cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss: problems in medical management.

Objectives: To discuss the diagnosis and management of children with fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, especially focusing on those problems dealing with autoimmune inner ear disease. Study Design: A retrospective chart review of a large pediatric otolaryngology practice. A series of 40 children with progressive hearing losses was identified. Of that group, 22 children, aged 1.5 to 12.2 years at first audiogram, were considered to have fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss (FSNHL). Criteria for inclusion in the FSNHL group were threshold variations of 15 dB or more in at least one ear at two or more of the standard audiometric frequencies on at least 2 testing days. Methods: Charts were reviewed for age, sex, otologic history, laboratory evaluations, medical or surgical treatments, significant medical history, and family medical history. Results: Twenty-two children met the criteria for fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss. Of those with fluctuating hearing loss, 15 were idiopathic, 3 had positive lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT) suggestive of autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), and 4 had fistula on middle ear exploration. Average fluctuation for all groups was 29.1 dB. Average duration of fluctuations was 4.95 years. Conclusions: The majority of pediatric FSNHL cases (15 of 22) were idiopathic in nature. Of those FSNHL children with positive LTTs, only one was treated with steroid therapy. In the other patients with positive LTTs, parents or other physicians were often reluctant to treat, or the patient was lost to follow-up. Mean fluctuations varied substantially across all standard audiometric frequencies for all groups.
Optimal tradeoff between H/sub 2/ performance and tracking accuracy in servocompensator synthesis

The problem of optimal H/sub 2/ disturbance rejection while tracking uncertain constant or sinusoidal reference commands is considered. The internal model principle is used to ensure that the tracking error approaches zero asymptotically. Necessary conditions are given for controllers that minimize an H/sub 2/ disturbance rejection cost plus a worst-case integral square tracking error for transient tracking performance. The necessary conditions provide expressions for the gradients of the cost with respect to each of the control gains. These expressions are then used in a quasi-Newton gradient search algorithm to determine the optimal feedback gains. Numerical examples demonstrate the tradeoff between the two competing objectives in the cost function.
THE BACTERICIDAL PROPERTIES OF ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATED LIPIDS OF THE SKIN

The lipids of the skin after exposure to ultraviolet light are bactericidal. Since other fats and oils which have been irradiated are bactericidal on account of the active oxygen released on contact with bacteria, the mechanism of the bactericidal action of irradiated lipids of the skin must be similar because the lipids have the properties of other irradiated fats and oils. Irradiation increases the active oxygen content of dried skin markedly but little increase occurs if the lipids have been extracted. Although the normal lipids extracted from the skin contain some active oxygen, the active oxygen content is much increased by irradiation. The vapor from lipids exposed to ultraviolet light fogs photographic plates intensely and retards the growth of hemolytic streptococcus. When emulsified in salt solution, the irradiated lipids kill hemolytic streptococcus promptly in comparison with emulsions of lipid which have not been irradiated. The addition of neutralized cysteine HCl to the emulsions of the lipid, normal or irradiated, prolongs the life of bacteria suspended in the emulsions. This protective effect is due to the reducing action of the cysteine, Normal non-irradiated lipid, extracted from the skin under conditions which permit oxidation, kills bacteria more quickly than that used in these experiments, where precautions were taken to prevent oxidation (unpublished data). Even though these precautions were taken some oxidation occurred, because lipid so extracted contained some active oxygen, and bacteria lived longer in emulsions of this normal lipid if cysteine were added.
Mutational Analysis of the v-Rel Dimerization Interface Reveals a Critical Role for v-Rel Homodimers in Transformation

The v-rel oncogene encoded by reticuloendotheliosis virus strain T is the acutely transforming member of the Rel/NF-κB family of transcription factors. In v-Rel-transformed cells, v-Rel exists as homodimers or heterodimers with the endogenous Rel/NF-κB proteins c-Rel, NF-κB1, NF-κB2, and RelA. To examine the contribution of these complexes to v-Rel-mediated transformation, mutations were introduced into the dimerization interface of v-Rel to generate v-Rel mutants with selective dimerization properties. Nine mutants are described in this study that are defective in homodimer and/or heterodimer formation with specific Rel/NF-κB family members. Viruses expressing mutants that failed to homodimerize but were able to form heterodimeric complexes were unable to transform splenic lymphocytes in vitro, indicating that the dimerization of v-Rel with endogenously expressed Rel/NF-κB proteins is not in itself sufficient for transformation. In addition, two partially transforming mutants were identified that exhibited an impaired ability to form homodimers. Sequence analysis of the proviral DNA from cells transformed by these mutants revealed the presence of multiple secondary mutations in sequences responsible for dimerization and DNA binding. Two of these mutations either enhanced or restored the ability of these proteins to bind DNA as a homodimer. Viruses expressing these proteins transformed cells at levels comparable to or slightly less than v-Rel, suggesting that a threshold level of DNA binding by v-Rel homodimers is required for transformation.
Lens effect on synthetic image generation based on light particle theory

