cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INVESTIGATIONS OF LOW FREQUENCY STICK–SLIP MOTION: EXPERIMENTS AND NUMERICAL MODELLING

Abstract Dry frictional contact between two steel surfaces in a harmonically forced spring–mass system is investigated both experimentally and numerically. The experimental set-up is somewhat novel in that the spring–mass system is excited through the frictional interface, facilitating detailed study of interactions between the system's dynamic characteristics and the stick–slip motion observed at the interface. A characterization of the effect of wear upon observed stick–slip is given, resulting in the identification of three sliding regimes displaying varying degrees of wear. Subsequent attention is focused primarily on the first of these regimes, the low wear regime, which features low frequency stick–slip oscillations that can be measured quite reliably. This work particularly emphasizes the nature of transients entering and exiting stick phases, with several representations given of the evolution of these transients as control parameters are changed. Multiperiod and chaotic motions of the mass are also observed, with routes to chaos being qualitatively similar for a wide range of system parameters. The work also presents some numerical results in support of the experimental work, utilizing a rate- and state-dependent friction model proposed previously by the authors. It is seen that this model yields significantly better predictions than can a simple Coulomb representation.
Twisted perylene stereodimers reveal chiral molecular assembly codes.

Unique perylene diastereomeric linear and cyclic dimers were synthesized from twisted perylene monomers, revealing that π-stacking stereoisomerism imparted specific intermolecular self-assembly and intramolecular folding. Only the homochiral twisted tetrachloroperylene monomers cyclized via a cooperative reaction, forming the homochiral diastereomers. The heterochiral tetrachloroperylene monomers proceeded through a stepwise reaction and yielded a linear heterochiral dimer, which equilibrated with the linear homochiral dimers. The linear homochiral dimers cyclized to produce the same cyclic homochiral diastereomers. These results demonstrated that homochiral and heterochiral self-assemblies were two distinct molecular codes, directing two specific chemical pathways. The homochiral cyclic dimers remain isomerically pure at −20 °C but can be interconverted to the heterochiral cyclic dimer meso compound at room temperature. The diastereomers were readily separated by HPLC. While driven by solvophobic forces,...
Anaesthesia for cardioversion

Summary Carcliocersion is a nzinor procedure requiring sedation and uiiulgesia. HobLwer, it is often pei;fornied out-of-hours in reniote sites hp inexperienced Nn(Itj.).tIit~ti.)t.s. An understanding is required both of' the pathoph?.siolog}. uizderlying cardiac arrh?~thniius rind of the technical side of' d<fihrillation equipment, including electrical .sqfelj,. Patients should huce their roagulation stutus und electrolyte balance checked prior to the procedure to reduce the likelihood of'coniplications. Alnzost all the arailahle anaesthetic agents 1zac.e been used ,for cur-dioiwsion in the past, with carying degrees of success. The anaesthetic agent chosen fiw pntients undergoing curdiorersion must prooide unalgesia and sedation, cause the leasi cardio~~asculau cotiipromise po.ssih1e and .still enable rapid recocer.v. Propofbl muj he the closest anaesthetic agent to this itleal curreiztlj, aidable, although careful titrution of aiiy ugent chosen is also irnpor-tant. Cardioiwsion niuy he pecfi)rnied us an eniergency, including in the pregnant patient, proriding saf fe unaesthetic practice is ,followed.
Ethnic Emancipation and Urban Land Claims: Disenfranchisement of the Ga of Accra, Ghana

Several Sub-Saharan African countries have experienced an upsurge of land claims by various ethnic groups whose lands were acquired by both the colonial and the post-colonial State through compulsory acquisition. Ethnicity has been used as the basis of emancipating some ethnic groups from perceived disenfranchisement and impoverishment caused by the State acquiring their land. In some cases such land claims result in violence that threatens the social fabric of these countries. An urban example of such a land claim has been made by the GaDangme Council (GDC) in Ghana. This paper assesses the land claim by GDC and argues that its claim of disenfranchisement is more a perception than reality. The paper also investigates why GDC perceives the Ga ethnic group as impoverished and disenfranchised. It concludes by providing structural and pragmatic ways for solving problems centred on Ga land acquisition by the State. Resolving the Ga case may provide lessons for other countries experiencing similar problems.
Potential consequences of the coqui frog invasion in Hawaii

