cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stem vascular architecture in the American climbing palm Desmoncus (Arecaceae-Arecoideae-Bactridinae)

Analysis of the stem vasculature of the American climbing palm Desmoncus reveals structural features differing significantly from the Old World rattan genus Calamus. Desmoncus has a more directly continuous vascular system but nevertheless shows a vessel distribution that makes for high hydraulic resistance in the axial xylem. Desmoncus is like Calamus in having a single very wide metaxylem vessel in each central axial bundle and is also without direct vascular contact between protoxylem and metaxylem tracheary elements. However, in Desmoncus the stem vascular bundle system resembles that in tree palms (as has been described in the model palm Rhapis excelsa) in having a continuing axial bundle that branches from each outgoing leaf trace together with a large number of bridge connections between leaf traces and peripheral axial bundles. Resistance to axial water transport is, however, evident in the narrowness of the continuing metaxylem elements in the peripheral stem vascular region. Desmoncus has scalariform perforation plates with few thickening bars in the metaxylem vessels, unlike the simple perforation plates found in Calamus. Thus, Desmoncus shows only limited convergence in stem vascular architecture toward the extreme modifications found in Calamus. This is not unexpected since it is clear that the climbing habit evolved independently in the two genera. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 142, 243−254.
Quantitation of rat liver vitamin E metabolites by LC-MS during high-dose vitamin E administration

To evaluate vitamin E metabolism, a method was developed to quantitate liver alpha- and gamma-tocopherol metabolites, alpha-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman [alpha-CEHC; 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman] and gamma-CEHC [2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman], respectively. Vitamin E supraenriched livers were obtained from rats that were injected with vitamin E daily for 18 days. Liver samples (approximately 50 mg) were homogenized, homogenate CEHC-conjugates were hydrolyzed, CEHCs were extracted with ethyl ether, and then CEHCs were quantitated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Precision, based on intersample variability, ranged from 1% to 3%. Recovery of alpha- and gamma-CEHCs added to liver homogenates ranged from 77% to 87%. Detection limits of alpha- and gamma-CEHC were 20 fmol, with a linear detector response from 0.025 to 20 pmol injected. Corresponding with an increase in liver alpha-tocopherol, the MS peak for liver alpha-CEHC (mass-to-charge ratio 277.8) increased 80-fold (0.18 +/- 0.01 to 15 +/- 2 nmol/g). Liver alpha-CEHC concentrations were correlated with serum alpha-CEHC, liver alpha-tocopherol, and serum alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.001 for each comparison). alpha-CEHC represented 0.5-1% of the liver alpha-tocopherol concentration. Thus, LC-MS can be successfully used to quantitate alpha- and gamma-CEHC in liver samples. These data suggest that in times of excess liver alpha-tocopherol, increased metabolism of alpha-tocopherol to alpha-CEHC occurs.
Differences between residency- and non-residency-trained preceptors on student perceptions and activities of community practice advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs)

Abstract Background Advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) in community pharmacy are a critical component in the training of student pharmacists. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) has developed guidelines on what activities should be completed on APPEs. The activities for community pharmacy are very specific and most of these activities go beyond dispensing and aim to teach the students to practice at an advanced level. Currently, it is unknown whether the residency training of the preceptor modifies the quality of students' community APPE. The aims of the study were to (1) characterize the perceptions of students regarding the quality of their required community APPE, (2) compare the perceptions of students at community pharmacy APPE sites who either did or did not have a residency-trained preceptor, and (3) estimate and compare the amount of time spent in various activities within these two settings. Methods An 18-item questionnaire was developed by the authors that concentrated on student responsibilities and satisfaction during their community APPE. The survey was sent to graduates of the class of 2009. Results Overall, 85% of graduates responded to the survey. Students who had RTPs were more likely to rate the experience as beneficial ( p = 0.031), have a better perception of the experience ( p = 0.039), state that the preceptor was a positive role model ( p = 0.004), and report that the preceptor was active clinically ( p = 0.001). Conclusions Residency-trained preceptors may provide an enhanced experience for student pharmacists in community practice. More research in this area is required to confirm our findings.
Ultra-high efficiency power conversion using cryogenic MOSFETs and HT-superconductors

Ultra-high efficiency (>99%) power conversion and the corresponding energy savings can be accomplished by combining two new devices: the cryogenic power MOSFET and the high current inductor made with high-temperature (HT) superconductors. Their properties are reviewed. Several possible applications are discussed such as high-power inverters, switchmode amplifiers, and multi-kilowatt RF generators. Design information is presented for the thermal losses of a cryogenic container and the required electrical conductors to a cryogenic circuit. It is investigated if there are potential advantages of cryogenic power conversion such as drastic size, weight, and cost reductions at improved reliability. >
Nanofluidic Transport through Isolated Carbon Nanotube Channels: Advances, Controversies, and Challenges.

