cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of electrophysiologic properties and location of manifest accessory pathways on local electrogram intervals at effective radiofrequency ablation sites

The purpose of this study was to determine if the electrophysiologic properties and the anatomic location of manifest accessory pathways affect the local electrogram intervals recorded at sites of successful radiofrequency ablation. Accessory pathways in 149 consecutive patients were categorized according to their anatomic location on the basis of the site of successful ablation. Three anatomic groups comprised 90 left free wall, 28 right free wall, and 31 posteroseptal pathways. The accessory pathways were also categorized according to their electrophysiologic properties on the basis of a hierarchical classification of the accessory pathway block cycle length. Four electrophysiologic groups (A, B, C, and D) comprised 54, 51, 28, and 16 accessory pathways, with mean accessory pathway block cycle lengths of 254 ± 9, 288 ± 10, 347 ± 19, and 458 ± 56 msec, respectively. The local atrial to ventricular (A-V) and atrial to accessory (A-K) pathway electrogram intervals recorded in sinus rhythm at the successful ablation site were significantly affected by the electrophysiologic group and were longest in group D compared with groups A, B, and C (A-V interval F (3,145) = 13.6, p < 0.001; A-K interval F (3,88) = 12.6, p < 0.001). The local A-V interval was also affected by the anatomic group and was longer in posteroseptal compared with free wall accessory pathways (F (2,146) = 15.0, p < 0.001). In contrast, the timing of the local ventricular activation to the delta wave onset (δ-V) was not significantly affected by the electrophysiologic group or the anatomic location of the accessory pathway. Thus the local A-V interval at the successful ablation site may vary because it is affected by the electrophysiologic properties and location of the accessory pathway, whereas the δ-V interval remains unaffected. These effects should be taken into account when selecting ablation sites in patients with manifest accessory pathways.
Renal Colic Resulting From Renal Calculus Disease

Colic describes any severe spastic pain originating from distention or obstruction of a hollow organ. In particular, renal colic refers to sharp paroxysmal pain originating from spasm in or distention of the renal capsule or ureter or pain resulting from ureteral obstruction. It is perceived as intermittent sharp pain generally originating from the flank and occasionally radiating to the lower abdomen, groin, scrotum, or vulva and has variably been estimated to affect between 1 and 10% of the population at some time in their lives (1, 2, 3).
Psychometric properties of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire.

Abstract In order to assess the reliability and validity of Cole's (1988) four-item version of the Suicidal Behaviors Quesionnaire (SBQ), 57 clinical outpatients completed it and the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL), and 86 undergraduates completed it and the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI). Two weeks later, 30 undergraduates completed the SBQ again. Cronbach alphas were moderate (clinical sample = .75; nonlinical sample = .80). Test-retest correlations were also significant (r = 95). The SBQ and SSI were significantly correlated (r =.69). The SBQ and RFL were also significantly correlated (r = −.34), although modestly. In view of its moderate to strong reliability, its construct and fact validity, its ease of administration and scoring, and its brevity, the SBQ is recommended as a brief screening instrument for suicidiality for researchers and clinicians.
Effects of Hurricane Katrina on the forest structure of Taxodium distichum swamps of the Gulf Coast, USA.

Abstract Hurricane Katrina pushed mixed Taxodium distichum forests toward a dominance of Taxodium distichum (baldcypress) and Nyssa aquatica (water tupelo) because these species had lower levels of susceptibility to wind damage than other woody species. This study documents the volume of dead versus live material of woody trees and shrubs of T. distichum swamps following Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Louisiana. Pearl River Wildlife Management Area near Canton, Mississippi had the highest winds of the study areas, and these forests were located in the northeast quadrant of Hurricane Katrina (sustained wind = 151 kph (94 mph)). Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve south of New Orleans had medium to high winds (sustained winds = 111 kph (69 mph) at the New Orleans lakefront). Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge had a lower level of winds and was positioned on the western edge of the storm. The forests at Pearl River and to a lesser extent at Jean Lafitte had the ...
Crusades and Jihads: a Long-run Economic Perspective

Crusades and jihads have been a part of the histories of Christianity and Islam for more than a century. This article examines this often-violent history from several perspectives, focusing heavily on the period between 1000 and 1300, and on the factors that allowed Europe and its overseas extensions in North America and Australia to economically overtake the rest of the world by 1600. While some weight is given to religion in the discussion, many of the effects seem to have been accidental, both negative and positive. These include the reforms in marriage and family formation introduced by the Catholic Church; demographic pressures in Europe; and the development of institutions in Northern Europe that provided continuity in commerce, administration, and archiving of intellectual advances. The factors that favored the economies of Northern Europe and/or held back other parts of the world do not appear to be related to anything inherent in Christianity or Islam.
The Evolutionary Research Process

