cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of smoking on hemoglobin A1c and body mass index in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Smoking is associated with a decrease in body weight in patients without diabetes mellitus and an increase in insulin resistance and hemoglobin A 1 c (HbA 1 c ) levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.Whether smoking is associated with an increase in HbA 1 c and/or a decrease in body mass index (BMI) in type 2 diabetes mellitus is unresolved, however. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of smoking on HbA 1 c levels and BMI in a cross-section of outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A questionnaire was completed by 102 sequential outpatients (32 men, 70 women) with type 2 diabetes mellitus to assess age, sex, duration of diabetes mellitus, medications, exposure to nicotine, medical complications as a result of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and BMI. In addition, a urine sample was obtained from each patient to assess the microalbumin-creatinine and cotinine-creatinine ratios. HbA 1 c level were also obtained from each volunteer as a measure of glucose control. Results: Smokers had significantly higher cotinine-creatinine ratios than nonsmokers. Smokers and nonsmokers did not differ significantly with regard to HbA 1 c level, BMI, or duration of diabetes mellitus. Smokers were younger than nonsmokers. Smokers and nonsmokers did not differ significantly in terms of microalbumin-creatinine ratio, amount of diabetic medications, or medical complications. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that smoking does not have a significant direct effect on BMI or HbA 1 c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This conclusion suggests that the relationship between these factors is much more complex than in people without diabetes or in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Reversible inactivation of deubiquitinases by reactive oxygen species in vitro and in cells

In eukaryotes, deubiquitinases (DUBs) remove ubiquitin conjugates from diverse substrates, altering their stabilities, localizations or activities. Here we show that many DUBs of the USP and UCH subfamilies can be reversibly inactivated upon oxidation by reactive oxygen species in vitro and in cells. Oxidation occurs preferentially on the catalytic cysteine, abrogating the isopeptide-cleaving activity without affecting these enzymes' affinity to ubiquitin. Sensitivity to oxidative inhibition is associated with DUB activation wherein the active site cysteine is converted to a deprotonated state prone to oxidation. We demonstrate that this redox regulation is essential for mono-ubiquitination of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen in response to oxidative DNA damage, which initiates a DNA damage-tolerance programme. These findings establish a novel mechanism of DUB regulation that may be integrated with other redox-dependent signalling circuits to govern cellular adaptation to oxidative stress, a process intimately linked to aging and cancer.
Alkylation of [N(SPPh2)(SPPh2)]−, [N(SePPh2)(SePPh2)]−, and [N(SPPh2)(SePPh2)]−

A facile synthesis is described in which the compounds N(SPPh2)(CH3SPPh2), N(SePPh2)(CH3SePPh2), N(SPPh2)(CH3SePPh2), N(SePPh2)(NCCH2SePPh2), and N(SPPh2)(NCCH2SePPh2) have been obtained in good yield by alkylation of [N(QPPh2)2]− (Q = S or Se) or [N(SPPh2)(SePPh2)]− with CH3I or ClCH2CN in CH3OH at room temperature. These compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopic techniques. All five compounds have similar structures in which a CH3 or NCCH2 moiety is bonded to an S or preferentially an Se atom of an anion to form a neutral molecule.
Systematic characterization of subthreshold- mosfets-based voltage references for ultra low power low voltage applications

For low power low voltage, low area applications, voltage references based on MOS transistors operating in subthreshold offer some attractive advantages over conventional bandgap-based structures. The lack of closed-form explicit expressions for the relationship between output and temperature for most subthreshold-based references makes it difficult to optimize performance and make quantitative comparisons with the performance of standard bandgap circuits. In this paper, a systematic and explicit characterization of the temperature characteristics for some of the basic subthreshold-based voltage references is presented. A quantitive comparison of the performance of the basic sub-threshold references with that of the basic bandgap references is presented which shows that the temperature coefficient of the two structures are comparable. It is shown that the explicit characterization of the subthreshold-based references is useful for assessing the performance potential of these structures.
The unified Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation for interfacial waves

In this paper, the propagation of interfacial waves in a two-layered fluid system is investigated. The interfacial waves are weakly nonlinear and dispersive and propagate in a slowly rotating channel with varying topography and sidewalls, and a weak steady background current field. An evolution equation for the interfacial displacement is derived for waves propagating predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the channel. This new evolution equation is called the unified Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (uKP) equation because most of the KP-type equations existing in the literature for both surface water waves and interfacial waves are special cases of the new evolution equation. The Painleve PDE test is used to find the conditions under which the uKP equation can be solved by the inverse scattering transform. When these conditions are satisfied, elementary transformations are found to reduce the uKP equation to one of the completely integrable equations: the KP, the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) or the cylindrical KdV equations. The integral invariants associated with the uKP equation for waves propagating in a varying channel are obtained and their relations with the conservation of mass and energy are discussed.
Multivariate Credibility for Aggregate Loss Models

