cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human remains from McKinstry mound two

McKinstry est un site revelant, entre autre, un tertre funeraire de la culture de Blackduck, situe dans le nord du Minnesota. Ce tertre a souvent ete perturbe avant d'etre fouille, ce qui rend difficile la determination du nombre minimum d'individus (NMI). Les diverses possibilites d'interpretation du NMI d'un site perturbe sont etudiees et leurs resultats commentes. Des modifications dans les caracteristiques funeraires de la culture de Blackduck sont clairement indiquees. La sante de la population est examinee en utilisant plusieurs techniques et les resultats, compares a ceux d'un tumulus voisin de culture laurelienne, indiquent de fortes differences entre ces deux populations
Recovery in Substance Use Disorders: What to Know to Inform Practice

Use of illicit substances and nonmedical use of prescription medication worldwide has increased dramatically in the past several years. Approximately 10% of people who use illicit substances will develop a substance use disorder (SUD). Similar to other chronic health disorders, periods of remission and exacerbation commonly occur in SUDs. Due to stigma and difficulty with definition, terminology related to SUDs has changed and evolved. Terms referring to nonuse of substances such as sobriety and abstinence are likely best replaced with the term remission. Similarly, the use of the term relapse, in reference to a return to use after remission should be replaced with the term exacerbation. Research and professional organization consensus indicate that after a period of five years of remission or recovery, the risk of exacerbation is low in SUDs. Recovery is a term used to describe overall improvements in quality of life during remission. Recovery has been defined by organizations and studied in research. Factors that have been shown to improve the success of recovery are increased quality of life, improved self-efficacy, employment, and spirituality. It is important for nurses to improve their understanding of the terminology related to SUDs and to communicate with others using the terms that are the least stigmatizing. Nurses are in a prime position to assess recovery and to help patients and their families implement changes in order to improve the success of their recovery.
Gil Hodges: A Hall of Fame Life. By Mort Zachter. (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2015. Pp. xiii, 478. $34.95.)

In this study, the author strives to make a case for why Hodges, the late Dodgers All‐Star and Mets manager, deserves induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. As his subtitle suggests, Mo...
Aging and Sex-Dependent Adaptive Homeostasis in Response to Oxidative Stress

Adaptation to oxidative stress not only differs between the sexes, but also declines with age. These two frameworks offer insight to the underlying mechanisms for survival differences between males and females, and between the young and the old. These differences are maintained across species from the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster , to humans. In this study, we evaluated the oxidative-stress adaptive responses, an example of physiological Adaptive Homeostasis as recently defined [1], to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and redox-cycling agents, specifically paraquat, 2-methyl-1,4 napthoquinone (menadione), and 2,3-Dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ). To investigate adaptation, we focused on three common laboratory D. melanogaster strains: Oregon-R, w[1118], and Canton-S. The flies were pretreated with stimulatory, low doses of H 2 O 2 , paraquat, menadione or DMNQ before receiving a toxic challenge dose. We find that females show adaptive increases in survival after exposure to small amounts of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Conversely, males exhibit no adaptive response to H 2 O 2. Males did exhibit adaptive responses to the redox cycling agents, however, whereas females did not. The same trend was observed when comparing older flies with younger flies, although the adaptive ability is significantly decreased. To assess the changes in proteolytic activity and the expression of the 20S Proteasome, fluorogenic peptide assays and Western blots were performed. Our work suggests that males may potentially use an alternative mechanism in order to induce their adaptive response to redox cycling agents, emphasizing the need to evaluate sex as critical biological variable in future studies. Reference Davies, K.J.A. Adaptive Homeostasis, Molecular Aspects of Medicine 49, 1–7, 2016
Generic Aging Management Programs for License Renewal of BWR Reactor Coolant System Components

The paper reviews the existing generic aging management programs (AMPs) for the reactor coolant system (RCS) components in boiling water reactors (BWRs), including the reactor pressure vessel and internals, the reactor recirculation system, and the connected piping. These programs have been evaluated in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) report, Generic Aging Lessons Learned (GALL), NUREG-1801, for their use in the license renewal process to manage several aging effects, including loss of material, crack initiation and growth, loss of fracture toughness, loss of preload, wall thinning, and cumulative fatigue damage. The program evaluation includes a review of ten attributes (scope of program, preventive actions, parameters monitored/inspected, detection of aging effects, monitoring and trending, acceptance criteria, corrective actions, confirmative process, administrative control, and operating experience) for their effectiveness in managing a specific aging effect in a given component(s). The generic programs are based on the ASME Section XI inservice inspection requirements; industry guidelines for inspection and evaluation of aging effects in BWR reactor vessel, internals, and recirculation piping; monitoring and control of BWR water chemistry; and operating experience as reported in the USNRC generic communications and industry reports. The review concludes that all generic AMPs are acceptable for managing aging effects in BWR RCS components during an extended period of operation and do not need further evaluation. However, the plant-specific programs for managing aging in certain RCS components during an extended period of operation do require further evaluation. For some plant-specific AMPs, the GALL report recommends an aging management activity to verify their effectiveness. An example of such an activity is a one-time inspection of Class 1 small-bore piping to ensure that service-induced weld cracking is not occurring in the piping. Several of the AMPs, which do not require further evaluation, do need enhancements to allow for an extended period of reactor operation. The paper concludes that the GALL report systematically evaluates the generic AMPs for their effectiveness during an extended period of operation and provides a technical basis for their acceptance. The use of the GALL report should facilitate both preparation of a license renewal application and timely and uniform review by the NRC staff.© 2002 ASME
Parallel-connected bilayer coil for a 3.3-kW electric vehicle wireless charging system

