cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Equilibration rates in lipid monolayers

A theoretical analysis is given for the rate of change of domain sizes in lipid monolayers at the air–water interface. The calculation is applicable to liquid domains formed from binary mixtures of lipids that form two coexisting liquid phases. Under conditions where the two lipid molecules have approximately equal areas, the equilibration rate does not involve macroscopic hydrodynamic flow in the subphase but rather depends on the diffusion coefficient of the lipid molecules. The calculation shows that the equilibration rate in binary mixtures of cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine is remarkably slow, the radius of a typical 20-μm diameter domain changing by as little as a part in a million per second. Under these circumstances, equilibration times of the order of days or weeks are expected. Even with such long times, the final state reached by the monolayer will in general be a state of metastable equilibrium, rather than true equilibrium.
Consumer's Surplus Revisited

A technique for approximating welfare measures using knowledge of the Marshallian demand relation is developed and compared numerically to the true measures and other approximations. The technique does not rely on the solution of differential equations and is easily illustrated graphically. The technique should be useful as a pedagogic device and applicable in empirical work when derivation of the indirect utility function is burdensome.
Approach of field-emission display toward technology status

Flat panel display (FPD) technologies have emerged with smaller depth, size, and power than the cathode ray tube technology that now dominates the display market. Liquid crystal displays in general and active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD), in particular, are the FPD technology of choice. The AMLCD technology is well established has undergone dramatic improvements in the past few years, a trend which is likely to continue. In recent years some potential or want-to- be ('wanabe') alternate technologies, such as field emission displays (FED), high gain emissive displays and vacuum fluorescent displays (VFD), have received substantial investments. For example, the VFD knowledge level has reached technology status as segmented displays in automotive and instrumentation applications. Much work has been done to improve FED technology status, resulting in many attempts to build production quality prototypes. However, no FED has actually gone into production. The question still remains: how close to production are these nascent technologies? This paper will examine how fast field emission displays are progressing towards technology status, which is defined as a display technology that is incorporated in products accepted by the market. This paper will provide a status update of where FED companies are and where they may be heading. Current development programs, recent demonstrations, and possible future product offerings will be discussed.
Sputum phagocytes from healthy individuals are functional and activated: a flow cytometric comparison with cells in bronchoalveolar lavage and peripheral blood.

Abstract Cells in the bronchial airways of healthy individuals are continuously exposed to inhaled particulates in the size range 2–5 μm, which preferentially deposit in the bronchial rather than the alveolar lung. Induced sputum obtains cells primarily from the surfaces of bronchial airways. Using flow cytometry, we investigated whether sputum phagocytes demonstrate phenotypes indicative of increased functional activation and inflammation compared to phagocytes from the alveolar airways and peripheral blood (PB) in healthy subjects (N = 17). Sputum macrophages demonstrated increased levels of CD11b, increased oxidative burst, and greater phagocytosis than autologous alveolar macrophages. Expression of CD11b, CD64, and HLA-DR in sputum monocytes was upregulated compared to that in PB monocytes. Sputum neutrophils showed increased expression of CD11b, CD64, CD14, and HLA-DR and were more phagocytic than PB neutrophils. In conclusion sputum/bronchial phagocytes from healthy individuals express an inflammatory phenotype and are functionally more active than phagocytes from the alveolar airways and peripheral blood.
The Nature of Close Relationships as Presented in Television Talk Show Titles

Although much controversy exists about the value of television talk shows, there is an absence of empirical investigation into the nature of these shows. The goal of this research was to analyze the titles from six months of the eleven top‐rated television talk shows and corresponding content from one month of these shows. Results indicated that family relationships tended to be portrayed in predominantly negative ways. Personal relationships tended to be portrayed as neutral or negative. Analyses of corresponding content in the form of types of disclosures were conducted. On average, viewers were exposed to over 13 sexual activity, sexual orientation, embarrassing situation, abuse, and criminal disclosures per one hour talk show. Sexual activity disclosures occurred significantly more often in personal relationship shows, sexual orientation and embarrassing situation disclosures occurred significantly more often in positive topic personal relationship shows, while abuse disclosures occurred significantly...
Using preference-based measures to assess quality of life in stuttering.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether standard pharmaco-economic preference methods can be used to assess perceived quality of life in stuttering. Method Seventy-five nonstutte...
Immersion vs pressure-breathing and diaphragmatic function in the upright position.

