cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urethral Meatal Colonization in the Pathogenesis of Catheter-Associated Bacteriuria

AbstractUrethral meatal colonization with potential urinary tract pathogens was studied before bacteriuria in 31 consecutive acute spinal cord injury patients on an open ward (137 cultures) and 18 renal homotransplant patients in reverse isolation (80 cultures). All patients required indwelling urethral catheterization and no antimicrobials were given. Daily quantitative cultures of the urethral meatus, and bladder and drainage bag urine were obtained. The urethra was the source for 11 of 31 episodes of bacteriuria (35 per cent). Urethral meatal colonization with the organism responsible for bacteriuria, that is Escherichia coli (5 episodes), Staphylococcus aureus (2), Streptococcus faecalis (2) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (2), was persistent and present from 2 to 5 days before bacteriuria. In each ward 81 per cent or more of the cultures obtained on day 1 of catheterization showed no gram-negative colonization. Subsequently, the gram-negative colonization density increased in both groups but the incre...
Abstract 7: Appropriateness of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Washington State

Background. The use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has increased dramatically in the past decade despite uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of these procedures. Methods. Within the Clinical Outcomes Assessment Program (COAP), a quality-improvement initiative that captures all revascularization procedures performed in Washington State, we assessed the appropriateness of PCI performed between June 2009 and September 2010 in accordance with published Appropriate Use Criteria. We report the appropriateness of PCI stratified by acute (acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina with high-risk features) or non-acute (stable angina) coronary presentation. Results. Of 12,528 PCI performed during the study period, we successfully mapped the PCI indication to the Appropriate Use Criteria in 9,025 (72%) of cases. Of the 3,521 PCI not classified, common failures to map to the criteria included acute PCI of multiple lesions without evidence of shock (n=517, 14.7%), unstable angina without high-risk features (n=918, 26.1%), or non-acute PCI without preprocedural non-invasive stress results (n=2,049, 58.2%). Of mapped PCI, 7,031 (77.9%) were for acute indications with 6,921 (98.4%) rated as “appropriate”, 40 (0.6%) as “uncertain”, and 70 (1.0%) as “inappropriate”. Of 1,987 non-acute coronary presentations, 788 (39.7%) were rated as appropriate, 812 (40.9%) as uncertain, and 387 (19.5%) as inappropriate (Table). Assuming non-acute PCI with missing data on non-invasive stress test were performed in the setting of high-risk non-invasive stress testing, 387 (9.8%) PCI were inappropriate. Conclusion. In a complete cohort of PCI performed in Washington State, 1.0% of PCI for acute indications and 9.8% of PCI for non-acute indications were classified as inappropriate after assumptions to maximize appropriateness. These findings suggest an opportunity to improve the selection of patients undergoing PCI to maximize anticipated benefit. View this table: TABLE 1 Appropriateness of PCI in Washington State
Policy Implications for China’s Low-Carbon Development

China is the world’s top CO2 emitter, releasing (9157 Mt CO2 in 2013) one quarter of the global total and more than twice the emissions of the US. Without mitigation, China’s emissions will rise by a further 50% in the next 15 years. In November 2014, China pledged that its CO2 emissions will peak by 2030. Yet there is great uncertainty whether existing policies will be sufficient to make this happen. Here we propose steps that China should follow to curtail CO2 growth, through such progress China’s commitment to the climate will create the low-carbon market that will benefit the country and the globe.
Measurement and Simulation of Nanoscale Gap Heat Transfer Using a Read/Write Head With a Contact Sensor

Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), microwave-assisted magnetic recording, and other new technologies are being developed to boost the storage capacity of current hard disk drives (HDDs). Understanding the mechanisms of heat transfer across the head-disk interface is of major importance, because it is closely related to the design of HDDs, including lubricant flow and contact issues, especially for the reliability design of HAMR drives. In this paper, we report on a series of experiments and simulations with a perpendicular media recording (PMR) head to better understand the head temperature change and to validate the wave-based phonon conduction theory. From the static touchdown experiments, it is found that even without the air bearing, the head temperature of the thermal flight-height control (TFC) slider reduces when the clearance between the head and disk is less than 1 or 2 nm. The effect of lubricant on the disk surface is also studied. When the head temperature is relatively low, repeated touchdowns show that the starting point gets closer to the disk, suggesting that meniscus forces from the lubricant on the thermal fly-height control protrusion gradually reduce the head-disk clearance. But when the head temperature is relatively higher, the head can “melt through” the lubricant layer. The wave-based phonon conduction theory is integrated into an ANSYS simulation to study the steady state temperature distribution and protrusion profile of the head in the static touchdown experiments. The simulation result shows the same trend as the experiments of cooling before the head is in contact with the disk.
Assessment of Oncologic Risk for Clinical Stage T1 Renal Tumors and the Emerging Role of Renal Mass Biopsy

