cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Protein Dynamics and Mechanism using Infrared Spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy has long been used to deduce concentration and structural descriptions of proteins in a variety of static and time resolved experiments. Our focus is on developing new infrared methods to compare the structure, dynamics and function of nearly identical protein samples. We have developed an order parameter describing protein conformation variations around the average molecular values. Here we apply our order parameter to the problem of characterizing membrane protein function and the efficacy of membrane protein reconstitution in different environments. By comparing our order parameter and amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange methods, we explore the relationship between protein stability and the dynamics of the protein conformational distribution. Examples include lysozyme and albumin in solution, and cytochrome c interacting with lipid membranes of varying net-negative surface charge density. We have recently extended our work to the characterization of both native and crystalline forms of bacteriorhodopsin during its photocycle.
Survey of Some Systematic Properties of the Nuclear E 1 Transition Probability

A survey of the experimental data for $E1$ transitions between levels below nucleon emission threshold in medium and heavy nuclei is presented. A general classification of these transitions is proposed and it is shown that, within most of the classes defined, the experimental "reduced" $E1$ transition probabilities differ by less than a factor ${10}^{4}$. The data are compared with specific nuclear model predictions. Precise theoretical descriptions of the anomalous parity states involved in $E1$ transitions exist in a few cases only. However it is often possible to link the observed behavior of $E1$ transition rates as a function of different parameters, with qualitative model predictions.The data available before 1 January 1965 are presented in tables including level lifetimes, quantum numbers, branching rati s, internal-conversion data, and deduced transition probabilities.
Prior collateral sprouting enhances axonal regeneration.

Abstract Regeneration is accelerated in axons which have undergone collateral sprouting prior to crushing.
When Diagnosis Does Not Always Mean Disability: The Challenge of Employees with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Although commonly conceptualized as a childhood disorder, researchers in the fields of medicine and psychiatry now acknowledge that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) persists into adulthood. In fact, evidence exists that ADHD is one of the most prevalent mental disorders among American adults. Although ADHD can be covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there are several challenges that sufferers face when requesting accommodations for their conditions. Although some of these challenges relate to the vagueness of the legislation, perhaps of the greatest difficulties facing adults with ADHD are human resource departments' policies toward mental illness and managers/coworkers attitudes about the condition. This article provides an overview of ADHD in adults and explores human resource department's positioning vis-a-vis psychiatric disorders.
Radiochemical determination of Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule compression at the National Ignition Facility.

We describe a radiochemical measurement of the ratio of isotope concentrations produced in a gold hohlraum surrounding an Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). We relate the ratio of the concentrations of (n,γ) and (n,2n) products in the gold hohlraum matrix to the down-scatter of neutrons in the compressed fuel and, consequently, to the fuel's areal density. The observed ratio of the concentrations of 198m+gAu and 196gAu is a performance signature of ablator areal density and the fuel assembly confinement time. We identify the measurement of nuclear cross sections of astrophysical importance as a potential application of the neutrons generated at the NIF.
RADIAL DIFFUSION AND POWER FUNCTION RETENTION OF ALKALINE EARTH RADIOISOTOPES IN ADULT BONE.

THE retention of alkaline earth radioisotopes in skeletal systems can be approximated by the power function1 where b is a fraction between 0.0 and 0.5, t is the time after intravenous injection and e is a short time which for adult dog and man is the order of 1 day. A physiological explanation for this form of retention function is now presented which may be applicable to normal adult bone.
Efeito do peso do suíno em terminação ao início da restrição alimentar sobre o desempenho e a qualidade da carcaça

Foi desenvolvido um estudo para determinar em que peso vivo deve se iniciar a restricao alimentar (RA), visando a melhoria do desempenho e da qualidade da carcaca em suinos machos castrados e femeas em terminacao, alimentados com racao farelada, no periodo de inverno. Foram comparados quatro tratamentos: T1 - alimentacao a vontade (AV) ate o abate; T2 - AV ate os 90 kg PV e apos restricao alimentar (RA) de 10%; T3 - AV ate os 75 kg peso e apos RA de 10%; T4 - AV ate os 60 kg PV e apos RA de 10%. O experimento iniciou-se com peso vivo inicial dos animais de 52,58 ± 2,34 kg PV e encerrou-se com o peso de 119,27 ± 1,99 kg PV, quando os animais foram abatidos. A restricao alimentar iniciada em qualquer idade reduziu o ganho de peso diario (GPD), mas nao melhorou a conversao alimentar (CA) nem as caracteristicas de carcaca dos machos castrados. Nas femeas, o GPD so foi reduzido naquelas que iniciaram a RA aos 60 kg peso, nao havendo melhora da CA e nem da qualidade da carcaca com a RA iniciada em qualquer idade. Portanto, suinos com alto potencial para deposicao de carne magra e baixo consumo voluntario de alimento, alimentados com dietas fareladas e contendo niveis adequados de aminoacidos, nao respondem a restricao de energia com inicio entre os 60 e 90 kg PV para melhorar o desempenho e a qualidade da carcaca.
Student‐Organized Concerts in a Virtual World

