cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polarization enhanced visual surveillance techniques

Visual surveillance relies on visible light to convey information about the environment. An important but less utilized characteristic of light in surveillance is its polarization due to the transverse wave nature of electromagnetic waves. Although the predominant natural light source, the sun light, appear to be unpolarized, the light that actually enters a surveillance camera often has biased polarization distribution due to scattering and reflection by the environment. These differently biased polarization patterns thus carry important information about the environment, such as material type, object shape ...etc. With proper optical setup and computer vision analysis, polarization information can be captured and used to enhance traditional polarization-insensitive visual surveillance techniques. This work presents polarization based optical and computational techniques to improve target detection, to perform novel optical navigation, and to help resolve ambiguities in traditional visual sensors.
Probing the circumstellar medium of GRB afterglows through absorption-line observations.

A systematic search of WolfRayet wind signatures, as represented by blue-shifted, high-velocity (v10005000kms1) C IV 1548, 1550 absorption doublet has yielded an estimate of 20% for the incidence o...
THE EFFECTS OF PHARMACOLOGIC AGENTS ON MITOGEN-INDUCED CELLULAR CYTOTOXICITY IN GUINEA PIGS

Using pharmacologic agents as probes, three aspects of the mitogen-induced cellular cytotoxicity reaction (MICC) were evaluated. These included the requirement for a concomitant lymphoid DNA synthetic response, the role of microtubules and microfilaments in effecting target cell lysis, and the potential inhibitory activity of hydrocortisone. Results, using both PHA and Con A stimulated guinea pig lymph node cells, indicate that this form of cytotoxicity occurs as a phenomenon independent of 3H-Tdr incorporation. Animals treated with cyclophosphamide showed cytotoxic reactions equivalent to untreated controls whereas mitogen-induced proliferative responses were greatly impaired. Further studies indicated that the in vitro exposure of lymph node cells to either mitomycin or cytosine arabinoside markedly reduced DNA synthesis but did not depress the ability of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes to effect target cell lysis. The microtubular antagonists, vincristine, vinblastine and colchicine, inhibited cytotoxic reactions if the agents were present at the time that lymphocyte-target cell interaction was established. However, the antimicrofilament agent cytochalasin B was not inhibitory; this contrasts to this agent's ability to suppress antigen-induced cell-mediated cytotoxic reactions. In a third series of experiments, hydrocortisone showed a dose-related inhibition of MICC responses. The action of the steroid was apparent only if the drug was present at the onset of the culture; no suppression was observed if it was added after an initial one day incubation.
We should avoid the indiscriminate use of insulin sensitizers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, although not universal, represent a significant health risk for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when present. A thorough search for metabolic abnormalities in patients with PCOS should always be performed, including determining whether there is a family history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, or dermatologic (e.g., acanthosis nigricans and acrochordons) or biochemical evidence (e.g., 2-hour postprandial insulin and glucose measures) of hyperinsulinism. However, we should avoid the indiscriminate use of insulin sensitizers in PCOS.
Frequency of intravenous medication administration to hospitalised patients: secondary data-analysis of the Belgian Nursing Minimum Data Set

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of intravenous medication administration with Belgian hospitalised patients. Factors, which might influence this frequency of administration, were also studied. Research questions were investigated by secondary data-analysis of the Belgian Nursing Minimum Data Set. The randomised sample consisted of 1,035,681 observations on 421,530 patients. Results of this study demonstrate that one out of three (34%) hospitalised patients received intravenous medication. Medical diagnoses, for which most intravenous medications were administered, were oncological diseases: myeloid (77.9%) and lymphoid (69.4%) leukaemia. Elderly (6.7%) and female (31.2%) patients received significantly less intravenous medication than respectively young (32.9%) ( χ 2 =98411, df=1, p χ 2 =2033, df=1, p
A Change Has Come: Race, Politics, and the Path to the ObamaPresidency

Has Barack Obama's success transformed the racial divide? Did he somehow transcend or help bring to an end centuries of racial division in the United States? Did he deliberately run a strategically race-neutral, race-evading campaign? Did his race and ingrained American racism constrain the reach of his success? Have we arrived at that postracial moment that has long been the stuff of dreams and high oratory? Or was the outcome of the 2008 presidential election driven entirely by nonracial factors, such as a weak Republican ticket, an incumbent party saddled with defending an unpopular war, and a worsening economic crisis? It is at once too simple and yet entirely appropriate to say that the answers to these questions are, in a phrase, complicated matters. These complexities can, however, be brought into sharper focus.
An analysis of quality factor on image steganalysis