Abstract Credibility is a form of insurance pricing that is widely used, particularly in North America. It is a special type of experience rating that employs a weighted average of claims experience and a previously established price to determine a new price for each risk class under consideration. This article extends traditional credibility formulas in two aspects. The new procedures are called “multivariate credibility” because both aspects make use of additional sources of data when compared to traditional formulas. Specifically, the first portion of the paper considers data from both the claims number and claims amount processes. Assuming an aggregate loss model for total claims, optimal insurance pricing formulas are derived. The insurance prices turn out to be an intuitively appealing weighted average of the overall mean claim, the claims number experience, and the claims amount experience. The second portion of the paper considers data from claims number and amount processes from multiple lines of...
Delimitation of Malagasy tribe Coleeae and implications for fruit evolution in Bignoniaceae inferred from a chloroplast DNA phylogeny

Coleeae (Bignoniaceae) are a tribe almost entirely restricted to Madagascar. Coleeae have previously been placed in neotropical Crescentieae due to species with indehiscent fruits, a character otherwise unusual in Bignoniaceae. A phylogeny based on three chloroplast regions (ndhF, trnT-L spacer, trnL-F spacer) identifies a monophyletic Coleeae that is endemic to Madagascar and sur- rounding islands of the Indian Ocean (Seychelles, Comores and Mascarenes). African Kigelia is not a member of Coleeae, rather it is more closely related to a subset of African and Southeast Asian species of Tecomeae. The molecular phylogeny indicates that indehiscent fruit have arisen repeatedly in Bignoniaceae: in Coleeae, Kigelia and Crescentieae. The characteristic fleshy fruits of species of Coleeae likely arose autochthonously in Madagascar. Within Coleeae Colea and Ophiocolea are sisters, Phyllar- thron is sister to Colea + Ophiocolea ,a ndRho- docolea is sister to the rest of the tribe.
Private Cloud Communities for Faculty and Students

┬a Massive open online courses (MOOCs) and public and private cloud communities continue to flourish in the field of higher education.┬a However, MOOCs have received criticism in recent years and offer little benefit to students already enrolled at an institution. This article advocates for the collaborative creation and use of institutional, program or student-specific private cloud communities developed as a way to promote academic identity, information dissemination, social discourse, and to form a bridge between faculty, administration and students.┬a Concrete steps to build a private cloud are described.┬a Placing a greater emphasis on meeting the needs of enrolled students versus engaging the masses in a MOOC for ΓC£edutainmentΓC¥ purposes is recommended.┬a ┬a
Mechanical behavior of poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) blends

The mechanical properties of compatible poly(e-caprolactone)/poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) blends were studied for samples prepared from both the melt and solution. The mechanical response was observed to be primarily dependent upon the variation of the glass transition temperature with blend composition. For certain compositions, varying the sample preparation scheme resulted in specimens of different modulus. This behavior was associated with differences in the degree of crystallinity.
Heavy-duty remote tongs for the radioactive isotope laboratory.

S>Remote tongs were designed for use in opening the leadshielded shipping containers for radioactive materials employed by the AEC and secondary suppliers. Design criteria include an adequate handle to remove the operator from proximity to the source and provide leverage for the heavy shield; an actuating mechanism driven from the operator's ends a compact dropped-head allovdng insertion into boxes and over shieldss a foolproof locks a grasping mechanism adnptuble to a variety of forms; lightness, ease of disassembly, and strength to carry up to 100 lb loads; and an engaging design which will not mar, or distort, the shield surface. (C.H.)
Field Testing of the Movement Assessment of Infants

The purpose of this study was to compare the test results of normal 4-month-old infants on the Movement Assessment of Infants with the published Movement Assessment of Infants a priori profile. We tested 50 healthy 4-month-old infants (24 white, 20 black, 6 other races) on 65 Movement Assessment of Infants items, encompassing the categories of muscle tone, primitive reflexes, automatic reactions, and volitional movements. The total-risk score was a sum of categorical risk scores. A between-group analysis of variance showed that the total-risk scores did not differ significantly by sex or race. Thirty percent of the infants we tested had total-risk scores greater than 7, which differed significantly from the 15% in the original Movement Assessment of Infants data. On 18 of the 65 Movement Assessment of Infants items, more than 15% of our study sample had risk scores that differed from Movement Assessment of Infants profile normative scores. The results of our study suggest that the current Movement Assessment of Infants profile may not accurately reflect the normal motor behavior of a 4-month-old infant. Suggestions for revising the Movement Assessment of Infants are made that could improve the reliability and validity of the test.
Prevalence and characteristics of hyporeflective preretinal tissue in vitreomacular interface disorders.