The State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta's Music Department recently presented a most unusual concert. The music was written and performed by students in Oneonta's Music Industry program,...
Improving control performance across AWGN channels using a relay node

Consider an unstable linear time-invariant system in which the sensor transmits information to a controller across an additive white Gaussian noise channel. The designer can optionally utilise a relay node to assist the controller; however, the total transmission power consumed by the sensor and the relay node is constant. We consider two topologies: (1) a Gaussian relay channel and (2) a cascade of two Gaussian point-to-point channels. We propose coding schemes and present sufficient conditions for the stabilisability of the plant through such schemes. The analysis suggests that it is useful to utilise a relay node, even if the total transmission power remains the same.
Studies on the stabilization of gamma phase cerium sulfide

Abstract Ce3−xS4 and solid solutions of Ce3−x−yMnyS4 with the γ structure (Th3P4 type) have been prepared and studied over a wide range in composition (metal lattice site vacancy x, mole fraction y of metal M with valence n). X-ray diffraction studies of powders subjected to isothermal phase transition conditions over a range of gas pressures in dynamic (∼760 torr) and static (∼10−6 torr) experiments have demonstrated that over a wide range of temperature Ce3−x−yBayS4 (y > 0.2) maintains its γ structure, while Ce2.67S4 transforms to the “complex”, or α and β phases. Gamma stabilization was also observed for Ce2CaS4 but was not for Ce3−x−yMnyS4 where Mn = Ce+++, La+++, and Zr++++.
Child-Neglecting Adolescent Mothers How Do They Differ From Their Nonmaltreating Counterparts?

This exploratory study focused on filling some knowledge gaps about the relationship between adolescent motherhood and child neglect. Objectives included identifying predictors of neglect. The 102 subjects were low-income, single parents who gave birth to their first child before 18 years of age. The 22 neglectful mothers had been identified as maltreating by an urban, public child protection program before their 20th birthday. The remaining 80 mothers had never received any of the child welfare services provided by the same agency. Information was collected during in-home interviews. Logistic regression findings (a) revealed that 5 of 11 characteristics were associated with neglect independent of race; (b) identified a model that included two characteristics, educational achievement and number of children born during the teen years, and was modestly successful for predicting neglect; and (c) supported two of the three hypotheses. Discussion focuses on theory development and recommendations for future res...
Pulsatile local delivery of thrombolytic and antithrombotic agents using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) hydrogels

Hydrogels of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) were synthesized and investigated as pH- and temperature-triggered delivery devices for antithrombotic agents. For hydrogels containing greater than 75 mol% NIPAAm, the pH and temperature sensitivity both influenced the overall swelling behavior of the networks. Streptokinase and heparin were loaded into these hydrogels and their release characteristics were determined under pulsatile conditions. The hydrogels synthesized in this study were capable of pulsatile streptokinase release, with at least one order of magnitude difference in release rates between the swollen and collapsed hydrogel states. However, the much smaller heparin molecule diffused equally rapidly in the collapsed and swollen polymer states.
Using Financial Accounting Data to Examine the Effect of Foreign Operations Located in Tax Havens and Other Countries on US Multinational Firms' Tax Rates

This paper investigates the effect tax havens and other foreign jurisdictions have on the income tax rates of multinational firms based in the United States. We develop a new regression methodology using financial accounting data to estimate the average worldwide, federal, and foreign tax rates on worldwide, federal, and foreign pre-tax income for a large sample of US firms with and without tax haven operations. We find that on average US firms that disclosed material operations in at least one tax haven country have a worldwide tax burden on worldwide income that is approximately 1.5 percentage points lower than firms without operations in at least one tax haven country. Our results also show that US firms face a 4.4 percent current federal tax rate on foreign income whether or not they have tax haven operations. Finally, we find that US firms with operations in some tax haven countries have higher federal tax rates on foreign income than other firms. This result suggests that in some cases, tax haven operations may increase US tax collections at the expense of foreign country tax collections.
Tear Strength of Elastomers under Threshold Conditions

Abstract : Measurements have been made of the tear strength of several elastomeric materials under threshold conditions, i.e., in the swollen state and at high temperatures when dissipative contributions to the work of fracture are minimized. The materials studied were Neoprene WRT, PB, SBR, EPDM and a castable polysulfide material, LPN-32. They were crosslinked to different degrees, using a free-radical source, or sulfur, or a metal oxide as the crosslinking reagent. Values obtained for the threshold tear strength were similar in all cases, lying in the range 50 - 200 J/sq m2. They appeared to be approximately proportional to E-1/2, where E is the tensile (Young's) modulus of the elastomer, as predicted by the theoretical treatment of Lake and Thomas. Values for networks with polysulfidic crosslinks were significantly higher than with monosulfide or C-C crosslinks, by about a factor of 2. Values for carbon-black-filled materials were higher also, by about the same factor, in comparison with the equivalent unfilled materials. These effects are attributed to rupture of labile crosslinks, or bonds to carbon black, prior to main-chain rupture.
A SYNTHESIS OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF ANDRAGOGY: LEARNING, LEADING, AND LINKING

