cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tau pathology in the medial temporal lobe of athletes with chronic traumatic encephalopathy: a chronic effects of neurotrauma consortium study

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition associated with repetitive traumatic brain injury (rTBI) seen in contact-sport athletes and military personnel. The medial temporal lobe (MTL; i.e., hippocampus, subiculum, and entorhinal and perirhinal cortices) memory circuit displays tau lesions during the pathological progression of CTE. We examined MTL tissue obtained from 40 male Caucasian and African American athletes who received a postmortem CTE neuropathological diagnosis defined as stage II, III, or IV. Sections were immunolabeled using an early (AT8) or a late (TauC3) marker for pathological tau and for amyloid beta (Aβ) species (6E10, Aβ1–42 and thioflavin S). Stereological analysis revealed that stage III had significantly less AT8-positive neurons and dystrophic neurites than stage IV in all MTL regions except hippocampal subfield CA3, whereas significantly more AT8-positive neurons, dystrophic neurites, and neurite clusters were found in the perirhinal cortex, entorhinal cortex, hippocampal CA1, and subiculum of CTE stage III compared with stage II. TauC3-positive pathology was significantly higher in the perirhinal and subicular cortex of stage IV compared to stage III and the perirhinal cortex of stage III compared to stage II. AT8-positive neurite clusters were observed in stages III and IV, but virtually absent in stage II. When observed, Aβ pathology appeared as amyloid precursor protein (APP)/Aβ (6E10)-positive diffuse plaques independent of region. Thioflavine S labeling, did not reveal evidence for fibril or neuritic pathology associated with plaques, confirming a diffuse, non-cored plaque phenotype in CTE. Total number of AT8-positive profiles correlated with age at death, age at symptom onset, and time from retirement to death. There was no association between AT8-positive tau pathology and age sport began, years played, or retirement age, and no difference between CTE stage and the highest level of sport played. In summary, our findings demonstrate different tau profiles in the MTL across CTE stages, proffering CA3 tau pathology and MTL dystrophic neurite clusters as possible markers for the transition between early (II) and late (III/IV) stages, while highlighting CTE as a progressive noncommunicative tauopathy.
The Nephrologist's Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma After Kidney Surgery

Renal cell carcinoma is associated with chronic kidney disease as well as with common risk factors including hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Localized renal cell carcinoma is treated surgically and in these cases has a favorable prognosis. In particular, in those individuals with small renal masses (≤4 cm), preservation of kidney function should be prioritized. Postoperative chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease prevention should include baseline kidney function and risk factor assessment, nontumor renal biopsy, as well as counseling on treatment options to discuss maximizing kidney function preservation. Postnephrectomy prognosis can be determined with repeat laboratory and clinical assessment. Ultimately, early involvement of the nephrologist in a multidisciplinary team including the urology team will enable the reduction of postsurgical kidney disease related morbidity and potentially mortality.
Augmenting size models for Pinus strobiformis seedlings using dimensional estimates from unmanned aircraft systems

In forestry, common garden experiments traditionally require manual measurements and visual inspections. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are a newer method of monitoring plants that is potentially ...
Sociodemographic Determinants of Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospitalization Risks in Florida.

Background Identifying social determinants of myocardial infarction (MI) hospitalizations is crucial for reducing/eliminating health disparities. Therefore, our objectives were to identify sociodem...
Trends in Compensation for Primary Care and Specialist Physicians After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

This survey study uses data from the Medical Group Management Association’s voluntary physician compensation survey from 2008 to 2017 to examine trends in compensation for primary care and specialist physicians after passage of the Affordable Care Act.
CARPET WEAVING TRADITION OF INDIA

Traditional knowledge is the knowledge base of a particular society or a community which has been generated from one generation to the other over a period of time through the process of learning and sharing. It takes several generations to refine or improve the knowledge base with expertise which they gained through experiences. Ultimately, it becomes the integral part of cultural identity of their community. The art of carpet weaving is one of the traditional knowledges which has represented the continuity of the age- old Indian heritage and also the socio-cultural tradition of weaving communities and thus has given Indian carpets a renowned place in the world. The magnificence of Indian carpet weaving and the intricate patterns that have emerged from it have substantially increased India’s carpet exports and placed it prominently on the international carpet map and thus has made it the largest exporter of handmade carpets in the world. Handloom sector being one of the major sectors which helps the country in maintaining the GDP at present is suffering from high competition to power looms due to the very nature of handmade sector being unorganized and dispersed. Therefore, this paper would give the review of carpet tradition in India, its evolution, its present scenario and thus addressing the need to safeguard the knowledge/ skill related with the craft as it is on the verge of losing its identity.
ESTUDO COMPARATIVO ENTRE FOTOVOLTAICOS FLEXÍVEIS E TRADICIONAIS EM TOLDOS DA UNIVERSIDADE