Aims To assess prevalence and characteristics of hyporeflective preretinal tissue on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) in eyes with vitreomacular interface disorders. Methods 4037 eyes (3195 patients) with diagnosis of lamellar macular hole (LMH), full-thickness macular hole (FTMH), epiretinal membrane (ERM) and vitreomacular traction were included. Quantitative analysis was performed including volume and area of the epiretinal proliferation, as well as the brightness of the hyporeflective band. Clinical characteristics were also collected and analysed. Results A hyporeflective preretinal tissue layer was identified in 204 of 4037 eyes (5.1%); 162 eyes in LMH (79.4%), 23 eyes in FTMH (11.3%) and 19 eyes in ERM (9.3%). In LMH, the visual acuity was significantly different between the cases with and without epiretinal proliferation at the initial visit and the final visit, (p=0.012, 0.046, respectively). The maximum thickness, area, volume of hyporeflective preretinal tissue became significantly larger during the observation period (p Conclusions Hyporeflective preretinal tissue was found with significant frequency in eyes with LMH, FTMH and ERM, with a particularly high incidence in LMH. The increased presence of this tissue in cases of LMH may signify a particular subtype of LMH. More research is needed to better understand the implications of the presence of this tissue for visual and surgical outcomes.
Starch glove powders and granulomatous peritonitis.

Abstract Granulomatous peritonitis from starch glove powder has been repeatedly demonstrated in laboratory animals and in man after operations. Two new cases are reported. The clinical picture is one of abdominal symptoms and fever with minimal positive physical or laboratory findings, occurring two to three weeks postoperatively. Paracentesis may be helpful in diagnosis if ascitic fluid is aspirated. At exploration there is often omental and peritoneal surface involvement with thickening, induration, and diffuse nodularity. The postoperative course is variable; ultimate recovery is the rule. Steroids have shown clinical promise in hastening recovery. Recognition of this syndrome by surgeon and pathologist is essential for proper management and avoidance of unnecessary operations. Ultimate prevention will come with the advent of a nonirritating glove lubricant. For the present, meticulous care in eliminating starch contact with the patient should minimize the development of starch granulomatous peritonitis.
Patterns of Failure of a Standardized Perioperative Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis Protocol

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading contributor to morbidity after operations. We previously implemented a standardized VTE risk assessment, based on the Caprini score, along with risk-stratified prophylaxis. This system reduced the odds ratio of a VTE event from 3.02 to 0.75. We investigated patterns of failure to determine characteristics of patients in whom VTE develops despite the protocol. Methods We reviewed all nontrauma general surgery patients with evidence of VTE after the inception of a VTE risk assessment and prophylaxis program. Characteristics were recorded, including demographics, diagnoses, operations, risk profile, prophylaxis prescribed, and regimen compliance. Results Twenty-seven patients failed the protocol and manifested VTE, representing an overall VTE rate of 0.3%. Of these patients, 63% had emergency operations and 52% underwent multiple operations, compared with 13% and 2.0% of the nontrauma general surgery population in whom VTE did not develop, respectively (p Conclusions Emergency and multiple operations seem to confer dramatic hazards for VTE, despite standard prophylaxis. These factors are not currently captured in the Caprini model, but might be significant modifiers of risk that should prompt reassessment, perhaps with a weighted numeric value along with enhanced prophylaxis. It is encouraging that most patients received appropriate prophylaxis in compliance with the protocol.
Postmoult Uptake of Calcium by the Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) in Water of low Salinity

After moulting, blue crabs ( Callinectes sapidus ) acclimated to a salinity of 2‰ were able to calcify as rapidly and accumulate as much calcium as crabs in sea water. Immediately after moult, the total masses of calcium, magnesium and strontium present in the whole body were 4.6, 15.6 and 3.0%, respectively, of their intermoult values. During the time of most rapid calcification, calcium uptake was 5.4±1.4mmoll −1 , which is comparable to the maximum rate found in seawater-acclimated crabs. The concentrations of bound and free calcium in the blood changed very little with acclimation salinity, remaining at approximately 3 and 8mmoll −1 , respectively, both during intermoult and 1 day postmoult. Free calcium changed relatively little through the moult cycle, varying between 6.9 and 8.1mmoll −1 , but bound calcium rose to a peak of 6.4mmoll −1 prior to moult then dropped to 2.6mmoll −1 after moult, concurrent with a decrease of approximately 80% in the protein concentration of the blood. The concentration of total magnesium in the blood increased from a premoult low of 9.0mmoll −1 to a postmoult high of 11.7mmoll −1 and remained elevated throughout the period of rapid mineralization. During the postmoult period of rapid calcium uptake, the internal-to-external concentration ratio for total calcium was 6.6 to 1. The activity ratio, however, was only 2.5 to 1 because 28% of the calcium in the blood was bound to protein, and because the lower ionic strength of the medium resulted in a 2.5-fold higher activity coefficient for the water compared to blood. The transepithelial potential at postmoult (−5.4±0.7mV) was significantly more negative than at intermoult (−3.1±0.6mV). In artificial 2‰ sea water, the transepithelial potential (−9.3±0.7mV) was higher than the equilibrium potential for calcium (−12.0±0.5mV), implicating active transport in the uptake of calcium.
A.1. Re-interpreting the Robinson Skyphos

