cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformational changes associated with ion permeation in L-type calcium channels.

The mechanism by which ions deliver their message to effector proteins involves a change in the protein conformation which is induced by the specific interaction of the ion with its binding site on the protein. In the case of an ion-channel protein, conforma-tional changes induced by permeant ions and the consequences for channel function have received little attention. Here we report that binding of permeant cations to an intra-channel binding site of the dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive (L-type) Ca2+ channel leads to a conformational change which destabilizes the protonated state of a group on the external channel surface, and can shift its apparent pK value by more than 2 pH units. The lifetime of the protonated state correlates with the occupancy of an intra-channel binding site by the permeant cation. The demonstration of such conformational changes in a channel protein induced by the permeant ion has important implications for realistic models of the mechanism of ion permeation.
Intercollegiate soccer: Saliva cortisol and testosterone are elevated during competition, and testosterone is related to status and social connectedness with teammates

Abstract Men and women from a southern university's intercollegiate varsity soccer teams gave saliva samples before and after league matches. For the men, samples were collected for a single game ending in victory. For the women, samples were collected for two games, one of which ended in victory and the other in defeat. For both men and women, match competition substantially increased saliva cortisol (C) and testosterone (T). For women, play-related increases in saliva C and T were similar in victory and defeat. For both men and women, saliva T (but not C) was highly correlated with teammate ratings of playing abilities–one measure of status with teammates–and self-ratings of social connectedness with teammates, but the nature of the relationship was different according to sex. For men, play-related changes in T were positively correlated with these variables, but before-game T was not. For women, before-game T was positively related to each of these variables, but play-related changes in T were not. Status and social connectedness are pertinent to understanding interpersonal dynamics in most social groups, and these results–which link T and these variables in an athletic context–may have relevance for understanding social relationships in other settings.
The Effect of Antibiotic Therapy on Recovery of Intracellular Bacteria From Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Suspected Ventilator-Associated Nosocomial Pneumonia

Intracellular bacteria (ICB) within recovered cells (> 7 percent) obtained via bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) have been described as predictive of subsequent positive quantitative protected specimen brush (PSB) cultures in patients not receiving antibiotics. To determine the effect of prior or current antibiotic therapy on ICB relative to subsequent PSB culture, we prospectively evaluated 49 consecutive episodes of clinically suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia in 36 patients. Three patient groups were defined based on antibiotic administration: group 1 (current antibiotics), n = 31, samples obtained from patients currently receiving antibiotics; group 2 (recent antibiotics), n = 5, samples obtained from patients who received antibiotics > 48 h but or = 10(3) cfu/ml) were positive in 14 of 49 (29 percent) samples. In group 1, 2 of 31 (6 percent) samples were positive while 5 of 5 (100 percent) samples in group 2, and 7 of 13 (54 percent) in group 3 were positive. The presence or absence of ICB accurately predicted both positive and negative PSB cultures in 43 of 49 episodes. Of 43 correct predictions, 34 were negative predictions (negative ICB, negative PSB culture). The vast majority of these (29) were obtained from group 1, patients currently receiving antibiotics. In contrast, of nine positive predictions (+ICB, +PSB) virtually all (seven) occurred in group 3, patients receiving no antibiotics. In group 3, 13 of 13 PSB cultures were accurately predicted, either positive or negative, by the presence or absence of ICB. Of seven positive PSB cultures in groups 1 and 2, only 2 (28 percent) were accurately predicted by ICB. From both samples, the cultured organism was resistant to all administered antibiotics. These data suggest both prior and current antibiotic therapy reduces recovery of ICB from BAL and reduces predictive accuracy of ICB for subsequent positive PSB cultures. However, negative prediction by ICB for subsequent negative PSB cultures was good. In contrast, ICB obtained from patients not receiving antibiotics are highly predictive of subsequent PSB culture results, both positive and negative. We do not recommend BAL for evaluation of ICB in patients currently receiving antibiotics or with a recent history of antibiotic use.
Quantifying Prior Determination Knowledge Using the PAC Learning Model

Prior knowledge, or bias, regarding a concept can reduce the number of examples needed to learn it. Probably Approximately Correct (PAC) learning is a mathematical model of concept learning that can be used to quantify the reduction in the number of examples due to different forms of bias. Thus far, PAC learning has mostly been used to analyze syntactic bias, such as limiting concepts to conjunctions of boolean prepositions. This paper demonstrates that PAC learning can also be used to analyze semantic bias, such as a domain theory about the concept being learned. The key idea is to view the hypothesis space in PAC learning as that consistent with all prior knowledge, syntactic and semantic. In particular, the paper presents an analysis of determinations, a type of relevance knowledge. The results of the analysis reveal crisp distinctions and relations among different determinations, and illustrate the usefulness of an analysis based on the PAC learning model.
Diversity in a Global Era: The context and consequences of differences

