cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On reduced polynomial-based split algorithms

In this work we analyze the mathematical structure associated with the split algorithms for computing the reflection coefficients for a given real, symmetric, positive-definite Toeplitz matrix. A new form of three-term recurrence relation is derived and computationally efficient alternatives to the Levinson-Durbin, Schur, lattice, and normalized lattice algorithms are obtained. The computational complexity of the new algorithms is the same as those of the split algorithms described in the recent literature. The relationships between the various algorithms are also established. These algorithms also provide further insight into the mathematical properties of the structurally rich Toeplitz matrices.
Neural networks, error-correcting codes, and polynomials over the binary n-cube

Several ways of relating the concept of error-correcting codes to the concept of neural networks are presented. Performing maximum-likelihood decoding in a linear block error-correcting code is shown to be equivalent to finding a global maximum of the energy function of a certain neural network. Given a linear block code, a neural network can be constructed in such a way that every codeword corresponds to a local maximum. The connection between maximization of polynomials over the n-cube and error-correcting codes is also investigated; the results suggest that decoding techniques can be a useful tool for solving such maximization problems. The results are generalized to both nonbinary and nonlinear codes. >
Sexual Coercion Rates in Seven Midwestern Prison Facilities for Men

Sexual coercion rates in seven prison facilities for men in midwestern states were assessed. Anonymous written surveys were distributed to the total population of 7,032 inmates and 1,936 security staff in the facilities. Usable surveys were returned by 1,788 inmates (25%) and 475 staff (25%). Results showed that 21% of the inmates had experienced at least one episode of pressured or forced sexual contact since incarcerated in their state, and 16% reported that an incident had occurred in their current facility. At least 7% of the sample had been raped in their current facility. Seven percent of the sample had experienced sexual coercion, and at least 4% had been raped during the most recent 26 to 30 months. Factors that appeared to increase sexual coercion rates were large population size, racial conflict, barracks housing, inadequate security, and having a high percentage of inmates incarcerated for a crime against persons.
Dislocation-phonon interaction

Abstract The recent result that uniform screw dislocation motion can be sustained by an applied stress s
The effect of growth hormone on the Leydig cell response to chorionic gonadotrophin in boys with hypopituitarism.

SUMMARY Eleven boys with growth hormone (hGH) deficiency received human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) stimulation tests for the assessment of Leydig cell function before, during, and after 1 year of treatment with somatotrophin. Two patients entered puberty during the course of the study protocol. Analysis of the data in nine prepubertal boys revealed an augmentation of testosterone (T) responses to hCG in the presence of hGH. In six of these individuals in whom dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was determined, a similar augmentation in responsiveness of this steroid was found in the presence of hGH. Three prepubertal boys exhibited poor T responses to the basal hCG test with only partial improvement following hGH. In man growth hormone may be an important permissive factor in Leydig cell activity during periods of changing testicular function such as occur in utero or during puberty.
Modeling tape-wound magnetic switches

An empirical ferromagnetic model developed by M.L. Hodgdon (1988) has been incorporated into the NET-2 Circuit Analysis Program to allow detailed simulation of magnetic modulators. The model is capable of representing the rate dependency of the material B-H characteristics and internal losses. This tool was successfully used to simulate nonuniform magnetization within magnetic switch cores during the switching process. Comparison is made with published experimental results on amorphous tape-wound cores subjected to 0.1 T/ mu s and 1 T/ mu s magnetization rates. It is concluded that the proposed model is significant in its ability to simulate magnetic switch behavior throughout all phases of switch operation, and to do so accurately, accounting for rate dependent effects and nonuniform magnetization within the switch core. Model parameters can be fit to core material data in a straightforward manner. >
How Religious Beliefs and Practices Influence the Psychological Health of Catholic Priests.

Roman Catholic diocesan priests are a subgroup of men with unique religious and spiritual roles, beliefs, and practices. This qualitative study of 15 priests from the mid-Atlantic area of the United States focused on how priests’ relationship with God and promises of celibacy and obedience influenced their psychological health. Using a consensual qualitative research (CQR) design, the analysis revealed that participants described their relationship with God as central to their health and contributing to positive outcomes (e.g., sense of connection and support). The influence of their promises of celibacy and obedience were linked to both positive outcomes (e.g., decreased stress, improved relationships) and negative outcomes (e.g., internal conflict, depression/loneliness). This study highlighted the central role that priests’ relationship with God has on positive psychological health. Future research is necessary to understand how to maximize the positive effects and minimize the negative effects of prie...
Can Non-Agricultural Employment Reduce Rural Poverty? Evidence From Mexico