Com a crescente buscar de fontes de energia renovavel a tecnologia fotovoltaica tem se tornado mais eficiente e popular. A universidade e local apropriado para aplicacao, com ampla area para instalacao do sistema. Os toldos de passarelas, construidos para fins de seguranca e praticidade no deslocamento, pode ser sistema de captacao e transformacao de energia solar em energia eletrica para a instituicao. O estudo comparativo demonstrou viabilidade tecnica e economica para projeto nos dois tipos de tecnologias: sistemas de paineis rigidos e sistema de paineis flexiveis. No estudo, ambos os sistemas demonstram tempo de retorno de investimento em 6 anos, promovendo sustentabilidade e eficiencia energetica a edificacao.
Confronting the customer-engagement paradox in sales leader succession

This study addresses a critical question concerning how a firm’s succession practices for sales leaders impact the sustainability of selling strategies and the consistency of results. Our study emp...
Are two heads really better than one? A meta-analysis of the L2 learning benefits of collaborative writing

Abstract The benefits of collaborative writing (CW) for second language (L2) learning rest on solid theoretical underpinnings. Unequivocal empirical evidence of those benefits has proven difficult, however. This meta-analysis examines the accumulated evidence by synthesizing the results of 33 studies that explored the learning effects of CW and by gauging the magnitude of the difference between collaborative and individual writing. The characteristics and research practices of these product-oriented CW studies were also synthesized. Across studies, the effects of CW have been assessed through complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) measures as well as rubric scores and grammar/vocabulary tests. The accumulated findings suggest that collaboratively written texts were more accurate than individually written texts, with a mean effect size of a medium magnitude (g=0.73). Further, a large magnitude difference in rubric scores (g=0.94) was found in favor of individual texts written after experimental CW conditions compared to those written after control individual writing conditions. Findings regarding other dependent variables were inconclusive because of insufficient accumulation and excessive variability across individual studies. Methodological and pedagogical implications are discussed.
Sleep, neurocognition, and aging, including secular trends in older adult sleep

Abstract The aging population is steadily growing in the United States. Among older individuals, sleep difficulties are commonly reported. While some normal changes in sleep occur throughout the life span, sleep problems in the elderly are typically associated with medical, neurological, psychiatric, and sleep disorders, as well as medications. In this chapter, we discuss the complex relationship between sleep and cognition in older adults. We review the normal changes in sleep stages, sleep markers, continuity, and circadian rhythms occurring with age, as well as pathologic causes of sleep disturbances. Finally, we explore a growing body of evidence suggesting sleep disturbances in mid-life may contribute to acceleration of cognitive problems later in life. This highlights the importance of identifying and treating sleep problems in both middle-aged and older adults to optimize long-term cognitive health.
Radiological features of head and neck mammary analogue secretory carcinoma: 11 new cases with a systematic review of 29 cases reported in 28 publications.

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the radiological features of head and neck mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) and systematically review previous publications and 11 new cases. We included patients with pathologically proven MASCs with preoperative CT or MRI images, including 11 patients from our hospital and 29 patients from 28 publications extracted after screening 645 abstracts. Two board-certified radiologists reviewed and evaluated all radiological images. The frequency of metastasis during the follow-up period in tumors with well- and ill-defined margins was compared using a Fisher’s exact test. The median age at diagnosis was 52.5 years (range, 7–78 years; 20 males). Of the 40 patients, those in their 50 s were the most common (10/40, 25.0%), and the main tumor site was the parotid gland (27/40, 42.5%). Characteristic radiological features included high intensity on T1WI in the cystic components and tumors frequently showed “papillary and cystic,” which showed a projection into the cystic components, or “non-papillary and cystic” morphology, which did not show projection of the solid components. Tumor metastasis was found in 10/35 patients (28.6%) during the follow-up period, with a significant difference in frequency between the tumors with well- and ill-defined margin (well-defined (4/26) vs. ill-defined (6/9); P = 0.0074). MASCs are newly recognized malignant tumors. Characteristic T1WI high intensity on MRI and predominant cystic morphology may reflect its unique histological profile. Ill-defined tumor margin status was related to frequent metastasis. Awareness of these characteristic radiological features can assist radiologists in better detection of this novel entity.
Sex-specific relationships of the infant microbiome and early-childhood behavioral outcomes.

A link between the gut microbiome and behavior is hypothesized, but most previous studies are cross-sectional or in animal models. The modifying role of host sex is poorly characterized. We aimed to identify sex-specific prospective associations between the early-life gut microbiome and preschool-age neurobehavior. In a prospective cohort, gut microbiome diversity and taxa were estimated with 16S rRNA sequencing at 6 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years. Species and gene pathways were inferred from metagenomic sequencing at 6 weeks and 1 year. When subjects were 3 years old, parents completed the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, second edition (BASC-2). A total of 260 children contributed 523 16S rRNA and 234 metagenomics samples to analysis. Models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. Higher diversity at 6 weeks was associated with better internalizing problems among boys, but not girls [βBoys = −1.86 points/SD Shannon diversity; 95% CI (−3.29, −0.42), pBoys = 0.01, βGirls = 0.22 (−1.43, 1.87), pGirls = 0.8, pinteraction = 0.06]. Among other taxa-specific associations, Bifidobacterium at 6 weeks was associated with Adaptive Skills scores in a sex-specific manner. We observed relationships between functional features and BASC-2 scores, including vitamin B6 biosynthesis pathways and better Depression scores. This study advances our understanding of microbe−host interactions with implications for childhood behavioral health.
Control of flexible manipulators with input shaping techniques