Global challenges (e.g., hegemonic globalization, demographic shifts, poverty/famine, conflicts and wars, and environmental disasters) are bringing diverse populations into contact under conditions of rapid socio-technical changes, social upheaval, conflict, competition, uncertainty, and anger and resentment. These complex circumstances of interpersonal and national contact are associated with widespread psycho-social and socio-political problems. Powerful global efforts to reduce diversity conflicts by the hegemonic imposition of Western economic, political, and cultural systems is not a solution to the emerging diversity conflict issues. Rather, the “global monoculturalism” being promoted represents an exacerbation of the problem as evidenced by the growing radicalization of individuals, groups, and nations seeking to resist the homogenization pressures. This paper offers a series of recommendations for individual and collective solutions that may serve to promote and to sustain both diversity and solid...
Seizures in psychiatric patients

A 25-year-old woman who was a resident of a community residence facility was brought to the emergency department in status epilepticus. Community residence facilities are group homes for psychiatric patients who do not need the resources of a hospital, yet who are unequipped and unable to live on their own. The patient had a history of a schizoaffective disorder and had slashed her wrists during several previous suicide attempts. The counselors at the home reported that recently she had been doing well, although she had not been seen by anyone for three hours before she was found in seizure on the floor of her room. There was no evidence in the room of any pills or empty pill containers. She had been taking 300 mg of lithium carbonate and 2 mg of fluphenazine three times per day, both of which were dispensed by counselors at the home. She had no history of any other medical problems. On physical examination, she was seen to be a thin, young female, responsive only to deep pain. She had occasional periods of clonic twitching. Her blood pressure was 112/64 mm Hg, pulse was regular at 122/minute, respiratory rate was 32/minute, and temperature was 36.4”C. There was a large contusion above her right eye. Ear canals and the middle ears were normal. Chest and abdominal examination results were normal. Her optic disks were flat, and she was flaccid and hyporeflexic when not in seizure. Plantar responses were bilaterally upgoing. Her conjunctivae were cheimotic, and there was a doughy quality to the skin, but frank edema was not present.
Spacecraft and mission design for the precision optical INTerferometer in space (POINTS)

This paper describes key features of the instrument, spacecraft, and mission design for the Precision Optical INTerferometer in Space (POINTS), which have evolved through studies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the last few years. Design of the flight-system configuration has been driven by several considerations. Since the most ambitious science goals require access to a large portion of the sky most of the time, minimal systematic errors, and a 10-year mission life, a high Earth orbit (higher than 50,000 km) is preferred; the nominal has been taken to be a circular orbit of 100,000-km radius. In order to provide a very uniform thermal environment for the instrument, a solar shield supporting an array of solar cells is mounted on a boom and gimballed along two axes so as to remain pointed at the Sun and to provide constant shade for the entire spacecraft. Silicon cells covering about 85% of the roughly 4.8-m-diameter shield and operating at about 100 deg C could supply sufficient power for a 10-year mission life. A unibody design was selected in which the instrument and spacecraft bus are solidly attached to form a single rigid body. Full pointing freedom for the instrument is provided by articulation of the solar shield about two axes plus roll of the entire spacecraft around the Sun direction. With the high orbit and Sun-facing, geometrically simple spacecraft configuration, the effects of solar radiation pressure--the only significant external disturbance to spacecraft acceleration--can be modeled accurately enough to guarantee no compromise in the accurate velocity determination needed to correct astrometric measurements for stellar aberration.
Antinociceptive properties of oxymorphazole in the mouse.

Abstract Oxymorphazole (17-methyl-6,7-dehydro-3,14-dihydroxy-4,5 α-epoxy-6,7:3′,4′-pyrazolomorphinan), a hydrophilic opioid, given intracerebroventricularly (2.5–50 nmol) or intrathecally (0.3–5 nmol) dose-dependently produced tail-flick inhibition in male CD-1 mice. However, oxymorphazole given subcutaneously even at high doses (10–80 mg/kg) produced weak tail-flick inhibition. Oxymorphazole given intraperitoneally (0.1 to 10 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited abdominal constriction response induced by intraperitoneally injection of 0.6% acetic acid. Oxymorphazole given intracerebroventricularly (25 nmol) or intrathecally (5 nmol) induced tail-flick inhibition was blocked by pretreatment with the μ-opioid receptor antagonist d -Phe-Cys-Tyr- d -Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2, but not κ-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltrophimine. The δ-opioid receptor antagonist, naltrindole, blocked the tail-flick inhibition induced by oxymorphazole given intrathecally but not intracerebroventricularly. The inhibition of the abdominal constriction response by oxymorphazole given intraperitoneally was blocked by intraperitoneally pretreatment with naloxone, but not naltrindole or nor-binaltrophimine. Thus, oxymorphazole given systemically produces antinociception only with the abdominal constriction test, but not the tail-flick test, suggesting that it produces the antinociception at the peripheral sites when administered systemically. The oxymorphazole-induced antinociception is mainly mediated by the stimulation of μ-opioid receptors when given either centrally or systemically and also the δ-opioid receptors when given intrathecally. The lack of central antinociceptive effect of oxymorphazole given systemically may have interesting clinical implications.
Bypassing eutectics with extractive crystallization: Design alternatives and tradeoffs

