cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of 2-Bromoethanesulfonate as a Selective Inhibitor of the Coenzyme M-Dependent Pathway and Enzymes of Bacterial Aliphatic Epoxide Metabolism

Bacterial growth with short-chain aliphatic alkenes requires coenzyme M (CoM) (2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid), which serves as the nucleophile for activation and conversion of epoxide products formed from alkene oxidation to central metabolites. In the present work the CoM analog 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) was shown to be a specific inhibitor of propylene-dependent growth of and epoxypropane metabolism by Xanthobacter autotrophicus strain Py2. BES (at low [millimolar] concentrations) completely prevented growth with propylene but had no effect on growth with acetone or n-propanol. Propylene consumption by cells was largely unaffected by the presence of BES, but epoxypropane accumulated in the medium in a time-dependent fashion with BES present. The addition of BES to cells resulted in time-dependent loss of epoxypropane degradation activity that was restored upon removal of BES and addition of CoM. Exposure of cells to BES resulted in a loss of epoxypropane-dependent CO2 fixation activity that was restored only upon synthesis of new protein. Addition of BES to cell extracts resulted in an irreversible loss of epoxide carboxylase activity that was restored by addition of purified 2-ketopropyl-CoM carboxylase/oxidoreductase (2-KPCC), the terminal enzyme of epoxide carboxylation, but not by addition of epoxyalkane:CoM transferase or 2-hydroxypropyl-CoM dehydrogenase, the enzymes which catalyze the first two reactions of epoxide carboxylation. Comparative studies of the propylene-oxidizing actinomycete Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain B276 showed that BES is an inhibitor of propylene-dependent growth in this organism as well but is not an inhibitor of CoM-independent growth with propane. These results suggest that BES inhibits propylene-dependent growth and epoxide metabolism via irreversible inactivation of the key CO2-fixing enzyme 2-KPCC.
Preservice Teachers' Beliefs about Inclusive Education: What Should Teacher Educators Know?

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs of preservice teachers concerning inclusive education for students with mild disabilities. Two hundred thirty-nine undergraduate and graduate students participated in the study. Data were collected using a survey instrument that questioned where preservice teachers believed that students with mild disabilities should receive educational services (general education or special education classrooms) and why they held that belief. Data analysis revealed that, while many preservice Teachers' responses indicated a positive attitude toward inclusive education, nearly half of the respondents believed the special education classroom to be the optimum placement for students with mild disabilities. Implications for teacher education programming are discussed.
Childhood antecedent disorders to bipolar disorder in adults: A controlled study

Abstract Objective The aim of the study was to examine antecedent childhood psychiatric disorders in adult patients with bipolar disorder. Method Using structured diagnostic interviews, childhood psychiatric diagnoses of 83 referred patients with diagnosed DSM-IV bipolar disorder were compared to those of 308 adults without mood disorders. Results Patients with bipolar disorder had significantly higher rates of childhood disruptive behavior disorders (ADHD, oppositional-defiant disorder, and conduct disorder), childhood anxiety disorders (separation anxiety and overanxious disorder), and enuresis, compared to patients without mood disorders. The presence of these childhood disorders was associated with an earlier age of onset of bipolar illness. Limitations The retrospective nature of the study may have affected both the rates of disorders recalled, as well as the ages of onset of disorders. Different referral sources for bipolar and comparison participants may have also impacted findings. Conclusions Bipolar disorder in adults is frequently preceded by childhood disruptive behavior and anxiety disorders. These childhood disorders may be important markers of risk for adult bipolar disorder.
Effect of methanol on soybean photosynthesis and chlorophyll

Abstract Recently, an increase in the growth and yield of C3 plants in arid environments due to foliar application of methanol has been reported. The mechanism for these changes is not clear as little information is available on the changes in photosynthesis and chlorophyll content of plants caused by methanol application. The objective of this study was to measure the net photosynthesis (PN) and chlorophyll (CHL‐a, b) formation in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] by foliar applications of methanol at the pod‐filling R5) stage. No changes were found in PN or CHL content with 0, 25, or 50% (v/v) methanol during 1, 2 or 3 weekly applications. Seed weight, seed yield, and pod number (per plant) were significantly higher for plants treated with methanol. A single application of methanol (25%) resulted in the highest increase in soybean growth and yield.
Downward host rock transport and the formation of rim monoclines during the emplacement of Cordilleran batholiths

