cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Assessment of Stratigraphic Completeness in Climate-Sensitive Closed-Basin Lake Sediments: Salar de Atacama, Chile

ABSTRACT Dated subsurface cores, 40 m, 100 m, and 200 m in length, from the Salar de Atacama, Chile, record changes in climate and tectonics over the past 325 ka. These cores were used to assess completeness of the stratigraphic record and how that record was influenced by faulting and climate change. The same basic facies, efflorescent halite crust and cement (subaerial halite), and chevron halite (saline lake) occur in each core. The dominant facies is efflorescent halite formed in a subaerial environment like that in the Atacama basin today. Thick, well-preserved efflorescent crusts in the Salar de Atacama cores illustrate that major sediment aggradation occurred in subaerial environments by growth of efflorescent halite from evaporation of groundwater brines. Similar pedogenically formed evaporites may be pre served in the geologic record. The N-S trending Salar Fault System has downdropped the eastern block of the Salar de Atacama (core 2002) relative to the western block (cores 2005 and 2031). Relative faulting rates over the past 60 ka were determined from stratigraphic offset and uranium-series ages from core 2005. Major faulting along the Salar Fault System occurred between 16.5 and 5.4 ka, with offset of 26.5 m and faulting rates of 2.4 m/kyr. Aggradation of efflorescent halite crusts on the downdropped eastern block served to smooth out topographic variations created by faulting. Although stratigraphic units in core 2002 shifted down > 30 m over the past 60 ka, the thickness and sedimentary features are similar for all but one equivalent stratigraphic unit in all three cores. Faulting along the Salar Fault System, despite significant offset, did not alter the basic stratigraphic record. Temporal completeness of the stratigraphic record, within the limits of the age dates and their errors of greater than ± 3 ka, was examined qualitatively by comparing long-term sedimentation rates (0.6-0.9 m/kyr) and shorter-term sedimentation rates (0.3-3.6 m/kyr). The similarity of sedimentation rates on the 10 kyr scale and the longer 100 to 300 kyr scale suggests temporal completeness of Salar de Atacama sediments, at least at the 10 kyr scale. Although hiatuses, long periods of subaerial exposure, and dissolution of evaporites may have occurred, the main climate fluctuations at Salar de Atacama over the last 100 ka are recorded in all three subsurface cores. Paleoclimate records obtained from such cores are therefore representative of basin-wide climate change and are valid for regional paleoclimate reconstructions.
Thickness design method for bituminous-stabilized aggregate-surfaced roads

Many low-volume roadways in the county road system in Minnesota consist of unpaved aggregate surfaces. It is the responsibility of the county engineer to make determinations regarding the design and maintenance of such roads, as well as determinations regarding specific criteria such as weight restrictions. One method used by several counties in Minnesota is to construct a bituminous-stabilized layer by adding several inches of new aggregate and stabilizing it with an engineered, water-based asphalt emulsion through mix-in-place methods. There is a need, however, for a design method to provide highway engineers and their staffs with technical backing for the designs selected. This paper describes the results of an ongoing research project to develop a design method for determining the required thickness of stabilized and unstabilized layers in this type of aggregate-surfaced road. The basic design method is based on the material properties and a correlation between layered elastic analysis, dynamic cone p...
No pain and gain!-experiences withMentat on a biological application

Throughout much of the parallel processing community there is the sense that writing software for distributed memory parallel processors is subject to a 'no pain-no gain' rule: that in order to reap the benefits of parallel computation one must first suffer the pain of converting the application to run on a parallel machine. The authors believe this is the result of inadequate programming tools and not a problem inherent to parallel processing. They show that one can parallelize real scientific applications and obtain good performance with little effort if the right tools are used. Their vehicle for this demonstration is a six-thousand line DNA and protein sequence comparison application that they have implemented in Mentat, an object-oriented parallel processing system for both parallel and distributed architectures. They briefly describe the application and present performance information for both the Mentat version and a hand-coded parallel version of the application. >
The Legacies of the Ballets Russes

Abstract This essay traces the multiple legacies of the Ballets Russes during the 100 years following the company’s first performances in 1909. Dividing the intervening century into four periods (“The Lifetime of the Ballets Russes,” “1930-1954,” “1954-1987: Glamor and Revival,” and “1987 to the Present: Historicity and the End of the Cold War”), it analyzes the dispersal, migration, transformation, and assimilation of its repertory, choreographic methodologies, cultural narratives, aesthetics, and historiography.
Microdosimetric concepts in radioimmunotherapy.

