cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of oral communication skills abroad.

This study examines the impact of a semester study abroad experience in Argentina on the second language acquisition of three American university Spanish learners. The goal is to measure development of two aspects of oral communication skills: fluency and performance in the oral functions of narration, and description and supporting an opinion.
Wall Shear Prediction for Wavy and Annular Air-Water Two-Phase Flow

Non-intrusive pressure drop, film thickness, and wave behavior measurements have been performed for horizontal air-water two-phase flow in round tubes. A databank of over 300 flow conditions in the wavy, wavy-annular, and annular regimes was compiled for three tube diameters (8.8 mm, 15.1 mm, and 26.3 mm). A correlation was developed based on the product of total mass flux, gas superficial velocity, and an empirical friction factor, selected from the lesser of a modified Froude number form and a Reynolds number form. This correlation performed to within 11% mean absolute error across the data range considered. A variety of correlations were also selected from the literature for comparison. Those based on film roughness (Wallis, Hurlburt-Newell), two-phase multipliers (Lockhart-Martinelli, Friedel, Chisholm, Olujic, and Gronnerud), and empirical data fits (Muller-Steinhagen and Heck) were among those tested. As needed, correlations were rephrased in terms of wall shear to provide a consistent basis for comparison. A complex film roughness model (Hurlburt et al.) was also compared to the experimental data.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Functional Human CFTR Produced by Stable Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Lines Derived Using Yeast Artificial Chromosomes

of CFTR integrity correlates with functional gene expression. These YACs and the cell lines derived from them should be useful tools for the study of CFTR expression.
A NOTE ON THE ORAL DOSE OF ACETAZOLAMIDE REQUIRED TO INHIBIT ACID SECRETION IN MAN.

Summary Doses of 3 to 5 gm. of acetazolamide by mouth (approximately 45 to 70 mg. per kilogram) were required to inhibit the secretion of Hel by the stomachs of humans for periods of 1 hour in studies of 13 subjects. This compound does not seem to be therapeutically useful in clinical states in which suppression of gastric acid secretion would be desirable.
Power technology options for nuclear electric propulsion

On-going studies being conducted under the office of space science (Code S) in-space propulsion program have identified high power (100 kWe) NEP as an enabling technology for space science missions. The benefits of NEP include larger payload fractions, faster and more direct trajectories, and increased power at destination as compared to other propulsion technologies. In order to realize these benefits, a critical first-step is the development of a lightweight, long-lived reactor power system. This paper presents a historical review of relevant space reactor power programs, describes the operational characteristics of candidate power conversion technology options, and proposes a reactor power system concept with appealing near term performance and long term growth potential.
Myocyte-derived Tnfsf14 is a survival factor necessary for myoblast differentiation and skeletal muscle regeneration

Adult skeletal muscle tissue has a uniquely robust capacity for regeneration, which gradually declines with aging or is compromised in muscle diseases. The cellular mechanisms regulating adult myogenesis remain incompletely understood. Here we identify the cytokine tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 14 (Tnfsf14) as a positive regulator of myoblast differentiation in culture and muscle regeneration in vivo. We find that Tnfsf14, as well as its cognate receptors herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) and lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR), are expressed in both differentiating myocytes and regenerating myofibers. Depletion of Tnfsf14 or either receptor inhibits myoblast differentiation and promotes apoptosis. Our results also suggest that Tnfsf14 regulates myogenesis by supporting cell survival and maintaining a sufficient pool of cells for fusion. In addition, we show that Akt mediates the survival and myogenic function of Tnfsf14. Importantly, local knockdown of Tnfsf14 is found to impair injury-induced muscle regeneration in a mouse model, affirming an important physiological role for Tnfsf14 in myogenesis in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrate that localized overexpression of Tnfsf14 potently enhances muscle regeneration, and that this regenerative capacity of Tnfsf14 is dependent on Akt signaling. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel regulator of skeletal myogenesis and implicate Tnfsf14 in future therapeutic development.
A New Measure of Market Liquidity of Shares: The Case of the Colombo Stock Exchange

Market liquidity is the ability to sell a share at a price close to the prevailing market price. While there are several widely used measures of liquidity, they have limitations in capturing the characteristics of liquidity or in implementing in certain markets. This paper develops a new measure of liquidity, called the Relative Liquidity Ratio, as a ratio of trading intensity to price volatility. Trading intensity captures the time dimension and is a function of relative number of trades and relative volume. Price volatility measures the price dimension and is a function of the average monthly price range and the average trading price. The relative liquidity ratio is applied to a sample of stocks listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange.
Use of Alternative Arterial Bypass Conduits