This chapter provides an overview of the use of real-time command shaping to limit vibration inflexible robotic systems. Smoothing of commands to reduce system vibration is an old idea. However, command shaping did not come into widespread use until inexpensive digital controllers were available to implement the techniques in real time. Shaped commands can address multiple resonant frequencies and can be designed to be very robust to system modelling errors. An array of examples illustrate the effect that these command shaping methods have on the performance of flexible systems.
Involvement of the Androgen and Glucocorticoid Receptors in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is encountered worldwide having been associated with a host of environmental and lifestyle risk factors. The disease has a male to female prevalence of 3 : 1. This disparity has raised the possibility of the androgen receptor (AR) pathway being involved in the genesis of the disease; indeed, research has shown that AR is involved in and is likely a driver of bladder cancer. Similarly, an inflammatory response has been implicated as a major player in bladder carcinogenesis. Consistent with this concept, recent work on anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid signaling points to a pathway that may impact bladder cancer. The glucocorticoid receptor- (GR-) α isoform has an important role in suppressing inflammatory processes, which may be attenuated by AR in the development of bladder cancer. In addition, a GR isoform that is inhibitory to GRα, GRβ, is proinflammatory and has been shown to induce cancer growth. In this paper, we review the evidence of inflammatory mediators and the relationship of AR and GR isoforms as they relate to the propensity for bladder cancer.
Sarcoidosis: a hypersensitivity disease, discussion of three cases.

Abstract Evidence has been presented suggesting that sarcoidosis and sarcoid lesions belong in the group of hypersensitivity diseases, and reactions, respectively. 1.1. Sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity diseases display a similar morphologic reaction to stress. 2.2. Two of the three patients presented displayed symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction prior to the onset of sarcoidosis. 3.3. A sarcoid lesion was observed in the third case. This was thought to be a localized hypersensitivity reaction, secondary to the irritant products of a coexisting malignancy. The term "sarcoid lesion" is used to define a localized granulomatous reaction to a wide variety of injurious agents, whereas sarcoidosis indicates a systemic disease entity. 4.4. The initial clinical similarities as well as the response to hormonal therapy suggest the inclusion of sarcoidosis as a hypersensitivity disease.
Healthy meals, healthy families: a pilot intervention to improve nutrition knowledge and confidence to prepare healthy meals among low-income individuals (624.6)

Poor dietary behaviors, limited food preparation skills, and low levels of self-efficacy to prepare healthy meals have been indicated in low-income and food insecure populations. The purpose of thi...
Reshaping the Secondary Curriculum

A issue that will continue to confront educators in the 1990s involves reshaping the curriculum to meet the interests and abilities of students as they move through this new decade. Examining this issue thoroughly cannot but force educators to reevaluate their thinking about schools and schooling. Although I am not suggesting a revolutionary restructuring of education, I am proposing a change that may be revolutionary in any given school. Indeed, this change may make a difference in the dropout rate and the literacy level of any school population. The fact is that when students are in class, they are working with a curriculum that is simply outdated.
Comment on “CD4+CD8+ T Cells Represent a Significant Portion of the Anti-HIV T Cell Response to Acute HIV Infection”

Frahm et al. ([1][1]) demonstrated that CD4+CD8+ T cells represent a significant portion of anti-HIV responses among patients who naturally control HIV infection. We also found that CD8+ T cells that coexpress CD4 on their surface are polyfunctional and highly enriched in HIV-specific responses ([2
The vertebrate track record

A renaissance in the study of fossil footprints has been driven by a multitude of discoveries and the realization that vertebrate ichnology makes important contributions to our understanding of terrestrial vertebrates. More striking is the insight the track record gives us into bias and incompleteness in the vertebrate fossil record.
Neurological dysfunction occurs in mice with targeted deletion of the selenoprotein P gene.