In microdosimetry particular emphasis is placed on the stochastic fluctuation of dose in small target volumes such as individual cell nuclei or chromatin fiber, and their relevance to radiobiologic toxicity. Thus microdosimetry is intimately associated with models of radiation action. There are three principal areas where microdosimetry has been applied: (1) radiation protection, (2) high LET radiotherapy, e.g., neutron therapy, and (3) incorporated radionuclides, and in this latter category the importance of microdosimetry to the radiobiology of radiolabeled antibodies is becoming increasingly recognized. The objective of microsdosimetry is the complete characterization of energy deposition within all target volumes throughout the tissue of interest. The importance and relevance of this pursuit will depend upon the properties of the radionuclide emissions and the spatial distribution of the radionuclide relative to the target volumes. If the distribution of internal emitters within both malignant and normal tissue is uniform, the application of microdosimetry to radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is limited to α‐emitters and Auger emitters. Under such circumstances the traditional MIRD formalism for the evaluation of tumor and tissuedoses from the commonly used β‐emitters is entirely adequate. This, however, is rarely the case. When the distribution of radiolabeled antibody is nonuniform, techniques of dose averaging over volumes greater in size than the individual target volumes can become inadequate predictors of the biological effect. The concepts, methods, and realm of applicability of microdosimetry within the field of radioimmunotherapy are emphasized in this paper.
Array shape estimation tracking using active sonar reverberation

This paper concerns the problem of array shape estimation and tracking for towed active sonar arrays, using received reverberation returns from a single transmitted CW pulse. Uniform linear arrays (ULAs) deviate from their nominal geometry while being towed due to ship maneuvers as well as ocean currents. In such scenarios, conventional beamforming performed under the assumption of a ULA can sometimes lead to unacceptably high spatial sidelobes. The reverberation leaking through the sidelobes can potentially mask weak targets in Doppler, especially when the target Doppler is close to that of the mainlobe reverberation and the reverberation-to-target ratio (RTR) is very high. Although heading sensors located along the array can be used to provide shape estimates, they may not be sufficiently available or accurate to provide the required sidelobe levels. We propose an array shape calibration algorithm using multipath reverberation returns from each ping as a distributed source of opportunity. More specifically, a maximum likelihood (ML) array shape calibration algorithm is developed, which exploits a deterministic relationship between the reverberation spatial and Doppler frequencies causing it to be low rank in the space-time vector space formed across a single coherent processing interval (CPI). In this application, a sequence of overlapped CPI length snapshots of duration less than the CW pulse is used. The ML estimates obtained for each snapshot are tracked using a Kalman filter with a state equation corresponding to the water pulley model for array dynamics. Simulations performed using real heading sensor data in conjunction with simulated reverberation suggest that 8-10 dB improvement in sidelobe level may be possible using the proposed array shape tracking algorithm versus an algorithm that uses only the available heading information.
Secretion of flagellar proteins by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion-injectisome system

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizes an injectisome-type III secretion system (injectisome-T3SS) to elicit cytotoxicity toward epithelial cells and macrophages. Macrophage killing results from the cytotoxic properties of the translocated effector proteins (ExoS, ExoT, ExoU, and ExoY) and inflammasome-mediated induction of pyroptosis. Inflammasome activation can occur following Nlrc4-mediated recognition of cytosolic translocated flagellin (FliC). In the present study, we demonstrate that FliC is a secretion substrate of both the injectisome- and flagellum-associated T3SSs. Molecular analyses indicate that the first 20 amino-terminal residues of FliC are sufficient for secretion by the injectisome-T3SS and that the first 100 residues are sufficient for translocation of FliC into host cells. Although maximal inflammasome activation requires FliC, activation can also occur in the absence of FliC. This prompted us to examine whether other flagellar components might also be translocated into cells to elicit inflammasome activation. Indeed, we find that the flagellar cap (FliD), hook-associated (FlgK and FlgL), hook (FlgE), and rod (FlgE) proteins are secretion substrates of the injectisome-T3SS. None of these proteins, however, result in increased inflammasome activation when they are overexpressed in a fliC mutant and appear to be translocated into host cells. While a role in inflammasome activation has been excluded, these data raise the possibility that flagellar components, which are highly conserved between different bacterial species, trigger other specific host responses from the extracellular milieu or contribute to the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE The inflammasome is a host defense mechanism that recognizes invading bacteria and triggers an inflammatory immune response. The opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa produces both inflammasome agonists and antagonists. In this study, we demonstrate that overexpression of an agonist suppresses the activity of an antagonist, thereby resulting in inflammasome activation. Since the relative expression levels of agonists and antagonists likely vary between strains, these differences could be important predictors of whether a particular P. aeruginosa strain elicits inflammasome activation.
Changes in methadone treatment practices: results from a panel study, 1988-1995.