Wireless charging is a key technology for electric vehicles. Owing to strict area limits within a vehicle, low heat generation is important for realizing a thermally plausible coil. We therefore propose a parallel-connected bilayer coil to reduce heat generation. The effectiveness of the proposed coil was demonstrated by experimental continuous operation for more than 8 hours.
Motivation, Self-Efficacy and Weight Loss in a RCT Weight Loss Intervention

Background: Research on the relationship between motivation, and dieting and exercise self-efficacy, and weight loss has produced inconsistent findings. Thus, this study aims to explore and clarify the relationship between these constructs. Method: This study evaluated 429 participants who were part of a larger RCT. Participants were randomized into three groups of progressive, increasing intensity: workbook only, computer intervention and computer intervention plus staff. Weight and height were collected at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Average initial body mass index (BMI) was 35.36. Participants also completed the Dieting Readiness Questionnaire, the Eating Habits Confidence Survey and the Exercise Confidence Survey at baseline. We hypothesized that motivation and self-efficacy would predict change in BMI regardless of group assignment. Results: Factor analyses confirmed that each survey examined a unitary construct, yet Pearson’s product moment correlations found no significant relationship between change in BMI and motivation and self-efficacy surveys. Mean difference for change in BMI was significant for the highest intensity intervention group ( M = -1.19, SE = .17) when compared to the lowest ( M = -.37, SD = 2.44), F (2,426) = 3.79, p = .02). The majority of this overall change difference was further isolated to the first half of the study, F (2,426) = 6.91, p = .001. Conclusion : Findings suggest initial motivation is less related to weight loss than is clinical support. It is unclear how self-efficacy fluctuated throughout the study; further evaluation may be necessary to utilize motivation and self-efficacy to enhance weight loss.
Investigating Pb diffusion across buried interfaces in Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 thin films via time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profiling

The diffusion of Pb through Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3(PZT)/Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si thin film heterostructures is studied by using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profiling. The as-deposited films initially contained 10 mol% Pb excess and were thermally processed at temperatures ranging from 325 to 700°C to promote Pb diffusion. The time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry depth profiles show that increasing processing temperature promoted Pb diffusion from the PZT top film into the buried heterostructure layers. After processing at low temperatures (eg, 325°C), Pb+ counts were low in the Pt region. After processing at elevated temperatures (eg, 700°C), significant Pb+ counts were seen throughout the Pt layer and into the Ti and SiO2 layers. Intermediate processing temperatures (400, 475, and 500°C) resulted in Pb+ profiles consistent with this overall trend. Films processed at 400°C show a sharp peak in PtPb+ intensity at the PZT/Pt interface, consistent with prior reports of a Pt3Pb phase at this interface after processing at similar temperatures.
Abstract 3705: Targeting interleukin-1 to increase cetuximab efficacy in head and neck cancer

Treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients includes the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody cetuximab. However, response to cetuximab is low and resistance remains a critical issue. Therefore, it is imperative to develop strategies to enhance tumor response to this drug. Inflammation plays an important role in tumor progression by increasing the release of cytokines that promote tumor cell survival. Our prior work has shown that a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in tumor survival are upregulated upon treatment with EGFR inhibitors in HNSCC cells, suggesting that poor tumor response to EGFR inhibitors may be due to increased tumor-associated inflammation. Our lab has shown that the increased proinflammatory tumor response due to EGFR inhibition may be activated by interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling, suggesting that the IL-1 pathway may be an important target to enhance the efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy. Here we investigated the effect of IL-1 blockade on HNSCC tumor response to cetuximab treatment. We found that cetuximab induced IL-6 secretion from SQ20B HNSCC cells and knockdown of the adapter protein MyD88, which is essential for IL-1 signaling, suppressed IL-6 secretion at baseline and in response to cetuximab treatment. Similarly, knock down of the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) decreased baseline and cetuximab-induced IL-6 secretion, although IL-1R knockdown did not improve response to cetuximab in SQ20B xenografts in vivo. We additionally blocked IL-1 signaling using a recombinant IL-1R antagonist (IL-1RA). IL-1RA pre-treatment reduced baseline and cetuximab-induced IL-6 secretion in vitro. Although IL-1RA did not significantly enhance SQ20B tumor response to cetuximab, IL-1RA as a single agent significantly suppressed tumor growth in female mice but not in male mice. Finally, treatment with a human-specific neutralizing IL-1 alpha (IL-1α) antibody (but not IL-1 beta (IL-1β)) reduced baseline and cetuximab-induced IL-6 secretion in vitro, and significantly increased SQ20B tumor response to cetuximab in vivo. Altogether we propose that targeting IL-1α specifically may be a viable strategy to improve HNSCC tumor response to cetuximab. Citation Format: Madelyn Espinosa-Cotton, Ayana J. McLaren, Adam T. Koch, Andrean L, Simons. Targeting interleukin-1 to increase cetuximab efficacy in head and neck cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3705. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3705
A Fully Integrated Digital Low-Dropout Regulator Based on Event-Driven Explicit Time-Coding Architecture