ABSTRACT This article reveals that teaching is applicable to far more than just traditional settings of scholarship. It demonstrates the effective (though usually unwitting) application of modern adult learning theory and technique to the effective development, change, and administration of organizations.
Active-Empathic Listening as a General Social Skill: Evidence from Bivariate and Canonical Correlations

This study attempts to provide further validity evidence for a scale that measures the tendency to enact active-empathic listening (AEL), one type of listening noted as especially important in close relationships and associated contexts like supportive episodes. In particular, we investigated the degree to which AEL is empirically related to various general social skills that reflect interaction competencies such as emotional sensitivity. Strong correlations between a measure of AEL and four of the six social skill dimensions measured by the social skills inventory (SSI) provide validity evidence for this scale. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research possibilities.
Visual Discrimination in the Cat: VI. The Relation Between Pattern Vision and Visual Acuity and the Optic Projection Centers of the Nervous System

* Accepted for publication by Leonard Carmichael of the Editorial Board, and received in the Editorial Office on February 4, 1938.
The Hypnic (“Alarm Clock”) Headache Syndrome

Hypnic headache syndrome is a rare, sleep-related, benign headache disorder. We report 19 new cases (84% females) with follow-up data. The mean age at headache onset was 60.5 +/- 9 years (range 40-73 years). Headache awakened the patients from the night's sleep at a consistent time, usually between 1.00 and 3.00 a.m. (63%); three patients (16%) reported that identical headaches could occur also during daytime naps. Headache frequency was high, occurring more than 4 nights/week in 68% of the patients. Headache resolution occurred within 2 h in 68% of patients. Neurologic examination, laboratory studies, and brain imaging were unrevealing at the time of diagnosis. Headache severity largely remains unchanged or attenuates over time, but frequency may vary in either direction. Only one patient had spontaneous relief from headache. Four patients (24%) achieved permanent suppression of headache with medication, and two were able to abort individual headache attacks. Caffeine in a tablet or beverage was helpful in four patients. Lithium carbonate therapy caused side effects requiring cessation of treatment in four patients.
Determination of indium in geological materials by electrothermal-atomization atomic absorption spectrometry with a tungsten-impregnated graphite furance

Abstract The sample is fused with lithium metaborate and the melt is dissolved in 15% (v/v) hydrobromic acid. Iron(III) is reduced with ascorbic acid to avoid its coextraction with indium as the bromide into methyl isobutyl ketone. Impregnation of the graphite furnace with sodium tungstate, and the presence of lithium metaborate and ascorbic acid in the reaction medium improve the sensitivity and precision. The limits of determination are 0.025–16 mg kg −1 indium in the sample. For 22 geological reference samples containing more than 0.1 mg kg −1 indium, relative standard deviations ranged from 3.0 to 8.5% (average 5.7%). Recoveries of indium added to various samples ranged from 96.7 to 105.6% (average 100.2%).
A Molecular Reassessment of the Leptomyxid Amoebae

Leptomyxid amoebae encompass a diverse assemblage of amoeboid protists that have been implicated as encephalitis-causing agents. This characteristic is attributed to recent studies identifying new members of the Leptomyxidae, in particular, Balamuthia mandrillaris, that cause the disease. Their morphologies range from limax to plasmodial, as well as reticulated and polyaxial. Although systematic studies have identified B. mandrillaris as a new member of the Leptomyxidae, its precise placement within the leptomyxids is uncertain. To further assess the taxonomic placement of Balamuthia among the leptomyxid amoebae and to determine whether the members of the Leptomyxida form a monophyletic assemblage, we have sequenced 16S-like rRNA genes from representatives of three leptomyxid families. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that current members of the order Leptomyxida do not constitute a monophyletic assemblage. Our analyses clearly show that Gephyramoeba, as well as Balamuthia do not belong in the order Leptomyxida. We highlight where molecular data give differing insights than taxonomic schemes based on traditional characters.
Insulin markedly potentiates the capacity of parathyroid hormone to increase expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase in rat osteoblastic cells in the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