This paper explores the role of the local context on the effectiveness of policy interventions in reducing poverty through non-agricultural rural employment (NARE). NARE is negatively associated to poverty in Mexico. Manufacturing employment is more poverty-reducing than services in semi urban municipalities. In turn, services employment matters more in rural than in semi urban areas. Factors associated to pro-poor NARE are low income inequality, dynamic agriculture, and government expenditures. Policy interventions in education and roads are poverty-reducing through manufacturing employment in semi urban municipalities and through services employment in all municipalities.
Corticosteroid Withdrawal Restores Responses to Calcium Chelators and Enhances Cholinergic Responsiveness

To investigate the importance of the inflammatory response in acute peripheral airway constriction, we measured peripheral airway responses to calcium chelators and acetylcholine in anesthetized Basenji-Greyhound (BG) dogs before, during, and after chronic corticosteroid treatment. A wedged bronchoscope technique was used to measure peripheral airway resistance before and after aerosol challenge with 4% Na2EDTA or acetylcholine (10 µg/ml) in contralateral lungs. After the initial measurements, five BG dogs received long-term treatment with methylprednisolone (2 mg/kg/d, subcutaneously), and five dogs were not treated and served as controls. Four weeks of methylprednisolone treatment almost totally abolished responses to Na2EDTA, but responses to acetylcholine did not change significantly. After discontinuing corticosteroid therapy, responses to Na2EDTA returned to levels found before corticosteroid treatment; responses to acetylcholine were significantly enhanced. We conclude that chronic corticosteroid t...
Stroop interference and facilitation in the cerebral hemispheres in schizophrenia

A divided visual field presentation of the Stroop colour-word test was used to study interhemispheric (transcallosal) function in schizophrenic and normal subjects. The modified test used a colour strip paired with either an incongruent, neutral or congruent colour word. Interference and facilitation were defined as the difference between the mean reaction times for incongruent stimuli and neutral stimuli and that between neutral stimuli and congruent stimuli, respectively. The stimuli were presented tachistoscopically with the two components either separated across the midline centrally, up or down from the midpoint (bilateral presentation), or presented to a single visual half-field (unilateral presentation). The inclusion of the 'up' and 'down' bilateral conditions controlled for the reaction time advantage for central compared with unilateral stimulus presentations noted in an earlier study (David, 1993a). The difference in reaction time to an incongruent compared with a congruent colour-word pairing, the Combined Stroop Effect (CSE), was not affected significantly by stimulus presentation position (bilateral vs. unilateral) in either the control or schizophrenic group, unlike in the earlier study of David. For controls, interference was significantly greater than facilitation for both bilaterally- and unilaterally-presented stimuli. Schizophrenics had a significantly smaller interference effect for bilaterally-presented stimuli, indicating reduced interhemispheric interference in this group. For the control group, there was no significant difference between right and left CSEs, interference being significantly greater than facilitation on both visual half-field presentations. For schizophrenics, the CSE for left-presented stimuli was significantly greater than that for right-presented stimuli. In addition, left-field facilitation was significantly greater than right-field. Reduced Stroop facilitation with right-field presentations in schizophrenic subjects may reflect increased vulnerability of colour-naming by word-reading in the left hemisphere-evidence for the non-unitary nature of attentional processes and disintegration of these in schizophrenia.
Prospecting for Hydrothermal Vents Using Moored Current and Temperature Data: Axial Volcano on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Northeast Pacific*

Abstract Tidal and inertial currents and profuse hydrothermal discharge at recently erupted Axial Volcano, Juan de Fuca Ridge, cause relatively large and rapid temperature (T) changes in the near-bottom water column. Measurements show short-term T variations of as much as 0.13°C at 30 m and 0.18°C at 150 m above bottom and currents that have strong tidal components and means of 3–5 cm s−1. Locations and magnitudes of the hydrothermal sources leading to the observed T variations have been inferred via an inverse calculation. Results imply noncongruent source regions around the mooring site for plumes from low- and high-buoyancy flux sources. Water column and seafloor observations in the volcano’s caldera region generally support the distribution of source types and sites inferred. A high-buoyancy flux, ephemeral venting site, unexpected on the eastern shoulder of the volcano, is also indicated by the inverse calculation and supported by water-column survey data. Over the O(10 km2) calculation region, heat ...
Demonstrating the Stretch Reflex: A Mechanical Model

If you wish to explain the concept of stretch reflexes to your students, it may be helpful to present the information using a mechanical model. The mechanical model has the advantage of providing a dynamic multisensory experience using movement, light and sound. The model, which can be an adjunct to less dynamic textbook sources, enables instructors to teach an abstract phenomenon in a concrete manner. The choice of jargon used during the demonstration will depend on the age and sophistication level of your audience (technical jargon is in parentheses).
Potential climate effect of mineral aerosols over West Africa: Part II—contribution of dust and land cover to future climate change