The mechanisms by which Cordilleran plutons are emplaced vary widely. However, the present authors have examined a series of plutons ranging from 2-35 km emplacement depth that have many common features, which suggest that downward transport of host rock is the most important mechanism during magma ascent and pluton emplacement. Many of these Cordilleran plutons preserve gently dipping, unfaulted roofs attached to steep walls bordered by narrow ductile aureoles. Flat lying roof strata commonly roll over into steeply dipping rim monoclines and anticlines that young towards and follow the pluton margin. Field observations suggest that such rim monoclines and anticlines formed due to gravitationally driven roof collapse and channel flow along margins. In the examples in this paper, pluton walls are often comprised of narrow steeply dipping ductile aureoles in which the intensity of strain increases downward. Aureole ductile strains are insufficient to account for the volume of magma emplaced, and are typically <40% of pluton volume. However, when aureole strain is combined with minimum estimates of stoping and host rock rotation during rim monoclines formation, sufficient space can be created. The examples suggest that gravitationally driven downward host rock transport by stoping and rigid rotations along roofs and walls and by focused channel flow by ductile strain along walls are common processes during the rise of Cordilleran plutons, and is one process that contributes to crustal thickening and the growth of crustal roots.
Is cancer a disease of abnormal cellular metabolism? New angles on an old idea

In the 1920s, Otto Warburg observed that tumor cells consumed a large amount of glucose, much more than normal cells, and converted most of it to lactic acid. This phenomenon, now known as the “Warburg effect,” is the foundation of one of the earliest general concepts of cancer: that a fundamental disturbance of cellular metabolic activity is at the root of tumor formation and growth. In the ensuing decades, as it became apparent that abnormalities in chromosomes and eventually individual genes caused cancer, the “metabolic” model of cancer lost a good deal of its appeal, even as emerging technologies were exploiting the Warburg effect clinically to detect tumors in vivo. We now know that tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes influence metabolism, and that mutations in these genes can promote a metabolic phenotype supporting cell growth and proliferation. Thus, these advances have unified aspects of the metabolic and genetic models of cancer, and have stimulated a renewed interest in the role of cellular metabolism in tumorigenesis. This review reappraises the notion that dysregulated cellular metabolism is a key feature of cancer, and discusses some metabolic issues that have escaped scrutiny over the years and now deserve closer attention.
Phosphor-free white: the prospects for green direct emitters

Energy efficiency has been the primary driving force for solid state lighting to replace wasteful incandescent lamps by light emitting diodes (LEDs). Recently, rising cost for rare earth metals has redoubled the push to also replace fluorescent and compact fluorescent lighting. Phosphors in fluorescent lamps heavily rely on rare earth metals and even first generation LEDs use such phosphors, albeit at much lower quantities. The role of phosphors to expand a narrow wavelength source into a wider spectrum is a very lossy process in itself and can be circumvented altogether by second generation LEDs, where the full visible solar spectrum is directly replicated by direct emitting LEDs. We here report progress of our work towards this goal, in particular by the development of high brightness direct emitting green group- III nitride LEDs.
Interruptions as a variable in stuttering and disfluency.

Parental verbal behavior is often cited as a major precipitating and maintaining factor in the onset and development of stuttering. Parents are frequently counseled to avoid interrupting their stut...
Weapons of the (Not So) Weak: Immigrant Mass Mobilization in the US South

Survey research shows that foreign-born Latinos in the USA are among the least likely to participate in political activism. Yet during the spring of 2006, up to five million (mostly Latino) immigrants and their allies took part in a historic national protest wave. This article examines how nativist legislation can spark immigrant large-scale collective action in an unexpected location. The case of Fort Myers, FL illustrates the cognitive mechanisms that help explain why and how external threats can transform a latent sense of group membership among unconventional protest organizers (e.g. immigrant soccer league members and ethnic small business owners) into a willingness to take action and utilize pre-existing community resources for the purpose of mass mobilization. These findings have important implications for Latino politics, immigration, and social movement scholars.
Training the future psychiatrist in mental retardation.

The psychiatric aspects of mental retardation, and their potential value in the training of future psychiatrists, have been neglected. The authors review factors which suggest that the psychiatric trainee can richly profit from guided experiences in mental retardation, as part of the basic curriculum.
Botany and a changing world: Introduction to the Special Issue on Global Biological Change