We have previously shown that insulin alters the renal metabolism of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. To examine the effect of insulin on vitamin D metabolism in bone, we have used UMR-106 osteoblast-like cells to study the regulation of 25(OH)D3-24-hydroxylase (24-hydroxylase) expression by insulin. The 24-hydroxylase is an important enzyme in degrading 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D) in target tissues. Insulin alone had no effect on mRNA levels of the cytochrome P450 component (CYP24) of the 24-hydroxylase or on 24-hydroxylase activity itself in UMR cells. However, insulin increased the capacity of parathyroid hormone (PTH) to elevate CYP24 mRNA levels by 3–4 fold and to increase 24-hydroxylase activity by 2-fold in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D. Insulin increased the maximal responsiveness of UMR cells to PTH without altering their sensitivity. The action of insulin required the presence of 1,25(OH)2D and was partly dependent on new protein synthesis. Insulin-like growth factor 1 also potentiated the effects of PTH. This marked stimulation of the 24-hydroxylase by PTH and insulin may serve to regulate 1,25(OH)2D action and/or to produce 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in bone cells.
Motion Response of a Full-Scale Life Raft in Laboratory Tow Experiments

A 16-person full-scale life raft was towed in a tow tank in calm water, regular and irregular waves. The objectives were to assess the raft motion response, occupant motion, tow force, effect of tow speed, effects of different test variables (drogue deployment, floor inflation, weight distribution and ballast), and the likelihood of occupant motion sickness. Comparisons of RAOs obtained in regular and irregular waves demonstrated that irregular waves could be used as a cost effective means to determine raft response with a high degree of confidence. They also show that the life raft tow performance is different in waves than in calm water. For example, mean tow force is 20% higher in the sea state tested than in calm water. Floor inflation, drogue deployment, even weight distribution and tow speed increase mean tow force and tow force variation about its mean. The data also show that the same ballast types should be used to access the effects of different variables because manikin and water bag ballast produce different results. Measured occupant heave acceleration was about the same as the raft heave acceleration. From occupant heave acceleration, it was estimated that after 20 hours in the raft, 20% of occupants would vomit. Formulae were proposed to predict tow force in different sea states. Mean tow forces predicted using calm water tow resistance and RAOs derived from regular wave tow tests compared well with measured mean tow force in irregular waves.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Further evidence in support of a distributed semantic memory system

We offer additional points that support a distributed semantic memory: (1) the activation of representations that are modality-specific; (2) patients with inferotemporal lesions fail to activate visual object representations in semantic tasks, although normal subjects do; (3) direct activation of action systems from pictorial information, but not from words; (4) patients who demonstrate superiority with abstract words fail to access perceptual representations.
Inconsistencies in Findings From the Early Lung Cancer Action Project Studies of Lung Cancer Screening

Long-standing guidelines against screening high-risk individuals for lung cancer may change following the publication of the randomized National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), which shows a benefit of computed tomography compared with chest x-ray screening. Guideline panels will likely also seek additional information from nonrandomized studies of computed tomography screening, such as the Early Lung Cancer Action Project (ELCAP). However, for the ELCAP findings to be incorporated into new guidelines, some inconsistencies in the published data should first be resolved. Specifically, some of the reports from ELCAP appear to contradict others in terms of important endpoints, and several findings from ELCAP appear to be statistically improbable or outliers when compared with analyses and studies by other research groups. Clarification of both internal and external inconsistencies is a prerequisite for evaluation of the body of work published by ELCAP investigators.
Web-Based Nephropathology Teaching Modules and User Satisfaction: The Nephrology On-Demand Experience

Nephropathology is an integral component of nephrology education. Online teaching sites provide valuable educational materials to learners, but learner satisfaction has not been measured. We developed a nephropathology website and measured learners’ satisfaction. The Nephrology On-Demand Histopathology website (http://blog.ecu.edu/sites/ nephrologyondemand/?page_id=4502) provided nephropathologic specimens with explanations. Users were asked to complete a Likert-based survey (1—strongly agree . . . 5—strongly disagree) regarding four key areas of content quality: accuracy, currency, objectivity, and usefulness. Learners of all training levels perceived the content quality favorably. The mean (±SD) for accuracy was 1.70 (0.89), currency 1.62 (0.90), objectivity 1.80 (1.01), and usefulness 1.72 (0.95). Nephrology On-Demand Histopathology is a well-received teaching tool to learners of all training levels. Educators may consider using it, as well as other online nephropathology sites, as adjunctive teaching tools.
Implementing tool support for box structures

This paper describes a feasibility study to implement partial tool support for the graphical component of the box structure methodology (BSM). By following the defined strategy and process, an existing computer-aided software engineering (CASE) environment has been extended with a customizer to provide support for the box definition graphics (BDG) component of BSM. The critical functions required from a CASE environment are also described to provide the reader with a background for selecting one of the various implementations available today.
Balanced scorecard at Summa health system

How do you translate an organization's mission and vision into values, and then make sure that these become part of daily operations? At Summa Health System, the answer has been to implement a balanced scorecard in response to external forces, including increasing competition and emerging technologies. In particular, this article discusses implementation and use of the balanced scorecard in Summa Health System's Food and Nutrition Services Department, including the advantages and disadvantages encountered. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Model life tables for the larger old world monkeys.

