cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient flux dynamics in optically irradiated YBCO thin-film switches

A high-current-density, superconducting thin film will exclude a perpendicular magnetic field, produced either by a coil or a magnet. When the film is driven into the normal state by a fast optical pulse, the screening currents decay, allowing flux to enter. The process of flux entry can be observed by measuring the induced voltage across a coil closely coupled to the film. This is equivalent to the operation of an opening switch and can be used to generate fast current pulses. This concept has been experimentally demonstrated in low and high magnetic fields, corresponding to the reversible and irreversible regimes, using 500-nm-thick YBCO films and a 1.064-/spl mu/m, 150-ps pulsed laser. Theoretical analyses of current redistribution in the film associated with the transient flux motion are compared with experimental results. Prospects for applications of this concept are discussed. >
Regional anticoagulation: hemodialysis with hypertonic trisodium citrate.

We have developed a simplified method for performing regional citrate anticoagulation during hemodialysis. High ultrafiltration rates and specialized equipment were obviated by the use of a 1.6-mol/L trisodium citrate solution and a standard calcium-containing dialysate. Thirty-six dialyses were performed with this technique on 14 stable and 22 high bleeding risk patients. There was no significant decline in plasma-ionized calcium during citrate dialysis, ie, 3.85 ± 0.34 mg/dL (mean ± SE) predialysis, to 3.31 ± 0.26 postdialysis; furthermore, no patient develped neuromuscular symptoms or evidence of cardiovascular instability from hypocalcemia. Serum sodium rose with this procedure, but not to hypernatremic levels. This method of citrate dialysis is safe and effective during continuous blood flow (double-needle) hemodialysis, and is no more difficult to perform than conventional heparin dialysis. Single-needle (reciprocating blood flow) hemodialysis was successfully performed by the additional use of a calcium-free dialysate and separate calcium chloride infusion (10% calcium chloride), but risks the production of unexpected hypercalcemia.
Social incentives for gender differences in the propensity to initiate negotiations: Sometimes it does hurt to ask

Abstract Four experiments show that gender differences in the propensity to initiate negotiations may be explained by differential treatment of men and women when they attempt to negotiate. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants evaluated written accounts of candidates who did or did not initiate negotiations for higher compensation. Evaluators penalized female candidates more than male candidates for initiating negotiations. In Experiment 3, participants evaluated videotapes of candidates who accepted compensation offers or initiated negotiations. Male evaluators penalized female candidates more than male candidates for initiating negotiations; female evaluators penalized all candidates for initiating negotiations. Perceptions of niceness and demandingness explained resistance to female negotiators. In Experiment 4, participants adopted the candidate’s perspective and assessed whether to initiate negotiations in same scenario used in Experiment 3. With male evaluators, women were less inclined than men to negotiate, and nervousness explained this effect. There was no gender difference when evaluator was female.
Expression of yeast 5S RNA is independent of the rDNA enhancer region

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, each of the tandemly repeated ribosomal RNA genes carries a 5S gene within the 'non-transcribed' spacer region. These 5S RNA genes lie between the rDNA enhancer and the promoter of rRNA transcription. Since there is roughly equimolar synthesis of 5S RNA and the 35S rRNA precursor transcript we asked whether the enhancer plays a role in regulating the transcription of 5S RNA. A marked 5S gene was inserted into plasmids designed to test rDNA enhancer function. The enhancer failed to stimulate 5S RNA synthesis even though it stimulated transcription of a distal rRNA test gene greater than 10-fold. This failure is consistent with a model of enhancer function that proposes specific interactions between the enhancer and the 35S rRNA promoter via a looping out of the intervening 5S RNA gene.
Accountability for Reading and Readers: What the Numbers Don't Tell

The authors share what they learned when they assessed second graders' acts of reading. The children were in three different reading programs: Two were commercially produced and emphasized systematic, explicit phonics instruction (Reading Mastery, Open Court); the other was a literature-based program using an adaptation of guided reading. The authors address what it means to be accountable to children involved in the complex act of reading and argue that by such measures of accountability we learn much about readers that simple numbers from tests cannot tell.
n-3 fatty acids and urinary excretion of nitric oxide metabolites in humans

Fish oils rich in n-3 fatty acids have been shown to augment endothelium-dependent vasodilation in human peripheral and coronary arteries. This suggests that n-3 fatty acids may enhance arterial nitric oxide production. To explore this hypothesis we measured total urinary nitrate output in healthy volunteers supplemented with a fish oil concentrate (FOC; n = 15) or purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; n = 14) in a placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. The FOC contained 41% EPA and 23% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ethyl esters, whereas EPA was 91% pure; the placebo contained olive oil ethyl esters. Doses were 5 g placebo, 5 g FOC, and 3 g EPA to keep the total n-3 fatty acid content equal in the latter two groups. The placebo period was 2 wk long and was followed by a 3-wk n-3 fatty acid phase. At the end of each period, 24-h urine collections and fasting blood samples were obtained. Serum and urinary nitrate concentrations were measured in a blinded fashion. The FOC produced a 43% increase in daily, creatinine-adjusted, nitrate excretion rates (P < 0.029). Because serum nitrate concentrations were not different, these findings suggest that FOC supplementation may stimulate systemic nitric oxide synthesis. The lack of effect with EPA supplementation suggests that this component of the FOC is not likely to be an active component. If confirmed, these observations suggest another mechanism whereby n-3 fatty acids may be antiatherogenic.
Ethical considerations regarding classroom use of personal genomic information.