Data are emerging that support the use of active surveillance (AS) for small renal masses (SRMs) in select patients with significant risk factors for operative complication and postoperative kidney dysfunction. This chapter is focused on recent data pertaining to the pathology and risk assessment of SRMs. In general the distribution of benign, indolent, and aggressive kidney tumors is 20%, 80%, and 20%, respectively. The mean rate of growth for SRMs is 4 mm/year, and the mean risk for metastatic progression in patients undergoing AS for pT1a masses in on the order of 1–3%. The paper discusses the role of radiologic analysis and renal mass biopsy in risk prediction and patient management. Discussion of these topics allows for a more rational and balanced approach to the management of patients with clinical T1 renal tumors.
Interpretation of Cardiac Enzymes in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Seeking Diagnostic Clarity

A markedly raised cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in a patient is always alarming and usually suggests significant myocardial damage, as seen in acute myocardial infarction. There are, however, other circumstances where raised cTnI may be encountered without overt myocardial necrosis. Prior studies have evaluated serum cTnI levels in preeclampsia, eclampsia and normotensive healthy pregnant women in order to define their diagnostic value. Other factors, such as altered renal function, as in preeclampsia, may also affect the serum troponin levels, leading to misdiagnosis and incorrect management. We highlight the diagnostic and management difficulties faced in the management of our patient who presented with raised cTnI following multiple eclamptic fits, without other signs of an acute cardiac event. J Med Cases. 2017;8(7):207-210 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2836w
Asthma prevalence and school-related hazardous air pollutants in the US-México border area

Abstract Background Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and has been linked to high levels of ambient air pollution and certain hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Outdoor pollutants such as benzene, released by car emissions, and organic chemicals found in diesel exhaust, as well as particles and irritant gases, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3), contribute to an increased prevalence of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Objectives The objectives of this study were to: 1) conduct a screening survey to identify high risk for asthma among school-age children in Hidalgo County, and, 2) study the potential health impact of school-related exposure to HAPs pertaining to asthma risk. Methods We carried out a quantitative cross-sectional study combining a school-based asthma screening survey across 198 schools in Hidalgo County, Texas, with information on school neighborhood environments, including census tract-level information on hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and socioeconomic status (SES) in the respective school neighborhoods. HAPs levels were assessed based on the EPA 2011 National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) while SES information was assessed using data from the 2010–2014 American Community Survey. Results 2930 students completed the asthma screening survey and results showed an overall asthma prevalence of 9.4%, slightly higher than the national and state prevalence. Participants in the 14–18 years old age group showed a much higher asthma prevalence of 16.7%. When assessing school-neighborhood characteristics, our results revealed no significant differences in asthma prevalence across census tracts with different SES levels. For HAPs, in the single-pollutant model, chlorine levels showed a significant linear trend for prevalence of asthma (p=0.03) while hydrochloric acid had a marginally significant linear trend (p=0.08). The association with chlorine remained significant in the multi-pollutant model. Conclusions Asthma prevalence among school-age children in Hidalgo County, Texas, is 9.4%, which is slightly higher than the state rate, especially among young adults, ages 14–18 years who had an asthma rate of 16.7%. Results support an association between exposures to school-neighborhood HAPs and risk for pediatric asthma, especially as related to chlorine. No significant effects of school-level SES on asthma risk were observed.
Prealbumin I: Iodothyronine-Binding Proteins

Prealbumin is predominantly a complex of thyroxine-binding prealbumin and retinol-binding protein. Thyroxine-binding prealbumin is well characterized and will be discussed first. For convenience, the nature of thyroxine binding globulin will also be discussed since the function of these two proteins is interrelated.
pPLA: Patatin-Related Phospholipase As with Multiple Biological Functions

The release of fatty acids from membranous and storage lipids has been implicated in a variety of cellular functions, including carbon partitioning, cell elongation, defense response, seedling establishment, and plant growth. Patatin-related proteins are the major enzymes that catalyze the release of fatty acids and are present in various organisms, including plants and mammals. The Arabidopsis genome has 13 patatin-like genes encoding proteins including three groups of patatin-related phospholipases, pPLAI, pPLAII (α,β,γ,δ,e), and pPLAIII (α,β,γ,δ). The pPLAI, pPLAIIs, and pPLAIIIs possess phospholipase and galactolipase activities, while pPLAIIIs have an additional acyl-CoA thioesterase activity. The fourth group of patatin-related proteins possesses triacylglycerol lipase activity and includes SDP1, SDP1-L, and ATGL-L. Phenotypic analyses of Arabidopsis deficient in and overexpressing specific patatin-related genes have revealed their important roles in stress responses, plant development, and lipid homeostasis. This chapter aims to summarize current knowledge of patatin-related proteins and document their emerging importance in plant growth and lipid metabolism.
Inter-annual Fidelity to Summer Feeding Sites in Arctic Grayling