Mortality statistics for 25 populations of the larger Old World monkeys (members of the subfamily Cercopithecinae) were evaluated with a competing hazard model of mortality. The best eight of these life tables were combined to generate a standard model life table representative of the mortality patterns of these primates. Two applications of the standard model to smooth, graduate, and compare life tables based on limited and defective data are presented.
Tropical Forest Healers and Habitat Preference

Tropical forests represent repositories of medicinal plant species and indigenous ethnomedical knowledge. These biotic and cognitive resources are threatened by forest removal and culture change. It has, however, yet to be demonstrated quantitatively that tropical pharmacopoeias are concentrated in primary as opposed to disturbed forests, nor that folk ethnomedical knowledge is disappearing. I examined these questions by means of a useful species enumeration of 1-hectare primary and secondary forest plots, and a survey of the regional plant pharmacopoeia of the Atlantic forests of Bahia, Brazil, a region that has witnessed significant human and biological modification. Healers demonstrated a strong preference for disturbed over primary forest. Second growth forest plots yielded 2.7 times the number of medicinal species identified in primary forest plots. The regional survey likewise elicited an ethnoflora characterized by herbaceous, weedy, cultivated, and exotic taxa. These results may reflect the availability and intrinsic medicinal value of disturbance species, as well as the increasing rarity of the region’s primary forests. They may also represent the long term outcome of culture change, cognitive erosion, and reformulation of the region’s perceived healing flora.
Active microwave breast cancer imaging using deformable mirror

A novel microwave technique employing a deformable membrane mirror is presented for imaging breast cancer. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the system. The deformable mirror compensates for the transceiver operation of the antenna and provides multi-view measurements for reconstruction by adaptively changing the mirror shape. The proposed system avoids issues with antenna switching and compensation and requires only a control circuit for the deformable mirror assembly.
The Natural History of Development Theory

Modernization theory is essentially an academic, and pseudoscientific, transfer of the dominant, and ideologically significant, paradigm employed in research on the American political system. The still dominant paradigm, despite increasing criticism and revisionism is, of course, the pragmatic-pluralist conception of political process, associated with a form of liberalism which links democratic legitimacy with high levels of participation and with egalitarian distributive outcomes. While this paradigm has been criticized as either scientifically inadequate or normatively skewed (toward freedom, against order), its vigor as a legitimating explanation is largely undiminished. This pluralist legitimation of the American political system is based upon a relatively simple conception of political structure, which is understood as producing an appearance of a formal contradiction which is, in turn, resolved by means of the concept of time (or process). Just as Martin Heidegger used the idea of temporality to resolve the apparent contradiction between Being and existence, so the temporality of the pragmatic-pluralist political process resolves the apparent contradiction between the structured inequality of the American system at any given time and the legitimating ideal of equality. Temporality justifies inequality by subordinating it to the freedom to restructure the system through unfettered, self-motivated mobility. In other words, since freedom justifies order, according to this doctrine, an alternative scientific justification of either freedom or order has obvious political drawbacks.
Wave-induced boundary layers in a stratified fluid

The boundary layers associated with gravity waves in a fluid with a linear variation of density are discussed in order to examine the steady Eulerian velocities induced by the Reynolds stress. For the case of a standing wave, the induced steady motion is shown to decay in an outer boundary layer which represents a balance between buoyancy and diffusion when the wave slope is sufficiently small but when viscous decay effects are even smaller. When the wave slope is larger, it would appear that two outer regions must be considered. Results for progressive waves are discussed only briefly, as they are qualitatively similar to the surface wave case.
Initial Clinical Experience with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Utilizing a Magnetic Navigation System

INTRODUCTION The placement of left ventricular (LV) leads during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) involves many technical difficulties. These difficulties increase procedural times and decrease procedural success rates. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 50 patients with severe cardiomyopathy (mean LV ejection fraction was 21 +/- 6%) and a wide QRS underwent CRT implantation. Magnetic navigation (Stereotaxis, Inc.) was used to position a magnet-tipped 0.014'' guidewire (Cronus guidewire) within the coronary sinus (CS) vasculature. LV leads were placed in a lateral CS branch, either using a standard CS delivery sheath or using a "bare-wire" approach without a CS delivery sheath. The mean total procedure time was 98.1 +/- 29.1 minutes with a mean fluoroscopy time of 22.7 +/- 15.1 minutes. The mean LV lead positioning time was 10.4 +/- 7.6 minutes. The use of a delivery sheath was associated with longer procedure times 98 +/- 32 minutes vs 80 +/- 18 minutes (P = 0.029), fluoroscopy times 23 +/- 15 minutes vs 13 +/- 4 minutes (P = 0.0007) and LV lead positioning times 10 +/- 6 minutes vs 4 +/- 2 minutes (P = 0.015) when compared to a "bare-wire" approach. When compared with 52 nonmagnetic-assisted control CRT cases, magnetic navigation reduced total LV lead positioning times (10.4 +/- 7.6 minutes vs 18.6 +/- 18.9 minutes; P = 0.005). If more than one CS branch vessel was tested, magnetic navigation was associated with significantly shorter times for LV lead placement (16.2 +/- 7.7 minutes vs 36.4 +/- 23.4 minutes; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Magnetic navigation is a safe, feasible, and efficient tool for lateral LV lead placement during CRT. Magnetic navigation during CRT allows for control of the tip direction of the Cronus 0.014'' guidewire using either a standard CS delivery sheath or "bare-wire" approach. Although there are some important limitations to the 0.014'' Cronus magnetic navigation can decrease LV lead placement times compared with nonmagnetic-assisted control CRT cases, particularly if multiple CS branches are to be tested.
Notes on An Interdisciplinary Introduction to Image Processing