The impacts of global change, including increased carbon dioxide and its effect on climate, changes in biogeochemical cycles, changes in land use and habitat fragmentation, patterns of harvesting, introductions of alien species, and other human use of resources, continue to increase with the growth of the human population to over seven billion people. Concern that these changes may lead to rapid and irreversible changes in the global ecosystem ( Barnosky et al., 2012 ; Marcott et al., 2013 ) has heightened the need to understand how organisms respond to and infl uence these processes. Can we forecast how change at the global scale may lead to biological change? Can we identify systems, processes, and organisms that are most vulnerable to global changes? Can we use this understanding to enhance resilience to global changes? Responding to this call to better understand biological responses to global change is no simple matter. Direct and indirect effects on the Earth’s biota occur at all biological levels and affect cellular and physiological processes, population sizes and distributions, the evolution of species, community-level interactions, and ecosystem processes. Responses can occur at both ecological and evolutionary timescales and may include phenotypic changes within the lifetime of long-lived organisms, evolutionary changes in populations that affect range limits, hybridization that affects the integrity of species, and interactions among species that affect abundance and precipitate species loss. For us to tackle such complex challenges, scientifi c perspectives need to span spatial and temporal scales, as well as integrate across biological levels of organization. This special issue was assembled to advance a view of global biological change that includes diverse botanical approaches and disciplines essential for understanding how terrestrial plants at all levels of organization are both responding to, and affecting, environmental change. We hope this special issue provides an expanded view of global biological change by emphasizing the integration of botanical information using traditional and multidisciplinary fi elds as well as a diversity of approaches including experiments, observations, and reviews to gain perspective on this rapidly developing area. We also hope that the diversity of papers highlighted in this collection will stimulate readers to make new methodological and conceptual connections among these many approaches and will lead to a greater understanding of global biological change.
Desorption of cesium from kaolinite and illite using alkylammonium salts

Abstract This study addresses Cs + desorption from a kaolinite (KGa-1b) and an illite (Morris, IL) by quaternary ammonium ions. The Cs + sorption capacities on the kaolinite and illite were 14 and 24 mmol/kg, respectively. Desorption of Cs + from Cs + -preloaded kaolinite and illite at different loading levels followed different trends. In general, Cs + was more readily removed from kaolinite than from illite. The hydrocarbon chain lengths of the alkylammonium ions had strong influences on Cs + desorption from kaolinite. At the same alkylammonium concentration, the percentage of Cs + removal from kaolinite increased as the chain length of the alkylammonium ions increased because of a stronger affinity for clay surfaces with a longer chain length. In contrast, initial alkylammonium concentrations had a greater influence on Cs + removal from illite than surfactant chain length. As the alkylammonium concentrations increased, the percentage of Cs + desorption increased. For kaolinite, at the same alkylammonium concentration, a higher percentage of Cs + desorption was achieved when Cs + loading was low. As the Cs + loading on kaolinite increased, the percentage of Cs + desorption decreased. In contrast, a higher percentage of Cs + desorption was obtained from illite when Cs + loading was high. The percentage of Cs + desorption decreased as the Cs + loading on illite decreased. For kaolinite and illite with higher Cs + loading, the percentage of Cs + removal increased logarithmically with the increase in the ratio of hexadecyltrimethylammonium/Cs + . A minimum value of 30 for this ratio is required to achieve 80% Cs + removal from kaolinite.
An Examination of Women Ex-Offenders With Methadone Histories:

Criminal (drug and prostitution) charges, employment levels (weekly hours), recent substance use in the past 6 months, and primary sources of income were examined among a sample (n = 106) of women ex-offenders who had opioid use disorders with and without methadone histories. A general linear model was tested to examine differences in relation to methadone use history. Results from a one-way MANCOVA found that those with methadone histories reported significantly higher levels of drug and prostitution charges than those without any methadone history, but no significant differences in terms of weekly hours of employment or recent substance use were observed between groups. Women ex-offenders with methadone histories reported various sources of income beyond employment, and proportionally, more of these women reported prostitution as a primary source of income. Findings suggest that methadone maintenance treatments are not sufficient in meeting the needs of women ex-offenders.
Cloning and molecular characterization of an immunogenic LigA protein of Leptospira interrogans

A clone expressing a novel immunoreactive leptospiral immunoglobulin-like protein A of 130 kDa (LigA) from Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona type kennewicki was isolated by screening a genomic DNA library with serum from a mare that had recently aborted due to leptospiral infection. LigA is encoded by an open reading frame of 3,675 bp, and the deduced amino acid sequence consists of a series of 90-amino-acid tandem repeats. A search of the NCBI database found that homology of the LigA repeat region was limited to an immunoglobulin-like domain of the bacterial intimin binding protein of Escherichia coli, the cell adhesion domain of Clostridium acetobutylicum, and the invasin of Yersinia pestis. Secondary structure prediction analysis indicates that LigA consists mostly of beta sheets with a few alpha-helical regions. No LigA was detectable by immunoblot analysis of lysates of the leptospires grown in vitro at 30°C or when cultures were shifted to 37°C. Strikingly, immunohistochemistry on kidney from leptospira-infected hamsters demonstrated LigA expression. These findings suggest that LigA is specifically induced only in vivo. Sera from horses, which aborted as a result of natural Leptospira infection, strongly recognize LigA. LigA is the first leptospiral protein described to have 12 tandem repeats and is also the first to be expressed only during infection. Thus, LigA may have value in serodiagnosis or as a protective immunogen in novel vaccines.
Detection of hypoglycemia by children with type 1 diabetes 6 to 11 years of age and their parents: a field study.

OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess accuracy of hypoglycemia detection in children with type 1 diabetes and their parents, using personal digital assistant technology to collect glucose estimates and meter readings, (2) identify demographic, clinical, and psychological predictors of individual differences in accuracy, and (3) test whether poor hypoglycemia detection is a risk factor for severe hypoglycemia in children. METHODS. Sixty-one children aged 6 to 11 and their parents completed 70 trials, over 1 month, of a survey programmed on a personal digital assistant, which asked them to rate symptoms, estimate current blood glucose level, and then measure blood glucose level. For the subsequent 6 months, parents reported children’s severe hypoglycemia episodes bimonthly. RESULTS. Both parents and children showed poor ability to recognize high or low blood glucose levels, making clinically significant errors as frequently as clinically accurate estimates. Parents failed to recognize 50% of readings 3 mmol/L (55 mg/dL) and made potentially dangerous errors such as believing the blood glucose level was high when it was low 17% of the time. Children were significantly more accurate at recognizing their hypoglycemia but still failed to detect 40% of episodes. Higher depression scores for children related to lower accuracy. Children who were less accurate at detecting hypoglycemia subsequently experienced more severe hypoglycemia. CONCLUSIONS. Ability to recognize hypoglycemia is a significant problem for children with type 1 diabetes and their parents. For children, poor ability to detect low blood glucose levels may be a significant and underappreciated risk factor for severe hypoglycemia. More effort is needed to provide education and training designed to improve hypoglycemia detection in this population.
Approach to the Patient Who Is Intolerant of Statin Therapy

Myopathy occurs in approximately 10% of statin-treated patients and is most commonly manifested by myalgias with or without plasma creatine kinase (CK) elevations. Predisposition exists in patients treated with high doses of potent statins and those who are older, female, have a genetic predisposition, and when statins are coadministered with drugs that compete with or inhibit drug metabolism. In symptomatic patients, CK levels may assist in guiding management. If less than five times the upper limit of normal, the existing statin should be titrated to achieve cholesterol goals and the CK repeated when symptoms appear or worsen. In patients with moderate to severe symptoms and any patient with CK elevated to more than 5-fold the upper limit of normal, the statin should be stopped. Once asymptomatic and CK is reduced (if elevated previously), cholesterol goals can be approached by: 1) a different statin (e.g. fluvastatin or pravastatin), starting with a low dose and titrating up; 2) an alternate daily or weekly more potent statin (e.g. rosuvastatin or atorvastatin); or 3) the combination of the lowest tolerated statin with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor (ezetimibe) and/or bile acid sequestrant. Over-the-counter preparations, e.g. red yeast rice, containing natural statin-like agents, or plant sterols can also lower cholesterol. These, however, have limited efficacy to achieve targeted cholesterol levels for most patients. In patients without CK elevations and symptoms, progress can be followed clinically, but in patients who show CK elevations, CK should be monitored. At present, the superiority of one approach has not been demonstrated, and the need for clinical trials in well-characterized patients with statin intolerance cannot be dismissed.
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® role of adjuvant therapy in the management of early stage cervical cancer

Abstract Objective The use of adjuvant treatment(s) following initial hysterectomy and retroperitoneal nodal harvesting of patients with clinical stage I and II cervical carcinoma is (are) presently based on the pathological assessment of surgical specimens. This report sought to delineate further the clinical application of potential therapeutic interventions and associated follow-up investigations of this patient cohort. Methods The American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every two years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journal and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances where evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment. Results From this process, 5 unique clinical variants were developed. These scenarios pertained to options of adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy, methods of delivery of radiotherapy to optimize target volume coverage while simultaneously minimizing radiation exposure of adjacent healthy organs, and recommendations for patient follow-up care. Group members reached consensus of topic ratings in descending order of importance. A risk assessment breakdown was established to highlight the most likely indications for adjuvant treatment(s). Conclusion This assembly by the ACR of physicians involved in the management of patients with early stage cervical cancer was able to describe appropriateness criteria to aid other practitioners in selecting reasonable implementation of postoperative therapies and subsequent surveillance studies. These guidelines await further validation and refinement by both current and future prospectively randomized clinical studies regarding this patient population.
Esophageal leiomyosarcoma diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has proven itself to be a reliable method for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors and other gastrointestinal mesenchymal neoplasms. The diagnosis and distinction of these entities remain important, as these neoplasms have different prognoses and treatment options. We present a case of a 14.5-cm esophageal mass in a 67-yr-old woman sampled by EUS-FNA. Smears showed a cellular, spindle cell lesion with marked cytologic and nuclear pleomorphism. A cell block showed neoplastic cells reacting strongly with antibodies to smooth muscle antigens and not with antibodies to keratin, CD34 and CD117. Resection confirmed the diagnosis of esophageal leiomyosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first reported case of an esophageal leiomyosarcoma diagnosed by EUS-FNA. Clinical, imaging, and cytologic features as well as differential diagnosis are discussed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:167–170. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
European Security and Defense Policy Demystified Nation-Building and Identity in the European Union

