cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is It Time for a Computer in Your Practice? V. How to Evaluate if a Computer is Appropriate for Your Practice

In this article, a strategy for evaluating your practice in terms of its potential for computerization has been outlined. The rules that have been presented are general guidelines and exceptions may exist in any practice due to its specific needs. The use of a medical office computer consultant may help you to make this evaluation in a more effective manner. Once you have determined that your practice may benefit by the use of a computer, the next step is to select between the myriad of currently available systems. The next article in the series will be devoted to describing a method to help you select the system most appropriate for your setting.
Radiation response of fully-depleted MOS transistors fabricated in SIMOX

The total dose radiation response of radiation-resistant fully-depleted submicron n-MOS and p-MOS transistors fabricated in SIMOX is presented. The total ionizing dose radiation induced threshold voltage shifts under three different irradiation bias conditions, including the worst case (pass-gate) bias for n-MOS transistors are discussed. Total dose hard fully-depleted p-MOS transistors are experimentally demonstrated. The larger threshold voltage shifts of fully-depleted n-MOS transistors as compared to partially-depleted n-MOS transistors in an ionizing radiation environment are explained by a model coupling the radiation induced buried oxide charge to the top transistor. >
Total energy singular vectors for atmospheric chemical transport models

The aim of this paper is to address computational aspects of the total energy singular vector analysis of atmospheric chemical transport models. We discuss the symmetry of the tangent-linear/adjoint operator for stiff systems. Results for a 3D simulation with real data reveal that the total energy singular vectors depend on the target domain, simulation window, chemical reactions, and meteorological data.
Catalpa bignonioides alters extrafloral nectar production after herbivory and attracts ant bodyguards.

Inducible anti-herbivore defenses are found within many plant taxa, but there are fewer examples of inducible indirect defenses that incorporate the third trophic level. This study links caterpillar foraging, herbivore-induced changes in extrafloral nectar production, and the attraction of ants to vulnerable leaves and plants. Catalpa bignonioides Walter (Bignoniaceae) uses extrafloral nectar to attract ant (Forelius pruinosus (Roger)) bodyguards in response to Ceratomia catalpae (Boisduval)(Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) herbivory. Ant density per leaf increased with the sugar content of extrafloral nectar excreted by sampled leaves, suggesting that increased nectar production could attract or retain beneficial arthropods. The masses of sucrose, fructose, glucose and all three sugars combined in the extrafloral nectar increased two- to three-fold on attacked leaves within 36 h of the experimental addition of caterpillars. Production rates for neighboring non-attacked leaves and non-attacked leaves on adjacent plants did not differ over the same time period. Ant attendance at caterpillar-attacked leaves increased two- to three-fold within 24 h of herbivory, relative to attendance at neighboring, undamaged leaves. These attacked leaves attracted the fewest ants prior to the onset of herbivory, suggesting the specialist caterpillar may avoid or be excluded from leaves with more bodyguards. The removal of leaf tissue with scissors did not alter ant attendance at damaged leaves. Mean ant attendance per leaf on attacked plants increased 6- to 10-fold after caterpillar introduction, relative to adjacent unattacked plants. The plant's biotic defense thus operates at two scales; the number of bodyguards (ant workers) on the plant increases after attack, and this increased workforce is biased towards attacked leaves within plants. Fewer caterpillars remained on plants that attracted greater numbers of ants, suggesting these bodyguards benefit the plant.
Multi-user Video Streaming over Multi-hop Wireless Networks: A Cross-Layer Priority Queuing Scheme

In this paper, we propose a distributed, end-to-end, integrated cross-layer scheme to maximize the decoded video quality of multiple users engaged in simultaneous real-time streaming sessions over a multi-hop wireless network. Our algorithm explicitly considers the distortion impact and delay constraints in assigning priorities to the various packets and then relies on priority queuing to drive the optimization of the various users? transmission strategies across the multi-hop network. The proposed solution is enabled by the scalable coding of the video content and the design of cross-layer optimization strategies including a dynamic routing algorithm, which allow priority-based adaptation to varying channel conditions. Our proposed delay-driven, packet-based transmission is superior in terms of both network scalability and video quality to previous static flow-based solutions based on predetermined paths and rate requirements.
Increasing silk fibre strength through heterogeneity of bundled fibrils.