Owing to their simple chemistry and structure, controllable geometry, and a plethora of unusual yet exciting transport properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as exceptional channels for fundamental nanofluidic studies, as well as building blocks for future fluidic devices that can outperform current technology in many applications. Leveraging the unique fluidic properties of CNTs in advanced systems requires a full understanding of their physical origin. Recent advancements in nanofabrication technology enable nanofluidic devices to be built with a single, nanometer-wide CNT as a fluidic pathway. These novel platforms with isolated CNT nanochannels offer distinct advantages for establishing quantitative structure–transport correlations in comparison with membranes containing many CNT pores. In addition, they are promising components for single-molecule sensors as well as for building nanotube-based circuits wherein fluidics and electronics can be coupled. With such advanced device architecture, molecular and ionic transport can be manipulated with vastly enhanced control for applications in sensing, separation, detection, and therapeutic delivery. Recent achievements in fabricating isolated-CNT nanofluidic platforms are highlighted, along with the most-significant findings each platform enables for water, ion, and molecular transport. Furthermore, the implications of these findings and remaining open questions on the exceptional fluidic properties of CNTs are also discussed.
Esophagogastroduodendoscopy in pediatric patients including biopsy techniques and dilatation

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is the most common procedure performed by gastroenterologists—both adult and pediatric. It is an exciting tool with several diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. In experienced hands, pediatric EGD is a safe and relatively noninvasive procedure. This review details features of EGD that are specific to the pediatric-aged patient, including biopsy techniques. Some diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract where treatment has been revolutionized with availability of endoscopic tools are discussed. This article does not cover the very basics of EGD, eg, indications, preparation for the test, sedation, and actual performance of EGD because the reader of this journal is a sophisticated experienced gastroenterologist well versed in these basic components of EGD.
SPARTA: multiple signal processors for high-performance robotic control

The authors describe the SPARTA (signal processor architecture for real-time applications) system, which is a hybrid computer development system including: (1) a program development environment on an IBM VM/CMS mainframe computer: (2) user interface and runtime support on an IBM PC; and (3) real-time computation and input/output using multiple IBM Hermes signal processors situated on the IBM PC bus. The program development environment includes the PLH high-level language for generating efficient real-time Hermes code. The runtime supports symbolic debugging, dynamic loading and linking, and synchronous switching of control algorithms during real-time program execution. The real-time environment includes a distributed operating system which supports foreground and background task execution and real-time data collection and display. The task switching overhead is 0.1 mu s, nonpreemptive, and 1.0-3.7 mu s when the context is changed by an interrupt (i.e. preemptive). >
Re-Weaving the Argument: A Response to Parker

I had thought that the argument of The Apotheosis was rather well-knit, but owing to Parker's somewhat careless piece of 'knit' picking, I felt that the best response would be to reweave my argument in a more straightforward manner than that developed in my book. I will also retell in more straightforward methodological terms the thrust of my work. Once that is done, I can better frame most of Parker's criticism in an orderly argument.1 In The Apotheosis I try to step outside the particular structuralist paradigm that Marshall Sahlins deals with for reasons that will be readily apparent. The core argument of the book is in section VI (pp. 120-53) where I show that the apotheosis of the great explorer was a European construction and that it was developed initially in London and not in Hawaii. The first signs of this appear in the eulogies on Cook at his death; in letters and poetry; and in the theatre performance Ornai with its crucial scene in which Englishmen dressed as Hawaiians lament the death of their god Lono on the English stage. I show that the last is an English cultural construction that could not have come from the major journal writers because they did not make this connection. The connection was made in the official version of the voyages published 1784 and edited by Captain James King and a total outsider, Canon John Douglas, five years after Cook's death. The information about the apotheosis could not have come from some Hawaiian source either because the first ships to reach Hawaii arrived in 1786 and therefore they could not have brought news of Cook's apotheosis to England in 1784. The painting of Cook ascending to heaven escorted by Britannia and Fame is very European and indeed (I might add) influenced other European works, such as Rodin's painting on the 'apotheosis of Louis IV. The European myth totally idealised Cook portraying him as an exponent of Enlightenment values and this, I suggest, is an expression of that which is supposed to elude mythologization, namely rationality itself, the main plank of the Enlightenment credo. There were also Christian forms of the myth that went contrary to the Enlightenment one, most importantly the poet Cowper's depiction of Cook as Herod. Because he permitted himself to be apotheosized, says Cowper, God struck him dead. This version of the myth was well known in the US in the early 19th century and it went into the evangelical traditions represented in the Christian missions to Hawaii. I argue that the myth of the white explorer cum civiliser who is a god to savages is nothing new and one of its more powerful manifestations was the supposed apotheosis of Cortes (and by some accounts Columbus). That particular myth-form therefore has had a long run in European culture and consciousness and it manifests itself in shipboard gossip and narrative. Thus, when the first European visitors landed in Tahiti in 1767 during Wallis' circumnavigation, some of the crew
Deciding Which Way to Go: How Do Insects Alter Movements to Negotiate Barriers?