Inter-annual fidelity to summer feeding sites was assessed in adult Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus, in the Kuparuk River, Alaska using long-term (15 years) records of individually tagged fish. The Kuparuk River has been the site of a long-term fertilization experiment which allowed us to evaluate the effects of habitat quality on site fidelity. Fidelity to the entire 5 km experimental reach, the reference or fertilized zone of the river and to specific river locations was examined. On average, 32% of the arctic grayling caught in the experimental reach were recaptured within the reach in subsequent years. Grayling that returned to the reach displayed strong fidelity to river zones as well as to specific sites on the river. More than half of the fish were recaptured within 300 meters of the site where they were captured in previous years. There was no significant difference in fidelity to either the reference or the more productive fertilized zone. Unexpectedly, fidelity was unrelated to fish size (29–43 cm TL) or previous summer’s growth. Strong site fidelity appears to be an adaptation to a short summer during which sufficient resources must be acquired to sustain the fish through the long (9 month) Arctic winter leaving little time to explore alternative locations.
Automorphisms and Isomorphisms of Symmetric and Affine Designs

Given a finite group G, for all sufficiently large d and for each q > 3 there are symmetric designs and affine designs having the same parameters as PG(d, q) and AG(d, q), respectively, and having full automorphism group isomorphic to G.
High Resolution Nonlinear Spectroscopy of Rare Earth Ions in Solids

Spectroscopy is one of the most useful techniques for obtaining a fundamental understanding of the electronic structure and dynamical behavior of solids. From it, one can obtain a microscopic understanding of phenomena such as energy migration, trapping and upconversion, nonlinear absorption and bleaching, photorefractive effects and numerous other optical, magnetic and transport phenomena. The information available from spectroscopic studies depends to a great extent on the achievable resolution. At low temperatures this resolution is often limited by inhomogeneous strain broadening, which is intrinsically large in glassy systems but always present to some degree in real crystals, however perfect. We discuss a number of nonlinear spectroscopic techniques appropriate to both the frequency domain and the time domain and illustrate how these can overcome the effects of inhomogencous broadening. Examples will be taken from a wide range of rare earth doped crystals and glasses, where it is possible to achieve a spectral resolution of better than 1 kHz corresponding to a resonance Q greater than 1012 for the optical transition. We describe two-step absorption and avalanche absorption leading to frequency upconversion, spectral holeburning, and photon-gated holeburning, as well as photon echoes and nonlinear optical free-induction decays which measure directly the coherent interaction of light with the materials. The effect of external perturbations such as electric and magnetic fields can be measured with great precision using several different nonlinear spectroscopy techniques. Examples of such measurements will be given. Time and frequency domain techniques can provide different windows on relaxation phenomena by probing different parts of the fluctuation spectrum of a relaxation process. This is manifest by time resolved holeburning measurements of spectral diffusion and non-exponential photon echo decays. Some of the limitations and possibilities for application to other materials will be presented.
Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Necroptosis

Necroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death that has been implicated in many disease states including ischemia–reperfusion injuries, brain trauma, pancreatitis, as well as inflammatory diseases such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Work done in recent years has shown that necroptosis is a highly regulated process with complex signaling pathways involved in both the initiation and execution of death. A number of signaling proteins, most importantly RIP1 and RIP3 kinases, have been discovered to be involved in signal transduction during necroptosis. Modulation of early steps of necroptosis could represent a critical method to develop new treatments for multiple diseases that have been associated with this process. In order to fully take advantage of the treatment opportunity associated with necroptosis, a thorough understanding of both the signaling pathways involved and ways to develop selective therapeutic modulators of necroptosis is critical. In this review we discuss inhibitors of necroptosis that are currently being developed and additional possible targets for manipulation.
Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System

Physicians are faced daily with the challenges of accurately diagnosing patients by employing the current diagnostic criteria, recommended structural neuroimaging techniques, and/or guidelines put forth by ad hoc committees, consensus groups, and data from large, multicenter, placebo-controlled studies. A comprehensive understanding of the approach to PACNS from the etiology to optimal treatment is currently not clearly defined. This is a rare disorder that represents a unique diagnostic challenge for the neurologist given the lack of uniformity with respect to the clinical presentation, radiological and histopathological findings, and the varying natural history of the disease. This condition is restricted to the CNS with no signs of systemic involvement and biopsy of the brain parenchyma and leptomeninges is paramount in the diagnosis. A delay in the diagnosis and proper treatment of the disorder may cause increased morbidity and death. Current treatment strategies should be initiated aggressively, but only after confirmation of the diagnosis has been made. The diagnosis should not be made based on any single study. Instead, historical, clinical, serological, radiological, and histopathological correlation is needed for an accurate diagnosis. It is only by this approach that appropriate treatment interventions can be instituted in a timely manner to increase the likelihood of a better outcome. Future studies may focus on the genetic predilection for this condition which may provide insight into its pathogenesis and varied clinical course as well as treatment response.
Fatty Acid-Derived Signals that Induce or Regulate Plant Defenses Against Herbivory

