between the porphyrin and nonpolar groups in its first solvatio...
Appropriate design, methodological quality assessment, and clinically relevant outcomes are essential to determine the therapeutic role of epidural injections for low back pain and radiculopathy.

Commentary on: Chou R, Hashimoto R, Friedly J, et al. Epidural corticosteroid injections for radiculopathy and spinal stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 2015;163:373–81.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Epidural injections with local anaesthetics have been performed since 1901, and with corticosteroids since 1952. The use of epidural injections in clinical practice continues to increase.1–4 Despite multiple randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines, there are conflicting and discordant recommendations regarding their use,3 ,4 with some high profile publications reporting a lack of efficacy,5 including the systematic review and meta-analysis discussed here. Chou and colleagues performed a systematic review of randomised controlled trials of … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAnn%2BIntern%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D163%26rft.spage%253D373%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252FM15-0934%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26302454%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.7326/M15-0934&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=26302454&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F21%2F3%2F89.atom
Discussion on Determination of Basic Error of Digit High Voltmeter

In order to implement and execute the DL/T 973-2005 verification regulation of digit high voltmeter,we discussed the definition of the basic error of the digit high voltmeter and the relationship between basic error and permissible error.As the basic error of the digit high voltmeter changes with the measuring value Ux,the allowable value of the basic relative error is higher when measuring value is lower,we proposed that the digit high voltmeter should be used in high range of full range,the use the range below ±10b should be avoided,and the producers should provide corresponding error coefficients following the regulation rather than just provide the accuracy class as before.Calibrators and users should seriously study and fully understand the new regulation,then execute the new regulation.
Changes in Precipitation Extremes in Lancang River Basin,1960-2005

Extreme precipitation is an important aspect of climate change.According to the estimation using the latest climate models,the extreme precipitation events will become frequent in a warming world.Significant increases of the very heavy precipitation and decreases of light and moderate precipitations have indeed been observed over most land areas of the globe in the last few decades.The Lancang River,with a relative altitude difference of about 5000 m,flows through 13 latitudes and 6 climatic zones.It is rarely seen in the world and has important scientific values for climatology,hydrology,geography and ecology.Since 1960,the basin has experi-enced a significant increase in temperature like most parts of the world.Studying the changes of extreme precipi-tation events in the basin in the context of global warming is of great importance.Based on a daily precipitation dataset of 35 meteorological observation stations distributed in and around the Lancang River basin,trends of precipitation amounts,precipitation days and daily precipitation intensity during a 45-year period(1961-2005) of 4 different classes ranging from less than 5,5-10,10-50 and larger than 50 mm were analyzed,and the precipitation frequency and the proportion of precipitation amount of each precipitation class were calculated.The result showed that all the indexes varied spatially,and for the basin as a whole,the frequency of the extreme events increased obviously.Analysis of a typical station indicated that the increase of extreme precipitation and the randomness of the climatic system might be closely related with each other.
Investigation of Prediction of Fatigue Life for Welded Joint

Fatigue life of welded joint can be predicted accurately ultilizing initiate extended model on fatigue resistance constructed by the author. Predicted results agree well with experimental ones.
Impaired Left and Right Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function in Response to Exercise in Patients with Diastolic Dysfunction.

Background Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is associated with exercise intolerance. To evaluate mechanisms of exercise intolerance in patients with DD, we performed bicycle stress echocardiography. Method and Results Doppler measurements were performed at baseline, during exercise and recovery in 26 patients (58 ± 11 years) with DD and normal left ventricular ejection fraction and 6 normal controls (53 ± 5 years). Compared to controls, patients achieved similar target heart rates but lower METs (5.5 ± 2 vs. 9.8 ± 3, P < 0.01) and a higher peak pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) at peak exercise (50 ± 13 vs. 32 ± 7 mmHg, P < 0.01) despite similar PAP at rest and similar mean blood pressure at peak exercise (110.4 ± 18.0 vs. 106.9 ± 11.4 mmHg, P = NS). In patients versus controls, mitral E/E' was similar at baseline (10 ± 3 vs. 8 ± 1.3, P = NS) but higher at recovery (11 ± 2 vs. 7 ± 2, P < 0.05), % mitral filling time was shorter at baseline, onset, and peak exercise, whereas % LV and RV ejection time was similar to controls throughout exercise. Compared to controls, lateral mitral annular S' (11.8 ± 2.5 cm/sec vs. 14.9 ± 1.9 cm/sec, P < 0.02) and tricuspid annular S' (14.8 ± 4.1 cm/sec vs. 19.4 ± 4.0 cm/sec, P < 0.05) were lower at peak exercise in patients. Conclusion Diastolic filling time is reduced at rest and stress while LV ejection time increases normally during exercise in DD. There is a reduced systolic reserve in LV and RV during exercise in DD. These mechanisms contribute to exercise intolerance and elevation of left atrial and PAP in patients with DD.
The Prohibition on Explanation

Wittgenstein is vehement that what is crucially wrong in Frazer’s account is his attempt to explain rituals, say the killing of Rex Nemorensis. This prohibition on explanation requires attention. It is a central feature not only of Wittgenstein’s reflections on religion, but also of those of his followers (witness the title of one of D. Z. Phillips’ books: Religion Without Explanation), and it seems a most bizarre and obscurantist injunction. We should do well, then, to isolate what it is about rituals that render them non-explainable. This will take us right into the heart of the Wittgensteinian interpretation of religion.