Rapidly decreasing costs of genetic technologies—especially next-generation sequencing—and intensifying need for a clinical workforce trained in genomic medicine have increased interest in having students use personal genomic information to motivate and enhance genomics education. Numerous ethical issues attend classroom/pedagogical use of students’ personal genomic information, including their informed decision to participate, pressures to participate, privacy concerns, and psychosocial sequelae of learning genomic information. This paper addresses these issues, advocates explicit discussion of these issues to cultivate students’ ethical reasoning skills, suggests ways to mitigate potential harms, and recommends collection of ethically relevant data regarding pedagogical use of personal genomic information.
Reducing the pain of venipuncture

Patient satisfaction with nursing care is the strongest predictor of overall satisfaction. Reducing discomfort of routine procedures, such as venipuncture for an intravenous insertion, can contribute to perceived satisfaction. This article reviews three common pharmacological interventions that can be used by perianesthesia nurses to reduce the pain of venipuncture.
Shear band formation and fracture behavior of nanocrystalline (Co,Fe)-based alloys

The crystal structure, crystallization, fracture behavior and mechanical properties of (Co1 − x Fe x )89Zr7B4 (x = 0–0.7) nanocrystalline ribbons were investigated. The crystallization peaks of the amorphous ribbons tend to shift to higher temperatures with increasing Fe content. After annealing at 475°C for 3600 s, the main crystallization product is hcp-(Co,Fe) for the Co-rich composition (x = 0), bcc-(Co,Fe) for high Fe contents (x ≥ 0.3) and a mix of bcc, and fcc for intermediate compositions (0.025 ≤ x ≤ 0.15). The relative strain at fracture decreases dramatically (ef 0.037) at x = 0.025 and 0.050 resulting in excellent resistance against fracture. The brittle ribbons (x ≥ 0.15) showed smooth fracture surface with dimples less than 230 nm in diameter, small localized or absent shear bands and large Vickers hardness (>1200 kg mm−2). On the other hand, the Co-rich ribbons with greater ductility (x = 0.025, 0.05) exhibit a vein p...
Circuit topology study for distributed MPPT in very large scale PV power plants

In very large scale photovoltaic power plants (VLS-PV), due to partial shading and PV modules mismatching, a single point MPPT is not be efficient for all PV modules. Therefore, distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) can be utilized to increase output power capability by increasing the number of converter/inverter units. In this paper, a simple circuit is introduced to achieve DMPPT. Then, the limitations of DC bus voltage, total output power, duty ratio of the different converter choices are discussed. Simulation results also show that the proposed strategy can be utilized to realize seamless transition between soft start mode and steady state operation.
Typologies, Taxonomies, and the Benefits of Policy Classification

Although one of the most durable analytic frameworks in political science, policy typologies suffer from some well-known flaws. Key among these is the problem of classification: thus far, it has proved impossible to consistently and objectively assign specific policies into conceptually distinct categories. The ambitious original promise of policy typologies, that is, to provide a precursor to a general theory of politics has gone unfulfilled in no small part because of the inability to overcome the classification obstacle. This article reexamines the idea of policy classification by assessing the potential contributions of policy taxonomies. Although a taxonomic approach to policy classification raises problems of its own, it may offer advantages above and beyond traditional typologies.
THE SLAPS FELT AROUND THE ARAB WORLD: FAMILY AND NATIONAL MELODRAMA IN TWO NASSER-ERA MUSICALS

This essay is an attempt to read popular melodrama as a reflection of changing societal appreciations of sentimentality, romance, family relations, and, ultimately, political authority over the course of a tumultuous decade in Egyptian and Middle Eastern history, the 1960s. I focus my gaze upon two particular films that were in their day popular hits, one of them an unprecedented blockbuster, and that remain genre classics. Both feature popular screen icon ءAbd al-Halim Hafiz, the greatest vocalist of his generation, a recording and performing artist who came of age with the onset of the July 1952 Free Officers' revolution and was intimately associated with the Nasserist project. Both films treat generation gaps relating specifically to issues of dating and courtship—what might be called, in the context of their era, “free love.” Both are concerned with troubled relationships between a son and his disapproving, authoritarian father. Halim's father in both films is played by the same actor, ءImad Hamdi, and Halim's love interest—albeit in very different contexts—is played by the same ravishing starlet, Nadia Lutfi. Finally, both films turn upon a single powerful dramatic act of parental discipline, a slap (or series of slaps) delivered by an outraged patriarch across the cheek of a rebellious, yet ultimately dutiful, son.
Silly Rabbit! Brightly Colored Sugary Rice Cereal Is for Kids — Or Is It?