Approximately 6 million Americans suffer from coronary artery disease, with 600,000 cardiac deaths annually.1 Medical therapy helps to alleviate the symptoms in most patients, but an estimated 300,000 patients undergo coronary artery bypass graft operations annually. Long term follow-up reveals a growing incidence of occlusion in the saphenous vein bypass grafts utilized that may require further surgical intervention.2–8 Ten year follow-up studies indicate up to a 70% incidence of some degree of occlusion in these grafts; 50% have already fully occluded by 10 years postoperatively.3–9 In contrast, the internal thoracic artery has an 83% or greater patency rate at 9–14 years.3,7–13 However, the available length of these arteries is not sufficient to reach the entire surface of the heart,8,10,13 nor is it sufficient to perform multiple grafts.10 Some patients do not have internal mammary arteries suitable for grafting.8,10,13 As the incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) and graft occlusion decreases and survival increases with arterial grafts to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), utilizing the left internal thoracic artery (ITA) in most cases, it has been proposed that all arterial grafts will further increase survival, decrease symptoms and possibly avoid re-operation in the future.5,9,14,15 Thus, the search for acceptable alternative arterial grafts was begun.
Potassium-induced relaxation of arteries in hypertension: modulation by extracellular calcium

Smooth muscle relaxation due to activation of Na+-K+-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) (K+ relaxation) was studied in isolated tail arteries from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Exposure to K+ (7 mM) relaxed a norepinephrine (1 microM) contraction induced in K+-free physiological salt solution (PSS) by 46 +/- 3% in WKY and by 81 +/- 3% in SHRSP. Incubation with monensin (10 microM) augmented the K+-relaxation in WKY to 61 +/- 5%. Incubation with amiloride (10 microM) or with low-Na+ (10 mM) PSS attenuated the K+ relaxation in SHRSP to 34 +/- 3 and 5 +/- 2%, respectively. Incubation with high-Ca2+ (6.6 mM) PSS attenuated the K+ relaxation in WKY to 25 +/- 3% but resulted in only a slight decrease in the relaxation in SHRSP (to 73 +/- 2%). We conclude 1) that a greater Na+ leakiness of the plasma membrane in SHRSP than in WKY while the Na+ pump is inactive in K+-free PSS can explain the greater relaxation observed when the Na+ pump is reactivated and 2) that the Na+ leakiness of the membrane is more attenuated by Ca2+ in the WKY than in the SHRSP. We hypothesize that this Ca2+ effect reflects a normally large amount of this ion that can be bound to and thereby stabilize the membrane of the WKY, decreasing its permeability to Na+. The membrane of the SHRSP is deficient in its Ca2+-binding sites. Hence the added Ca2+ does not further stabilize its membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Electrofusion and Plant Somatic Hybridization

The transfer of genetic information between sexually incompatible species creates unique experimental opportunities for geneticists and cell biologists. This is especially true of plant somatic cell fusion because the totipotency of plant cells makes it possible to grow fusion products into mature plants (reviewed by Gleba and Sytnik, 1984; Vasil and Vasil, 1980). Although Carlson et al. (1972) reported recovering the first interspecific plant hybrid through protoplast fusion in 1972, subsequent progress in this field has been slower than originally hoped. This problem is due to several biological and technical barriers. This chapter describes our progress in the application of electrofusion to plant somatic hybridization (see Bates et al., 1983; Bates, 1985; Bates and Hasenkampf, 1985) and suggests solutions to some of the problems in this field.
Genetic studies in marine fishes

Nine polymorphic loci were found among 42 presumptive protein-coding gene loci surveyed among 474 red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) sampled in 1987 from 13 nearshore and 1 offshore localities from the Atlantic coast of the southeastern USA and the northern Gulf of Mexico. The mean number of alleles over the polymorphic loci was 3.8, and the average heterozygosity over all loci examined $$\left( {\bar H} \right)$$ was estimated as 0.047. These data indicate that red drum have “normal” levels of genetic variability. Wright'sF1 ST values (the standardized variance of allele frequencies between samples) over all polymorphic loci ranged from 0.009 to 0.027 (meanF1 ST =0.019), and estimates of the effective number of migrants (N e m) per generation using Wright's island model ranged from 9.0 to 27.5. High levels of gene flow among the red drum samples were also indicated by Slatkin's qualitative analysis using conditional average allele frequencies. Nei's estimates of genetic distance between pairs of samples ranged from 0.000 to 0.009, indicating a high degree of nuclear gene similarity among all samples. Highly significant heterogeneity in allele frequencies at the locus for adenosine deaminase was detected between red drum sampled from the Atlantic and those sampled from the Gulf and among red drum sampled from the Gulf.
Evaluation of a New Blood Culture Medium for Mycobacteria

This study evaluates the sensitivity and detection time of a new radiometric broth (BACTEC 13A medium, Johnston Laboratories, Towson, MD) designed for direct blood culturing for Mycobacteria. A total of 1,848 blood specimens were cultured in parallel by a new method in which blood was directly inoculated into 13A medium and a comparative method involving lysis-centrifugation and inoculation of 7H11 agar and 7H12 broth media. There were 65 blood cultures with positive results (64 Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare and 1 Mycobacterium tuberculosis) from 43 patients. For the direct inoculation and lysis-centrifugation methods, the recovery rates were 96.9% and 98.5%, respectively, and the mean times to detection were essentially the same (23.6 and 23.8 days, respectively). Thus, the direct-inoculation technique using 13A medium showed performance equivalent to the lysis-centrifugation method. Also, the direct method has the advantage of elimination of the time-consuming manual manipulations that are required by lysis-centrifugation methods.
Canais de Distribuição na Exportação: O Impacto da Escolha para as Empresas Exportadoras