A 2012 MIT Press book by Steven L. Tanimoto focuses on types of images that are markedly different from the examples found in other texts on similar topics. In addition to introducing basic image programming methods, it encourages exploration of the artistic and esthetic aspects of image synthesis and image transformations.
Quality of life in dermatomyositis.

Background Quality of life (QoL) for patients with inflammatory skin disease can be significant, but has been evaluated in just one study in dermatomyositis (DM). Objective We sought to examine the relationship between the Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Area (CDASI) and Severity Index, a DM-specific cutaneous severity instrument, and various QoL study instruments and to determine the impact of DM on QoL. Methods Skin-specific QoL instruments, the Skindex and the Dermatology Life Quality Index, and global medical QoL instruments, the Short Form 36 and the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, were used. Pruritus was evaluated by a visual analog scale and a 0-to-10 scale in DM and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) populations, respectively. Results There was a significant correlation between the CDASI and all skin-specific QoL scores (lowest P = .0377). Using the Short Form 36, DM population was found to have significantly worse QoL scores than the general population with the exception of bodily pain (all subscore P values P = .003). There was a significantly lower mental health score, representing overall mood, to all compared diseases except CLE and clinical depression ( P values P Limitations A larger patient population needs to be studied to further assess QoL in patients with DM. Conclusion We conclude that DM has a large impact on QoL, even when compared with other diseases, and that DM skin disease activity correlates with a poorer QoL.
Leptin opposes insulin's effects on fatty acid partitioning in muscles isolated from obese ob/ob mice.

Because muscle triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation might contribute to insulin resistance in leptin-deficient ob/obmice, we studied the acute (60- to 90-min) effects of leptin and insulin on [14C]gl...
Private Power Development of an Entire River

Alabama Power Co is authorized by Federal Commission, based on Act of Congress, to develop power on entire Coosa River in Alabama; discussion of basic studies made within basin area, development of final plans, statistics for present and proposed power plants on river, general design criteria, and present status and magnitude of construction operations.
Technologies of the Self as Antidotes to Chaos: A Foucauldian Reading of White Deer Plain

"for Neo-Confucians the recovery of the innate goodness in human nature becomes an important task in life, a task through which human beings can learn to be in accord with the Way of Heaven. In contrast, human nature per se is not an important issue in White Deer Plain. What is important to the author is not how human beings should look inward for seeds of moral behavior but how human beings should look outward for moral guidance. In view of this discrepancy, I would propose to approach White Deer Plain with the help of Michel Foucault’s views on the 'technologies of the self'....practices of freedom through which the Greeks constituted themselves according to certain models in their culture. Since citizens who cared for themselves correctly would behave correctly in relation to others and for others, the technologies of the self would contribute to good, stable government."
The Life Design Group: A Case Study Vignette in Group Career Construction Counseling.

Providing cost efficient, yet effective, student services, including career services, is a critical component in higher education. Career services must include the perspectives of the 21st-century work place. We advocate for the delivery of career development services in a group format using a narrative approach to career counseling with college students. Using career construction theory, we provide a framework for the Life Design Group and illustrate its use through a case vignette.
High speed direct imaging of thin metal film ablation by movie-mode dynamic transmission electron microscopy

Obliteration of matter by pulsed laser beams is not only prevalent in science fiction movies, but finds numerous technological applications ranging from additive manufacturing over machining of micro- and nanostructured features to health care. Pulse lengths ranging from femtoseconds to nanoseconds are utilized at varying laser beam energies and pulse lengths, and enable the removal of nanometric volumes of material. While the mechanisms for removal of material by laser irradiation, i.e., laser ablation, are well understood on the micrometer length scale, it was previously impossible to directly observe obliteration processes on smaller scales due to experimental limitations for the combination of nanometer spatial and nanosecond temporal resolution. Here, we report the direct observation of metal thin film ablation from a solid substrate through dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis reveals liquid-phase dewetting of the thin-film, followed by hydrodynamic sputtering of nano- to submicron sized metal droplets. We discovered unexpected fracturing of the substrate due to evolving thermal stresses. This study confirms that hydrodynamic sputtering remains a valid mechanism for droplet expulsion on the nanoscale, while irradiation induced stress fields represent limit laser processing of nanostructured materials. Our results allow for improved safety during laser ablation in manufacturing and medical applications.
Protective Effects of Extracts from Rhizoma Polygonatum on Acute Hepatic Injury in Mice