Perhaps you have grown weary from your daily perusal of scholarly articles. Perhaps you desire to increase your performance on Jeopardy . Perhaps you desire to read an article about breakfast cereal. Look no further. Why should I care about breakfast cereal, you say? We will get to that. First, let’s review some history and satisfy your hunger for marginally useful knowledge. Breakfast cereal began its evolution in the United States in the mid-1800s, during a period of heightened awareness of health and nutrition, entwined with the temperance movement. This begat a proliferation of sanitariums, which have a prominent role in the story and were, in large part, health spas that existed for wealthy patients to convalesce from consumption in the dark ages before antibiotics. Cereal was developed in a collaborative sort of way in a few sanitariums and may have been the first commercially manufactured “health food,” hard as that may be to swallow. It started with Sylvester Graham, who we can thank for graham crackers. He was a charismatic Presbyterian minister who in the early 1800s became known for his love of sexual moderation, temperance, and vegetarianism and his hatred of white bread and masturbation. A touchy subject indeed—white bread does upset some people. The latter is a touchy-feely subject, in a way. Mr Graham can be at least partially credited for the philosophies of many sanitariums of the time. A similarly minded man and contemporary of Mr Graham’s, Dr James Caleb Jackson, the operator of the Jackson Sanitarium in Dansville, New York, developed “Granula” for his sanitarium patients in 1863, believed to be the first iteration of breakfast cereal. Granula was a brick of Graham’s whole wheat flour (sadly not what is now used to produce graham crackers), which was indeed hard to swallow without a leisurely …
Humerus length evaluation in different ethnic groups.

Objective. Femoral length has gained much attention for its use as a marker for Down syndrome, and racial variation has been evaluated. We hypothesized that no racial differences in humerus length will be shown from 14 to 22 weeks' gestation. Methods. Our sonography database was queried from January 1, 1994, to September 30, 2001, for obstetric sonographic examinations of singleton fetuses. Cases with incomplete data, fetal anomalies, and cases without documented ethnicity were excluded. Only 1 examination per fetus was used. Individual parameters were evaluated from 14 to 22 weeks' gestation in white non-Hispanic, Hispanic, African American, Asian, and Eastern Indian women. Linear regression was used to model the relation of humerus length to menstrual age and to compare the humerus length for gestational age among ethnic groups. We compared the sensitivity for Down syndrome detection from a standard expected humerus length formula and ethnic-specific formulas. Results. We identified 1164 fetuses: 380 white, 224 Hispanic, 432 African American, 116 Asian, and 12 Eastern Indian. Comparing with white fetuses, we found differences in humerus length among African American (P <.001) and Asian (P <.001) fetuses but not among Hispanic fetuses (P =.98). The sensitivity for Down syndrome detection from standard and ethnic-specific formulas was identical. Conclusions. In this cohort, small differences in humerus length exist among ethnic groups. These differences did not affect the sensitivity of expected humerus length as a marker of Down syndrome in our diverse population.
Structural subtyping of non-recursive types is decidable

We show that the first-order theory of structural subtyping of non-recursive types is decidable, as a consequence of a more general result on the decidability of term powers of decidable theories. Let /spl Sigma/ be a language consisting of function symbol and let /spl Cscr/; (with a finite or infinite domain C) be an L-structure where L is a language consisting of relation symbols. We introduce the notion of /spl Sigma/-term-power of the structure /spl Cscr/; denoted /spl Pscr/;/sub /spl Sigma//(/spl Cscr/;). The domain of /spl Pscr/;/sub /spl Sigma//(/spl Cscr/;) is the set of /spl Sigma/-terms over the set C. /spl Pscr/;/sub /spl Sigma//(/spl Cscr/;) has one term algebra operation for each f /spl isin/ /spl Sigma/, and one relation for each r /spl isin/ L defined by lifting operations of /spl Cscr/; to terms over C. We extend quantifier for term algebras and apply the Feferman-Vaught technique for quantifier elimination in products to obtain the following result. Let K be a family of L-structures and K/sub P/ the family of their /spl Sigma/-term-powers. Then the validity of any closed formula F on K/sub P/ can be effectively reduced to the validity of some closed formula q(F) on K. Our result implies the decidability of the first-order theory of structural subtyping of non-recursive types with covariant constructors, and the construction generalizes to contravariant constructors as well.
Thyroid hormone differentially regulates cellular development in neonatal rat heart and kidney.