Internet has emerged as a popular medium of communication, not only for common people but also for criminals. Various modes of covert communication are adopted by such elements. Steganography hides the information in digital images without changing their visual perception. These images can then be transferred over internet, without causing any suspicion to an observer. Steganalysis techniques inspect the images and detect the presence of hidden messages. In this paper, we have investigated the effect of quality factor of JPEG images on steganalysis using Discrete Cosine Transform. Features are extracted in Discrete Cosine Transform domain using higher order statistics, and subsequently a Fisher Linear Discriminant classifier is trained using different clean and steganographic images at different JPEG compression ratios i.e., quality factor. The quantitative results of experiments demonstrate that a classifier trained on particular quality factor gives better detection accuracy for images compressed with the same or a lower quality factor, but gives degraded performance of detection for images compressed with higher quality factor. This inference can aid in developing improved quality independent steganalysis mechanisms.
The effects of using exploratory computerized environments in grades 1 to 8 mathematics: a meta-analysis of research

The process of problem solving is difficult for students; thus, mathematics educators have made multiple attempts to seek ways of making this process more accessible to learners. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect size statistic of utilizing exploratory computerized environments (ECEs) to support the process of word problem solving and exploration in grades 1 to 8 mathematics using meta-analysis. The findings of 24 experimental pretest and posttest studies (24 primary effect sizes) published in peer-reviewed journals between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2013, revealed that exploratory computerized environments produced a moderate effect size (effect size (ES) = 0.60, SE = 0.03) when compared to traditional methods of instruction. A 95% confidence interval around the overall mean - C lower = 0.53 and C upper = 0.66 - indicated nonzero population effect and relative precision. A moderator analysis revealed differences among the effects on student achievement between traditional problem solving approaches and ECEs, favoring the latter. The findings highlight the importance of providing students with opportunities to explore applications of mathematics concepts in classroom especially these supported by computers. A discussion of these findings and their potential impact on improving students’ mathematical problem-solving skills, along with implications for further research, follows.
Categorical variable selection based on entropy reduction

This paper presents the derivation of a categorical variable selection technique which utilizes the entropy function as a measure of variability for nominally scaled variables. The selection criterion uses likelihood ratio statistics which, for the hypotheses under consideration, are identical to minimum discrimination information statistics. Thus, the paper provides an alternative motivation for a selection technique based on discriminatory power, and it provides an extension of that technique to the multipopulation discrimination problem. The selection technique is illustrated for a study in which we discriminate among three populations: cervical cancer patients, population-based controls, and hospital-based controls.
Estrogen enhances cystatin C expression in the macaque vagina.

Cystatin C is a secreted inhibitor of cysteine proteinases that participates in extracellular matrix remodeling. Whether hormones affect its expression in the vagina was unknown. Consequently, we examined the effects of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and raloxifene on vaginal cystatin C in rhesus macaques. In experiment 1, ovariectomized animals were treated sequentially with E2 (14 d) and E2 + P (14 d) to induce 28-d menstrual cycles. Vaginal samples were collected on d 6, 8, 14, and 28 of the induced cycle. Some cycled animals were deprived of both E2 + P for 28 d. In experiment 2, ovariectomized animals were treated for 5 months with E2 alone, E2 + P, raloxifene, or left untreated. Total RNA from the vaginal wall was analyzed for the cystatin C transcript with a commercially prepared cDNA array and semiquantitative RT-PCR. Vaginal cryosections were analyzed by in situ hybridization for cystatin C transcript and by immunocytochemistry for the protein. E2 treatment significantly (5-fold; P < 0.05) inc...
Artificial immune system based DSTATCOM control for an electric ship power system

Distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) is a shunt compensation device which is generally used to solve power quality problems in distribution systems. In an all-electric ship power system, these power quality problems mainly arise due to the pulsed loads, which causes the degradation of the entire system performance. This paper presents the application of DSTATCOM to improve the power quality in a ship power system during and after pulsed loads. The control strategy of the DSTATCOM plays an important role in maintaining the voltage at the point of common coupling. A novel adaptive control strategy for the DSTATCOM based on artificial immune system (AIS) is proposed. The optimal parameters of the controller are first found using particle swarm optimization. This provides a sort of innate immunity to common system disturbances. For unusual system disturbances, these optimal parameters are modified online, thus providing adaptive immunity in the control system. To evaluate the performance of the DSTATCOM and the AIS adaptive controller, a ship power system is developed in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The effectiveness of the DSTATCOM and the AIS controller is examined for pulsed loads of different magnitudes and durations.
I Feel, Therefore, I Learn: The Role of Emotion in Self‐Directed Learning

It is rare to find the emotional component of self-directed learning discussed explicitly in the literature. This lack is particularly glaring given the interest sparked by recent brain research concerning the importance of emotion in all types of learning as well as by the dramatic increase in self-directed learning in the emotionally charged context of health care. The purpose of this paper is to address this void and to present an interactive model of self-directed learning that positions emotion in this type of experience. Support for the model is presented by integrating information from diverse bodies of literature that contribute to understanding the link between learning and emotion. The resulting model provides a more comprehensive and practical tool for understanding self-directed learning. The essential premise of the model is that context, content, learning, and process each carry an inherent emotional load that is mediated by the characteristics of the individual learner. My research has focused on the self-directed learning of men and women facing medical crises (Rager, 2003; Rager 2004; Rager, 2006; Rager, 2007). As the participants described their experiences, it became apparent that their emotions had played a significant role in their learning. Sometimes emotion served as a motivator for learning and sometimes their fear prevented them from being able to process information. In all cases, however, emotion was a factor in their selfeducation. Those studies of the experiences of women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer have served as the impetus for delving more deeply into the role of emotion in self-directed learning.
Situated Learning and Engagement in Distance Education