Brain function and selenium concentration are well maintained in rodents under conditions of selenium deficiency. Recently, however, targeted deletion of the selenoprotein P gene (Sepp) has been associated with a decrease in brain selenium concentration and with neurological dysfunction. Studies were conducted with Sepp -/- and Sepp +/+ mice to characterize the neurological dysfunction and to correlate it with dietary selenium level. When weanling Sepp -/- mice were fed the basal diet (<0.01 mg/kg selenium) supplemented with 0, 0.05 or 0.10 mg selenium/kg, they developed spasticity that progressed and required euthanasia. Supplementing the diet with ≥0.25 mg selenium/kg prevented the neurological dysfunction. To determine whether neurological dysfunction would occur in more mature Sepp -/- mice deprived of selenium, Sepp -/- mice that had been fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.0 mg selenium/kg for 4 wk were switched to a selenium-deficient diet. Within 3 wk they had developed neurological dysfunction and weight loss. At 3 wk, the 1.0 mg selenium/kg diet was reinstituted. Neurological function stabilized but did not return to normal. Brain selenium concentration did not increase. Weight gain resumed. This study shows that neurological dysfunction occurs when selenium supply to the brain is curtailed and that the dysfunction is not readily reversible. Both the absence of selenoprotein P and a low dietary selenium supply are necessary for the dysfunction to occur, indicating that selenoprotein P and at least one other form of selenium supply the element to the brain.
Evaluation of six commercial kits for detection of human immunoglobulin M antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. The FDA Toxoplasmosis Ad Hoc Working Group.

As a result of reports received by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of false-positive results obtained with FDA-cleared in vitro diagnostic kits for the detection of Toxoplasma-specific human immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, an FDA-sponsored evaluation of six kits was performed. A battery of 258 serum specimens, including 30 specimens drawn 1 to 5 months after initial Toxoplasma infection and 228 specimens from Toxoplasma IgG-positive individuals, Toxoplasma IgG-negative individuals, rheumatoid factor-positive persons, and persons determined to be Toxoplasma IgM positive by commercially available assays, was assembled, randomly assorted, and coded. The battery was tested at the FDA with six commercially available kits, at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) by the PAMF double-sandwich IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PAMF IgM ELISA), and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by the CDC EIA IgM. The results of the PAMF IgM ELISA that were obtained with the battery were considered to be the "gold standard" for this study; specificity rates were computed by considering the PAMF results to be 100% specific. Sensitivity and specificity rates were found to be as follows: CDC EIA IgM, 100 and 99.1%, respectively; Abbott IMx Toxo IgM, version 1, 100 and 77.5%, respectively; Abbott IMx Toxo IgM, version 2, 93.3 and 97.3%, respectively; Abbott Toxo-M EIA, 100 and 84.2%, respectively; BioMerieux Vitek VIDAS Toxo IgM, 100 and 98.6%, respectively; BioWhittaker Toxocap-M, 100 and 95.9%, respectively; Gull Toxo IgM, 97 and 85.6%, respectively; and Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur Platelia Toxo IgM, 100 and 96.8%, respectively. Although the extent of false-positive reactions with these kits cannot be calculated because the study was retrospective and sample choices were biased, the results may be useful as an indicator of the relative specificities of these kits.
Novel 2-indenyl ansa-zirconocenes for the polymerization of α-olefins

A new synthetic route to C-2 bridged indenyl metallocenes utilizing the anion of 1-indanone has been developed. Two new ansa-zirconocene complexes 1a and 1b were synthesized and examined as precursors for the polymerization of α-olefins. These metallocenes were shown to be active for the polymerization of ethylene and for the oligiomerization of propylene when activated with excess methylaluminoxane (MAO).
Occupational and Environmental Lead and PCB Exposure at a Scrap Metal Dealer

Abstract Blood lead levels (BPb) and serum polychlorinated biphenyl levels (PCB) were obtained from 17 employees at two adjacent scrap metal dealers. One facility was located outdoors, directly on top of soil known to be contaminated with lead and PCBs, and the other was located indoors with a concrete floor. BPbs ranged from 4.0 to 39.8 μg/dl (mean 19.9 μg/dl, geometric mean 17.5 μg/dl) and PCB levels ranged from
Efficient design and synthesis of decimation filters for wideband delta-sigma ADCs

A design methodology for synthesizing power-optimized decimation filters for wideband Delta Sigma (ΔΣ) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for next-generation wireless standards is presented. The decimation filter is designed to filter the out-of-band quantization noise from a fifth-order continuous-time ΔΣ modulator, with 20 MHz signal bandwidth and 14-bits resolution. The modulator employs an oversampling ratio (OSR) of 16 with a clock rate of 640 MHz. Retiming, pipelining, Canonical Signed Digits (CSD) encoding has been utilized along with an optimized halfband filter to realize the power savings in the overall decimation filter. A process flow to rapidly design the optimized filters in MATLAB, generate the hardware description language (HDL) code and then automatically synthesize the design using standard cells has been presented. The decimation filter is implemented using standard cells in a 45nm CMOS technology occupies a layout area of 0.12mm2 and consumes 8 mW power from the 1.1V supply.
Integrating Gap Analysis and Utility Theory in Service Research

Conventional utility theory models customer preferences in terms of actual performance and does not use benchmarks. But empirical work in gap analysis shows that customer preferences clearly depend...
Chemoprotective properties of phenylpropenoids, bis(benzylidene)cycloalkanones, and related Michael reaction acceptors: correlation of potencies as phase 2 enzyme inducers and radical scavengers.