In seven anesthetized dogs, immersion in the upright position to mid-neck level (IM) was compared to pressure breathing (PB) under dry conditions during constant-stimulus diaphragmatic contraction (EPS). The comparison was in terms of EPS-induced changes in alveolar pressure under static condition (Pmus); EPS-induced tidal volume(VT); and the VT/Pmus ratio (C′). It was found that at iso-lung volume (V): (a) Pmus was greater in IM than in PB, the difference increased at higher V; (b) VT was greater in IM than in PB, but the VT difference (ΔVT) did not parallel that in Pmus; VT was maximum at a V equal to approximately 90% of FRC in air (FRCd) and decreased below and above this volume; (c) during both IM and PB, the VT-V relationship reflected a biphasic relationship of C′ to V and appeared to be inherent to the upright position.
Determination of iodide and thiocyanate in powdered milk and infant formula by on-line enrichment ion chromatography with photodiode array detection

Thiocyanate ranks after perchlorate as a potent inhibitor of iodide uptake by the thyroid but may be more concentrated in some food items such as milk products as to supersede perchlorate as the goitrogen of concern. A column-switching anion-exchange chromatographic method with UV spectral detection was developed to measure and confirm iodide and thiocyanate in powders of dry milk and infant formula. An aqueous solution was subjected to centrifugal ultrafiltration, the ultrafiltrate was cleaned up on a carbon solid-phase extraction column, and an aliquot was transferred to a precolumn for enrichment and subsequent injection onto an analytical column. In infant formula samples, thiocyanate was found at 2.0-5.1 mg/kg in five of seven milk-based products and was not found in the other two nor in three soy-based products tested (0.2 mg/kg LOQ); iodide was found at 0.3-1.3mg/kg (0.04 mg/kg LOQ). In 13 dry milk samples, thiocyanate was found at 27-38 mg/kg (1 mg/kg LOQ), and iodide was found at 1.8-3.2 mg/kg (0.2 mg/kg LOQ).
Deletion of lysine 13 alters the structure and function of parathyroid hormone

Abstract A peptide of unknown structure was found as a side product in a commercial preparation of the 1–34 fragment of bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH). CNBr cleavage and amino acid analysis showed that this peptide is the des-lys-13 form of 1–34 bovine PTH. The peptide thus represents a deletion mutant of PTH and structure-function studies are of interest. This peptide was a full agonist in the adenylyl cyclase bioassay for PTH, but its potency was about 5% of that found for the complete 1–34 peptide. Proton NMR studies showed that the p K values for the histidine residues in the des-lys-13 form were essentially identical to those of the intact peptide. However, pH-dependent changes in the chemical shifts for the tryptophan protons (residue 23) and several unidentified methyl group resonances were observed in the des-lys peptide. The latter are major shifts and probably represent ring-current effects; these were not seen in the intact 1–34 peptide. The results show that Lys-13 is important in the folding of the active domain of PTH, and are interpreted in the context of a previously published model for the folding of this hormone.
“The Land of Old Age”: Society's Changing Attitudes toward Urban Built Environments for Elderly People

Abstract I explore the reciprocity operating between age relations and the built environment by presenting an age-sensitive reading of urban history in the US. By focusing on the segregation of the elderly, intergenerational conflicts are shown to have clear territorial expressions. The resultant built environments of aging occur both by design and default. State policies are implicated in the creation of ageist built environments. In some instances, policies explicitly aimed at the elderly result in age-segregated residential environments while, in other cases, policies directed at the built environment have profound implications for age relations. Further, private-sector views of the consumption potential of elderly people also determine the types of residential environments available to old people. I argue that the urban built environment is simultaneously a cause and an effect of ageist attitudes.
A radioautographic analysis in the light and electron microscope of identified Aplysia neurons and their processes after intrasomatic injection of l-[3H]fucose

Abstract We have studied radioautographically the distribution and fate of 3H-glycoproteins within the single identified neurons L10 and R2 of Aplysia californica after intrasomatic pressure injection of [3H]fucose. Silver grains were localized to intracytoplasmic membranes in both cell body and axon 3 h after injection of the cholinergic neuron L10. Grains also appear at this time over presumptive synapses. In the cell body the Golgi apparatus was labeled, as were vesicles, multivesicular bodies, pigment granules, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and peroxisomes. The Golgi apparatus is the most intensely labelled organelle (relative specific activity 9.5). Over 50% of the silver grains are associated with the Golgi apparatus and with vesicles. In the axons, vesicles were labeled most intensely, having a relative specific activity of 40.4 (% silver grains/% area), an intensity 10 times that of similar appearing somatic vesicles, and 4.5–10 times that of other organelles (multivesicular bodies, mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum) in the axon. At least 32% of the silver grains are associated with vesicles. It appears that the biosynthetic machinery of these neurons is heavily involved in the production of vesicle membrane destined for transport along axons and to terminals. The preponderant labeling of vesicles in the axon parallels the rapid and preferential transport of glycoprotein components described by Ambron et al. and may indicate that specific glycoprotein molecules can be identified as components of these vesicles. After injection of the cholinergic neuron R2, transport of radioactivity was restricted to the axonal tree of the injected neuron. After injection of L10, one other neuron was invariably labeled. By varying the conditions of injection, as many as 5 other neuron cell bodies could be labeled. These are located in the position of cells known to be electrically coupled to L10, and they probably became labeled by transneuronal movement of fucose across electrotonic junctions. Since restriction of label to the injected neuron is easily determined in each experiment, this technique makes possible the identification of chemical and perhaps electrical synapses of identified cells with optimal preservation of fine structure.
A Rapid Liquid‐Phase Adsorption Method for the Determination of the Surface Area of Clays