The scene on the Robinson skyphos was wrongly identified for years as a depiction of clay‐working, either in a kiln or other preparation area. Recent scholarship has correctly identified it instead as one related to the grain harvest. This article presents a new examination of the scene, pointing out details the importance of which had not previously been noted. It also brings to bear comparanda from Egyptian art which put the identification of the scene beyond doubt.
New strategy for anchorage reliability assessment of GFRP bars to concrete using hybrid artificial neural network with genetic algorithm

Abstract Anchorage is of critical importance in the glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bar reinforced concrete structures to allow reinforcing GFRP bars to provide sufficient bond to concrete. This study presents a new strategy for anchorage reliability assessment of GFRP bars to concrete by integrating superiorities of artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA). The new methodology harnesses not only the strong nonlinear mapping ability in the ANN to approximate the performance function (PF) and solve its partial derivatives in terms of the design variables, but also global searching ability in the GA to explore the optimal initial weights and biases of the ANN to avoid falling into local minima during the network training. The ANN-based first order second moment (FOSM) method and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method were first derived. Implementation of the proposed hybrid ANN-GA procedures for GFRP bar anchorage reliability analysis were then achieved by the targeted reliability index and development length. Both the ANN-based FOSM and MCS methods were utilized for determining the reliability index and probability of failure of GFRP bar anchorage. The further implementation of the proposed strategy was achieved by a graphical user interface toolbox in Matlab environment for practical use.
Suture of massive hemorrhoidal bleeding in portal hypertension.

Massive hemorrhoidal hemorrhage in portal hypertension can be treated by figure-of-eight stick-tie suture.
Application of Immunity Genetic Algorithm in BP Network Model Optimization

For many years it has been concentrated mainly to the BP network research in the network structure and the parameter optimization and it has been neglected actually to have trained the BP network model itself optimization.In view of the above question,it is put forward using the Quantum evolutionary algorithm to solve the BP network model to optimize.Through the skirt place forging structure parameter optimization design example,it is indicated that the immunity genetic algorithm has realized the BP network model optimized design well,but effective solving actual project optimized question.
Analysis on Network Security and Firewall Technology

This paper discusses the threats of network security, also analyzes the role and impact of firewall technology on network security.
Neurovascular flaps to the hand.

SUMMARY The surgical return of sensibility in the injured upper extremity remains a major goal for the reconstructive surgeon. Free flaps have created the opportunity for successful reconstruction in those patients in whom irreplaceable sensory end organs have been destroyed. In addition, well-vascularized composite tissues may be transferred in continuity with the dorsalis pedis and forearm flaps, allowing for one-stage reconstructions. Extra blood supply is brought to a scarred area in a single step, unlike the multi-stage transfer of distant parasitic tissue. Donor site morbidity remains a problem with many of these flaps, and skin grafts are often required. Many of the larger flaps do not have a close skin match to the skin of the volar hand. There are reports of achievement of protective sensibility with use of all of these flaps. However, experience with fine two-point discrimination has been limited to only the first web space flap. This return to near normal sensibility in the hand remains a standard by which all these flaps must be judged.
NH 3 - H 2 O absorption systems used for research and student activities

In the context of the sustainable development and of the future environment and energy concerns, a new laboratory was developed based on absorption systems (a chiller-heater and a heat pump). The installation together with the proposed experimental activity for this setup is hereby presented followed by a cycle simulation illustrated by calculating the parameters of the ammonia absorption process. The student activity is intended to familiarize the participants with the problems of energy efficiency, environmental development and new facilities based on advanced technology. Research will be focused on the integration of such units in the specific local features and on comparisons with vapor compression systems or traditional fuel-based equipments.
‘And All is Nakedness and Fen’: John Clare’s Wetlands