Student motivation is correlated with engagement. Increased engagement results in increased time on task which is expected to result in learning gains. Brewster and Fager (Increasing student engagement and motivation: From time on task to homework [online]. Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Retrieved from http://www.nwrel.org/request/oct00/textonly.html, 2000, p. 7) presented a list of suggestions on how educators can design more engaging in-class activities expected to increase time on task including the following: Ensure course materials relate to students’ lives and highlight ways learning can be applied in real-life situations, Allow students to have some degree of control over learning, Assign challenging but achievable tasks for all students, including at-risk, remedial, and learning disabled students, Arouse students’ curiosity about the topic being studied, and Design projects that allow students to share new knowledge with others. Educational research has explored the potential role virtual environments can play in creating engaging learning experiences. Additionally, these virtual environments allow for situational learning which model real-world experiences. This experiential learning experience is the basis of epistemic games.
Big data: motivating the development of an advanced database systems course

The creation of massive data sets, commonly referred to as Big Data, has motivated the development of new database systems and techniques for managing, monitoring, querying, and analyzing data [5]. As data sizes grow, so do the technologies developed to the meet this new demand, which in turn generates new employment opportunities for graduating students. Preparing students for these new positions requires the integration of these new techniques and methodologies into the curriculum. The growth of Big Data is motivating the development of advanced database courses. This paper presents an approach to creating such a course using flexible modules.
Association between diet-related inflammation, all-cause, all-cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality, with special focus on prediabetics: findings from NHANES III

Chronic inflammation is associated with increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes. The role of pro-inflammatory diet in the risk of cancer mortality and CVD mortality in prediabetics is unclear. We examined the relationship between diet-associated inflammation, as measured by dietary inflammatory index (DII) score, and mortality, with special focus on prediabetics. This prospective cohort study used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). We categorized 13,280 eligible participants, ages 20–90 years, according to glycosylated hemoglobin (HgbA1c) level and identified 2681 with prediabetes, defined as a glycosylated hemoglobin percentage of 5.7–6.4. Computation of DII scores and all statistical analyses were conducted in 2015. The DII was computed based on baseline dietary intake assessed using 24-h dietary recalls (1988–1994). Mortality was determined from the National Death Index records through 2006. Over follow-up ranging between 135 and 168 person-months, a total of 3016 deaths were identified, including 676 cancer, 192 lung cancer, 176 digestive-tract cancer, and 1328 CVD deaths. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios. The prevalence of prediabetes was 20.19 %. After controlling for age, sex, race, HgbA1c, current smoking, physical activity, BMI, and systolic blood pressure, DII scores in tertile III (vs tertile I) was significantly associated with mortality from all causes (HR 1.39, 95 % CI 1.13, 1.72), CVD (HR 1.44, 95 % CI 1.02, 2.04), all cancers (HR 2.02, 95 % CI 1.27, 3.21), and digestive-tract cancer (HR 2.89, 95 % CI 1.08, 7.71). Findings for lung cancer (HR 2.01, 95 % CI 0.93, 4.34) suggested a likely effect. These results were moderately enhanced after additional adjustment for serum low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride and following eliminating deaths during the first year. A pro-inflammatory diet, as indicated by higher DII scores, is associated with an increased risk of all-cause, CVD, all-cancer, and digestive-tract cancer mortality among prediabetic subjects.
The State of Interventions for Sibling Conflict and Aggression: A Systematic Review:

Sibling conflict and aggression is often a pervasive part of family life that parents want help managing and can have negative effects on children's well-being. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate current research regarding programs to reduce sibling conflict and aggression and promote positive sibling relationships. Online databases, reference lists, and Google Scholar were searched using key words and inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. The search located five unique studies of programs focused on school-aged children. Heterogeneity of the studies precluded meta-analysis, but characteristics of the studies were systematically described. Three interventions were aimed at directly improving children's social skills and two interventions trained parents on mediation techniques to use during sibling conflicts. Overall, of the four studies that included assessment of children's social skills, the results were positive. Two of the three studies that evaluated sibling relationship quality demonstrated improved sibling interactions compared with the control group. With further research and evidentiary support, these programs have promise to modify sibling behaviors as part of current parenting education programs or as a stand-alone program to address sibling conflict and aggression.
Diaphragmatic Plication for Eventration