A relatively simple, rapid, and reliable method for the determination of the surface area of clays has been developed. The liquid-phase adsorption of stearic acid, a surface active agent which under the proper conditions forms a unimolecular layer of orientated molecules on the solid surface, was employed. The method should be of value in making predictions regarding properties such as total adsorptivity, coloring power, and catalytic activity.
The Mobile Web: Amplifying, but Not Creating, Changemakers

the technology that will transform the lives of the world’s poor. Describing Internet connectivity as “the foundation of the knowledge economy” and a human right, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, launched a philanthropic initiative, Internet.org, to provide free access to Facebook and other select Internet sites. Google is experimenting similarly with balloons and broadcast frequencies—such as “white space” from the unused television spectrum—to drive access, and it also has launched Google Zero in partnership with mobile network operators to provide free access to select Google services. The Wikipedia Foundation also has joined the movement, partnering with 29 operators in 34 countries to provide mobile users access to Wikipedia Zero, with the goal of building “a world in which every single human on the planet has equal access to the sum of all knowledge.” Development organizations also have embraced technology’s potential to reduce poverty; the World Bank argues that smartphones with data connectivity “not only empower individuals but have important cascade effects stimulating growth, entrepreneurship, and productivity throughout the economy as a whole.” Both private-sector and development organizations thus share a common belief that access is the key to unlocking technology’s full potential to contribute to economic growth. However, because technology tends to amplify existing patterns and intent, focusing solely on access is likely to entrench existing inequalities further. To counter any amplification of the culture of poverty and oppression, people in the developing world will need to have the capacity to produce digital content that can enhance local knowledge and strengthen champions of change. This essay first outlines the economic argument that dominates the case for using the mobile phone in development, and then shows that technological con-
The design of a model-based multimedia interaction manager

We describe here the conceptual design of Cicero, an application-independent human-computer interaction manager that performs run-time media coordination and allocation, so as to adapt dynamically to the presentation context; knows what it is presenting, so as to maintain coherent extended human-machine dialogues; and is plug-in compatible with host information resources such as “briefing associate” workstations, expert systems, databases, etc., as well as with multiple media such as natural language, graphics, etc. The system design calls for two linked reactive planners that coordinate the actions of the system’s media and information sources. To enable presentational flexibility, the capabilities of each medium and the nature of the contents of each information source are semantically modeled as Virtual Devices — abstract descriptions of device I/O capabilities — and abstract information types respectively in a single uniform knowledge representation framework. These models facilitate extensibility by supporting the specification of new interaction behaviors and the inclusion of new media and information sources.
Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass procedure using a high thoracic epidural plus general anesthetic technique.

A NEW SURGICAL approach to coronary artery revascularization that avoids the use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is now available: minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB). The procedure is limited to patients with one-vessel or two-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), and allows the heart to continue beating throughout surgery. 1,2 An additional advantage is that the size of the incision is reduced to a small submammary area (keyhole incision). However, the combination of the beating heart and the keyhole incision make this surgical approach more difficult for the surgeon. The increase in postoperative pain and the need for one-lung ventilation during the anastomosis are additional disadvantages of this technique. Incisional pain after the snbmammary incision is greater (especially during the postoperative period) than that associated with a median sternotomy. 3 There are also selected patient characteristics that exclude candidates for MIDCAB, such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (FEV 1 < 1,500 mL) and coagulation disorders (especially when epidural anesthesia will be used). In contrast to these problems, however, are the many beneficial effects, which include lack of ECC and, therefore, a decreased inflammatory reaction, faster patient recovery, and shorter hospital stay. Beginning in 1990 at Nijmegen University Hospital (The Netherlands), a combined anesthetic technique (high thoracic epidural plus general anesthesia [HTE/GA]) has been used for the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The authors previously described and reported the beneficial effects of the HTE/GA technique compared with a general anesthetic. 4-6
The small-signal ac response of La1−xBaxF3−x solid solutions