The Puerto Rican frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui , has invaded Hawaii and has negatively impacted the state’s multimillion dollar floriculture, nursery and tourist industries; however, little is known about the ecological consequences of the invasion. Using data from Puerto Rico and Hawaii, the authors summarize the potential consequences of the invasion and describe future research needs. It could be predicted that the coqui would reduce the abundance of Hawaii’s endemic invertebrates. However, data suggest that coquis are mostly consuming non-native invertebrates, and not invertebrate pests, such as mosquitoes and termites. Endemic invertebrates are likely to represent a portion of the coqui diet, but it remains uncertain which endemic invertebrates are most threatened by coqui predation and whether there will be indirect effects that benefit or harm them. It could be predicted that coquis would compete with endemic birds for invertebrate prey, but there is presently little overlap in the habitats used by coquis and endemic birds. Although, coquis may make bird re-invasion into lowland ecosystems more difficult; alternatively, coquis could serve as an additional food source for some endemic birds. Finally, it could be predicted that coquis serve as a food source for endemic-bird predators, such as rats and mongoose, and bolster their abundance. Preliminary data suggest that coquis will not bolster rat or mongoose populations. Managing coqui populations in Hawaii has been a challenge. A population has not yet been eradicated using citric acid, the only federally approved pesticide for coquis. It is unlikely that coquis will ever be eradicated from the islands of Hawaii and Maui, where there are now hundreds of populations. Quick and severe responses to new introductions may be the only effective means of containing the spread of the coqui.
Infection prevention practices in neonatal intensive care units reporting to the national healthcare safety network.

Background. Patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at high risk for healthcare-associated infections. Variability in reported infection rates among NICUs exists, possibly related to differences in prevention strategies. A better understanding of current prevention practices may help identify prevention gaps and areas for further research. Methods We surveyed infection control staff in NICUs reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) to assess strategies used to prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission and central line–associated bloodstream infections in NICUs. Results Staff from 162 of 342 NICUs responded (response rate, 47.3%). Most (92.3%) NICUs use central line insertion and maintenance bundles, but maintenance practices varied, including agents used for antisepsis and frequency of dressing changes. Forty-two percent reported routine screening for MRSA colonization upon admission for all patients. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) use for central line care for at least 1 indication (central line insertion, dressing changes, or port/cap antisepsis) was reported in 82 NICUs (51.3%). Among sixty-five NICUs responding to questions on CHG use restrictions, 46.2% reported no restrictions. Conclusions Our survey illustrated heterogeneity of CLABSI and MRSA prevention practices and underscores the need for further research to define optimal strategies and evidence-based prevention recommendations for neonates. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(9):1126-1132
A predictive self-tuning fuzzy-logic feedback rate controller

This paper addresses the design and analysis of an end-to-end rate-based feedback flow control algorithm motivated by the available bit rate (ABR) service in wide-area asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. Recognizing that the explicit feedback rate at time t will not affect the ABR buffer until time t+D for some D/spl ges/0, our approach is to first predict the ABR buffer status at time t+D, then base fuzzy-logic rate control decisions on these predicted values, and finally tune the controller parameters using gradient descent methods. Simulations show that this predictive self-tuning fuzzy-logic (PSTF) control scheme is efficient, stable, and outperforms other proposed ABR rate controllers in a variety of network environments. With delays corresponding to a US coast-to-coast connection, the PSTF controller can maintain high link utilization, avoid buffer overflows, and provide fair allocation of resources.
EFFECT OF COOKING METHODS ON VARIOUS QUALITIES OF PORK LOIN

SUMMARY Forty-eight pork loins, equally divided into three quality categories: 1) pale, soft, exudative; 2) normal; 3) dark firm were selected from the cutting line of a commercial processing plant. Each loin was cut into four roasts and the roasts randomized for four cooking methods: 1) open-pan; 2) covered; 3) open to 52°C then covered with foil; 4) covered to 52°C then foil removed. All were roasted in a 177°C oven to 77°C internal temperature. A photovolt reflectometer indicated that only the value component of precooked color was significantly influenced by quality. Significant differences existed between the pale, soft, exudative (PSE) and the normal and dark firm (DF) loins for total moisture and water-holding capacity. Panel evaluations of texture and tenderness were affected by loin type, with DF having the least desirable texture and tenderness. Shear values for tenderness also indicated DF was least tender. The extracted fat content by Carver press indicated a higher amount of fat for the normal loin. Cooking methods affected the cooking time, with less time in the oven for the open-pan and open-covered methods. The covered-open pan method had the least cooking losses and less drip loss. Volatile loss was significantly different for all methods. Cooking methods did not influence the panel's score for flavor, but the open-pan and covered-open methods were detected by the panel and Carver press as significantly more juicy. Though not significantly different, the open-pan method appeared to rate better in almost all the characteristics tested.
Analog VLSI implementation of support vector machine learning and classification

We propose an analog VLSI approach to implementing the projection neural networks adapted for the support vector machine with radial-basis kernel functions, which are realized by a proposed floating-gate bump circuit with the adjustable width. Other proposed circuits include simple current mirrors and log-domain Alters. Neither resistors nor amplifiers are employed. Therefore it is suitable for large-scale neural network implementations. We show the measurement results of the bump circuit and verify the resulting analog signal processing system on the transistor level by using a SPICE simulator. The same approach can also be applied to the support vector regression. With these analog signal processing techniques, a low-power adaptive analog system without any analog-to-digital convertor but with the capability of learning, classifying, and regressing becomes feasible.
The Division of Labor Among Systems of Therapeutic Care for Children with Disabilities