Can naturally arising disorder in biological materials be beneficial? Materials scientists are continuously attempting to replicate the exemplary performance of materials such as spider silk, with detailed techniques and assembly procedures. At the same time, a spider does not precisely machine silk—imaging indicates that its fibrils are heterogeneous and irregular in cross section. While past investigations either focused on the building material (e.g. the molecular scale protein sequence and behaviour) or on the ultimate structural component (e.g. silk threads and spider webs), the bundled structure of fibrils that compose spider threads has been frequently overlooked. Herein, I exploit a molecular dynamics-based coarse-grain model to construct a fully three-dimensional fibril bundle, with a length on the order of micrometres. I probe the mechanical behaviour of bundled silk fibrils with variable density of heterogenic protrusions or globules, ranging from ideally homogeneous to a saturated distribution. Subject to stretching, the model indicates that cooperativity is enhanced by contact through low-force deformation and shear ‘locking’ between globules, increasing shear stress transfer by up to 200 per cent. In effect, introduction of a random and disordered structure can serve to improve mechanical performance. Moreover, addition of globules allows a tuning of free volume, and thus the wettability of silk (with implications for supercontraction). These findings support the ability of silk to maintain near-molecular-level strength at the scale of silk threads, and the mechanism could be easily adopted as a strategy for synthetic fibres.
Should we call them fishers or fishermen

‘Fishermen’ and the gender-neutral ‘fishers’ are the most common terms used to describe people who fish in the English language. However, there is a considerable debate as to which term is most appropriate. In academic journals, usage of ‘fishers’ for people who fish began in the 1960s and increased over time, until in 2013 and 2014 ‘fishers’ first exceeded usage of ‘fishermen’, despite being labelled ‘archaic’ in the Oxford English Dictionary. In journal searches ‘fishermen’ unambiguously referred to people who fish, but ‘fishers’ also referred to R.A. Fisher's statistical tests (22%), the mammal, Pekania pennanti (5%), and other terms. Journal policies have played a role in the shift to ‘fishers’: e.g. Conservation Biology requires the use of ‘fishers’ while Fishery Bulletin requires ‘fishermen’. Partly as a result, in academia there are disciplinary and geographic variations, with greatest usage of ‘fishers’ in the field of conservation biology and in Australia. Surprisingly, word choice did not differ by the gender of the lead author. Many other languages also have gender-neutral terms for people who fish (e.g. Austronesian and Turkic languages), yet the word is still assumed to refer to men. While the gender-neutral term ‘fisher’ is more inclusive it is far from universally accepted, particularly by women and men in the North American fishing industry. The current shift towards the more inclusive term ‘fishers’ highlights the increasing disciplinary diversity within fisheries science, particularly in terms of gender.
Selective averaging of rapidly presented individual trials using fMRI.

A major limitation in conducting functional neuroimaging studies, particularly for cognitive experiments, has been the use of blocked task paradigms. Here we explored whether selective averaging techniques similar to those applied in event-related potential (ERP) experiments could be used to demonstrate functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses to rapidly intermixed trials. In the first two experiments, we observed that for 1-sec trials of full-field visual checkerboard stimulation, the fMRI blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal summated in a roughly linear fashion across successive trials even at very short (2 sec and 5 sec) intertrial intervals, although subtle departures from linearity were observed. In experiments 3 and 4, we observed that it is possible to obtain robust activation maps for rapidly presented randomly mixed trial types (left- and right-hemifield visual checkerboard stimulation) spaced as little as 2 sec apart. Taken collectively, these results suggest that selective averaging may enable fMRI experimental designs identical to those used in typical behavioral and ERP studies. The ability to analyze closely spaced single-trial, or event-related, signals provides for a class of experiments which cannot be conducted using blocked designs. Trial types can be randomly intermixed, and selective averaging based upon trial type and/or subject performance is possible. Hum. Brain Mapping 5:329-340, 1997. r 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluation Studies of Soviet Party Members

Recent studies by academic sociologists in the Soviet Union indicate a com- mitment to the expansion of information and development of evaluative studies of the be- havior of Communist Party members. In particular, the present article analyzes patterns of newspaper consumption among party members and their behavior within organizations. The latter relates further to the efficacy of transmission of information upward through party organizations to central decision-makers.
Machine Intelligence and Human Intelligence

There has been a stellar rise in computational power since 2006 in part thanks to GPUs, yet today, we are as an intelligent species essentially singular. There are of course some other brainy species, like chimpanzees, dolphins, crows and octopuses, but if anything they only emphasize our unique position on Earth -- as animals richly gifted with self-awareness, language, abstract thought, art, mathematical capability, science, technology and so on. Many of us have staked our entire self-concept on the idea that to be human is to have a mind, and that minds are the unique province of humans. For those of us who are not religious, this could be interpreted as the last bastion of dualism. Our economic, legal and ethical systems are also implicitly built around this idea. Now, we're well along the road to really understanding the fundamental principles of how a mind can be built, and Moore's Law will put brain-scale computing within reach this decade. (We need to put some asterisks next to Moore's Law, since we are already running up against certain limits in computational scale using our present-day approaches, but I'll stand behind the broader statement.) In this talk I will discuss the relationships between engineered neurally inspired systems and brains today, between humans and machines tomorrow, and how these relationships will alter user interfaces, software and technology.
On the Nyström and Column-Sampling Methods for the Approximate Principal Components Analysis of Large Datasets