Objective To investigate the protective effects of extracts from Rhizoma polygonatum on acute hepatic injury in mice.Methods The model of CCl4-induced acute hepatic injury was set up in mice,and the mice were treated with extracts from rhizoma polygonatum to determine the content of ALT and AST in serum and the levels of SOD and MDA in hepatic tissue and observe the pathological changes in the liver of mice.Results The high,middle and low dose of extracts from Rhizoma polygonatum remarkably reduced the activities of ALT and AST in serum,compared with the control group(P0.05).Meanwhile,the high and middle dose group of extracts increased the level of SOD and reduced the content of MDA,compared to the control group(P0.05).Conclusion The extracts from Rhizoma polygonatum reduce the content of ALT,AST and MDA,increase the activity of SOD,and show protective effects on acute hepatic injury in mice.
Tagging Genes for Wide Compatibility in Rice via Linkage to RFLP Markers

Genes for wide compatibility in rice were analyzed via linkage to RFLP markers. The par- ent varieties were surveyed for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) using 45 probes located on ten chromosomes combined with 4 restriction enzymes. 15 probes can detect polymorphisms among the varieties. 14 of 15 polymorphic probes and C gene (chromogen for pigmentation) were selected to further analyze the segregation of spikelet fertility in segregating population of three-way cross (Pecos/Nanjing 11//Akihikari). The results indicate that RFLP markers RG138, RG64, RG456 and morphological marker C gene on chromosome 6 are significantly linked to the locus for wide compatibility. It was also found that another marker RG81 on chromosome 12 was related to spikelet fertility. A prelimi- nary RFLP map of chromosome 6 showing the region of this locus has been constructed. The chromosome region near this locus can be further examined with additional markers to define the precise location of genes for wide compatibility. Tightly linked RFLP markers may facilitate the selection for wide compatibili- ty in rice breeding program. We also observed that the ratios of two genotypes of marker RG81 and RG323 on chromosome 12 in segregating population were 14:41 and 38:17 respectively, being significantly distorted from the expected 1:1 ratio.
Transcriptome Analysis of Oryza sativa (Rice) Seed Germination at High Temperature Shows Dynamics of Genome Expression Associated with Hormones Signalling and Abiotic Stress Pathways

Seed germination directly affects growth and yield of rice. Germination process is highly dependent on temperature which regulates expression of several genes and proteins in germinating tissue. Whole genome mRNA sequencing of rice germinated at optimum (30 °C) and high temperature (42 °C) was performed using Ion Torrent Sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis of sequence data was done to survey the expressed genes, gene ontology, and pathway analysis. High temperature altered the expression of genes involved in fatty acid, amino acid, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism. Genes involved in reserve degradation, protein folding and stress responses were also significantly affected. Induced expression of genes like dehydration responsive element binding (DREB), RAB (responsive to ABA), and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins suggested important role of these proteins in high temperature germinated (HTG) rice. The pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes at high temperature suggested the altered expression of transcripts associated with ABA and jasmonate signalling, antioxidants (peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase), heat shock proteins (HSP 20 and HSP70 family), heat shock protein binding protein1 (HSPBP1, HSP70-interacting protein) and other stress associated pathways. In present scenario where very limited information is available on genome wide transcripts expression during germination process, the transcriptome study done in rice provides an opportunity to better understand the genes expression and regulation of seed germination, which is highly influenced by temperature.
Severe Intradural Lumbar Disc Herniation with Cranially Oriented Free Fragment Migration.

Background Intrathecal disc herniation is a rare but serious condition that has the potential to generate devastating neurologic deficits. We present a case of a 56-year-old man who developed cauda equina syndrome after several episodes of severe Valsalva maneuver. Case Description The patient was found to have developed subacute urinary retention and leg weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were concerning for an unusual-appearing lesion extending cranially at L2-3. Urgent decompression via an L2 laminectomy, exploration, and subsequent discectomy was performed. The patient recovered exceptionally well, regaining bladder function and ultimately being able to ambulate without assistance. Conclusions Cranially extending intrathecal disc herniations are a rare phenomenon and exceptionally uncommon above L3. The clinician should have a high level of suspicion for herniation when looking at the clinical and historical information consistent with such a diagnosis even in the presence of ambiguous imaging findings.
Dualitätstheorie für Konvexe Programmierungsprobleme