O objetivo deste ensaio e abordar os canais de distribuicao para as empresas exportadoras. Buscou-se apresentar os impactos das escolhas para elas. Para isso, caracterizou quais os tipos de canais existentes, identificando os aspectos analisados no momento pre-exportacao. A metodologia utilizada quanto aos fins e exploratoria. Os dados coletados apresentam os diferentes tipos de canais e sua aplicacao conforme a estrategia da empresa. E necessario cuidado do fabricante ao contratar intermediarios para compor o canal de distribuicao, pois podem prejudicar a marca. Atraves deste estudo torna-se mais claro o que deve ser analisado para eleger o canal mais adequado.
Headache of neurally mediated syncope

Background Neurally mediated syncope and migraine have a complex relationship. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients developing syncope in the laboratory would experience migraine. Methods Thirty-one consecutive patients were evaluated for precipitation of headache during head-up tilt (HUT)-induced syncope (reduction of systolic blood pressure [SBP] >20 mmHg and prodromal symptoms with or without loss of consciousness). Autonomic functions were assessed using heart rate response to deep breathing (HRDB), Valsalva maneuver and HUT. Blood pressure and heart rate (via electrocardiography) were continuously monitored. Headache diagnosis was based on ICHD-3 criteria. Results Eighteen patients (58%) experienced syncope without headache and 13 (42%) had syncope and headache (SH). No difference was observed in time of syncope onset, reduction in SBP, Valsalva ratio, HRDB or tachycardia during initial 10 minutes of HUT. Of the 13 SH patients, 11 (85%) had a past history of migraine. Two reported headache just before tilt, eight developed headache during tilt and three developed headache only after tilt. Headache resolved within 1-15 minutes in 10 out of 13 patients. No patient experienced migraine. Conclusions Syncope did not precipitate migraine. Headache during syncope may be due to cerebral hypoperfusion, and cerebral hyperperfusion may cause post-syncopal headache.
A deployable dielectric parabolic antenna reflector and RF feed support

The basic philosophy governing this development effort was concentrated on the possibilities of using dielectric material for a simple lightweight deployable reflector antenna capable of high surface accuracies which include consideration of fabrication, assembly, packaging, deployment and operation techniques.
Fertility and Contraception in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) carries a high burden in women during their reproductive years, and family planning issues are often a significant cause of concern. Fertility is normal in women with nonsurgically treated ulcerative colitis and similar or slightly reduced in women with Crohn's disease. Women who undergo ileal pouch anastomosis have reduced fertility. Fertility is likely worsened by disease activity but unaffected by medications used to treat IBD. Infertile patients with IBD respond as well as non-IBD patients to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite normal fertility, patients with IBD have fewer children due to concerns regarding infertility, disease inheritance, congenital abnormalities, and disease-related sexual dysfunction. Patients rarely discuss these issues with a physician. When discussion does occur, it may lead to changes in decision-making. Contraceptives are an important part of family planning, particularly during times of high disease activity. All forms of contraceptives are acceptable in patients with IBD, although there are specific considerations. The risks of combined oral contraceptives outweigh the benefits in patients with active disease and patients with prior or high risk for thromboembolism. Oral contraceptives and IBD are independently associated with an increased risk for thromboembolism, although it is not known whether this effect is compounding. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injection should be avoided in patients with or at risk for osteopenia. Intrauterine devices and implants are the most effective form of contraception and should be a first-line recommendation. The use of oral contraceptives is associated with the development of IBD, although there is no increased risk of disease relapse with the use of any form of contraceptive.
Anachronism in Early French Futuristic Fiction

This essay focuses on examples of anachronism—both intentional and unintentional—in several early French “retrofuturistic” novels: Louis-Sebastien Mercier’s The Year 2440 (1771), Emile Souvestre’s The World as It Shall Be (1846), Jules Verne’s Paris in the 20th Century (written in 1863, published in 1994), and Albert Robida’s The Twentieth Century (1882). I examine the many anachronisms in these “tales of the future” through the lens of two different reading publics: the texts’ original readers and the readers of today, who view them in retrospect from our vantage point of the twentyfirst century. As members of the latter group, we often project onto these “oldfashioned” visions of the future our contemporary aesthetic sensibilities and ideological memes. In reading them, our retrospective gaze is not only a seeking gaze; it is also a projecting gaze and itself intrinsically anachronistic.
The effect of skewing on the vorticity produced by an airjet vortex generator