This article demonstrates that there is a division of labor in therapeutic care for children with disabilities (i.e., physical, occupational, and speech/language therapy) between educational and medical systems, with educational systems providing the bulk of that care. Analyses of the 1994—1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Follow-back show that the majority of children with disabilities who received therapeutic care (75%) received those therapies only through school, whereas the remaining children received therapies only through health insurance (14%) or through other or multiple systems (11%). The majority of children who received therapies through school received speech/ language therapy, whereas most who received therapies through health insurance received physical therapy. Children served through the schools were younger and were more likely to have communication and learning limitations, compared with those who received therapies through insurance. Policy implications regarding payment...
PROTEIN DYNAMICS AND PHOTON ECHOES

In the past 10 years, much progress has been made in measuring and understanding the dynamics of the interactions of solutes and their solvent hosts (1, 2). The extraordinarily rapid timescale on which water accommodates change in the charge distribution of solutes (70% of the relaxation is complete in 30–40 fs) has been observed and described theoretically (3, 4). The majority of such studies use electronic spectroscopies such as fluorescence up-conversion and photon echo spectroscopy. The focus often has been on solvation of polar molecules in polar solvents—this is driven by coulombic interactions between the solute and the solvent. Because of the long range of the coulomb force, such measurements gloss over the details of individual interactions, an approximation that is likely quite good in homogenous fluids such as water. Indeed, this approach leads to the free energy parabolas of Marcus Theory for electron transfer and the linear response behavior of systems to perturbation. Proteins, and thus biological reactions, are quite a different story. They are strongly heterogeneous and show fluctuations over a huge range of timescales (5), and specific interactions …
A Generalizability Approach to Assessing the Effects of Ethnicity and Training on Observer Ratings of Family Interactions

This exploratory investigation assessed the utility of generalizability analyses for investigating race of coder and race of family member (‘target’) as contributors to bias in observer ratings of family interaction processes. Thirty behavioral scales were rated on three occasions during an initial 5-week (100-hour) training period. African-American and European-American coders observed videotaped interactions occurring in one African-American and one European-American parent–child dyad. For each scale, levels of rater bias and rater agreement were examined over time. Although most scales showed decreasing levels of bias with training (as expected), some did not. For scales showing a main effect for coder race, European-American coders rated targets more favorably than did African-American coders. For scales susceptible to coder race by target race interactions, coders tended to favor otherrace rather than same-race targets. Suggestions for applying the generalizability approach in future family interacti...
Shoestring: probabilistic soft error reliability on the cheap

Aggressive technology scaling provides designers with an ever increasing budget of cheaper and faster transistors. Unfortunately, this trend is accompanied by a decline in individual device reliability as transistors become increasingly susceptible to soft errors. We are quickly approaching a new era where resilience to soft errors is no longer a luxury that can be reserved for just processors in high-reliability, mission-critical domains. Even processors used in mainstream computing will soon require protection. However, due to tighter profit margins, reliable operation for these devices must come at little or no cost. This paper presents Shoestring, a minimally invasive software solution that provides high soft error coverage with very little overhead, enabling its deployment even in commodity processors with "shoestring" reliability budgets. Leveraging intelligent analysis at compile time, and exploiting low-cost, symptom-based error detection, Shoestring is able to focus its efforts on protecting statistically-vulnerable portions of program code. Shoestring effectively applies instruction duplication to protect only those segments of code that, when subjected to a soft error, are likely to result in user-visible faults without first exhibiting symptomatic behavior. Shoestring is able to recover from an additional 33.9% of soft errors that are undetected by a symptom-only approach, achieving an overall user-visible failure rate of 1.6%. This reliability improvement comes at a modest performance overhead of 15.8%.
Fading Multiple Access Channels: A Game Theoretic Perspective

We adopt a game theoretic approach for the design and analysis of distributed resource allocation algorithms in fading multiple access channels, where the users are assumed to be selfish, rational and limited by average power constraints. We show that the sum-rate optimal point on the boundary of the multiple-access channel capacity region is the unique Nash Equilibrium of the corresponding water-filling game. The base-station is then introduced as a player interested in maximizing a weighted sum of the individual rates. We propose a Stackelberg formulation in which the base-station is the designated game leader. We show that this formulation allows for achieving all the corner points of the capacity region, in addition to the sum-rate optimal point. On the negative side, we prove the non-existence of a base-station strategy in this formulation that achieves the rest of the boundary points. To overcome this limitation, we present a repeated game approach which achieves the capacity region of the fading multiple access channel. Finally, we extend our study to vector channels highlighting interesting differences between this scenario and the scalar channel case.
Youngster: a simplified introduction to computing: removing the details so that a child may program