This paper presents a fully integrated digital low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator based on event-driven control architecture. The focus of the paper is to scale the off-chip output capacitor of an LDO conventionally used to compensate fast load current change. To shrink the output capacitor size, it is paramount to shorten control latency. This can be done by employing a high-speed error amplifier in analog LDO designs and by using fast clock in digital synchronous LDO designs. However, those approaches become less suitable for sub-1-V supply voltage due to the headroom problem of analog circuits and/or increase power dissipation due to the high-frequency clock. In this paper, we tackle the tradeoff between power consumption and control latency by introducing an event-driven approach. Our event-driven approach enables to perform regulation tasks only when the output voltage deviates significantly from a set point, simultaneously achieving short latency and low-power dissipation. We prototyped an event-driven digital LDO that supports 400- $\mu \text{A}$ load current at 0.5-V input and 0.45-V output voltage. The measurements show 40-mV droop voltage and 96.3% peak current efficiency with an on-chip integrated 0.4-nF output capacitor.
Intentions: past, present, future

Intentions have been a central subject of research since contemporary philosophy of action emerged in the middle of the twentieth century. For almost that entire period, the approach has been to treat the study of intentions as separate from the study of morality. This essay offers a brief overview of that history and then suggests some ways forward, as exemplified by the essays collected in this volume.
Automatic gleason grading of prostate cancer using Gabor filter and local binary patterns

Prostate Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer found in men aged over 40 years. Detection and staging is the most critical step for pathologists. This research supports the development of Computer Aided Detection system capable of grading prostate cancer with high accuracy and less human involvement. Real patient dataset collection is a challenge, we collected real and graded dataset from Shaukat Khanum Cancer Research Hospital, Pakistan. Texture feature sets are extracted using Gabor and Local Binary Patterns with different variations. The proposed system showed an improved accuracy due to fusion of different texture features. The goal of this study is to grade the E&H stained histological images into benign, grade 3, grade 4 or grade 5. K-Nearest Neighbor classifier is used and dataset is divided randomly into training and testing using 10-fold cross validation. The proposed system shows overall accuracy of 98.3% for real dataset of 268 histological E&H images collected from 160 different patients at different times.
In-vitro calcium phosphate growth over functionalized cotton fibers.

Biomimetic growth of calcium phosphate compound on cotton sheets treated with tetraethoxy silane and soaked in simulated body fluid solution was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Micro-FTIR and EDAX results show that silicon was coupled to the cotton fiber when cotton was treated with tetra-ethoxy silane (TEOS) at 125°C for 1 h. Calcium phosphate nucleation started to occur on the surface of TEOS-treated cotton fibers upon immersion in 1.5×SBF (simulated body fluid solution) within 3 days and after 20 days, all the fiber surfaces were found covered with a thick and porous coating of calcium phosphate. The Ca and P determined by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) analysis revealed that the Ca/P ratio as well as the amount of calcium phosphate coating depends on the soaking time in SBF solution. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers
Negative Transfer in the Writing of Proficient Students of Russian: A Comparison of Heritage Language Learners and Second Language Learners

i Dedication iii Acknowledgements iv List of Tables vi List of Figures vii List of Abbreviations viii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Literature Review 6 Chapter 3: Methodology 27 Chapter 4: Results and Discussion 36 Chapter 5: Conclusion 74 References 82 Appendices A. Language Background Questionnaire 87 B. Consent Form for Questionnaire 88 C. Sample Assignments 89
Chemistry of Tannin-Protein Complexation

