cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ezetimibe/Simvastatin or Atorvastatin for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia in Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome: The VYMET Study

More than 47 million Americans have metabolic syndrome and these patients are at significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease. A primary goal to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in patients with metabolic syndrome is reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Numerous trials showed the benefits of statin therapy for prevention of cardiovascular disease [1]. Other studies such as the PROVE-IT-TIMI 22 trial also showed the benefits of intensive statin therapy in patients with a recent coronary event [2]. However, intensive statin therapy increases the risk of side effects and may not always get patients to LDL goals. Combination therapy using two agents that have different mechanisms of action can help patients achieve their LDL goals and minimize side effects. Ezetimibe works by decreasing the absorption of cholesterol. Used alone, this drug can increase hepatic production of cholesterol. However, when used with a statin that blocks hepatic production of cholesterol, this medication leads to further reductions in cholesterol.
Glycan-Dependent Mutual and Reversible Sequestration of Two Thyroid Cancer Biomarkers

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg), the major thyroidal protein, plays important roles in thyroid hormone biosynthesis and in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). Tg also serves as a pre- and postoperative biomarker of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The endogenous β-galactoside binding lectin galectin-3 (Gal-3), secreted by transformed thyroid cells, has been shown to be another useful biomarker of DTC. Tg contains covalently linked complex-type glycans that can serve as binding epitopes of Gal-3. The objective of the study is to investigate the interaction between Tg and Gal-3 and discuss its potential consequences. Methods: Binding interaction between Tg and Gal-3 was first studied by hemagglutination inhibition assays. Subsequently, a detailed analysis of binding thermodynamics was carried out by isothermal titration calorimetry. Quantitative precipitation was performed to study the complex formation between Tg and Gal-3 and to determine the binding stoichiometry. The concentration-dependent rate and ...
The Role of Qualitative Methods for Investigating Barriers to Adult Immunization

In 1999, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality funded a study of barriers to immunization, which included a short-term qualitative data collection to assess the organizational and cultural features of selected primary care practices and to explore their impact on adult immunization rates. The authors describe the short-term qualitative data collection system and the contributions made by the qualitative study to the parent project. They address previously held concerns about qualitative research and provide a system that can be replicated or modified for use for projects designed to assess complex attitudes and behaviors that affect health outcomes.
Hunger and Obesity Understanding a Food Insecurity Paradigm

The Hunger and Obesity workshop, organized by the Institute of Medicine, examined the relationship between food insecurity and the obesity pandemic that the United States is facing today. The workshop brought together a diverse group of experts and discussed these issues among special subpopulation groups, examined variables through a socioecological model, suggested effective government programs demonstrating positive impact, proposed key research questions, methods, and measures, and also pointed to research gaps for future works. Health promotion practitioners and researchers, either new or experienced, could gain a broader perspective on important current issues surrounding obesity and food insecurity. This workshop summary pdf file is free and can be downloaded from http://www.nap.edu/catalog/13102.html.
Validation of Cognitive and Functional Assessment Instruments in Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is a common and potentially reversible type of dementing illness. Simple, yet valid, assessment instruments are needed to quantitate the severity of cognitive and functional impairment in vascular dementia patients seen in consultation or studied in therapeutic trails. Among sixty-three patients with known ischemic cerebrovascular disease, we found thirteen who satisfied research criteria for vascular dementia, nineteen who were "borderline" and thirty-one who were not demented. We administered the Cognitive Capacity Screening Examination and the Functional Activities Questionnaire to these patients and found both tests capable of distinguishing demented from nondemented groups with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. This battery of assessment instruments was especially helpful in evaluating patients who fell into the "borderline" category. Both tests can be easily administered at the bedside or during routine office visits.
Simulating the Effects of a Non-Uniform Gravitational Field on a Space Robot

This paper investigates the influence that a nonuniform gravitational field has on the dynamics of a space robot. This is accomplished by obtaining the differential equations of motion of the space robot using three gravitational field potential approximations: a uniform field approximation, a zeroth-order Taylor series expansion of the field about the center of mass of each body, and a second-order binomial series expansion of the gravitational field. The three models are then simulated in a free-fall from identical initial conditions. The results indicate that a zeroth-order series expansion of the gravitational field about the center of mass of each body provides a sufficiently high degree of accuracy without resulting in a significant computational burden.
Evidence that Angiotensin-II and Potassium Collaborate to Increase Cytosolic Calcium and Stimulate the Secretion of Aldosterone*