The vorticity production by a single vortex generator jet in a turbulent boundary layer at high speed and zero pressure gradient was studied by analysing surface-flow patterns. The investigation involved a range of jet mass flow rates and skew angles while the freestream Mach number and jet pitch angle were held constant. A qualitative analysis of the skin friction patterns demonstrated the effective role of the skew angle as a bifurcation parameter. The vortex production is classified into three main regimes as the skew angle increases from zero (fully downstream) to 180° (fully upstream). Better understanding of the physical mechanism behind the transition from the first regime to the second is crucial in the design of the airjet vortex generator.
Rapid Quality Control Procedure for Technetium-99m-Bicisate

Objective: The package insert for Neurolite® suggests a radiochemical purity (RCP) value of greater than 90% and a procedure for the RCP determination that uses a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plate and a solvent system of ethyl acetate. This technique is very time-consuming, taking approximately 40 to 60 min to complete. Methods: A new, convenient mini-paper chromatography (MPC) method has been developed for the RCP analysis of 99mTc-bicisate that utilizes precut (1.0 cm x 9.0 cm) Whatman Chr 17 paper as the stationary phase and ethyl acetate as the mobile phase. A blood collection tube (16 cm x 100 cm) was used as the developing chamber and did not require the pre-equilibration step for solvent saturation. Results: Ten sets of triplicate measurements were obtained over a range of 72.1 %-98.3%. Technetium-99m-bicisate had an R1 value of 0.8–1.0 in the proposed MPC method and this new method decreased the RCP analysis to 3—4 min. The recommended TLC method and the proposed MPC method correlate very closely with r = 0.9987 and a linear regression of TLC% = 0.96 MPC% + 3.63%. Overall the MPC method underestimates the RCP values obtained by the TLC method so that using the MPC’s RCP values (without converting via the regression equation) leads to a conservative procedure. A 99mTc-bicisate kit may be rejected by the MPC method yet may pass with the TLC method. Therefore the MPC method will not create a false positive RCP result. Conclusion: The MPC method provides a rapid and efficient RCP analysis of 99mTc-bicisate.
A Process and Environment Aware Sierra/SolidMechanics Cohesive Zone Modeling Capability for Polymer/Solid Interfaces

The performance and reliability of many mechanical and electrical components depend on the integrity of po lymer - to - solid interfaces . Such interfaces are found in adhesively bonded joints, encapsulated or underfilled electronic modules, protective coatings, and laminates. The work described herein was aimed at improving Sandia's finite element - based capability to predict interfacial crack growth by 1) using a high fidelity nonlinear viscoelastic material model for the adhesive in fracture simulations, and 2) developing and implementing a novel cohesive zone fracture model that generates a mode - mixity dependent toughness as a natural consequence of its formulation (i.e., generates the observed increase in interfacial toughness wi th increasing crack - tip interfacial shear). Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were used to study fundamental material/interfa cial physics so as to develop a fuller understanding of the connection between molecular structure and failure . Also reported are test results that quantify how joint strength and interfacial toughness vary with temperature.
Diamine bis(phenolate) and pendant amine bis(phenolate) ligands: catalytic activity for the room temperature palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction

A series of amine bis(phenolate) ligands bearing aryl substituents of varying steric bulk are reported and characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry experiments. Palladium complexes derived in situ from these ligands are evaluated as catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of phenylboronic acid and aryl bromides. High conversions are observed for these reactions in methanol solvent at low catalyst loadings (0.01 mol%), short reaction times (30 min) and mild temperatures (30°C). Conversion is observed for a range of substrates, and is found to depend on the nature of the external base and solvent employed. These findings demonstrate the utility of catalysts derived from late transition metal complexes of amine bis(phenolate) ligands, particularly those bearing bulky cumyl substituents. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tilt Table Testing

Tilt table testing (TTT) was introduced about two decades ago for the evaluation of patients with unexplained syncope. Initially, it was welcome and spread enthusiastically through different medical specialties, but its use has decreased due to the recognition of several limitations when inappropriately employed. Nonetheless, the generalized consensus still stands that TTT remains an important diagnostic tool in the correct patient population.
Phase Field Model for Morphological Transition in Nanowire Vapor–Liquid–Solid Growth

The vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) method is widely used for nanowire (NW) synthesis. However, growth of irregular NW geometries is often observed, and the mechanisms responsible are not fully understood. In this article, we present a multiphase field model for studying NW morphological transition during the VLS growth. Introducing the chemical potential and an external perturbation force by means of the method of Lagrange multipliers, the position of the catalyst droplet and the volumetric growth rate of the NW can be precisely controlled in the model. This allows us to capture the morphology of NWs growing along metastable orientations and simulate the formation of complex NW structures. Additionally, with the model’s ability to constrain the NW shape, the interface free energy change along designated droplet moving path can be evaluated, from which a free energy landscape for the catalyst droplet on top of a NW pedestal can be obtained.
Borg scale is valid for ratings of perceived exertion for individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that has traditionally been treated with anti-parkinsonian medication. There is increasing evidence that exercise is beneficial to those with PD, therefore, it is necessary to validate a measure of exertion that can be implemented across exercise settings that may not have the capability to actively monitor heart rate. The aim of this project was to determine the validity of the Borg RPE scale in individuals with PD undergoing a maximal progressive cycling exercise test. Thirty-eight males and females (58.5 ± 8.1 yrs) with a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic PD, Hoehn and Yahr stage II-III, completed a maximal exercise test. Heart rate was monitored continuously, with RPE being recorded during the last minute of each stage of the test. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between RPE and continuous heart rate monitoring. A significant, positive correlation was present between RPE and heart rate and RPE and workload, r = 0.61 and r = 0.77 respectively. A separate mixed effects model regression analyses indicated that RPE was a significant predictor of heart rate (p 0.05). Significant, positive correlation between RPE and HR indicates that the Borg category ratio scale may be used in individuals with Parkinson's disease in which formal exercise testing may not be available.
Informe clinicopatológico preliminar del ganado vacuno de los llanos orientales de Colombia

Con el proposito de examinar el estado general de salud existente en el ganado del Vichada, en los Llanos Orientales de Colombia, se hizo este reconocimiento limitado. Se incluyen datos de hematologia, serologia, parasitologia y bacteriologia. Los valores hematologicos encontrados se consideran dentro de los limites normales. Los porcentajes de leucocitos encontrados son tipicos de las especies bovinas, el volumen corpuscular medio, calculados los indices de eritrocidos, se encuentra dentro de los limites normales, los valores de la concentracion de hemoglobina corpuscular media indican que cada eritrocito tiene aproximadamente un 3 por ciento mas de hemoglobina que el promedio aceptado. Los datos serologicos indican una alta incidencia de anaplasmosis y relativamente altos niveles de brucelosis, se analizaron 511 muestras de 4 hatos. Se encontro que el numero de animales afectados por brucelosis se acerca a un nivel del 20 por ciento, el que es considerado epidemico. Se encontro que los ectoparasitos y endoparasitos afectan la mayoria del ganado estudiado. Al gran numero de garrapatas encontrado puede atribuirse en parte la alta incidencia de titulos de anaplasmosis. No fue posible demostrar hemoparasitos durante el examen superficial de extensiones de sangre. En relacion con los estudios bacteriologicos, los contaminantes encontrados en los pocos examenes realizados, son esencialmente los mismos que se encuentran en todas partes. Una discusion corta acompana cada uno de los estudios
Gender and Citizen Responses to Corruption among Politicians: The U.S. and Brazil

Schwindt-Bayer, Esarey, and Schumacher evaluate whether voters perceive of comparable male and female candidates differently in terms of how likely they are to be involved in a corruption scandal and punish them differently when they are involved in corruption. We conducted survey experiments in two countries, the United States (with high electoral accountability) and Brazil (with moderate to low electoral accountability), to determine if differential treatment is the causal mechanism linking women’s representation and corruption. We find only weak and statistically uncertain evidence that citizens perceive women as less corruptible than men in both countries, and we find no evidence that they punish women more harshly than men for corruption scandals.
TRUMP AND THE FUTURE OF U. S. LABOR: An Intersectional Perspective

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the class, race, and gender voting patterns that propelled Trump’s 2016 victory, highlighting his popularity among non-college-educated white voters, and especially white males, including many union members and others in labor union households. White working-class disaffection from the established political system was among the many byproducts of the neoliberal economic transformations that unfolded over the previous four decades, especially the rapid de-unionization that took off in the late 1970s. Against the background of Trump’s success in attracting white working-class support, the second half of this article analyzes the plight of the U. S. labor movement and the formidable challenges it faces in the Trump era.
Slepian Wavelet Variances for Regularly and Irregularly Sampled Time Series

We discuss approximate scale-based analysis of variance for Gaussian time series based upon Slepian wavelets. These wavelets arise as eigenfunctions of an energy maximization problem in a pass band of frequencies. Unlike the commonly used Daubechies wavelets, Slepian wavelets have the ability to accommodate both regularly and irregularly sampled data. For regularly sampled Gaussian time series, we derive statistical theory for Slepian-based wavelet variances and show that it is comparable to Daubechies-based variances. For irregularly sampled time series data, we derive a corresponding statistical theory for Slepian-based wavelet variances. We demonstrate its use on X-ray fluctuations from a binary star system and on a light curve from the variable star Z UMa.
Abstract 11925: Differences in End-of-Life Preferences and Planning by Prognosis in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Introduction: In patients with heart failure, preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care and involvement in advance care planning can vary over their illness trajectory. The aim of this study was to co...
Assessing ototoxicity due to chronic lead and cadmium intake with and without noise exposure in the mature mouse.