Results from several studies conducted in the late 1980s and early 1990s showed that the majority of the nation's methadone treatment units did not use effective treatment practices. Since then, however, many efforts have been made to improve critical treatment practices. This paper examines the extent to which key methadone treatment practices (dose levels, treatment duration, client influence in dose decisions) changed from 1988 to 1995 in a panel sample of methadone maintenance units. We also examine factors that may account for variation in methadone treatment practices. We use panel data from a national random sample of 172 units in 1988 (82% response rate), 140 units in 1990 (87% response rate), and 116 units in 1995 (89% response rate). Unit directors and clinical supervisors provided phone survey data on clients influence on doses, upper limits on doses, average dose levels, unit emphasis on decreasing doses, time when clients are encouraged to detoxify, and average length of treatment. Results fr...
Mechanisms subserving temporal modulation sensitivity in silent-cone substitution

Temporal contrast sensitivity data were collected with sine-wave-modulated lights for achromatic, chromatic, and silent-cone-substitution stimuli. Achromatic (556- and 642-nm lights in phase) and chromatic (556- and 642-nm lights in counterphase) modulation sensitivities were measured at a constant time-average retinal illuminance of 1256 trolands (Td) and chromaticity of 595 nm. These data were considered to represent isolated temporal responses of luminance and red–green chromatic channels, respectively. Silent cone substitution was achieved with counterphase modulation of the 556- and the 642-nm lights and by suitable adjustment of the modulations or the radiances of the two lights. (1) The peak modulation depth of the 642-nm light was reduced to silence the long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) cone, and the peak modulation depth of the 556-nm light was reduced to silence the middle-wavelength-sensitive (MWS) cone. These protocols maintained the time-average retinal illuminance and chromaticity as for the control conditions. (2) The luminance of the 642-nm light was decreased to silence the LWS cone and was increased to silence the MWS cone. In this procedure the time-average retinal illuminance and chromaticity differ for the silenced-LWS-cone (1047 Td and 589.5 nm) and the silenced-MWS-cone (4358 Td and 622 nm) conditions. The response modulation of the achromatic and the chromatic channels was calculated for the silent-substitution conditions. The chromatic channel is more sensitive at low frequencies, with a transition to greater achromatic channel sensitivity near 13 Hz for the silenced-LWS-cone condition and near 6 Hz for the silenced-MWS-cone condition. Thus the postreceptoral channels postulated to mediate sensitivity under silent-substitution conditions change with temporal frequency, and the transition frequency from chromatic to luminance processing differs between the two silenced-cone conditions.
Avian genetic ecotoxicology: DNA of the canary in a coalmine

Genotoxic chemicals, through damage and alteration of the genetic material of wild organisms, pose significant threats to the persistence of wild animal populations. Their damaging effects can ultimately impair the health of the ecosystem and its provision of services to human society. Bird species are good candidates for the role of sentinels of the effects of genotox- ins, thanks to (i) the diversity of their ecological niches, (ii) their ubiquity across environments, (iii) their conspicuousness, abun- dance and approachability, together with (iv) their well-known life histories and the availability of historical data series. Avian diversity increases the likelihood that adequate model species be available for monitoring genotoxicants and assessing their im- pact. This paper reviews the methods utilized by genetic ecotoxicological studies of wild birds, highlighting their benefits and shortcomings. It also summarizes the genetic ecotoxicological studies so far conducted. In spite of a paucity of studies, several classes of genotoxicants have already been investigated across a variety of species and environments, thus supporting the versa- tility of birds as monitors of genotoxic contamination. Future technical advancements and applications are suggested, with par- ticular reference to the analysis of mutational events, gene expression and methylation patterns. Finally, I argue that the develop- ment of avian genetic ecotoxicology will contribute to the understanding of natural variation in the underlying machinery for coping with DNA damage and oxidative stress, both of which are increasingly recognized as proximate factors in the evolution of life history adaptations (Current Zoology 60 (2): 285-298, 2014).
Optical meta-atoms: Going nonlinear

Nonlinear optics investigates the light-matter interactions in media, in which the dielectric polarization of the medium responds nonlinearly to the electric and/or magnetic field of the light. Materials with the potential for a large, fast, and broadband nonlinear response have been explored for decades; if realized, these would revolutionize nonlinear optics, leading to low-power, compact, and ultrafast applications. However, the materials now available are limited, either by relatively low nonlinear susceptibilities for ultrafast nonlinear processes or by slow response times attributable to photorefractive effect and thermal nonlinear phenomena. Moreover, growing demand for integration of multiple optoelectronic functionalities on a chip calls for nonlinear materials that are compatible with standard fabrication approaches, such as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology. Metamaterials have been predicted to enable a plethora of novel light-matter interactions, including magnetic nonlinear response, backward phase-matching, and the nonlinear mirror ( 1 – 3 ). Linear optical properties such as dielectric permittivity, magnetic permeability, and refractive index can be designed to be positive, negative, or even zero by properly tailoring various properties of meta-atoms (the unit cells of metamaterials). Engineering nonlinear properties of metamaterials beyond those available in nature may be feasible by judiciously designing their quantum, geometric, and topological properties ( 4 ).
Connections Between Bernoulli Strings and Random Permutations