One of the more difficult portions of learning to program is memorizing and understanding the syntactic and semantic rules associated with a language. This paper discusses how to simplify this task as well as presents a case study of a simplified implementation to include multiple variable types successfully tested on first grade students.
Pharmacokinetic profile of raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir in plasma and mucosal secretions in rhesus macaques

OBJECTIVES Pharmacokinetic studies in animal models are important for assessing the prophylactic potential of antiretroviral drugs for HIV prevention. This study sought to identify clinically relevant doses of the marketed integrase inhibitors raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir in macaques and investigate drug penetration and antiviral activity in mucosal secretions. METHODS Macaques received one oral dose of raltegravir, elvitegravir or dolutegravir alone or in combination with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate followed by drug level measurements in blood and rectal and vaginal secretions. Antiviral activity was investigated in TZM-bl cells exposed to SHIV162p3 in the presence of rectal secretions collected from treated animals. RESULTS Plasma drug concentrations with 50 mg/kg raltegravir or elvitegravir were within the range seen in humans receiving 400-800 mg of raltegravir or 800 mg of unboosted elvitegravir but lower than with 150 mg of elvitegravir boosted with cobicistat. AUC0-24 values for dolutegravir increased proportionally with the dose, with a calculated human-equivalent dose of 20 mg/kg. Elvitegravir showed the highest penetration in rectal and vaginal fluids despite the absence of pharmacological boosting, followed by raltegravir and dolutegravir. Rectal secretions collected at 24 h from treated macaques blocked infection of TZM-bl cells by 50% at dilutions of 1/1000 (raltegravir), 1/800 (dolutegravir) and >1/30 000 (elvitegravir). CONCLUSIONS We defined macaque doses of HIV integrase inhibitors that recapitulate human clinical doses, which will facilitate efficacy and dose escalation studies in macaques. High and sustained drug concentrations and activity in mucosal secretions suggest that integrase inhibitors are promising candidates for HIV prevention.
Evaluation of rotating slant-hole SPECT mammography using Monte-Carlo simulation methods

Multisegment slant-hole (MSSH) collimators provide much higher detection efficiency at a single view as compared to conventional low-energy high-resolution (LEHR) parallel-hole collimators with the same spatial resolution. The purpose of this study is to evaluate rotating MSSH (RMSSH) SPECT mammography using Monte Carlo simulation methods. We modified the SIMIND Monte Carlo code to generate RMSSH projection data including the effects of attenuation, collimator-detector response and scatter from a realistic 4-D NCAT phantom with attached breasts and lesions placed in the central, medial, and lateral regions of the breast. The projection data were reconstructed using analytic and iterative image reconstruction methods. For comparison, we examine planar scintimammography images obtained by placing an LEHR collimator with a resolution of 1 cm at 15.2 cm, which is the same as that of a four-segment slant-hole (4SSH) collimator at the center of its common volume-of-view, in close proximity to the lateral wall of the breast. Also, we simulated the inclusion of a lead shield that covers the body to keep photons emitted from the other organs from reaching the MSSH collimator. Our results indicated that, depending on the lesion location, the spatial resolution of the RMSSH SPECT images may be comparable or slightly poorer than that of the planar scintimammographic images obtained using a LEHR collimator while the lesion contrast is significantly higher at all lesion locations. Shielding of photon emissions from the other organs substantially improves the RMSSH SPECT image quality. We conclude that the Monte Carlo simulation methods are useful in evaluating the application of RMSSH SPECT to breast imaging as compared to conventional planar scintimammography and that RMSSH SPECT provides higher overall image quality.
Expression of the Tomato Pto Gene in Tobacco Enhances Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv tabaci Expressing avrPto

The Pto gene encodes a serine-threonine kinase that confers resistance in tomato to Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato strains expressing the avirulence gene avrPto. We examined the ability of Pto to function in tobacco, a species that is sexually incompatible with tomato. Evidence that a heterologous Pto-like signal transduction pathway is present in tobacco was suggested by the fact that tobacco line Wisconsin-38 exhibits a hypersensitive response after infection with P. syringae pv tabaci expressing avrPto. We introduced a Pto transgene into cultivar Wisconsin-38 and assessed the ability of transformed plants to further inhibit growth of the P. s. tabaci strain expressing avrPto. The Pto-transformed tobacco plants exhibited a significant increase in resistance to the avirulent P. s. tabaci strain compared with wild-type tobacco as indicated by (1) more rapid development of a hypersensitive resistance response at high inoculum concentrations (108 colony-forming units per mL); (2) lessened severity of disease symptoms at moderate inoculum concentrations (106 and 107 colony-forming units per mL); and (3) reduced growth of avirulent P. s. tabaci in inoculated leaves. The results indicate that essential components of a Pto-mediated signal transduction pathway are conserved in tobacco and should prompt examination of resistance gene function across even broader taxonomic distances.
Frustration-induced glass behavior in solid N2? Audio frequency dielectric measurements