Jedem Minimierungsproblem P konnen wir ein Maximierungsproblem zuordnen, welches das Dual der ursprunglichen Aufgabe P heist. Aus der Losung dieser Dualitatsaufgabe ergeben sich die (Lagrange-) Multiplikatoren, die den Nebenbedingungen von P zugeordnet werden sollen. Wir befassen uns ausschlieslich mit konvexen Programmierungsproblemen. Das besagt nicht, das sich die nachfolgende Abhandlung nicht auf allgemeinere Falle ausdehnen lassen konnte, aber viel der naturlichen Symmetrie oder, genauer gesagt, Dualitat, wurde dann verschwinden. Der Konvexitatsfall gestattet uns uberdies, die in den vorausgehenden Kapiteln entwickelten Methoden vollstens auszubeuten. Kunftig soll das mathematische Programmierungsproblem
Test Performance Evaluation

In order to better understand and continually improve the manufacturing test process, it would be helpful to have a definitive measure of the “quality” of the test sets used. One method of measuring test quality might be to simply monitor the field reject rate - the number of parts returned or reported to the manufacturer as faulty. However, this is a crude measure for several reasons. Circuits can be damaged by a number of post-manufacture phenomena such as electrostatic discharge effects, poor encapsulation or wire bonding, etc. Also, on very complex circuits, some faults may never be detected if the corresponding portion of circuitry is not used by the consumer.
Female cancer survivors exposed to alkylating-agent chemotherapy have unique reproductive hormone profiles

Objective To evaluate reproductive hormone patterns in women exposed to alkylating-agent chemotherapy. Design Prospective cohort. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Normally menstruating mid-reproductive-age women (20–35 years old) who had previously been exposed to alkylating-agent chemotherapy for cancer treatment were compared with two healthy control populations: similarly-aged women and late-reproductive-age women (43–50 years old). Intervention(s) Subjects collected daily urine samples for one cycle. Main Outcome Measure(s) Integrated urinary pregnanediol glucuronide (PDG) and estrone conjugate (E1c) and urinary excretion of gonadotropins (FSH and LH). Result(s) Thirty-eight women (13 survivors, 11 same-age control subjects, 14 late-reproductive-age control subjects) provided 1,082 urine samples. Cycle length, luteal phase length, and evidence of luteal activity were similar among the groups. As expected, ovarian reserve was impaired in cancer survivors compared with same-age control subjects but similar between survivors and late-reproductive-age control subjects. In contrast, survivors had total and peak PDG levels that were similar to same-age control subjects and higher than those observed in late-reproductive-age control subjects. Survivors had higher E1c levels than both same-age and late-reproductive-age control subjects. There was no difference in urinary gonadotropins among the groups. Conclusion(s) Women exposed to alkylating agents have a unique reproductive hormone milieu that is not solely explained by age or ovarian reserve. The urinary hormone profile observed in survivors appears more similar to same-age control subjects than to late-reproductive-age women with similar ovarian reserve, which may suggest that age plays a more important role than ovarian reserve in the follicular dynamics of survivors.
A Review of Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment Modalities for Long Head of Bicep Tendinopathy

This article reviews the assessment and management of the pathology of the long head of the biceps tendon, a disease commonly encountered by primary care physicians and orthopedic surgeons. We include a discussion of relevant anatomy, function, pathoanatomy, natural history of the disease, diagnostic methods, and treatment options. Recent literature on the function of the long head of the bicep (LHB) is reviewed. Literature on our evolving understanding of the pathoanatomy behind LHB tendinopathy is discussed. We also discuss the effectiveness of current diagnostic and treatment modalities.
Predicting Active Facial Expressivity in People with Parkinson's Disease

Our capacity to engage in meaningful conversations depends on a multitude of communication signals, including verbal delivery of speech, tone and modulation of voice, execution of body gestures, and exhibition of a range of facial expressions. Among these cues, the expressivity of the face strongly indicates the level of one's engagement during a social interaction. It also significantly influences how others perceive one's personality and mood. Individuals with Parkinson's disease whose facial muscles have become rigid have difficulty exhibiting facial expressions. In this work, we investigate how to computationally predict an accurate and objective score for facial expressivity of a person. We present a method that computes geometric shape features of the face and predicts a score for facial expressivity. Our method trains a random forest regressor based on features extracted from a set of training videos of interviews of people suffering from Parkinson's disease. We evaluated our formulation on a dataset of 727 20-second video clips using 9-fold cross validation. We also provide insight on the geometric features that are important in this prediction task by computing variable importance scores for our features. Our results suggest that the dynamics of the eyes and eyebrows are better predictors of facial expressivity than dynamics of the mouth.
Quality Assurance of Automated Data Processing Systems (ADPS): Part II. Development of a Quality Assurance Program (QAP)

The effectiveness of an Automated Data Processing System depends on the quality of hardware, software and operating personnel. The application of rigorous quality assurance procedures to the development and production of computer hardware has generally ..
Excellent corrosion resistance and hardness in Al alloys by extended solid solubility and nanocrystalline structure

Development of ultra-high strength and corrosion-resistant aluminum (Al) alloys is demonstrated by a combination of suitable alloying elements and processing technology able to cause extended solid...