Purpose – This article seeks to describe the evolution of key technologies that have improved the research process.Design/methodology/approach – The article is an opinion piece that reflects on some technological advances to the information world since 1999, and makes judgments about the future role of academic libraries in light of these new technologies.Findings – The article finds that libraries need to become comfortable with the commercial entities that provide access to information. Libraries should focus on the value‐added services unique to their profession.Originality/value – The article should encourage thoughts and discussion on a topic of interest to most libraries.
Factors associated with sexual activity among high-school students in Nairobi, Kenya

The high level of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa has led to an increased interest in understanding the determinants of sexual activity among young people, who are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections. The present study examined sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors associated with heterosexual activity among a sample of 3556 male and female high-school students in Nairobi, Kenya. Approximately 50% of the males and 11% of females reported having had sexual intercourse at least once in their lifetime with a significant proportion reporting multiple sexual partnerships. Sexual activity was associated with various factors including religiosity, perceived parental attitudes towards sex, living arrangements, and school characteristics. However, the pattern of association differed for males and females. Results suggest that adolescents may benefit from sex education programs addressing multiple factors that may predispose adolescents to sexual activity, and that take into account gender differences.
Supported Employment's Cost-Efficiency to Taxpayers: 2002 to 2007:

This study explored the cost-efficiency of all 231,204 supported employees funded by vocational rehabilitation throughout the entire United States from 2002 to 2007. Results found that supported em...
The Thrombopoietin Receptor Can Mediate Proliferation without Activation of the Jak-STAT Pathway

Cytokine receptors of the hematopoietic receptor superfamily lack intrinsic tyrosine kinase domains for the intracellular transmission of their signals. Instead all members of this family associate with Jak family nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Upon ligand stimulation of the receptors, Jaks are activated to phosphorylate target substrates. These include STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) proteins, which after phosphorylation translocate to the nucleus and modulate gene expression. The exact role of the Jak-STAT pathway in conveying growth and differentiation signals remains unclear. Here we describe a deletion mutant of the thrombopoietin receptor (c-mpl) that has completely lost the capacity to activate Jaks and STATs but retains its ability to induce proliferation. This mutant still mediates TPO-induced phosphorylation of Shc, Vav, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Raf-1 as well as induction of c-fos and c-myc, although at somewhat reduced levels. Furthermore, we show that both wild-type and mutant receptors activate phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase upon thrombopoietin stimulation and that thrombopoietin-induced proliferation is inhibited in the presence of the PI 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. These results demonstrate that the Jak-STAT pathway is dispensable for the generation of mitogenic signals by a cytokine receptor.
Obesity-associated Inflammation Contributes to Adipose Stromal Cells Pro-fibrotic Phenotype

Introduction: Obesity is linked to breast cancer pathogenesis and physical changes to the adipose microenvironment may be important. We have observed increased myofibroblasts, cells derived from ad...
Ischemic heart disease in women.

This supplement is intended to provide a specialized forum to overview new information on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and outcomes of women with suspected ischemic heart disease (IHD). Led by Women’s Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study investigators and other experts, the scientific summaries contained in this supplement will permit sharing of current knowledge about this important clinical problem. Improved understanding in these areas will advance the prevention and treatment of IHD in women. These comments by the investigators and experts, as well as those from a recent National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute consensus conference, should also provide direction for future studies in this critical area.
On a probability problem connected with Railway traffic

Let Fn(x) and Gn(x) be the empirical distribution functions of two independent samples, each of size n, in the case where the elements of the samples are independent random variables, each having the same continuous distribution function V(x) over the interval (0,1). Define a statistic &#952;n by &#952;n/n=&#8747;01[Fn(x)&#8722;Gn(x)]dV(x)&#8722;min0&#8804;x&#8804;1[Fn(x)&#8722;Gn(x)]. In this paper the limits of E{(&#952;n/2n)r}(r=0,1,2,&#8230;) and P{&#952;n/2n&#8804;x} are determined for n&#8594;&#8734;. The problem of finding the asymptotic behavior of the moments and the distribution of &#952;n as n&#8594;&#8734; has arisen in a study of the fluctuations of the inventory of locomotives in a randomly chosen railway depot.
Reactive Gliosis as an Indicator of Neurotoxicity

Publisher Summary Diverse types of injury to the central nervous system result in hypertrophy of astrocytes, called reactive gliosis. The hallmark of this gliosis is the enhanced expression of the major intermediate filament protein of astrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). These morphological observations suggest that GFAP may be a useful biochemical indicator of neurotoxicity. This chapter focuses on studies that investigate this possibility by administering prototype neurotoxicants to experimental animals and then assessing the effects of these agents on the tissue content of GFAP by immunoassay. The assays of GFAP reveal dose-, time-, and region-dependent patterns of neural injury, often at toxicant dosages below those that result in light microscopic evidence of cell loss or damage. In rodent studies, measurement of GFAP has proven useful for distinguishing neurotoxic amphetamines, such as methamphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), from non-neurotoxic non-amphetaminic anorectic agents, such as dexfenfluramine. The major conclusions that emerged from studies show that assays of GFAP provide a sensitive means for assessing neurotoxicity; increase in GFAP are specific and can differentiate long-term neurochemical changesfrom neurotoxic effects. In summary, assays of GFAP represent one approach for neurotoxicity assessment that can be used to differentiate pharmacological from neurotoxicological responses.
A Facile Route to Glyoxal Mono(diethyl Acetal): A Versatile Synthon for Preparation of α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes

Abstract α, α - Diethoxyacetaldehyde hydrate (5) was synthesized in >40% overall yield from commercially available 3-ethoxyacrylonitrile (1). The key step involved esterification of potassium acetate using 2-bromo-3, 3-diethoxypropanenitrile (2) and a crown ether catalyst.
Making Citizens, Reassembling Devices: On Gender and the Development of Contemporary Public Sites of Repair in Northern California

For the dozens of visitors to the 2012 East Bay Mini Maker Faire, many remarkable experiences were ripe for the taking. They could share in handson activities while attending a working group on outdoor mosaics, observing a robotmaking demonstration, or sitting in on a makeyourown terrarium class. The activity in Studio One was no different: the energy was high and the action perplexing. Children clamored for a chance to use a Phillipshead screwdriver. Adults cut delicate wires and relayed stories of their latest electronic gadgets. A collection of mechanical odds and ends — soldering irons, spray cans, vacuum cleaner heads, and toaster shells — lay distributed across all surfaces of the room. This cluster of activity at the end of the Studio One hallway was as anarchic as all the rest: fast paced, thrilling, and difficult to digest (tdarci 2012). To the handful of people facilitating this work, the pandemonium was familiar and somewhat doubleedged. It was the thirtyfifth Fixit Clinic, a public venue for facilitated repair often arranged out of libraries, museums, and community centers located east of San Francisco (see fig. 1). Meanwhile, fifty miles south, the inaugural event of the Palo Alto Repair Cafe, another public site of repair, was taking place at the Museum of American Heritage (see fig. 2). The two events were not planned to overlap, but, as we will see, this arrangement of concurrent yet separate programs prefigured their common practices and divergent cultural aims. Public sites of repair, such as the Fixit Clinic and the Repair Cafe, are communitysupported events designed to help local residents fix and learn to fix
Unplanned endotracheal extubation in the intensive care unit

Abstract Study Objective: To identify the frequency, outcome, and factors associated with unplanned endotracheal extubation (UE) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Prospective study. Setting: An urban, university trauma-surgical ICU. Patients: 96 intubated ICU patients who underwent 101 episodes of UE. Interventions: Patient, nursing, respiratory, and demographic factors associated with UE and patient outcome were determined for one year. Results were presented to nursing staff. The incidence of UE as a function of the total number of ventilator days was determined for one year post nursing education. Endpoints: Patients with UE were identified. Patients with reintubation were followed until final extubation. Measurements and Main Results: 85% of UE were self-extubations and 15% were accidental. Self-extubations occurred with equal frequency during all three nursing shifts in alert or agitated patients who were not being weaned. Accidental extubations occurred during the day shift in less alert patients and were associated with transport procedures and the use of rotary beds. Overall, 57% of patients were reintubated and most reintubations were in the first hour. Difficulty with reintubation was common, and one patient who could not be reintubated died. There were significantly fewer UE per ventilator day after nursing education. Conclusions: Patients should be observed closely after unplanned extubation, although many may not require reintubation. Reintubation can be quite difficult, necessitating highly shitted airway management. Attention to associated risk factors may decrease the incidence of both accidental and self-extubation.
The presence of eucalyptol in Artemisia australis validates its use in traditional Hawaiian medicine

ABSTRACT Objective To identify the major organic compounds of Artemisia australis ( A. australis ), a plant used in traditional Hawaiian medicine for the treatment of asthma. Methods The dichloromethane extract of A. australis was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and major compounds were identified by a National Institute of Standards and Technology library search and confirmed by peak enhancement. Results The major chemical components of A. australis include eucalyptol, borneol, and caryophyllene. Conclusions The presence and biological activity of eucalyptol correlate very well with the usage of this plant in traditional Hawaiian medicine.
Prologue: EDHF--what is it?

endothelial cellsregulate vascular tone through the release of soluble mediators such as prostacyclin, nitric oxide (NO), and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). This issue of AJP: Heart & Circ Physiol contains nine research articles covering the topic of EDHF. These articles consider
Mapping Determinants of the Substrate Specificities of P450s by Site-Directed Mutagenesis