Animals must routinely deal with barriers as they move through their natural environment. These challenges require directed changes in leg movements and posture performed in the context of ever changing internal and external conditions. In particular, cockroaches use a combination of tactile and visual information to evaluate objects in their path in order to effectively guide their movements in complex terrain. When encountering a large block, the insect uses its antennae to evaluate the object’s height then rears upward accordingly before climbing. A shelf presents a choice between climbing and tunneling that depends on how the antennae strike the shelf; tapping from above yields climbing, while tapping from below causes tunneling. However, ambient light conditions detected by the ocelli can bias that decision. Similarly, in a T-maze turning is determined by antennal contact but influenced by visual cues. These multi-sensory behaviors led us to look at the central complex as a center for sensori-motor integration within the insect brain. Visual and antennal tactile cues are processed within the central complex and, in tethered preparations, several central complex units changed firing rates in tandem with or prior to altered step frequency or turning, while stimulation through the implanted electrodes evoked these same behavioral changes. To further test for a central complex role in these decisions, we examined behavioral effects of brain lesions. Electrolytic lesions in restricted regions of the central complex generated site specific behavioral deficits. Similar changes were also found in reversible effects of procaine injections in the brain. Finally, we are examining these kinds of decisions made in a large arena that more closely matches the conditions under which cockroaches forage. Overall, our studies suggest that CC circuits may indeed influence the descending commands associated with navigational decisions, thereby making them more context dependent.
Organizational Cultural Competence in Mental Health Service Delivery: A Multilevel Analysis.

Statistical associations between individual and organizational dimensions of cultural competence were examined. Participants were 350 employees of 12 public mental health agencies in Atlanta. Results from hierarchical linear modeling indicated that agencies with culturally competent mission statements and training had significantly higher member perceptions of cultural competence within the organization. Las asociaciones estadisticas entre individuo y dimensiones de la organizacion de la competencia cultural se examinaron. Los participantes eran 350 empleados de 12 agencias mentales publicas de la salud en Atlanta. Los resultados del modelo linear jerarquico indico que las agencias con declaraciones de objetivos culturalmente competentes y entrenamiento tenia las percepciones apreciablemente mas altas del miembro de la competencia cultural dentro de la organizacion.
Residual inflammatory risk: addressing the obverse side of the atherosclerosis prevention coin

Twenty-two years ago, the landmark 4S trial demonstrated that statin therapy could reduce rates of recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death among secondary prevention patients with overt hyperlipidaemia.1 Since that time, large-scale statin trials have shown that an exceptionally wide range of patients benefit from statins, including those without evidence of underlying vascular disease or hyperlipidaemia. Yet many statin-treated patients continue to suffer from life-threatening vascular events, an issue commonly described in the clinical literature as the problem of ‘residual risk’. One side of the residual risk coin undoubtedly relates to further reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC). Ever more aggressive cholesterol reduction is the cornerstone for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors that dramatically lower LDLC among those on statins, among those with statin intolerance, and among those with forms of familial hyperlipidaemia characterized by residual LDL receptor function.2–4 In contrast, therapies addressing residual cholesterol risk on the basis of high triglycerides or low HDL cholesterol have not to date proved effective for event reduction in randomized clinical trials. Yet focusing solely on ‘residual cholesterol risk’ among statin-treated patients ignores the fact …
Where Does One Look When Viewing Artwork in a Museum

Four participants viewed artwork (5 abstract and 9 representational paintings) displayed in a museum, while wearing a portable eye tracker. We tested whether features in the paintings would determi...
Unusual electronic structure of first row transition metal complexes featuring redox-active dipyrromethane ligands.

Transition metal complexes (Mn → Zn) of the dipyrromethane ligand, 1,9-dimesityl-5,5-dimethyldipyrromethane (dpm), have been prepared. Arylation of the dpm ligand α to the pyrrolic nitrogen donors limits the accessibility of the pyrrole π-electrons for transition metal coordination, instead forcing η1,η1 coordination to the divalent metal series as revealed by X-ray diffraction studies. Structural and magnetic characterization (SQUID, EPR) of the bis-pyridine adducts of (dpm)MnII(py)2, (dpm)FeII(py)2, and (dpm)CoII(py)2 reveal each divalent ion to be high-spin and pseudotetrahedral in the solid state, whereas the (dpm)NiII(py)2 is low-spin and adopts a square-planar geometry. Differential pulse voltammetry on the (dpm)MII(py)2 series reveals a common two-electron oxidation pathway that is entirely ligand-based, invariant to the divalent metal-bound, its geometry or spin state within the dpm framework. This latter observation indicates that fully populated ligand-based orbitals from the dpm construct lie a...
Increased Rotational Mobility of the Testis After Vasectomy A Sonographic Study