Angiotensin-II (AII) and potassium (K+) as stimuli of aldosterone secretion enhance each other's stimulatory potential. In the present study we looked for evidence that AII and K+ act through a common mechanism of signal transduction to affect secretion. Bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells were loaded with the calcium (Ca2+) probe aequorin to permit detection over prolonged time periods of the changes in cytosolic Ca2+ that occur in response to AII and K+. Perfusion fractions were collected for simultaneous measurement of aldosterone production rates. AII (10(-7) M) produced an immediate and transient increase in Ca2+, followed by a Ca2+ plateau that remained above baseline for as long as AII was present. An increase in K+ concentration (from 5 to 12 mM) produced a slow and eventually sustained increase in cytosolic Ca2+, which resembled the plateau produced by AII. Nitrendipine (10(-5) M) completely inhibited the secretory response to AII and K+ (during 60-min incubations) and inhibited the typical K+-induced increase in Ca2+. The sustained increase in Ca2+ with AII (the plateau) required extracellular Ca2+ and was proportional to the prevailing extracellular K+ concentration. When glomerulosa cells were incubated with AII, the aldosterone secretory response to K+ was substantially enhanced (P less than 0.001). In summary, stimulation by both AII and K+ resulted in a sustained increase in Ca2+ influx. AII-induced Ca2+ influx was dependent on the ambient K+ concentration. These results indicate that AII and K+ act together to determine the optimal rate of Ca2+ entry, which may then lead to the appropriate secretory rate of aldosterone.
Anthopleura mariscali, a new species of sea anemone (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) from the Gal pagos Islands

Anthopleura mariscali, a new species of sea anemone (Actiniaria) known only from the intertidal zone of islands in the Gal pagos Archipelago, is described and illustrated. The column of a member of Anthopleura mariscali is orange to pink, becoming darker distally, and has prominent endocoelic marginal projections, each of which bears an acrorhagus on the oral surface and several verrucae on the adoral surface. Distally, the projections are typically frosted with opaque white patches. Living firmly adherent to the substratum in cracks and crevices, the animal is inconspicuous in life.
Rainbow-enhanced forward and backward glory scattering.

When the refractive index m of a sphere is such that rainbows occur in the forward or backward direction, the glory scattering becomes exceptionally strong. A number of these refractive-index values have been determined from the geometry of ray paths. A physical-optics model of the scattering leads to an a2x4/3 dependence in the scattered irradiance, where a is the radius of the sphere, and x = ka is the size parameter. Normal glory scattering gives an irradiance proportional to x. Mie theory computations illustrate the presence of rainbow glories at predicted m values and the x4/3 irradiance factor. As in normal glory scattering, the rainbow-enhanced glory light contains a strong cross-polarized component. Experiments using single glass spheres immersed in liquids show the predicted cross-polarized scattering with a sensitive dependence on m.
Hepatic Drug Metabolism in Cystic Fibrosis: Recent Developments and Future Directions

OBJECTIVE:To review the most current information pertaining to hepatic drug metabolism in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to explore the possible association between CF and specific pathways for the hepatic biotransformation of xenobiotics.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (key terms: cystic fibrosis, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, pharmacogenetics) was used to identify pertinent literature, including reviews. Research findings from the author's laboratory are also presented.STUDY SELECTION:Only recently reported (from 1988 to present), controlled, clinical investigations of hepatic drug metabolism in patients with CF are included. These investigations examined a mechanistic basis for altered drug biotransformation. Although uncontrolled clinical trials, case reports, and review articles are not included in the discussion, appropriate reference citations are made to these works.DATA EXTRACTION:Data from well-designed, controlled, clinical and basic investigations of altered hepatic drug biotransformatio...
Identification and Characterization of a Bacterial Chromosome Partitioning Site

We have identified a DNA site involved in chromosome partitioning in B. subtilis. This site was identified in vivo as the binding site for the chromosome partitioning protein Spo0J, a member of the ParB family of partitioning proteins. Spo0J is a site-specific DNA-binding protein that recognizes a 16 bp sequence found in spo0J. Allowing two mismatches, this sequence occurs ten times in the entire B. subtilis chromosome, all in the origin-proximal approximately 20%. Eight of the ten sequences are bound to Spo0J in vivo. The presence of a site on an otherwise unstable plasmid stabilized the plasmid in a Spo0J-dependent manner, demonstrating that this site, called parS, can function as a partitioning site. This site and Spo0J are conserved in a wide range of bacterial species.
Role of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Its Inhibition in Tumor Biology and Radiotherapy

In recent years our understanding of the fundamental biology of cancer has greatly increased. It has become clear that many molecular processes and signaling pathways that normally regulate growth, survival and function of cells become dysregulated in cancer cells, contributing to the more aggressive behavior of malignant tumors. In parallel, the knowledge of molecular, biochemical and cellular effects of ionizing radiation in both tumors and normal tissues has broadened, allowing design and implementation of more effective therapy. Increasing evidence shows that dysregulation in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling, presence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme, mutated ras, and secretion of proangiogenic molecules by tumor cells are associated with tumor resistance to cytotoxic therapies, including radiotherapy. Targeting these molecules or their signaling pathways has increasingly been explored as a therapeutic strategy, and newly developed agents directed against these molecules are already reaching the clinic. In preclinical studies, many of these novel agents have been particularly effective when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation, where they rendered tumor cells more susceptible to the cytotoxic action of chemotherapy and radiation. Targeting dysregulated molecular processes should, in theory, affect only malignant cells and thus is unlikely to sensitize normal tissues to injury by cytotoxic drugs or radiation.
The Importance of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations in English Legal History