Diaphragmatic eventration is a congenital defect of the muscular portion of a hemidiaphragm that eventually leads to hemidiaphragm elevation and dysfunction. The clinical diagnosis is established solely by hemidiaphragmatic elevation of unknown etiology on imaging studies. The clinical presentation of symptomatic diaphragmatic eventration and paralysis may be indistinguishable and diaphragmatic plication is the treatment of choice for both conditions.
BOTTOM DISSIPATION IN FINITE-DEPTH WATER WAVES

The dissipation of wave energy by various bottom mechanisms plays an important role in the spectral transformation of waves as they propagate from deep to shallow water. Three bottom dissipation mechanisms are discussed. The bottom friction mechanism is investigated in detail and a method for calculating the friction coefficient is proposed. The method is tested by comparison with field measurements. Dissipation due to percolation and bottom motion are also discussed. The magnitude of dissipation rates induced by the different mechanisms are compared under various wave and bottom conditions.
Bridging Calorimetry and Simulation through Precise Calculations of Cucurbituril-Guest Binding Enthalpies.

We used microsecond time scale molecular dynamics simulations to compute, at high precision, binding enthalpies for cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) with eight guests in aqueous solution. The results correlate well with experimental data from previously published isothermal titration calorimetry studies, and decomposition of the computed binding enthalpies by interaction type provides plausible mechanistic insights. Thus, dispersion interactions appear to play a key role in stabilizing these complexes, due at least in part to the fact that their packing density is greater than that of water. On the other hand, strongly favorable Coulombic interactions between the host and guests are compensated by unfavorable solvent contributions, leaving relatively modest electrostatic contributions to the binding enthalpies. The better steric fit of the aliphatic guests into the circular host appears to explain why their binding enthalpies tend to be more favorable than those of the more planar aromatic guests. The present calcul...
Calcaneofibular Ligament Transfer for Recurrent Peroneal Tendon Subluxation in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients.

Peroneal tendon subluxation is an uncommon cause of lateral ankle pain and instability but can be disabling for some young patients. Surgical management may be required to restore function for patients who fail nonoperative management. The purpose of this study was to determine the functional outcomes after surgical management of peroneal tendon subluxation in pediatric and adolescent patients. A retrospective review of patients presenting to our institution over a 10-year period yielded 18 cases of recurrent subluxation refractory to nonoperative management in 14 children or young adults (mean age 15.0 y). All patients failed nonoperative management and were treated operatively with isolated calcaneofibular ligament transfer to construct a new soft tissue restraint for the peroneal tendons. Patients were evaluated clinically and sent validated questionnaires, including the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale. All 18 ankles of 14 patients had minimum 2-year follow-up. Ten of 18 ankles (55.6%) returned the outcome surveys at an average of 5.7 years after the index procedure (range, 2. 0 to 9.7 y). The average FAAM activities of daily living score was 93.5 (±2.9) and the sports subscale was 77.8 (±6.1). The mean AOFAS subjective scaled score was 84.3 (±4.5). All patients returned to sports and recreational activity. Complications included 1 case of recurrent subluxation (1/18, 5.5%) treated with revision to a Chrisman-Snook procedure and 4 ankles (4/18, 22.2%) with stiffness or arthrofibrosis treated with a secondary procedure of peroneal tendon release or lysis of adhesions. Surgical management with rerouting of the peroneal tendons under the calcaneofibular ligament appears to be safe and effective for young patients with chronic peroneal tendon subluxation. It provides a low rate of recurrent subluxation, excellent stability, and good long-term functional outcomes. However, the potential for postoperative stiffness appears to be a limitation to the procedure and necessitates aggressive physical therapy to maintain ankle motion. Level IV— retrospective case series.
Constitutive Cases: Marbury v. Madison Meets Van Gend & Loos

Two of the most important constitutional decisions in history, Marbury v. Madison and Van Gend & Loos, share common issues and reach similar results. Marbury is as well known to U.S. jurists as Van Gend is to European jurists. However few people are familiar with both decisions. This article presents a comparison of the two decisions to see what can be discovered by the comparison. It concludes that the two decisions take different routes to the same goal but that Van Gend is both bolder and more defensible. Thus the comparison may provide some creative insights to jurists on both sides of the atlantic. There is something to learn from both decisions and the different methods they employ are complementary.
Uncertainty Analysis and Applycation on Efficiency Evaluation for Oil Transportation Pump

The efficiency is a primary evaluating indicator for oil transportation pump. The quality of measured parameters influences the system efficiency greatly.The analysis compendium of uncertainty was introduced. Then, three oil transportation pumps is employed as an example to illustrate the proposed method.
Design of Visible Watermarking System Based on VC++ and MATLAB

Using of technology of Matcom achieves VC++ and MATLAB mixes programs in visible watermarking system software designing. VC++ is used to develop friendly interaction interface,read,display,and save images. MATLAB is applied to develop digital watermarking algorithm. Using Matcom to achieve that VC++ calls the program of MATLAB,and the method disconnects from MATLAB. The algorithm combines MATLAB algorithm which has numerical calculation,supporting powerful graphics,image processing functions,and VC++ has visualization,implementation speed,strong confidentiality programming features. The method is convenient for users and enhances the security of the algorithm. So the theory of digital watermarking can be used in the practice.
The management of severe urinary incontinence in patients with myelodysplasia by implantation of the AS 791/792 urinary sphincter device.