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate for increased mobility of the testis in postvasectomy patients by observing changes in the position of the testis-epididymis complex (TEC). Methods This was a retrospective study of 29 postvasectomy patients compared with 29 control patients without a history of vasectomy who were referred for scrotal sonography for various clinical indications over a 1 year-period. The position of the TEC was compared between the two groups. Results The post-vasectomy group had medial or posteromedial rotation in 13 of 58 testes (22%) compared with 3 of 58 (5%) in the control group. Conclusions Our study found a statistically higher incidence of medial rotation of the testis in the vasectomy group compared with the control group. Given our findings, it seems reasonable to assume that iatrogenic changes to the structural support mechanism of the testis occur when vasectomy is performed, with a resultant increase in the mobility of the testis within the scrotum.
The Science of Politics - As Civic Education - Then and Now

University of Minnesota The centenary of the APSA provides a timely I occasion to reflect upon the science of politics, then and now. This includes the science of politics as civic education. There is not enough space here to offer an account of this disciplinary identity for the intervening century between 1903 and 2003. If there were, this paper might deserve the title "The Science of Politics-as Civic Education--Now and Then" to convey the fitful and episodic character of our Association's identification
Bringing Christ to the Table of Leadership: Moving Towards a Theology of Leadership

The church’s leadership experience spanning the centuries places it in a unique position to contribute to leadership studies. Any contribution should grow out of the development of a theology of leadership. Consideration of that development should be informed by general leadership studies while uniquely drawn from its faith. Its primary elements should include a Scripture-based, God-governed, Christ-centric reflection on the use of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has empowered all believers with in order to accomplish His mission in and for the world. A theology of leadership must constantly balance the biblical narrative and contextual application. This leads to both ecclesiology and practical leadership being advanced simultaneously. Research can be furthered through greater analysis of both scriptural and historical leadership contexts.
[Reducing children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: Evidence from the U.S. and implications for Hungary]

This review summarizes empirical evidence for clinical interventions designed to reduce children's residentia environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. Legislation prohibiting ETS exposure in public buildings, especially work settings, may decrease ETS exposure in private residences. Media, policy/legal regulations, and brief clinical advice require more study to determine their effectiveness for decreasing ETS exposure in private residences. Three published and two in progress trials found that repeated counseling reduced ETS exposure in asthmatic and healthy children from lower through middle class families. Dentists, physicans, and other clinicians may be strategic supervisors for paraprofessional counseling designed to lower children's ETS exposure in their home. Research is needed to determine the cultural tailoring needed to be effective in Hungary.
Control of silica exposures in cement mixer drum cleaning operations.

This inspection for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was initiated as the result of a two-item safety and health complaint filed by an employee. The complaint alleged that e...
Bees use the taste of pollen to determine which flowers to visit.

Pollen plays a dual role as both a gametophyte and a nutritional reward for pollinators. Although pollen chemistry varies across plant species, its functional significance in pollination has remained obscure, in part because little is known about how floral visitors assess it. Bees rely on pollen for protein, but whether foragers evaluate its chemistry is unclear, as it is primarily consumed by larvae. We asked whether the chemical composition of pollen influences bumblebees' foraging behaviour. Using putatively sweet and bitter pollen blends, we found that chemical composition influenced two aspects of bee behaviour relevant to plant fitness: the amount of pollen collected and the likelihood of subsequently visiting a visually similar flower. These findings offer a new perspective on the nutritional ecology of plant–pollinator interactions, as they show that pollen's taste may mediate its collection and transfer.
Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time using a point-of-care analyser (Abaxis VSpro®) in Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus).

There are few reports of coagulation times in marsupial species. Blood samples collected from 14 Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) under anaesthesia during routine health assessments were analysed for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) using a point-of-care analyser (POC) (Abaxis VSPro®). The wallabies had an aPTT mean of 78.09 s and median of 78.1 s. The PT for all wallabies was greater than 35 s, exceeding the longest time measured on the POC. Although PT was significantly longer, aPTT was similar to the manufacturer's domestic canine reference range.
Trends in reproductive health indicators in Nigeria using demographic and health surveys (1990–2013)