Abstract The small-signal ac response of single crystals of La 1− x Ba x F 3− x (0⩽ x ⩽0.104) with ionically blocking electrodes has been measured in the frequency range 10 −2 to 10 5 Hz, and for temperatures from 293 to 1300 K. At low and moderate temperatures the ac bulk response can be modeled with a Debye circuit. The circuit parameters do not have the temperature dependence associated with dipolar reorientation but rather the opposite, as is characteristic of the behavior of free charge carreirs. We have developed a model,in which the theoretically expected dependence of the circuit parameters is concordant to the behavior found experimentally. Thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) spectra exhibit five dielectric relaxation peaks, in addition to a space-charge peak. Two peaks have been analyzed in detail. The reorientation enthalpies are concordant with the conduction activation enthalpies.
Metal binding tendencies of various antibiotics

A method to determine the presence of metal-drug complexes in dilute solutions is described. Using this method cycloserine was found to complex with cupric, nickelous, zinc and cobalt ions; streptomycin and novobiocin complexed with cupric ions; erythromycin complexed with cobalt ions, and chloramphenicol exhibited no metal binding tendencies. Various penicillins were found to interact with zinc and cupric ions. Preliminary investigations suggest that cupric ions, rather than simply complexing with penicillin as suggested by previous workers, promote the degradation of penicillin to penicilloic acid. Evidence is presented to confirm the presence of penicilloic acid in reaction mixtures initially containing penicillin G or V and cupric ions, and to establish that the reaction follows second order kinetics and ceases when all available cupric ion has been consumed. Good correlation was noted for these results and previous work which showed the effects of metal ions on the antibacterial properties of penicillin.
Community structure in the phonological network

Community structure, which refers to the presence of densely connected groups within a larger network, is a common feature of several real-world networks from a variety of domains such as the human brain, social networks of hunter-gatherers and business organizations, and the World Wide Web (Porter et al., 2009). Using a community detection technique known as the Louvain optimization method, 17 communities were extracted from the giant component of the phonological network described in Vitevitch (2008). Additional analyses comparing the lexical and phonological characteristics of words in these communities against words in randomly generated communities revealed several novel discoveries. Larger communities tend to consist of short, frequent words of high degree and low age of acquisition ratings, and smaller communities tend to consist of longer, less frequent words of low degree and high age of acquisition ratings. Real communities also contained fewer different phonological segments compared to random communities, although the number of occurrences of phonological segments found in real communities was much higher than that of the same phonological segments in random communities. Interestingly, the observation that relatively few biphones occur very frequently and a large number of biphones occur rarely within communities mirrors the pattern of the overall frequency of words in a language (Zipf, 1935). The present findings have important implications for understanding the dynamics of activation spread among words in the phonological network that are relevant to lexical processing, as well as understanding the mechanisms that underlie language acquisition and the evolution of language.
Economic Discontent as a Mobilizer: Unemployment and Voter Turnout

Published scholarship argues that a poor economy depresses voter participation in the United States. This troubling result suggests that incumbents are “underpenalized” for bad economic performance. We challenge this conclusion theoretically and empirically. Theoretically, we argue that a worsening economy has a disruptive effect that prods worried citizens to voice concern and seek remedies. Empirically, we analyze county-level data and find that, contrary to earlier studies, higher unemployment rates in fact stimulate more people to vote. We show that the effect is not the result of heightened electoral competition when unemployment is high. The relationship displays a partisan asymmetry in which Republican candidates are especially harmed by higher unemployment. The results also indicate that studies of economic voting need to consider the role of turnout in connecting economic performance to the incumbent’s vote share.
Borehole effects on downhole seismic measurements

There are increasing interests in acquiring crosshole and VSP surveys at frequency up to 1 kHz or more, with the intention to resolve the fine details of structures and lithology between Wells (Bregman et al ., 1989; Harris, 1988; Tura, 1991) However, at frequencies on the order 1 kHz, the existence of the fluid-filled borehole has a strong influence on the downhole measurements. Depending on the frequency and angle of incidence, as well as the formation properties, the measured displacements on the borehole Wall or pressure at the center of borehole may be significantly different from those of the incident wave. Without taking proper care of this effect, any imaging or inversion algorithm which utilizes both the amplitude and phase information of recorded energy will produce erroneous results.
Solvothermal removal of the organic template from L 3 ("sponge") templated silica monoliths