In this article, we analyze approximate methods for undertaking a principal components analysis (PCA) on large datasets. PCA is a classical dimension reduction method that involves the projection of the data onto the subspace spanned by the leading eigenvectors of the covariance matrix. This projection can be used either for exploratory purposes or as an input for further analysis, for example, regression. If the data have billions of entries or more, the computational and storage requirements for saving and manipulating the design matrix in fast memory are prohibitive. Recently, the Nystrom and column-sampling methods have appeared in the numerical linear algebra community for the randomized approximation of the singular value decomposition of large matrices. However, their utility for statistical applications remains unclear. We compare these approximations theoretically by bounding the distance between the induced subspaces and the desired, but computationally infeasible, PCA subspace. Additionally we ...
Mucosal Humoral Immune Response to SIVmac239∆nef Vaccination and Vaginal Challenge

Live attenuated vaccines such as SIV with a deleted nef gene have provided the most robust protection against subsequent vaginal challenge with wild-type (WT) SIV in the SIV-rhesus macaque model of HIV-1 transmission to women. Hence, identifying correlates of this protection could enable design of an effective HIV-1 vaccine. One such prechallenge correlate of protection from vaginal challenge has recently been identified as a system with three components: 1) IgG Abs reacting with the viral envelope glycoprotein trimeric gp41; 2) produced by plasma cells in the submucosa and ectopic tertiary lymphoid follicles in the ectocervix and vagina; and 3) concentrated on the path of virus entry by the neonatal FcR in the overlying epithelium. We now examine the mucosal production of the Ab component of this system after vaginal challenge. We show that vaginal challenge immediately elicits striking increases in plasma cells not only in the female reproductive tract but also at other mucosal sites, and that these increases correlate with low but persistent replication at mucosal sites. We describe vaginal ectopic follicles that are structurally and functionally organized similar to follicles in secondary lymphoid organs, and we provide inferential evidence for a key role of the female reproductive tract epithelium in facilitating Ab production, affinity maturation, and class switch recombination. Vaccination thus accesses an epithelial-immune system axis in the female reproductive tract to respond to exposure to mucosal pathogens. Designing strategies to mimic this system could advance development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine.
Operating Results of New TWINDRUMTM Pulping Concept at SP Newsprint Co., Newberg, Oregon

In 2000, an order was placed by SP Newsprint to replace their wash deinking process with a state of the art deinking line. VOITH PAPER supplied the entire scope of equipment needed for the rebuild. The plant is designed to produce 550 BDMTPD of finished pulp. The raw material is made up of 80% old newsprint and 20% old magazine. The system was successfully started up in September 2001.A key role within the recycled fiber plant is attributed to the pulping stage. The pulping stage initiates the recycling process. Goals are to disintegrate the paper, without damaging the fiber and to release the printing ink and coating from the fiber surfaces. Another important requirement is that paper impurities remain as large as possible in size to facilitate an effective and early removal. The pulping module installed at SP Newsprint meets all those requirements by utilizing the new TwinDrumTM drum pulper concept
Supergene Oxidation of Copper Deposits: Zoning and Distribution of Copper Oxide Minerals

Copper oxides represent an attractive exploration target because even low-grade prospects have the potential to produce low-cost copper in an environmentally friendly fashion. Derived from hypogene and/or supergene sulfides, copper oxides comprise a series of distinct assemblages that characterize a variable pH, oxidizing geochemical environment known as “the oxide zone.” Development of oxide copper minerals is a function of source-rock and host-rock mineralogy, pyrite and other (copper) sulfide abundance and distribution, fracture density and distribution, phreatic and/or vadose zone occurrence and stability, and maturity of the weathering profile. The paragenesis of copper oxide mineral formation reflects local, dynamic changes in supergene solution composition attributable to reaction between host-rock mineral components and dissolved species. Especially important are the concentrations of Fe
Source of Safe Sex Knowledge and Sexual Behavior Among University Students

This study was developed to determine if there is a relationship between sources of safe sex practices and individual‟s sexual health behavior, specifically condom use and testing for STIs. Marijuana use and selfesteem were also examined in relation to condom use and testing for STIs. A self-report survey was administered to university students in California. Regression analysis revealed that those who had never used marijuana were more likely to report always using condoms (only among females), but less likely to report having been tested for STIs. Students who received primary information about safe-sex practices from a health care provider were more likely to report having been tested for STIs, while those who received such from the Internet were less likely to have been tested for STIs. Whites were more likely to have been tested than non-Whites, while Asian/Pacific Islanders were less likely to have been tested than non-Asians.
Simulations of Serpentine Plasma Actuators in a Laminar Boundary Layer

Laminar simulations of a boundary layer with plasma actuation have been performed. The addition of plasma actuation to the boundary layer introduces streamwise vorticity to the ow. This streamwise vorticity is shown to impact the boundary layer thicknesses, as well as introduce signicant spanwise variations in the velocity eld. The general ow structure is examined, and qualitatively comparisons with the quiescent results of the existing literature. The angle of the vectored jet generated by this actuator geometry is found to increase as the magnitude of the plasma actuation is increased. The levels of streamwise vorticity and circulation due to the addition of the serpentine actuation are also measured.
Experimental production of struma lymphomatosa.