The importance of tannin-protein interactions in leathermaking and in plant-animal interactions has long been recognized, but detailed knowledge of the chemistry of the interaction has only recently become available. Tannin-protein interactions are influenced by characteristics of the protein (including size, amino acid composition, pI, and extent of post translational modification), characteristics of the tannin (size, structure, heterogeneity of the preparation), and conditions of the reaction (pH, temperature, solvent composition, time). The most familiar tannin-protein interactions result in precipitation of the complex, but soluble complexes also form under certain conditions. Both soluble and insoluble complexes are stabilized by reversible, noncovalent bonds between tannin and protein.
PROTON INDUCED DEUTERON BREAKUP

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the study of the proton induced deuteron breakup. The study was conducted to map the proton induced deuteron breakup spin observables in a kinematical region. The chapter explains the basic nature of the difference between p-n and p-p quasielastic scattering (QES). It presents the importance of the Pauli principle by an examination of the energy dependence of alpha induced deuteron breakup. The chapter describes the ratio of pn/pp cross sections in the region around 23 MeV. A deuteron breakup theory, to be viable, must fit the cross section magnitudes, the angular distribution, and the spectral shapes for both pp and pn data. It is not adequate for a theoretical approach to examine only a small amount of ρ,ρρ or ρ,ρη data.
Vitamin D Disorders

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on disorders associated with Vitamin D metabolism. Vitamin D is essential for the health of bones and it is responsible for maintaining calcium and phosphorus metabolism that results in the development and maintenance of a healthy skeleton. The genetic defects in the metabolism and recognition of vitamin D lead to changes in calcium, phosphorus and bone metabolism that causes skeletal deformities and in children, there is often poor mineralization of the bone leading to classic rachitic changes in the skeleton. The deficiency in vitamin D is stated to be the most common cause of rickets and osteomalacia with secondary hyperparathyroidism and low-normal or low levels of serum phosphorus being the other factors. The various vitamin D disorders are further discussed and include: vitamin D dependent rickets type I or pseudovitamin D deficiency rickets (PDDR), vitamin D dependent rickets type II or hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets (HVDRR) and vitamin D dependent rickets type III. The genetic causes of rickets are mentioned and are classified as X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets and autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets.
Indigenous impacts on North American Great Plains fire regimes of the past millennium.

Fire use has played an important role in human evolution and subsequent dispersals across the globe, yet the relative importance of human activity and climate on fire regimes is controversial. This is particularly true for historical fire regimes of the Americas, where indigenous groups used fire for myriad reasons but paleofire records indicate strong climate–fire relationships. In North American grasslands, decadal-scale wet periods facilitated widespread fire activity because of the abundance of fuel promoted by pluvial episodes. In these settings, human impacts on fire regimes are assumed to be independent of climate, thereby diminishing the strength of climate–fire relationships. We used an offsite geoarchaeological approach to link terrestrial records of prairie fire activity with spatially related archaeological features (driveline complexes) used for intensive, communal bison hunting in north-central Montana. Radiocarbon-dated charcoal layers from alluvial and colluvial deposits associated with driveline complexes indicate that peak fire activity over the past millennium occurred coincident with the use of these features (ca. 1100–1650 CE). However, comparison of dated fire deposits with Palmer Drought Severity Index reconstructions reveal strong climate–fire linkages. More than half of all charcoal layers coincide with modest pluvial episodes, suggesting that fire use by indigenous hunters enhanced the effects of climate variability on prairie fire regimes. These results indicate that relatively small, mobile human populations can impact natural fire regimes, even in pyrogeographic settings in which climate exerts strong, top-down controls on fuels.
Inward and Outward FDI Country Profiles

The key role MNEs play in the global economy through international investment, and the changing landscape of such investment as MNEs as well as host and home economies adjust to changing conditions and objectives, make it important to understand trends and developments with respect to FDI and the policy context in which they take place. This second edition of country profiles seeks to contribute to such an understanding by bringing together, in a single collection, the country profiles on inward and outward FDI prepared as part of the Columbia FDI Profiles series. Authored and peer-reviewed by scholars from around the globe, the profiles throw light on the diverse experiences of the economies that are covered with respect to inward and/or outward FDI. Each profile covers country-level developments with respect to inward or outward FDI, the leading corporate players, effects of the recent global crises or other special developments, and key aspects of, and developments with respect to, the national policy scene, following a standardized format as far as possible.
Extrapolation for the Lp Dirichlet Problem in Lipschitz Domains

Let L be a second-order linear elliptic operator with complex coefficients. It is shown that if the Lp Dirichlet problem for the elliptic system L(u) = 0 in a fixed Lipschitz domain Ω in ℝd is solvable for some $$1 < p = {p_0} < \frac{{2\left( {d - 1} \right)}}{{d - 2}},$$ then it is solvable for all p satisfying $${p_0} < p < \frac{{2\left( {d - 1} \right)}}{{d - 2}}+\varepsilon.$$ The proof is based on a real-variable argument. It only requires that local solutions of L(u) = 0 satisfy a boundary Cacciopoli inequality.
Revisiting Machine Learning from Crowds a Mixture Model for Grouping Annotations