ABSTRACTThere is an urgent need to improve reproductive health (RH) in Nigeria – the most populous country in Africa. In 2015, Nigeria had the highest number of maternal deaths in the world. This study assessed the trends in select RH indicators in Nigeria over two decades. Data used were from Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) conducted between 1990 and 2013. The NDHS uses a two-stage cluster sampling design to select nationally representative samples of reproductive-age women. The study sample ranged from 7620 to 38,948 women aged 15–49 across the five surveys. Trends in modern contraceptive prevalence rate, skilled antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and adolescent birth were assessed. The results show increasing trends in modern contraceptive prevalence rate from 4% in 1990 to 11% in 2013 (p < .001); in skilled antenatal care from 57% in 1990 to 61% in 2013 (p < .001); and in skilled birth attendance from 31% in 1990 to 40% in 2013 (p < .001). The trend in adolescent birth decreased f...
NCIT's - modern digital instruments transformers for UHV AC and DC networks

The continuously increasing demand of electrical energy and the consequence on transmission lines lead to develop high and ultra high voltage networks using AC and DC technology. Their control, protection, metering and power quality measurements are nowadays based on modern IED (Intelligent Electronic Devices) using digital electronics miniaturized, sophisticated and able to support severe requirements on the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). The link between the secondary electronics and the process level, the high voltage side, is realized by Instrument Transformers which have to respect on one hand the rising demands in the process level: (1) higher insulation levels, higher short circuit current, etc (2) digitalization of their data (the sampled values) which have to be available by digital communication networks for Control and Protection. Especially for high and very high voltages, new sensor technologies are used in NCIT designs Non Conventional Instrument Transformer and seem to be advantageous over Conventional Instrument Transformers. NCIT promise to meet the resulting requirements in terms of ecological design with economical benefits compared to the conventional solutions. Moreover, due to their electronic technology, Non Conventional Instrument Transformers are in the scope of Smart Grid concept, with specific advantages enhancing the reliability of the network. In deed several specific properties are opening the way to new functionality. For example, digitalization of current and voltage data and easy accessibility due to digital interface, by any electronic devices, allow intelligent monitoring, protection functions based on software modules implementable on calculators, and new distributed functions. Intelligent supervision of the entire NCIT system prevents major failure by predictable maintenance and avoids untimely outages and secures the functionality of the substation by intelligent redundancy philosophy. Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) is an upcoming standard for hard-real time redundancy in Industrial Ethernet Application to IEC61850. The current sensors are implementing an optical primary sensor based on the Faraday Effect which is using the intrinsic insulation properties of the signal transmission over an optical fiber offering advantages in EMC, personal and operational safety. For HVDC, an optically powered remote electronics beside a shunt in the HV line is used for current sensing and may be coupled with an optical Faraday sensor and/or Rogowski coils for bandwidth purpose. The paper recalls the principles used in the physical NCIT designed for AC and DC applications and the results obtained in some field trials followed for several years. Some result with the process bus communication and new style protections with digital inputs will be given showing the key elements of interface with the protection system and DCS (Digital Control System). (6 pages)
La citazione è sintomo d’amore: cantautori italiani e memoria letteraria

Partendo dalla domanda sulla natura dell’atto creativo dei cantautori, cioe se il testo scritto derivi da un processo emotivo (patogenesi) o dalla lettura di altri testi (logogenesi), Francesco Cia...
Effects of SiC schottky barrier diodes on switching transient performance of a SIC MOSFETs-based bidirectional switching power pole

This paper presents the investigation of the effects of Silicon-Carbide Schottky Barrier Diodes (SiC SBDs) on the switching transient performance of a SiC MOSFETs-based Bidirectional Switching Power Pole (BSPP). The investigation was focused on the contribution of the SiC SBDs in reducing the overshoot in the drain current when they are connected as freewheeling diodes. A double pulse test (DPT) is used to measure the switching transients of the MOSFETs at room temperature. To verify the practical analysis, a simulation circuit of the SiC BSPP is designed by using Cadence simulation tools. The experimental and simulation results showed that using SiC SBDs as freewheeling diodes have negligible improvements in the switching transients of the SiC MOSFET.
An Overhanging Absorber for TES X-Ray Focal Planes

In order to improve pixel count and collecting area, future transition edge sensor X-ray focal planes require pixels with both a higher coverage of the active area and compatibility with in-focal-plane multiplexing. To achieve these improvements, we have developed a pixel with an “overhanging” geometry that allows us room for multiplexing elements underneath the absorber simultaneously with the possibility of near full coverage of the focal plane. We have fabricated and tested such a pixel. We have demonstrated a spectroscopic resolution of 3.2 eV full-width at half-maximum at 5.9 keV, thereby showing that it is suitable for applications in the near future.
Experimental Demonstration of a High-Efficiency Relativistic Magnetron With Diffraction Output With Spherical Cathode Endcap