Jasmonic acid and other derivatives of linolenic acid produced in plants by the octadecanoid pathway, as well as the six-carbon fatty acid derivatives called green leaf compounds, play major roles in regulating plant defenses against herbivores. So do also conjugates of linolenic acid with glutamine and glutamate, found in the regurgitant of several lepidopteran larvae, as well as in crickets and Drosophila larvae. In all these cases, the linolenic acid precursor of the regulating compound is produced by the plant on which the herbivore feeds. More recently elicitors of plant volatiles containing a 16-carbon fatty acid moiety with either a saturated chain or a double bond at carbon six in the chain have been isolated and identified from the spit of grasshoppers. The origin of the grasshopper elicitors is not yet known. Also not known is how broadly active the herbivore-produced elicitors are across a range of plant species. Further, the mechanisms by which the green leaf compounds and the elicitors induce defensive reactions in plants are not understood, although it appears that they affect the octadecanoid pathway in different ways.
Selection on sperm proteins depends on sperm competition in a pair of Lepidoptera

Recent theory posits that adaptive evolution of reproductive proteins should depend on rates of female remating. In particular, selection on reproductive proteins is proposed to be weak unless females remate frequently, in which case cryptic female choice and sperm competition impose stronger selection. Here, we test these predictions by explicitly examining the role of selection in the molecular evolution of sperm genes in Lepidoptera, the butterflies and moths. Males of this order produce both fertilizing eupyrene sperm and a secondary apyrene type that lacks DNA. Based on population genetic analyses in two species, the monandrous Carolina sphinx moth and the highly polyandrous monarch butterfly, we see evidence for increased selection in fertilizing sperm, but only in the polyandrous species. This signal comes primarily from a decrease in non-synonymous polymorphism in sperm proteins compared to the rest of the genome, indicative of strong purifying selection. Investigation of the distribution of fitness effects of new non-synonymous mutations in monarch sperm confirms stronger selection on sperm proteins in monarchs, with very few neutral variants and weakly deleterious variants and a preponderance of strongly deleterious variants. Additionally, sperm genes in the monarch show an elevation of beneficial variants compared to the rest of the genome, suggesting a role for increased positive selection. Our results suggest that sperm competition can be a powerful selective force at the sequence level as well.
SOME AIDS IN THE MATHEMATICS OF MILK CONTROL

Two new methods of determining logarithmic averages of standard plate counts are proposed, the first is based on the principle that the logarithmic average of four counts is equal to the fourth roo...
Assemblies of Peptides in a Complex Environment and their Applications.

Using peptide assemblies with emergent properties to achieve elaborate functions has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Besides tailoring the self-assembly of peptides in vitro, peptide research is advancing into a new and exciting frontier: the rational design of peptide assemblies (or their derivatives) for biological functions in a complex environment. This Minireview highlights recent developments in peptide assemblies and their applications in biological systems. After introducing the unique merits of peptide assemblies, we discuss the recent progress in designing peptides (or peptide derivatives) for self-assembly with conformational control. Then, we describe biological functions of peptide assemblies, with an emphasis on approach-instructed assembly for spatiotemporal control of peptide assemblies, in the cellular context. Finally, we discuss the future promises and challenges of this exciting area of chemistry.
Optimal Lymph Node Dissection in Esophageal Cancer

Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment protocols for both early stage and locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC). However, considerable controversy exists as to the best surgical approach to esophagectomy and to the extent of lymph node dissection (LND) necessary during the course of the operation. Some hold that the disease is systemic at the time of diagnosis and that extensive operative procedures and nodal dissection lead to increased operative morbidity and mortality without appreciable improvements in survival. The countervailing opinion is that an aggressive en bloc dissection with extensive LND eliminates locoregional disease and contributes to improved overall survival. This chapter describes the rationale for lymphadenectomy in esophageal cancer.
Pushing the thermal limits of Li-ion batteries