From a military standpoint, the European Union’s Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) defies logic. Why would the European allies seek to create a competing military force outside NATO when worried about American isolationism and when unable and unwilling to dedicate the necessary resources? This article suggests an alternative motive behind the European Union’s establishment of a defense program—the development and enhancement of a “European identity.” In short, the ESDP is designed in no small part to further the project of nation-building in a broadening European Union. This article proposes a social-constructivist framework for analyzing this development.
Full cycle beam diagnostics with an ionization profile monitor

The Alternating Gradient Synchrotron Booster at Brookhaven National Laboratory uses an ionization profile monitor to generate profiles of proton and heavy-ion beams. The profile monitor can acquire hundreds of profiles during an acceleration cycle, and then display and store them for analysis. Profiles appear in real time on an oscilloscope-type display, but other visualizations are available as well, namely mountain range and emittance displays. File storage of profile data is simple, as is the storage of moments and emittances. >
Using Real-Time MRI to Quantify Altered Joint Kinematics in Subjects with Patellofemoral Pain and to Evaluate the Effects of a Patellar Brace or Sleeve on Joint Motion

Abnormal patellofemoral joint motion is a possible cause of patellofemoral pain, and patellar braces are thought to alleviate pain by restoring normal joint kinematics. We evaluated whether females with patellofemoral pain exhibit abnormal patellofemoral joint kinematics during dynamic, weight-bearing knee extension and assessed the effects of knee braces on patellofemoral motion. Real-time magnetic resonance (MR) images of the patellofemoral joints of 36 female volunteers (13 pain-free controls, 23 patellofemoral pain) were acquired during weight-bearing knee extension. Pain subjects were also imaged while wearing a patellar-stabilizing brace and a patellar sleeve. We measured axial-plane kinematics from the images. Females with patellofemoral pain exhibited increased lateral translation of the patella for knee flexion angles between 0 degrees and 50 degrees (p = 0.03), and increased lateral tilt for knee flexion angles between 0 degrees and 20 degrees (p = 0.04). The brace and sleeve reduced the lateral translation of the patella; however, the brace reduced lateral displacement more than the sleeve (p = 0.006). The brace reduced patellar tilt near full extension (p = 0.001), while the sleeve had no effect on patellar tilt. Our results indicate that some subjects with patellofemoral pain exhibit abnormal weight-bearing joint kinematics and that braces may be effective in reducing patellar maltracking in these subjects.
Diffraction by apodized apertures

This paper investigates the diffraction of light by apodized apertures. The diffraction equation is solved numerically starting with an apertured plane wave or Gaussian beam. A function chosen to characterize spatial intensity modulation is then plotted versus Fresnel number for differing amounts of apodization so that the benefit gained thereby may be quantitatively assessed. In addition, the energy loss incurred due to insertion of an apodized aperture in front of an existing hard aperture is determined.
Production Design by Simulation Software Witness A Case Study

Today’s customers demand high quality,customized goods and services, quickest delivery at low prices. This has made the design and management of systems more challenging. Companies can not afford to design their production system in a way that does not optimize the scarce resources. With the advancement of computer simulation software in the manufacturing domain, the production design is much easier. The key success of production design depends on the interpretation of simulation results. This paper illustrates the use of computer simulation to design the production of a manufacturing company that produces snow melting modules. The analysis presented here describes the production design process and compares the performance of new design with the existing system performances.
The local, global, and neural aspects of visuospatial processing in autism spectrum disorders

Behavioral studies have documented a relative advantage in some aspects of visuospatial cognition in autism although it is not consistently found in higher functioning individuals with autism. The purpose of this functional neuroimaging study was to examine the neural activity in high functioning individuals with autism while they performed a block design task that systematically varied with regard to whether a global pattern was present. Participants were 14 adults with high-functioning autism and 14 age and IQ matched typical controls. The task was to identify a missing block in target figures which had either an obvious global shape or was an arbitrary array of blocks. Behavioral results showed intact, but not superior, performance in our participants with autism. A key group difference was that the participants with autism showed reliably greater activation in occipital and parietal regions in both tasks suggesting an increased reliance of the autism group on posterior brain areas to mediate visuospatial tasks. Thus, increased reliance on relatively posterior brain regions in itself may not guarantee superior performance as seen in the present study.
Development of a Proof-of-Concept Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Powered Scooter