A previous computational study of a relativistic magnetron with diffractive output at the University of New Mexico using the particle-in-cell code MAGIC achieved an efficiency of 70%. The research described in this paper aimed to achieve an experimental verification of 70% efficient operation of this design. Changes to the topology were necessary, such as the introduction of a Helmholtz-like magnetic coil pair and the use of a polished stainless steel endcap on the downstream end of the transparent cathode. These structures maintain a high degree of magnetic field uniformity in the anode–cathode gap interaction space and intercept leakage electrons that might otherwise impact the dielectric output window. The use of these structures stands in contrast to the modified magnetic fields used in the work of others to protect the window. An ethanol calorimeter and S-band waveguide detector were placed in the near-field to obtain radio frequency pulse shape and frequency and to infer peak power through a measurement of total energy radiated. A coaxial D-dot probe and self-integrating Rogowski coil were used to measure pulser voltage and total current, respectively, and showed that the tube operated at an efficiency of 63.5% until the endcap started emitting electrons, after which the efficiency was 40.4% in $\pi $ -mode. Images of radiated field pattern on a neon-bulb grid and of air breakdown outside of the 21-cm diameter output window were captured to confirm conversion of the $\pi $ -mode of operation to a TE31 circular radiated output mode.
The Role of Adolescent Friendship Group Integration and Cohesion in Weapon-Related Violent Crime as a Young Adult

Weapon-related violent crime is a serious, complex, and multifaceted public health problem. The present study uses data from Waves I and III of Add Health (n = 10,482, 54% female) to examine how friendship group integration and cohesion in adolescence (ages 12–19) is associated with weapon-related criminal activity as a young adult (ages 18–26). Results indicate that greater cohesion in friendship groups is associated with significantly lower weapon-related criminal activity in young adulthood. In addition, for adolescent girls, a greater number of close friendship ties—an indicator of friendship group integration—is associated with less weapon-related criminal activity in young adulthood. These findings suggest that school-based initiatives to facilitate inclusive and cohesive adolescent peer communities may be an effective strategy to curb weapon-related criminal activity in young adulthood.
Multi-Scale Assembly of Polythiophene-Surfactant Supramolecular Complexes for Charge Transport Anisotropy

Multiscale assembly of poly(3-alkylthiophene)s complexed with various alkyl-chain surfactant architectures has been investigated in dilute and concentrated solutions by means of ultraviolet–visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, polarized optical microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and four-point probe conductivity measurements. Supramolecular complexation occurs via ionic interactions between poly(3-alkylthiophene)s electrolytes and ionic surfactants. In dilute solutions, the supramolecular complex undergoes a coil-to-rod conformational transition as evidenced by a time-dependent chromism. Spectroscopic studies on transition kinetics reveal an inverse first-order rate law. While surfactant architectures significantly affect the persistence length of the complexes, the inverse first-order rate law is maintained. When concentrated above a critical value, the supramolecular complex exhibits an isotropic-to-liquid crystalline transition yielding hexagonally ordered microstructures. The liqui...
Efficacy and safety of low‐dose heparin in hemodialysis

Introduction: The dose of unfractionated heparin (UFH) administered during hemodialysis (HD) varies widely. This prospective study evaluated the safety and efficacy of UFH dose de-escalation. Methods: Sixty-six prevalent patients on HD receiving UFH per standard-dose protocol (load dose [LD] 50–75 units/kg, maintenance dose [MD] 500–1000 units/hour) had heparin prescription converted to low-dose protocol (start LD 15 units/kg and MD 500 units/hour; dose adjusted in small increments based on assessments of extracorporeal blood circuit). Coagulation parameters, dialysis adequacy, dialyzer clotting, anemia management, and dialyzer reuse rates were compared based on the heparin protocol. Findings: Mean(SD) UFH dose per HD session, before and after protocol conversion, was 6178(2644) and 2913(1116) units, respectively (P < 0.0001). This corresponded to LD 52.1(16.6) units/kg and MD 615(207) units/hour with standard-dose protocol, and LD 18.3(6.5) units/kg and MD 505(27) units/hour with low-dose protocol (P < 0.0001). Mid and postdialysis aPTT was 55.3(31.2) and 35.1(7.8) seconds before, and 37.3(12.9) and 31.5(5.3) seconds after conversion (P = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively); no significant changes in D-dimer levels occurred. Low-dose UFH was associated with a small increase in URR and spKt/V (73.0 and 1.54) compared with dialysis clearance on standard-dose UFH (71.2 and 1.48, respectively, P = 0.02). Weekly dose of ESA decreased by 2388 units postconversion (P = 0.03), while hemoglobin levels and the weekly dose of intravenous iron did not change (P = 0.16 and 0.78). A small rise in the rate of moderate dialyzer clotting at the end of HD was noted with low-dose UFH (5.7% vs. 7.5%, P = 0.002); the rate of severe dialyzer clotting events did not change (P = 0.91). No change in the dialyzer reuse rate was noted (18.5 vs. 17.0 treatments, P = 0.26). Discussion: Low-dose heparinization did not compromise dialysis adequacy and permitted ESA dose reduction. Our findings suggest that in prevalent patients on HD, UFH dose of 15–20 units/kg loading and 500 units/hour maintenance was medically safe and effective.
How Does Psychosocial Behavior Contribute to Cognitive Health in Old Age