Summary1. The effects of prolonged administration of thiouracil to male rats was studied. Following the drug administration for a 600-day period, 25% of the rats showed thyroid glands which exhibited histological characteristics similar to that found in struma lymphomatosa. 2. The testes of these animals also showed a failure of germ cell development and maturation as well as some lymphoid infiltration.
Hyperglycemic arterial disturbed flow niche as an in vitro model of atherosclerosis.

Type 2 diabetes significantly elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease. This can be largely attributed to the adverse effects of hyperglycemic conditions on normal endothelial cell (EC) function. ECs in both large and small vessels are influenced by hyperglycemic conditions, which increase susceptibility to EC dysfunction and atherosclerotic lesion formation. Fluid shear stress and flow patterns play an essential role in atherogenesis: lesions form only at locations where fluid flow behavior can be classified as “disturbed flow” (i.e., low shear stress recirculation and/or retrograde flow). Since regions of disturbed flow are the focal points of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, we hypothesized that the combinatorial effects of high glucose and disturbed flow conditions elicit significantly different responses from ECs than high glucose alone. To validate our hypothesis, we used our endothelial cell culture model (ECCM) to establish vascular niches associated with “normal” and “disturbed” flow co...
Effects of sodium nitrite and certain organic nitrates on blood pressures of the cat.

SummarySodium nitrite (NaNO2), isomannide dinitrate (I2N)7 glyceryl trini-trate (G3N), erythrityl tetranitrate (E4N) and mannityl hexanitrate (M6N) injected intravenously in doses of 1 mg/kg into the cat anesthetized with pentobarbital had effects on the mean carotid blood pressure which did not differ significantly in magnitude and duration.NaNO'2 appeared to have an immediate and powerful dilating action on the venous system while E4N may have had a similar but weaker action. I2N, G3N and M6N appeared not to affect the venous system significantly.
Design and optimization of partitioning power supply considering load characteristics for industrial city

Partitioning power supply is an effective way to limit the high short-circuit current caused by the electromagnetic ring of industrial city.The rapid evaluation method and enhancing optimization method of power supply reliability were presented in this paper for industrial city partitioning power supply with the industry load characteristics influence to power supply reliability considered and power grid typical structures models analyzed.The design and optimization scheme of partitioning power supply were also presented for Tangshan power grid.The calculation and analysis results verified the feasibility of the proposed method.
The changing urodynamic pattern in infants with myelomeningocele.

AbstractA total of 43 infants with spina bifida was evaluated with a standard simplified urodynamic technique to determine whether bladder behavior altered with development and the optimal timing for urodynamic testing. Using urodynamic evaluation plus renal ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) those with a favorable prognosis and 2) those with an unfavorable prognosis. Only 55% of the initial urodynamic studies were predictive of future clinical course. The patients who worsened generally did so in the first 6 months of life. Of the patients initially believed to have an unfavorable prognosis 86% improved or stabilized with therapy. Urodynamic testing appears to be an important adjunct at 6-month intervals in infancy and early childhood as bladder behavior continues to evolve.
The Role of Men's Childbearing Intentions in Father Involvement

An expanding body of research has investigated factors that influence fathers' involvement with their children. Generally overlooked has been the role of pregnancy intentions on men's fathering behaviors. In this study, the authors used nationally representative data from men interviewed in the 2002 and 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth to examine relationships between fathers' pregnancy intentions and multiple aspects of their parental involvement. Using propensity score methods to control for confounding, they found that men were less likely to live with a young child from a mistimed than intended pregnancy and that among nonresident fathers, mistimed pregnancies were associated with lower levels of visitation and consequently reduced participation in caregiving and play. Among both resident and nonresident fathers, mistimed pregnancies were also associated with lower self-appraisals of fathering quality when compared with intended pregnancies; for nonresident fathers, however, this association was moderated by other involvement.
Nephron Remodeling Underlies Hyperkalemia in Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension.

The molecular unraveling of Mendelian diseases often reveals previously unknown physiologic control systems. The molecular solution of Familial Hyperkalemic Hypertension (FHHt; also known as pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2 or Gordon syndrome) uncovered a complex signaling network in the mammalian
Automated microfluidic devices integrating solid-phase extraction, fluorescent labeling, and microchip electrophoresis for preterm birth biomarker analysis