The Leech Gatherer is one of the Wordsworth’s most mysterious poetic figures. Scholars have long puzzled over his significance, about how differently he is represented in Dorothy Wordsworth’s journals and about why William transformed him as he did in his poem.2 One thing both Dorothy’s and William’s accounts agree upon is that the Leech Gatherer’s hardships arise in part from the scarcity of leeches. In the poem, the man says of leeches, ‘Once I could meet with them on every side;/But they have dwindled long by slow decay;/Yet still I persevere, and find them where I may’.3 For those concerned with the Leech Gatherer’s social, metaphysical or metapoetic significance, this detail may seem irrelevant. But for an ecocritical reader, these lines underscore the close and vital connection between human and non-human nature and prompt the question of why leeches ‘have dwindled long by slow decay’? One reason for the decline, at least by 1800, was the threat to their natural habitat. Medicinal leeches, the variety that would be gathered for profit, thrive in shallow freshwater ponds or ditches, preferably those edged with water plants. Due to advances in engineering first imported from the Netherlands, the wetland ecosystems in England witnessed wholesale drainage and eradication from the mid-seventeenth century forward, thereby limiting the locations where leeches and other animals and plants dependent upon such an environment might thrive.
New frontiers in venous sinus stenting: Illustrative cases

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) occurs rarely, with severe patients recalcitrant to pharmacologic management often requiring cerebrospinal fluid diversion. We report two patients with variant IIH successfully treated with venous sinus stenting: 1) A 65-year-old man with severe vision loss, papilledema, and cognitive decline treated with four telescoped stents across a long, severely stenotic transverse-sigmoid system, and 2) a 58-year-old woman with headaches, vision loss, and papilledema secondary to a jugular paraganglioma causing severe jugular bulb stenosis that required contralateral venous sinus stenting. At 3-month and 1-month follow-up, respectively, ophthalmologic examinations showed vision improvement. The first patient also had improved cognition, and the second patient also had improved headaches.
Object clustering by K-means algorithm with binary sketch templates

Object clustering is a very challenging unsupervised learning problem in machine learning and pattern recognition. In this paper, we will study visual object pattern clustering problem by combining the k-means clustering algorithm and the binary sketch templates, which quantify each image by a vector of indicators showing that a sketch at certain location, scale, and orientation exist or not. This representation is very simple and accounts for shape deformation of objects by local max pooling operations. Most importantly, such representations can be visualized by meaningful symbolic sketch templates. The experiment conducting on a small clustering dataset shows that the k-means with binary sketch templates for object clustering is very promising and the learned mixture of templates is also meaningful for understanding the results.
The Case for a Maximum Tax: A Look at Some Legal, Economic and Ethical Issues

Several Congresses have passed various forms of minimum tax, both at the individual and corporate level. They have even passed alternative minimum tax bills to squeeze out additional tax revenue that would not otherwise be forthcoming. The problem was caused by the philosophy of taxation they have adopted over the years. Rather than have the tax law function solely as a way to raise the revenue needed to keep the government running, various special interest groups and social do-gooders have persuaded Congress to incorporate much social engineering into the tax code. There are special provisions for oil companies, farmers, manufacturing companies, small business, homeowners, heads of household, families, sick people, blind people, people with children, and on and on. This article will examine the other side of the coin. Whereas numerous commentators have been yapping about some kind of minimum tax in order to increase their perceived view of equity, no one is talking about establishing a maximum tax to ensure that no one pays too much more than their fair share (whatever that is). Thus, the need for this article.
Overlap Syndromes with Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis, or some features thereof, may co-exist with primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. However, definitions of what constitutes overlap syndrome are variable. Thus, the true prevalence of these entities is unknown, and the best management approach uncertain.
The problem of interceptor top level domains revisited

This paper is an extension of my earlier paper [1]. It examines the continuing growth of this problem, and the likelihood that it will continue to get worse. Since the previous paper, the author was contacted by a lawyer involved in litigating a dispute related to TLDs. As noted in the previous paper, misdirected communication has obvious security and privacy ramifications and is an age old problem that predates the Internet. In recent years it has been exacerbated by the arrival of electronic communication and the multitude of ways that communication can be misdirected. A new chapter in this age old problem is being written with the proliferation of top level domains (TLDs). This paper examines this problem in more detail and provides a full analysis of the current set of TLDs. In particular, we are concerned with TLDs that have a nontrivial probability of intercepting traffic intended for another TLD. Intercepting TLDs have the potential of intercepting a lot of traffic since a TLD can support many domain names. This paper updates the results in the previous paper and also performs an auditory similarity measurement between domain names. The issue here is that sometimes TLDs are given orally, such as over the telephone. There are TLDs which, although spelled differently, sound similar to each other. Finally, we give the results of some experiments performed with purchased domain names to be deliberately confusing.
S-Adenosyl Methionine and Transmethylation Pathways in Neuropsychiatric Diseases Throughout Life