A sequence of random variables, each taking only two values “0” or “1,” is called a Bernoulli sequence. Consider the counts of occurrences of strings of the form {11}, {101}, {1001}, … in Bernoulli sequences. Counts of such Bernoulli strings arise in the study of the cycle structure of random permutations, Bayesian nonparametrics, record values etc. The joint distribution of such counts is a problem worked on by several researchers. In this paper, we summarize the recent technique of using conditional marked Poisson processes which allows to treat all cases studied previously. We also give some related open problems.
Crystallization: Teacher Researchers Making Room for Creative Leaps in Data Analysis

In this article, the author shares new approaches to data collection and analysis which encourage using "crystallization": an intriguing new method that has emerged in recent years as a kind of three-dimensional data analysis strategy that welcomes the new lens that artistic thinking can bring to conducting and writing research. Examples from teacher-researchers include ways to use storytelling, art, self-reflection, children’s books, metaphor, and imagination to expand the field of data collection and analysis.
American Archival Literature: Expanding Horizons and Continuing Needs, 1901-1987

The literature of a profession—or the quality of its theory, research on that theory, and the dissemination of that research—is one indication of a profession's health and vitality. Fortunately, American archival literature has shown steady and considerable improvement over the years, but archivists still must grapple with some serious problems challenging their literature; more importantly, the archival profession's future partly depends on the resolution of problems such as those that affect its literature. This essay reviews the history of archival writing in the United States, analyzes the development of this literature, evaluates obstacles to archival research and publication, and recommends actions for the improvement of the literature.
Long-term bisphosphonate usage and subtrochanteric insufficiency fractures: A cause for concern?

For over a decade, bisphosphonate administration has evolved and become the cornerstone of the prevention and treatment of fragility fractures. Millions of post-menopausal women have relied on, and continue to depend on, the long-acting, bone density-maintaining pharmaceutical drug to prevent low-energy fractures. In return, we have seen the number of fragility fractures decrease, along with associated costs and emotional benefits. However, with any drug, there are often concerns with side effects and complications, and this unique drug class is seeing one such complication in atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture, counterproductive to that which it was designed to prevent. This has created concern over long-term bisphosphonate administration and its potential link to these atypical fractures. There is controversial evidence surrounding such a definitive link, and no protocol for managing these fractures. This review offers the latest information regarding this rare but increasingly controversial adve...
Photo-induced force for spectroscopic imaging at the nanoscale

Photo-induced force microscopy (PiFM) is a new scan probe method that enables imaging with spectroscopic contrast at the nanoscale. The operating principle of PiFM is based on the coupling between a sharp atomic tip and a polarizable object, as mediated by the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the tip-sample junction. In this contribution, we develop a description of the photo-induced force in the limit where the tip and object can be approximated as dipoles. This description provides an insightful picture of the forces at play in the tip-sample junction in terms of the gradient and scattering forces. We consider various approximations that are relevant to experimental conditions. The theoretical approach described here successfully explains the previous spectroscopic PiFM measurements in the visible and in the near-IR range, and the anticipated spectral information that can be retrieved under mid infrared illumination.
The Authentic Artistic Process: Implications to Deterring Aggression, Bullying, and Violence in Adolescents

Emergent concerns about aggression in our schools that manifest themselves in tragic news-breaking episodes of bullying and violence often result in art educators being called upon to have students...
Abstract B75: Aspirin use, body mass index, physical activity, plasma C-peptide, and colon cancer risk in U.S. health professionals

Background: Aspirin use, especially at high dosage and long duration, decreases colon cancer risk but widespread aspirin use for preventing colon cancer is not recommended for individuals at average risk of colon cancer due to its associated side effects. However, particular subgroups at higher risk of colon cancer may benefit more from aspirin use. Limited epidemiological studies have investigated the aspirin-colon cancer association within these subgroups to date. Objective: We investigated prospectively whether the aspirin-colon cancer association was stronger among three groups at increased risk of colon cancer: obese participants; physically inactive participants; or participants with higher levels of plasma C-peptide. We examined the aspirin association by these risk factors because they may affect colon cancer risk via similar underlying pathways. Design: We evaluated the aspirin-colon cancer association according to body mass index (BMI) and physical activity in 1,701 incident colon cancer cases diagnosed during follow-up of 139,350 participants for up to 26 years in 2 prospective cohort studies. We estimated multivariable study-specific relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a Cox proportional hazards model and pooled the results using a random effects model. We used a logistic regression model to analyze whether plasma C-peptide level modified the aspirin-colon cancer association using a nested case-control design (n=384 cases, 749 controls). We tested for multiplicative interactions by including a cross-product term for aspirin use and the potential effect modifier to evaluate whether the relative benefit of aspirin use on colon cancer risk was the same across lower and higher risk groups. We conducted additive interaction analyses by calculating the synergy index to evaluate whether the absolute reduction in colon cancer risk differed across lower and higher risk subgroups. Results: Regular aspirin use was significantly associated with a 28% (95% CI: 20%-35%) lower risk of colon cancer compared to non-regular use. A dose-response relation was observed for both higher dosage and longer duration of use (tests for trend, P-value Conclusions: Reductions in colon cancer risk associated with aspirin use were not significantly modified by BMI, physical activity or plasma C-peptide level in this study. More studies are warranted to confirm these findings and to continue identifying subgroups of individuals who may benefit more from aspirin use. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):B75.
Non-Local Lateral Spin-Valve Devices Fabricated With a Versatile Top-Down Fabrication Process