Today, supervised learning is widely used for pattern recognition, computer vision and other tasks. In this setting, data need to be explicitly annotated. Unfortunately, obtaining accurate labels can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming. As a result, many machine learning projects rely on labelling processes that involve crowds, i.e. multiple subjective and inexpert annotators. Handling this noise in a principled way is an important challenge for machine learning, called learning from crowds. In this paper, we present a model that learns patterns of label noise by grouping annotations. In contrast to previous art, we do not model specific labeling patterns for each annotator but explain the data using a fixed-size mixture model. This approach allows to handle a sparse distribution of labels among annotators and obtain a model with less parameters that can scale better to large-scale scenarios. Experiments on real and simulated data illustrate the advantages of our approach.
Older adultsʼ credibility assessment of online health information: An exploratory study using an extended typology of web credibility

Abstract Credibility assessment is a crucial component in the process of peopleʼs health information seeking, especially in the web context. Finding “credible” health information from a plethora of...
THE TWISTED TRUTH: IDENTIFYING AND TREATING TORSADE DE POINTES (TDP) IN SURREPTITIOUS DRUG USE

TDP is a form of ventricular tachycardia (VT) associated with prolonged QT interval. Treatment of drug-induced TDP is challenging with clandestine drug use since appropriate therapy needs tailoring to causative drug. A 28 year old woman treated for pyelonephritis with levofloxacin became
Penetrating Injury to the Carotid Artery: Characterizing Presentation and Outcomes from the National Trauma Data Bank.

Background Penetrating injury to the neck can be devastating because of the multiple vital structures in close proximity. In the event of injury to the carotid artery, there is a significantly increased likelihood of morbidity or mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess presenting characteristics associated with penetrating injury to the carotid artery and directly compare approaches to surgical management. Methods Data from the National Trauma Data Bank from 2002–2016 were accessed to evaluate adult patients sustaining penetrating injury to the common or internal carotid artery. Management (operative versus nonoperative) and surgical approach (open versus endovascular) were evaluated based on presentation characteristics, and outcomes were compared after propensity score matching. Results Three thousand three hundred ninety-one patients fitting inclusion criteria and surviving past the emergency department were included in analyses (nonoperative: 1,976 [58.3%] patients and operative: 1,415 [41.7%] patients). The operative group was further classified by intervention as open = 1,192 patients and endovascular: 154 patients. On presentation, the nonoperative group demonstrated significantly higher prevalence of coma (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8: nonoperative = 49.3% versus operative = 40.8%, P Conclusions These results indicate that nonoperative patients often present with a more severe overall injury burden, particularly injury to the head, and not surprisingly, have higher rates of mortality. The lack of significant differences in outcomes relating to surgical approach indicates open versus endovascular invention should be individualized to the patient—for example, based on presenting characteristics and the location of the injury.
Pathophysiology of the CKD-MBD Syndrome

Abstract The investigation of the chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) has elucidated the disruption of a multiorgan systems biology produced by renal injury in early stages of kidney diseases. The disordered systems biology causes the CKD-MBD and contributes major components of increased cardiovascular risk for CKD patients. The outcome of the syndrome, in addition to previously recognized complications of renal osteodystrophy, is increased cardiovascular mortality in CKD. The inception of the CKD-MBD was only recently realized to be due to early effects of kidney disease, and its pathophysiology involves circulating factors produced by renal repair and newly discovered hormones, such as FGF23 and soluble αklotho. Progressing from its inception, the disruption of the multiorgan system leads to the pathophysiology previously recognized as secondary hyperparathyroidism, hyperphosphatemia, calcitriol deficiency, and renal osteodystrophy that are now incorporated into the CKD-MBD syndrome along with vascular disease (especially calcification) and cardiac disease (especially hypertrophy and heart failure). The new pathophysiology brings attention to extreme need for advances in the treatment of the CKD-MBD, which is currently focused on the late components of the syndrome, and which has been shown in clinical trials not to affect the mortality associated with the syndrome.
Risk Factors for Endogenous Endophthalmitis in Hospitalized Patients with Candida Fungemia.