Exposure to heavy metals may lead to hearing impairment. However, experimental studies have not explored this issue with and without noise exposure in mature animals with environmentally relevant d...
Low Cost Optical Mechanical System for Human Robot Interaction

This paper presents the design of a low cost system that can be used as a spherical humanoid robot head to display expressive animations for social robotics. The system offers a versatile canvas for Human Robot Interaction (HRI), especially for face to face communication. To maximize flexibility, both in the style and apparent motion of the robot’s head, we exploit the relatively recent availability of low-cost portable projectors in a retro-projected animated face (RAF). The optical mechanical system is comprised of a projector whose light is reflected off a hemispherical mirror and onto a 360 degree section of the spherical head with sufficient resolution and illumination. We derive the forward and inverse mapping relation between the pixel coordinates on the projection plane of the projector, and the outer spherical surface to offer fast graphic generation. Calibration of the system is achieved by controlling three parameters of image translation and scaling, resulting in a specifically devised light cone whose edges are tangential to the hemispherical mirror. Several facial expressions are tested in illuminated indoor environments to show its potential as a modular low cost robot head for HRI.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Consequences of the Detailed Balance for the Crooks Fluctuation Theorem

We show that the assumptions of the detailed balance and of the initial equilibrium macrostate, which are central to the Crooks fluctuation theorem (CFT), lead to all microstates along a trajectory to have equilibrium probabilities. We also point out that the Crooks's definition of the backward trajectory does not return the system back to its initial microstate. Once corrected, the detailed balance assumption makes the CFT a theorem only about reversible processes involving reversible trajectories that satisfy Kolmogorov's criterion. As there is no dissipation, the CFT cannot cover irreversible processes, which is contrary to the common belief. This is consistent with our recent result that the JE is also a result only for reversible processes.
Truth maintenance

General purpose truth maintenance systems have received considerable attention in the past few years. This paper discusses the functionality of truth maintenance systems and compares various existing algorithms. Applications and directions for future research are also discussed.
A systematic literature review of epidemiologic studies of developmental manganese exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Abstract Background Neurotoxic effects of high-level occupational exposure to manganese (Mn) are well established; however, whether lower-level environmental exposure to Mn in early life causes neurodevelopmental toxicity in children is unclear. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted to identify and evaluate epidemiologic studies of specific Mn biomarkers assessed during gestation, childhood, or adolescence in association with neurodevelopmental outcomes, focusing on quantitative exposure-response estimates with specific endpoints that were assessed in multiple independent study populations. Study quality was evaluated using the revised RTI item bank and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and the overall weight of epidemiologic evidence for causality was evaluated according to the Bradford Hill considerations. Results Twenty-two epidemiologic studies were identified that estimated associations between early-life Mn biomarkers and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Seven of these studies provided adjusted estimates for the association with child intelligence assessed using versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children; no other specific neurodevelopmental endpoints were assessed in more than three independent study populations each. Among the studies of child intelligence, five studies in four independent populations measured blood Mn, three studies measured hair Mn, and one measured dentin Mn. Overall, cross-sectional associations between Mn biomarkers and measures of child intelligence were mostly statistically nonsignificant but in a negative direction; however, the lone prospective cohort study found mostly null results, with some positive (favorable) associations between dentin Mn and child intelligence. Studies were methodologically limited by their cross-sectional design and potential for confounding and selection bias, as well as unaddressed questions on exposure assessment validity and biological plausibility. Conclusions The statistical associations reported in the few studies of specific Mn biomarkers and specific neurodevelopmental endpoints do not establish causal effects based on the Bradford Hill considerations. Additional prospective cohort studies of Mn biomarkers and validated neurodevelopmental outcomes, and a better understanding of the etiologic relevance of Mn biomarkers, are needed to shed light on whether environmental exposure to Mn causes adverse neurodevelopmental effects in children.
Christianity in the English-Speaking West

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by W.C. Roof, volume 3, pp. 1756–1761, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
FDA Approval Summary: Glasdegib for newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia

On November 21, 2018, the FDA approved glasdegib (Daurismo; Pfizer), a small-molecule Hedgehog inhibitor, in combination with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) for treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults ≥ 75 years or with comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy. Evidence of clinical benefit came from Study BRIGHT AML 1003, a randomized trial comparing glasdegib+LDAC with LDAC alone for treatment of newly diagnosed AML in 115 patients either ≥ 75 years old or ≥ 55 years old with preexisting comorbidities. Efficacy was established by improved overall survival (OS) with the combination compared with LDAC alone (HR, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.71; one-sided stratified log-rank P = 0.0002). Median OS was 8.3 months with the combination and 4.3 months with LDAC alone. Common adverse reactions included cytopenias, fatigue, hemorrhage, febrile neutropenia, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, edema, dyspnea, decreased appetite, dysgeusia, mucositis, constipation, and rash. The label includes a boxed warning for embryo-fetal toxicity and a warning for QT interval prolongation. There is a limitation of use for patients with moderate-to-severe hepatic and severe renal impairment; trials studying glasdegib in these patient populations are required as a condition of this approval.See related commentary by Fathi, p. 6015.
Econometric analysis of the factors influencing forest acreage trends in the southeast.