A systematic design method reported here uses extractive crystallization to separate a three-component mixture despite the presence of eutectics. Phase behavior can be classified into six basic types, and six flowsheet structures can handle systems with any of these solid-liquid-phase behaviors. Design equations are formulated for these flowsheet structures, and design variables and constraints are identified. In addition, design issues, such as the choice of solvent, the effect of design variables on recycle flows, and the magnitude of the costs, are discussed.
Case of the month: Isaacs' syndrome associated with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

We report the first case of Isaacs' syndrome in which an inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy was documented histologically. For 9 months, the patient developed slowly progressive weakness, muscle spasms and stiffness, fasciculations, and myokymia in the arms, which were unmodified by sleep. Nerve conduction studies showed multifocal motor conduction block, abnormal dispersion phenomenon, and abnormal sensory and mixed nerve conduction. Needle electromyogram showed continuous motor unit potentials at rest with bursts of rapid-firing discharges which were unaffected by spinal anesthesia but diminished by peripheral nerve block and completely abolished by local curarization. Sural nerve biopsy demonstrated an inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy. Muscle cramping, twitching, and stiffness responded to phenytoin. The patient's weakness gradually responded to prednisone and azathioprine. Over a 17-year period, the patient had three relapses which were well controlled with prednisone and azathioprine. At this time, the patient is symptom-free without any medication.
Interaction Between Fibronectin‐bearing Surfaces and Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) or Gelatin Microparticles

Gelatin, prepared commercially by degradation of animal collagen, was studied to see whether it had an affinity for fibronectin, which has a known affinity for collagen, and whether gelatin-based drugs could be used to target fibronectin-excreting tumours. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, is currently the most effective treatment for superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The living cells of the BCG vaccine associate with the fibronectin-bearing surfaces of the tumour. Using a multi-well culture plate technique, gelatin microparticles were shown to be adsorbed onto murine S180 sarcoma cells and this reaction was substantially inhibited by the addition of human plasma fibronectin. The avidities of various BCG substrains and gelatin microparticles for glass-bound fibronectin were measured and the association constants determined. The gelatin microparticles associated with the fibronectin with equal avidity as the BCG cells. The results suggest that this model system may allow the investigation of gelatin-based drug delivery devices capable of targeting fibronectin-bearing surfaces associated with some tumours.
Characterization of porous, dexamethasone-releasing polyurethane coatings for glucose sensors

Commercially available implantable needle-type glucose sensors for diabetes management are robust analytically but can be unreliable clinically primarily due to tissue-sensor interactions. Here, we present the physical, drug release and bioactivity characterization of tubular, porous dexamethasone (Dex)-releasing polyurethane coatings designed to attenuate local inflammation at the tissue-sensor interface. Porous polyurethane coatings were produced by the salt-leaching/gas-foaming method. Scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) showed controlled porosity and coating thickness. In vitro drug release from coatings monitored over 2 weeks presented an initial fast release followed by a slower release. Total release from coatings was highly dependent on initial drug loading amount. Functional in vitro testing of glucose sensors deployed with porous coatings against glucose standards demonstrated that highly porous coatings minimally affected signal strength and response rate. Bioactivity of the released drug was determined by monitoring Dex-mediated, dose-dependent apoptosis of human peripheral blood derived monocytes in culture. Acute animal studies were used to determine the appropriate Dex payload for the implanted porous coatings. Pilot short-term animal studies showed that Dex released from porous coatings implanted in rat subcutis attenuated the initial inflammatory response to sensor implantation. These results suggest that deploying sensors with the porous, Dex-releasing coatings is a promising strategy to improve glucose sensor performance.
Food preferences and related behavior of the browsing sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus) and its potential for use as a biological control agent