Purpose To use the 2002 through 2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to identify risk factors for endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) in hospitalized patients with candidemia. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Participants Hospitalized patients sampled in the NIS database. Methods The NIS database (2002–2014) was used to identify patients with candidemia and EE and their comorbidities. Descriptive analysis was performed with chi-square testing, and risk factors for EE were identified using logistic regression analysis. Chi-square testing and regression analysis were performed using IBM SPSS software version 23 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) and R package software version 3.4.3 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria), respectively. Main Outcome Measure Diagnosis of EE in hospitalized patients with candidemia. Results We identified 98 783 hospitalized patients with candidemia; 529 patients (0.5%) had concurrent EE. Men constituted 48.0% of patients who did not demonstrate EE and 45.1% of those who did (P = 0.186). The average age of fungemia patients with EE was 54.6 years and of those without EE was 58.2 years (P Conclusions Systemic comorbidities that increased the risk of EE in candidemia included endocarditis, cirrhosis, diabetes with chronic complications, intravenous drug use, radiation therapy, and solid organ transplantation. Racial disparity was observed with Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans at a higher risk than Whites of being diagnosed with EE in the setting of Candida fungemia.
Digital postprocessing and image segmentation for objective analysis of colorimetric reactions

Recently, there has been an explosion of scientific literature describing the use of colorimetry for monitoring the progression or the endpoint result of colorimetric reactions. The availability of inexpensive imaging technology (e.g., scanners, Raspberry Pi, smartphones and other sub-$50 digital cameras) has lowered the barrier to accessing cost-efficient, objective detection methodologies. However, to exploit these imaging devices as low-cost colorimetric detectors, it is paramount that they interface with flexible software that is capable of image segmentation and probing a variety of color spaces (RGB, HSB, Y'UV, L*a*b*, etc.). Development of tailor-made software (e.g., smartphone applications) for advanced image analysis requires complex, custom-written processing algorithms, advanced computer programming knowledge and/or expertise in physics, mathematics, pattern recognition and computer vision and learning. Freeware programs, such as ImageJ, offer an alternative, affordable path to robust image analysis. Here we describe a protocol that uses the ImageJ program to process images of colorimetric experiments. In practice, this protocol consists of three distinct workflow options. This protocol is accessible to uninitiated users with little experience in image processing or color science and does not require fluorescence signals, expensive imaging equipment or custom-written algorithms. We anticipate that total analysis time per region of interest is ~6 min for new users and <3 min for experienced users, although initial color threshold determination might take longer.
Smart Building Technology

The burning of fossil fuels for powering the building sector around the world is putting our Mother Earth in a vulnerable condition; fossil fuels are running out due to the present level of consumption of this reverse fuel by the building sector. Therefore, the use of solar energy to generate electricity energy by building’s exterior curtain wall skin shall be an interesting technology to power the building naturally. On the other hand, traditional water supply into the building sector is lowering the groundwater strata which is dangerous for the survival of future generation due to shortage of groundwater. Hence, the cloud water molecule has been proposed to catch using static electricity force forming insulator water tank of a building and treat it in situ by implementing UV application to fulfill the day-to-day water need for a building. Simply, the combination of these two technologies to capture sunlight and cloud water by designing a smart building technology to satisfy the net energy and water need for a building will certainly be an innovative technology to mitigate the global energy demand and environmental and climate vulnerability.
Prognostic Outcomes of Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Breast

Abstract Background Signet ring cell breast carcinoma (SRCBC) is a rare variant of invasive lobular carcinoma and there are no large series characterizing its long-term prognosis. Materials and Methods The NCDB was queried from 2004-2016 to identify SRCBC patients. Patients were excluded if they had non-invasive tumors, multiple malignancies, or incomplete surgical data. Univariate analysis was performed utilizing chi-squared and Fischer's Exact tests. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used for survival analysis. Results 324 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were mostly White (75.3%), ≥50 years of age (88.2%), female (98.5%), and had a low Charlson-Deyo score (82.7%). 34.5% had Stage IV disease and 78.1% had ER+ tumors. In patients with non-Stage IV disease, 91.5% received surgery: 49.5% had lumpectomy and 50.5% underwent mastectomy. Radiation therapy was used in 40.7% (71.4% with lumpectomy and 35.8% with mastectomy) and 50% received chemotherapy. Significant differences in unadjusted overall survival were seen at 5 and 10 years based on stage (P Conclusion SRCBC frequently presents at an advanced stage. While ER+ patients appear to have improved survival, there was no clear survival benefit to receiving ET in ER+ patients.
Lucy in the sky with Trojan asteroids

Lucy mission’s bold objective is to study a class of distant asteroids — the Trojan asteroids — never explored before by spacecraft, explain Deputy Project Scientist Simone Marchi and Deputy Principal Investigator Cathy Olkin.
Logic and Deductive Reasoning