The objective of this project is to develop a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell powered scooter with a designed digital controller to regulate the air supply to PEM fuel cell stack. A 500-Watt (W) electric power train was chosen as a platform for the scooter. Two 300 W PEM fuel cell systems, each containing 63 cells, were used to charge 48-Volt batteries that powered an electric motor. The energy carrier (hydrogen) was stored in two metal hydride tanks, each one containing 85 gs of hydrogen pressurized to 250 psig. The output hydrogen pressure from each tank was maintained at 5.8 psi by a two-stage pressure regulator, and then delivered to each fuel cell stack. To regulate the voltage of each PEM fuel cell under different load conditions, two step down DC/DC converters were used. These converters were connected in series to power the motor controller and charge the batteries. The batteries then supplied power to the 500 W brushless motor mounted to the hub of the rear wheel to save space. After all modifications were completed, most of the parts of the scooter stayed the same except for the panel under the seat—where larger space is needed for accommodating the hydrogen tanks. The weight of the scooter did not change significantly, because the weight of the hydrogen tanks (6.5 kg each) and fuel cell stacks (1.7 kg each) was partially compensated by replacing the batteries from the old ones that weighed 17.5 kg to new ones that weighed 9 kg. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4006055]
Rates of labor induction and primary cesarean delivery do not correlate with rates of adverse neonatal outcome in level I hospitals.

Objective. To determine whether variation in rates of labor induction (IOL) and primary cesarean delivery (PCD) among level I hospitals is associated with differences in neonatal outcomes.Methods. A birth certificate database was used to calculate crude and adjusted rates of IOL and PCD among 10 regional hospitals. Adjustment via logistic regression controlled for differences in medical and demographic factors. Linear regression assessed the relationship of crude and adjusted IOL and PCD rates to rates of three neonatal outcomes.Results. IOL and PCD rates varied widely among hospitals (1.79- and 1.72-fold, respectively); variation increased following adjustment (1.93- and 1.86-fold, respectively). Rates of adverse neonatal outcomes varied by year and hospital, but not by IOL or PCD rates (p ≥ 0.05).Conclusions. Crude and adjusted rates of labor induction and PCD vary among level I hospitals, but with no consistent effect on neonatal outcome.
Magnetic resonance studies of triphenylcarbonium ions—II

Abstract Carbon-13 NMR shifts of para-substituted triphenylcarbinols, (p-XC6H4)3COH and the corresponding carbonium ions, (p-XC6H4)3C+ where X = H, NO2 F, Cl, Me, OMe and NMe2) have been measured and interpreted in terms of charge densities, via the empirical relation between C-13 shifts and charge densities. The general features of the charge distributions given by the C-13 shifts are in accord with a simple resonance picture, with relatively large positive charges at positions alpha and meta to the substituent. The amount of positive charge delocalized from the central carbon is proportional to the substituent parameter, σ+. The validity of an additivity relation for the C-13 shifts of the carbonium ion species indicates that the charge distribution in the substituted ion is, approximately, the superposition of the distributions in the unsubstituted ion and the corresponding monosubstituted benzene. However, the substituents OMe and NMe2 bear a relatively large portion of the charge delocalized from the central carbon. The charge densities derived from C-13 shifts for triphenylcarbonium ion correlate well with those calculated by the CNDO method, even though the agreement is not quantitative.
A Review of: “Foster, E. (2007). Communicating at the End of Life: Finding Magic in the Mundane.”

Communicating at the End of Life: Finding Magic in the Mundane bravely and boldly explores the world of hospice care from the perspective of the hospice volunteer. At first glance it seems that thi...
Harvest the potential of massive MIMO with multi-layer techniques

Massive MIMO is envisioned as a promising technology for 5G wireless networks due to its high potential to improve both spectral and energy efficiency. Although the massive MIMO system is based on innovations in the physical layer, the upper layer techniques also play important roles in harvesting the performance gains of massive MIMO. In this article, we begin with an analysis of the benefits and challenges of massive MIMO systems. We then investigate the multi-layer techniques for incorporating massive MIMO in several important network deployment scenarios. We conclude this article with a discussion of open and potential problems for future research.
The dihadron fragmentation function and its evolution

Dihadron fragmentation functions and their evolution arestudied in the process of e+e- annihilation. Under the collinearfactorization approximation and facilitated by the cut-vertex technique,the two hadron inclusive cross section at leading order (LO) is shown tofactorize into a short distance parton cross section and a long distancedihadron fragmentation function. We provide the definition of such adihadron fragmentation function in terms of parton matrix elements andderive its DGLAP evolution equation at leading log. The evolutionequation for the non-singlet quark fragmentation function is solvednumerically with a simple ansatz for the initial condition and resultsare presented for cases of physical interest.
LARGE DEFORMATION ATOMISTIC-BASED CONTINUUM ANALYSIS OF CARBON NANOTUBES