AbstractTwenty-four patients with gross sphincter incontinence owing to myelomeningocele have had implantation of the AS 791/792 artificial urinary sphincter. In 22 patients (92 per cent) urinary control was achieved and in 1 continence has been maintained 40 months after implantation. No deleterious effects on the urinary tract were observed in the patients who are continent or in the 2 in whom the implantation failed because of bladder neck cuff erosion.
Constructive Threshold Logic Addition

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the constructive results obtained over the last twelve years for the addition of two binary numbers using threshold logic gates. Such solutions are intended for very practical VLSI implementations. A comparison of nine different solutions is included.
Current status of PTP-based therapeutics

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation regulates virtually all aspects of cellular function. Proper levels of protein tyrosine phosphorylation are controlled by protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Deregulation of tyrosine phosphorylation-mediated signaling is a major cause of cancer. Indeed, PTKs represent an important class of anti-cancer drug targets with more than 20 drugs already approved by the FDA. Several PTPs are also implicated in tumor onset, progression and metastasis, and have attracted attention as potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. The most recognized members of the PTP family include PTP1B, SHP2, CDC25, and PRLs. PTP1B plays a positive role in breast cancer progression; SHP2 germ line and somatic gain-of-function mutations cause Noonan Syndrome, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and solid tumors; CDC25 regulates cell cycle progression and is overexpressed in a number of human cancers; and the PRLs are overexpressed in cancer and have been linked to tumor metastasis. Hence, inhibitors directed against these PTPs can serve as potential novel anti-cancer agents. This chapter provides an overview of the mechanisms of these oncogenic PTPs in promoting cancer, the approaches for inhibitor discovery, as well as the current status of drug development targeting these phosphatases.
Early termination of adjuvant therapy for breast and colorectal cancers

6610 Background. Recent patterns-of-care studies report that cancer patients often do not complete prescribed therapy, with potentially important implications for clinical outcomes including surviv...
HIV Glycoprotein Gp120 Impairs Fast Axonal Transport by Activating Tak1 Signaling Pathways

Sensory neuropathies are the most common neurological complication of HIV. Of these, distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) is directly caused by HIV infection and characterized by length-dependent axonal degeneration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Mechanisms for axonal degeneration in DSP remain unclear, but recent experiments revealed that the HIV glycoprotein gp120 is internalized and localized within axons of DRG neurons. Based on these findings, we investigated whether intra-axonal gp120 might impair fast axonal transport (FAT), a cellular process critical for appropriate maintenance of the axonal compartment. Significantly, we found that gp120 severely impaired both anterograde and retrograde FAT. Providing a mechanistic basis for these effects, pharmacological experiments revealed an involvement of various phosphotransferases in this toxic effect, including members of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways (Tak-1, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK)), inhibitor of kappa-B-kinase 2 (IKK2), and PP1. Biochemical experiments and axonal outgrowth assays in cell lines and primary cultures extended these findings. Impairments in neurite outgrowth in DRG neurons by gp120 were rescued using a Tak-1 inhibitor, implicating a Tak-1 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in gp120 neurotoxicity. Taken together, these observations indicate that kinase-based impairments in FAT represent a novel mechanism underlying gp120 neurotoxicity consistent with the dying-back degeneration seen in DSP. Targeting gp120-based impairments in FAT with specific kinase inhibitors might provide a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent axonal degeneration in DSP.
Waste management and climate change mitigation

Waste management has been identified as a viable option for mitigation of climate change (IPCC, 2007; UBA; 2011). This presentation surmises that buildup of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to alarming level–corresponding to CO2 concentration in excess of 400 ppm–would not have occurred if we had prevented release of environmental pollutants by managing the waste in an effective manner. As a society, we failed to manage our waste in an environmentally-safe way, which first resulted in causing pollution of land and water, followed by air. Even after becoming aware of the severity of land and water degradation around the middle of the 20th century, atmospheric pollution remained ignored because the turbulence in the troposphere quickly and effectively dispersed the polluting emissions, making it temporarily invisible. This out-of-sight-out-of-mind thinking led to the slow but sure accumulation of harmful substances in the atmosphere to the point that its natural self-regulating ability got compromised resulting in h...
ICU Admission Source as a Predictor of Mortality for Patients With Sepsis

Purpose:Sepsis is the leading noncardiac cause of intensive care unit (ICU) death. Pre-ICU admission site may be associated with mortality of ICU patients with sepsis. This study quantifies mortali...
Study on the Clogging of Wastewater Soil Infiltration System

Clogging is often encountered in wastewater infiltration land treatment systems. With the increase of infiltration layer depth, clogging situation caused by interception and adsorption of suspended substances or by growth of microorganism tends to decrease in negative exponential form. Whether the clogging appears in inner systems or not, it is related closely to the compositions of influent, the parameters of infiltration mediums and the activity of microorganism. In this paper, main factors causing the clogging problem and measures to be taken to solve those problems were discussed. The process, characteristics, and principles of wastewater infiltration land treatment systems were introduced, and the technical challenges in application and corresponding solutions were also presented.
Osmotic Compounds Enhance Antibiotic Efficacy against Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm Communities.

