cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced relative BOLD signal changes in T2-weighted stimulated echoes

The origin of the stimulus/task-induced signal changes in spin echo (SE) functional MRI (fMRI) at high magnetic fields is dynamic averaging due to diffusion in the presence of field gradients surrounding deoxyhemoglobin-containing microvasculature. The same mechanism is expected to be operative in stimulated echoes (STE). Compared to SE-fMRI, however, STE-fMRI has the potential for larger diffusion weighting and consequently larger stimulus/task-induced signal changes as a result of an additional delay, the mixing time, TM. In the present study, functional signal changes were quantified for both primary echo (PRE) and STE as a function of echo and mixing time. The relative blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal changes in STE were larger than in PRE at the same echo time and increased with both mixing and echo time. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the STE, however, is close to the CNR of the PRE, indicating an increase of physiological noise with longer mixing times. In addition, the signal attenuation due to diffusion in the presence of magnetic field gradients near blood vessels was modeled using Monte Carlo simulations. They support the hypothesis that the sensitivity of the STE to fluctuations of susceptibility-induced magnetic field gradients near microvasculature is enhanced as a result of an extended diffusion time. Magn Reson Med 58:754–762, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The suppression-recovery effect in relation to stimulus repetition and rapid light adaptation.

Abstract The period of suppression and recovery ( S-R effect) of optic tract responses which occurred at the onset of a test flash train (TFT) was also evoked by a single conditioning flash (CF) without intervening repetitive flashes. The duration of the S-R effect increased monotonically as a function of the intensity of the CF. The amplitude of the evoked potentials showing the S-R effect varied inversely with increment thresholds measured electrophysiologically during the S-R period. Thus it was possible to identify the S-R effect with similarly patterned threshold variations during rapid light adaptation in humans.
Civil—Military Structure, Political Communication, and the Democratic Peace:

Looking beyond the democratic/Kantian peace argument that highlights the pacifying effect of regime type on international conflict, this study explores additional, potentially important domestic factors that may influence conflict — most notably, civil—military structure, such as degree of civil versus military control and military manpower system. It also looks into the effects of political communication in terms of diplomatic channels and open media. On the basis of logistic regression analysis for 120 countries during the period from 1950 to 1992, the authors report that strong military influence is more likely to lead to the onset of militarized interstate disputes, wars, and international crises while the presence of conscripted soldiers, diplomatic activities, and open media makes that less likely. These results hold up in the presence of the three Kantian peace variables (i.e. democracy, economic interdependence, and joint membership in international organizations) and other control variables that ...
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Considerations in Community-Acquired Lower Respiratory Tract Infections:

To accomplish the goal of both clinical and microbiological cure in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections, microbiological data along with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data sho...
Differential effect of aminoglycoside treatment on glomerular filtration and renal reabsorption of lysozyme in rats

Abstract The aminoglycosides gentamicin, netilmicin and tobramycin were each administered (30 mg/kg/day) to male Wistar rats for 21 days. At 7, 14 and 21 days rats were anesthetized and renal clearances of inulin and egg-white lysozyme were quantified. Plasma concentration of lysozyme varied between 20 and 120 mg/liter in control and aminoglycoside treated rats. Inulin clearance (GFR) average 0.96 ml/min/kidney in control rats. Whereas GFR decreased to an average value of 0.47 ml/min/kidney in gentamicin treated rats, GFR did not fall in tobramycin treated rats, averaging 0.97 ml/min/kidney over the entire treatment period. In netilmicin rats GFR declined to 0.53 ml/min/kidney after 7 days of treatment and then increased to 0.78 ml/min/kidney after 14 days and 21 days of treatment. Reabsorption of lysozyme averaged about 94% of the filtered load in control rats. Reabsorption of lysozyme decreased in gentamicin treated rats to about 58% after 7 days and 14 days of treatment and increased to 79% after 21 days of treatment. After tobramycin reabsorption of lysozyme decreased to about 67% after 7 days of treatment and increased to 85% after 14 days and 21 days of treatment. Reabsorption of lysozyme remained unchanged when compared to controls over the entire treatment period in netilmicin treated rats. Thus, gentamicin reduced both GFR and renal reabsorption of lysozyme. Netilmicin reduced GFR somewhat without altering lysozyme reabsorption whereas tobramycin compromised lysosyme reabsorption without altering GFR. These differences might suggest differences in site(s) of action of various aminoglycosides.
M-ARIANE (Mirror-assisted Active Readout In A Neutron Environment): an x-ray imaging system for implosion experiments on the National Ignition Facility at ignition neutron yields