Induction of phase 2 enzymes (e.g., glutathione transferases, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, glucuronosyltransferases, epoxide hydrolase) is a major strategy for reducing the susceptibility of animal cells to neoplasia and other forms of electrophile toxicity. In a search for new chemoprotective enzyme inducers, a structure−activity analysis was carried out on two types of naturally occurring and synthetic substituted phenylpropenoids: (a) Ar−CHCH−CO−R, where R is OH, OCH3, CH3, or Ar, including cinnamic, coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic acid derivatives, their ketone analogues, and chalcones; and (b) bis(benzylidene)cycloalkanones, Ar−CHC(CH2)n(CO)CCH−Ar, where n = 5, 6, or 7. The potencies of these compounds in inducing NAD(P)H:quinone reductase activity in murine hepatoma cells paralleled their Michael reaction acceptor activity (Talalay, P.; De Long, M. J.; Prochaska, H. J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 1988, 8261−8265). Unexpectedly, the bis(benzylidene)cycloalkanones also powerfully quenched the luci...
Indications of neutrino oscillations from an analysis of reactor experiments performed at different distances

A phenomenological analysis is presented of inverse-..beta.. (IB) experiments on proton targets performed at 6.5, 8.7, and 11.2 m from reactor sources and of a deuteron-disintegration experiment at 11.2 m. The analysis leads to the conclusion that either there is a statistically significant distance dependence of the nu-bar/sub e/ spectra measured in these experiments or that at least three of the four experiments have unstated sources of error or seriously understated errors. We find that this distance dependence can be accounted for by neutrino oscillations. The distance dependence is exhibited in the normalization-independent ratio of low- to high-energy halves of the spectrum. The ratios at the three distances, taken in pairs, differ by greater than 3 standard deviations. The entire analysis is done without using any theoretically calculated spectra. We find that no distance-independent spectrum can account for the 8.7- and 11.2-m IB experiments with a confidence level (C.L.)>0.026. Assuming neutrino oscillations rather than experimental errors are the cause of the distance dependence exhibited by the data we search for and find simple two-component neutrino-oscillation fits to the data with a gain in C.L. over the no-oscillation best fits by factors ranging from approx. 5 to approx. 15.
Genetic control of morphogenetic and biochemical differentiation: lethal albino deletions in the mouse.

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is the most common benign smooth muscle cell tumor with as yet unknown etiology and pathogenesis. This study was carried out to investigate the association of ESR1-351 A>G, ESR1 -397 T>C and CYP1A1 (Ile462Val) polymorphisms with UL in female patients of Iranian origin. In this case-control study, 276 patients with UL and 156 healthy women were recruited. The genetic polymorphisms ESR1-351 A>G, ESR1-397 T>C and CYP1A1 (Ile462Val) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). No significant difference were found in frequencies of both genotypes and alleles of ESR1-351 A>G, ESR1-397 T>C and CYP1A1 (Ile462Val) polymorphisms between the two groups (p>0.05). Our findings indicated that these ESR1 and CYP1A1 polymorphisms were not associated with the development of UL in the cases reported here.
T2: Statistical Methods for VLSI Test and Burn-in Optimization

VLSI circuits have been traditionally tested individually following manufacture; the same tests being applied to all ICs. However, as manufacturing test costs continue to show a disproportionate increase in relation to IC fabrication costs, innovative new statistical methods are being introduced to optimize testing. Such methods fall into two broad categories: those that exploit statistical information in regard to the variation of process parameters on wafers, and those that exploit the statistics of defect distributions on wafers. This tutorial presents test methodologies that span both these categories and illustrate their effectiveness with experimental results from a number of recent studies on production circuits from LSI Logic, IBM, Intel and TI
Incorporating Epistemic Uncertainty in Robust Design

There are two sorts of uncertainty inherent in engineering design, random uncertainty and epistemic uncertainty. Random, or stochastic, uncertainty deals with the randomness or predictability of an event. It is well understood, easily modelled using classical probability, and ideal for such uncertainties as variations in manufacturing processes or material properties. Epistemic uncertainty deals with our lack of knowledge, our lack of information, and our own and others’ subjectivity concerning design parameters. While there are many methods to incorporate random uncertainty in a design process, there are fewer that consider epistemic uncertainty. There are fewer still that attempt to incorporate both sorts of uncertainty, and those that do usually attempt to model both sorts using the same uncertainty model. Two methods, a range method and a fuzzy sets approach, are proposed to achieve designs that are robust to both epistemic uncertainty and random uncertainty. Both methods incorporate preference aggregation methods to achieve more appropriate trade-offs between performance and variability when considering both sorts of uncertainty. The proposed models for epistemic uncertainty are combined with existing models for stochastic uncertainty in a two-step process. An illustrative example incorporating subjectivity concerning design parameters is presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Self-assembly of an organic-inorganic block copolymer for nano-ordered ceramics.