Biofilm-associated infections are a clinical challenge, in part because a hydrated matrix protects the bacterial community from antibiotics. Herein, we evaluated how different osmotic compounds (maltodextrin, sucrose, and polyethylene glycol [PEG]) enhance antibiotic efficacy against Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm communities. Established (24-h) test tube biofilms (strain ATCC 17978) were treated with osmotic compounds in the presence or absence of 10× the MIC of different antibiotics (50 μg/ml tobramycin, 20 μg/ml ciprofloxacin, 300 μg/ml chloramphenicol, 30 μg/ml nalidixic acid, or 100 μg/ml erythromycin). Combining antibiotics with hypertonic concentrations of the osmotic compounds for 24 h reduced the number of biofilm bacteria by 5 to 7 log (P 0.82; P < 0.002), and the relationship was generalizable for biofilms formed by A. baumannii and Escherichia coli K-12. Augmenting topical antibiotic therapies with a low-mass hypertonic treatment may enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against wound biofilms, particularly when using low-mass hydrophilic antibiotics.IMPORTANCE Biofilms form a barrier that protects bacteria from environmental insults, including exposure to antibiotics. We demonstrated that multiple osmotic compounds can enhance antibiotic efficacy against Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm communities, but viscosity is a limiting factor, and the most effective compounds have lower molecular mass. The synergism between osmotic compounds and antibiotics is also dependent on the hydrophobicity and mass of the antibiotics. The statistical models presented herein provide a basis for predicting the optimal combination of osmotic compounds and antibiotics against surface biofilms communities.
Synthesis and Investigation of Macrocyclic CrIII Bis(alkynyl) Complexes: Structural and Spectroscopic Properties

The synthesis and characterization of four new Cr(III)-bis-alkynyl complexes bearing the macrocyclic tetraaza ligand DMC (DMC = 5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) are reported. The complexes trans-[Cr(DMC)(C2R)2]X (R = Ph ([1]X), Fc ([2]X), X = Cl, ClO4; C2H ([3]X′); X′ = ClO4, BPh4) and cis-[Cr(DMC)(C4TMS)2]Cl ([4]Cl) were studied using UV-vis and FT-IR spectroscopies, and their identities were verified with ESI-MS and elemental analysis. The three trans-complexes, [1]Cl, [2](ClO4), and [3](BPh4), were structurally characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed a pseudo-octahedral geometry around the Cr center with the nitrogen atoms occupying the equatorial plane and the alkynyl ligands residing in the apical positions. Spectroscopic analysis of [1]Cl, [3](BPh4) and [4]Cl shows highly structured ¬d-d bands between 320 and 500 nm. All Cr(III) complexes reported herein are emissive, and detailed studies were performed for [1]Cl, [3](BPh4) and [4]Cl, yielding both phosphorescence lifetimes (77 K) of 380 μs, 358 μs, and 160 μs for, respectively, and room temperature quantum yields of 0.01% for complex [1]Cl and 0.15% for complex [4]Cl.
Rapamycin reversal of VEGF-C–driven lymphatic anomalies in the respiratory tract

Lymphatic malformations are serious but poorly understood conditions that present therapeutic challenges. The goal of this study was to compare strategies for inducing regression of abnormal lymphatics and explore underlying mechanisms. CCSP-rtTA/tetO-VEGF-C mice, in which doxycycline regulates VEGF-C expression in the airway epithelium, were used as a model of pulmonary lymphangiectasia. After doxycycline was stopped, VEGF-C expression returned to normal, but lymphangiectasia persisted for at least 9 months. Inhibition of VEGFR-2/VEGFR-3 signaling, Notch, β-adrenergic receptors, or autophagy and antiinflammatory steroids had no noticeable effect on the amount or severity of lymphangiectasia. However, rapamycin inhibition of mTOR reduced lymphangiectasia by 76% within 7 days without affecting normal lymphatics. Efficacy of rapamycin was not increased by coadministration with the other agents. In prevention trials, rapamycin suppressed VEGF-C-driven mTOR phosphorylation and lymphatic endothelial cell sprouting and proliferation. However, in reversal trials, no lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation was present to block in established lymphangiectasia, and rapamycin did not increase caspase-dependent apoptosis. However, rapamycin potently suppressed Prox1 and VEGFR-3. These experiments revealed that lymphangiectasia is remarkably resistant to regression but is responsive to rapamycin, which rapidly reduces and normalizes the abnormal lymphatics without affecting normal lymphatics.
ErbB3 drives mammary epithelial survival and differentiation during pregnancy and lactation