Some natural phenomena include features that cannot be directly “seen” or otherwise perceived through the senses. Nevertheless, starting from other observations, deductive reasoning can lead to conclusions about such hidden features. For illustration purposes, the following example demonstrates how logic captures the methods used in the reasoning. The same example also documents the difficulties in using real applications, where any statement can be widely considered “true” for thousands of years, and suddenly become “false” in the light of new evidence. (Yet an understanding of this example will not be necessary for any of the subsequent material.)
Induced activation of amino acid activating enzymes by amino acids and tRNA.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that a characteristic of protein synthesis is the absolute specificity with which the correct amino acids are incorporated into each position of the polypeptide chain. This requires at least the same degree of specificity in the ability of amino acid activating enzymes to discriminate both among potential amino acid substrates and among the many species of tRNA that exist within each cell. It reviews that the most completely analyzed enzymes are hydrolytic, and the success in correlating chemical mechanisms with the structures in the cases of lysozyme, ribonuclease, chymotrypsin, and a few others has resulted in the popular acceptance of a general model of enzymes. Enzymes that function in an extracellular environment tend to have characteristics different from those of intracellular catalysts. The amino acid-activating enzymes are a family of catalysts related to a single biological phenomenon, protein synthesis, and to a single formal reaction. The chapter focuses on those properties that may give insight into the mechanism of action of individual activating enzymes, which includes the chemical basis for specific recognition. It is proposed that the combination of an enzyme with a specific substrate results in conformational changes that may result in the formation of a catalytic site, in the binding site for another substrate, or in the approximation of one site to another.
Reflections After a Trip to Chicago

It is very important that we rebuild the horrible American ghettoes and make them habitable. The inner cities of this country must no longer be ignored. Instead of saying, "Oh, isn't it a shame", it is up to us as a nation to form communities where pride and dedication-rather than laziness and despair-form the most admirable role
Using management concepts in planning for distance education

This paper focuses on creating an infrastructure system to support distance education and instructional enhancement, not on hardware or courses to be used. The basic components of this infrastructure include: faculty training and a customer support system. Faculty are using distance education with increasing frequency and many are unaware of the difference from traditional classroom teaching. At the same time, the support systems for distance learning are not always in place.
Infrared Coronal Observations at the 1991 Solar Eclipse

Observations of the solar corona in a narrow band filter at wavelength 2.12 µm during the total solar eclipse of 11 July 1991 are described, and compared with results obtained by two observers during the eclipse of November 1966, and shortly thereafter. The lack of any observable. signature of thermal emission in the 1991 results suggests that during 1966/67, the near-solar environs were subjected to a locally enhanced dust population, supplied by one or more sungrazer comets. Possible conditions which match the observational circumstances are discussed.
Inhibition of Membrane-bound Adenosine Triphosphatase and of Cation Transport in Streptococcus faecalis by N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

N,N′-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) was found to be a potent inhibitor of the membrane-bound ATPase of Streptococcus faecalis but did not inhibit the solubilized form of the enzyme. Inhibited membrane-bound ATPase was reactivated by releasing the enzyme from the membrane. Conversely, sensitivity to DCCD was restored by reconstituting the ATPase-membrane complex from solubilized ATPase and depleted membranes. The results indicate that DCCD reacts covalently with a membrane component and inhibits the enzyme indirectly, perhaps by means of a transmitted effect on its conformation. When added to intact cells, DCCD reduced the rate of glycolysis yet the ATP content of the cells was as high in the presence of the inhibitor as in its absence. DCCD strongly inhibited the degradation of ATP which ensued when glycolysis was stopped, either by removal of glucose or by addition of iodoacetate. The results suggest that DCCD inhibits ATPase in vivo, just as it does in isolated membrane preparations. The inhibition of over-all glycolysis may be secondary to the inhibition of ATP degradation. DCCD also inhibited a number of energy-dependent transport processes, including the accumulation of K+ by exchange for H+ and Na+ and the uptake of phosphate and alanine. Inhibition was observed whether glucose or arginine served as energy source. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the membrane-bound ATPase of S. faecalis mediates energy transductions involved in membrane transport; inhibition of transport by DCCD would be a consequence of inhibition of the ATPase. Alternatively, DCCD may bind to sites on the membrane to inhibit indirectly both transport and ATP hydrolysis.
Gene trap vector screen for developmental genes in differentiating ES cells.

Publisher Summary The availability of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, together with the development of ‘‘entrapment vectors,’’ has made it possible to efficiently introduce insertional mutations in ES cells and to screen for candidate genes in ES cells and embryos derived from the ES cells. ES cells are undifferentiated, pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocysts. This chapter describes an expression screen to identify genes that are expressed at specific stages of mouse development by using retroviral entrapment vectors. ES cell clones with entrapment vector integration into putative developmentally regulated genes can be selected by virtue of their stage-specific reporter gene expression and by colocalization with stage and lineage-specific markers upon in vitro differentiation into embryoid bodies (EB). Selected clones can be further examined in vivo , either by generating transgenic lines or ‘‘transient’’ chimeric embryos. Finally, genomic integration sites can be cloned and used to screen stage-specific embryonic cDNA libraries. This approach allows efficiently identifying and preselecting in vitro for insertions into genes that are restricted in their temporal and spatial distribution in the postimplantation embryo and that may not be expressed in pluripotent embryonal cells. This chapter focuses on the strengths of the in vitro differentiation screen to preselect for entrapment integrations into developmentally regulated genes.
Angiogenin prevents serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells

Angiogenin is a 14 kDa protein originally identified as an angiogenic protein. Recent development has shown that angiogenin acts on both endothelial cells and neuronal cells. Loss-of-function mutations in the coding region of the ANG gene have recently been identified in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Angiogenin has been shown to control motor neuron survival and protect neurons from apoptosis under various stress conditions. In this article, we characterize the anti-apoptotic activity of angiogenin in pluripotent P19 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. Angiogenin prevents serum withdrawal-induced apoptosis. Angiogenin upregulates anti-apoptotic genes, including Bag1, Bcl-2, Hells, Nf-kappab and Ripk1, and downregulates pro-apoptotic genes, such as Bak1, Tnf, Tnfr, Traf1 and Trp63. Knockdown of Bcl-2 largely abolishes the anti-apoptotic activity of angiogenin, whereas the inhibition of Nf-kappab activity results in a partial, but significant, inhibition of the protective activity of angiogenin. Thus, angiogenin prevents stress-induced cell death through both the Bcl-2 and Nf-kappab pathways.
Deconstructing Incidents of Female Perpetrated Sex Crimes: Comparing Female Sexual Offender Groupings

Very little is known about co-offending by female sexual offenders (FSOs), especially in terms of diverse forms of offender groupings. To address this gap in the literature, this study uses 21 year...
On algorithms for velocity estimation using discrete position encoders

Velocity information for a rotating device may be acquired via a discrete position encoder. The focus of this paper is on analyzing and improving the low speed and high acceleration accuracy of velocity measurements through the use of digital filters for control applications. The frequency-domain characteristics of various digital filters that may be used to estimate velocity from pulse-encoded velocity data are investigated and used to explain the performance of the digital filters in estimating velocity for a given velocity profile. A new digital filter design technique based on an adaptive least squares approach is presented in addition to several previously developed fixed-time velocity estimators. The performance characteristics of these velocity estimators are compared using pulse-encoded velocity data from an actual motor.
Isotopic hybrids of nitrogenase. Mössbauer study of MoFe protein with selective 57Fe enrichment of the P-cluster.

Previous Mossbauer and EPR studies of the MoFe protein (approximately 30 Fe and 2 Mo) of nitrogenase have revealed the presence of two unique clusters, namely, the P-clusters (presumably of the Fe4S4 type) and the molybdenum- and iron-containing cofactors (or M-clusters). Mossbauer components D (approximately 10-12 Fe) and Fe2+ (approximately 4 Fe) represent subsites of the P-clusters while component S (approximately 2 Fe) appeared to belong to a separate, unidentified cluster. In order to refine the analyses of Mossbauer spectra, we have constructed an isotopic hybrid of the Klebsiella pneumoniae protein which contains 57Fe-enriched P-clusters and 56Fe-enriched M-clusters. The highly resolved 57Fe Mossbauer spectra of this hybrid show that component S behaves spectroscopically like the P-cluster sites D and Fe2+ in oxidized and reduced MoFe protein. This suggests that S is a subset of the P-clusters rather than a different cluster type. The present study shows, for the first time, that the Debye-Waller factors of different P-cluster subsites have a different temperature dependence. Thus, the Fe2+/D absorption ratio is 4.0:10.0 at 4.2 K and 4.0:11.6 at 173 K. We propose that the reduced MoFe protein contains two pairs of P-clusters: one pair containing one Fe2+ and three D-sites and the other one Fe2+, two D, and one S-site. We have argued previously that the oxidized P-clusters occur in pairs as well.
Body mass index measurement in schools: partnering with oral health

Objectives: The purpose of this review was to examine methodological similarities and differences in states that have implemented joint school-based oral health/body mass index (BMI) surveillance. Methods: Individuals in states with joint oral health/BMI surveillance were interviewed by e-mail and phone on the following: how the collaboration came about, survey methodology, rewards for participation, BMI data collection methods, data forms, BMI results, how BMI data were utilized, lessons learned, and challenges. Results: Nine states were represented in this review (Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). All states collected surveillance data among third-grade children through selecting a random, stratified sample of elementary schools. These states also used state-specific BMI protocols, including use of standardized, calibrated equipment to measure height/weight. Many states also used local support to implement the surveillance program and used external sources for statistical support. Differences among these states included types of rewards used, mode of consent, and parties involved in the collaboration. The most common uses of the BMI data include: assessing the magnitude of the problem, informing programs, allocation of resources, identification of priority areas for prevention research, support for grant applications, and program evaluation. Conclusions: Although there are some minor differences among states that have implemented joint school-based oral health/BMI surveillance, there are overarching similarities such as survey design and standardization of BMI measures. States considering implementing BMI surveillance efforts can use this review as a starting point to consider attributes such as program effectiveness and methods to improve or enhance surveillance systems already in place.