We compare the methods of continuous solvent (Soxhlet) and supercritical solvent extractions for the removal of the organic template from nanostructured silica monoliths. Our monoliths are formed by templating the L3 liquid crystal phase of cetylpyridinium chloride in aqueous solutions with tetramethoxy silane. The monoliths that result from both Soxhlet and supercritical extraction methods are mechanically robust, optically clear, and free of cracks. The Soxhlet method compares favorably with supercritical solvent extraction in that equivalent L3-templated silica can be synthesized without the use of specialized reactor hardware or higher temperatures and high pressures, while avoiding noxious byproducts. The comparative effectiveness of various solvents in the Soxhlet process is related to the Hildebrand solubility parameter, determined by the effective surface area of the extracted silica.
Through Urban Youth's Eyes: Negotiating K-16 Policies, Practices, and their Futures

Increasing demographic shifts and policy changes in college admissions and remediation, and a high-stakes testing culture have evoked debates over the best way to promote access to postsecondary institutions. The author conducted a 2-year ethnographic study with 25 working-class, 9th- and 10th-grade, Black and Latino/Latina students to examine how they interpret and negotiate college-going processes. Specifically, the author utilized feminist critical theories to analyze City University of New York (CUNY) admissions policies, youth's daily experiences, and college-focused school reform efforts to create more equitable structures for postsecondary access. Based on individual and focus group interviews, observations, and written documentation, the findings suggest three interrelated strategies of negotiation: (a) challenging negative perceptions and expectations of urban youth, (b) passing academic coursework, and (c) connecting high school and college testing cultures. These findings have implications for the alignment of K-16 polices and practices and for creating a 9th-10th-grade college-going culture in high schools.
The choice between mergers/acquisitions and joint ventures : The case of Japanese investors in the United States

This paper investigates the determinants of the choice between two alternative methods of pooling similar and complementary assets: the merger/acquisition and the greenfield equity joint venture. Two theories of the determinants of that choice are tested on a sample of Japanese investments in the United States. The results show that equity joint ventures are preferred over acquisitions when the desired assets are linked to nondesired assets because the U.S. firm owning them is large and not divisionalized, when the Japanese investor has little previous experience of the American market and hence seeks to avoid postmerger integration problems, when the Japanese investor and the U.S. partner manufacture the same product, and when the industry entered is growing neither very rapidly nor very slowly.
Signal processing for rapid bacterial detection

This paper proposes a methodology based on Bayesian decision theory and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for rapid and reliable detection of Salmonella typhimurium bacteria. The proposed technique has been validated using a cost-effective and portable biosensor. Results indicate a detection time of approximately 6 minutes (5 minutes for data acquisition;1 minute for analysis) for pre-infectious bacterial concentrations. The technique has demonstrated high accuracy and can be generalized for the detection of other pathogens with healthcare relevance. Furthermore, the technique has a low computational complexity and is therefore well-suited for use in hand-held pathogen detectors.
The centralization index: A measure of local spatial segregation

Segregated areas may occur around an attractive park or a waste incinerator, but the magnitude and group membership of the people in closest proximity will likely be difierent. We therefore introduce a local segregation measure that can be applied to any location within a metropolitan area, and that can identify the group that is relatively more concentrated around that reference location. We further introduce an inference approach to identify the statistical significance of a particular segregation value. In an exploratory setting the index can be used to generate a map of hot spots, and seed the question: “why is this group significantly concentrated around that location?”
Gender, Colonialism and Rabbinical Courts in Mandate Palestine

The distribution of powers between the state and religious groups plays an important role in shaping how controversies over multicultural toleration and women’s rights under religious law can be resolved. Some structures encourage dialogue while others make it difficult. In Israel, the presence of multiple systems of personal religious law limits the possibilities for the transformation of discriminatory religious laws. There is no civil marriage or divorce in Israel. When the modern State of Israel was created, exclusive power over family law disputes involving Jewish citizens was placed in the hands of rabbinical courts. This arrangement has been called one to retain the ‘status quo’. However, it was not a continuation of Jewish tradition or of the arrangements in place during the long period of Ottoman rule in Palestine. It reflected strengthened powers that had been given to rabbinical courts during the period of the British Mandate for Palestine. This article will trace the ways in which British policies for colonial rule and the interests of Jewish religious leaders coalesced to create a regime of religious family law that is resistant to feminist demands for change.
ENGINEERING CARBON NANOTUBES VIA TEMPLATE GROWTH

Controlled growth and precise placement of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are two vital capabilities for the practical implementation of CNT device designs. This article presents an overview of our research activities aimed at using CVD template growth to both structure and precisely align CNTs into functional system building blocks. Fabrication results on highly-ordered CNT arrays and Y-junction CNTs are described along with an outline of their novel physical properties that could lead to unique device applications.
Bio-functionalization of Monodisperse Magnetic Nanoparticles and Their Use as Biomolecular Labels in a Magnetic Tunnel Junction Based Sensor

Monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) could enable the ultra-sensitive magnetic detection of biological analytes. However, rendering these particles biocompatible has remained a challenge. We report the bio-functionalization and detection of 12-nm manganese ferrite NPs. We have achieved the site-specific binding of biotin-functionalized NPs onto avidin-patterned silicon oxide substrates and DNA-functionalized NPs onto complementary DNA-patterned silicon oxide substrates. Utilizing scanning SQUID microscopy, we show that these substrate-bound NPs retain their magnetic properties. Finally, we demonstrate a novel method of detecting either protein binding or DNA hybridization at room temperature using the NPs and a magnetic tunnel-junction-based biosensor situated in orthogonal magnetic fields.
Anti-Tumor Immunity in Head and Neck Cancer: Understanding the Evidence, How Tumors Escape and Immunotherapeutic Approaches

Many carcinogen- and human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancers (HNSCC) display a hematopoietic cell infiltrate indicative of a T-cell inflamed phenotype and an underlying anti-tumor immune response. However, by definition, these tumors have escaped immune elimination and formed a clinically significant malignancy. A number of both genetic and environmental mechanisms may allow such immune escape, including selection of poorly antigenic cancer cell subsets, tumor produced proinflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines, recruitment of immunosuppressive immune cell subsets into the tumor and expression of checkpoint pathway components that limit T-cell responses. Here, we explore concepts of antigenicity and immunogenicity in solid tumors, summarize the scientific and clinical data that supports the use of immunotherapeutic approaches in patients with head and neck cancer, and discuss immune-based treatment approaches currently in clinical trials.
Occurrence, causes, and outcome after switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel in a real-life scenario: data from a prospective registry

In randomized clinical trials, ticagrelor has been substituted in roughly one-third of the patients during follow-up. To date, there are no studies addressing safety and modalities of switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel. The aim of our study is to describe the occurrence, causes, and outcome of the switch from ticagrelor to clopidogrel in a real-life scenario. From June 2013 to March 2015, 586 patients were treated with ticagrelor in our centre. Overall, 101 (17%) patients were switched to clopidogrel through a standardized protocol, and they were followed-up for 12 months. Ischemic and bleeding events were prospectively recorded. The switch from ticagrelor to clopidogrel occurred mostly after discharge (69 ± 40 days), and the most frequent cause was the need of oral anticoagulation treatment, followed by bleeding events. Patients requiring ticagrelor discontinuation were older, more frequently female, with lower body mass index and creatinine clearance if compared to the "non-switched" group. In the 10 days after the switch, we did not observe ischemic adverse events. No definite/probable stent thrombosis was recorded. Before the switch, there was a significant higher occurrence of BARC bleedings in the "switched" group, particularly BARC 1 and 2. Our data confirm that the switch from ticagrelor to clopidogrel is common, and it occurs for several reasons. Our analysis did not demonstrate a significant increase in adverse cardiovascular events in the days following the switch from ticagrelor to clopidogrel, although larger studies are needed to validate our findings.
Light-cholesterol relationships in morphogenesis of Phytophthora palmivora and P. capsici sporangia.

Exogenous sterols are essential for sexual (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14) or zoosporangial (3, 9) reproduction of the Pythiaceae, a family of lower fungi pathogenic to plants. These fungi apparently are unable to synthesize the sterols commonly found in nature (10). Among the species of Phytophthora for which a sterol requirement for zoospore production was demonstrated were isolates of P. palmivora (Butl.) Butl. and P. capsici Leonian (9). Aragaki and Hine (1) found that light greatly stimulated sporangium formation by an isolate of P. parasitica Dast.; they also observed in limited studies that P. palmivora responded similarly to light. Harnish (6) observed a similar effect with an isolate of P. capsici. These workers used natural media in their studies.
Efficacy of 4 Irrigation Protocols in Killing Bacteria Colonized in Dentinal Tubules Examined by a Novel Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope Analysis

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of 4 irrigation systems in eliminating bacteria in root canals, particularly in dentinal tubules. Methods Roots of human teeth were prepared to 25/04, autoclaved, and inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis for 3 weeks. Canals were then disinfected by (1) standard needle irrigation, (2) sonically agitating with EndoActivator, (3) XP Endo finisher, or (4) erbium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser (PIPS) (15 roots/group). The bacterial reduction in the canal was determined by MTT assays. For measuring live versus dead bacteria in the dentinal tubules (4 teeth/group), teeth were split open and stained with LIVE/DEAD BackLight. Coronal, middle, and apical thirds of the canal dentin were scanned by using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) to determine the ratio of dead/total bacteria in the dentinal tubules at various depths. Results All 4 irrigation protocols significantly eliminated bacteria in the canal, ranging from 89.6% to 98.2% reduction ( P P Conclusions XP Endo appears to be more efficient than other 3 techniques in disinfecting the main canal space and up to 50 μm deep into the dentinal tubules. PIPS appears to be most effective in killing the bacteria deep in the dentinal tubules.
Analysis of Notifiable Communicable Disease in Majiang County of Guizhou Province in 2006