During pregnancy, as the mammary gland prepares for synthesis and delivery of milk to newborns, a luminal mammary epithelial cell (MEC) subpopulation proliferates rapidly in response to systemic hormonal cues that activate STAT5A. While the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB4 is required for STAT5A activation in MECs during pregnancy, it is unclear how ErbB3, a heterodimeric partner of ErbB4 and activator of phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling, contributes to lactogenic expansion of the mammary gland. We assessed mRNA expression levels by expression microarray of mouse mammary glands harvested throughout pregnancy and lactation. To study the role of ErbB3 in mammary gland lactogenesis, we used transgenic mice expressing WAP-driven Cre recombinase to generate a mouse model in which conditional ErbB3 ablation occurred specifically in alveolar mammary epithelial cells (aMECs). Profiling of RNA from mouse MECs isolated throughout pregnancy revealed robust Erbb3 induction during mid-to-late pregnancy, a time point when aMECs proliferate rapidly and undergo differentiation to support milk production. Litters nursed by ErbB3 KO dams weighed significantly less when compared to litters nursed by ErbB3 WT dams. Further analysis revealed substantially reduced epithelial content, decreased aMEC proliferation, and increased aMEC cell death during late pregnancy. Consistent with the potent ability of ErbB3 to activate cell survival through the PI3K/Akt pathway, we found impaired Akt phosphorylation in ErbB3 KO samples, as well as impaired expression of STAT5A, a master regulator of lactogenesis. Constitutively active Akt rescued cell survival in ErbB3-depleted aMECs, but failed to restore STAT5A expression or activity. Interestingly, defects in growth and survival of ErbB3 KO aMECs as well as Akt phosphorylation, STAT5A activity, and expression of milk-encoding genes observed in ErbB3 KO MECs progressively improved between late pregnancy and lactation day 5. We found a compensatory upregulation of ErbB4 activity in ErbB3 KO mammary glands. Enforced ErbB4 expression alleviated the consequences of ErbB3 ablation in aMECs, while combined ablation of both ErbB3 and ErbB4 exaggerated the phenotype. These studies demonstrate that ErbB3, like ErbB4, enhances lactogenic expansion and differentiation of the mammary gland during pregnancy, through activation of Akt and STAT5A, two targets crucial for lactation.
Example of Sacrificial Unit Using Two Different Click Reactions in Coupling and Decoupling (CAD) Chemistry

An example of a specific coupling and decoupling (CAD) chemistry is described. It takes advantage of propargyl acrylate as a sacrificial unit (SU). The addition of a selected compound representing a molecular unit equipped with an azide functionality to the terminal triple bond of the SU and another compound acting as a molecular unit equipped with a thiol functionality to the conjugated double bond of the SU proceeded at very good yields. The construct containing two molecular units can be decoupled using a few different reactions and the decoupling can take place at two positions.
The Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP™©) – Innovation, Dissemination and Implementation

The Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP™©) is a standardized method for the assessment of swallowing physiology from videofluoroscopic imaging used by teams of speech-language pathol...
Scribal Correction Dots on an Unpublished Elephantine Aramaic Papyrus Fragment

In a box of unpublished Aramaic papyri from the 1906–1907 German excavations of Elephantine there is a small fragment (p. 23141) that uses scribal marks in a margin or vacat to identify a textual edit. This is the first example of Aramaic editorial marks of this type from the Persian period, and demonstrates a previously unidentified scribal practice.
Measuring the Metabolism of the Benthic Ecosystem

Determining and modeling the flow of energy and matter in the food web is perceived to be a key to our understanding of the productivity and other properties of the ecosystem (Platt et al., 1981). The measurement of metabolic rates has been a major part of our undertaking to determine energy flow. The oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production of individual organisms as well as representative samples of communities have been our primary measures of metabolic rates. In the last decade, the activity of the electron transport system (Packard, 1971) has gained popularity and has even been preferred by some (Bamstedt, 1980).
Hard time and health care: the squeeze on medicine behind bars.

Prison physicians confront internal and external pressures in attempting to deliver quality care to incarcerated patients. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Standort und Bedeutung der Persönlichkeitsforschung

Wie hangt die Personlichkeitsforschung mit anderen Sozialwissenschaften zusammen? Genau wie die Personlichkeitspsychologen interessieren sich auch andere Sozialwissenschaftler fur die Prognose des menschlichen Verhaltens. Der Politikwissenschaftler mochte wissen, wie ein Individuum wahlen wird; der Soziologe beschaftigt sich damit, wie das Individuum von Normen beeinflust wird und wie sich Gruppen verhalten; der Kulturanthropologe konzentriert sich vielleicht darauf, wie das Individuum durch die Kultur oder durch Veranderungen in der Kultur beruhrt wird. Auf dem Gebiet der Psychologie sind die Personlichkeitseigenschaften wichtige Pradiktoren fur das Verhalten; und zwar beschaftigen sich Spezialisten der verschiedensten Bereiche der Psychologie damit, z. B. fur Fragestellungen uber Erziehung, Motivation, Gruppeneinflusse, klinische Probleme, Arbeitspsychologie und Betriebspsychologie.
Fate of pathogenic organisms in a whey beverage treated with high pressure processing