The synthetic image generation with the lens effect consists of two consecutive processors: the hidden-surface processor, and the focus processor. The normal ray-tracing algorithms are used in the first processor. The second processor computes Lommel's function, which is an infinite series of Bessel functions. In order to avoid the complicated calculation and the huge memory consumption, an approximation method based on the light particle theory is developed. No noticeable differences can be detected between the results from the approximation method and those from the exact calculation.
Organicism: The Moral Anesthetic Of Management

System theory was adapted to the management paradigm in America during an era of unparalleled growth. Circumstances then were such that the “dark side” of organicism did not have to be contemplated. However, the environment for growth is changing. Consequently, serious value questions associated with the power of modern organization and the organicism of system theory must be asked.
Presence of Metabolic Syndrome in Football Linemen

Abstract Context: Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of symptoms associated with abdominal obesity that demonstrates a high risk for cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus. Objective: To evaluate football linemen in National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I, II, and III schools for the presence of metabolic syndrome according to the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria as well as to document other related biomarkers. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Three university locations on the first full day of football camp in early morning. Patients or Other Participants: Of 76 football linemen, 70 were able to provide blood samples. Main Outcome Measure(s): Height, mass, blood pressure, upper-body skinfolds, and waist circumference were measured at various stations. Two small venous samples of blood were collected and analyzed in a hospital laboratory for fasting insulin, glucose, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, trig...
DNA methylation, cell proliferation, and histopathology in rats following repeated inhalation exposure to dimethyl sulfate.

Dimethyl sulfate (DMS) is an alkylating agent that is carcinogenic to the respiratory tract of rodents. DNA adducts, cell proliferation, and histopathology were assessed in rats to better understand the molecular dosimetry and tissue dynamics associated with repeated inhalation exposure to DMS. For DNA methylation, rats were exposed to DMS vapor 6 h/day for up to 10 days to 0.0, 0.1, 0.7 and 1.5 ppm. N7-Methylguanine and N3-methyladenine were detected in neutral thermal hydrolysates of DNA isolated from respiratory tract tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using fluorescence and ultraviolet (UV) detection. DNA methylation was greatest in DNA isolated from nasal respiratory mucosa, less in olfactory, and little was found in lung. N7-Methylguanine levels in respiratory mucosa approached steady-state levels by day 5, and N7-methylguanine persistence following exposure for 5 consecutive days was also determined. Loss of N7-methylguanine from respiratory and olfactory mucosa appeared to fo...
Floating-point on-line arithmetic: Error analysis

The properties of redundant number system in mantissa representation are studied and the range of the redundant mantissa is derived. From the range of the mantissa and the absolute error of on-line operations, the MRRE (maximum relative representation error) is defined and analyzed for redundant floating-point numbers.
SNPper: retrieval and analysis of human SNPs.

Motivation: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are an increasingly important tool for the study of the human genome. SNPs can be used as markers to create highdensity genetic maps, as causal candidates for diseases, or to reconstruct the history of our genome. SNP-based studies rely on the availability of large numbers of validated, high-frequency SNPs whose position on the chromosomes is known with precision. Although large collections of SNPs exist in public databases, researchers need tools to effectively retrieve and manipulate them. Results: We describe the implementation and usage of SNPper, a web-based application to automate the tasks of extracting SNPs from public databases, analyzing them and exporting them in formats suitable for subsequent use. Our application is oriented toward the needs of candidate-gene, whole-genome and fine-mapping studies, and provides several flexible ways to present and export the data. The application has been publicly available for over a year, and has received positive user feedback and high usage levels. Availability: SNPper is freely available at http://snpper. chip.org/. Registration is optional and provides access to some advanced features.
Naltrexone effects on cortisol secretion in women and men in relation to a family history of alcoholism: studies from the Oklahoma Family Health Patterns Project.