Differences between individuals as well as between species in the disposition of toxic, foreign chemicals can reflect differences in the expression and properties of cytochrome P450 enzymes. More than 35 genes encoding P450 enzymes have been described in the rat (Nelson et al. 1993), and similar or greater numbers are likely to exist in other mammals. The individual enzymes that constitute this family of proteins often exhibit unique but overlapping substrate selectivities. Together these enzymes provide an almost limitless capacity to metabolize foreign, lipophilic compounds.
Head and Neck Anatomy

The neck is a complicated part of human anatomy, for it is crammed full of muscles, vital organs, vessels and nerves, many of which are in transit between the head and the rest of the body. For convenience of description, and to make the study of this congested region more manageable, the neck may be visualized as a composition of triangles—anterior, posterior, and lateral—each of which can be examined for contents.
Nitrogen utilization in growing lambs: effects of grain (starch) and protein sources with various rates of ruminal degradation.

The potential interaction between grain (starch) and protein sources with varying ruminal degradation rates on N utilization in growing lambs was evaluated. Three grain sources with varying ruminal degradation rates, (barley greater than steam-flaked sorghum [SFSG] greater than dry-rolled sorghum [DRSG]) and three protein sources (urea greater than a 50:25:25 mixture of urea: blood meal:corn gluten meal [N basis, U/BC] greater than 50:50 mixture of meal:corn gluten meal [N basis, BC]), were evaluated in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement. Supplemental protein sources provided 33% of dietary N (CP = 11.0%). For each grain-protein combination, a 3 x 3 Latin square metabolism trial was conducted using two sets of three lambs and three periods. Within-square treatments were 1.4, 1.7 and 2.0 times maintenance intake levels. No interactions were observed (P greater than .2) between dietary treatments and intake level. Grain sources did not differ (P greater than .2) in N balance or the proportion of N retained. Lambs fed urea diets retained less N (3.6 vs 4.2 and 4.1 g/d for urea vs U/BC and BC, respectively; linear, P = .07; quadratic, P = .12) and utilized N less efficiently (43.1 vs 51.9 and 52.5%, respectively; linear, P less than .001; quadratic, P = .10) than lambs fed BC diets. The grain x protein interaction was significant for most variables. Nitrogen utilization was most efficient (24 to 27% of N intake retained) when rapidly degraded sources (barley and urea) and slowly degraded sources (sorghum and BC) were fed together or when U/BC was the supplemental protein source (interaction P less than .08). An advantage was found for selection of starch and protein sources with similar ruminal degradation rates.
Fluidized-Bed Fluorination of UO2-PuO2 Fission-Product Fuel Pellets with Fluorine

Fluorination of uranium and plutonium oxides to the volatile hexafluorides, UF6 and PuF6, is a major step for the fluidized-bed volatility processing of spent Zircaloy-clad UO2-PuO2 power reactor f...
Study of 3D grinding temperature field based on finite difference method: considering machining parameters and energy partition

Grinding temperature is an important parameter in affecting the quality of grinding. The higher grinding temperature would cause thermal damage to workpiece. But in the actual grinding processing, it is difficult to measure the grinding temperature in real time. This paper presents the finite difference method to calculate the grinding temperature. When calculating the grinding temperature, an important physical quantity cannot be avoided; it is the energy partition and it is the fraction of the grinding energy transported as heat to the workpiece at the grinding zone. At present, there are a lot of calculation models for the energy distribution, but no one is very exact, and most models are exclusive for alumina grinding wheel grinding. Based on measuring the grinding force and temperature, the heat flux toward the workpiece can be back-calculated by finite difference method that compared the difference between the thermal model and experimental results; thus, the energy partition can be obtained. The results show that it provides a 3D graphic image of the whole temperature field by using the fused deposition modeling (FDM). And the influences of feed rate on grinding temperature and of energy partition are significant compared with the grinding speed and depth of cut. The improvement of feed rate can effectively reduce the grinding temperature, but energy partition has a significant rise. After repeated research, an approximate value of energy partition was obtained by using vitrified bond cubic boron nitride (CBN) wheel grinding titanium alloy material TC4, and it was about 5 % under dry grinding.
The analytical modeling of normal grain growth

A fundamental understanding of grain-growth phenomena provides a means to predict and control many of the observed material properties. This article reviews the development and present state of analytical theories of grain growth. The major geometric, dynamic, and statistical factors that must be considered in a rigorous formulation of grain dynamics are outlined.
Laminar to turbulent transition in premixed and nonpremixed jet flames