The goal of the present work is to describe the application of a new finite deformation membrane model to the analysis of the mechanics of carbon nanotubes. This membrane is based exclusively on the atomistic description of the system, and does not require local atomistic computations, i.e. the hyper-elastic potential is written in closed-form. It is based on a generalization of the standard Born rule of crystal elasticity for curved crystalline films, called exponential Born rule. By combining this continuum nonlinear theory with finite elements, a simulation method alternative to computationally expensive atomistic calculations is obtained. Numerical experiments demonstrate the accuracy of this approach in large deformation problems. Furthermore, the presented continuum theory, unlike atomistic methods, can be exploited (semi-)analytically. In particular, the translational symmetry of carbon nanotubes deforming transversally can be treated explicitly, and a hyper-elastic beam-like model is particularized. For nanotubes tested axially, a one-dimensional rod model follows from the formulation. Structural and elastic properties of carbon nanotubes are encapsulated in this one-dimensional model, that allows to extract the systematic dependence of these properties on diameter and chirality separately.
Electric Control of Wetting by Salty Nanodrops: Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Aqueous nanoscale systems feature a distinct electrowetting behavior, sensitive to not only the strength but also the direction and polarity of the applied electric field. These effects have so far not been tested in solutions of ions, although electrolytes are commonly present in electrowetting experiments. We describe atomistic simulations of sessile salty nanodrops on an apolar substrate under electric fields in a miniature mimic of the experimental setup of a drop inside a capacitor. In the absence of field, the contact angle rises with salt concentration. The effect is weaker when the surface is more hydrophobic. The electric field lowers the contact angle, but the polarity dependence, observed in neat water and related to directional hydrogen bond effects, is diminished in the presence of screening ions. This is important for nanofluidics, as the addition of salt can improve electrowetting inside a nanopore where uneven wettabilities of opposing walls are found in pure water. The different hydration...
Orphans of the 'Real': II. The future of object relations theory in the treatment of the psychoses and other primitive mental disorders.

Objective relations theory is a broad, multifaceted concept that covers a number of differing paradigms. The author highlights the historical development of this concept. Originally developed by Freud and Abraham, it gradually became a shibboleth that identified both the Kleinian and the Independent schools in Great Britain and the object relations school within the American school of ego psychology. The two British schools differed between each other and from the American school. Among these schools of thought, two major paradigms have emerged: (1) the one-person psychoanalytic model, and (2) the two-person model. More recently, derivatives of the two-person model have emerged as the schools of relationism, self psychology, and intersubjectivity. In addition, the contributions of the Lacanian school have altered concepts about the fundamental nature of object relations. What is consequently at issue in terms of the psychoanalytic conception and treatment of psychoses and primitive mental disorders (with patients suffering from being "orphans of the 'Real'") is (1) the differing conceptions of what is meant by internal objects, part-objects, selfobjects, and object-representations, and (2) the differing conceptions of unconscious mental life.
The Signs of Mission: Rethinking Archaeologies of Representation

This chapter engages contemporary archaeological conversations about meaning and materiality. Against the tendency to counterpose practice and representation, it calls for an expanded definition of semiosis, which encompasses material and affective properties, humans and nonhumans, dispositions and ideas. Through the lens of Peircean semeiotic, This chapter examines negotiations over the signs of belief in the polity of Imerina, highland Madagascar. The analysis focuses on early nineteenth century missionary encounters in the region and explores how the expansion of missionary schools across the landscape was translated differently by different actors, and fostered new configurations of agency. Where missionaries saw material evidence of conversion, locals understood mission schools and activities to be selectively drawn into the sanctified places of highland politics. Such spatial incorporation simultaneously affirmed the political topography of highland elites and absorbed the missionaries into the cosmological structures they hoped to eradicate. By carefully aligning missions with the sacred coordinates of the landscape, the highland king of Imerina creatively reworked the channels through which blessing flowed from the ancestors to the world of the living. The work of the schools and the king reveal very different understandings of agency and show how agentive actions were configured through tangible and intangible sign relations.
From Charity to Equity: Race, Homelessness, and Urban Schools

The focus of From Charity to Equity: Race, Homelessness, and Urban Schools was to draw attention to the academic, social, and emotional needs of homeless youth, specifically those of color. The boo...
Keypoint Recognition with Histograms of Normalized Colors