S-Adenosyl methionine (SAMe), as a major methyl donor, exerts its influence on central nervous system function through cellular transmethylation pathways, including the methylation of DNA, histones, protein phosphatase 2A, and several catecholamine moieties. Based on available evidence, this review focuses on the lifelong range of severe neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and their associated neuropathologies, which have been linked to the deficiency/load of SAMe production or/and the disturbance in transmethylation pathways. Also included in this review are the present-day applications of SAMe in the treatment in these diseases in each age group.
Necrotizing infection of the heart

Abstract A case of necrotizing infection of the heart is presented. A 70-year-old woman presented with vague chest and abdominal pain. CT of the abdomen and pelvis was initially obtained, which demonstrated gas in the myocardium of the left ventricle. Subsequent chest CT, endoscopy, and abdominal surgical exploration did not reveal perforated viscus or diaphragm compromise. At median sternotomy, the inferior wall of the heart was found to be necrotic. Culture of the excised tissue grew E. coli. The patient expired shortly after surgical exploration.
Changes in a suite of indicators of extreme temperature and precipitation under 1.5 and 2 degrees warming

Following the 2015 Paris agreement, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was tasked with assessing climate change impacts and mitigation options for a world that limits warming to 1.5 °C in a special report. To aid the scientific assessment process three low-warming ensembles were generated over the 21st century based on the Paris targets using NCAR-DOE community model, CESM1-CAM5. This study used those simulation results and computed ten extreme climate indices, from definitions created by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices, to determine if the three different scenarios cause different intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation or temperature over the 21st century. After computing the indices, statistical tests were used to determine if significant changes affect their characteristics. It was found that at the grid point level significant changes emerge in all scenarios, for nearly all indices. The temperature indices show widespread significant change, while the behavior of precipitation indices reflects the larger role that internal variability plays, even by the end of the century. Nonetheless differences can be assessed, in substantial measure for many of these indices: changes in nearly all indices have a strong correlation to global mean temperature, so that scenarios and times with greater temperature change experience greater index changes for many regions. This is particularly true of the temperature-related indices, but can be assessed for some regions also for the indices related to precipitation intensity. These results thus show that even for scenarios that are separated by only half of a degree in global average temperature, the statistics of extremes are significantly different.
Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Aqueous Using Biochar Supported Nanoscale Zero-Velent Iron

A novel biochar carried nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles were synthesized by means of liquid phase reduction method that can overcome the aggregation of NZVI particles. The Composite material of the biochar-NZVI can effectively improve the removing rate of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) in the application of water treatment. The experimental results showed that the remove rate of Cr(VI) was up to 96.8% by using biochar-NZVI when the mass ratio of biochar and NZVI was of 5:1, the rate was enhanced by about 35.9% than that of the same dose pure NZVI. The analyzed results of TEM and BET showed that the biochar-NZVI had higher dispersion and specific surface area than pure NZVI, which was the key reason for biochar-NZVI with high removing efficiency of Cr(VI). The apparent rate constant kobs decreases from 0.1041 to 0.0235 min−1 as the initial concentration of Cr(VI) increased from 25 to 125 mg/L in the solution, indicating that the reaction velocity decreases with the increased initial concentration of Cr(VI) in the solution. The removal efficiency reached to 92.1% when the pH value of the solution containing biocha-NZVI treating Cr(VI) increased from 4.48 to 8.36, showing that the biochar carried NZVI has high removing rate of Cr(VI) in a wide range of pH value.
L-Shapes for the Logarithmic η-Model for DLA in Three Dimensions

There has been a lot of study recently of what can be called nearest neighbor cluster models. These are Markov chains A n , with state space of the set of finite connected subsets of the integer lattice Z d, A 1 = {0}, and such thatA n+1is obtained from A n by adding one point from the boundary of A n . In this paper we discuss a new result for one such model, a variant of diffusion limited aggregation (DLA) first studied by Kesten [2].
Pharmacists’ Medication Reconciliation–Related Clinical Interventions in a Children’s Hospital

Article-at-a-Glance Background In response to experienced difficulties at Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital (Rochester, Minnesota) with medication reconciliation, the hospital developed and implemented a new medication reconciliation process. Methods In 2005, a multidisciplinary task force determined the need to improve accuracy of the admission medication list, define multidisciplinary responsibilities within the medication reconciliation process, develop a tool to readily identify patients in need of medication reconciliation, and allow for efficient documentation on completion of medication reconciliation activities. A patient-provided medication list was developed within the electronic medical record (EMR) to provide a common documentation tool for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. Functionality was added to pharmacy's electronic pharmaceutical care Web-based program (PCARE) to alert pharmacists when a patient's admit medication history, admit medication reconciliation, or transfer medication reconciliation needs to be completed. Results From May 2006 to August 2007, the pediatric pharmacists performed admission medication reconciliation on 85% of the patients within 24hours and completed transfer reconciliation on all the patients—an average of 13 admitted and 11 transfer patients a day. They documented 567 medication reconciliation–related interventions during the May 2006 through the August 2007 period; 522 (92%) occurred during admission medication reconciliation and the remaining 46 (8%) during transfer reconciliation; 505 (89%) led to a change in therapy. Discussion Pharmacists' medication reconciliation–related clinical interventions indicate that the time and effort of performing medication reconciliation activities results in benefits for patients.
Mechanisms of template handling and pseudoknot folding in human telomerase and their manipulation to expand the sequence repertoire of processive repeat synthesis