A computational study of laminar to turbulent transition in premixed and nonpremixed jet flames is reported. The Navier-Stokes equations with the low Mach number approximation are solved using the fractional time stepping method. Both premixed and nonpremixed flames are modeled in the limit of infinite reaction rate. The transport equation for mixture fraction is solved in the nonpremixed flame calculations, while the premixed flame calculations are performed with the G-equation model. Dependence of molecular viscosity and diffusivity on temperature is taken into account. The governing equations are solved using a predictor-corrector approach giving second order accuracy in time. The spatial derivatives in the convective terms are obtained using the fourthorder accurate compact scheme to minimize the effects of numerical dissipation. Results obtained from the transient simulations of a cold jet, a premixed flame and a nonpremixed flame at jet Reynolds numbers of 1000 are compared to identify the differences in the transition characteristics of premixed and nonpremixed flames. It is shown that the heat release has a significant effect on transition. A premixed flame developing in product surroundings has much higher stability than a cold jet or a nonpremixed flame with the same heat release parameter. This is due to two effects: i) reduction in density of the surrounding gases and ii) increase in molecular viscosity of the surrounding gases due to higher temperature. 1 Doctoral student 2 Professor, AIAA Senior Member 3 Assistant Professor, AIAA Senior Member Copyright © 1998 by the authors. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. with permission. Contribution of these two effects in enhancing the stability of premixed flames is discussed. In the premixed flame analysis, the planar laminar flame speed and Markstein length scale are identified to be the additional parameters affecting transition. These parameters influence both the flame length and the radial position of the flame, and hence the location of flame tip where significant thermal expansion occurs. A detailed study on the effect of planar laminar flame speed and Markstein number on transition length is presented. It is shown that premixed flame jet develops an instability at low flame propagation speeds triggered by the interaction between the flow field and the nonlinear flame propagation. The stabilizing effects of Markstein diffusivity are presented. It is noted that therrnodiffusive instabilities represented by negative Markstein numbers are not considered, but can be significant in practical flames.
The need for calcium in adrenomedullary secretion evoked by biogenic amines, polypeptides, and muscarinic agents.

SummaryThe following substances evoked catecholamine secretion from cats' adrenal glands perfused with Locke's solution: muscarine, pilocarpine, methacholine, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, angiotensin, and bradykinin. This corroborates earlier findings. However, these substances had little or no effect on secretion when calcium was omitted from the perfusion medium. It is suggested that each of these drugs may act by promoting an influx of calcium into the chromaffin cells as previously proposed for acetylcholine and nicotinic drugs.
Pharmacokinetic drug interaction potential of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic disorder requiring long-term treatment. The pharmacological management of the disorder, therefore, requires the use of agents which, in addition to being efficacious and well tolerated, are unlikely to cause pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions with concomitantly administered medication which the patient is receiving or may receive in the future. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have similar pharmacodynamic profiles but their pharmacokinetic profiles are very different. Perhaps the most substantial pharmacokinetic difference among these drugs is in their potential for drug-drug interactions via the inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes. This review provides comprehensive background information on these enzyme systems and discusses their significance with respect to the optimal care of patients. Fluoxetine is a substantial inhibitor of CYP2D6, has mild effects on CYP3A3/4, and may also have effects on CYP2C9/10 and CYP2C19. Effects on drugs metabolized by these enzymes can persist for many weeks after fluxoetine discontinuation due to the long half-life of fluoxetine and its active metabolite norfluoxetine. Fluvoxamine is a substantial inhibitor of CYP1A2 and CYP2C19, and a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A3/4. Paroxetine is a substantial inhibitor of CYP2D6. In contrast, sertraline and citalopram are mild inhibitors of CYP2D6 at their usually effective doses and are not known to produce clinically meaningful inhibition of any other isoenzymes. However, citalopram has not been well studied against all of these enzymes, especially in vivo. An increased risk of pharmacokinetic drug interactions is the immediate clinical consequence of the inhibitory effects of these drugs on CYP isoenzymes. However, with the emphasis on long-term treatment, particularly in chronic conditions such as OCD, it will also be important to determine the long-term clinical consequences of substantially inhibiting specific CYP isoenzymes with those SSRIs which have these effects. Thus knowledge of the substrates and inhibitors of CYP isoenzymes may help clinicians to anticipate and avoid pharmacokinetic drug interactions and may better define rational prescribing practices.
Freeze-etched pollen walls of Artemisia pycnocephala and Lilium humboldtii.

Mature pollen was examined by freeze-etching. The fracture and etch faces of Artemisia ektexine are unstructured and homogeneous. The endexine fracture face contains particles in paired rows which correspond to the endexine lamellae with a central white line seen in osmium-stained thin sections. The intine fracture face in Artemisia is coarsely pitted and has very long fibrils. Small vesicles are observed on both sides of the plasmalemma. The fracture face of Lilium ektexine has radiating fibrils which end in a regular array near the surface; the etch face on the surface is smooth. In thin sections the staining of the Lilium ektexine differs from that of the core, giving evidence that the smooth ektexine surface is chemically distinct from the fibrillar core. The intine in Lilium shows no fibrils. Vesicles near the plasmalemma appear to be fusing with the plasmalemma creating smooth depressions in the particulate plasmalemma fracture face. The plasmalemma in both species is beset with particles in regular arrays.
Exploring the social identity threat response framework