X-ray imaging diagnostics instruments will operate in a harsh ionizing radiation background environment during ignition experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). This background consists of mostly neutrons and gamma rays produced by inelastic scattering of neutrons. An imaging system, M-ARIANE (Mirror-assisted Active Readout In A Neutron Environment), based on an x-ray framing camera with film, has been designed to operate in such a harsh neutron-induced background environment. Multilayer x-ray mirrors and a shielding enclosure are the key components of this imaging system which is designed to operate at ignition neutron yields of ~1e18 on NIF. Modeling of the neutronand gamma-induced backgrounds along with the signal and noise of the x-ray imaging system is presented that display the effectiveness of this design.
A simple method to assess the sensitivity of packed distillation columns to maldistribution

This paper provides a new tool for those concerned with the design or performance of packed distillation columns. It gives a simple method to assess the sensitivity of a packed bed to maldistribution. Despite extensive prior work on this topic, the concept proposed here appears to have been previously overlooked. A parallel column model is often used to assess the sensitivity of a packed bed in a distillation column to liquid or vapour maldistribution. However, it is well known that the parallel column model is oversimplified because it involves an arbitrary number of parallel columns, it neglects lateral mixing, and the actual extent of maldistribution is unknown. For these reasons, the parallel column model can only be used as a way of identifying packed beds that are particularly susceptible to maldistribution, rather than as a predictive design tool. In this paper it is shown that sensitivity to maldistribution can be predicted much more simply using a single parameter f max , which is the maximum maldistribution that could possibly occur in a parallel column while still being able to achieve the required separation. It is shown that f max can be determined very simply, for example from the output of a conventional column simulation program, and a parallel column model is not actually needed. Using f max , the sensitivity to maldistribution of a proposed packed bed can now easily be compared at the design stage to other packed beds that are known to work satisfactorily. If necessary, the design can then be modified to reduce the sensitivity to maldistribution. Routine calculation of f max during design will help to reduce the significant number of distillation column problems that presently occur because of maldistribution.
HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL AND CANCER INCIDENCE: DATA FROM THE FRAMINGHAM HEART STUDY

Epidemiologic data demonstrate a strong inverse correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and cardiovascular disease risk. We recently extended this observation to include an association of low HDL-C with incident cancer in a systemic analysis of lipid-altering trials. The
SPR imaging study of DNA wrapped single wall carbon nanotube (ssDNA-SWCNT) adsorption on a model biological (collagen) substrate

The adsorption kinetics of single stranded-DNA dispersed single wall carbon nanotubes (ssDNA-SWCNTs) onto an immobilized collagen layer in a microfluidic channel was probed using surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi). The adsorption was measured for a range of both nanotube and solution parameters including the nanotube concentration, nanotube length, solution pH, and the type of medium (buffer and river water). The kinetic adsorption data suggests that the adsorption of the nanotubes to the collagen layer is irreversible in HEPES buffer, pH ≈ 7.4, at room temperature, with the nanotube adsorption displaying two different kinetic adsorption regimes for different concentration ranges. A stretched exponential function fit indicates that a transition of adsorption kinetics from single exponential (>40 μg/mL) to non-exponential kinetics (<40 μg/mL) occurs as the nanotube concentration decreases, suggesting that a diffusion-limited process was predominant at lower concentrations (<40 μg/mL). Adsorption measurements as a function of nanotube length also displayed differences in the apparent adsorption processes. Adsorption of shorter nanotubes (≈ 40 nm) was found to follow single exponential kinetics, while longer nanotubes (≈ 300 nm) adsorbed much more slowly, consistent with adsorption partially influenced by diffusion-limited processes. Finally, to evaluate the potential differences in adsorption for unintentionally released nanotubes in a riparian environment, nanotubes were stably dispersed in a sample of river water and exposed to the collagen layer. Compared to the adsorption under HEPES buffer the nanotubes in the river water were found to exhibit a reduced rate of adsorption. It is likely that passivation of the collagen layer by dissolved organic species could thus affect the fate of released nanotubes in a natural environment.
Teacher–student relationships and school adjustment: progress and remaining challenges

This commentary highlights the ways in which the articles in this special issue contribute to the second generation of research on teacher–student relationships. Second generation research aims to ...
Social Networking as a New Trend in E-Marketing

In the world of e-marketing, new business models are frequently introduced, and new trends have started to emerge. One such latest trend is social networking websites, many of which have attracted not only large number of users and visitors, but also online advertising companies to place their ads on the sites. In this paper we explore online social networking as a new trend of e-marketing. We first examine the online social network as a new form of web-based services, and compare social networks with other representative web-based services by using the 7C framework. We then analyze social networking from a business strategy point of view, by creating a business model for online social networking sites using Porter’s Five Forces Model. We also discuss the primary revenue models that may be used by organizations and companies providing online social networking services.
Saliva and other taste stimuli are important for gustatory processing of linoleic acid