We have developed multichannel integrated microfluidic devices for automated preconcentration, labeling, purification, and separation of preterm birth (PTB) biomarkers. We fabricated multilayer poly(dimethylsiloxane)-cyclic olefin copolymer (PDMS-COC) devices that perform solid-phase extraction (SPE) and microchip electrophoresis (μCE) for automated PTB biomarker analysis. The PDMS control layer had a peristaltic pump and pneumatic valves for flow control, while the PDMS fluidic layer had five input reservoirs connected to microchannels and a μCE system. The COC layers had a reversed-phase octyl methacrylate porous polymer monolith for SPE and fluorescent labeling of PTB biomarkers. We determined μCE conditions for two PTB biomarkers, ferritin (Fer) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). We used these integrated microfluidic devices to preconcentrate and purify off-chip-labeled Fer and CRF in an automated fashion. Finally, we performed a fully automated on-chip analysis of unlabeled PTB biomarkers, involving SPE, labeling, and μCE separation with 1 h total analysis time. These integrated systems have strong potential to be combined with upstream immunoaffinity extraction, offering a compact sample-to-answer biomarker analysis platform.
Connective action mechanisms in a time of political turmoil: virtual disability rights protest at Donald Trump’s inauguration

This paper explores the connective action mechanisms that underpin the rapid formation of online counter-publics in the wake of disruptive political events through a case study of crowd-sourced dis...
Voltage and frequency controller/or SEIG based battery storage system

The ever-increasing depletion rate of conservative energy source along with the deprivation of environmental circumstances have given leads to improved prominence on renewable sources of energy. Power plant for instance micro hydro be capable of measured the major promising origin enclosed via renewable energy. Squirrel cage induction generators associated with capacitor bank is termed as Self Exited Induction Generator (SEIG). They are scheduled demand because suitable in the direction of ruggedness, maintenance free operation, brushless construction, compact size, improved terminal act along with inherent short circuit security action capabilities. The major negative attribute of SEIG scheme be facilitate voltage plus frequency produced by the arrangement is extremely dynamic under changeable load circumstances. Headed for overcome these demerits of SEIG, Voltage frequency controller (VFC) be utilize for efficient results. The VFC can perform actions as a voltage control device and a harmonics eliminator, load-balancing, level of load plus voltage with frequency regulation.
Inhibition of colonic Na+ transport by amiloride analogues.

The potency of several amiloride analogues to inhibit electrogenic Na+ transport in colon from dexamethasone-treated rats was compared. Short-circuit current (Isc) across the colonic mucosa and 22N...
Graviton exchange and the gravitational constant

A phenomenological model for virtual graviton exchange between mass-energy establishes a link between the gravitational constant G and other physical constants within the bounds of Quantum Field Theory. This gives the formulation G = α g ћ c/u 2, where α g is the dimensionless coupling constant for graviton exchange between atomic units of mass energy uc 2 (u is the atomic mass unit (kg)). This formulation is identical to that obtained by dimensional analysis and is analogous to the formula for the electromagnetic coupling (fine structure) constant. Some applications are described, including a new interpretation of Planck quantities and predictions of the model are developed. The model provides an explanation of the anomalous Pioneer acceleration and for the occurrence of perturbations to gravitational interactions at very large (i.e., interstellar and intergalactic) distances. It provides a basis for understanding galactic rotation curves without the need for ad hoc modifications to Newtonian dynamics. Finally, the possibility that an enhanced graviton exchange effect could be the cause of variations in terrestrial measurements of G is critically examined.
Recent Trends in Quasisymmetric Functions

This article serves as an introduction to several recent developments in the study of quasisymmetric functions. The focus of this survey is on connections between quasisymmetric functions and the combinatorial Hopf algebra of noncommutative symmetric functions, appearances of quasisymmetric functions within the theory of Macdonald polynomials, and analogues of symmetric functions. Topics include the significance of quasisymmetric functions in representation theory (such as representations of the 0-Hecke algebra), recently discovered bases (including analogues of well-studied symmetric function bases), and applications to open problems in symmetric function theory.
A public health framework for the regulation of marketing.

Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental studies have found a link between youth exposure to cigarette marketing and youth initiation of smoking. These decisive research findings led to regulations of cigarette marketing to youth—including no television or radio ads, prohibitions on the use of cartoons, bans on transit and billboard advertisements, and disallowing tobacco brand sponsorships of sporting events or concerts. Similar products that may cause more harm than benefits include alcohol, electronic cigarettes, and opioids. We review the evidence linking problematic use of these products with exposure to marketing and discuss standards for assessing the potential harmfulness of marketing. We next address how public health agencies might apply regulatory principles to these harmful products similar to those applied to cigarette advertising, in the advancement of public health.
Total hemoglobin count has significant impact on A1C — Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2014

Abstract Background Previous study showed A1C was affected by hemoglobin and gender in non-anemic Koreans. However, there was no other data to support those important findings. Methods Participants from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) — 1999 to 2014 with age over 12 years were examined. After excluding participants with hypoglycemia and moderate to severe anemia, 22,974 participants were included in analysis. Both female and male were divided into three groups based on their hemoglobin level. Linear regression and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between A1C and hemoglobin in three fasting plasma glucose (FPG) intervals. Results For both female and male, A1C was significantly negatively correlated with hemoglobin in the FPG interval range between 80 to 126 mg/dl, p 0.05). In addition, over FPG interval between 80 to 126 mg/dl, after adjusting age and fasting glucose level, A1C still significantly negatively correlated with hemoglobin (regression coefficient = −0.052, p Conclusions A1C would decrease by 0.05% (about 0.5 mmol/mol) as a result of each 1 g/dl increase in total hemoglobin count when plasma glucose level in normal or prediabetes range. The mechanism behind this finding is unclear. Further study should be conducted and hemoglobin count may need be taken into consideration when applying A1C for the diagnosis of diabetes or to screen for prediabetes.
Effect of environmental factors on byssal thread formation