A T ALL periods in the history of English law legislation upon commercial and industrial topics has occupied a large, perhaps the largest, space in the statute book. In order to understand this legislation it is necessary to know something of the commercial and industrial conditions prevailing at the time when it was enacted, and also something of the economic theories which were accepted by the men who enacted it. In my History of English Law I have found it necessary to say something of these matters in order to render the legislation of the Middle Ages and of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries intelligible;' and obviously in later volumes it will be as necessary to give similar information, in order to explain the very complex legislation of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries on these matters. But the historian of the eighteenth century legislation has one advantage which he has not had in the preceding periods. This advantage is the assistance derived from Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, which contains a critical commentary on the commercial and industrial legislation of the eighteenth and earlier centuries, and an exposition of the economic theories which were gaining in strength before he wrote, and, in consequence of his book, came to be universally or almost universally held. In this paper I propose to say something of the economic theories which were at the back of the eighteenth century legislation on commercial and industrial topics; of Adam Smith, and of the manner in which the events of his life and the qualities of his mind worked together to make his book a book of authority in the sphere of economics; and of the influence of his book on the development of the law.
Accurate Shallow and Deep Water Range Estimation for Underwater Networks

Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSN) are faced with the challenge of estimating distances between nodes for localization purposes. To estimate the range, most researchers opt to model the propagation trajectory of an acoustics signal either as straight lines, or by solving the wave equation and then deriving the distance. The main drawback of the former is oversimplifying the aquatic propagation model by assuming a homogeneous medium, whereas the latter approach is computationally intense and requires knowledge of the water characteristics that alters the signal velocity along the propagation path; examples of which are the sound speed profile and density. Furthermore, ranging techniques for deep water applications differ from shallow water ones due to the different boundary conditions faced in each medium. In this paper, we propose a novel and unified ranging method that is suitable for both deep and shallow waters and implicitly factors the aquatic characteristics. In particular, the proposed method uses a parabolic ranging model that takes advantage of both angle of arrival and departure of newly formed communication links to relatively localize nodes within a network. Basically, we localize nodes by modeling the propagation between each pair of nodes as a parabola that satisfies the angles of arrival and departure and show that that parabolic expansion factors in the reflection, refraction and straight line model. We validate our approach through simulation and compare its performance to contemporary ranging techniques.
Increasing Immunization Compliance by Reducing Provisional Admittance

Students in Vermont with incomplete or undocumented immunization status are provisionally admitted to schools and historically had a calendar year to resolve their immunization status. The process of resolving these students' immunization status was challenging for school nurses. We conducted a school-based quality improvement effort to increase student compliance with Vermont immunization regulations using a collaborative learning approach with public health school liaisons and school nurses from public schools to reduce provisional admittance in 2011-2012. Strategies included using a tracking system, accessing the immunization registry, promoting immunization importance, tracking immunization plans, and working with medical homes to update records. Participating school nurses observed decreases in the number of provisionally admitted students, although this reduction was not significantly different than matched comparison schools. We also found the number of provisionally admitted students fluctuated throughout the year and resolving the immunization status of New Americans and exchange students required special attention. Our approach supports the coordinated school health model and demonstrates the critical role school nurses play in improving population health outcomes.
Polycrystalline Diamond, Boron Nitride and Carbon Nitride Thin Film Cold Cathodes

Recent observations are presented on the emission of electrons from n-type polycrystalline diamond and from two new families of nitride-based cold cathode films, n-type boron nitride (BN) and n-type carbon nitride (CN). The n-type polycrystalline diamond films were synthesized by MPECVD. The BN and CN n-type films (~150 nm) were synthesized by reactive laser ablation on n-type polycrystalline diamond (~24 µm) on (100)Si. Emission current densities have been measured as high as 119 ma cm−2. Extraction fields have been observed to range from ~0 V µm−1 up. The diamond films show a field activated thermionic behavior. Both the BN and the CN films show a power-law current density / applied field response implying a negative electron affinity (NEA) type behavior.
Humoral Immunity to Type-Specific and Cross-Reactive Antigens of Gram-Negative Bacilli