[Objective] To explore the epidemic features of notifiable communicable diseases in Majiang county of Guizhou province in 2006.[Methods] The descriptive epidemiology method was applied to analyze the epidemic data colleted from Majiang county in 2006.[Results] 678 cases of 17 kinds of class B and C notifiable communicable diseases were reported in 2006,3 were confirmed death,Rate of incidence,mortality and fatality of class B and C notifiable communicable diseases was 239.29/100 000,1.46/100 000 and 0.44%,the morbidity rate in 2006 descended by 29.00% compared with that in 2005.The first three places of the incidence of class B notifiable communicable diseases were TB,diarrhea,and viral hepatitis,accounting for 75.4% of the total cases;mumps hold the first place of class C notifiable communicable diseases,occupied 84.24% of total cases.[Conclusion] Tuberculosis,viral hepatitis,dysentery and mumps should be treated as a key point to prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;vaccination should be strengthened;centralized management of tuberculosis patients should be strengthened and criterion of case-management should be established.Iatrogenic infection should be eliminated;prostitution should be cracked downand and condom use should be promoted,health education and health promotion should be conducted,disease surveillance,monitoring work should be strengthened.
Sequential payments and optimal pricing in payment systems

This paper studies the intraday payment behaviour between heterogeneous banks as well as optimal intraday pricing schemes. The paper shows the social optimality of payment sequencing, which allows a bank to delay payments until the bank receives payments from the counterparty. The payment sequencing allows a bank with high liquidity cost to ‘recycle’ payment inflow from another bank with lower liqudity cost, reducing the aggregate cost of funding of banks to settle all payments. But we also see that the banks have an incentive to delay payments more than the payment sequencing requires. This underscores the importance of social planner’s role reducing settlement delay, while leaving socially efficient payment sequencing. In this context, we compare two different pricing schemes, a standard throughput guideline and a time-varying intraday tariff, to discuss the optimal incentive mechanisms in payment systems for the ‘socially efficient sequential settlement’.
Homocysteine and cognitive function in Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Introduction Increased plasma homocysteine (HC) is a risk factor for dementia in the general population. Levodopa therapy causes increased plasma HC, but it remains unclear whether elevated plasma HC is associated with cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods The study population includes all participants in the Pacific Northwest Udall Center (PANUC) Clinical cohort at the time of the study, consisting of 294 individuals with PD who had a standardized neuropsychological assessment and plasma collection for HC measurement. We tested the hypothesis that elevated plasma HC is inversely related to cognitive function in patients with PD. Results As expected, plasma HC was positively associated with age, disease duration, disease severity, and levodopa usage, while cognitive function was associated with age, education, gender, and APOE genotype, so subsequent analyses controlled for these covariates. When plasma HC was dichotomized as normal ( Conclusions We conclude that plasma HC is significantly associated with some aspects of cognitive function in PD, and may represent a treatable risk factor for cognitive decline in PD.
Hypoxia-induced activin A diminishes endothelial cell vasculogenic activity.

Acute ischaemia causes a significant loss of blood vessels leading to deterioration of organ function. Multiple ischaemic conditions are associated with up-regulation of activin A, but its effect on endothelial cells (EC) in the context of hypoxia is understudied. This study evaluated the role of activin A in vasculogenesis in hypoxia. An in vitro vasculogenesis model, in which EC were cocultured with adipose stromal cells (ASC), was used. Incubation of cocultures at 0.5% oxygen led to decrease in EC survival and vessel density. Hypoxia up-regulated inhibin BA (monomer of activin A) mRNA by 4.5-fold and activin A accumulation in EC-conditioned media by 10-fold, but down-regulated activin A inhibitor follistatin by twofold. Inhibin BA expression was also increased in human EC injected into ischaemic mouse muscles. Activin A secretion was positively modulated by hypoxia mimetics dimethyloxalylglycine and desferrioxamine. Silencing HIF1α or HIF2α expression decreased activin A secretion in EC exposed to hypoxia. Introduction of activin A to cocultures decreased EC number and vascular density by 40%; conversely, blockade of activin A expression in EC or its activity improved vasculogenesis in hypoxia. Activin A affected EC survival directly and by modulating ASC paracrine activity leading to diminished ability of the ASC secretome to support EC survival and vasculogenesis. In conclusion, hypoxia up-regulates EC secretion of activin A, which, by affecting both EC and adjacent mesenchymal cells, creates a micro-environment unfavourable for vasculogenesis. This finding suggests that blockade of activin A signalling in ischaemic tissue may improve preservation of the affected tissue.
Modeling of transmission line faults for transient stability analysis