The short-spined toxopneustid sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla feeds on a wide variety of algal species and on sea grasses. However, the urchin does show preferences when offered a selection of macroalgal species, which it encounters in nature. Preferences among macroalgae were evident in field-collected urchins exposed to pair-wise tests where the variable was either the consumption rate of the algae or observation of which algal species the urchins chose to touch with their lantern teeth. Exposure of lab-housed urchins to one of five species of macroalgae for 5 months did not seem to alter preferences of urchins in three of the exposure groups, but those exposed to Padina sanctae-crucis seemed to show an enhanced preference for this species when offered a choice of the five species of macroalgae at the end of the exposure period, and those exposed to Gracilaria salicornia seemed to avoid the species when offered the choice of the five species. Perhaps more ecologically important than their preferences were two other observations on these urchins: first, when offered only a single species of algae, the urchins on four of five diets ate the same quantity per day. Second, when simultaneously offered the choice among the five macroalgal species, the urchins consumed more macroalgae per day than when offered only one species. These urchins move about a meter a day. They probably encounter food resources in a relatively coarse-grained fashion and have evolved to eat what is available. Because of their limited movements, their habitat overlap with grazing fishes, their acceptance of a wide variety of macroalgae and their preference for macroalgae, these native urchins are thought to have the potential to serve as biological control agents of alien and invasive macroalgae, which have come to dominate some reef zones normally occupied by corals in Hawaii.
Pediatric Distal Radius Fractures and Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injuries

Management of distal radius fractures is guided by the pattern and location of injury, degree of deformity, and expectations of bony remodeling based on the amount of remaining skeletal growth.Indications for surgical treatment include unstable or irreducible fractures, open fractures, floating elbow injuries, and neurovascular or soft-tissue compromise precluding cast immobilization. Patients and families should be counseled regarding the potential for post-traumatic distal radial growth arrest following physeal fractures. In these cases, epiphysiodeses, ulnar shortening osteotomies, or corrective radial osteotomies may be performed, depending on the pattern of arrest,degree of deformity, and remaining skeletal growth.TFCC tears may be the source of ulnar-sided wrist pain in children and adolescents, though symptoms and physical examination findings maybe subtle. Patients who have persistent pain and functional limitations despite activity modification and therapy are candidates for surgical treatment. Appropriate repair of peripheral TFCC tears with correction of concomitant wrist pathology restores normal wrist anatomy, alleviates pain, and allows for return to functional activities.
Biomechanics of the Bankart Repair: The Relationship Between Glenohumeral Translation and Labral Fixation Site

The specific aim of this study was to quantify glenohumeral translations in cadaveric shoulders after repair of the superior and middle regions of a surgically created Bankart lesion and after repair of the superior, middle, and inferior regions of the same lesion. Anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and medial-lateral translations in nine cadaveric specimens were tested with shoulders in 0°, 45°, and 90° of humeral abduction and varying degrees of humeral rotation. There was statistically significantly less anterior and inferior translation after three-site labral repair compared with after two-site labral repair, and this effect was greatest at 90° of glenohumeral abduction. The decreased translations demonstrated with three-site repair emphasized the importance of careful repair of the labrum to the inferior glenoid rim during a Bankart reconstruction and suggested that failure to do so may be a contributing factor to recurrent instability after anterior shoulder reconstruction.
Adversarial reasoning under uncertainty using a deterministic planner

We have added a restricted subset of probabilistic reasoning to our deterministic adversarial reasoning technique, RAPSODI. This hybrid approach strikes a balance between the intractable complexities of computing a fully probabilistic representation, versus the inadequate expressiveness of a simpler deterministic representation. After a brief review of the basic adversarial planning algorithm, we describe how the improvements handle probabilistic actions, multiple possible worlds, and probabilistic contingencies.
Integrating Real-Time Clinical Information to Provide Estimates of Net Clinical Benefit of Antithrombotic Therapy for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Background— Guidelines for anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation are based on stroke risk as calculated by either the CHADS2 or the CHA2DS2VASc scores and do not integrate bleeding risk in an explicit, quantitative manner. Our objective was to quantify the net clinical benefit resulting from improved decision making about antithrombotic therapy. Methods and Results— This study is a retrospective cohort study of 1876 adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or flutter seen in primary care settings of an integrated healthcare delivery system between December 2012 and January 2014. Projections for quality-adjusted life expectancy reported as quality-adjusted life-years were calculated by a decision analytic model that integrates patient-specific risk factors for stroke and hemorrhage and examines strategies of no antithrombotic therapy, aspirin, or oral anticoagulation with warfarin. Net clinical benefit was defined by the gain or loss in quality-adjusted life expectancy between current treatment and treatment recommended by an Atrial Fibrillation Decision Support Tool. Current treatment was discordant from treatment recommended by the Atrial Fibrillation Decision Support Tool in 931 patients. A clinically significant gain in quality-adjusted life expectancy (defined as ≥0.1 quality-adjusted life-years) was projected in 832 patients. Subgroups were examined. For example, oral anticoagulant therapy was recommended for 188 who currently were receiving no antithrombotic therapy. For the entire cohort, a total of 736 quality-adjusted life-years could be gained were treatment changed to that recommended by the Atrial Fibrillation Decision Support Tool. Conclusions— Use of a decision support tool that integrates patient-specific stroke and bleeding risk could result in significant gains in quality-adjusted life expectancy for a primary care population of patients with atrial fibrillation.
EFFECTS OF AZIDE AND CHLORETONE ON THE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM CONTENTS AND THE RESPIRATION OF FROG SCIATIC NERVES