High-sensitivity dielectric constant measurements of solid N 2 in the audio frequency range have revealed the existence of strong unexpected hysteresis in the high-temperature HCP phase above an onset temperature „ ) "42 K. We report a sharp kink at „ ) , observed only when the sample is annealed at 41.5(„(43 K for 6}8 h, suggesting that the thermal processes in this window of temperature are rather slow. We argue that the results are consistent with the breakdown of orientational ordering at „ ) and the onset of frustration-induced orientational glass states in the absence of site disorder above „ ) . ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 64.60.Cn; 67.00; 77.22.!d
Bayesian Technique for Reducing Uncertainty in Fatigue Failure Model

In this paper, Bayesian statistics is utilized to update uncertainty associated with the fatigue life relation. The distribution for fatigue strain at a constant load cycle is determined using the initial uncertainty from analytical prediction and likelihood functions associated with test data. The Bayesian technique is a good method to reduce uncertainty and at the same time provides a conservative estimate, given the distribution of analytical prediction errors and variability of test data. First, the distribution of analytical fatigue model error is estimated using Monte Carlo simulation with uniformly distributed parameters. Then the error distribution is progressively updated by using the test variability as a likelihood function, which is obtained from field test data. The sensitivity of estimated distribution with respect to the initial error distribution and the selected likelihood function is studied. The proposed method is applied to estimate the fatigue life of turbine blade. It is found that the proposed Bayesian technique reduces the scatteredness of fatigue life by almost 50%, while maintaining the conservative life estimate at a given fatigue strain. In addition, a good conservative estimate of fatigue life prediction has been proposed using a knockdown factor that is obtained from the distribution of lowest test data.
Correlation of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and survival in men with bone metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) and normal alkaline phosphatase (ALK)

5140 Background: PSA and ALK are recognized factors for predicting survival in men with metastatic HRPC. However, few studies have evaluated the combined effects of PSA and ALK on survival of patie...
Two-Dimensional Tidally Averaged Estuarine Model

The governing equations are the hydrodynamics equations coupled with the transport equation. The effect of the density gradient is included in the model which requires simultaneous solutions for all variables. The tidally averaged solutions and the associated numerical scheme are verified by solutions obtained from a corresponding transient model where long term integration is performed to reach a dynamic steady-state condition. The proposed model can be utilized to: (1)obtain dynamic steady-state solutions directly without performing long term integrations over time; and (2)serve as an efficient forward solution scheme for parameter identification, since parameters imbedded in the governing equations, such as the roughness coefficients, are essentially time-invariant. The tidally averaged model is derived under the assumption that amplitudes of the transient variables are small in magnitudes.
Multi-Type Branching Processes

The processes we have studied till now have all consisted of indistinguishable particles. After starting with fixed unit lifetimes for the Galton-Watson process, we considered exponential, and then arbitrary lifetime distributions.
The life story and the study of resilience and response to adversity.

AbstractThe concept of the life story is discussed as an important means for under-standing continuity and change within lives over time, including means used to make sense of lived experience, particularly response to adversity. This per-spective on the study of the life history is based on current approaches to the study of narrative within both the human sciences and the humanities, and views the life history as a story that is continually revised over time, and with age. The life story may be evaluated, both by its teller and by those listening or reading, in the same terms as any good or "followable" story within our own culture (Ricoeur, 1977). Explanation of the origins, impact, and resolu-tion of adversity appears essential both in the "good" story and the life his-tory understood as a personal narrative or story, and is necessary to maintain continuing experience of personal integrity or coherence across the course of life. Some representative accounts of response to adversity are reviewed which are consistent with the life story approach, focusing on means used in making sense and maintaining a life story that is followable both to self and others. (Psychology)
A New Species of Polygala (Polygalaceae) from Tamaulipas, Mexico, with Notes on the Polygala nudata Complex

Abstract: Polygala madrensis is described as a new species from the Sierra Madre Oriental of southwestern Tamaulipas, Mexico. The new species is most closely related to P. nudata. All five species of the P. nudata complex, including P. madrensis, are shown to be diploid with n = 9. A key to the five species is presented and their geographical ranges summarized.
Nitrogen trap in the semiconductor alloys GaAs1−χxPχx and AlχxGa1−χxAs

Abstract Photoluminescence and optical absorption spectra of excitons bound to the nitrogen isoelectronic trap in GaAs 1-χx P χx and in Al χx Ga 1-χx As As are explained by treating nitrogen as a deep exciton trap with exciton-phonon coupling which depends sensitively upon band structure.
The information portfolios of interest groups: An exploratory analysis

Though we have learned a great deal about lobbying in recent years, many questions remain unanswered. Among them are these questions: When lobbyists provide information to government decision-makers, what kind do they provide? Do different kinds of lobbyists use different kinds of information? And how do sources of opposition affect the kinds of informational arguments utilized by lobbyists? We address these questions using data from a survey of nearly 200 lobbyists in five American states. Among our most important findings are the following: (i) Much of the information that lobbyists provide to policymakers is policy analytical in nature; (ii) There are surprisingly few differences in information provision across lobbyist and group types; and (iii) The differences in information provision that do exist likely derive from the policy environment in which lobbyists operate, especially the level of conflict they face.
Solvent Reorganization Plays a Temperature-Dependent Role in Antibiotic Selection by a Thermostable Aminoglycoside Nucleotidyltransferase-4′

The aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferase-4′ (ANT) is an enzyme that causes resistance to a large number of aminoglycoside antibiotics by nucleotidylation of the 4′-site on these antibiotics. The effect of solvent reorganization on enzyme-ligand interactions was investigated using a thermophilic variant of the enzyme resulting from a single-site mutation (T130K). Data showed that the binding of aminoglycosides to ANT causes exposure of polar groups to solvent. However, solvent reorganization becomes the major contributor to the enthalpy of the formation of enzyme–aminoglycoside complexes only above 20 °C. The change in heat capacity (ΔCp) shows an aminoglycoside-dependent pattern such that it correlates with the affinity of the ligand for the enzyme. Differences in ΔCp values determined in H2O and D2O also correlated with the ligand affinity. The temperature-dependent increase in the offset temperature (Toff), the temperature difference required to observe equal enthalpies in both solvents, is also depend...
Microplastic is an Abundant and Distinct Microbial Habitat in an Urban River

Recent research has documented microplastic particles (< 5 mm in diameter) in ocean habitats worldwide and in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Microplastic interacts with biota, including microorganisms, in these habitats, raising concerns about its ecological effects. Rivers may transport microplastic to marine habitats and the Great Lakes, but data on microplastic in rivers is limited. In a highly urbanized river in Chicago, Illinois, USA, we measured concentrations of microplastic that met or exceeded those measured in oceans and the Great Lakes, and we demonstrated that wastewater treatment plant effluent was a point source of microplastic. Results from high-throughput sequencing showed that bacterial assemblages colonizing microplastic within the river were less diverse and were significantly different in taxonomic composition compared to those from the water column and suspended organic matter. Several taxa that include plastic decomposing organisms and pathogens were more abundant on microplastic. These...
Association between therapeutic hypothermia and long-term quality of life in survivors of cardiac arrest: A systematic review.

Abstract Objectives Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has increasingly become a part of the current standard of care for treating patients with cardiac arrest (CA). However, little is known regarding the association between TH and long-term quality of life (QoL) in adult survivors of CA. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the association between TH implementation and long-term QoL outcomes in adult survivors of CA following hospital discharge. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE and Cochrane databases to identify randomized and observational studies from January 2005 to January 2016 investigating the relationship between TH implementation immediately post-CA and long-term QoL in CA survivors post-hospital discharge. Results We included 9 studies with a total of 801 patients. Six of these were prospective cohort studies, 2 were substudies of randomized controlled trials, and 1 was a retrospective cohort study. Six studies included patients only with out-of-hospital CA while 3 included patients with both in-hospital and out-of-hospital CA. There was marked between-study heterogeneity with respect to study population, TH implementation, and QoL assessment tool. TH was not associated with long-term QoL in this population. Conclusions In this systematic review, the included studies do not suggest any association between TH implementation in CA with long-term QoL in CA survivors. Further larger scale studies are needed to investigate the sustainability of TH effects long term in this patient population.
Influence of Surface Oxidation on the Aggregation and Deposition Kinetics of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Monovalent and Divalent Electrolytes

The aggregation and deposition kinetics of two multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with different degrees of surface oxidation are investigated using time-resolved dynamic light scattering (DLS) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), respectively. Carboxyl groups are determined to be the predominant oxygen-containing surface functional groups for both MWNTs through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The aggregation and deposition behavior of both MWNTs is in qualitative agreement with the Derjaguin−Landau−Verwey−Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of the highly oxidized MWNTs (HO-MWNTs) is significantly higher than the lowly oxidized MWNTs (LO-MWNTs) in the presence of NaCl (210 and 53 mM, respectively) since HO-MWNTs have a higher surface charge density. In contrast, the aggregation inverse stability profiles of HO-MWNTs and LO-MWNTs are identical and yield comparable CCCs (0.9 and 1.0 mM, respectively) in the presence of CaCl2. Similar...
Interactions of 2-O-arachidonylglycerol ether and ibuprofen with the allosteric and catalytic subunits of human COX-2