Paradoxically, bilateral transection of the chorda tympani nerve (CTX) raises the taste discrimination threshold for the free fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA), yet the chorda tympani nerve (CT) is unresponsive to lingual application of LA alone. LA may require a background of saliva to activate taste cells, since CTX decreases saliva production through denervation of the submaxillary and sublingual salivary glands. To assess the role of saliva, we measured LA taste discrimination thresholds for animals whose submaxillary and sublingual salivary glands were removed and also recorded CT responses to LA mixed in artificial saliva. Partial desalivation shifted LA discrimination thresholds from between 5.5 and 11 μM to between 11 and 22 μM. However, this effect was not as pronounced as previously seen with CTX animals. Surprisingly, the CT was unresponsive to LA mixed with artificial saliva, suggesting that artificial saliva may lack components necessary for LA taste. Additionally, fats may primarily enhance other tastes. We previously reported that LA increases CT responses to monosodium glutamate (MSG). Thus we also recorded CT whole nerve responses to taste mixtures of LA and sodium chloride (NaCl), sucrose (SUC), citric acid (CA), or quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) in anesthetized rats. We found that LA increased CT responses to NaCl but did not alter CT responses to SUC, CA, and QHCl. Thus CT recordings either lack the sensitivity to detect small changes to SUC, CA, and QHCl or LA may affect CT responses to MSG and NaCl only, perhaps by specifically modulating gustatory processing of Na+.
Staggered baryon operators with flavor SU(3) quantum numbers

The construction of the first baryon operators for staggered lattice QCD exploited the taste symmetry to emulate physical quark flavor; contemporary 2+1 flavor simulations explicitly include three physical quark flavors and necessitate interpreting a valence sector with 12 quarks. After discussing expected features of the resulting baryon spectrum, I consider the spectra of operators transforming irreducibly under SU(3){sub F}xGTS, the direct product of flavor SU(3){sub F} and the geometrical time-slice group of the 1-flavor staggered theory. I then describe the construction of a set of maximally local baryon operators transforming irreducibly under SU(3){sub F}xGTS and enumerate this set. In principle, the operators listed here could be used to extract the masses of all the lightest spin-(1/2) and spin-(3/2) baryon resonances of staggered QCD. Using appropriate operators from this set in partially quenched simulations should allow for particularly clean 2+1 flavor calculations of the masses of the nucleon, {delta}, {sigma}*, {xi}*, and {omega}{sup -}.
An Annotation Scheme for Cross-Cultural Argumentation and Persuasion Dialogues

We present a novel annotation scheme for cross-cultural argumentation and persuasion dialogues. This scheme is an adaptation of existing coding schemes on negotiation, following a review of literature on cross-cultural differences in negotiation styles. The scheme has been refined through application to coding both two-party and multi-party negotiation dialogues in three different domains, and is general enough to be applicable to different domains with few if any extensions. Dialogues annotated with the scheme have been used to successfully learn culture-specific dialogue policies for argumentation and persuasion.
Rat and human HARE/stabilin-2 are clearance receptors for high- and low-molecular-weight heparins

The human hyaluronic acid (HA) receptor for endocytosis (HARE/stabilin-2) is the primary clearance receptor for systemic HA, chondroitin sulfates, and heparin, but not for heparan sulfate or kerata...
Beginning Again: Teaching, Natality and Social Transformation

TEACHING IN “THE GAP BETWEEN PAST AND FUTURE” In the preface to her latest anthology of writings by and about women of color, Gloria Anzaldua describes what happened when the students in a class she taught at the University of Santa Cruz on women of color in the U.S. confronted one another about racism. In this direct confrontation, racism was not approached as a historical phenomenon, but in its “enunciative present,” as a system of persistent racial privilege and marginalization. This was no abstract, depersonalized discussion: Anzaldua writes about her students of color “holding whites accountable” for racism, and about her white women students in turn “begging” students of color to “teach them” about racism and to tell them what they wanted white students to do about it. Anzaldua describes her students of color’s refusal to become engaged in “time-consuming dialogues” with white women, explaining that the women of color in the class “expressed their hundred years weariness of trying to teach whites about Racism.”
Classification of anomalous traces of privileged and parallel programs by neural networks

The focus of intrusion detection has recently shifted from user-based and connection-based to process-based intrusion detection. Substantial research has been done in the analysis of system call logs using different methods including neural networks. Detection is based on the classification of short sequences as anomalous or normal. The classification of interest, however, is the status of the program trace, not just the short sequences. In this paper we report the results of a comparative study of three different methods for on-line classification of program traces based detection of anomalies in sequences of system calls by neural networks. These results demonstrate that methods that use information about the locality of anomalies are more effective than those that only look at the number of anomalies.
Equilibrium geometries of small metal clusters and their relationship to crystalline structure