Azide (0.2 to 5.0 mM) and chloretone (2.0 to 15.0 mM) reversibly inhibited 20 to 90 per cent of the resting respiration of frog sciatic nerves, and caused a loss of potassium and a gain of sodium in this tissue. The changes in ionic contents that developed after 5 or 10 hours were roughly correlated with the degree of respiratory depression, but the time courses of these changes were different with the two reagents. In azide these changes appeared to begin immediately, while in chloretone, at concentrations between 3.0 and 5.0 mM, the ionic shifts developed after a delay of several hours. Fifteen millimolar chloretone produced immediate changes in ionic contents several times greater than those produced by anoxia. The changes in ionic distribution produced in 5 hours by anoxia, 5.0 mM azide, or 5.0 mM chloretone were at least partially reversible; those produced by 15.0 mM chloretone were irreversible. With the exception of 15.0 mM chloretone the ionic shifts produced by these reagents may be due primarily to the depression of the respiration, although there are indications that azide acts, in addition, by another pathway. Concentrations of azide or chloretone that depressed the resting rate of oxygen consumption more than 50 per cent produced a slow conduction block, while 15.0 mM chloretone blocked conduction within 15 minutes.
Causes and Effects in Computer Programs

Debugging is commonly understood as finding and fixing the cause of a problem. But what does “cause” mean? How can we find causes? How can we prove that a cause is a cause—or even “the” cause? This paper defines common terms in debugging, highlights the principal techniques, their capabilities and limitations.
Joint DOD/DOA estimation in MIMO radar exploiting time-frequency signal representations

In this article, we consider the joint estimation of direction-of-departure (DOD) and direction-of-arrival (DOA) information of maneuvering targets in a bistatic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar system that exploits spatial time-frequency distribution (STFD). STFD has been found useful in solving various array processing problems, such as direction finding and blind source separation, where nonstationary signals with time-varying spectral characteristics are encountered. The STFD approach to array processing has been primarily limited to conventional problems for passive radar platform that deals with signal arrivals, while its use in a MIMO radar configuration has received much less attention. This paper examines the use of STFD in MIMO radar systems with application to direction finding of moving targets with nonstationary signatures. Within this framework, we consider the use of joint transmit and receive apertures for the improved estimation of both target time-varying Doppler signatures and joint DOD/DOA. It is demonstrated that the STFD is an effective tool in MIMO radar processing when moving targets produce Doppler signatures that are highly localized in the time-frequency domain.
The formal hierarchy of rhesus macaques: an investigation of the bared-teeth display

Teeth-baring in a large captive rhesus monkey group (Macaca mulatta) was observed over a 30-month period. Its directional consistency among adults was significantly higher than that of aggression. The unidirectionality was so extreme that the facial display must be seen as a formal status indicator; ie, a signal of which the direction is independent of short-term contextual variation. As such, it seems adapted for communication about the state of the relationship. Formal dominance relationships among adults could be arranged in a hierarchy which approached perfect linearity. Focal observations demonstrated that teeth-baring was associated with withdrawal. It was uncommon among foraging monkeys, perhaps because dominant animals paid less attention to their subordinates in this context. The speed of rank acquisition by young females, in terms of received teeth-baring, was highest among peers and lowest against the group's old matriarchs. The age at which dominance over unrelated adult females was achieved correlated negatively with the amount of affiliative contact with these females. This translates into a positive correlation between bonding and rank establishment, indicating that dominance processes may be indistinguishable from social integration.
Menstrual Cycle Timing of Breast Cancer Resection

In 1836, Sir Astley Paston Cooper observed in his “Practice and Principles of Surgery” that advanced breast cancer regularly waxes and wanes during the patient’s menstrual cycle. In 1896, G.T. Beaston, in The Lancet, demonstrated that advanced breast cancer can resolve following oophorectomy of the premenopausal patient. In 1952 and 1953, Huggins and Bergenstal and Luft, respectively, demonstrated tumor resolution following adrenal and hypophyseal resection in women with advanced breast cancer. In the 1960s, Jensen et al. (1967) initiated our growing understanding of the molecular basis of these intricate connections between host and cancer.
LAPAROSCOPIC-ASSISTED HYSTERECTOMY : IS IT EVER INDICATED?

Hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, has always been a source of some controversy. Because there are few absolute indications, besides cancer, for hysterectomy, it is extremely difficult for outside reviewers to determine when hysterectomies are reasonably justified. This lack of co
Characterization of balsa wood mechanical properties required for continuum damage mechanics analysis

Balsa wood has attained commercial importance because of its exceptional lightweight and its insulating properties. The use of balsa as core material in sandwich construction for aircraft and for o...
Electro- and Opto-Mechanical Crystals

In this talk I will review our work to integrate electro-mechanical and opto-mechanical devices into a common chip-scale platform.
Effects of Tongxieyaofang on the rats models with IBS induced by foot shock after inpouring acetic acid

[Objective]To investigate the pharmacodynamics and mechanism of Tongxieyaofang on IBS induced by foot electric stimulation after inpouring acetic acid.[Methods]The rats models with IBS was made by perfusing colon and rectum repeatedly with acetic acid to cause inflammation,after inflammation recovering the rat was stimulated with weak electric current to induce the supersensitive corresponse from hypersensitive intestine.Then observing the influence of Tongxieyaofang on the following index : stool volume,moisture content of the dung,and the level of SP and VIP in plasma.[Results] The differences of stool volume,moisture content of the dung,and the level of SP and VIP in plasma between the model group and the normal group were statistically significant(P0.05,0.01),These indexes of treatment group(High dose group of Tongxieyaofang)were markedly different with the model group(P0.05,0.01).[Conclusion ]The rats models with IBS induced by foot shock after inpouring acetic acid can effectively simulate human irritable bowel syndrome,and Tongxie yaofang can improve the symptoms of the rats models that accelerated defecation,increased moisture content of the dung,and the disorder of the level of SP and VIP in plasma.
Neonatal Hepatitis B Vaccination Without (Low) Response Rate and Re-analysis of Effects

Objective To explore the neonatal hepatitis B vaccination without(low) response rate and re-free results.Methods The Center neonatal hepatitis B vaccination in 1301 and to respond to vaccination were detected.Result In 231 cases of neonatal appear low(no) immune response,low-key response and neonatal weight and maternal infection are significantly associated(P0.05).Conclusion After vaccination for newborns testing its response,and low immune response and then in time infants improve their immune effects.
Vocational Qualification Appraisal System of Japan′s Automobile Maintenance Industries

This article introduces the vocational qualification system and cultivation channels of Japan′s automobile maintenance industries and summarizes the characteristics of their vocational qualification appraisal system.
From Text to Feedback: Leveraging Data Mining to Build Educational Technologies.

Over the past decade, our research teams have been using data mining techniques primarily for the purpose of analyzing text and writing corpora. These analyses emerged within three projects, Coh-Metrix, iSTART, and the Writing-Pal. CohMetrix is a text analysis tool that provides hundreds of linguistic and semantic indices on text. Within the context of the Coh-Metrix project, we have analyzed thousands of texts with the goal of better understanding the nature of text. Ultimately, our goal has been to provide educators with multidimensional information about the difficulty of text. iSTART is a reading strategy tutoring system that provides students with automated feedback on the quality of their self-explanations of text. The Writing Pal is a writing strategy tutoring system that provides strategy instruction to adolescent readers as well as practice writing essays with feedback. Within the context of the iSTART and Writing Pal projects, we have used Coh-Metrix and other text analysis tools to analyze self-explanations and essays. Our goal has been to better understand the linguistic features contributing to their quality as well as to develop and improve our automated scoring and feedback systems. All of these endeavors have called upon a variety of data mining techniques that serve to analyze the data and in turn drive the feedback algorithms that undergird the tutoring systems. This talk will describe how data mining supports the development of educational technologies at various levels.
Comparisons: Big Data across Time and Disciplines

Just as knowledge of the past is important to current policy, so also is past practice in data collection important to guiding the work of CHIA. This chapter reviews the past 70 years of work in developing social science datasets, and also the parallel development of modeling in climate and genetics. The narratives of creation of archives and analyses on climate and genetics show the interplay of theory, historical data, technology, and changing public concerns, which led in each case to important advances in knowledge. It is argued that parallel steps and equivalent success can reasonably be expected in creation of a world historical archive.
In Vitro Reversal of Indomethacin-Blocked Ovulation by Prostaglandin F2α

An in vitro perfused ovary preparation was used to study the role of prostaglandin F 2 α P G F 2 α in follicle rupture. The administration of P G F 2 α alone has been shown to restore indomethacin-blocked ovulation in rabbits and monkeys. In the model used, ovulation consistently occurred when human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was given to the intact rabbit prior to ovarian removal. hCG-induced ovulation was blocked in both perfused and in situ control ovaries by indomethacin (10mg/kg intravenously 6hours after hCG) given to the intact animal. The addition of P G F 2 α (1mg/200ml) to the perfusion fluid restored ovulation in the isolated ovary as compared with the in situ ovary (P P G F 2 α to the perfusate, but did not occur without P G F 2 α (P P G F 2 α to the perfusion system, further supporting the significance of P G F 2 α in the process of follicular rupture.
Gracilis Flap Reconstruction of the Perineum: An Outcomes Analysis