The role of thyroid hormone in the control of cardiac and renal cell development was examined in neonatal rats made hyperthyroid by administration of triiodothyronine (T3, 0.1 mg/kg s.c. on postnatal days 1-5) or hypothyroid by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU, 20 mg/kg s.c. given to dams on gestational day 17 through postnatal day 5 and to pups on postnatal days 1-5). Indices of total cell number (total DNA per tissue), cell packing density (DNA per g tissue), and relative cell size (protein/DNA ratio) were evaluated from birth through young adulthood. PTU administration led to primary shortfalls in cell number that were of similar magnitude in both tissues, but persisted somewhat longer in the kidney than in the heart. Deficits in cell packing density and cell size in the hypothyroid animals were secondary to the effect on cell number, displaying smaller magnitudes of effect and a lag in appearance and disappearance of the deficits compared to that for total DNA; indeed, the phase in which tissues were restoring their cell numbers was accompanied by increased cell packing density, reflecting a more rapid restitution of cell numbers than tissue weight or cell size. In contrast to the relatively similar effects of PTU on developing cardiac and renal cells, the effects of T3 were selective for the heart. Although T3 caused general growth impairment, it evoked marked cardiac overgrowth that was accompanied by a striking increase in cell number and a small increase in cell size. The cardiac hyperplasia is unique to the developing animal, as post-replicative heart cells in adult animals show only hypertrophy in response to thyroid hormone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Influence of Early Experiences and Adult Attachment on the Exhibition of the Sexual Double Standard

The sexual double standard is the phenomenon whereby men and women are judged differently for the same sexual behavior. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the potential relationship between life history theory, attachment theory and the sexual double standard. Life history theory posits that one’s upbringing (e.g., quality of early relationship with one’s parents) may have implications for one’s future mating strategies, especially for women. Furthermore, adult attachment orientation often influences individuals’ feelings toward sexual behavior. To address the relationship between these variables, we had participants complete questionnaires regarding their early relationships with their parents and their current attachment regarding romantic partners. Participants then evaluated a target individual who reported having 1 or 12 sexual partners (N = 154). Results showed that female participants’ early relationships with their parents and their current attachment avoidance predicted their exhibition of the double standard. Results are discussed in the context of theoretical and empirical implications.
Insights into the Performance Limits of the Li7P3S11 Superionic Conductor: A Combined First-Principles and Experimental Study

The Li7P3S11 glass-ceramic is a promising superionic conductor electrolyte (SCE) with an extremely high Li+ conductivity that exceeds that of even traditional organic electrolytes. In this work, we present a combined computational and experimental investigation of the material performance limitations in terms of its phase and electrochemical stability, and Li+ conductivity. We find that Li7P3S11 is metastable at 0 K but becomes stable at above 630 K (∼360 °C) when vibrational entropy contributions are accounted for, in agreement with differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Both scanning electron microscopy and the calculated Wulff shape show that Li7P3S11 tends to form relatively isotropic crystals. In terms of electrochemical stability, first-principles calculations predict that, unlike the LiCoO2 cathode, the olivine LiFePO4 and spinel LiMn2O4 cathodes are likely to form stable passivation interfaces with the Li7P3S11 SCE. This finding underscores the importance of considering multicomponent int...
Mid-Winter Lipid Reserves of the Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Passerine birds have relatively high weight-specific metabolic rates that increase sharply in progressively smaller species (Lasiewski and Dawson 1967). Kendeigh (1970) pointed out that small birds generally are poorly insulated and might be expected to be stressed by low ambient temperature. He suggested, therefore, that energy expenditure may be influential in determining the lower limits of body size of passerines (Kendeigh 1972, but see Kendeigh et al. 1977). High costs of endothermic temperature regulation may be avoided through overnight decreases in body temperature; it appears that nocturnal hypothermia may naturally occur in several species of small passerines (Haftorn 1972, Chaplin 1976, Bucher and Worthington 1982, Lustick et al. 1982). Direct proof is difficult to obtain; hypothermia may occur in small birds in the laboratory because of stress from caging or handling, and may not be a natural part of the daily cycle. Kinglets (Regulus spp.) might be expected to show hypothermia because they are among the smallest Temperate-Zone passerines in the world (see Kendeigh 1972, Chaplin 1982). Two species occur in North America, the Golden-crowned Kinglet (R. satrapa; body weight 5.7 g) and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. calendula; 6.3 g; Kendeigh 1972). These species appear to tolerate cold and may winter as far north as southern Canada and Alaska. To our knowledge, little has been published about the utilization or storage of energy by kinglets (see Gavrilov 1972). Therefore, we undertook to measure the size of lipid depots and the amplitude of daily energy cycles in the Golden-crowned Kinglet. We hypothesized that such a bird might not be able to carry sufficient energy stores to maintain high body temperatures over long, cold, winter nights. If daily cycles of energy storage are not sufficient to fuel overnight survival, this indicates that nocturnal hypothermia must occur if the species is to survive.
17 – Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions: Analysis and Valuation

Publisher Summary There are as many motives as there are strategies for international expansion. This chapter addresses common motives for international expansion as well as the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of international market entry strategies. However, the focus is on mergers and aquisitioins (M&As) as a market entry or expansion mode, because cross-border M&As comprise on average one fourth of total global transactions and more than one half of direct foreign investment annually. Moreover, foreign direct investment (i.e., M&As and greenfield investment) has replaced international trade (i.e., exports and imports) as the driving force behind global integration of product markets. The chapter also addresses the challenges of M&A deal structures, financing, valuation, and execution in both developed and emerging countries, and summarizes empirical studies investigating the actual benefits to both target and acquiring company shareholders of international diversification.
Testimonio as Metahistory in González de Alba’s Los días y los años