Abstract Based upon the molecular orbital picture, a simple prescription is given to predict the equilibrium geometries of small metal clusters. The results are verified by actual calculations of total energies of clusters of mono- and poly-valent atoms using the SCF-LCAO-MO method. Trimers are shown to be the building blocks of the crystalline phase. Some limitations on using trimers to build small clusters are discussed.
Assessing Stress and Predicting Mortality in Economically Significant Crustaceans

Reducing animal stress and mortality associated with bycatch and discard in fishing, aquaculture, and live-market trade depends upon improvements in fishing gear and the practices employed in capture, holding, handling, and transport. Several approaches have been used to evaluate the likely mortality of commercially important crustaceans: (1) assess external injuries assuming a direct relationship to mortality, (2) extrapolate from direct observations of mortality under specific environmental conditions and handling practices, (3) evaluate the physiological condition of test animals to predict the associated mortality, and (4) assess behavioral indicators of vitality. Intrinsic variables, such as animal size, gender, and shell condition, and external variables, such as season, fishing and environmental conditions, and type of injury (physiological and mechanical), all have large effects on the complex interactions between stressors and mortality. This review shows that physiological parameters provide ins...
Stimulating statistical thinking through situated simulations.

Literacy and informed decision making in an uncertain world require the ability to reason statistically. However, research indicates that, although conceptions of statistics and probability have st...
Computing pronoun antecedents in an English query system

In this paper I discuss how the Datalog English query system resolves pronominal references to extra-sentential antecedents that represent database records. When the system encounters a pronoun in a query, it searches through saved representations of earlier queries for an antecedent. A number of criteria must be satisfied before a proposed antecedent will be accepted. Among these are satisfaction of the pronoun's grammatical features and tests for contradictions and tautologies. Additional discriminators are applied in the event that there are two competing antecedents being considered. Of special interest is use of a hold queue mechanism which allows relaxation of the grammatical features of number and gender expressed by a personal pronoun. All of the strategies are independent of any application domain and do not fall into those parts of the system that need to be replaced or modified to interface Datalog to a new database.
Telecenter for secure, remote, collaborative child fatality review

Objectives Child fatality review (CFR) is the systematic, interdisciplinary, multi-agency examination of paediatric deaths. While CFR findings may influence policies and reduce preventable fatalities, limited resources challenge accurate CFR data collection and prevention recommendations. Therefore, using technology to improve efficiency of reviews and access to remote participants could enhance the CFR experience. This project aimed to adapt a previously developed collaborative web-based appliance for remote, secure, collaborative review of crash investigations for use with CFR. Methods The user-centred design and evaluation process included: (1) key informant interviews and visits to CFR sessions to determine current practices, (2) an anonymous, qualitative, internet-based survey of 64 Pennsylvania CFR team leaders, (3) redesign and adaptation of the Telecenter appliance based on survey results and team feedback and (4) pilot-testing of the adapted Telecenter application at an actual local CFR. Results The qualitative informant interviews identified facilitators and barriers for adoption of the Telecenter. Facilitators included: team member training, improved communication and collaboration, more efficient reviews, and enhanced preventive efforts. Barriers identified included: concern for confidentiality and security, concern about accepting a novel CFR method, low interest in using technology, cost and maintenance. The survey of CFR team leaders identified themes for improving CFR team functioning including the need for evidence-based prevention resources, increased team training and efficient information gathering. The Telecenter was redesigned and adapted based on the information gathered and was successfully piloted for use with CFR. Conclusions Telecenter met the design goal to improve information dissemination and identification of fatality prevention strategies for CFR.
The relationship between perceived discrimination, economic pressure, depressive symptoms, and educational attainment of ethnic minority emerging adults: The moderating role of school connectedness during adolescence

Rising rates of the ethnic minority population in the United States have resulted in a plethora of research addressing minority adolescents’ and adults’ experiences with stress and discrimination as they reside in the United States. While many studies have focused on the negative impact of both racial discrimination and economic stress that can lead to poorer psychological and academic outcomes, fewer studies have addressed protective factors that can help them to cope with these negative experiences over time. Utilizing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a longitudinal study that examines adolescents and their families, this study extended the current state of the literature by examining the relationship between discrimination, economic pressure, depressive symptoms and educational attainment using a national representative, multiethnic sample. In addition, the moderating role of school connectedness on adolescents’ psychological well-being and later educational attainment during emerging adulthood was also addressed. Overall, school connectedness did not buffer the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms or educational attainment. Similarly, school connectedness did not buffer the relationships between economic pressure and depressive symptoms, nor its relationship with educational attainment. School connectedness had an interaction on the relationship between depressive symptoms and educational attainment, and the nature of its interaction effect was discussed. The present study also compared and found both gender and ethnic differences on the aforementioned relationships among African American, Latino American, and Asian American adolescents. Further research on these relationships, as well as implications for interventions that serve ethnic minority adolescents, are discussed.
Tax-Spend or Fiscal Illusion? Allowing for Asymmetric Revenue Effects in Expenditure Error-Correction Models