Self-assembly is a promising approach for achieving controlled nanoscale architectures in ceramics. The addition of ceramic-forming precursors to templating agents such as self-assembled surfactants or organic block copolymers (BCPs) has thus far been the primary route to forming ordered nanoporous oxides1,2,3,4,5 and nanostructured non-oxide ceramics6,7,8,9. In spite of its viability, however, this approach has several intrinsic shortcomings, including: (1) stringent requirements for amphiphilicity between template and precursor, lack of which may lead to macro-phase separation and loss of nano-scale order; (2) morphologies that can change uncontrollably with varying amounts of added ceramic precursor. Here we report a novel single-source ceramic precursor, based on a hybrid organic–inorganic BCP of polynorbornene–decaborane, that enables the formation of ordered ceramic nanostructures with tunable morphology and composition. In particular, we describe the synthesis of nanostructured boron carbonitride and mesoporous boron nitride, the latter of which exhibits the highest reported surface area for this material to date.
Celebrating a Citation Classic—and More Symposium on Charles Perrow’s Normal Accidents

The purpose of this commentary is to provide a review and preliminary assessment of Perrow’s Normal Accident Framework (NAF) as a theoretical statement and compare it with the High Reliability Orga...
Linear and nonlinear optical properties of [60]fullerene derivatives.

Using a wide variety of quantum-chemical methods we have analyzed in detail the linear and non-linear optical properties of [60]fullerene−chromophore dyads of different electron-donor character. The dyads are composed of [60]fullerene covalently linked with 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole and carbazole derivatives. Linear scaling calculations of molecular (hyper)polarizabilities were performed using wave function theory as well as density functional theory (DFT). Within the former approach, we used both semiempirical (PM3) and ab initio (Hartree−Fock and second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation theory) methods. Within the latter approach only the recently proposed long-range (LRC) schemes successfully avoid a large overshoot in the value obtained for the first hyperpolarizability (β). Calculations on model fullerene derivatives establish a connection between this overshoot and the electron-donating capability of the substituent. Substitution of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole by the triphenylamine group significantly incre...
Comparative risk analysis of six volatile organic compounds in California drinking water.

The widespread use and storage of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the United States has led to releases of these chemicals into the environment, including groundwater sources of drinking water...
Spectroscopic and Theoretical Investigation of (R)-3-Methylcyclopentanone. The Effect of Solvent and Temperature on the Distribution of Conformers

Temperature-dependent electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectra are reported for (R)-(+)-3-methylcyclopentanone (R3MCP) in 34 solvents. Analysis of these data yielded the enthalpy and entropy differences between axial methyl and equatorial methyl conformers, the dominant conformers for R3MCP. The weakly absorbing n-->pi* transition exhibited a decrease in lambdamax as the solvent polarity increased. Vibrational CD fine structure of the n-->pi* transition was observed in the gas phase in addition to several of the solvents. Vapor-phase CD spectra were compared to both the solution-phase spectra and theoretical calculations of the axial and equatorial methyl conformers. Optical rotation (OR) measurements for R3MCP in cyclohexane solution in the visible region showed excellent agreement with OR DFT calculations of the equatorial and axial methyl conformers. Density functional calculations with B3LYP and the 6-13G* and aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets, which incorporate the solvent dielectric constant, yielded trends in thermodynamic quantities as a function of polarity and solvent dipole moments that are only weakly or not observed in experiments.
Recent advances in the treatment of chronic refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

We define chronic refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) as ITP with persistent thrombocytopenia following treatment with glucocorticoids and splenectomy. Chronic refractory ITP is uncommon, occurring in fewer than 10% of all adult patients with ITP diagnoses.The goal of treatment is only to achieve a safe platelet count with minimal treatment-related risk. A safe platelet count may be considered to be as low as 10,000/μL, because the risk for major bleeding in otherwise healthy subjects is great only when the platelet count is less than 10,000/μL. Observation without specific treatment is appropriate for patients with moderate thrombocytopenia and no clinically important bleeding symptoms. For patients with chronic refractory ITP who require treatment, there is no consensus for what therapies to use or the sequence in which to use them. For patients with severe and symptomatic thrombocytopenia, the use of anti-CD20 (rituximab) and immunosuppressive agents, alone or in combination, may be most effective.The mechanism of all current therapies is to decrease the accelerated platelet destruction brought about by immunosuppression. An alternative approach, the stimulation of platelet production with thrombopoietic agents, has been successful in investigational studies and may provide a new management option.
Hiatal mesh is associated with major resection at revisional operation