Active and passive immunization with antigens shared by most Enterobacteriaceae demonstrated that antibodies against the basal portion of core lipopolysaccharide (Re determinants) protected against challenge with heterologous, smooth gramnegative bacilli. Active immunization with Re induced a 13- to 100-fold increase in the number of Escherichia coli 107 and Klebsiella pneumoniae required for an LD50. Other rough mutants and common enterobacterial antigen (CA) failed to induce consistent protection. In specimens of acute serum, antibody titers to O-specific antigen, CA, and Re were related to the frequency of shock or death in 206 episodes of gram-negative bacteremia. Frequency of shock and death could not be related to height of antibody titers to O antigen or CA. These complications occurred equally often in those with high and low antibody titers. In contrast, a significant correlation (P < .01) was observed between increasing titers of Re antibody and decreasing frequency of shock or death.
Enhanced Heat Collection Element Performance Through Surface Geometry

Concentrated solar power produces electricity by using a mirror to focus sunlight on a fluid filled tube known as a heat collection element. The fluid inside the element is then used as a heat source for steam generation in a conventional steam turbine power plant. It is possible that adding microstructures to the surface of the conventionally smooth heat collection element could improve system efficiency, motivating the need for an improved understanding of the radiation characteristics of a microstructured surface. The goal of this work was to experimentally determine the impact of different microscale geometries on net radiative heat gain when angle of incidence was varied. Five test pieces, one with a smooth surface and four with microstructured surfaces were compared experimentally for a given infrared energy input and flow rate and five different angles of incidence. Over the entire range of angles the microstructured test pieces absorbed more energy than the smooth test piece.© 2011 ASME
The effects of noise on hearing.

Extensive data indicate that the loss of hearing acuity observed with increasing age may be attributed to presbycusis or to the effects of exposure to noise. The problem of differentiating between these two causes of hearing loss is complicated by the many variables in exposure and susceptibility to noise.In this discussion, the author reviews methods for measuring noise and detecting susceptibility to noise, the types of acoustic trauma, and criteria for judging noxious noise.With the establishment of programs for conserving hearing, the relative effects of noise and age on hearing should be better understood.
The Current Situation and New Trends of the Development of Japan’s Information Service Industry

The information service industry of Japan has kept its development momentum despite the long-term economic stagnancy since the 1990s, with its chief operational indices such as business volume coming up and database service witnessing apparent development. In order to promote the further development of information service industry, the government of Japan, apart from formulating laws to protect private information and implementing new industry classification standards, has also taken active policy measures to attract IT professionals and to standardize government purchase conducts.
Gastrin Inhibition of Intestinal Absorption in Dogs

We compared the effects of endogenous gastrin and exogenous pentapeptide on intestinal absorption of sodium, potassium, water, and glucose. Jejunal and ileal loops were isolated from the rest of the gut in anesthetized dogs, and a physiological solution containing these substances was instilled in the loops for 15-min periods. Absorption was determined by the recovery of water and solutes in the solution evacuated from the loops. Intravenous pentagastrin (5.0 μg per kg-hr) inhibited absorption of sodium, potassium, and water from the ileum and jejunum and glucose from the ileum. Endogenously released gastrin (evoked by instilling a 5% acetylcholine solution in the stomach to bathe the antral mucosa) caused inhibition of absorption of sodium, potassium, water, and glucose from both jejunal and ileal loops. Intravenously administered secretin had no effect on intestinal absorption in this preparation.
T Cell–Replete HLA Haploidentical Donor Transplantation with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide Is an Effective Salvage for Patients Relapsing after an HLA-Matched Related or Matched Unrelated Donor Transplantation

Abstract A second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using the same donor or another fully matched donor is an effective treatment approach for a subset of patients relapsing after a matched related (MRDT) or matched unrelated donor transplant (MUDT). There are limited data on the use of haploidentical transplantation (HIDT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide in the setting of a second HSCT after an MRDT or MUDT. We analyzed the outcomes of 20 patients who received HIDT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide as a second HSCT after an MRDT (n = 10) or MUDT (n = 10). The median time from the first to the second HSCT was 20.7 months (range, 2.7 to 65.8). Ten patients had acute myelogenous leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome, 6 had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 2 had chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, and 2 had myeloproliferative neoplasms. All patients received cytoreductive therapy before HIDT, with 12 (60%) achieving complete remission and 8 (40%) with active disease at the time of transplant. All patients achieved sustained engraftment with median times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment of 17.5 days (range, 14 to 44) and 32 days (range, 15 to 99), respectively. Nineteen patients (95%) achieved full donor chimerism in both the T cell and myeloid lineages at day 30 post-HSCT. The cumulative incidences of grades II to IV and grades III to IV acute graft-versus-host disease at 180 days were 36% and 10%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of moderate to severe chronic graft-versus-host disease was 13% at 1 year post-HIDT. At a median follow-up of 38 months, the probability of overall survival, disease-free survival, nonrelapse mortality, and relapse post-HIDT were 52%, 39%, 29%, and 33% at 1 year and 34%, 31%, 29%, and 40% at 3 years, respectively. These data suggest that HIDT is an effective strategy to treat relapsed hematologic malignancies after MRDT or MUDT. Further studies to confirm these observations are warranted.
On the Biophysical Control of Growth Rate in Avena Coleoptile Sections