Econometric models of changes in land use acreages in the Southeast by physiographic region have been developed by pooling cross-section and time series data. Separate acreage equations have been estimated for the three major private forestland owner classes and the three major classes of nonforest land use. Observations were drawn at three or four different points in time for the 21 Forest Survey Units in the Southeast. Of the variables examined, population and personal income measures were the major significant explanatory variables in the land use equations.
Results of occupational physical examination of 231 medical radiation workers in Suizhou City

[Objective]To study the health status of workers occupationally exposed to radiation in Suizhou City,provide basis for ensuring the health of radiation workers and putting forward the improvement measures.[Methods]In accordance with the requirements of the Health management rules for radiation workers(Ministry of Health),the related examination was conducted in 231 radiation workers in Suizhou City.[Results]There were 3 cases of increasing crystal density and lens opaCity with the detection rate of 1.29%,19 cases of abnormal liver function with the detection rate of 8.22%,5 cases of leukopenia with the detection rate of 2.16%,4 cases of decreased hemoglobin with the detection rate of 1.73%,and 1 case of thrombocytopenia with the detection rate of 0.43%.The peripheral blood lymphocyte micronucleus and chromosome aberration was not detected.[Conclusion]The overall level of radiation protection in Suizhou City is good,and disease caused by radiation exposure is not found.It is important to strengthen the prevention and control of common diseases and chronic diseases.
2006 Charles T. Dotter Memorial Lecture—Cardiac Surgery: Pre- & Post-Operative Insights From MR & CT

Advancements in MR and CT imaging of the cardiovascular system have permitted unique insights into the appearance and behavior of the cardiac chambers, myocardium, coronary arteries, pericardium, and proximal great vessels in disease states directly involving or indirectly affecting (eg, such as due to valve disease) these structures. However, the impact of the 3D anatomic, functional, tissue-characterizing, or flow-quantification capabilities of these two noninvasive tomographic imaging modalities specifically on pre–cardiac surgery planning and/or post–cardiac surgery monitoring has not often been addressed. With concurrent advances in catheter-based therapy, there has been significant reduction in the volume of traditional cardiac surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting. Because of the life-saving nature of these surgical alternatives, traditional surgeries, and medical therapies, older patients with complicated medical histories, including prior interventions, leading to highly patient-specific cardiac conditions, are more and more commonly cardiac surgery candidates. Thus, there is increasing need for highly specialized and individualized imaging in order for cardiac surgeons to understand the specific details of such patients’ current cardiac anatomic and physiological abnormalities in the context of their past disease course and history of therapy to plan future surgical treatments. Cardiac surgical procedures performed at major heart centers that benefit from insights provided by cardiac MR and CT include ventricular restoration of the dilated dysfunctional left ventricle, myocardial revascularization of the chronically ischemic left ventricle, septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, pericardiectomy for constrictive or adhesive pericardial disease, cardiac mass resection, and aortic root and/or valve replacement.
Study on the Optimal Configuration of Current Limiter in HVDC Grid

Voltage source converter based on the high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) has become a research hotspot in the field of HVDC due to its flexibility and reliability. However, the short circuit current of DC power grid becomes larger when the short circuit fault occurs. How to remove the fault on the DC side quickly becomes a research difficulty in the technology of DC power transmission. This paper focuses on the optimal configuration of current limiters in FHVDC systems. Firstly, this paper analyzes the faults in the flexible DC power grid by taking the current studied superconducting current limiter as an example. Then, based on the characteristics of the superconducting current limiter, an optimization approach of the current limiter is proposed, which considers the cutoff capacity and fault response time of the DC circuit breaker. Finally, an example is selected to verify the optimization method on the MATLAB platform. The simulation results show that the optimal configuration method can effectively guide the design of the current limiter and improve its economy in the application process.
Young Adult Literature and Adolescent Identity across Cultures and Classrooms: Contexts for the Literary Lives of Teens.

1 Introduction: Identification, Actualization, or Education: Why Teach YA?, Janet Alsup Part I: Who are the Teens Reading YA? 2 African American Young Adult Literature and Black Adolescent Identity: Developing a Sense of Self and Society Through Narrative, Joy Dangora 3 Depictions of Chinese Americans in Young Adult Literature: American Born Chinese and Beyond, Nai- Hua Kuo 4 Composing Themselves: The Discursive (De) Construction of Queer Identity in 6 Young Adult Novels, James R. Gilligan 5 Teaching Through the Conflict: Examining the Value of Culturally Authentic Arabic Young Adult Literature, Nisreen Anati 6 Culture and Language: The Two Tongues of Mexican-American Young Adult Literature, William J. Broz and Rene Saldana Jr. Part II: Why Should Teachers Teach YA? 7 Developing the Moral Identity Through Young Adult Fantasy Literature, Aliel Cunningham 8 Beyond the Comics Page: Pedagogical Opportunities and Challenges in Teaching Graphic Novels, Lisa Schade Eckert 9 Pedagogues and Demigods: Captivity, Pedagogy, and Young Adult Literature in an Age of Diminished Expectations, Jeff Spanke 10 Perspective Giving and Taking in the Secondary English Class: Considering the Case of Erin Gruwell, Jeanne Smith Muzzillo Part III: Why Are Teens Reading YA? 11 The Appeal of Young Adult Literature in Late Adolescence: College Freshmen Read, Gail Zdilla 12 Female Reader Reading YA: Understanding Norman Holland's Identity Themes Thirty Years Later, Janet Alsup
US Spending Associated With Transition From Daily to 3-Times-Weekly Glatiramer Acetate