The existing empirical literature on the US federal revenue-expenditure nexus has had mixed findings. Amongst those papers presenting evidence in favor of causation running from taxes to expenditures, support for the conventional, Friedman-type tax-spend hypothesis is nearly ubiquitous. Evidence in favor of the competing, fiscal illusion hypothesis (where taxes affect expenditures inversely) is scant. Using quarterly US data from 1959:3 to 2007:4, I argue that allowing for asymmetric revenue effects results in a compelling case for fiscal illusion: revenue increases inversely Granger-cause expenditure changes. This finding is robust to incorporating additional asymmetries in the error-correction process to long-run budgetary disequilibria.
Imagining Corporate Sustainability as a Public Good Rather than a Corporate Bad

Corporations have been criticized for their environmental misdeeds for over a century, so it is not surprising that many view corporate approaches to sustainability with skepticism. Reports of green-washing and other forms of misleading advertising by a handful of corporations only serve to reinforce this negative perception.
Monkey Pathogenicity of various Strains of Murine Poliomyelitis Virus. I. Experiments with Lansing, MEF, and Yale-SK Group.

ConclusionThe data presented above demonstrate that strains of mouse-adapted human poliomyelitis virus may exhibit wide variations in the degree of their pathogenicity for rhesus monkeys. The Lansing virus, for instance, harvested from remote mouse passages, gave no evidence of being pathogenic for rhesus monkeys in repeated tests. The MEF virus, originally rhesus-pathogenic, apparently suffered a progressive loss of its pathogenicity for rhesus monkeys during serially maintained rapid mouse passages. The Y-SK virus, finally, seemed to have undergone but little change in its pathogenic power for rhesus monkeys as the strain was passed rapidly through mice. It is realized that the described phenomena may not always be duplicated in different laboratories since the Lansing virus has frequently been reported by others as being fully rhesus-pathogenic. Yet the authenticity of our strains is attested by the fact that all three murine strains had fully preserved their biological and immunological characteristic...
Chlorpyrifos-Methyl Degradation and Biological Efficacy Toward Maize Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Corn Stored at Four Temperatures and Three Moisture Contents

Corn was treated with 6 ppm chlorpyrifos-methyl and stored for 10 mo at each of four temperatures (15.0, 22.5, 30.0, and 37.5°C) and three moisture contents (11.4, 12.4, and 14.4%). Every 2 mo, samples were removed from storage and analyzed for chlorpyrifos-methyl residue and infested with maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. Initial residues on the corn were 4.95 ± 0.67 ppm. Of the residues that were lost, most were lost during the first 2 mo of storage. The loss rate increased as temperature and moisture content increased. No weevils survived on corn stored at 15.0 or 22.5°C, except for 7.2% of the weevils that survived at month 10 on corn stored at 22.5°C. Weevil survival increased as moisture content increased in corn stored at 30.0 and 37.5°C. The threshold for weevil survival was ≈1.22 ppm chlorpyrifos-methyl. Population growth, the percentage of insectdamaged kernels, and dockage weight were all correlated with insect survival.
Therapy Analysis of 84 Cases of Congenital Intestinal Atresia by EBA And RTA Technique

Objective To summarize the management of 84 cases congenital atresia and compare the technique of end-to-back anastomosis(EBA)and reforming tapering anastomosis(RTA).Methods Seventy-one cases of jejuno-ileal atresia were divided into EBA group and RTA group.The gestation age,body weight,admission age,post-operation day for start feeding,length in hospital stay and main complications were compared.Results There were no difference in the gestation age,body weight,admission age,but start feeding time in post-operation and duration time in hospital stay in RTA group were short than in EBA group(P 0.05);start feeding time in jejunal atresia group was late than that in ileal atresia group aften jejunal atresia operation.However,comparation of EBA group and RTA group,whether jejunal atresia or ileal atresia,in the complication morbidity of anastomotic leakage and obstruction were no obviously difference(P 0.05).Conclusion Reforming tapering anastomosis is a ideal operation for congenial intestinal atresia.
Interleukin-4 enhances murine bone marrow macrophage M-CSF receptor expression by a posttranscriptional mechanism