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore what individuals perceive as social identity threats, the sources of the threat, individuals’ responses, and the consequences of the threat. Design/methodology/approach – Narratives from 224 individuals were collected. A sample of 84 narratives were analyzed in depth using a qualitative content analysis approach. Findings – Initial support for identity threat response theory was found. Three new distinct threat responses – constructive action, ignore, and seek assistance – were uncovered. Additionally, harm/loss appraisals were found to be perceived and reacted to similarly to Petriglieri-defined identity threats. Originality/value – This study contributes to identity scholarship by shedding further light on the “theoretical black box” associated with identity threat. Such insight is necessary in further enhancing our understanding of the impact that identity threat has at the individual and organizational level.
Relationship between life quality and social support among AIDS patients in Shushan district of Hefei city

Objective To study the current situation of life quality and social support among patients with HIV/AIDS,and explore the relationship between them.Methods A total of 25 AIDS patients who received free highly active antiretroviral therapy were selected by cluster sampling,and investigated with the short form 36 health survey questionnaires(SF-36) and the social support rating scale(SSRS).Results The scores of physical function(PF),general health(GH),social functioning(SF) and mental health(MH) of the SF-36 life quality were lower than the norm in patients with HIV/AIDS(P0.05).Social support score was 29.04±6.96,and statistical significance was found between patients and the norm(t=-3.97,P0.05).Objective support score was 5.24 ± 2.52,subjective support was 17.80 ± 3.91 and support utilization score was 6.00±2.33.Correlation analysis was used between eight dimensions of life quality in the SF-36 and three dimensions of social support,and it showed that emotional function had positive correlation with social support and physical function had positive correlation with support utilization score.Conclusion The life quality of AIDS patients was influenced by demographic characteristics,disease and related factors,social psychology and social support factors.An important way to improve their social support was to improve their life quality.
Metastatic Paraganglioma Presenting as Incontinence in a 15-Year-Old Girl

Chromaffin cell tumors are derived from neural crest cells and can produce and secrete catecholamines. Classic symptoms include headache, palpitations, diaphoresis, and hypertension. Diagnosis is typically in adulthood, and metastatic disease is rarely found. Genetic testing is suggested with young age, extra-adrenal tumors, malignant disease, or family history of associated tumors. Our young patient's presentation of incontinence is unique, but several other atypical findings can be accounted for relative to her germline mutation. Because of the rarity of our patient's case, follow-up procedure is undefined. Documenting atypical cases such as this is central to clinician awareness and development of follow-up protocol.
Abdominal ultrasonography of the pediatric gastrointestinal tract

Ultrasound is an invaluable imaging modality in the evaluation of pediatric gastrointestinal pathology; it can provide real-time evaluation of the bowel without the need for sedation or intravenous contrast. Recent improvements in ultrasound technique can be utilized to improve detection of bowel pathology in children: Higher resolution probes, color Doppler, harmonic and panoramic imaging are excellent tools in this setting. Graded compression and cine clips provide dynamic information and oral and intravenous contrast agents aid in detection of bowel wall pathology. Ultrasound of the bowel in children is typically a targeted exam; common indications include evaluation for appendicitis, pyloric stenosis and intussusception. Bowel abnormalities that are detected prenatally can be evaluated after birth with ultrasound. Likewise, acquired conditions such as bowel hematoma, bowel infections and hernias can be detected with ultrasound. Rare bowel neoplasms, vascular disorders and foreign bodies may first be detected with sonography, as well. At some centers, comprehensive exams of the gastrointestinal tract are performed on children with inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease to evaluate for disease activity or to confirm the diagnosis. The goal of this article is to review up-to-date imaging techniques, normal sonographic anatomy, and characteristic sonographic features of common and uncommon disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract in children.
Synthesis, Semiotics, Biology

If the post-Chomskyan paradigm is to be richly enough elaborated to address effectively the range of phenomena implicated by the MLM metaphor, it will require eclectic strategies, the synthesis of theoretical and empirical knowledge from many disciplines. To recall Johnson-Laird’s phrasing, that synthesis ‘does not yet exist’, and its invention is imperative. Theorists and researchers will have to conduct their work co-operatively, with sufficient intelligence and openness to avoid the kind of fruitless oppugnancy that has developed between Chomskyans and behaviourists or High Church Computationalists and Zen Holists. Especially, I would suggest, theorists of language and modellers should give enlarged attention to biological aspects of linguistic and cognitive processes.
RF and microwave power amplification using SiGe HBTs: issues and prospects