Background Immediate reconstruction of perineal defects secondary to abdominoperineal resection (APR) or pelvic exenteration with pedicled flaps decreases postoperative wound complications when compared with direct closure in high-risk patients. Although some authors have been proponents of abdominal-based flaps, here we evaluate the role for thigh-based flaps founded on acceptable outcomes and low morbidity. Study Design Consecutive patients referred to a single surgeon between January 2012 and August 2015 who underwent perineal reconstruction with a pedicled gracilis flap were identified. Patients were evaluated for routine preoperative variables and outcomes data were analyzed, including time to healing and abdominal and perineal complications. Results Forty patients were included in the study, with a mean follow-up period of 2 years. There were no 30-day mortalities and 37 patients (92.5%) were alive at the last follow-up. Five patients (12.5%) experienced donor site complications and 16 patients (40%) had recipient site complications, including hematoma, seroma, or dehiscence. Minor complications were seen in 10 (25%) patients, and 7 (17.5%) patients had major complications. Obesity (odds ratio = 7.5; p = 0.01) and active smoking status (odds ratio = 9.3; p = 0.01) were significantly associated with minor complications, and a history of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (odds ratio = 21.4; p = 0.04) was a significant risk factor for any complication. Conclusions The overall complication rate with this technique is comparable with the more commonly used vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, but the potential for, and severity of, donor site complications is reduced with this technique. As such, gracilis flaps can be considered an acceptable alternative to abdominal flaps for selected perineal wounds.
Strip tillage improves soil biological activity, fruit yield and sugar content of triploid watermelon

Abstract Tillage practices are critical for sustaining soil quality necessary for successful crop growth and productivity. A three-year study (2012–2014) was carried out to evaluate the influence of strip and conventional tillage practices and three water status levels [T1 = 100% of evapotranspiration (ET) demands, T2 = 0.75T1and T3 = 0.5T1] on plant morphology, physiology, yield and quality of triploid (seedless) watermelon (Citrullus lanatus cv. Magestic). Soil chemical and biological properties were also assessed at the end of the experimental study. Tillage practices (strip or ST and conventional or CT) started in 2009 and are being carried out to the present date of 2016. Irrigation was established using a center pivot system. Photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and chlorophyll content index (SPAD) were measured at flowering, fruit development and harvest stage and vine length measured at the harvest stage. Total marketable yield and fruit quality (firmness and sugar content) were determined during the harvest period. Soil chemical and microbial analysis were conducted at the end of the experimental period (March 2015). No significant differences (P = 0.05) were found between water deficit treatments in vine length, SPAD, Pn, gs, fruit firmness, and sugar content during the three-year study, except for vine length in 2013. But, marketable yield from T1 treatment was significantly higher (P = 0.03) than T3 in 2013. Vine length and SPAD measured from the ST plots were higher than CT, especially in 2012. Interestingly, marketable yield from ST was 8.6, 9.7 and 14.9 t ha−1 higher than CT in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. Additionally, fruit sugar content under ST was statistically higher (P = 0.05) than those from CT. After 6 years of tillage practices (2009–2015) in the same site, ST increased total bacteria by 49%, active bacteria by 27%, active and total fungi by 37%, nematodes by 275%, and electrical conductivity by 14% compared to CT. However, ST significantly increased root-feeding nematodes (harmful to plant roots) and reduced phosphorus and nitrate-N compared to CT. Although long-term studies aimed at assessing soil quality and cumulative yield are required to further validate our results, yield and fruit quality (sugar content) responses were consistent across three years and with promising abundance of soil microbial activities.
Radiation-Induced Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Is Associated with Improved Overall Survival but Not Thyroid Cancer-Specific Mortality or Disease-Free Survival.

Background: Radiation is a well-described risk factor for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Although the natural history of DTC following nuclear disasters and in healthcare workers with chronic radiation exposure (RE) has been described, little is known about DTC following short-term exposure to therapeutic medical radiation for benign disease. This study compares DTC morphology and outcomes in patients with and without a prior history of therapeutic external RE. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients with DTC treated at The University of Chicago between 1951 and 1987, with a median follow-up of 27 years (range 0.3–60 years). Patients were classified as either having (RE+) or not having (RE–) a history of therapeutic RE. Variables examined included sex, age at RE, dose of RE, indication for RE, DTC histology, and outcome. Morphology was determined by blinded retrospective review of all available histologic slides. Outcomes were assessed using Cox proportional hazards model and Ka...
A Bayesian Nonparametric Model for Disease Subtyping: Application to Emphysema Phenotypes

We introduce a novel Bayesian nonparametric model that uses the concept of disease trajectories for disease subtype identification. Although our model is general, we demonstrate that by treating fractions of tissue patterns derived from medical images as compositional data, our model can be applied to study distinct progression trends between population subgroups. Specifically, we apply our algorithm to quantitative emphysema measurements obtained from chest CT scans in the COPDGene Study and show several distinct progression patterns. As emphysema is one of the major components of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death in the United States [1] , an improved definition of emphysema and COPD subtypes is of great interest. We investigate several models with our algorithm, and show that one with $age$ , $pack~years$ (a measure of cigarette exposure), and $smoking~status$ as predictors gives the best compromise between estimated predictive performance and model complexity. This model identified nine subtypes which showed significant associations to seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) known to associate with COPD. Additionally, this model gives better predictive accuracy than multiple, multivariate ordinary least squares regression as demonstrated in a five-fold cross validation analysis. We view our subtyping algorithm as a contribution that can be applied to bridge the gap between CT-level assessment of tissue composition to population-level analysis of compositional trends that vary between disease subtypes.
Catholic healthcare as "leaven". To penetrate and renew society, Catholic healthcare must meet five requirements.