The effects of various factors on byssal thread formation have been examined in the laboratory using Modiolus demissus and Mytilus edulis. With M. demissus thread formation (threads/mussel/h0 and proportion of mussels forming threads decreased with increasing size; prior exposure to air enhanced subsequent thread formation; mechanical agitation reduced thread formation. In addition, low salinity acclimated mussels adapted more rapidly to 32 ppt than high salinity acclimated mussels did to 16 ppt; threads were not formed in the absence of calcium and/or magnesium; and there was no reduction in thread formation at temperatures as high as 27° to 28°C. M. edulis died and thread formation approached zero at temperatures exceeding 26°C.
INVESTIGATORY PRIORITIES FOR INCREASING HUMAN CAPABILITY OF DEALING POSITIVELY WITH COMMON STRESSORS OF DAILY LIVING

ABSTRACT Man ought to get more out of his life than he does. It is purported in this paper that man can improve the quality of his own living by putting himself more forcefully and powerfully in charge of his own destiny. What man feels, he thinks about. What he thinks about can be controlled. Therefore, man can learn to control more effectively his own stresses and stress ors. This author investigates what is currently known about stress and presents selected perspectives that ought to be considered in any operational model designed to help man to control, manage, and cope with his daily life stressors.
Why Patients Decline Digital Breast Tomosynthesis? Results From a Patient Survey in an Urban Academic Breast Center.

Abstract Background Despite the advantages of reduced callback rates, higher sensitivity, and higher specificity associated with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) over traditional full-field digital mammography (FFDM), many patients declined DBT at our urban academic breast center. Most states also do not have mandated insurance coverage for DBT. Methods A patient survey was conducted at our breast center from February 2017 to April 2017. All patients were informed regarding the potential benefits of DBT as well as the potential additional charge related to DBT, which depended on the insurance coverage. The survey aimed to examine why the patient declined the DBT option. Reasons included cost, increased radiation risk, anxiety about newer technology, discomfort associated with the exam, lack of education about potential benefits, or patient belief that she will not benefit from DBT. We also inquired if patients would change their opinion about DBT if cost were removed. Patients answered each question by rating their responses on a scale of 1-5, from strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, and strongly agree. Results Potential additional cost associated with tomosynthesis had the highest influence on patient decision to decline DBT with an average score of 4.68 out of 5. Other factors as described above had less impact on the patient decision with an average score ranging from 1.53-1.72 out of 5. Conclusion Potential out-of-pocket cost for patients remains one of the major obstacles in adoption of DBT as standard of care for breast cancer screening.
Severity of Ionized Hypercalcemia and Hypocalcemia Is Associated With Etiology in Dogs and Cats.

Background: Calcium disorders are common in small animals, but few studies have investigated the etiology of ionized hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia in large populations. This study aimed to determine the incidence of ionized calcium disorders in dogs and cats treated at a tertiary referral clinic and to describe the associated diseases. Methods: An electronic database of electrolyte analyses conducted at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals from 2007-2017 was searched. Dogs and cats with ionized hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia were identified based on institution reference intervals. Duplicate case entries were removed. Medical records were reviewed to identify the cause of the calcium abnormality. Chi-squared analysis with Bonferroni adjustment was performed to compare frequencies of disease processes between mild and moderate-severe disturbances. Results: The database included 15,277 dogs and 3,715 cats. Hypercalcemia was identified in 1,641 dogs and 119 cats. The incidence of canine and feline hypercalcemia was 10.7% and 3.2% respectively. Hypocalcemia was identified in 1,467 dogs and 450 cats. The incidence of canine and feline hypocalcemia was 9.6% and 12.1% respectively. The most common pathologic causes of hypercalcemia in dogs were malignancy-associated (12.9%), parathyroid-dependent (4.6%) and hypoadrenocorticism (1.7%). In cats, malignancy-associated hypercalcemia (22.7%), kidney injury (13.4%) and idiopathic hypercalcemia (12.6%) were most common. Dogs presenting with moderate-severe hypercalcemia versus mild hypercalcemia were significantly more likely to have hyperparathyroidism, malignancy-associated hypercalcemia or hypervitaminosis D, whereas cats were significantly more likely to have malignancy-associated hypercalcemia or idiopathic hypercalcemia. The most common pathologic causes of hypocalcemia in dogs were critical illness (17.4%), kidney injury (10.4%) and toxicity (7.5%). In cats, kidney injury (21.6%), urethral obstruction (15.1%), and critical illness (14.7%) were most frequent. Dogs presenting with moderate-severe hypocalcemia were significantly more likely to have hypoparathyroidism, kidney injury, eclampsia or critical illness, whereas cats were significantly more likely to have kidney injury, soft tissue trauma or urethral obstruction. Conclusions: Mild calcium disturbances are most commonly associated with non-pathologic or transient conditions. Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia is the most common cause of ionized hypercalcemia in dogs and cats. Critical illness and kidney injury are frequent causes of ionized hypocalcemia in both species.
Corporate Purpose and Firm Ownership