Abstract Conventional Li-ion batteries are severely limited in high temperature applications mainly due to the poor thermal stability of the separator membrane (shrinkage/shutdown) and electrolyte decomposition in the full-cell. We have demonstrated a high temperature Li-ion system capable of good rate performance from 20 to 120 °C, well beyond the typical 60 °C limit of traditional Li-ion batteries. We have developed a printable and highly flexible Al2O3-poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanoporous separator membrane (Pyrolux™) infiltrated with a carefully designed high boiling point lithium bis(oxoalato)borate-based (LiBOB) liquid electrolyte. This unique electrolyte/membrane combination can offer a substantial safety advantage over conventional polyolefin separators embedded with liquid electrolyte, such as reduced flammability and enhanced dimensional stability at high temperature. Li//LiFePO4 and Li//graphite half-cells were tested at 120 °C and achieved reversible capacities of 155 and 340 mA h/g, respectively, with Coulombic efficiencies (CEs) > 99.4%. To date, reports on high temperature Li-ion full-cells have been limited mainly due to a combination of poor thermal stability of the separator membrane, accelerated side reactions, and solid-electrolyte interphase reformation. By utilizing our membrane and electrolyte, LiFePO4//graphite full-cells were successfully demonstrated for the first time at 120 °C with excellent cyclability, representing a major step forward in the development of high temperature Li-ion batteries.
MiamiMapper: Crowd Analysis using Active and Passive Indoor Localization through Wi-Fi Probe Monitoring

Crowd analysis and monitoring in large congregations is an important problem related to public safety and planning. Researchers have long been using image and video for effective crowd analysis. However, with the advent of more sophisticated technologies, crowd monitoring has been attempted using GPS, RFID as well as Bluetooth based systems. Indoor crowd monitoring in public buildings, such as, airport, museum, theaters, etc. has not been widely studied with regards to systems that are not integrated with the indoor environment, such as Wi-Fi access points. In this paper, we propose a non-invasive Wi-Fi based approach for indoor crowd analysis which works by passively monitoring the probe packets generated by smartphones. Since smartphones, and other smart devices, nowadays can be unequivocally associated with a human user, counting unique MAC addresses of smartphones can generate a fairly close estimate of number of users in the indoor space and their movement patterns. In this paper, we have developed the MiamiMapper system, from COTS hardware and software, for crowd analysis in indoor environment using passive monitoring of probe packets emitted by wireless devices. Our system can localize users and thereby detect crowd movement using probe counts with an average accuracy of 7.28 meters.
Immune Clearance of Senescent Cells to Combat Ageing and Chronic Diseases.

Senescent cells are generally characterized by permanent cell cycle arrest, metabolic alteration and activation, and apoptotic resistance in multiple organs due to various stressors. Excessive accumulation of senescent cells in numerous tissues leads to multiple chronic diseases, tissue dysfunction, age-related diseases and organ ageing. Immune cells can remove senescent cells. Immunaging or impaired innate and adaptive immune responses by senescent cells result in persistent accumulation of various senescent cells. Although senolytics—drugs that selectively remove senescent cells by inducing their apoptosis—are recent hot topics and are making significant research progress, senescence immunotherapies using immune cell-mediated clearance of senescent cells are emerging and promising strategies to fight ageing and multiple chronic diseases. This short review provides an overview of the research progress to date concerning senescent cell-caused chronic diseases and tissue ageing, as well as the regulation of senescence by small-molecule drugs in clinical trials and different roles and regulation of immune cells in the elimination of senescent cells. Mounting evidence indicates that immunotherapy targeting senescent cells combats ageing and chronic diseases and subsequently extends the healthy lifespan.
Pressure vessel priming analysis for a regulated liquid propulsion system

Abstract An investigation was performed to determine the pressure transient levels and time required to reach pressure equilibrium in a regulated liquid propulsion system due to the priming of a propellant tank during system initiation. An experimental fluid flow test setup was designed and fabricated using a pressure vessel to house distilled water as a propellant simulant for liquid hydrazine and high-pressure gaseous nitrogen as the pressurant. A snubber orifice was installed downstream of the high-pressure gaseous nitrogen bottles to protect a regulator from high-pressure transients, prior to the regulation of incoming gas to beginning of life propulsion system propellant tank conditions. Experiments were conducted to measure pressure transients and time to pressure equilibrium by varying initial system pressures, snubber orifice diameter, and system ullage volume. A mathematical model was developed and compared against the experimental regulated system priming results to predict the system pressures and time to reach system pressure equilibrium during the pressurization period for regulated propulsion systems given initial conditions.
Comparison of anthropometric data quality in children aged 6-23 and 24-59 months: lessons from population-representative surveys from humanitarian settings