Mesh-assisted hiatal closure during foregut surgery is increasing. Our aim was to evaluate the complications that follow revisional foregut surgery. Specifically, we compared surgical indications and perioperative outcomes between patients with and without prior hiatal mesh (PHM). We conducted an institutional review board (IRB)-approved retrospective cohort study from a single tertiary-care referral center. Over 37 months, 91 patients underwent revisional foregut surgery. We excluded 13 cases including operations performed primarily for obesity or achalasia. Of the remaining 78 patients, 10 had PHM and 68 were nonmesh patients (NM). The groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and rates and types of anatomic failure. Compared with NM patients, PHM patients had increased estimated blood loss (410 vs. 127 ml, p < 0.01) and operative time (4.07 vs. 2.89 h, p < 0.01). The groups had no difference in perioperative blood transfusion or length of stay. Complete fundoplication was more commonly created in NM patients (2/10 vs. 42/68, p = 0.03). Three of the 10 PHM patients and 3 of the 68 NM patients required major resection. Therefore, PHM patients had 6.8-fold increased risk of major resection compared with NM patients [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.585, 29.17; p = 0.05]. The NM patients with multiple prior hiatal operations had 4.6-fold increased risk of major resection compared with those with one prior operation (95% CI = 2.919, 7.384; p = 0.03). In PHM patients, however, the number of prior hiatal operations was not associated with major resection. PHM is associated with increased risk of major resection at revision. The pattern of failure was not different in patients with hiatal mesh, suggesting that hiatal mesh does not eliminate the potential for revision. When performing hiatal herniorrhaphy, the increased risk of recurrence without mesh must be weighed against the potential risk for subsequent major resection when using mesh.
Effects of sequence and variety of irrelevant items on visual search

An experiment was done to determine how the sequence and variety of irrelevant items affects the speed of visual search. Three subjects searched for a target letter in sequences of predominantly alternating or repeating letters. Search through repeating sequences was faster than search through alternating sequences. Increasing the variety of irrelevant letters slowed search through alternating but not repeating sequences. Implications regarding eye fixations during visual search are discussed.
Gating Pore Currents Reveal Sliding Helix Motion of S4 Gating Charges during Activation of NaChBac

Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for initiating and propagating action potentials in excitable cells. Transmembrane segment S4 of voltage-gated ion channels resides in a gating pore where it senses the voltage and controls channel gating. Substitution of individual S4 arginines with smaller amino acids allows ionic currents to flow through the mutant gating pore. The voltage-dependence of gating pore currents provides information about the transmembrane position of the substituted cysteine as S4 responds to the membrane potential. Bacterial NaChBac sodium channels are homotetramers. Here we have studied gating pore current in mutant NaChBac channels having one of the four S4 arginines replaced by cysteine. Gating pore current was observed for each mutant channel but with different voltage-dependent properties. Mutating the first (R1C) or second (R2C) arginine to cysteine, resulted in gating pore current at hyperpolarized potentials where the channels are in resting states but not at potentials where the channels are activated. Conversely, mutants R3C and R4C showed gating pore current at potentials where the channels are activated. Our results showing gating pore current for mutants in each gating-charge position with sequential voltage dependence from R1 to R4 demonstrate the stepwise outward movement of the substituted cysteines through the narrow portion of the gating pore that is sealed by the arginine side-chains in the WT channel. This pattern of voltage dependence is consistent with a sliding movement of the S4 helix through the gating pore.
Using the Model Free Approach to Analyze NMR Relaxation Data in Cases of Anisotropic Molecular Diffusion

The model free approach, parameterized for the limiting case of isotropic molecular diffusion, is most often used to derive motional dynamics information from NMR relaxation data. However, many, if not most, biomolecules are asymmetric in shape and diffuse anisotropically in solution. Here, model free parameters have been derived to analyze NMR relaxation data for molecules undergoing anisotropic rotational diffusion. A simple correlation function has been formulated wherein restricted internal bond rotations are described by two parameters: 〈x2 + y2〉 and 〈x2 − y2〉. In the molecular frame, x and y are projections of motional unit vector a onto the plane that is perpendicular to the average position of vector a. For isotropic overall tumbling, this correlation function is reduced to a single parameter, 〈x2 + y2〉, which is related to the well-known model free order parameter as S2 = 1−3 〈x2 + y2〉. The term 〈x2 − y2〉 becomes important and takes on a value for molecules tumbling anisotropically in solution. ...
Civilization in a Historical and Global Perspective

This article focuses initially on the age-old difference between civilized and barbarian and the reification of the term `civilization', which came into existence only in 1756. The reasons why this neologism arose at the time are examined, and various definitions of the term are given. From this beginning in 18th-century Europe, the inquiry goes in two directions. One explores how societies described themselves before 1756: that is, what synonyms for civilization we encounter in their self-conception; examples relate to the Roman Empire, China and the Arab world. The second direction involves the question when, and under what conditions, does `civilization' get adopted in other, non-western societies.
IPA Derivatives for Make-to-Stock Production-Inventory Systems With Backorders Under the (R,r) Policy