Activated T-lymphocytes secrete interleukin-4 (IL-4), which has been shown to modulate a variety of monocyte activities requiring monocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). To account for this interaction, we postulated that IL-4 acts on target cells by altering the expression of the M-CSF receptor (M-CSFr). To test this hypothesis, murine bone marrow macrophages were cultured under conditions that down-regulate M-CSFr and the effect of IL-4 on the reexpression of the receptor measured by binding of 125I-labeled M-CSF to the cells. The data show that incubation with IL-4 results in a dose-dependent, 2-3 x increase in M-CSFr with no change in binding affinity and a maximal effect on binding at about 12 h. This increase in M-CSFr is dependent upon new, specific protein synthesis as shown by the inhibitory action of cycloheximide, and gel analysis of radiolabeled, specific protein, immunoprecipitated with anti-M-CSFr antibody. Treatment with IL-4 does not stimulate M-CSFr mRNA expression but, consistent with enhanced receptor levels, does result in a heightened proliferative response to M-CSF. Thus, IL-4 affects M-CSF treated monocytic cells, at least in part, by altering the expression of M-CSFr.
The association of prenatal nutrition and educational services with low birth weight rates in a Florida program

Nutrition services and education, provided as components of normal prenatal care, have a key role in preventing preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW). To determine the influence of these components on a woman's risk of having a LBW infant, the authors examined groups of patients who were receiving the services. Bivariate analyses were made of 9,024 prenatal charts of single births. Most women received nutrition education, prescriptions for nutrient supplements, screenings for anemia, and dietary assessments. A greater proportion of the women at high risk received the interventions than did women at lower risk. The presence of educational components and assays for anemia were associated with a lower risk of a LBW delivery in the total group and in the high risk groups.
From Eros (silicon) to Gaia (storytelling business): transmitting HEVC-coded video over broadband mobile LTE

Being connected “anywhere anytime” has become a way of life for much of the world's population. Thanks to major technological advances in internet, wireless communication, video technology, silicon manufacturing, etc., our mobile devices have become not only faster and more powerful, but also smaller and sleeker. With the popularity of rich media on the rise, the no. 1 data traffic over the mobile network is attributed to video. That is the reason why we depict the Freeman Dyson's book title “From Eros to Gaia.” Equipped with rich media capabilities, our mobile devices enable a completely different storytelling experience unlike anything the human race has experienced before. In this paper, we review the latest technological evolutions in the wireless space and in the video space, namely long-term evolution and high-efficiency video coding, respectively. We then discuss how these advanced technologies impact our way of life at present and in years to come.
Towards a patient satisfaction based hospital recommendation system

Surveys are used by hospitals to evaluate patient satisfaction and to improve operation. Collected satisfaction data is usually represented to the hospital administration using statistical charts and graphs. Although this statistical data and visualization is helpful, but because of the size and dimension of the dataset, it is very difficult if not impossible, to identify important factors that could be evaluated and improved for better patient satisfaction. This work presents an unsupervised data-driven methodology that discovers the specific issues reflected by the dataset from the patients' point of view. The goal of the introduced exploratory data analysis methodology is to determine hidden patterns in the dataset and to identify the main causes of dissatisfaction. To this end, two layers of data analysis is performed. In the first layer, the analysis is only performed on the satisfaction questions. The analysis consists of handling the high dimensionality using self-organizing maps, grouping similar patients using clustering methods and labeling each cluster according to their salient features. In the second layer, demographic data of patients of each cluster is fed to the same analysis process. Putting the salient features of a cluster and its sub-clusters together, one can extract correlations. The correlations are validated using multiple statistical methods applied to the dataset. In a following work, the correlations extracted using this methodology will be ranked and converted to recommendations that can be used by healthcare providers as well as patients.
Revisiting the Declining Price Anomaly in Wine Auctions

This paper investigates the declining price anomaly in wine auctions. The anomaly refers to the observation that when identical lots of wine are sold sequentially in a single auction, prices are more likely to decrease with later lots. Using The Chicago Wine Company's auction data, we find no evidence of declining prices in sequential wine auctions. The results are robust and consistent across wine price ranges.
Linkage of Safety Information to Regulatory Action

The evolution of medical devices during the past 50 years has had a major positive effect on human health — and we can be certain that the devices that are available now will change substantially over time. We can also be certain that complications and failures associated with such devices that are not identified at the time of approval for human use will appear over time. This is the challenge of regulatory science with respect to medical devices. Although the delivery of pharmaceutical and biologic agents may change, the parent chemical compound or biologic entity does not change over time. . . .
Effects of Altered Dietary Salt Intake in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure and reduces proteinuria in patients with CKD, but there is no evidence to determine whether lowering salt consumption leads to clinically significant reductions in end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular events, or all-cause mortality.
The Cartan Structural Equations in Classical Riemannian Geometry