Telomerase adds telomeric repeats to chromosome ends by processive copying of a template within the telomerase RNA bound to telomerase reverse transcriptase. Telomerase RNAs have single-stranded regions that separate the template from a 5' stem and 3' pseudoknot, and mammals gained additional stem P2a.1 separating the template from the pseudoknot. Using human telomerase, we show that the length of template 3'-flanking single-stranded RNA is a determinant of repeat addition processivity whereas template 5'-flanking single-stranded RNA and P2a.1 are critical for activity but not processivity. In comparison, requirements for the template sequence itself are confounding: different substitutions of the same position have strikingly different consequences, from improved processivity and activity to complete inactivation. We discovered that some altered-template sequences stabilize an alternative RNA conformation that precludes the pseudoknot by base-pairing of one pseudoknot strand to the template 3' end. Using mutations to reduce over-stability of the alternative conformation, we restore high activity and processivity to otherwise inactive altered-template telomerase ribonucleoproteins. In cells, over-stabilization or destabilization of the alternative state severely inhibited biogenesis of active telomerase. Our findings delineate roles for human telomerase RNA template-flanking regions, establish a biologically relevant pseudoknot-alternative RNA conformation, and expand the repertoire of human telomerase repeat synthesis.
Policy Coordination and National Sovereignty in a Monetary Union. Two Easy Recipes

The purpose of the European Union is to coordinate the policies of its members. But coordination is a difficult matter: member countries differ in their economic structure and in their priorities and are bound to disagree on the choice of optimal policy. The best intentioned efforts to choose what is right for ‘Euroland’ inevitably must come down to summing and weighing different national interests. Add to this the countries’ fear of further erosion in their national sovereignty, and the problem becomes challenging indeed. It is not too surprising then that so far all attempts at setting rules governing coordination in policy choices have shared two features: apparently strict but arbitrary and finally not credible criteria; and sufficient leeway for politically negotiated exceptions. This was true of the Maastricht criteria for entry into the Monetary Union; it is true of the ceilings on fiscal deficits established by the Pact for Stability and Growth; of the official voting rules in the European Central Bank; of the decision-making procedures for the Council of Ministers newly negotiated at Nice.
Immunohistochemical demonstration of a paracrine role of nitric oxide in bronchial function

We addressed the controversial role of nitric oxide (NO) in bronchial function by an immunohistochemical study of the localization of NO synthase (NOS) and its effector protein, soluble guanylate cyclase, in rat bronchus. For this study, a monoclonal antibody to the bovine constitutive neuronal NOS was developed and characterized. In Western blot analysis, this monoclonal antibody (anti-NOS antibody) reacted with bovine cerebellum NOS (150 kDa) as well as with structurally different NOSs from cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (130 kDa) and cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages (130 kDa). The reactivity of anti-NOS antibody was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of rat cerebellum, arterial endothelial cells, and cultured stimulated macrophages. When the distribution of NOS in rat airway was characterized, the anti-NOS antibody showed immunoreactivity within respiratory epithelium but not in the bronchial smooth muscle. The NADPH-diaphorase staining correlated with the immunostaining. In contrast, a monoclonal antibody to the rat lung-soluble guanylate cyclase immunostained respiratory smooth muscle but not epithelium. This study suggests a paracrine role for NO in bronchial function analogous to the function of the NOS-soluble guanylate cyclase pathway in blood vessels.
Evolution of the Response-to-Intervention Concept: Empirical Foundations and Recent Developments