This paper presents a novel approach to model faults on transmission lines for power system transient stability studies. Typically such faults, incident at a certain distance along a transmission line, are modeled by the introduction of dummy or fictitious buses. This dummy bus is placed at the length along the transmission line at which the fault is incident and the fault is applied on it. The introduction of dummy buses introduces inefficiencies in the solution process, particularly from a computational view point due to the need of resizing of the vectors and matrices. In this paper, we present a direct approach for modeling that avoids the need of dummy buses. We derive the necessary equations representing the impact of transmission line faults on the buses connected to the transmission line. The impact of such a fault is then modeled by mere modification of the elements of system admittance matrix. Numerical results on test systems are presented comparing its accuracy with a commercial software.
Between Kitimat LNG Terminal and Monkey Beach: Literary-Geographic Methods and the Politics of Recognition in Resource Governance on Haisla Territory

This article uses a literary-geographic method to critique the recognition of Indigenous difference in settler-colonial resource governance. Situating analysis on Haisla traditional territories ove...
Stability of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus on Fomite Materials at Different Temperatures

Indirect transmission of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) ensues when susceptible animals contact PEDV-contaminated fomite materials. Although the survival of PEDV under various pHs and temperatures has been studied, virus stability on different fomite surfaces under varying temperature conditions has not been explored. Hence, we evaluated the survival of PEDV on inanimate objects routinely used on swine farms such as styrofoam, rubber, plastic, coveralls, and other equipment. The titer of infectious PEDV at 4 °C decreased by only 1 to 2 log during the first 5 days, and the virus was recoverable for up to 15 days on Styrofoam, aluminum, Tyvek® coverall, cloth, and plastic. However, viral titers decreased precipitously when stored at room temperature; no virus was detectable after one day on all materials tested. A more sensitive immunoplaque assay was able to detect virus from Styrofoam, metal, and plastic at 20 days post application, representing a 3-log loss of input virus on fomite materials. Recovery of infectious PEDV from Tyvek® coverall and rubber was above detection limit at 20 days. Our findings indicate that the type of fomite material and temperatures impact PEDV stability, which is important in understanding the nuances of indirect transmission and epidemiology of PEDV.
Limitation of Metabolite Concentrations and the Conservation of Solvent Capacity in the Living Cell

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the limitations of the metabolite concentrations and the conservation of solvent capacity in the living cell. The maintenance of low concentrations of metabolites may well be the most pressing problem of metabolic control. Several features of metabolism and of metabolic enzymes appear to represent adaptations to the need to limit solute concentrations and to conserve solvent capacity. Conservation of low concentrations of metabolites, both individually and collectively, is one of the most fundamental requisites for a viable metabolizing system. If concentrations of intermediates are to be kept low, it is necessary that the Michaelis constant of each enzyme involved in a sequence has an appropriate value and that the activity of each enzyme is high enough to handle the maximal flux through the sequence without the substrate concentration rising much above this Michaelis value. The activation of metabolic intermediates, coordinate derepression, or induction contributes to stability and survival through aiding in the conservation of low concentrations within the cell.
Othello’s ‘travels’ history’ illuminated anew: Beyond black and white in Iqbal Khan’s RSC revival (2015):

Two consummate black actors took on the lead roles in Iqbal Khan’s 2015 revival of Othello with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC): the British-Ghanaian actor Hugh Quarshie played Othello and the ...
High-flow Nasal Cannula: Mechanisms of Action and Adult and Pediatric Indications.

The use of the heated and humidified high-flow nasal cannula has become increasingly popular in the treatment of patients with respiratory failure through all age groups. This article will examine the main mechanisms of actions attributed to the use of the high-flow nasal cannula and review the indications in adult and pediatric populations (outside of the neonatal period). It is unclear which of the mechanisms of action is the most important, but it may depend on the cause of the patient’s respiratory failure. This article describes the mechanism of action in an easy to remember mnemonic (HIFLOW); Heated and humidified, meets Inspiratory demands, increases Functional residual capacity (FRC), Lighter, minimizes Oxygen dilution, and Washout of pharyngeal dead space. We will also examine some of the main indications for its use in both the adult and pediatric age groups. The data for the use of high-flow nasal cannula is growing, and currently, some of the main adult indications include hypoxemic respiratory failure due to pneumonia, post-extubation, pre-oxygenation prior to intubation, acute pulmonary edema, and use in patients who are "do not resuscitate or intubate". The main pediatric indication is in infants with bronchiolitis, but other indications are being studied, such as its use in asthma, croup, pneumonia, transport of a critically ill child, and post-extubation.