We report a method that uses top-down techniques for fabrication of non-local lateral spin-valve devices. Using this process, we demonstrate the fabrication of non-local lateral spin valves with Cu channels and Co nanopillar structures down to 75 nm × 100 nm. This will provide an appealing, cost-effective approach for industrial applications and allow for high control over material interface properties and device design. The nanopillar structures are essential to the scalability of devices, which is required for magnetic read head and logic applications to be competitive with current technologies.
How to Avoid Cast Saw Complications.

Background:As casts are routinely used in pediatric orthopaedics, casts saws are commonly used to remove such casts. Despite being a viewed as the “conservative” and therefore often assumed safest treatment modality, complications associated with the use of casts and cast saws occur.Methods:In this
Quality evaluation on network report of infectious disease in Hongkou District of Shanghai,2006-2009

[Objective] To evaluate the quality status of notifiable disease network report in Hongkou District and provide evidence for improvement and perfection of network report on infectious disease. [Methods] By means of descriptive epidemiology,quality assessment indicators were analyzed of the online reported cases educed from the national disease surveillance systems. [Results] The network report time rate and the verification time rate for notifiable infectious disease in 2006-2009 have been improved every year in Hongkou District of Shanghai.In 2009,the report time rate reached 99.94% and verification time rate 100.00%.And the report and verification time was remarkably shorter than those in 2006.But the integrity indicators for online reported cases were lower. [Conclusion] Obvious achievement were obtained on infectious disease network report from 2006 to 2009,but there are still problems with network report quality.Further improvement on the administration of network report is needed.
The significance of splenomegaly in 101 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at presentation and during remission

One-hundred-one adult patients with ALL were analyzed to determine the prognostic implications of splenomegaly occurring at any time during the course of their illness. The clinical status of the spleen at presentation was not found to be of major prognostic significance. Complete response rates, remission durations, and survivals did not differ between patients with and without splenomegaly at presentation. An enlarged spleen accompanied relapse in four patients. In six additional patients, splenomegaly was present during complete remission, and splenectomies performed in five of these patients revealed no evidence of leukemia to account for the splenomegaly. Splenectomy does not appear to be detrimental, as all five patients are currently in complete remission from 20 to 63 mo after splenectomy. Evidence implicating the spleen as a source of an antibody directed against autologous leukemia cells in one patient is reviewed.
Etorphine in man. II. Detectability in urine by common screening methods

A single highly euphorogenic dose of etorphine, 100 mug, was administered subcutaneously to 7 nontolerant subjects, and all urine samples were collected for 1 day prior to and 3 days following drug administration. Samples were analyzed for the presence of opiates by radioimmunoassay (Abuscreen) and homogeneous enzyme immunoassay (EMIT), with cutoffs for "ositives" of 40 and 500 ng/ml, respectively. Samples were analyzed for etorphine by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with iodoplatinate preceded by XAD-2 resin extraction (sensitivity = 0.2 mug etorphine/ml of urine) and by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) preceded by organic solvent extraction and trimethylsilyl derivatization (sensitivity = 0.1 mug etorphine/ml of urine). The last pre-drug and first two post-drug samples were also analyzed after acid hydrolysis by TLC and after glucuronidase hydrolysis by TLC and GLC. No sample gave a "positive" opiate result in either immunoassay, and no etorphine was detected in the TLC and GLC analyses of any urine sample. Thus, it is unlikely that the abuse of etorphine could be diagnosed by urinalysis using the common screening methods of radioimmunoassay, EMIT, TLC preceded by XAD-2 resin extraction, or GLC preceded by organic solvent extraction and trimethylsilyl derivatization.
Teaching and Learning Medication Calculations: A Grounded Theory of Conceptual Understanding.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify the process of nursing students' attainment of conceptual understanding when learning medication dosage calculations. DESIGN This study utilized a grounded theory research design with a blended theoretical framework of constructivism and symbolic interaction. RESULTS A process of conceptual understanding began with the teaching and learning experiences in the classroom and progressed to students' reengagement with the course content outside of the classroom. Confusion was the core category of the process. Students who were able to work through the confusion and solve problems were able to attain conceptual understanding and progress to more complex problem solving. CONCLUSIONS Nurse educators need to identify teaching and learning strategies that promote conceptual understanding. Helping students to get beyond memorization and move to understanding of medication calculations can help students' critical thinking and problem solving ability and lead to conceptual understanding.
Use of an Antigravity Treadmill for Rehabilitation After Total Knee Replacement