A comprehensive study on the correlation between the structures and operation conditions of SiGe power HBTs, for RF and microwave power amplification, is presented. Both theoretical and experimental data prove that the operation configuration, power amplification frequency and bias voltage of SiGe power HBTs critically depend on the device heterostructure design. It is also proven that employing a heat transfer counterbalanced layout structure can effectively improve the RF power performance of SiGe power HBTs. The application prospects of SiGe HBTs for high frequency RF and microwave power amplification are projected, based on this study.
Improving Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures Using Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors

Corrosion creates long term reliability issues for reinforced concrete structures. Billions of dollars have been spent on corrosion protection of concrete and steel bridges, highways, and reinforced concrete buildings. Among the commercial technologies available today, migrating corrosion inhibitors (MCIs) show versatility as admixtures, surface treatments, and in rehabilitation programs. The effectiveness of the MCIs (mixture of amine carboxylates and amino alcohols) on reinforced concrete was evaluated throughout this project. Corrosion test results conducted over 1500 days, 200 cycles per ASTM G109) using immersion and ponding in 3.5% NaCl solution indicated that polarization resistance (Rp) for the MCI coated concrete was higher (60-80 kohms-cm with increasing trends) than non-coated concrete. The untreated not only had lower Rp values, but also decreasing trends. Examination of the embedded steel rebar after corrosion tests showed no corrosion attack for the MCI treated concrete samples, while non-treated concrete showed corrosion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and depth profiling confirmed that the inhibitor had reached the rebar surface in less than 150 days. Depth profiling showed an amine-rich compound on the rebar surface that corresponded with the increase in Rp and improved corrosion protection for the MCI treated steel rebar even in the presence of chloride ions. Based on measured corrosion rate the life expectancy of a concrete reinforced structure can be improved by more than 40 years.
Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy Reveals Planar Defects Are Sources of Electronic Disorder in Organic Semiconductor Crystals

Electronic disorder in organic semiconductor single crystals, manifested as parallel surface potential domains with potential variations ranging from tens to hundreds of mV, is observed by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. Chemical etching and X-ray diffraction indicate that the potential domains are correlated with planar defects such as stacking faults. The results have important implications for understanding structure–transport relationships in organic semiconductor single crystals.
Pleiotropy, the physiologic basis for biologic fields

Abstract Biologic organisms act like fields. Hypothetically, pleiotropy results from the systematic re-purposing of genes over the course of the evolutionary history of the organism as pre-adaptations or exaptations. Mechanistically, pleiotropic genes are selected for during the process of evolution with reference to the First Principles of Physiology (FPP). Under stress conditions, pleiotropic genes will act as a functional network to cohesively maintain allostasis. There are strong homologies between Quantum Mechanics and the FPP. The homology between the Quantum states of the electron and cell may be due to the self-organizing principle that underlies both, hypothetically emanating from the Big Bang that formed the Universe some 13.8 billion years ago. The identification of the common origins and principles of physics and biology offers a cohesive explanation for origins and evolution of life.
ITP in Childhood: Predictors of Disease Duration

Most children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura have a favorable outcome. A small but significant minority have clinically significant chronic ITP that requires ongoing treatment. At presentation, it is not possible to differentiate between the patients who will have a short duration of thrombocytopenia from those who will develop chronic disease. Predictors of ITP outcome would help guide treatment decisions and ultimately improve quality of life. In this chapter, the current body of evidence regarding biomarker and genetic predictors of ITP duration is reviewed.
Hybrid deep learning ensemble model for improved large-scale car recognition

Smart video based traffic monitoring and surveillance systems for improved security rely upon sophisticated deep learning based computer vision algorithms. In this paper we propose a novel deep learning model to automatically recognize cars on large-scale grand challenge CompCars dataset. Such a task for a computer is difficult due to its fine-grained nature and achieving recognition accuracy close to human experts remains a challenge due to lack of big dataset and machine learning model to detect delicate nuances. Our proposed deep CNN hybrid architecture outperforms previously published classification accuracy by 2.52%, which is a significant improvement considering the challenging nature of the dataset. Our method suggests several novelties and advantages over existing methods: First, it uses the GoogLeNet's key architecture — inception modules to efficiently exploit the inception's dimension reduction power and to lower the network cost. Second, inspired by the VGG's uniform and powerful architecture, the method replaces GoogLeNet's auxiliary classifiers into deeper networks with 3×3 convolution components to increase its recognition capability. Third, it is a powerful and efficient network in the way that it represents the ensembles of multiple short and medium depth networks. We believe our method could be useful in other domains that require finegrained recognition.
The Adaptive Immune System

The human adaptive immune system is a marvel of nature – a complex and dynamic web of cells, tissues, and molecules that serves as a very capable system of defense throughout life. In contrast to the innate immune system that is similar in other animals, the highly regulated mammalian adaptive immune system appears designed to efficiently cope with constantly evolving microbial antigens with relative minimization of collateral damage to the host. After discussion of its major defining characteristics, we explore the building blocks of the adaptive immune system through the basic functional responses to infection.
TRPML2 and the Evolution of Mucolipins