Mineral dust aerosols are an essential component of climate over West Africa, however, little work has been performed to investigate their contributions to potential climate change. A set of regional climate model experiments with and without mineral dust processes and land cover changes is performed to evaluate their climatic effects under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 for two global climate models. Results suggest surface warming to be in the range of 4–8 °C by the end of the century (2081–2100) over West Africa with respect to the present day (1981–2000). The presence of mineral dusts dampens the warming by 0.1–1 °C in all seasons. Accounting for changes in land cover enhances the warming over the north of Sahel and dampens it to the south in spring and summer; however, the magnitudes are smaller than those resulting from dusts. Overall dust loadings are projected to increase, with the greatest increase occurring over the Sahara and Sahel in summer. Accounting for land cover changes tends to reduce dust loadings over the southern Sahel. Future precipitation is projected to decrease by 5–40 % in the western Sahara and Sahel and increase by 10–150 % over the eastern Sahel and Guinea Coast in JJA. A dipole pattern of future precipitation changes is attributed to dust effects, with decrease in the north by 5–20 % and increase by 5–20 % in the south. Future changes in land cover result in a noisy non-significant response with a tendency for slight wetting in MAM, JJA, and SON and drying in DJF.
Factors associated with peritoneal dialysis catheter complications in children.

Abstract Background/Purpose Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a common method of renal replacement therapy for children. However, placement of PD catheters has risk, and some are never used. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of children with a PD catheter placed between 2000 and 2014. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify covariates associated with complications. Results We identified 175 children with PD catheters. 110 complications developed in 80 children (45.7%). Complications including unexpected return to the operating room and peritonitis increased as the length of time a catheter was in place increased. Children who weighed p =0.02). Twelve children never used their PD catheters, 9 with acute kidney injury (AKI) who recovered from their disease more quickly than expected. No covariate was associated with nonuse. Conclusions Complications with PD catheters are common and increase the longer catheters are in place. Lower weight children are at greater risk of PD catheter leak. Decreased initial volumes of dialysate in smaller children may mitigate this risk. Nonuse may be reduced if dialysis is permitted the day of placement for children with AKI.
Five-year Oncologic Outcomes After Transperitoneal Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Background Robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) is established as a minimally invasive nephron-sparing technique with excellent perioperative and intermediate oncologic outcomes. However, long-term oncologic outcomes have not been reported to date. Objective To report long-term oncologic outcomes of RPN. Design, setting, and participants Consecutive patients undergoing RPN from June 2006 to March 2010 were selected from our prospective RPN database. Patients with benign tumors, prior ipsilateral PN, or prior radical nephrectomy and those with follow-up of Intervention Transperitoneal RPN. Outcomes measurements and statistical analysis Demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data were analyzed. Overall survival (OS), cancer-free survival (CFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Univariate logistic regression analysis for overall mortality was performed to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) for variables of interest. Results and limitations In total, 115 RPNs for RCC were performed in 110 patients. The mean age was 59.8±11.0 yr and the median age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) was 4 (interquartile range [IQR] 3–5). The median tumor size was 2.6cm (IQR 2.0–3.7) and median RENAL score was 7 (IQR 6–9). Clear cell carcinoma was present in 67.8% of cases, and two cases (1.7%) had positive surgical margins. Glomerular filtration rate preservation was 87.8% (IQR 74.9–98.1), which translates to 19.1% chronic kidney disease upstaging. The median follow-up was 61.9 mo (IQR 50.9–71.4) and the 5-yr OS, CFS, and CSS were 91.1%, 97.8%, and 97.8%, respectively. On univariable logistic regression, ACCI was the only factor associated with a higher risk of overall mortality (OR 1.67, p =0.006). The retrospective design, the high surgical volume at our institution, and the potential selection bias with careful patient selection early in the RPN experience may limit the generalizability of our findings. Conclusions This is the first study confirming excellent long-term oncologic outcomes after RPN in a selected cohort of patients. Patient summary Robotic partial nephrectomy is a relatively recently developed treatment for renal cell carcinoma. This study confirms its safety and reports excellent long-term cancer control.
Role of Energy and Charge Transfer in DNA Damage by Densely Ionizing Radiation

Experiments by Arroyo et al. (1986) with neutrons indicate that radical yields in oriented DNA at 77 K are both qualitatively and quantitatively different when the secondary proton flux traverses the sample in a direction that is approximately parallel to the orientation of DNA molecules. These findings suggest that energy and/or charge transfer influences the production and/or decay of free radicals when multiple excitations are produced in the same DNA chain. Singlet and triplet excitons can migrate along DNA for a few nanometers before they are trapped, but this type of energy transfer should be equally effective in coupling events within the small clusters of excitation (spurs) that are present in both irradiation geometries.
Cloning and expression of adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor genes.