Prostaglandin (PG) endoperoxide H synthase (PGHS)-2, also known as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, can convert arachidonic acid (AA) to PGH2 in the committed step of PG synthesis. PGHS-2 functions as a conformational heterodimer composed of an allosteric (Eallo) and a catalytic (Ecat) monomer. Here we investigated the interplay between human (hu)PGHS-2 and an alternative COX substrate, the endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), as well as a stable analog, 2-O-arachidonylglycerol ether (2-AG ether). We also compared the inhibition of huPGHS-2-mediated oxygenation of AA, 2-AG, and 2-AG ether by the well-known COX inhibitor, ibuprofen. When tested with huPGHS-2, 2-AG and 2-AG ether exhibit very similar kinetic parameters, responses to stimulation by FAs that are not COX substrates, and modes of inhibition by ibuprofen. The 2-AG ether binds Ecat more tightly than Eallo and, thus, can be used as a stable Ecat-specific substrate to examine certain Eallo-dependent responses. Ibuprofen binding to Eallo of huPGHS-2 completely blocks 2-AG or 2-AG ether oxygenation; however, inhibition by ibuprofen of huPGHS-2-mediated oxygenation of AA engages a combination of both allosteric and competitive mechanisms.
Nonlinear Static Analysis of Composite Beams

In Chap. 3, the linear static analysis of composite beams was carried out by using the finite difference method and by transforming a set of linear differential equations to a corresponding set of difference equations . These equations were then solved by applying the boundary conditions. A linear solution is based on equilibrium equations written with respect to the undeformed geometry. However, linearization of differential equations is not always justifiable. If the displacements are large, the nonlinear solution with equations of equilibrium written with respect to the deformed geometry should be taken into consideration. In such a case, the governing differential equations cannot be linearized without compromising the accuracy of the solution. Therefore, other methods of solution such as perturbations should be used instead.
Recognition of Outdoor Scene Image Features Based on SVM

Because color texture and other individual characteristics can not fully describe the image problem in the image,the paper puts forward a new method which combines the advantages of the color features and texture features.The color histogram based on the RGB color space is extracted as color feature;the texture feature is extracted based on multi-channel Gabor filters,then combination of color and texture feature vectors is obtained after external normalization,and the support vector machine method(SVM) is used on the combination of characteristics of samples for training and classification.Experimental results show that the method can overcome the one-sidedness of single feature in image analysis,extract the structure and spectral characteristics of the image,and achieve better results in target recognition and classification.
Rhinosinusitis in the pediatric patient with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common autosomal recessive genetic disorder where a deletion mutation and subsequent downstream alteration in transmembrane regulator proteins results in increased mucus viscosity. CF manifests clinically with chronic multisystem inflammation and recurrent infections. Nearly all children with CF have chronic sinusitis, and a large majority will have concurrent sinonasal polyposis. Chronic sinusitis and sinonasal polyposis in pediatric patients with CF can be managed conservatively initially, though most will fail medical management and require surgical intervention. Unfortunately, symptom resolution is marginal and polyp recurrence rates are high. Currently, no cure exists for CF and the mainstay of treatment is to provide symptomatic relief, and minimize disease morbidity.
HuR and GRSF1 modulate the nuclear export and mitochondrial localization of the lncRNA RMRP

Some mitochondrial long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are encoded by nuclear DNA, but the mechanisms that mediate their transport to mitochondria are poorly characterized. Using affinity RNA pull-down followed by mass spectrometry analysis, we found two RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), HuR (human antigen R) and GRSF1 (G-rich RNA sequence-binding factor 1), that associated with the nuclear DNA-encoded lncRNA RMRP and mobilized it to mitochondria. In cultured human cells, HuR bound RMRP in the nucleus and mediated its CRM1 (chromosome region maintenance 1)-dependent export to the cytosol. After RMRP was imported into mitochondria, GRSF1 bound RMRP and increased its abundance in the matrix. Loss of GRSF1 lowered the mitochondrial levels of RMRP, in turn suppressing oxygen consumption rates and modestly reducing mitochondrial DNA replication priming. Our findings indicate that RBPs HuR and GRSF1 govern the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial localization of the lncRNA RMRP, which is encoded by nuclear DNA but has key functions in mitochondria.
Effect of platelet-derived growth factor on endometrial stromal cell proliferation in vitro: a model for endometriosis?

Objective To assess the direct effects of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a macrophage secretory product structurally and functionally similar to substances released by peritoneal macrophages isolated from endometriosis patients, on endometrial cell proliferation. Design Prospective analysis of cell proliferation in vitro. Setting Proliferative phase endometrial stromal cells isolated from biopsy specimens were grown in short-term culture and served as a model for stromal components of endometriotic implants. Patients Biopsies were obtained from regularly cycling volunteers without endometrial pathology. Interventions Platelet-derived growth factor was added to nutrient medium in both the presence and absence of suboptimal (2.5%) calf serum (CS) supplements and a physiological estradiol (E 2 ) concentration (10 −9 M). Main Outcome Measures Cumulative [ 3 H]-thymidine incorporation as a reflection of cell proliferation. Results Platelet-derived growth factor exerted a significant dose-dependent effect on stromal cell proliferation in both the presence and absence of CS ( P 2 10 −9 M. Conclusions These data imply that macrophage secretory products such as PDGF may play a significant role in the maintenance or proliferation of endometriosis.
Computationally designed tandem direct selective oxidation using molecular oxygen as oxidant without coreductant