TRPML2, the polypeptide product of the gene Trpml2 (aka Mcoln2), is a member of the TRPML or mucolipin branch of the TRP super family of ion channels. Although no known agonists have been discovered, the wild type channel gives basal currents when heterologously expressed in Drosophila (S2) cells and is constitutively active in mammalian cells when bearing a cell degeneration-causing, proline to alanine substitution in the fifth trans-membrane domain. TRPML2 forms channels that are inwardly rectifying and permeable to Ca+2, Na+, and Fe+2. Localization studies indicate TRPML2 is present in lysosomes, late endosomes, recycling endosomes and, at a lower level, the plasma membrane. Tissue and organ distribution of TRPML2 is solely reported through RT-PCR and it is uncertain which cell types express this channel. However, various studies suggest that lymphoid cells express TRPML2. Although the function of TRPML2 is not known, distribution and channel properties suggest it could play roles in calcium release from endolysosomes, perhaps to mediate calcium-dependent events such as vesicle fusion, or to release calcium from intracellular acidic stores. However, TRPML2 may also function in the plasma membrane and its abundance in vesicles of the endocytic pathaway might occur because its presence in the cell surface is regulated by endocytosis and exocytosis. An evolutionary analysis of Trpml2 and its relatives reveals that vertebrate and invertebrate chordates have only one Trpml gene, that Trpml1 and Trpml2 are common to vertebrates, and that Trpml3 is only found in tetrapods. Ray-finned fishes contain another isoform, which we term Trpml4 or Mcoln4 (and its product TRPML4). Trpml2 is next to Trpml3 in all tetrapod genomes except that of the frog Xenopus tropicalis and of the domesticated pig, which seems to lack most of the Trpml3 gene. This close linkage across species implies that it is maintained by selective pressure and suggests that the regulation of both genes is interdependent.
Chemical reaction dynamics

A mathematical theory of chemical reaction systems is proposed. Generic equations of motion are developed which separate equilibrium, nonequilibrium and stoichiometric aspects. The role of various constitutive assumptions is investigated.
The Congo red derivative FSB binds to curli amyloid fibers and specifically stains curliated E. coli

The Congo red derivative (E,E)-1-fluoro-2,5-bis(3-hydroxycarbonyl-4-hydroxy) styrylbenzene (FSB) specifically stains the functional amyloid curli in Escherichia coli biofilms. FSB binds to curli with similar affinity as Congo red, yet exhibits much greater fluorescence upon binding to curli as compared to Congo red and does not exhibit undesired binding to the cellulosic component of the biofilm. Thus, FSB presents a powerful tool to identify and visualize curli in E. coli biofilms and also enables new biophysical investigations of curli.
Impact of Device Performance on Mobile Internet QoE

A large fraction of users in developing regions use relatively inexpensive, low-end smartphones. However, the impact of device capabilities on the performance of mobile Internet applications has not been explored. To bridge this gap, we study the QoE of three popular applications -- Web browsing, video streaming, and video telephony -- for different device parameters. Our results demonstrate that the performance of Web browsing is much more sensitive to low-end hardware than that of video applications, especially video streaming. This is because the video applications exploit specialized coprocessors/accelerators and thread-level parallelism on multi-core mobile devices. Even low-end devices are equipped with needed coprocessors and multiple cores. In contrast, Web browsing is largely influenced by clock frequency, but it uses no more than two cores. This makes the performance of Web browsing more vulnerable on low-end smartphones. Based on the lessons learned from studying video applications, we explore offloading Web computation to a coprocessor. Specifically, we explore the offloading of regular expression computation to a DSP coprocessor and show an improvement of 18% in page load time while saving energy by a factor of four.
The Adaptation and Implementation of a Medical–Dental Electronic Health Record in an Academic Dental Center

Background Several large health care systems in the United States have pioneered the integration of dentistry into their medical care delivery models. To date, no studies or case reports on combining medical information into the dental electronic health record within U.S. academic dental centers were found in the extant literature. Objective This report details how we developed and implemented customized primary care elements into axiUm, a popular dental practice management software primarily used in dental schools, to facilitate medical–dental clinical integration. This work was undertaken to provide the infrastructure for nurse practitioners and dentists to deliver a holistic, integrated, person-centered approach to care. Methods A multidisciplinary design team used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Patient-centered Health Risk Assessments, an evidence-based framework to guide the adaptation of the existing axiUm dental record. The design featured individual data fields to source data, generate reports, and analyze information to improve clinical care and operations. Results To date, medical information on more than 260 dental patients over 600 clinic visits has been documented in the adapted electronic health record. Conclusion The customization capability of axiUm facilitated efficient and effective development and implementation processes. Training and user support were essential for effective implementation and led to further system refinements.