We have extensively characterized the structure and evolution of the adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors. This analysis has included studies with monoclonal antibodies, protein purification, target size analysis, gene cloning and sequencing and gene expression (1–7). Based upon the results of biochemical and immunological studies, we proposed that adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors are highly conserved proteins. This hypothesis has been confirmed by gene cloning experiments which have provided the primary structures of a number of adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors.
Sol-gel Fabrication of Novel Electrolytes Based on Neodymium Doped Ceria for Application in Low Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Abstract Neodymium doped ceria “Ce 1-x Nd x O 2-x/2 ” (where x was kept 0.2 & 0.25) powders were synthesized by sol-gel technique using Cerium nitrate hexahydrate and Neodymium nitrate hexahydrate as precursors. Sintering of the powdered samples were done at 1300 °C and then characterized by using X-ray diffraction, optical microscope and an impedance spectroscopy. Sintering effects were studied by using optical microscope and found that particle size was increased from 6.5 μm to 10.8 μm. The crystallite size of 35.9 nm was obtained and the value of ionic conductivity at room temperature was found to be 1.19×10 -7 Scm -1 .
Books Worth Reading: Knowledge in the Digital Age

Teaching History in the Digital Age, by T. Mills Kelly. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press, 2013. 184 pages. $70.00 Cloth, $19.95 EBook. Read for free on the web.Wikipedia U: Knowledge...
Evaluation of performance characteristics in a diallel among Simmental, Limousin, Polled Hereford and Brahman beef cattle. II. Carcass traits.

Evaluations of steer and heifer progeny from a diallel mating design of Simmental, Limousin, Polled Hereford and Brahman beef cattle over 5 yr are presented. Traits evaluated included final weight, hot carcass weight, ribeye area, 12th rib fat thickness, marbling score, yield grade, dressing percentage and percentage of kidney, pelvic and heart fat. Progeny of Simmental sires were heavier at slaughter than those with Brahman sires (P less than .05), but no differences were found for carcass weight. Dressing percentage was higher for Limousin crosses compared with progeny of other sire breeds (P less than .05). Similar results were found for dam breeds, except that progeny of Limousin dams had heavier carcasses with a higher dressing percentage (P less than .05) than Brahman crosses. Crosses of Limousin and Simmental had larger ribeye areas (P less than .05) compared with calves of the other breeds. Progeny of Polled Hereford dams had higher marbling scores and were fatter than progeny of dams of other breeds (P less than .05). Heterosis estimates were significant for all Brahman crosses for final weight, carcass weight and ribeye area, but these contrasts were negligible for other traits. Estimates of general combining ability were positive and significant for Simmental for final weight, carcass weight, ribeye area and marbling score and were significant and negative for Limousin for final weight, fat thickness and yield grade. Maternal values were generally small.
Limiting Preemption in Environmental Law: An Analysis of the Cost-Externalization Argument and California Assembly Bill 1493

In recent decades, states have exhibited remarkable leadership in environmental policy. This leadership is threatened by federal ceiling preemption, which prevents states from adopting regulations that exceed federal standards. While environmental law scholars have argued that the rise in federal ceiling preemption will undermine environmental policy, these critics have failed to take the arguments in favor of preemption seriously. Specifically, they have not addressed the risk that states may adopt tough environmental regulations because they can externalize costs to other states, or that a single, large, pro-regulatory state like California could effectively dictate excessively stringent national standards. This Note presents a more principled case against federal ceiling preemption in environmental law and contends that the cost-externalization argument's practical application is limited. It illustrates this primarily through an extended case study of California's regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. The Note argues that state regulations that provide manufacturers with sufficient flexibility to meet standards without disrupting economies of scale can largely avoid externalizing costs to out-of-state consumers. It further contends that states may have to consider the interests of out-of-state producers when issuing regulations because, among other reasons, compliance costs will be partly internalized by in-state consumers and shareholders. The Note concludes that the merits of the cost-externalization argument must be carefully weighed against the benefits of decentralized policymaking in order to yield optimal environmental policy.
Hypoxia-induced cardiac injury in dystrophic mice.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a devastating disease of striated muscle deterioration that is uniformly fatal from respiratory and/or cardiac failure. Here, we show that hypoxia is sufficient to ca...
Effect of Mechanical Constraint on Domain Reorientation in Predominantly {111}-Textured Lead Zirconate Titanate Films