Developing greener technologies to produce chemicals has attracted much recent attention. For the selective oxidation of organic compounds, direct selective oxidation in which molecular O2 is utilized as oxidant without using a co-reductant or co-oxidant is desirable to avoid forming waste co-products; however, existing catalysts are limited in the types of substrates that can be used to achieve this. To address this challenge, we introduce a tandem direct selective oxidation process that separates the molecular oxygen activation step from the substrate oxidation step. Specifically, two reactions occur in separate reactors over two different catalysts: (1) molecular oxygen activation via reaction with an oxygen acceptor molecule to produce an oxygen transfer intermediate, and (2) substrate oxidation via reaction with the oxygen transfer intermediate to produce substrate oxide and regenerate the oxygen acceptor molecule. The oxygen acceptor molecule should be recycled back to the first reactor to achieve a net reaction of 2 substrate + O2 → 2 substrate oxide. This separation of molecular oxygen activation and substrate oxidation steps reduces by-product formation by avoiding some side reactions. We use density functional theory (DFT) to study propene epoxidation as an important example. This reaction is of interest because: (a) propylene oxide (PO) is one of the leading commodity chemicals worldwide, (b) all current commercial PO production processes produce co-products, and (c) propene epoxidation illustrates the class of difficult terminal alkene epoxidations for substrates containing allylic hydrogen atoms. Using DFT calculations, we identify plausible candidates for the oxygen transfer intermediate and catalysts for the molecular oxygen activation and substrate oxidation reactions. The Zr(C6H4-1,2-(N(C6H3-2′,6′-(CH3)2)O)2)2 [DMZB] and the Ru(meso-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin) [RuTDCPP] catalysts were chosen for reactions (1) and (2), respectively. Several pyridine based N-oxides were tested as oxygen transfer intermediates. Our DFT computations indicate 2,6-dimethylpyridine N-oxide should perform well. The RuTDCPP catalyst was prior experimentally demonstrated to oxidize organic substrates (e.g., 1-octene) using aromatic N-oxides as oxidants with above 90% selectivity towards the desired product under mild conditions. For molecular O2 activation (reaction (1)) and propene epoxidation (reaction (2)), our computed enthalpic energetic spans are 33.3 and 31.6 kcal mol−1, respectively, predicting decent activities for both catalysts.
How to develop and assess innovative medication safety clinical programs

Background: It is well recognized that medication errors occur and can affect success in treating patients. Programs in Germany using the teacher-practitioner model and an HIV/AIDS service in the USA are few of the clinical programs developed and assessed. Objectives: In both programs the objective was to 1) determine the incidence medication errors; and 2) describe the nature and cause(s) of errors to guide future programs. Methods: In 1 program 10 student-paired groups were used as extenders on an internal medicine ward in 3 consecutive 4hour long blocks using a paper-based system. In another program a daily antiretroviral utilization report was used to identify adults who were receiving ART, and had been admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital during 2 consecutive months in 2005. Patients’ charts, medication profiles, and medication administration records were reviewed for medication errors. Once identified, etiology and cause were further investigated through interviews. Results: In the first example, 29 actual drug-related problems were identified in 9 patients, median age of 71, range 51-88. There was an average of three drug-related problems per patient, range 1-5. In the later study 69 combined ARTand (OI)-related medication errors were identified in 20 of 26 (77%) evaluated patients, with 2.7 medication errors per patient with 54% of the errors occurred within the first 24 hours of admission. Inadequate medication reconciliation on admission caused 21 of 37 (57%) admission related errors. The most prevalent error types included missing doses (20%), under-dosing (13%), over-dosing (13%), therapy omission (13%), and drug-drug interaction (12%). Conclusions: Prospective investigation of potential for medication errors provided in-depth insight into the diverse nature of medication errors, risk factors and potential preventive strategies of the errors. Various approaches can be used based on resources and primary concerns. Maintaining the service and reevaluation of the changes is possible. Ann Marie Snyder, Clinic Pharmacol Biopharmaceut 2013, 2:3 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-065X.S1.004
First Report of the Genus Atheas Champion (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae) in Canada

ABSTRACT: Atheas mimeticus Heidemann is recorded from Canada (Manitoba) for the first time. Known biological information is discussed and an updated host list for the species of the genus is provided.
Progress in 2D semiconductor optoelectronics

2D semiconductors have recently emerged as promising optoelectronic materials, with high quantum efficiency of photoemission, absorption and nonlinear optical properties. With significant progress in understanding the material science of these atomically thin materials, and building devices with stand-alone monolayer materials, it is an opportune time to integrate these materials with existing optoelectronic platform to realize the full potential of the 2D materials. Here, we highlight our recent progress in 2D semiconductor integrated with nanophotonic resonators. Specifically, we report the operation of an optically pumped laser, cavity enhanced electroluminescence and cavity enhanced second harmonic generation.