Turgor pressure (P) is regarded as the physical driving force of growth in plants, but it is effective in causing a deformation (elongation) only above a threshold value of turgor which may be regarded as the yielding threshold of the cell wall (Lockhart, 1965). The simplest expression for this relation is: $$ {\underline r _{S}} = \left( {\underline P - {{\underline Y }_{{\min }}}} \right)\underline {{m_{S}}} $$ (1) where rs is steady rate, Ymin is the threshold turgor for yielding, and ms reflects the yielding quality (apparent fluidity) of the cell wall above the threshold. Change in steady rate generally does not reflect a parallel change in P (it sometimes shows an inverse relation to P) so changes in Y min and/or m s presumably govern rate. The distinction between the extreme possibilities (Y min vs. m s) is quite clear when r s rises linearly with (P - Y min) as in Fig. 1a, but is less so when the relation is concave upward as in Fig. 1b. Here (Fig. 1b, right) displacement also involves a change in slope at a given P. In terms of equation (l), long-term differences in rate, with and without IAA, appear to reflect changes in m s (Cleland, 1959) while shorter-term studies indicated a change in Y min. (Evans, 1967).
Hereditary Rolandic Epilepsy and Speech Dyspraxia

A syndrome of nocturnal oro-facio-brachial partial seizures, secondarily generalized partial seizures, centro-temporal epileptiform discharges, associated with oral and speech dyspraxia and cognitive impairment, is described in a family of 9 affected members in three generations reported from Austin Hospital, Heidelberg (Melbourne), the University of Melbourne, and the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Association between delivery methods for red blood cell transfusion and the risk of venous thromboembolism: a longitudinal study

Summary Background Mechanisms of red blood cell delivery and their contribution to the incidence of venous thromboembolism are not well understood in the clinical setting. We assessed whether red blood cell transfusion through peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) affects the risk of venous thromboembolism compared with transfusion through non-PICC devices. Methods We implemented a prospective study between Jan 1, 2013, and Sept 12, 2015, in patients (age ≥18 years) admitted to a general medicine ward or intensive care unit who received a PICC for any reason during clinical care in 47 hospitals in Michigan, USA, with a maximum follow-up of 70 days. The exposure of interest was route of red blood cell transfusion. The primary outcome was symptomatic, radiographically confirmed, deep-vein thrombosis in the arm or leg or pulmonary embolism. We used Cox proportional hazards regression for analyses. Findings Venous thromboembolism developed in 482 (5%) of 10 604 patients with PICCs. Of 788 patients who received a red blood cell transfusion through a multi-lumen PICC, 61 had venous thromboembolism. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for venous thromboembolism in all patients whose transfusions were administered through a multi-lumen PICC was 1·96 (95% CI 1·47–2·61; p Interpretation Red blood cell delivery through a multi-lumen PICC is associated with a greater risk of thrombosis than transfusion through a peripheral intravenous catheter. Careful monitoring for venous thromboembolism when transfusing red blood cells through multi-lumen PICCs seems necessary. Funding Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, as part of the BCBSM Value Partnerships program.
Pressure Dependence of Carbonate Exchange with [NpO2(CO3)3]4- in Aqueous Solutions.

The rates of ligand exchange into the geochemically important [NpO2(CO3)3]4– aqueous complex are measured as a function of pressure in order to complement existing data on the isostructural [UO2(CO3)3]4– complex. Experiments are conducted at pH conditions where the rate of exchange is independent of the proton concentration. Unexpectedly, the experiments show a distinct difference in the pressure dependencies of rates of exchange for the uranyl and neptunyl complexes.
¡El olor! ¡El olor! Olores de santidad en Lima colonial

During the 17th century, the olfactory illusio lacked the status of other senses such as eyesight or hearing. However, this article seeks to demonstrate how –within the baroque imaginary– scents were ordered according to a moral hierarchy, ranging from the most pestilent ones and, thus, imbued with depravity to the sweetest smells and therefore blessed. Hence, the «odour of sanctity» was a fragrance so much desired by the inhabitants of the Colonial Lima, which was a fetid city, punished by natural catastrophes and abandoned to eschatological pessimism. It was thanks to the discernment of this fragrance in almost forty figures of sanctity that the population of Lima perfumed a malodorous century.
Minimum Magnitude of Completeness and Rates of Seismicity in the New Madrid Region