Ferroelectric/ferroelastic domain reorientation was measured in 2.0 μm thick tetragonal {111}-textured PbZr0.30Ti0.70O3 thin films using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD). Lattice strain from the peak shift in the 111 Bragg reflection and domain reorientation were quantified as a function of applied electric field amplitude. Domain reorientation was quantified through the intensity exchange between the 112 and 211 Bragg reflections. Results from three different film types are reported: dense films that are clamped to the substrate (as-processed), dense films that are partially released from the substrate, and films with 3% volume porosity. The highest amount of domain reorientation is observed in grains that are misoriented with respect to the {111} preferred (domain engineered) orientation. Relative to the clamped films, films that were released from the substrate or had porosity exhibited neither significant enhancement in domain reorientation nor in 111 lattice strain. In contrast, similar experiments on {100}-textured and randomly oriented films showed significant enhancement in domain reorientation in released and porous films. Therefore, {111}-textured films are less susceptible to changes in properties due to mechanical constraints because there is overall less domain reorientation in {111} films than in {100} films.
Case report: echocardiographic observations in patients with Friedreich's ataxia.

Abstract Echocardiography was performed on 11 patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia. Eight of 11 had asymmetric septal hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve at rest or after inhalation of amyl nitrite. Two patients had concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. In view of this high incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, echocardiography is suggested as part of the routine evaluation of the patient with Friedreich’s Ataxia.
The nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) as a practical plant DNA barcode for herbal medicines

Abstract With the development of DNA barcoding methods and databases, misidentification may be easily caught. However, this technique has presented challenges with regard to the tissue type and marker locus variation. In this study, DNA barcoding was used to investigate the taxonomic accuracy of herbal medicines sold in the New York City (NYC) area using the plastid markers rbcL , matK and the nuclear ribosomal region ITS2. Forty-seven (47) samples (single-ingredient herbal medicinal products or HMPs) were purchased from eight herbal stores, and represented different structures: 22 leaf samples, 11 roots, 9 barks, and 5 samples that were ground beyond recognition. MEGABLAST sequence comparison was performed to verify the taxonomic identity of the samples. Maximum likelihood trees were constructed for sequence queries with equivocal multiple high-scoring MEGABLAST hits. Of the barcodes, ITS2 had the most success being amplified and sequenced (barcoded) in 38 of the 47 HMPs (81%), mostly leaf and root samples as barks were difficult to barcode. This is in contrast to 26/47 (55%) and 15/47 (32%) successful barcoding for rbcL and matK , respectively. ITS2 alone was accurate enough to match 88% of ITS2 sequences to the expected species, while only 59% of sequenced rbcL and 45% of matK was able to match with the expected species. All four HMPs obtained from one store did not match the declared species on the label based on ITS2, and this result was echoed by the rbcL and matK barcodes. However, all other herbal stores appeared to be selling accurately labeled HMPs. Our study showed that DNA barcoding is a worthwhile effort to test HMP authenticity, which may help build reputation of quality brands and ensure consumer safety. ITS2 is a practical DNA barcode that regulatory agencies may propose to NYC herbal medicine manufacturers and merchants to ensure quality.
A novel link prediction approach for scale-free networks

The link prediction problem is to predict the existence of a link between every node pair in the network based on the past observed networks arising in many practical applications such as recommender systems, information retrieval, and the marketing analysis of social networks. Here, we propose a new mathematical programming approach for predicting a future network utilizing the node degree distribution identified from historical observation of the past networks. We develop an integer programming problem for the link prediction problem, where the objective is to maximize the sum of link scores (probabilities) while respecting the node degree distribution of the networks. The performance of the proposed framework is tested on the real-life Facebook networks. The computational results show that the proposed approach can considerably improve the performance of previously published link prediction methods.
Perceptions of Former Child Soldiers and LRA Victims With Posttraumatic Stress Among Health Professionals and Lay People in Northern Uganda

In the aftermath of the war in northern Uganda, former soldiers from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) face many challenges reintegrating into their communities. Former LRA soldiers often return hom...
Differential sensitivity ofNyssa aquatica andTaxodium distichum seedlings grown in fly ash amended sand

Nyssa aquatica andTaxodium distichum seedlings were grown for four months in sand amended with 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% fly ash (by weight). Leaf boron concentrations were linearly related to fly ash addition up to the 5% treatment but did not increase in the 10% treatment.Taxodium distichum growth was not adversely affected by fly ash addition. However,N. aquatica biomass, basal diameter, and height were reduced 75, 50, and 50%, respectively, at the two highest fly ash rates. By differentially affecting the growth and vigor of seedlings of these two dominant woody species, regeneration ofN. aquatica would be much less successful thanT. distichum in wetlands containing fly ash.
Two-Dimensional Spectral Shearing Interferometry (2DSI) of Few-Cycle Laser Pulses

We apply the new pulse measurement technique, two-dimensional spectral shearing interferometry, to the characterization of few-cycle laser pulses and discuss its limitations in approaching the single-cycle regime.
Conformational disorder of membrane peptides investigated from solid-state NMR line widths and line shapes.