Ensuring the quality of anthropometry data is paramount for getting accurate estimates of malnutrition prevalence among children aged 6–59 months in humanitarian and refugee settings. Previous reports based on data from Demographic and Health Surveys suggested systematic differences in anthropometric data quality between the younger and older groups of preschool children. We analyzed 712 anthropometric population-representative field surveys from humanitarian and refugee settings conducted during 2011–2018. We examined and compared the quality of five anthropometric indicators in children aged 6–23 months and children aged 24–59 months: weight for height, weight for age, height for age, body mass index for age and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) for age. Using the z-score distribution of each indicator, we calculated the following parameters: standard deviation (SD), percentage of outliers, and measures of distribution normality. We also examined and compared the quality of height, weight, MUAC and age measurements using missing data and rounding criteria. Both SD and percentage of flags were significantly smaller on average in older than in younger age group for all five anthropometric indicators. Differences in SD between age groups did not change meaningfully depending on overall survey quality or on the quality of age ascertainment. Over 50% of surveys overall did not deviate significantly from normality. The percentage of non-normal surveys was higher in older than in the younger age groups. Digit preference score for weight, height and MUAC was slightly higher in younger age group, and for age slightly higher in the older age group. Children with reported exact date of birth (DOB) had much lower digit preference for age than those without exact DOB. SD, percentage flags and digit preference scores were positively correlated between the two age groups at the survey level, such as those surveys showing higher anthropometry data quality in younger age group also tended to show higher quality in older age group. There should be an emphasis on increased rigor of training survey measurers in taking anthropometric measurements in the youngest children. Standardization test, a mandatory component of the pre-survey measurer training and evaluation, of 10 children should include at least 4–5 children below 2 years of age.
A new particle for measuring mass transfer in turbulence

We present a method for creating a new type of model particle that allows us to measure the mass transfer rate from the particle surface to the surrounding water. We use hollow glass spheres and sugar to create neutrally buoyant particles in a variety of molded shapes. These particles are an alternative to traditional gypsum objects for measuring mass transfer, with the important characteristic of being neutrally buoyant. This is an inexpensive method that allows for custom particle shapes to be manufactured with different densities. We test the utility of these particles by measuring their dissolution rates in homogeneous, isotropic turbulence in our laboratory turbulence tank. Our measurements fit our proposed model, and give a faster dissolution rate for rod-shaped particles than for disc-shaped ones.
Advanced Meditation Alters Resting-State Brain Network Connectivity Correlating With Improved Mindfulness

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an intensive 8-day Samyama meditation program on the brain functional connectivity using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Methods: Thirteen Samyama program participants (meditators) and 4 controls underwent fMRI brain scans before and after the 8-day residential meditation program. Subjects underwent fMRI with a blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast at rest and during focused breathing. Changes in network connectivity before and after Samyama program were evaluated. In addition, validated psychological metrics were correlated with changes in functional connectivity. Results: Meditators showed significantly increased network connectivity between the salience network (SN) and default mode network (DMN) after the Samyama program (p < 0.01). Increased connectivity within the SN correlated with an improvement in self-reported mindfulness scores (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Samyama, an intensive silent meditation program, favorably increased the resting-state functional connectivity between the salience and default mode networks. During focused breath watching, meditators had lower intra-network connectivity in specific networks. Furthermore, increased intra-network connectivity correlated with improved self-reported mindfulness after Samyama.
Green Base Station Solutions and Technology

This paper examines green network technologies using cooperative coverage. Base station power consumption is the biggest power issue concerning wireless networks. Saving power in base stations is therefore the primary focus in green wireless network development. This paper considers green base station architecture and form, power saving technology, and green site applications, and explores effective ways of limiting power use in base stations.
Pilot Captured by the Japanese, 1942

They are holding his arms, bringing him off the plane, leading him away. The black blindfold covers his eyes. Their white gloves hook around the leather of his flying-jacket, lapels turned back, sheepskin lining exposed like an inner layer of the body. His arms dangle. His mouth is open in a half-smile, still hoping to be liked. The guards look down, lips curled. They are touching something they would rather not touch. They are ashamed to be seen with a man who has surrendered, a man who has let himself be taken alive.
Carbon values, reforestation, and `perverse' incentives under the Kyoto protocol: An empirical analysis

Economic incentives for sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in forests may be an effective way to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (KP). But concerns have been raised that the KP may create unintended incentives to excessively harvest existing forests if regenerated forests qualify for carbon (C) credits under the reforestation provision of Article 3.3. This paper combines an analytical model of the optimal forest rotation with both timber and C as priced outputs with data on timber and C growth and yield to different forest settings in the U.S. C prices of $50 per megagram (Mg) – the highest price evaluated– can considerably lengthen forest rotations (40 years or more), raise forest land values (as much as $1,900 per hectare), and sequester more C in the long run (up to 60 percent per acre), relative to the base case of no C compensation. However, if C payments are made for the regenerated stand only, in some situations, it is optimal to immediately harvest an otherwise premature stand at C prices as low as $20/Mg. The strength of perverse incentives to accelerate harvesting of existing forest varies by forest type, region, C price level, and institutional factors relevant to the compensation system. If C compensation were extended to existing stands, as may be possible under Article 3.4 of the KP, the perverse incentives for prematurely harvesting existing stands would not exist.
School and District-Level Characteristics Associated With Participation in the After-School Snack Component of the National School Lunch Program