We apply the Schuster test to an augmented Central Mississippi Valley (CMV) seismic catalog to determine the minimum magnitude of completeness (MMC). We test the null hypothesis that the events in the catalog are distributed as a Poissonian process at a period of 24 hours. The test is based, in part, on the assumption that event detection is modulated by differences between day and night noise. We tested different temporal portions of the catalog corresponding to the whole catalog, 1974 – 1990; the period of network improvement in 1980 – 1987; and post-1987. The minimum magnitude of completeness between 1980 and 1987 is 1.8 within the region reported in the CMV Earthquake Bulletin. The catalog shows anomalous distribution after 1987, which may be related to a combination of mistaken identification of blasts as earthquakes and changes in network personnel. A significant (better than 95% confidence) increase in the rate of seismicity above magnitude 2.0 occurred in the central New Madrid seismic zone in 1981, followed by the Arkansas swarm less than a year later and by a significant rate increase in the enveloping region less than two years later. A significant rate decrease occurred in the whole region in June 1987, although the anomalous nature of the post-1987 catalog makes this change suspect. We suggest that the early rate increase is caused by a change in local (New Madrid) fault conditions, rather than a change in far-field conditions, because the rate increase appears first in the central region.
Hg2+ Trapping by Thiol – Functionalised Mesoporous Silica Molecular Sieves

The covalent grafting of 3-mercaptopropylsilyl groups to the framework pore walls of mesoporous silica molecular sieves represents a promising new approach for trapping of Hg2+ and other heavy metals from dilute solution. Two framework structures were examined, namely, a calcined hexagonal silica prepared by electrostatic supramolecular assembly, and an uncalcined wormhole -like silica obtained through neutral surfactant assembly. Owing to the presence of a higher concentration of surface hydroxyl groups, the wormhole silica was far more effective for thiol fuctionalisation and heavy metal ion trapping.
Dreaming the Late Beloved : A Comparative Reading of Su Shi’s “Jiang Cheng Zi” ( “For Ten Years We are Set Apart by Life and Death”) and Milton’s Sonnet “Methought I Saw my Late Espouséd Saint”

(2016). Dreaming the Late Beloved : A Comparative Reading of Su Shi’s “Jiang Cheng Zi” ( “For Ten Years We are Set Apart by Life and Death”) and Milton’s Sonnet “Methought I Saw my Late Espoused Saint”. Comparative Literature: East & West: Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 1-9.
Improvement Approach for Gas Barrier Behavior of Polymer/Clay Nanocomposite Films

Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) include a copolymer or polymer which has nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer matrix at the nano-level. One of the most common types of polymer nanocomposites contain smectic clays as the nanoparticles. These clay minerals increase the mechanical properties of standard polymers and improve barrier properties. For optimum barrier properties, Layer-by-Layer assembly (LbL) is one of the most effective methods for depositing thin films. LbL methods however, are quite tedious and produce large quantities of waste. A newly discovered phenomenon of self-assembled polymer nanocomposites utilizes entropic forces to drive the assembly to spontaneously form a larger nanostructured film. This approach allows polymers and nanoparticles with high particle loadings to be mixed, and create the super gas barrier films. We have developed a coating technique which can be employed to make self-assembled gas barrier films via inkjet printing. This technique is industrially scalable and efficient. This is because it does not need any rinsing step and drying steps as required in LbL. The influence of different polymers Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Poly (acrylic acid) PAA with Montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay solutions on Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate is examined to study their effectiveness as a gas barrier film. The results showing the excellent oxygen barrier behavior of a combination of PVP and MMT Nano clay nanocomposite with high transparency. These high barrier gas nanocomposite films are good candidates for a variety of food packaging applications.
Enteral feeding and its impact on family mealtime routines for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy: A mixed method study.

Background/aim Enteral feedings are part of the daily mealtime experience for many caregivers of children with cerebral palsy. The scope of occupational therapy practice incorporates multiple aspects of the enteral feeding process. Yet, the research in this area is very limited. The purpose of this study was to provide practitioners with better understanding of the impact enteral feedings of children with cerebral palsy have on family mealtime routines. Methods Using a complimentary mixed method approach, data were obtained through an online survey containing the Satisfaction Questionnaire with Gastrostomy Feeding (SAGA-8) and supplementary questions, and qualitative semi-structured phone interviews. Participants were caregivers of children with cerebral palsy who receive their primary nutrition through a gastrostomy tube. Results This study's cohort consisted of n = 36, SAGA-8, and n = 6 in-depth interviews. The mean age of children of was 9.4 (6.94 SD) with a mean age of 3.4 (5.35 SD) when enteral feeding was introduced. While families' overall situations positively changed after the gastronomy tube placement, environmental barriers and length of feeding time continued to present a challenge to mealtime routines. The mixed methods data analysis revealed that successful adjustment to having a child with a gastronomy tube and problem solving are closely linked and a consistent part of mealtime experience. Conclusion Findings highlighted the necessity of comprehensive support from health professionals in achieving positive mealtime experience. Themes in this study indicated that caregivers would benefit from a professional with knowledge in the development and integration of rituals and routines to support positive outcomes.
Secure data types: a simple abstraction for confidentiality-preserving data analytics