This chapter focuses on Luis Gonzalez de Alba’s Los dias y los anos (1971), written entirely behind the walls of Lecumberri, following the student massacre in Tlatelolco. In it, Gonzalez de Alba narrates his life behind bars. He describes in detail the continuation of the student movement in prison. He also gives an account of the events leading to the student massacre from an insider’s perspective. This work acts as a history of a movement that will be discarded by the dominant discourse. As such, it acts as a preserved history, one that fills the void left by the official PRI discourse and acts as a metahistory of the PRI’s articulation of the nation as it bears witness to the mechanisms that were responsible for the unarticulation of Tlatelolco in the PRI’s construction of nation in the decades following 1968.
Elucidation of Taste- and Odor-Producing Bacteria and Toxigenic Cyanobacteria in a Midwestern Drinking Water Supply Reservoir by Shotgun Metagenomic Analysis

ABSTRACT While commonplace in clinical settings, DNA-based assays for identification or enumeration of drinking water pathogens and other biological contaminants remain widely unadopted by the monitoring community. In this study, shotgun metagenomics was used to identify taste-and-odor producers and toxin-producing cyanobacteria over a 2-year period in a drinking water reservoir. The sequencing data implicated several cyanobacteria, including Anabaena spp., Microcystis spp., and an unresolved member of the order Oscillatoriales as the likely principal producers of geosmin, microcystin, and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), respectively. To further demonstrate this, quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays targeting geosmin-producing Anabaena and microcystin-producing Microcystis were utilized, and these data were fitted using generalized linear models and compared with routine monitoring data, including microscopic cell counts, sonde-based physicochemical analyses, and assays of all inorganic and organic nitrogen and phosphorus forms and fractions. The qPCR assays explained the greatest variation in observed geosmin (adjusted R2 = 0.71) and microcystin (adjusted R2 = 0.84) concentrations over the study period, highlighting their potential for routine monitoring applications. The origin of the monoterpene cyclase required for MIB biosynthesis was putatively linked to a periphytic cyanobacterial mat attached to the concrete drinking water inflow structure. We conclude that shotgun metagenomics can be used to identify microbial agents involved in water quality deterioration and to guide PCR assay selection or design for routine monitoring purposes. Finally, we offer estimates of microbial diversity and metagenomic coverage of our data sets for reference to others wishing to apply shotgun metagenomics to other lacustrine systems. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacterial toxins and microbial taste-and-odor compounds are a growing concern for drinking water utilities reliant upon surface water resources. Specific identification of the microorganism(s) responsible for water quality degradation is often complicated by the presence of co-occurring taxa capable of producing these undesirable metabolites. Here we present a framework for how shotgun metagenomics can be used to definitively identify problematic microorganisms and how these data can guide the development of rapid genetic assays for routine monitoring purposes.
CT dose reduction using dynamic collimation

The purpose of this work is to define and calculate the motion requirements of dynamic collimators that can significantly reduce dose in CT scans. Both axial and transverse collimators are modeled and compared in terms of their velocity requirements. Today, helical scans already use the axial collimator. A separate transverse dynamic collimator is proposed that would be used for both helical and axial scans. The leaves of both the helical and transverse collimators move such that only those x-rays that intersect a predefined VOI are exposed to the patient. To assess the motion control requirements for the transverse collimator, the velocity of each leaf is determined for a circular region of interest (ROI) at a given distance from scan center. These velocity profiles are then compared to those of a helical collimator for a typical helical scan with an 8 cm detector and .3 second rotation time. The maximum velocity incurred by the helical collimator for a scan with a pitch factor of 1.4 is about 23 cm/sec. For a 12 cm cardiac scan located 18 cm from scan center, the maximum velocity of a transverse collimator positioned 27 cm from the source is 198 cm/sec. Three options (or combination thereof) to address the higher velocities are: 1) Position the patient such that the VOI is closer to scan center 2) Move the dynamic transverse collimator closer to the source 3) Upgrade the collimator motor controller.
Cloud K-SVD: Computing data-adaptive representations in the cloud

This paper studies the problem of data-adaptive representations for big, distributed data. It is assumed that a number of geographically-distributed, interconnected sites have massive local data and they are interested in collaboratively learning a low-dimensional geometric structure underlying these data. In contrast to some of the previous works on subspace representations, this paper focuses on the geometric structure of a union of subspaces (UoS). Specifically, it proposes a distributed algorithm, termed as cloud K-SVD, for learning a UoS structure underlying distributed data of interest. Cloud K-SVD accomplishes the goal of collaborative data-adaptive representations without requiring communication of individual data samples between different sites. The paper also provides a partial analysis of cloud K-SVD that gives insights into its convergence properties and deviations from a centralized solution in terms of properties of local data and topology of interconnections. Finally, it numerically illustrates the efficacy of cloud K-SVD.
Rapid detection of small quantities of specific bacteria using phage-based wireless biosensors