Providing children with nutritious after-school snacks as part of an after-school enrichment program can promote healthy diets and improve food security of at-risk children. However, in 2010 only 27% of schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) also offered the after-school snack component of the program, making it available to only a minority of American schoolchildren. We investigate school and district-level characteristics associated with the likelihood of a school offering the program. Schools more likely to offer the program serve mainly low-income students and are located in urban, high-poverty districts. Elementary schools are the most likely to offer the program and high schools the least likely. Further investigation of the factors influencing availability of after-school snacks would assist child nutrition program staff, policymakers, and child nutrition advocates to assess needs and target efforts to encourage schools to offer NSLP snacks.
Market communication in production economies

We study the information content of equilibrium prices using the market communication model of Deng, Papadimitriou, and Safra [4]. We show that, in the worst case, communicating an exact equilibrium in a production economy requires a number of bits that is a quadratic polynomial in the number of goods, the number of agents, the number of firms, and the number of bits used to represent an endowment.
A Lyapunov based Adaptive Control of Nonlinear Microdynamics of a Ball Screw Driven Slide for Nanometer Positioning

A desire to improve the positioning accuracy of ball screws prompted an investigation into the dynamics of nanometer motion. Characterization of the ball screw indicated that nanometer motion is possible prior to friction breakaway via elastic deformation of the frictional contacts. The observed dynamics are nonlinear, and consequently result in inconsistent and unpredictable closed-loop response while under PI position control. A model reference adaptive control (MRAC) strategy is adopted and a Lyapunov design technique is applied to derive the adaptive laws. The digital signal processor (DSP) implementation of the scheme is discussed. Experimental results show the MRAC scheme results in a more predictable and consistent closed-loop response than the PI scheme.
Graph Laplacians and Least Squares on Graphs

There are several classes of operators on graphs to consider in deciding on a collection of building blocks for graph algorithms. One class involves traditional graph operations such as breadth first or depth first search, finding connected components, spanning trees, cliques and other sub graphs, operations for editing graphs and so on. Another class consists of linear algebra operators where the matrices somehow depend on a graph. It is the latter class of operators that this paper addresses. We describe a least squares formulation on graphs that arises naturally in problems of ranking, distributed clock synchronization, social choice, arbitrage detection, and many other applications. The resulting linear systems are analogous to Poisson's equations. We show experimental evidence that some iterative methods that work very well for continuous domains do not perform well on graphs whereas some such methods continue to work well. By studying graph problems that are analogous to discretizations of partial differential equations (PDEs) one can hope to isolate the specific computational obstacles that graph algorithms present due to absence of spatial locality. In contrast, such locality is inherent in PDE problems on continuous domains. There is also evidence that PDE based methods may suggest improvements suitable for implementation on graphs.
Caspase-8 acts as a molecular rheostat to limit RIPK1- and MyD88-mediated dendritic cell activation

Caspase-8, an executioner enzyme in the death receptor pathway, was shown to initiate apoptosis and suppress necroptosis. In this study, we identify a novel, cell death-independent role for caspase-8 in dendritic cells (DCs): DC-specific expression of caspase-8 prevents the onset of systemic autoimmunity. Failure to express caspase-8 has no effect on the lifespan of DCs but instead leads to an enhanced intrinsic activation and, subsequently, more mature and autoreactive lymphocytes. Uncontrolled TLR activation in a RIPK1-dependent manner is responsible for the enhanced functionality of caspase-8-deficient DCs, because deletion of the TLR-signaling mediator, MyD88, ameliorates systemic autoimmunity induced by caspase-8 deficiency. Taken together, these data demonstrate that caspase-8 functions in a cell type-specific manner and acts uniquely in DCs to maintain tolerance.
Evaporation from a Fragrance Emulsion

The evaporation paths and the variation in vapor pressure during evaporation of limonene from a two‐phase emulsion stabilized by a nonionic surfactant were calculated from published phase diagram and vapor pressures. The composition of the vapor was calculated from vapor pressures, and the evaporated vapor was assumed to be close to equilibrium composition. The calculations were made for relative humidities of 0 and 50%. The results showed the variation of the composition of the total emulsion as well as of its two phases as a function of the evaporation path. Furthermore, the weight of the total emulsion, of its two phases, and the remaining weights of water and limonene during evaporation were followed. Finally, the relation between the vapor pressure of limonene and the evaporation path was established. The change in the evaporation rate of water due to the modification of the relative humidity gave rise to a small, but significant, modification of the evaporation rate of the limonene. The influence is...
Stretch rotation and complete mobility identification of Watt six-bar chains