A challenge in the application of solid-state NMR spectroscopy to membrane peptides and proteins is the relatively broad line widths compared to those for solution NMR spectra. To understand the linewidth contributions to membrane protein NMR spectra, we have measured the inhomogeneous and homogeneous line widths of several well-studied membrane peptides under immobilized conditions. 13C T2 relaxation times of uniformly 13C-labeled residues show that the homogeneous line widths of the peptides are comparable to those of crystalline model compounds under identical 1H decoupling and magic angle spinning conditions, indicating that the homogeneous line widths are determined by conformation-independent factors, including residual dipolar coupling, J-coupling, and intrinsic T2 relaxation. However, the membrane peptides exhibit larger apparent line widths than the crystalline compounds, indicating conformational disorder. A cationic cell-penetrating peptide, the human immunodeficiency virus TAT, exhibits the la...
Effect of Petrochemical Operations on the Respiratory System of Workers

[Objective]To understand the effect of petrochemical operations on health of workers,and grasp the health conditions of workers and the main influencing factors.[Methods]A total of 352 workers from a petrochemical plant were recruited as exposure group;another 247 administrative cadres from the same plant and school teachers were selected as control group.All of them were asked to use a unified approach to investigate the history of professional,past history,family history,smoking and drinking history,history of present illness,and received occupational health inspection.Occupational health factors were analyzed simultaneously.[Results]The detection rate of chronic upper respiratory tract disease among petrochemical operation workers was 53.7%,compared with the control group the difference was significant(P0.01).Among which chronic pharyngitis,chronic tonsillitis and chronic rhinitis,accounted for 77.2%,6.4% and 16.4%,respectively.X-ray showed 2 enlarged lung markings,such as abnormal changes in disorder,the rate of abnormal contact group(12.5%) was significantly higher than the control group(3.3%)(P0.05).In exposure group,lung function indexes measured was significantly lower than expected value(P0.05);upper respiratory tract diseases incidence and abnormal rate of lung function increased with the extending length of service,and the difference was significant(P0.01).[Conclusion]Petrochemical operations cause a certain harm to the respiratory system of workers.Therefore,regularly dynamic observation should be implemented on them.
Performance Evaluation of Alternative Relative Orientation Procedures for UAV-based Imagery with Prior Flight Trajectory Information

Thanks to recent advances at the hardware (e.g., emergence of reliable platforms at low cost) and software (e.g., automated identification of conjugate points in overlapping images) levels, UAV-based 3D reconstruction has been widely used in various applications. However, mitigating the impact of outliers in automatically matched points in UAV imagery, especially when dealing with scenes that has poor and/or repetitive texture, remains to be a challenging task. In spite of the fact that existing literature has already demonstrated that incorporating prior motion information can play an important role in increasing the reliability of the matching process, there is a lack of methodologies that are mainly suited for UAV imagery. Assuming the availability of prior information regarding the trajectory of a UAV-platform, this paper presents a two-point approach for reliable estimation of Relative Orientation Parameters (ROPs) of UAV-based images. This approach is based on the assumption that the UAV platform is moving at a constant flying height while maintaining the camera in a nadir-looking orientation. For this flight scenario, a closed-form solution that can be derived using a minimum of two pairs of conjugate points is established. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, experimental tests using real stereo-pairs acquired from different UAV platforms have been conducted. The derived results from the comparative performance analysis against the Nister five-point approach demonstrate that the proposed two-point approach is capable of providing reliable estimate of the ROPs from UAV-based imagery in the presence of poor and/or repetitive texture with high percentage of matching outliers.
Mood Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Studies published so far have highlighted high rates of association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and mood disorders. Data have shown that prevalence rates of co-occurring ASD and mood disorders range from 1.4 % to 70 %.
Single Crystal Fabrication/Orientation

The production of small spherical single crystals from Au wire provides a convenient way of doing STM) experiments on the various single crystal plane facets which are exposed on the surface (Maksymovych in private communication [1]).
Skin and Skin Cream

The skin is a highly complex organ that controls heat and water loss, as well as prevents admission of undesirable chemicals and microorganisms.
Data reduction and interpolation for visualizing 3D soil-quality data

Sampling and analysis of subsurface contaminants comprise the first steps toward environmental remediation of hazardous spills. We have developed software tools to support the analysis phase, using three different schemes for interpolating scattered 3D soil-quality data onto a grid suitable for viewing in an interactive visualization system. A good interpolation scheme is one that respects the distribution of the original data. We find that the original data can be decimated by up to seventy percent while exhibiting graceful degradation in quality. A prototype software system is being deployed to allow technicians to visually determine, while in the field with their monitoring equipment, where the highest concentrations of contaminants lie. The system is now in use by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN DETECTION OF MICROORGANISMS IN FOODS-CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS1