Introduction: Rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an essential component of treatment. Various protocols and methodologies have evolved to enhance the effect of rehabilitation in the postoperative period. We prospectively evaluated the effect of using an antigravity treadmill as an alternative to routine postoperative physical therapy. Methods: Twenty-nine patients undergoing unilateral primary TKA were randomized to either gait training (standard outpatient physical therapy) or to the use of an AlterG® antigravity device for gait training for 2 days/week for 4 weeks for a total of 8 therapy sessions. Average age was 68 and 55% were female. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were collected at baseline (first therapy session), at final therapy session and at 3 months postoperatively. The numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain was measured at baseline and at end of therapy. Adverse events and complications were recorded. Results: All patients completed standard therapy and antigravity treadmill protocol without adverse events. KOOS, TUG and NRS scores improved in both groups but no statistically significant difference was apparent between groups. Overall, the greatest improvement was seen in the Sports/Recreation and Quality of Life subscales of the KOOS; scores improved from 23 and 32 to 67 and 69 at 3 months, respectively. TUG scores improved from 14 seconds to 7 seconds at 3 months. Pain, as measured on the NRS, improved from 2.8 to 1.1. Subjectively, therapists reported 100% satisfaction with the antigravity treadmill for use in postoperative TKA rehabilitation. Conclusion: This initial study demonstrated that an antigravity treadmill device was safe and effective for outpatient postoperative TKA rehabilitation. Further studies are warranted to better define the role of this device as an alternative or adjunct to currently established TKA rehabilitation protocols.
Krümmung und Polyeder

Die Krummung einer glatten, ebenen Kurve ist durch die Rate gegeben, mit der sich die Tangente dreht, wahrend man sich entlang der Kurve mit gleichformiger Geschwindigkeit bewegt. Wie definiert man die Krummung eines Polygonzuges?
Attitudes Toward Prohibiting Tobacco Sales in Pharmacy Stores Among U.S. Adults

Introduction Pharmacy stores are positioned to cultivate health and wellness among patrons. This study assessed attitudes toward prohibiting tobacco product sales in pharmacy stores among U.S. adults. Methods Data from the 2014 Summer Styles, an Internet survey of U.S. adults aged ≥18 years ( n =4,269), were analyzed in 2015. Respondents were asked: Do you favor or oppose banning the sale of all tobacco products in retail pharmacy stores? Responses were: strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, and strongly oppose. Prevalence ratios were calculated using multivariate Poisson regression to determine sociodemographic correlates of favorability (strongly or somewhat) . Results Among all adults, 66.1% "strongly" or "somewhat" favored prohibiting tobacco product sales in pharmacy stores. Favorability was 46.5% among current cigarette smokers, 66.3% among former smokers, and 71.8% among never smokers. Favorability was 47.8% among current non-cigarette tobacco users, 63.2% among former users, and 71.4% among never users. Following adjustment, favorability was more likely among women compared with men ( p p Conclusions Most U.S. adults favor prohibiting tobacco sales in retail pharmacy stores. Eliminating tobacco product sales in these settings may reinforce pharmacy stores' efforts to promote wellness, and further cultivate social climates that reduce the desirability, acceptability, and accessibility of tobacco.
An evaluation of the effectiveness of FreshCase technology to extend the storage life of whole-muscle pork and ground pork sausage

The objective of this study was to identify the maximum time of refrigerated storage before aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria grew to a level indicative of spoilage (7 log cfu/g) or other indicators of spoilage were observed for whole-muscle pork and ground pork sausage packaged using FreshCase technology. Pork chops and pork sausage were packaged using conventional vacuum packaging without nitrite in film (Control) or using FreshCase technology and were compared with respect to microbial counts, pH, instrumental color measurements, lipid oxidation level, and sensory properties. The storage life was 45 d for pork chops stored in FreshCase packages at 1°C and 19 d for ground pork sausage stored under the same condition. Results indicated that both pork chops and sausage stored in FreshCase packages retained redder color ( 0.05) existed between Control and FreshCase packaged samples for any off-odor detection for either pork chops or sausage. Moreover, levels of oxidative rancidity in all packages had low thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values. The results indicated that FreshCase technology can be used to extend storage life of pork products without having adverse effects on pork quality.
Extended vs. limited laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection for prostate cancer: The value of Partin tables in selection of the need for and the extent of dissection