With the aging of the U.S. population, the number of cognitively disabled persons is expected to substantially increase in coming decades, underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions. Here, we review the current evidence linking psychosocial factors to late-life cognitive loss and consider the study design needed to illuminate the biologic bases of the associations. We then examine an ongoing study that includes several of the key design elements, the Rush Memory and Aging Project. In this longitudinal clinical-pathological cohort study, indicators of personality, social connectedness, and psychological well-being were shown to predict late-life cognitive outcomes. Participants who died underwent a uniform neuropathologic examination to quantify common dementia-related pathologies. Some psychosocial indicators were associated with cerebral infarction; some indicators modified the association of neurodegenerative pathologies with cognitive loss; and the association of some indicators with cognitive outcomes appears to be independent of the pathologies traditionally associated with late-life dementia. These findings suggest that psychosocial behavior influences late-life cognitive health through multiple neurobiologic mechanisms. A better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to novel strategies for preserving cognitive health in old age.
Use of EHR-based simulation to diagnose aetiology of information gathering issues in struggling learners: a proof of concept study.

Learners who struggle with clinical decision making are often the most challenging to identify and remediate. While for some learners, struggles can be directly traced to a poor knowledge base, for many others, it is more difficult to understand the reason for their struggles. One of the main component of effective decision making is access to accurate and complete clinical information. The electronic health record (EHR) is the main source of clinical information and, with its widespread adoption, has come increased realisation that a large fraction of users have difficulty in effectively gathering and subsequently processing information out of the EHR. We previously documented that high-fidelity EHR-based simulation improves EHR usability and, when combined with eye and screen tracking, generates important measures of usability. We hypothesised that the same simulation exercise could help distinguish whether learners had difficulty in knowledge, information gathering or information processing. We report the results of the first three struggling learners who participated in this exercise. In each case, the simulation was able to ‘diagnose’ the aetiology for the learners’ struggle and assist in formulating an appropriate solution. We suggest that high-fidelity EHR-based simulation can be a powerful tool in the standard approach to understanding struggling learners.
Aptamer micelles targeting fractalkine-expressing cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

In this work we hypothesized that the chemokine fractalkine can serve as a cancer molecular target. We engineered aptamer micelles functionalized with an outer poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) corona, and investigated the extent and efficacy of using them as a targeting tool against fractalkine-expressing colon adenocarcinoma cells. In vitro cell binding results showed that aptamer micelles bound and internalized to fractalkine-expressing cancer cells with the majority of the micelles found free in the cytoplasm. Minimal surface binding was observed by healthy cells. Even though partial PEGylation did not prevent serum adsorption, micelles were highly resistant to endonuclease and exonuclease degradation. In vivo biodistribution studies and confocal studies demonstrated that even though both aptamer and control micelles showed tumor accumulation, only the aptamer micelles internalized into fractalkine-expressing cancer cells, thus demonstrating the potential of the approach and showing that fractalkine may serve as a specific target for nanoparticle delivery to cancer cells.
The Islamic tradition and health inequities: A preliminary conceptual model based on a systematic literature review of Muslim health-care disparities

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify mechanisms by which Islamic beliefs, values, and Muslim identity might contribute to health inequities among Muslim populations. Methods: A systematic literature review of empirical studies in Medline from 1980 to 2009 was conducted. The search strategy used three terms covering health-care disparities, ethnicity, and location to uncover relevant papers. Results: A total of 171 articles were relevant based on titles and abstracts. Upon subsequent full-text review, most studies did not include religious identity or religiosity as explanatory variables for observed health disparities. Of 29 studies mentioning Islam within the text, 19 implicated Muslim identity or practices as potential explanations for health differences between Muslim and non-Muslim groups. These 19 studies generated six mechanisms that related the Islamic tradition, Muslim practices, and health inequities: (1) Interpretations of health and/or lack of health based on Islamic theology; (2) Ethical and/or cultural challenges within the clinical realm stemming from Islamic values or practices; (3) Perceived discrimination due to, or a lack of cultural accommodation of, religious values or practices in the clinical realm; (4) Health practices rooted within the Islamic tradition; (5) Patterns of health-care seeking based on Islamic values; and (6) Adverse health exposures due to having a Muslim identity. Conclusion: While there is scant empirical research on Muslim health-care disparities, a preliminary conceptual model relating Islam to health inequities can be built from the extant literature. This model can serve to organize research on Muslim health and distinguish different ways in which a Muslim identity might contribute to the patterning of health disparities.
Definitive chemoradiotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for stage II to III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Objective Definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remains the most commonly used treatment for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), because of perceptions that esophagectomy offers an unclear survival advantage. We compare recurrence, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients treated with definitive CRT or neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery (trimodality). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with stage II and III SCC of the middle and distal esophagus in patients who completed CRT. Treatment groups were matched (1:1) on covariates using a propensity score-matching approach. The effect of trimodality treatment, compared with definitive CRT, on OS, DFS, and site-specific recurrence was evaluated as a time-dependent variable and analyzed using Cox regression with a gamma frailty term for matched units. Results We included 232 patients treated between 2000 and 2016: 124 (53%) with definitive CRT and 108 (47%) with trimodality. Trimodality was used less frequently over time (61% before 2009 and 29% after 2009; P P = .039) and DFS (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.83; P = .007). Conclusions CRT followed by surgery might decrease local recurrence and increase DFS and OS in patients with esophageal SCC. Until better tools to select patients with pathological complete response are available, surgery should remain an integral component of the treatment of locally advanced esophageal SCC.
The Threat of Illicit Economies and the Complex Relations with State and Society