The resistance of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 to high pressure processing (HPP) in an acidic whey protein beverage (pH 3.8) was evaluated. Five strains of each pathogen were grown to stationary phase at 35°C following two 24-hour transfers. Cells were harvested by centrifugation (2450 rpm, 25°C, 15 min), washed and re-suspended in 0.85% (w/v) sodium chloride. The whey beverage was inoculated with approximately 6-7 log10 CFU/mL with one of the cocktails. Samples were subjected to pressurization treatments for 2, 4, 6, or 8 min at pressures ranging from 200 to 500 MPa depending on organism sensitivity to HPP. Cell survivors were enumerated by serial dilution of the beverage in buffered peptone water (to reduce acidic beverage effect) and plated on tryptic soy agar with 0.6 % yeast extract (TSAYE) and selective media: Modified Oxford Medium (MOX) for L. monocytogenes, Sorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC) for E. coli, and Xylose Lactose Tergitol 4 agar (XLT-4) for Salmonella spp. D-values were calculated from log transformed survival curves. The E. coli 0157:H7 cocktail exhibited the greatest resistance to high pressure over L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. A shelf life study of E. coli 0157:H7 in a whey beverage containing 50 ppm nisin, 50 ppm nisin and 0.04% (w/v) potassium sorbate, 0.04% (w/v) potassium sorbate and a control (without nisin and/or potassium sorbate) was performed. The beverage was stored at 25°C following HPP at 400 MPa for 4 minutes. Samples were assayed by spread plate on TSAYE and SMAC on days 0, 1, 3, and 5 following pressure treatment. Five mL of the remaining sample was mixed with sterile double strength tryptic soy broth with 0.6 % yeast extract (TSBYE) for enrichment
Topical Vancomycin in Pediatric Spine Surgery Does Not Reduce Surgical Site Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Retrospective cohort study. Evaluate the effectiveness of topical vancomycin in reducing surgical site infection (SSI) in pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF). There has been increased interest in use of topical vancomycin to reduce SSI in spine surgery with mixed results reported in the literature. In Summer 2012, our institution implemented the use of topical vancomycin in definitive primary and revision PSF as part of our infection control protocol. After IRB approval, a consecutive series of 527 patients (538 procedures) undergoing PSF January 2010-December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed to identify the occurrence of SSI. Based on published results from a similar study, an a priori power analysis determined 190 patients were needed per group to achieve 0.90 power. In 228 procedures, topical vancomycin was used (Vanco) and in 310 procedures it was not (No Vanco). Exclusion criteria were 18 years at time of surgery, and combined anterior and posterior fusion. Two-sample t tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and Fisher exact tests were used to compare the cohorts. Groups were similar in age, sex, implant density, fusion length, risk categorization, and surgical time (p > .05). No Vanco had significantly higher blood loss and incidence and amount of intraoperative allogenic transfusion (p < .001). Incidence of SSI was 3% (7/228) in Vanco and 2% (6/310) in No Vanco (p = .4099). Six of the 7 SSIs occurred in high-risk patients in Vanco and 5 of 6 occurred in high-risk patients in No Vanco (p = 1). Reoperation within 90 days was 6% (13/228) in Vanco and 4% (11/310) in No Vanco (p = .2912). Occurrence of other complications was similar between Vanco, 3% (7/228), and No Vanco, 2% (5/310). Use of topical vancomycin did not reduce incidence of SSI for pediatric patients undergoing PSF at our institution. Level III.
Feasibility study of gravity gradiometry monitoring of CO2 sequestration in deep reservoirs using surface and borehole data

Abstract Geophysical monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO2) injections in a deep reservoir has become an important component of carbon capture and storage projects. Until recently, the seismic method was the dominant technique used for reservoir monitoring. However, the cost of seismic surveys makes this method prohibitive in monitoring sequestration projects where there is not a direct profit. Moreover, some environments present challenges for seismic acquisition, as in urban areas. In this chapter we present a feasibility study of permanent gravity gradiometry monitoring of CO2 sequestration in a deep reservoir using a novel approach involving both borehole and surface measurements. The interpretation is based on joint iterative migration imaging of the surface and borehole data. The advantage of this method is that the surface data provide a good estimate of the horizontal extent of the injection zone, while the borehole data control the depth of the target, which increases the sensitivity and resolution of the method. We illustrate the effectiveness of the gravity gradiometry method by computer simulating CO2 injection monitoring in the Kevin Dome sequestration site in Montana, United States.