4654 Background: To determine if pelvic lymph node dissection (LND) can be omitted in prostate cancer patients at low risk of nodal metastases according to the Partin tables and to determine the yield on extended vs limited LND in patients at high risk to better define the appropriate template of dissection. Methods: A total of 577 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). In the first 363 patients, a cutoff of 1% on the Partin tables’ predicted probability of lymph node invasion (PPLNI) was used to select patients for a limited LND (external iliac nodes only). In the subsequent 214 patients, all patients underwent an extended LND (external iliac, obturator and hypogastric nodes). Patients were classified into 4 groups: Group I, 186 patients with a PPLNI ≤1%, did not undergo a LND; Group II, 110 patients with PPLNI ≤ 1%, underwent an extended LND; Group III, 177 patients with PPLNI >1% underwent a limited LND and Group IV, 104 patients with PP...
High temperature thermoelectric properties of BaxYbyFe3CoSb12 p-type skutterudites

Double-filled high Fe content skutterudites, BaxYbyFe3CoSb12 (x + y = 1), were synthesized to investigate their high temperature transport properties. Both their phase and stoichiometry were characterized by powder x-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The Seebeck coefficient, S, and electrical resistivity, ρ, increase with increasing temperature for all specimens over the entire measured temperature range. The thermal conductivity for the two low Ba content specimens decreases with increasing temperature up to 550 K at which point it increases with temperature due to bipolar diffusion. Bipolar diffusion becomes negligible with increasing Ba content. Due to this low bipolar diffusion, the ZT values of the higher Ba content specimens increase linearly with temperature, with the highest ZT value obtained for Ba0.9Yb0.1Fe3CoSb12.
155 Disease burden and healthcare resource utilisation among cutaneous lupus erythematosus patients with depression and/or anxiety; quantifying the unmet need

Background and aims Activity, with erythema and scale of skin, and damage accrual over time, including extensive scarring, dyspigmentation, and alopecia, is often devastating for CLE patients. Recent studies indicate that DLE patients are at increased risk of developing depression, which has been correlated with worsening disease activity, with an estimated over 35% of patients not receiving any care for their mental condition. Study objectives were to better understand unmet need among patients diagnosed with CLE, and to quantify the psychological and mental health implication of patients diagnosed with CLE. Methods Administrative health insurance claims data from 1/2010-9/2015 were analysed to identify CLE patients, defined as having at least two claims with associated ICD-9-CM as 695.4 that dated 30+ days apart in a one-year period. Patients were followed from the first CLE claim for a minimum of 1 year until disenrollment. Prevalence of depression and anxiety and use of antidepressants and anxiolytics were assessed. Results 20 794 commercially-insured and 3426 Medicare beneficiaries with CLE were identified (Table 1). Of the commercially-insured, 32.0% were diagnosed with either depression (21.7%) or anxiety (21.3%), and 40.1% filled prescriptions for antidepressants (32.2%) or anxiolytics (24.6%). Findings for Medicare CLE patients were similar (Table 2). Conclusions The clinical burden, along with the psychosocial implications of CLE, pose a large burden on the healthcare system and individual patients. Given the lack of efficacious treatments for active CLE and the high impact of this disease as observed in this current analysis, there is currently a large unmet need for new targeted therapies.
Incorporation of lipolysis in monolayer permeability studies of lipid-based oral drug delivery systems

Lipid-based drug delivery systems, a well-tolerated class of formulations, have been evaluated extensively to enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. However, it has been difficult to predict the in vivo performance of lipid dosage forms based on conventional in vitro techniques such as cell monolayer permeability studies because of the complexity of the gastrointestinal processing of lipid formulations. In the current study, we explored the feasibility of coupling Caco-2 and Madin-Darby canine kidney monolayer permeability studies with lipolysis, a promising in vitro technique to evaluate lipid systems. A self-emulsifying lipid delivery system was formulated using a blend of oil (castor oil), surfactant (Labrasol® or PL497), and co-surfactant (lecithin). Formulations demonstrating high drug solubility and rapid self-emulsification were selected to study the effect of lipolysis on in vitro cell permeability. Lipolysis of the formulations was carried out using pancreatin as the digestive enzyme. All the digested formulations compromised monolayer integrity as indicated by lowered trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and enhanced Lucifer yellow (LY) permeability. Further, the changes in TEER value and LY permeability were attributable to the digestion products of the formulation rather than the individual lipid excipients, drug, digestion enzyme, or the digestion buffer. The digested formulations were fractionated into pellet, oily phase, and aqueous phase, and the effect of each of these on cell viability was examined. Interestingly, the aqueous phase, which is considered important for in vivo drug absorption, was responsible for cytotoxicity. Because lipid digestion products lead to disruption of cell monolayer, it may not be appropriate to combine lipolysis with cell monolayer permeability studies. Additional in vivo studies are needed to determine any potential side effects of the lipolysis products on the intestinal permeability barrier, which could determine the suitability of lipid-based systems for oral drug delivery.
School turnaround in North Carolina: A regression discontinuity analysis