There seem to be two ways to approach Riemannian geometry, one thru the Calculus of Variations, the other thru the theory of connexions. These two approaches also tend in different directions within Riemannian geometry, the Calculus of Variations approach emphasizing (before one gets to Morse theory) metric properties, the theory of connexions emphasizing group theoretic aspects.
Adherence to Depression Treatment in Primary Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Nonadherence to antidepressant medication is common and leads to poor outcomes. Early nonadherence is especially problematic. Objective To test the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention to improve early adherence among older patients whose primary care physician newly initiated an antidepressant for depression. Design, Setting, and Participants The Treatment Initiation and Participation Program (TIP) was offered in a 2-site randomized clinical effectiveness study between January 2011 and December 2014 at primary care practices in New York, New York, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Analyses began in February 2016. All participants were middle-aged and older adults (aged ≥55 years) who received newly initiated depression treatment by their primary care physician and recruited within 10 days of their prescription. Analyses were intention-to-treat. Interventions Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (TIP) or treatment as usual. Participants in the TIP group identified and addressed barriers to adherence, including stigma, misconceptions, and fears about treatment, before developing a personalized adherence strategy. The Treatment Initiation and Participation Program was delivered in three 30-minute contacts scheduled during a 6-week period just after the antidepressant was prescribed. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was self-reported adherence on the Brief Medication Questionnaire, with adequate early adherence defined as taking 80% or more of the prescribed doses at 6 and 12 weeks. The secondary outcome was depression severity. Results In total, 231 middle-aged and older adults (167 women [72.3%] and 64 men [27.7%]) without significant cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to the TIP intervention (n = 115) or treatment as usual (n = 116). Participants had a mean (SD) age of 67.3 (8.4) years. Participants in the TIP group were 5 times more likely to be adherent at 6 weeks (odds ratio, 5.54; 95% CI, 2.57 to 11.96; χ 2 1 = 19.05; P 2 1 = 13.34; P t 337 = 4.46; adjusted P t 369 = 1.93; P = .051). Conclusions and Relevance The Treatment Initiation and Participation Program is an effective intervention to improve early adherence to pharmacotherapy. Improved adherence can promote improvement in depression. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01301859
Breakdown Characteristics of TiN/HfxZr1-xO2/Al2O3/Ge Gate Stacks

This work evaluates the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristics of TiN/ HfxZr1-xO2/Al2O3/Ge gate stacks by changing the Zr content and with slot-plane antenna plasma oxidation (SPAO), performed immediately after the ALD deposition of the high-k layers. It was observed that the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) decreases with Zr addition in HfO2 with up to 75% of Zr incorporation. With 100% Zr incorporation EOT increased significantly. This is possibly due to the formation of low-k interfacial GeO2 at the interface for 100% Zr whereas for other samples have comparatively thinner GeOx interfacial layers. Weibull plots shows that charge to breakdown (QBD) increased with increase the Zr percentage. However, the breakdown acceleration factor decreased with Zr percentage up to 75% and increased rapidly for 100% Zr content. It is, therefore, believed that GeO2 leads the TDDB degradation.
Frequency of Inverted Electrocardiographic T Waves (Cerebral T Waves) in Patients With Acute Strokes and Their Relation to Left Ventricular Wall Motion Abnormalities.

Transient, symmetric, and deep inverted electrocardiogram (ECG) T waves in the setting of stroke, commonly referred to as cerebral T waves, are rare, and the underlying mechanism is unclear. Our study aimed to test the hypothesis that cerebral T waves are associated with transient cardiac dysfunction. This retrospective study included 800 patients admitted with the primary diagnosis of hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. ECGs were examined for cerebral T waves, defined as T-wave inversion of ≥5 mm depth in ≥4 contiguous precordial leads. Echocardiograms of those meeting these criteria were examined for the presence of left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities. Follow-up evaluation included both ECG and echocardiogram. Of the 800 patients, 17 had cerebral T waves on ECG (2.1%). All 17 patients had ischemic strokes, of which 11 were in the middle cerebral artery distribution (65%), and 2 were cerebellar (12%), whereas the remaining 4 involved other locations. Follow-up ECG showed resolution of the T-wave changes in all 17 patients. Of these patients, 14 (82%) had normal wall motion, and 3 had transient wall motion abnormalities (18%). Two of these patients had Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy with apical ballooning, and the third had globally reduced LV function. Coronary angiography showed no significant disease to explain the LV dysfunction. In summary, in our cohort of patients with acute stroke, cerebral T waves were rare and occurred only in ischemic stroke. Eighteen percent of patients with cerebral T waves had significant transient wall motion abnormalities. Patients with stroke with cerebral T waves, especially in those with ischemic strokes, should be assessed for cardiac dysfunction.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Abstract Background: Class III obesity is a global health emergency associated with an increase in the incidence of many other diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemi...
Formal Diatonic Intervallic Notation