This paper presents a method for rapid detection of small quantities of specific bacteria. The method combines wireless phage-coated magnetoelastic (ME) biosensors, a surface-scanning detector, and a motorized translation system, enabling real-time monitoring of the growth of specific bacteria in a nutrient broth. The ME biosensor used in this investigation is composed of a freestanding, strip-shaped ME resonator upon which an engineered bacteriophage is coated to capture a pathogen of interest. E2 phage with high binding affinity for Salmonella Typhimurium was used as a model study. The specificity of E2 phage has been reported to be 1 in 105 background bacteria. The phage-coated ME biosensors were first exposed to a low-concentration Salmonella suspension to capture roughly 300 cells on the sensor surface. When the growth of Salmonella in the broth occurs, the mass of the biosensor increases, which results in a decrease in the biosensor's resonant frequency. Monitoring of this mass-induced resonant frequency change allows for real-time detection of the presence of Salmonella. Detection of a few bacteria is also possible by growing them to a sufficient number. The surface-scanning detector was used to measure resonant frequency changes of 25 biosensors sequentially in an automated manner as a function of time. This methodology offers direct, real-time detection and quantification of specific bacteria. The rate of the sensor's resonant frequency change was found to be largely dependent on the number of initially bound cells and the efficiency of cell growth.
Emerging Governance Practices in Enterprise Risk Management

As the oversight role of the corporate board in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) expands, companies feel the need to fill a knowledge gap on effective risk governance practices.The concept of correlating risk management, governance, and strategy in an enterprise-wide structure first appeared in the midst of merger frenzy of the late 1980s. At the time, many executives and strategists acknowledged that the enormous amount of risk undertaken through a series of corporate combinations was often not justified by a sound analysis of long-term prospects. In the 1990s, the debate continued and increasingly drew the attention of the business community, only to be obfuscated by the more exclusive focus on financial and accounting risks resulting from the wave of scandals of the Enron era. A few years into the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, corporations are now ready to leverage their experience with mandatory internal control procedures to establish a more comprehensive ERM infrastructure.In response to the need for guidance in the design and implementation of ERM, The Conference Board instituted a case-study based Research Working Group on Enterprise Risk Management with select risk and governance officers. Intended as a complement to the recent paper on The Role of U.S. Corporate Boards in Enterprise Risk Management (by Carolyn K. Brancato, Matteo Tonello, and Ellen Hexter), this study presents an overview of the research group's findings, including insights from five case studies of companies at the forefront of ERM:- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company- Capital One Financial Corporation- International Paper- MetLife, Inc.- Moody's Investors ServiceThe paper also outlines a risk governance "road map," with a detailed discussion of the oversight role of corporate boards in each stage of ERM development and execution.
Loss of Navβ4-Mediated Regulation of Sodium Currents in Adult Purkinje Neurons Disrupts Firing and Impairs Motor Coordination and Balance

The resurgent component of voltage-gated Na+ (Nav) currents, INaR, has been suggested to provide the depolarizing drive for high-frequency firing and to be generated by voltage-dependent Nav channel block (at depolarized potentials) and unblock (at hyperpolarized potentials) by the accessory Navβ4 subunit. To test these hypotheses, we examined the effects of the targeted deletion of Scn4b (Navβ4) on INaR and on repetitive firing in cerebellar Purkinje neurons. We show here that Scn4b-/- animals have deficits in motor coordination and balance and that firing rates in Scn4b-/- Purkinje neurons are markedly attenuated. Acute, in vivo short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated "knockdown" of Navβ4 in adult Purkinje neurons also reduced spontaneous and evoked firing rates. Dynamic clamp-mediated addition of INaR partially rescued firing in Scn4b-/- Purkinje neurons. Voltage-clamp experiments revealed that INaR was reduced (by ∼50%), but not eliminated, in Scn4b-/- Purkinje neurons, revealing that additional mechanisms contribute to generation of INaR.
Advertising exposure and use of e-cigarettes among female current and former tobacco users of childbearing age.

Objective The study examined the relationship between exposure to e-cigarette advertising and e-cigarette use by pregnancy status, including use of flavored e-cigarette products, among women of childbearing age. Design A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Subjects Female current or former tobacco users in Central and Eastern Kentucky, 18–45 years old (N = 194, 52% pregnant). Measures Demographics, pregnancy status, cigarette and e-cigarette use, and exposure to e-cigarette advertising. Results Younger age, white non-Hispanic race, and greater exposure to e-cigarette advertising were associated with a higher likelihood of ever using e-cigarettes (p < .05 for each variable). Pregnancy was not associated with ever use (p = .11). Younger age was associated with use of flavored e-cigarettes (p = .0027). Among e-cigarette users, those who used flavored products were more likely to have seen advertisements or information about e-cigarettes on social media, compared to those who used unflavored e-cigarettes only (p = .016). Conclusion There is a link between advertising exposure and ever use of e-cigarettes. Pregnancy status is not significantly associated with ever use. Use of flavored e-cigarettes is associated with younger age. E-cigarette users with greater exposure to advertising on social media were more likely to use flavored products.
Cultural materialism and behavior analysis: An introduction to harris