Traditionally, schools address students’ academic and behavioral difficulties in terms of a predictable three-stage process that can be described as a “refertest-place” approach. That is, students presenting academic and/or behavior problems are referred to a child study team that offers recommendations for an intervention to resolve the problem. Very often, however, these interventions are not evidence based and are often ineffective in solving the referral concern. These ineffective interventions then are followed by an official referral to a school psychologist or an assessment team to determine whether the student meets eligibility requirements for special education under a designated disability category (typically specific learning disabilities, emotional disturbance (ED), or mild mental retardation). Finally, if a team believes that the student is eligible for special education and related services, he or she is placed into special education and an individualized educational plan (IEP) is written (see Bocian, Beebe, MacMillan, and Gresham, 1999). The aforementioned process has been the most common process in determining special education eligibility and placement since 1975, when the Education of All Handicapped Children Act was passed (Public Law 94-142). Despite over 30 years of experience with this approach, there are some major drawbacks and disadvantages inherent in this process. This approach often penalizes students by using arbitrary eligibility criteria that many times result in delaying services and often providing these students with ineffective and scientifically baseless interventions to remediate their academic and behavioral difficulties (Denton, Vaughn and Fletcher, 2003; Gresham, 2002; Vaughn and Fuchs, 2003). The purpose of this chapter is to present the evolution of the response to intervention (RTI) concept and discuss how that concept can be and is being used to provide more effective services to children and youth with both academic and social/behavioral difficulties. A definition of RTI is provided, along with a brief discussion of the historical antecedents of RTI in the literature. RTI is described as being presented in either a problem-solving or standard protocol approach; however, some applications of this process use a combination of both approaches. Recent empirical support for using RTI principles ais described, along with measurement challenges that present themselves when applying RTI to make intervention and eligibility determinations for both academic and behavioral difficulties.
Instream Temperature Modeling and Fish Impact Assessment for a Proposed Large Scale Alaska Hydroelectric Project

The State of Alaska is proposing to construct a two dam, 1620 megawatt hydroelectric project (U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission N. 7114) on the Susitna River approximately 190 km NNE of Anchorage. A study is underway to determine the effects this project may have on the indigenous aquatic resources of the Susitna drainage, and in this paper we report on the studies of the expected alteration of the instream temperature regime of the Susitna River (Meyer et al. 1984). Twenty species of fish are known to inhabit the Susitna basin. This study focuses on the most numerous and economically valuable Pacific salmon species, approximately two million of which annually enter this river to spawn.
INTERACTION OF ETHANOL WITH DRUGS, HEPATOTOXIC AGENTS, CARCINOGENS AND VITAMINS

Ethanol has been shown to have a multitude of acute and chronic interactions with xenobiotic agents, many of which can now be explained on the basis of the existence of a newly recognized microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) involving a specific cytochrome P-450 (P450IIE1). Although such a system was proposed already two decades ago, its role was viewed with skepticism; until recently, it was commonly believed that the primary pathway for hepatic ethanol metabolism is due almost exclusively to the activity of cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase, with a minor contribution from peroxisomal catalase. It is now recognized, however, that liver microsomes (through MEOS) participate in ethanol metabolism. The existence of this system and its inducibility contribute to the metabolic tolerance to ethanol in the alcoholic. Cross induction of other microsomal enzymes also explains the tolerance to many commonly used drugs. Most importantly, the alcohol-inducible form (P450IIE1) has a unique capacity to activate xenobiotic agents to toxic metabolites, thereby explaining the unusual susceptibility of the alcoholic to the adverse effects of other drugs, hepatotoxic agents, carcinogens and even vitamins.
"Tiptoeing Around the System": Alternative Healthcare Navigation Among Gender Minorities in New Orleans.

Abstract Purpose: Gender Minority (GM) individuals experience healthcare access barriers, including financial concerns and discrimination, which influence their health seeking behaviors. This study...
Reason in Action. A Response to McDowell on Hegel

John McDowell has criticized readings of Hegel that would have him holding that freedom should be understood as the achievement of some mutual recognitive status. He thinks that this saddles Hegel with an “unconvincing” argument, and one that is “out of tune with the characteristic shape of Hegel’s thinking.” Second, he criticizes an interpretation of the “inner-outer” relation in acting, one that tries to account for Hegel’s claim for the speculative “identity” of inner and outer in action. McDowell thinks that the criticized interpretation involves, again, a “misreading”, one that has Hegel “mishandle” the topic in general. And again, an alternate interpretation is presented and defended; defended both as a better reading of the text and sounder philosophically. In both cases the interpretations are mine, and I respond to them in this essay as both correct interpretations and as philosophically sound.
Professional Development: Implications for Illinois Career and Technical Education Teachers

Teacher turnover is costly and spiraling out of control according to a 2003 report from the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF). The Commission compares the task of keeping our schools supplied with qualified teachers to trying to fill a bucket with a huge hole in the bottom (NCTAF, 2003). Teacher turnover will continue to drain our public tax dollars, it will undermine teaching quality, and it will most certainly hinder our ability to close student achievement gaps (NCTAF, 2007, 21).
Gut Microbiota and Their Influence on Response to Food

Abstract Humans host a staggering amount of microbial life. In this chapter, we will focus on how microbiota influence human metabolism and health. This includes an introduction into how microbiome studies are performed and a summary of some of the most exciting research in this emerging field. The effects of high-fat diets, artificial sweeteners, and red meat consumption on the human microbiome are discussed, as well as how host genetics influence the microbiome and in turn disease susceptibility.