Numbers called quality modifiers are used to identify interval qualities: 0 numerically represents perfect, 1/2 represents major, –1/2 represents minor, and so on. These modifiers are linked with diatonic class intervals as ordered pairs that mimic common interval notation. For example, a minor third is represented by (–1/2, 2). A binary operator is constructed that allows these ordered pairs to be added consistent with our expectations. Similarly, accidental modifiers numerically identify the number of sharps or flats attached to a given note: 0 indicates no attached accidentals, negative integers indicate the number of flats attached, and positive integers indicate the number of sharps attached. These modifiers are linked with diatonic classes as ordered pairs that mimic common note names. For example, the note G\(\flat\) is represented by (–1,4) and Gx by (2,4). Intervals and notes represented by these ordered pairs are said to be in MD-notation (MD for modifier-diatonic). A group action and generalized interval system are defined for intervals and notes in MD-notation. An implied quartertone system is also discussed.
Eighteenth—Century Physics and Mathematics: A Reassessment

We now need to examine the plausibility of this demarcation of physics and mathematics in the eighteenth century. Methods indeed defined other disciplinary fields such that there were multiple disciplines of astronomy, celestial mechanics and observational astronomy, as well as mechanics. There was even an attempt to establish a mathematical chemistry. Eighteenth century practitioners narrowed their specialties by the particular phenomena that yielded results to well defined practices. In this way chemists began to differentiate their specialty from the broad field encompassed by observation and experiment. Methods became a means of investigation and an explanation of the phenomena those methods uncovered. Interpretation, especially as natural philosophy, was more speculation than an aspect of the investigation of the structure and functioning of nature. Regarding the disciplines through the lens of a methodological definition, some of the important unique social as well as cognitive characteristics of eighteenth century science begin to coalesce. Histories of the sciences written in the eighteenth century by practitioners in their fields of specialization confirm the divisions of the sciences by method, as does the social structure of major scientific societies and the content divisions of their journals.
Relationship between Consumer Perceptions and Brand Preference in Photoshopped and Non-Photoshopped Online Fashion Advertisements

Photoshop, a digital alteration software, is a common tool in the fashion industry due to its capabilities to enhance models in advertising photographs. The act of digitally altering the appearance of models in advertisements can be controversial as it promotes a certain ideal standard of beauty. Though consumers have different preferences regarding photoshopped and non-photoshopped images, viewing these digitally-enhanced advertisements can affect a consumer's body image, self-esteem, and their relationship with the brand itself. The current research analyzed consumer perceptions of online fashion advertisements by examining body image, online visual media literacy, self-esteem, self-congruence, brand image perception, image preference, and brand preference.
Nest Attendance Patterns in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

The behavioral variation in alligator nest attendance has characterized the species as iconic in common lore and perplexed biologists for decades. Here, we quantify patterns in nest attendance among mothers as well as variation in such patterns throughout two nesting seasons. We employed camera traps controlled by circuit boards to capture time-lapse photographs of alligator nest areas for the duration of each nesting season. Data revealed a bimodal pattern of nest attendance over time that significantly varied across incubation days in both 2011 and 2012, and also differed between years. Nest attendance also differed among hours in the diel cycle, and this pattern was the same for both years. Nest visits were frequent immediately after the eggs were laid, and attendance behavior attenuated rapidly after the first week of incubation. Nest visitation then increased near the end of the incubation period with the largest portion of visits recorded during hatching and the maternal movement of hatchlings away ...
Methionine Sulfoxide Reductases of Archaea

Methionine sulfoxide reductases are found in all domains of life and are important in reversing the oxidative damage of the free and protein forms of methionine, a sulfur containing amino acid particularly sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Archaea are microbes of a domain of life distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes. Archaea are well known for their ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions that range from habitats of high ROS, such as hypersaline lakes of intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation and desiccation, to hydrothermal vents of low concentrations of dissolved oxygen at high temperature. Recent evidence reveals the methionine sulfoxide reductases of archaea function not only in the reduction of methionine sulfoxide but also in the ubiquitin-like modification of protein targets during oxidative stress, an association that appears evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes. Here is reviewed methionine sulfoxide reductases and their distribution and function in archaea.