The year 2007 marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of Marvin Harris (1927–2001). Although relations between Harris’ cultural materialism and Skinner’s radical behaviorism have been promulgated by several in the behavior-analytic community (e.g., Glenn, 1988; Malagodi & Jackson, 1989; Vargas, 1985), Harris himself never published an exclusive and comprehensive work on the relations between the two epistemologies. However, on May 23rd, 1986, he gave an invited address on this topic at the 12th annual conference of the Association for Behavior Analysis in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, entitledCultural Materialism and Behavior Analysis: Common Problems and Radical Solutions. What follows is the publication of a transcribed audio recording of the invited address that Harris gave to Sigrid Glenn shortly after the conference. The identity of the scribe is unknown, but it has been printed as it was written, with the addendum of embedded references where appropriate. It is offered both as what should prove to be a useful asset for the students of behavior who are interested in the study of cultural contingencies, practices, and epistemologies, and in commemoration of this 80th anniversary.
Maternal exposure to selenium and cadmium, fetal growth, and placental expression of steroidogenic and apoptotic genes.

Abstract Background Cadmium (Cd) and selenium (Se) antagonistically influence redox balance and apoptotic signaling, with Cd potentially promoting and Se inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis. Alterations to placental redox and apoptotic functions by maternal exposure to Cd and Se during pregnancy may explain some of the Cd and Se associations with fetal development. Objectives Investigate associations between Cd and Se concentrations in maternal toenails with placental expression patterns of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and steroidogenic genes involved in redox reactions and test associations with fetal growth. Methods In a sub-sample from the Rhode Island Child Health Study (n = 173), we investigated the relationships between: (1) maternal toenail Cd and Se concentrations and fetal growth using logistic regression, (2) Cd and Se interactions with factor scores from placental TNF and steroidogenic expression patterns (RNAseq) using linear models, and (3) TNF and steroidogenic expression factors with fetal growth via analysis of covariance. Results Se was associated with decreased odds of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (OR = 0.27, p-value = 0.045). Cd was associated with increased odds of IUGR (OR = 1.95, p-value = 0.13) and small for gestational age (SGA) births (OR = 1.46, p-value = 0.11), though not statistically significant. Cd and Se concentrations were antagonistically associated with placental TNF and steroidogenic expression patterns, which also differed by birth size. Conclusions Se may act as an antagonist to Cd and as a modifiable protective factor in fetal growth restriction, and these data suggest these effects may be due to associated variations in the regulation of genes involved in placental redox balance and/or apoptotic signaling.
Interbehavioral Psychology: Roots and Branches

Interbehaviorism proceeds from the assumption that psychological behavior is one type of natural event in the universe. The nervous system and even the entire organism become participating components of the field, not the locus or the determiner of responses. The interrelations of these field components provide an approach contrasting with phenomenology and reductionism. Forces and entities are replaced by interacting factors as are determinism and will. Internal mediation attributed to language is replaced by referential interactions. Complex but ordinary behavior, seldom touched in other approaches, is analyzed interbehaviorally. Operant shaping also is analyzed. Predictability is possible from an examination of field factors. Ecological and epigenetic psychology show signs of moving in the direction of interbehaviorism and operant psychology has considerable potential similarly. The contributions interbehaviorism has to offer conclude the review.
C-Arm Cone Beam CT for Intraprocedural Image Fusion and 3D Guidance in Portal Vein Embolization (PVE)

Portal vein embolization (PVE) is applied in patients with extended oncologic liver disease to induce hyperplasia of the future liver remnant and make resection feasible. Ultrasound (US) guidance is the gold standard for percutaneous portal vein access. This study evaluated feasibility and safety of C-arm cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for needle guidance. In 10 patients, puncture was performed under 3D needle guidance in a CBCT data set. Contrast-enhanced (CE) CBCT was generated (n = 7), or native CBCT was registered to pre-examination CE-CT via image fusion (n = 3). Technical success, number of punctures, puncture time (time between CBCT acquisition and successful portal vein access), dose parameters and safety were evaluated. For comparison, 10 patients with PVE under US guidance were analyzed retrospectively. Study and control group were matched for age, BMI, INR, platelets, portal vein anatomy. All interventions were technically successful without intervention-related complications. In the study group, the mean number of puncture attempts was 3.1 ± 2.5. Mean puncture time was 12 min (±10). Mean total dose area product (DAP) was 288 Gy cm2 (±154). The mean relative share of CBCT-related radiation exposure was 6% (±3). Intervention times and DAP were slightly higher compared to the control group without reaching significance. CBCT-guided PVE is feasible and safe. The relative dose of CBCT is low compared to the overall dose of the intervention. This technique may be a promising approach for difficult anatomic situations that limit the use of US for needle guidance.
When Enough is Enough: Impact of Packed Red Blood Cells in Massive Transfusion Outcomes:

Massive transfusion protocol (MTP) with fresh-frozen plasma and packed red blood cells (PRBCs) in a 1:1 ratio is one of the most common resuscitative strategies used in patients with severe hemorrhage. There are no studies to date that examine the best postoperative hematocrit range as a marker for survival after MTP. We hypothesize a postoperative hematocrit dose-dependent survival benefit in patients receiving MTP. This was a 53-month retrospective analysis of patients with intra-abdominal injuries requiring surgery and transfusion of 10 units PRBCs or more at a single Level I trauma center. Groups were defined by postoperative hematocrit (less than 21, 21 to 29, 29.1 to 39, and 39 or more). Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival probability was calculated. One hundred fifty patients requiring operative abdominal explorations and 10 units PRBCs or more were identified. There were no significant differences in demographics between groups. When comparing postoperative hematocrit groups, relative to a hematocrit of less than 21 per cent in KM survival analysis, an overall survival advantage was only evident in patients transfused to hematocrits 29.1 to 39 per cent (P < 0.03; odds ratio [OR], 0.284; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.089 to 0.914). This survival advantage was not seen in the other groups (21 to 29: OR, 0.352; 95% CI, 0.103 to 1.195 or 39% or greater: OR, 0.107; 95% CI, 0.010 to 1.121). This is the first study to examine the impact of postoperative hematocrit as an indicator of survival after MTP in the trauma patient. Transfusion to hematocrits between 29.1 and 39 per cent conveyed a survival benefit, whereas resuscitation to supraphysiologic hematocrits 39 per cent or greater conveyed no additional survival benefit. This study highlights the need for judicious PRBC administration during MTP and its potential impact on survival in patients with postoperative supraphysiologic hematocrits.
Potentially Preventable Medical Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits by the Behavioral Health Population

This study investigated geographic variation in potentially preventable medical outcomes that might be used to monitor access to high-quality medical care in the behavioral health population. Analyzing public and non-public data sources from California on adults admitted between 2009 and 2011 to all non-federal licensed medical inpatient (N = 6,603,146) or emergency department units (N = 21,011,958) revealed that 33.6% of nearly 1 million potentially preventable hospitalizations and 9.8% of 1.5 million potentially preventable emergency department visits were made by people with mental or substance use disorder diagnoses. Across California counties or county groups (N = 36), a higher preventable hospitalization rate in the behavioral health population was associated with higher poverty, higher primary care safety net utilization, and fewer mental health providers. Although further validation is required, rates of potentially preventable encounters, particularly hospitalizations, may be useful measures of access to high-quality care in the behavioral health population.
Modulation of cabozantinib efficacy by the prostate tumor microenvironment.

// Manisha Tripathi 1, * , Srinivas Nandana 1, * , Sandrine Billet 1 , Karen A. Cavassani 1 , Rajeev Mishra 1 , Leland W.K. Chung 1 , Edwin M. Posadas 1 and Neil A. Bhowmick 1, 2 1 Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA 2 Department of Research, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Neil A. Bhowmick, email: neil.bhowmick@cshs.org Edwin M. Posadas, email: Edwin.Posadas@cshs.org Keywords: carcinoma associated fibroblasts, cabozantinib, metastasis, prostate cancer Received: May 30, 2017 Accepted: August 15, 2017 Published: September 23, 2017 ABSTRACT The tumor microenvironment (TME) is increasingly recognized as the arbiter of metastatic progression and drug resistance in advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Cabozantinib is a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with reported biological activity in the PCa epithelia, but failed to provide an overall survival benefit in phase 3 clinical trials. However, the promising biologic efficacy of the drug in early trials warranted a better understanding of the mechanism of action, with the goal of improving patient selection for TKI-based therapy such as cabozantinib. We found a 100-fold lower cabozantinib IC 50 in macrophages, PCa associated fibroblasts, and bone marrow fibroblasts compared to PCa epithelia. In PCa mouse models, pre-treatment with cabozantinib potentiated osseous and visceral tumor engraftment, suggesting a pro-tumorigenic host response to the drug. We further found that the host effects of cabozantinib impacted bone turnover, but not necessarily tumor expansion. Cabozantinib affected M1 macrophage polarization in mice. Analogously, circulating monocytes from PCa patients treated with cabozantinib, demonstrated a striking correlation of monocyte reprograming with therapeutic bone responsivity, to support patient selection at early stages of treatment. Thus, a re-evaluation of TKI-based therapeutic strategies in PCa can be considered for suitable patient populations based on TME responses.
Broadband infrared absorbers with stacked double chromium ring resonators

A broadband absorber in the infrared wavelength range from 1 μm up to 5 μm is designed and demonstrated with stacked double chromium ring resonators on a reflective chromium mirror. The near-perfect broadband absorption is realized by combining the multilayer impedance match in the short wavelength range and the double plasmonic resonances in the long wavelength range, which is illustrated with an equivalent circuit model for the impedance analysis. The broadband absorber is proved to be angle-insensitive and polarization-independent due to the geometrical symmetry. The thermal analysis for heat generation and temperature distributions inside the absorber structure is also investigated.
The CHAMPIONS NETWork: Training Chicago High School Students as Health Advocates to Improve Health Equity:

In Chicago, major disparities exist across ethnic groups, income levels, and education levels for common chronic conditions and access to care. Concurrently, many of Chicago’s youth are unemployed,...