Keypoint recognition is an important component of many object recognition and image classification systems. However, the color information present in images is not well incorporated. Previous techniques mostly rely on derivatives that only use the rate of change, rather than the actual color, and/or neglect the spatial relationships between the colors. We describe a new keypoint descriptor constructed with normalized color histograms that preserves color information and spatial relationships while maintaining invariance to illumination brightness variation (bias and gain). When combined with shape information, our descriptor surpasses the performance of previous techniques.
Forkhead box A3 attenuated the progression of fibrosis in a rat model of biliary atresia

Biliary atresia is a rare, devastating disease of infants where a fibroinflammatory process destroys the bile ducts, leading to fibrosis and biliary cirrhosis, and death if untreated. The cause and pathogenesis remain largely unknown. We tried to investigate factors involved in biliary atresia, especially forkhead box A3 (Foxa3), which might exert a role in the treatment of liver disease. We used RNA sequencing to sequence the whole transcriptomes of livers from six biliary atresia and six choledochal cysts patients. Then, we employed a rat disease model by bile duct ligation (BDL) and adenovirus transduction to address the function of Foxa3 in biliary atresia. We found that tight junction, adherence junction, cell cycle, apoptosis, chemokine singling, VEGF and MAPK signaling pathways were enriched in biliary atresia livers. We showed that Foxa3 expression was notably decreased in liver samples from biliary atresia patients. More importantly, we found that its lower expression predicted a poorer overall survival of biliary atresia patients. Rats that received BDL surgery and Foxa3 expression adenovirus resulted in a significant decrease in the deposition of collagen, and expression of profibrotic cytokines (transforming growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor) and fibrosis markers (α-smooth muscle actin, collagen I and collagen III), as compared with rats that received BDL surgery and control adenovirus. Our data suggested a protection role for Foxa3 during the progression of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia, and thereby supported increasing Foxa3 as a targeted treatment strategy.
A Behavioral Approach to Motivation in Rehabilitation

This paper presents a critique of current methods employed to assess the motivation of rehabilitation patients, and points out the problem faced by the psychologist who is expected to motivate the problem patient. An alternative technique based upon Premack’s research is suggested, in which participation in therapy classes which are attended with a high probability is used as a reinforcer by making it contingent upon attending classes of lower probability. Two cases are described in which such a model was successfully employed. Some possible problems involved in implementing this approach are discussed.
3D-printed tracheoesophageal puncture and prosthesis placement simulator.

Abstract Objectives A tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP) allows for speech after total laryngectomy. However, TEP placement is technically challenging, requiring a coordinated series of steps. Surgical simulators improve technical skills and reduce operative time. We hypothesize that a reusable 3-dimensional (3D)-printed TEP simulator will facilitate comprehension and rehearsal prior to actual procedures. Methods The simulator was designed using Fusion360 (Autodesk, San Rafael, CA). Components were 3D-printed in-house using an Ultimaker 2 + (Ultimaker, Netherlands). Squid simulated the common tracheoesophageal wall. A Blom-Singer TEP (InHealth Technologies, Carpinteria, CA) replicated placement. Subjects watched an instructional video and completed pre- and post-simulation surveys. Results The simulator comprised 3D-printed parts: the esophageal lumen and superficial stoma. Squid was placed between components. Ten trainees participated. Significant differences existed between junior and senior residents with surveys regarding anatomy knowledge( p p p Conclusions A 3D-printed TEP simulator is feasible for surgical training. Simulation involving multiple steps may accelerate technical skills and improve education.
The Study of the Development of the Difficult Child

The group of children whose behavior deviates from the norm and who therefore stand out from the general mass of children with respect to education,—that is, problem children in the broad sense of the word—must be divided into two basic types: (a) the type of child whose behavior deviates from the norm as a result of some organic defect (physically handicapped children including blind, deaf, blind-deaf, and crippled children along with mentally retarded or feebleminded children who suffer from some organic defect); and (b) the type of child whose behavior deviates from the norm as a result of some functional disorder (difficult children in the narrow and strict sense of the word, such as delinquents, children with character disorders, and psychopaths).
Propranolol for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of propranolol on retinal neovascularization due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). PATIENTS AND METHODS For this prospective pilot, interventional, case series, patients with diabetes with PDR (n = 10 subjects; 12 eyes) were recruited at the ophthalmology clinic of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Subjects were administered oral propranolol for 12 weeks and retinopathy and area of retinal neovascularization were monitored with fundus photography and fluorescein angiography (FA). The study's main outcome measures were photographic area of retinal neovascularization and degree of leakage on FA. RESULTS All eyes demonstrated stable degrees of retinal neovascularization by the end of 12 weeks. CONCLUSION This dose of oral propranolol during a period of 12 weeks did not demonstrate significant effect on retinal neovascularization due to PDR. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:35-40.].