Recent work on Clostridium perfringens foodborne disease has established that any type, whether classical or “food-poisoning,” may cause illness if present in sufficiently large numbers. Cultural methods for detection and enumeration of the organism have been suggested, and some of these methods have proven satisfactory in field trials. New approaches, such as the cultural or serological examination of patients' feces or the direct examination of foods for toxin content, have been suggested. The problem has been shown to be of sufficient importance to warrant continued and increased study.
4.07 – Molecular Evolution and Phenotypic Change

Evolution at the phenotypic level is ultimately driven by evolution at the genotypic level, mutations in the genome that lead to bigger changes in the organism. Just as it is possible to look to the fossil record, at skulls or endocasts, to understand the changes leading to the human brain, so too is the story of human brain evolution written in the genetic code. Studies on protein and regulatory changes over the past several decades have attempted to identify the molecular changes that occurred coincident with the emergence of the elaborated human brain. This work began with comparative genetics attempting to understand the differences in proteins between species. Entering the postgenomic era, this has moved from candidate genes to broad genomic surveys and from proteins to regulatory and noncoding regions. New methodologies have been developed that take advantage of these new sources of information, using polymorphism data as well as interspecies divergence to make inferences about the past. Understanding the molecular basis behind brain phenotypic change will not only allow for a more comprehensive, detailed knowledge of the unique history of our species, but it will also elucidate how and why the human brain differs from those of even our closest relatives.
Optimizing physician skill development for medical students: The four-part assessment.

Abstract Background Medical student performance has been poorly correlated with residency performance and warrants further investigation. We propose a novel surgical assessment tool to determine correlations with clinical aptitude. Methods Retrospective review of medical student assessments from 2013 to 2015. Faculty rating of student performance was evaluated by: 1) case presentation, 2) problem definition, 3) question response and 4) use of literature and correlated to final exam assessment. A Likert scale interrater reliability was evaluated. Results Sixty student presentations were scored (4.8 assessors/presentation). A student's case presentation, problem definition, and question response was correlated with performance (r = 0.49 to 0.61, p ≤ 0.003). Moderate correlations for either question response or use of literature was demonstrated (0.3 and 0.26, p Conclusion Our four-part assessment tool identified correlations with course and examination grades for medical students. As surgical education evolves, validated performance and reliable testing measures are required.
The political classroom: Evidence and ethics in democratic education

Diana Hess and Paula McAvoy’s book, The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education, succeeds in offering an ethical framework for the discussion of political topics in the classroom and provides practical insights both for educators who are new to in-class political discussions and for more experienced instructors who wish to revise/refine their pedagogical praxis. The authors argue that their book is unique because it “integrates social science research with philosophic thinking about ethical issues of teacher practice” (p. 9). This brief text contains a justification for the necessity of political classrooms, three case studies, and an ethical framework for democratic education. Their research and conclusions are compelling, but critics may find that Hess and McAvoy fail to adequately address issues of power and justice.
Shared Decision-Making with Parents of Acutely Ill Children: A Narrative Review

Abstract Background Shared decision-making (SDM) has mostly been used with adults and parents in the primary care setting, and there is limited knowledge on the use of SDM with parents of acutely ill children. The objective of this study was to review the literature on SDM with parents in the management of acutely ill children. Methods We searched MEDLINE, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for English language studies published from the time of database inception to February, 2017. Study eligibility criterion was use of SDM with parents for children aged 18 years or younger with an acute medical problem. Results We identified 2 ongoing clinical trials and 10 published studies that met inclusion criteria: 2 using hypothetical SDM scenarios, 1 mixed methods study, and 7 intervention studies. Only 1 study compared an SDM intervention with usual care in a randomized controlled trial. The limited literature shows that parents of acutely ill children have differing preferences for testing and/or treatment, and that they generally want the opportunity to express those preferences through an SDM process. Use of SDM often results in acutely ill children undergoing fewer and/or less intensive testing or treatment, although the effect on outcomes is unclear. Conclusions Parents welcome participation in SDM for management decisions with their acutely ill child. Further investigation is needed to determine how best to implement SDM with parents of acutely ill children and to assess the effect of SDM on outcomes.
TCT-778 Valve-In-Valve (ViV) Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): A Comparison of Failed Stentless and Stented Surgical Bio-prosthetic Aortic Valve

The literature is limited on ViV TAVR in stentless vs. stented bioprosthetic surgical aortic valve. We retrospectively analyzed 36 patients who underwent ViV TAVR in prior surgical bioprosthetic valves at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center from October 2014 to December 2016. 28/36 (77.8%) ViV TAVR
The Role of Housing in the Experience of Dwelling