Analyzing data from approximately two million employees in a sample of more than 1,000 established public and private US companies, we find that corporate purpose is lower among employees of public...
Titanium isotopic fractionation in Kilauea Iki lava lake driven by oxide crystallization

Abstract Recent work has demonstrated that titanium (Ti) isotopes undergo mass-dependent isotope fractionation during magmatic differentiation, leaving evolved silicic melts preferentially enriched in heavy Ti isotopes. Preferential incorporation of light Ti isotopes in crystallizing Fe-Ti oxides is thought to be the mechanism responsible for this fractionation in magmatic rocks. To test this hypothesis, we present Ti isotope measurements of Fe-Ti oxide mineral separates of Kilauea Iki lava lake samples. We find that the Ti in Fe-Ti oxides is isotopically light while Ti in the residual melt and minerals is isotopically heavy. This result is consistent with the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations in other studies, which show progressive heavy isotope enrichment for Ti from 6-fold, 5-fold, through 4-fold coordinated minerals. We therefore conclude that Ti isotopes in silicate melts undergo isotope fractionation during the crystallization of Fe-Ti oxides because Ti in oxides is primarily in 6-fold coordination whereas Ti in silicate melts is in 5- or 4-fold coordination (Ti in more evolved magmas tends to be in lower coordination). Based on our mineral separate results, we estimate the fractionation factor at 1000 °C between silicate and oxide Δ49Tisilicate-oxide to be 0.39 ± 0.06‰. This result is consistent with the fractionation factors inferred in previous studies based on Ti isotopic analyses and modeling of bulk rock measurements. We use this fractionation factor and the fractionation factors proposed by previous workers in Rhyolite MELTS to model the δ49Ti evolution of plume lavas. We find the model to generally predict the fractionations observed in Kilauea Iki, as well as the fractionations previously observed in volcanics from Hekla, Iceland and Afar, East Africa.
Scanning transmission electron microscope mapping of electronic transport in polycrystalline BaTiO3 ceramic capacitors

We report electronic transport mapping in a single dielectric layer of a polycrystalline BaTiO3 multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) by electron beam induced current (EBIC) measurements using a scanning transmission electron microscope. Ga+ focused ion beam-lift out techniques with organometallic Pt-deposition are used to extract and electrically connect to these devices while maintaining high (>gigaohm) resistance between electrodes. Different modes of EBIC are observed depending on device resistivity. We demonstrate the use of EBIC resulting from secondary electron emission as a method for performing resistance contrast imaging (RCI), with resistive grain boundaries appearing as steps in EBIC contrast. These RCI maps are also used to calculate the potential and electric field of the device under an arbitrary bias. A mix of high- and low-resistance ohmic as well as rectifying grain boundaries is observed. These results help to better establish the distribution of resistivities critical to the prevention of performance-limiting current leakage in MLCCs.
Calibration-Free Electrical Quantification of Single Molecules Using Nanopore Digital Counting

Nanopore sensor conceptually represents an ideal single molecule counting device due to its unique partitioning-free, label-free electronic sensing. Existing theories and experiments have shown that sample concentration is proportional to the molecule translocation rate. However, a detailed nanopore geometry and size characterization or a calibration curve of concentration standards are often required for quantifying the unknown sample. In this work, we proposed and validated a calibration-free nanopore single molecule digital counting method for isolated molecule quantification. With the background ions as the in-situ references, the molecule translocation rates can be normalized to the ion translocation rates (baseline current). This in-situ reference alleviates the requirement for knowing the nanopore geometry and size or generating a calibration curve. In recognition of this effect, we developed a quantitative model for molecule quantification without the need for prior knowledge of experimental conditions such as nanopore geometry, size, and applied voltage. This model was experimentally validated for different nanopores and DNA molecules with different sizes. We anticipate this calibration-free digital counting approach would provide a new avenue for nanopore-based molecule sensing.
Factors Impacting Efficacy of AAV-Mediated CRISPR-Based Genome Editing for Treatment of Choroidal Neovascularization.