This paper addresses Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis (IPA) in the class of Make-to Stock (MTS) production-inventory systems with backorders under the continuous-review (R,r) policy, where R is the stock-up-to level and r is the reorder point. A system from this class is traditionally modeled as a discrete system with discrete demand arrivals at the inventory facility and discrete replenishment orders placed at the production facility. Here, however, we map an underlying discrete MTS system to a Stochastic Fluid Model (SFM) counterpart in which stochastic fluid-flow rate processes with piecewise constant sample paths replace the corresponding traditional discrete demand arrival and replenishment stochastic processes, under very mild regularity assumptions. The paper then analyzes the SFM counterpart and derives closed-form IPA derivative formulas of the time-averaged inventory level and time-averaged backorder level with respect to the policy parameters, R and r, and shows them to be unbiased. The obtained formulas are comprehensive in the sense that they are computed for any initial inventory state and any time horizon, and are simple and fast to compute. These properties hold the promise of utilizing IPA derivatives as an ingredient of offline design algorithms and online management and control algorithms of the class of systems under study.
Distribution of Schwann cell cytoplasm and plasmalemmal vesicles (caveolae) in peripheral myelin sheaths. An electron microscopic study with thin sections and freeze-fracturing

The mode of distribution of Schwann cell cytoplasm in the various regions of the peripheral myelin sheath is reviewed using freeze-fractured and thin sectioned nerves from bullfrogs, chickens and cats, perfused with an aldehyde mixture or fixedin situ with potassium permanganate.
Evaluation of a polymethylpentene fiber mat formed directly on an anode as a battery separator

Abstract Battery separator is a porous membrane that separates the positive and negative electrodes to prevent their electrical shorting, yet enables lithium ion transport through the liquid electrolyte in its pores. In this work, a polymethylpentene (PMP) non-woven separator was formed directly on an anode through the electrospinning process. The PMP separator exhibited a much improved thermal dimensional stability compared to a commercial polyolefin separator. It showed negligible shrinkage in the 150 °C oven test, while the shrinkage was close to 55% for a commercial separator in the machine direction. It also enabled good effective ionic conductivity in the range of 1.16–1.44 mS/cm when saturated with the liquid electrolyte of 1 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (1:2 by volume). The cell performance was tested in coin cells with the LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode and the graphite anode. The cells with the PMP separators displayed stable cycling performance and good rate capabilities. However, the PMP separators showed low tensile strengths and the effect of the low tensile strengths on the performance of large format batteries needs further investigation.
Impact of simulation on safe medication practice with diploma/ADN students

Medication errors pose a significant threat to society. Because many mistakes are made during the administration phase, nurses should be educated early in practices congruent with safe medication practice. A quasi-experimental quality improvement project was conducted to examine the effect of simulation on safe medication practice for diploma/ADN nursing students. Although student performance during live medication administration was not enhanced following simulation, this educational strategy was beneficial in promoting the contextual use of pharmacologic knowledge, clinical reasoning, and interdisciplinary communication.
Nuclear power plant status diagnostics using a neural network with dynamic node architecture

This thesis is part of an ongoing project at Iowa State University to develop ANN based fault diagnostic systems to detect and classify operational transients at nuclear power plants. The project envisages the deployment of such an advisor at Iowa Electric Light and Power Company`s Duane Arnold Energy Center nuclear power plant located at Palo, IA. This advisor is expected to make status diagnosis in real time, thus providing the operators with more time for corrective measures.
Social Neuroscience: a new journal.

In the past decade a new and exciting academic domain has expanded to scientifically explore the biological mechanisms of social interaction. This rapid growth is reflected in various ways, includi...
Bone regeneration around implants in periodontally compromised patients: a randomized clinical trial of the effect of immediate implant with immediate loading.

Background: This 2-year randomized clinical trial compared bone regeneration and esthetic outcome between immediate and conventional loading of dental implants placed immediately after extraction in patients with a history of periodontal disease.Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive immediate implants with either immediate loading or conventional loading after 3 months. Both groups received a periodontal flap, tooth extraction, implant placement, allograft bone, and membrane placement. The immediate loading group received a temporary crown. In the conventional loading group primary closure was achieved. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Evaluation included radiographic bone changes, papillary esthetic outcome, and implant survival rate.Results: Seventy-two patients were recruited into the study. However, 60 patients received immediate implant placement after extraction: 30 with conventional loading and 30 with immediate loading. In the immediate loading group the impl...
The application of dna repair vectors to gene therapy

The nature of DNA, the sequence of the human genome and our increased understanding of the genetic basis of many inherited and acquired disorders have made the possibility of curing diseases a reality. The modulation of a host's genome is now the ultimate goal in the treatment of genetic diseases. Historically, gene therapy recognized two very different approaches: gene replacement or augmentation and gene repair. Gene repair precisely targets and corrects the chromosomal mutation responsible for a genetic and/or acquired disorder. Many recent advances have been made in this area of research.
Invariant imbedding and the method of lines for parallel computers

Abstract Recursion relations have been used to allow the solution of the invariant imbedding equations with singularities. We demonstrate that these same relations can be used in an efficient implementation of invariant imbedding for massively parallel computers. The parallel implementation of invariant imbedding can be used in conjuction with the method of lines to solve partial differential equations. We consider the problem of assigning lines to processors to minimize communication delays and the effect of asynchronous relaxation. Each algorithm is implemented and run on the NCUBE/ten hypercube, and timing data, speedup and normalized speedup are given. Operation counts are also given for each algorithm.