Importance Market exclusivity for daily injections of glatiramer acetate, a disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis, expired in 2015. In 2014, the manufacturer launched an alternate 3-times-weekly version that was widely adopted, sustaining market dominance of brand-name glatiramer until late 2017. Objective To estimate excess US spending associated with the transition from daily to 3-times-weekly glatiramer. Design, Setting, and Participants This economic evaluation estimated total US glatiramer spending from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2019, using a national cohort from 3 data sources that collectively represent approximately 40% of the US glatiramer market: Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and a claims database of commercially insured and Medicare Advantage patients. Exposures Calendar quarter. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes were quarterly US glatiramer spending, estimated as price × use. Manufacturer list prices for generic products and estimates of net (postrebate) prices for brand-name products were used. Linear regression and interrupted time series models were used to compare spending trends in 3 periods: before generic competition (2011-2015), during generic competition for daily glatiramer (2015-2017), and during generic competition for daily and 3-times-weekly glatiramer (2017-2019). Results From 2011 to 2015, US glatiramer spending increased to $962 million per quarter and did not decrease with generic competition of only daily glatiramer (2015-2017). After generic competition began for 3-times-weekly glatiramer in 2017, prices decreased by 47% to 64%, and spending decreased to $508 million per quarter in 2019 (P Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that 2.5 years of delayed generic competition related to introduction of a new version of branded glatiramer acetate was associated with $4.3 billion to $6.5 billion in excess spending. Extended market exclusivity from introducing a new version of an existing brand-name drug can yield manufacturer returns out of proportion to the level of investment or risk involved; more limited incentives could encourage incremental innovations to existing drugs at a lower societal cost.
Nonexistence and Aboutness: The Bandersnatches of Dubuque

espanolHolmes existees falsa. ?Como puede ser, cuando no hay nadie acercade quien puede ser la oracion? Parte de la respuesta es que el tema de la oraciondepende del contexto. Asi comoEl rey de Francia es calvo, normalmente imposiblede ser evaluada, es falsa qua descripcion de la gente calva,Holmes existees falsaqua descripcion de las cosas que existen; describe mal esas cosas como si Holmesestuviera entre ellas. Esto no explica, sin embargo, comoHolmes no existedifiereen valor cognitivo de, digamos,Vulcano no existe. Nuestra respuesta se construyea partir de una observacion de Kripke: aun cuando Holmes exista, no esta en estecuarto, porque todos nacimos demasiado tarde EnglishHolmes existsis false. How can this be, when there is no one for thesentence to misdescribe? Part of the answer is that a sentence’s topic depends oncontext.The king of France is bald, normally unevaluable, is false qua descriptionof the bald people. LikewiseHolmes existsis false qua description of the thingsthat exist; it misdescribes those things as having Holmes among them. This doesnot explain, though, howHolmes does not existdiffers in cognitive content from,say,Vulcan does not exist. Our answer builds on an observation of Kripke’s: evenif Holmes exists, he is not in this room, for we were all born too late
Implied Tradeoffs of Chief Financial Officer Accounting Expertise: Evidence from Firm-Manager Matching

We present evidence that although individuals with accounting expertise bring key skills to the financial reporting responsibilities of the chief financial officer (CFO) position, they tend to lack...
The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen in Head and Neck Reconstruction and Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is a treatment modality with the primary mechanism of therapy being the delivery of oxygen to hypoxic tissues. A review of HBO applications in the field of head and neck reconstruction and facial cosmetic surgery is provided. HBO can be useful in the management of radiation sequelae and treatment of compromised flaps and grafts. It may also have application in tissue compromise following cosmetic surgery and dermal fillers. We provide evidence from the available literature as well as highlight our experience in using HBO in head and neck reconstruction.
Tech Companies and Public Health Care in the Ruins of COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven the cruelty of the U.S. market-driven health care system that disproportionately affects the poor. It illuminates how much a well-funded public health care system is vital for the survival of all. However, amidst the ruins of the pandemic and economic crisis, digital capitalism is driving a new round of capitalist restructuring with the health care sector at the center of capital’s new digitization push. Tech companies are at the forefront of this capitalist endeavor. Long before the outbreak, these companies and others have been cultivating the health sector into their profit-making enterprise. The pandemic has further opened the door. This article demonstrates how tech companies are weaving themselves into the medical-industrial complex built over the last several decades. By exploiting the pandemic, they are quickly grasping an opportunity to occupy the public health system.