Frequent injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are a clinical burden for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Genomic disruption of VEGF-A using adeno-associated viral (AAV) delivery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 has the potential to permanently suppress aberrant angiogenesis, but the factors that determine the optimal efficacy are unknown. Here, we investigate two widely used Cas9 endonucleases, SpCas9 and SaCas9, and evaluate the relative contribution of AAV-delivery efficiency and genome-editing rates in vivo to determine the mechanisms that drive successful CRISPR-based suppression of VEGF-A, using a mouse model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV). We found that SpCas9 demonstrated higher genome-editing rates, greater VEGF reduction, and more effective CNV suppression than SaCas9, despite similar AAV transduction efficiency between a dual-vector approach for SpCas9 and single-vector system for SaCas9 to deliver the Cas9 orthologs and single guide RNAs (gRNAs). Our results suggest that successful VEGF knockdown using AAV-mediated CRISPR systems may be determined more by the efficiency of genome editing rather than viral transduction and that SpCas9 may be more effective than SaCas9 as a potential therapeutic strategy for CRISPR-based treatment of CNV in neovascular AMD.
Deformation and fracture evolution of FeAl-based metallic-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites

Abstract FeAl-based Metallic-Intermetallic Laminate (MIL) composites exhibit enhanced strength and ductility compared to previously studied MIL composites. The deformation and fracture evolution of the FeAl-based MIL composites are investigated here via incremental compression testing. Microstructure assessment via electron backscatter diffraction suggests that deformation proceeds in a fairly homogeneous manner across gradients in the microstructure. Eventual failure is mainly induced by normal stresses, whereas other MIL composites typically fail by shear induced localizations. Geometrically necessary dislocation analysis indicates the FeAl regions deform in similar manners for the three MIL composites (Fe-FeAl-MIL, 430SS-FeAl-MIL, and 304SS-FeAl-MIL), and each fails in a similar mode. While the FeAl phase is the majority constituent of the composites, the mechanical properties are significantly influenced by the softer metal layers. The transition layer formed between the Fe-based metal layers and FeAl regions is the most critical constituent of the composites. Although the volume fraction of the transition layer is only ∼15%, a stronger transition layer can improve the work hardening behavior of the FeAl phase, increasing MIL composite strength by as much as 1 GPa. The findings can guide the design of the MIL composites to achieve even better mechanical properties.
Kai: Restoration of the Native Forest for the Conservation of the Craft Tradition of the Pilwa of Lake Budi

The Budi Lake territories are inhabited by Mapuche Lafkenche communities, where their artisans develop the pilwa -bag woven in Chupon fiber- as a traditional craft. The pilwa has been recognized by state organizations for its cultural and ecological value. However, its raw material, the "kai" or Chupon, is declared a vulnerable species. This condition has generated in institutions such as FIA Foundation for Agricultural Innovation, to allocate public resources for its conservation, introducing foreign concepts into the territory for the plant cultivation, which includes the inclusion of plastic in the Mapuche territories. The present paper investigates the cultural aspects of resistance to this vision, and in particular, to the elements of the Mapuche worldview attributed to the species and native forest. The study is based on interviews with Mapuche leaders, indigenous communities and families of Pilwa artisans, who in 2018 raised a project to restore the native forest, for the preservation of the Chupon species and the handcrafted tradition. This project was not funded by the Common Fund. Despite the Mapuche artisan families of the Pilwa, they have started a native forest conservation process in private estates to promote the sustainable land use and maintain the cultural relationship with nature. The findings are expected to support the future community presentation of a native forest restoration project around Lake Budi.
Coulomb stress models for the 2019 Ridgecrest, California earthquake sequence

Abstract We present a Coulomb stress analysis for the July 4th Mw 6.4 and July 5th Mw 7.1 earthquakes of the 2019 Ridgecrest, California earthquake sequence. We find that the Coulomb stress on the Mw 6.4 rupture plane was increased by the 1872 Owens Valley earthquake and slightly increased by the 1952 Kern County earthquake. Like- wise, the rupture plane of the July 5th Mw 7.1 earthquake was promoted by both the Owens Valley and Kern County earthquakes, as well as being promoted slightly by the 1992 Landers earthquake and the 1999 Hector Mine earthquake. To investigate the regional Coulomb stress change from the Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, we calculate Coulomb stress change on nearby faults from both the Mw 6.4 and Mw 7.1 earthquakes. We find that the Mw 6.4 earthquake promoted failure at the epicen- ter of the Mw 7.1 earthquake, which struck 34 h later. Furthermore, the Mw 6.4 and Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquakes increased Coulomb stress on the Garlock fault to the west of the rupture and decreased Coulomb stress to the east. The Panamint Valley fault was relaxed by the Ridgecrest earthquakes. The most significant stress change is an increase of Coulomb stress to the south of the Ridgecrest Sequence on the nearby Blackwater fault. The Blackwater fault, situated between the Lan- ders and Ridgecrest earthquakes, was loaded significantly by the Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake (up to 0.12 MPa) and by lesser amounts by the Landers and Hector Mine earthquakes. Of the known active faults in the region, including the Garlock fault, the Blackwater fault appears to have been loaded the most by the Ridgecrest earth- quakes.