Pope Paul VI described the church as the "leaven" of civil society. Catholic healthcare should strive to be the leaven of U.S. healthcare. To achieve this, it must do five things: Immerse itself in civil society. Catholic healthcare professionals and organizations should participate in efforts to improve public health, even when they are not in full agreement with those efforts. Provide high-quality care. Such care is not always easy to define, but Catholic healthcare can and should set high objective standards for the well-being of its patients. Minister to the suffering and dying. The Catholic view of suffering and death as necessary for human fulfillment is a countercultural idea in our society. Catholic healthcare should, while eliminating physical pain when possible, help people to die in a holy atmosphere. Be a responsible, just employer. Catholic healthcare should treat employees as individuals worthy of respect, not as economic units. Be advocates for the poor. Catholic healthcare should not only provide charity care for the poor; it should also work for universal coverage, care based on need rather than on ability to pay for it.
Rao-Blackwellised particle filter for tracking with application in visual surveillance

Particle filters have become popular tools for visual tracking since they do not require the modeling system to be Gaussian and linear. However, when applied to a high dimensional state-space, particle filters can be inefficient because a prohibitively large number of samples may be required in order to approximate the underlying density functions with desired accuracy. In this paper, by proposing a tracking algorithm based on Rao-Blackwellised particle filter (RBPF), we show how to exploit the analytical relationship between state variables to improve the efficiency and accuracy of a regular particle filter. Essentially, we estimate some of the state variables as in a regular particle filter, and the distributions of the remaining variables are updated analytically using an exact filter (Kalman filter in this paper). We discuss how the proposed method can be applied to facilitate the visual tracking task in typical surveillance applications. Experiments using both simulated data and real video sequences show that the proposed method results in more accurate and more efficient tracking than a regular particle filter.
Lower Extremity Reconstruction with Free Gracilis Flaps

Background There have been significant advancements in lower extremity reconstruction over the last several decades, and the plastic surgeon's armamentarium has grown to include free muscle and fasciocutaneous flaps along with local perforator and propeller flaps. While we have found a use for a variety of techniques for lower extremity reconstruction, the free gracilis has been our workhorse flap due to the ease of harvest, reliability, and low donor site morbidity. Methods This is a retrospective review of a single surgeon's series of free gracilis flaps utilized for lower extremity reconstruction. Demographic information, comorbidities, outcomes, and secondary procedures were analyzed. Results We identified 24 free gracilis flaps. The duration from injury to free flap coverage was ≤ 7 days in 6 patients, 8–30 days in 11 patients, 31–90 days in 4 patients, and > 90 days in 3 patients. There were 22 (92%) successful flaps and an overall limb salvage rate of 92%. There was one partial flap loss. Two flaps underwent incision and drainage in the operating room for infection. Two patients developed donor site hematomas. Four patients underwent secondary procedures for contouring. Our subset of pediatric patients had 100% flap survival and no secondary procedures at a mean 30-month follow-up. Conclusion This study demonstrates the utility of the free gracilis flap in reconstruction of small- to medium-sized defects of the lower extremity. This flap has a high success rate and a low donor site morbidity. Atrophy of the denervated muscle over time allows for good shoe fit, often obviating the need for secondary contouring procedures.
Shell Egg Pasteurization

Abstract Shell eggs are classified as a potentially hazardous food by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Estimates indicate 3.2 million Salmonella Enteritidis contaminated shell eggs (0.004%) are produced annually in the United States leading to over 800,000 cases of salmonellosis. Novel technologies are under development to pasteurize the whole shell egg and also the eggshell surface. Currently, hot-water immersion is the primary pasteurization method for whole shell eggs, but less than 1% of all shell eggs are pasteurized. Alternative whole shell egg pasteurization methods under study include microwave, irradiation, radiofrequency, and combinations thereof. Salmonella contamination of chicken eggshells has been reported as 15.8% of unwashed eggs and 8.3% of washed eggs. Technologies are being developed for surface pasteurization of chicken eggshells including electrolyzed water, atmospheric plasma, ultraviolet light, pulsed light, and ozone. The further adoption of novel pasteurization technologies may eliminate salmonellosis from shell eggs.