The chapter introduces the multifaceted threat posed by illicit economies and repercussions in the political, economic, environmental and security spheres. It also discusses the relationship between the state and criminal entities, highlighting the ways in which this relationship can be far from antagonistic in nature. A number of case studies show the way in which criminal organisations and governing elites often develop a mutually beneficial accommodation.
Stem cells versus senescence: the yin and yang of cardiac health.

A pre-eminent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, aging strongly predicts poor outcome; the largest proportion of deaths occurs in patients 65 years of age or older (>80%) after myocardial infarction [(1)][1], and the numbers are growing. By the year 2030, those older than 65 years of age will
Instructional computer use by COE faculty in Turkey: application of diffusion of innovations theory

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to explore instructional computer use by faculty members in the College of Education (COE) at an Anatolian university in Turkey. The following variables were analyzed regarding their influence on the faculty members' use of computers for instructional purposes: demographic characteristics, computer expertise, computer access, barriers to computer access, attitude toward computer use, support for computer use, and adopter categories based on innovativeness. The demographic characteristics of the faculty members included gender, academic rank, department, computer ownership at home and in the office, age, teaching experience, computer experience in general, average number of students taught in one semester, and number of graduate students supervised. The findings from this study show that faculty members in the COE in Turkey reported low levels of use and expertise in instructional computer technologies. The following variables were significantly correlated with the level of computer use by faculty members in the COE: computer ownership in the office, age, years of computer experience in general, computer expertise, computer access, barriers to computer access, attitude toward computer use, support for computer use, and adopter categories based on innovativeness. In this study, group differences also were analyzed for six computer-use factors based on demographic characteristics and adopter categories. Group differences for the computer use factors were found between COE faculty members with regard to academic rank, department, computer ownership at home and in the office, age, teaching experience, computer experience in general, and adopter categories. Associate professors; faculty members who owned a computer in the office or at home; faculty members between the ages
Symbolic systems biology

Technological breakthroughs have enabled complete genomic sequencing and proteomic study of many species, fueling exponential growth in the available biological data relevant to important biological functions. The computational analysis of these datasets has been hampered by many structural and scientific barriers. The application of symbolic toolsets borrowed from the term rewriting and formal methods communities may help accelerate biologists understanding of network effects in complex biochemical systems of interest.
Intermittent third nerve palsy with cryptococcal meningitis

In the several days before death, two AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis and increased intracranial pressure (ICP) experienced episodic unilateral third nerve palsies seemingly related to transient peaks in ICP. While cryptococcal neuritis may have predisposed the nerves to pressure effects, CT scans showed no evidence of tentorial herniation. These cases raise the possibility that severe elevations of ICP can precipitate third nerve paresis on rare occasions.
Transient Performance of the Bidirectional LMS Over Quasi-Static Wireless Networks

This paper considers the transient performance of the bidirectional least-mean squares (BiLMS) algorithm for unknown parameter estimation over quasi-static wireless networks, where the unknown parameter to be estimated is time-invariant. The algorithm is employed in two different configurations to minimize the mean-square error (MSE) while keeping the convergence speed relatively high. The analytical closed-form expressions for the transient MSE are rigorously derived as a function of training block length. The theoretical results are shown to exactly match the simulation data. At the steady state, BiLMS in the first configuration is observed to achieve an MSE half of the second one. On the other hand, the second configuration is shown to achieve a better convergence rate which makes it more appropriate for short acquisition intervals. An analytical decision rule is accordingly proposed to choose the appropriate configuration in advance based on the signal-to-noise ratio, adaptation step-size and block length.