Mobility of linkages refers to the problems concerning branch, full rotatability, singularities, and order of motion. This paper uses the stretch and rotation of a four-bar loop to convert a Watt six-bar linkage to an equivalent simple Stephenson linkage. It shows the mobility of a Watt six-bar linkage is affected by a hidden five-bar chain. The equivalency offers a simple and clear visual explanation on the formation of branches and sub-branches and how Watt and Stephenson linkages differ in mobility. The resulting mobility algorithm requires no stretch rotation. The dead center positions in the second four-bar loop are the branch points. It reveals that although a Watt six-bar linkage may have only up to four-branches, a branch may have up to six sub-branches. The results offer a simple algorithm suitable for automated identification of branch, sub-branch, and full rotatability. The algorithm is valid for Watt linkages with or without prismatic joints and is independent of linkage inversions. Examples are presented for illustration.
Wave generation in the transport of particles from large solar flares

The growth rate of Alfven waves produced by energetic solar protons streaming outward from large solar flares is estimated. The mathematical development is directly analogous to that used to describe the self-containment of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. It is found that sufficient intensities of streaming protons can generate Alfven waves that reduce the scattering mean free path of the particles that produce the waves. This scattering impedes further flow of particles. The estimated growth rate of the waves depends linearly upon the particle intensity so that lower energy particles are much more strongly affected than high-energy particles for typical solar spectra.
Bilateral cerebral ptosis

We studied 13 patients with bilateral ptosis after acute right frontotemporoparietal lobe lesions. All patients had conjugate gaze deviation to the right. The ptosis persisted for about 5 days in five patients, or was still evident at the time of discharge or death. Other cranial nerve findings included lower facial weakness in five patients and both upper and lower facial weakness in eight patients. The transience of cerebral ptosis and conjugate gaze disturbance may imply ability of the intact hemisphere to assume control.
Determination of vaporization enthalpies of simple organic molecules by correlations of changes in gas chromatographic net retention times

A technique is described for determining vaporization enthalpies Δg1Hm(298 K) of organic compounds by high resolution gas chromatography. The technique correlates changes in net retention times of compounds whose Δg1Hm(298 K) are known with those of the compound(s) of interest. The best results are obtained when the reference compounds are structurally similar and in the same chemical family. Application to hydrocarbons and various hydrocarbon derivatives containing one functional group is documented in this report. Comparison with literature values of 102 compounds resulted in a standard deviation of 1.27 kJ mol−1. In most cases, the difference between the literature value and the value from our results is within the normal errors associated with vaporization enthalpy determinations. A linear correlation between the logarithms of experimental vapor pressure and reciprocal retention time was also observed for the compounds studied.
Radar back-scattering cross sections for nonspherical targets

Studies were made of the scattering of electromagnetic waves from nonspherical targets by making exact determination of the nose-on radar back-scattering cross sections of conducting prolate spheroids of various sizes and shapes. Curves are given for the back-scattered cross sections as a function of dimensionless size and shape parameters for prolate spheroids. The results are compared with the Rayleigh-Gans first order approximation and Stevenson's third-order approximation, and the range of applicability of these approximations is evaluated.
NMR analysis of male fathead minnow urinary metabolites: a potential approach for studying impacts of chemical exposures.

Abstract The potential for profiling metabolites in urine from male fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to assess chemical exposures was explored using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy was used for the assignment of metabolites in urine from unexposed fish. Because fathead minnow urine is dilute, we lyophilized these samples prior to analysis. Furthermore, 1D 1H NMR spectra of unlyophilized urine from unexposed male fathead minnow and Sprague-Dawley rat were acquired to qualitatively compare rat and fish metabolite profiles and to provide an estimate of the total urinary metabolite pool concentration difference. As a small proof-of-concept study, lyophilized urine samples from male fathead minnows exposed to three different concentrations of the antiandrogen vinclozolin were analyzed by 1D 1H NMR to assess exposure-induced changes. Through a combination of principal components analysis (PCA) and measurements of 1H NMR peak intensities, several metabolites were identified as changing with statistical significance in response to exposure. Among those changes occurring in response to exposure to the highest concentration (450 μg/L) of vinclozolin were large increases in taurine, lactate, acetate, and formate. These increases coincided with a marked decrease in hippurate, a combination potentially indicative of hepatotoxicity. The results of these investigations clearly demonstrate the potential utility of an NMR-based approach for assessing chemical exposures in male fathead minnow, using urine collected from individual fish.