Cloud computing offers a cost-efficient data analytics platform. However, due to the sensitive nature of data, many organizations are reluctant to analyze their data in public clouds. Both software-based and hardware-based solutions have been proposed to address the stalemate, yet all have substantial limitations. We observe that a main issue cutting across all solutions is that they attempt to support confidentiality in data queries in a way transparent to queries. We propose the novel abstraction of secure data types with corresponding annotations for programmers to conveniently denote constraints relevant to security. These abstractions are leveraged by novel compilation techniques in our system Cuttlefish to compute data analytics queries in public cloud infrastructures while keeping sensitive data confidential. Cuttlefish encrypts all sensitive data residing in the cloud and employs partially homomorphic encryption schemes to perform operations securely, resorting however to client-side completion, re-encryption, or secure hardware-based re-encryption based on Intel's SGX when available based on a novel planner engine. Our evaluation shows that our prototype can execute all queries in standard benchmarks such as TPC-H and TPC-DS with an average overhead of 2.34× and 1.69× respectively compared to a plaintext execution that reveals all data.
A novel dominant COL11A1 mutation in a child with Stickler syndrome type II is associated with recurrent fractures

This case describes a child with blindness, recurrent low-impact fractures, low bone mass, and intermittent joint pain who was found to have a novel missense mutation in COL11A1, consistent with Stickler syndrome type II. The case illustrates the phenotypic variability of the syndrome, which may include increased fragility in childhood. Stickler syndrome type II is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the gene that encodes the type XI collagen chain α1 (COL11A1). Manifestations include craniofacial dysmorphology and ocular abnormalities that may lead to blindness, hearing loss, and skeletal anomalies that range from joint pain and arthritis to scoliosis and hypermobility. Herein, we describe a child who carried the presumed diagnosis of osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome because of the combined findings of recurrent low-impact fractures due to low bone mass and blindness. The child also suffered from joint pain but had no facial dysmorphism or hearing loss. Targeted sequencing and deletion analysis of the LRP5, COL1A1, and COL1A2 genes failed to identify any mutations, and whole exome sequence analysis revealed a novel missense mutation (c.3032C>A:p.P1011Q) in COL11A1, consistent with Stickler type II. This case highlights the phenotypic variability of Stickler type II, broadens the list of differential diagnosis of increased bone fragility in childhood, and highlights utility of unbiased genetic testing towards establishing the correct diagnosis in children with frequent fractures.
Osteoblastic Metastasis from Breast Cancer

Osteoblastic or sclerotic bone metastases most commonly arise in prostate and breast cancer. PET/MR imaging is useful in detecting low signal sclerotic marrow involvement, even when their metabolic activity may be minimal.
On the Usefulness of Narratives: An Interdisciplinary Review and Theoretical Model.

Background How can we use stories from other people to promote better health experiences, improve judgments about health, and increase the quality of medical decisions without introducing bias, systematically persuading the listeners to change their attitudes, or altering behaviors in nonoptimal ways? More practically, should narratives be used in health education, promotion, or behavior change interventions? Method In this article, we address these questions by conducting a narrative review of a diverse body of literature on narratives from several disciplines to gain a better understanding about what narratives do, including their role in communication, engagement, recall, persuasion, and health behavior change. We also review broad theories about information processing and persuasion from psychology and more specific models about narrative messaging found in the health communication and marketing literatures to provide insight into the processes by which narratives have their effect on health behavior. Results To address major gaps in our theoretical understanding about how narratives work and what effects they will have on health behavior, we propose the Narrative Immersion Model, whose goal is to identify the parameters that predict the specific impact of a particular narrative (e.g. persuade, inform, comfort, etc.) based on the type of narrative message (e.g. process, experience, or outcome narrative). Further, the Narrative Immersion Model describes the magnitude of the effect as increasing through successive layers of engagement with the narrative: interest, identification, and immersion. Finally, the Narrative Immersion Model identifies characteristics of the narrative intervention that encourage greater immersion within a given narrative. Conclusions We believe there are important communication gaps in areas areas of behavioral medicine that could be addressed with narratives; however, more work is needed in order to employ narrative messaging systematically. The Narrative Immersion Model advances our theoretical understanding about narrative processing and its subsequent effects on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.
Patchwork: an expressive e-textile construction kit

Though critical engagement with identity usually does not begin until adolescence, children begin developing the foundations of their understanding about identity at a young age. Patchwork is an interactive construction kit which enriches learners' experiences with identity reflection and expression. Learners are prompted to create patches with scaffolded electronic textile elements to express pieces of their own identity. Patchwork builds on the self expressive nature of traditional patches. Ultimately, the learner is scaffolded through both learning electronics as well as identity reflection and formation.
The Role of Information Technology in Product Development: An Introduction