Abstract This paper examines the effect of a federally supported school turnaround program in North Carolina elementary and middle schools. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that the turnaround program did not improve, and may have reduced, average school-level passing rates in math and reading. One potential contributor to that finding appears to be that the program increased the concentration of low-income students in treated schools. Based on teacher survey data, we find that, as was intended, treated schools brought in new principals and increased the time teachers devoted to professional development. At the same time, the program increased administrative burdens and distracted teachers, potentially reducing time available for instruction, and increased teacher turnover after the first full year of implementation. Overall, we find little evidence of success for North Carolina's efforts to turn around low-performing schools under its Race to the Top grant.
Radiofrequency Ablation of Pericranial Nerves for Treating Headache Conditions: A Promising Option for Patients

Background: Chronic daily headache, including chronic migraine, can be challenging to treat. Medications often only provide limited improvement, and surgical interventions can be associated with significant adverse effects. We present our experience with using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for pericranial nerves to treat chronic headache conditions. Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients who received RFA for pericranial nerves to treat chronic daily headache conditions from January 1, 2015 to June 1, 2016. Outcomes were pain scores as measured on the visual analog scale (with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable) and the patient-reported percent improvement in headache conditions, including pain scores, severity, duration, frequency, and associated symptoms. Results: Of the 57 patients who received 72 RFAs for pericranial nerves to treat headache or pericranial neuralgia, 90.3% of patients had improvement in their headache condition after receiving RFA. In a...
A high-order SAR model for multiple transmitters in portable devices

In order to estimate the electromagnetic exposure under multi-antenna transmitters installed in portable devices, a low-order specific absorption rate (SAR) model is generalized to higher orders based on the Fourier series expansion for fast and accurate evaluation and prediction of SAR values as a function of phase differences among multiple transmitters. Numerical and experimental examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed high-order SAR model in LTE communication bands.
House Building Industries: Latin America

The house-building industry in Latin America is characterised primarily by the region’s demographic trends such as population growth and rapid urbanisation. The prevalence of inadequate housing, an issue currently affecting approximately 54 million households in Latin America, coupled with the scarcity of available land in urban areas within the region’s largest cities are two major factors influencing housing development activities by the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. In addition to discussing issues of scarcity, this article highlights four key urbanisation patterns transforming the housing market in Latin America: (1) gentrification of city centres and the creation of gated communities, (2) emergence of public–private partnerships (PPPs), (3) the production of mass social housing projects, and (4) the persistence of individually constructed homes within informal settlements.
Mathematical Details for Chapter 4

This chapter is for the mathematically serious reader. In it we quantify many of the previous qualitative statements that were made in Chapter 4. For the convenience of the reader, we restate many of the Chapter 4 results, prior to their derivations.
Detection of Solar Plasma Influence on the Satellite Channel of Communication

Some applications on use of the solar plasma data and solar flare activity for investigation of their influence on the quality of telecommunication are discussed. The practical result of the above-stated researches is reduced to development of warning measures from negative consequences of high levels of solar activity for telecommunication.
Accuracy of 24-hr. recalls of young children.

Can elementary school children recall accurately what they have eaten? In this study, they were queried about their school lunches and food eaten at home. Mothers’ reports of foods eaten at home and records of school lunches as served were used to check the children s accuracy.
Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of SERCA isoforms

Cultured chicken embryonic or neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were infected with recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying slow muscle SERCA2a or fast muscle SERCAla cDNA, under control of muscle-specific or constitutive viral promoters. Under optimal conditions, exogenous SERCA expression was obtained in all myocytes in culture, yielding approximately a threefold increase in the level of SERCA protein, and a three-to sixfold increase in the Ca2+ transport activity depending on whether SERCA2a or SERCA la cDNA was used. The kinetics of cytosolic Ca2+ transients upon membrane excitation were also affected, with a prominent increase in the rate of decline due to faster Ca2+ sequestration by the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
A Conditional Dependency on MELK for the Proliferation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Summary The role of maternal and embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) in cancer cell proliferation has been contentious, with recent studies arriving at disparate conclusions. We investigated the in vitro dependency of cancer cells on MELK under a range of assay conditions. Abrogation of MELK expression has little effect under common culture conditions, in which cells are seeded at high densities and reach confluence in 3–5 days. However, MELK dependency becomes clearly apparent in clonogenic growth assays using either RNAi or CRISPR technologies to modulate MELK expression. This dependency is in sharp contrast to that of essential genes, such as those encoding classic mitotic kinases, but is similar to that of other oncogenes including MYC and KRAS. Our study provides an example demonstrating some of the challenges encountered in cancer target validation, and reveals how subtle, but important, technical variations can ultimately lead to divergent outcomes and conclusions.