Units of housing are commodities produced and marketed within particular economic and technological constraints. For most North Americans, they are something we search for rather than produce. Home is a more elusive notion. Not only is it a place, but it has psychological resonance and social meaning. It is part of the experience of dwelling—something we do, a way of weaving up a life in particular geographic spaces. We may center our experience of dwelling in our own home, in our neighborhood, in a network of places connected by airplane routes, or in an image of our place in the world, to name but a few alternatives. The word dwelling is not often used in social science except to refer to dwelling units (or d.u.s., the discrete measure of housing) or to the dwellings of premodern societies, for example Hopi dwellings or the cliff dwellings of the Southwest. The notion of dwelling highlights the contrast between house and home. First it does not assume that the physical housing unit defines the experience of home. It connotes a more active and mobile relationship of individuals to the physical, social, and psychological spaces around them. It points to a spiritual and symbolic connection between the self and the physical world that was overtly recognized in premodern dwellings and may now seem uselessly poetic or fanciful. It emphasizes the necessity for continuing active making of a place for ourselves in time and space. Simultaneously, it points to the way in which our personal and social identities are shaped through the process of dwelling.
Developing technological fluency in undergraduate IT education: Teaching amid evolving change in LIS

This paper uses a case study approach to explore the ongoing adaptation of course design necessitated by rapidly changing technologies and undergraduate students' knowledge levels. The two courses that are discussed here were taught within the Information Technology Studies undergraduate minor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Examining students' course assignments, mid-semester feedback, and end-of-semester feedback for each course reveals that it is necessary to make frequent adjustments to course syllabi in order to accommodate the students' knowledge about technology, balancing these changes against the need to cover core concepts in each course.
A Robust Edge Detection Approach in the Presence of High Impulse Noise Intensity Through Switching Adaptive Median and Fixed Weighted Mean Filtering

This paper introduces a robust edge detection method that relies on an integrated process for denoising images in the presence of high impulse noise. This process is shown to be resilient to impulse (or salt and pepper) noise even under high intensity levels. The proposed switching adaptive median and fixed weighted mean filter (SAMFWMF) is shown to yield optimal edge detection and edge detail preservation, an outcome we validate through high correlation, structural similarity index, and peak signal-to-noise ratio measures. For comparative purposes, a comprehensive analysis of other denoising filters is provided based on these various validation metrics. The non-maximum suppression method and new edge following maximum-sequence are the two techniques used to track the edges and overcome edge discontinuities and noisy pixels, especially in the presence of high-intensity noise levels. After applying predefined thresholds to the grayscale image, and thus obtaining a binary image, several morphological operations are used to remove the unwanted edges and noisy pixels and perform edge thinning to ultimately provide the desired edge connectivity, which results in an optimal edge detection method. The obtained results are compared with other existing state-of-the-art denoising filters and other edge detection methods in support of our assertion that the proposed method is resilient to impulse noise even under high-intensity levels.
Development and validation of a risk assessment tool for symptomatic BKV infection.

7057Background: BKV, is a member of the family Polyomaviridae. BKV has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality secondary to late hemorrhagic cystitis, ureteral stenosis, and nephropa...
Defense responses against the sorghum anthracnose pathogen in leaf blade and midrib tissue of johnsongrass and sorghum

Abstract Three isolates of Colletotrichum sublineolum P. Henn were inoculated on leaf blades and midribs of twenty-six johnsongrass cultivars with two sorghum cultivars, BTx 623 and SC 748-5 by using an excised leaf method. Phenotypic host responses from no response to severe infection, were observed. Some johnsongrass cultivars and BTx 623 showed different responses between the two tissues. Expression of six defense response related genes were measured using Real-time qRT-PCR. Leaf blade and midrib showed different patterns in BTx 623 inoculated with C. sublineolum; high expression of CHS8 and TLP were measured in midrib at 24 and 48 hpi respectively.
Assessment of Provider Utilization Through Skin Biopsy Rates

Background There have been recent claims of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment in dermatology. One potential manifestation of overutilization would be providers who perform numerous biopsies per patient. Objective To identify the frequency of skin biopsy rate outliers. Materials and methods Data on biopsy rates at the individual provider level were obtained from Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use Files. The total number of biopsies for each provider was obtained by summing the number of claimed biopsy services for each unique National Provider Identifier. The visit count for each provider was obtained by summing all evaluation and management services claimed. Provider biopsy rates were calculated by dividing the total number of biopsies associated with each National Provider Identifier by the corresponding visit count. Results The mean provider biopsy rate was 0.31 services per visit, or approximately 1 biopsy every 3 visits. Defining outliers as providers who averaged 3 or more biopsies per visit, there were 38 outliers out of 18,260 providers. Physicians had a lower mean biopsy rate than nonphysician clinicians (p = 1.70E-28). Conclusion Contrary to claims, the authors' results do not indicate widespread overutilization of skin biopsy services.