Innovation has assumed considerable importance in the contemporary business world. In most industries, the very survival of firms is increasingly dependent on their ability to rapidly develop and introduce innovative products and services. At the same time, information technology (IT) has emerged as a critical resource for companies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their product development activities. This chapter provides an introduction to the book by tracing the evolution of research on product (service) development and the increasing focus on IT-related issues in this context. Both traditional and emerging areas of research on IT and product development are identified. The motivation for the book is set out in detail, and the chapter concludes by describing the organization of the book and the various chapters.
ADVANTAGES OF MCNPX-BASED LATTICE TALLY OVER MESH TALLY IN HIGH-SPEED MONTE CARLO DOSE RECONSTRUCTION FOR PROTON RADIOTHERAPY

Monte Carlo simulations are increasingly used to reconstruct dose distributions in radiotherapy research studies. Many studies have used the MCNPX Monte Carlo code with a mesh tally for dose reconstructions. However, when the number of voxels in the simulated patient anatomy is large, the computation time for a mesh tally can become prohibitively long. The purpose of this work was to test the feasibility of using lattice tally instead of mesh tally for whole-body dose reconstructions. We did this by comparing the dosimetric accuracy and computation time of lattice tallies with those of mesh tallies for craniospinal proton irradiation. The two tally methods generated nearly identical dosimetric results, within 1% in dose and within 1 mm distance-to-agreement for 99% of the voxels. For a typical craniospinal proton treatment field, simulation speed was 4 to 17 times faster using the lattice tally than using the mesh tally, depending on the numbers of proton histories and voxels. We conclude that the lattice tally is an acceptable substitute for the mesh tally in dose reconstruction, making it a suitable potential candidate for clinical treatment planning.
Self-Powered Multifunctional Instrumented Knee Implant

Computational modeling, instrumented linkages, optical technologies, MRI, and radiographic techniques have been widely used to study knee motion after total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Information provided by these methods has helped designers to develop implants with better clinical performance and surgeons to obtain an improved understanding of the stability and mobility of the joint. Correspondingly, overall patient satisfaction with respect to the reduction in pain and recovery of normal functioning of the joint has been improving. However, about 20% of patients are still not fully satisfied with their surgical outcomes. The main obstacle in the current state-of-the-art is that a comprehensive post-operative understanding of knee balance is still unavailable, mostly due to a lack of in vivo data collected from the joint after surgery. This work presents an attempt to develop a self-powered instrumented knee implant for in vivo data acquisition. The knee sensory system in this study utilizes several embedded piezoelectric transducers in the tibial bearing of the knee replacement in order to provide sensing and energy harvesting capabilities. Through a series of analytical modeling, finite element simulation, and experimental testing, the performance of the suggested system is evaluated and a dimensionally optimized design of an instrumented TKR is achieved. More specifically, a comprehensive platform is established in order to combine the knowledge of embedded piezoelectric sensors and energy harvesters, musculoskeletal modeling of the knee joint, multiphysics finite element modeling, additive manufacturing techniques, image processing, and experimental knee loading simulation in order to achieve the experimentally validated and optimized instrumented knee implant design. The cumulative work presented in this article encompasses three main studies performed on the sensing performance of the proposed design: first, preliminary parametric studies of the effect of local dimensional and material parameters on the electromechanical behavior of the embedded sensory system; second, investigation of the ability to sense total force and center of pressure location; and third, evaluation of an enhanced system with the ability to sense compartmental forces and contact locations. Additionally, the energy harvesting capacity of the system is investigated to ensure the achievement of a fully self-powered sensory system. Results obtained from the experimental analysis of the system demonstrate the successful sensing and energy harvesting performance of the designs achieved in this study.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Acute pulmonary edema in a pregnant patient with undiagnosed levo-transposition of the great arteries

BACKGROUND Levo-transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) is a rare form of congenital heart disease that may go unrecognized until adulthood. Parturient women with L-TGA have a high likelihood of developing acute pulmonary edema and cardiac dysrhythmias during the peri-partum period. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 32-year-old primigravida patient with previously unknown diagnosis of L-TGA, presenting with preeclampsia, whose peri-partum course was complicated by the development of acute pulmonary edema, complete heart block, and acute hypoxic respiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS This case report highlights the predisposition of parturient women with undiagnosed congenital heart disease to develop acute hypoxic respiratory failure in the perioperative period and the importance of meticulous fluid management in such patients.
Early Paternal Support Behaviors Moderate Consonant Smoking Among Unmarried Parents.

Objective:Unmarried mothers have high rates of smoking, including during late pregnancy and after pregnancy, thus increasing their children’s risk for negative health outcomes associated with mater...