Naltrexone evokes a cortisol response through its blockade of central opioid receptors on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA). The magnitude of this cortisol response may be useful as a probe for central opioid activity in different groups of subjects. Accordingly, the present study examined the effect of opioid blockade on the HPA in 70 women and 58 men with (N=41) and without (N=87) a family history of alcoholism, using a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind administration of oral naltrexone (50mg). Saliva cortisol was sampled at baseline prior to placebo or naltrexone and again every 30 min over the next 180 min. Women had significantly larger cortisol responses to naltrexone than did the men, F=6.88, p 0.69. The present results confirm that women have much greater central opioid restraint on the HPA than men do and that this endogenous restraint is unmasked by opioid blockade. However the results provide no evidence of a differential central opioid tonus in persons with a family history of alcoholism at this dose of naltrexone. The cortisol response to naltrexone may be a useful probe for central opioid activity in women and to a lesser degree in men.
Posaconazole Is Effective as Salvage Therapy in Zygomycosis: A Retrospective Summary of 91 Cases

To evaluate the activity of posaconazole for treatment of zygomycosis, a disease for which therapeutic options are limited, we conducted a retrospective study including 91 patients with zygomycosis (proven zygomycosis, 69 patients; probable zygomycosis, 22 patients). Patients had infection that was refractory to prior antifungal treatment (n=81) or were intolerant of such treatment (n=10) and participated in the compassionate-use posaconazole (800 mg/day) program. The rate of success (i.e., either complete or partial response) at 12 weeks after treatment initiation was 60%, and 21% of patients had stable disease. The overall high success and survival rates reported here provide encouraging data regarding posaconazole as an alternative therapy for zygomycosis.
Assessing the Mixedness of Composite Solid Rocket Propellants Using Fluorescent Particles

A new diagnostic technique was developed for assessing the effectiveness of mixing techniques of solid composite propellants using nanoparticle additives. The diagnostic uses nanosized quantum dots in suspension or micron-sized powders that are mixed into the propellant in place of the additives. Upon exposure to an ultraviolet light source, the particles fluoresce, hence serving as tracers to assess the uniformity of the mixture and therefore the effectiveness of the mixing procedure. Collection of the image using a digital camera provides data on intensity variations in the fluorescent signal, allowing for quantitative assessment of uniformity and mixedness. Various mixtures involving hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene binder and ammonium perchlorate oxidizer were manufactured at various levels of mixing to test the diagnostic. In addition to confirming the uniformity of the nanosized particles using the target mixing procedure, variations in mixing quality and comparisons between mechanically and hand-mixed propellants showed distinct differences correlating to the mixedness of each propellant that was supported with data from burning rate studies. The present diagnostic can therefore also be used to assess the mixedness of propellants that do not contain nanoparticle additives. Other potential applications include curing agent dispersion assessment and linking homogeneity to mixedness and mechanical properties.
Bisexual, pansexual, queer: Non-binary identities and the sexual borderlands

This article focuses on sexualities in the USA that exist within the border between heterosexuality and homosexuality. I first examine the usefulness of applying borderland theory to non-gay/non-straight sexualities such as queer and bisexual. I then give an ethnographic analysis of sexual self-identities on the borders, shedding light on how participants envisioned labels such as ‘pansexual,’ and ‘heteroflexible.’ Finally, I explore the ways that the sexual borderlands became tangible in Lexington, Kentucky at certain events and locations. Throughout, I highlight the ways that the sexual borderland touches on all sexualities, as individuals knowingly cross, inhabit, or bolster sexual identity borders.
Acid-base regulation, alpha-stat, and the emperor's new clothes

Considerable time and effort have been expended to determine the most appropriate technique for management of a patient's acid-base status during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. A critical question is whether to maintain plasma pH at 7.4 regardless of temperature (pH-stat) or to permit a relative alkalosis as the patient is cooled (alpha-stat). Until recently, there has been a remarkable lack of evidence in the literature for a consistent physiological benefit provided by one protocol over the other. The alpha-stat versus pH-stat controversy has taken on the characteristics of the emperor's new clothes, with alpha-stat winning by default because of theoretical arguments and because it was technically easier to perform. Part of the explanation is the realization that cellular mechanisms are capable of maintaining intracellular pH despite fluctuations in extracellular conditions. The prevailing plasma pH does have strong influence over cerebral blood flow, even to the point of overriding normal autoregulatory mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that cerebral blood flow variations between alpha-stat and pH-stat conditions have important implications for patient outcomes.
COMMUNITY FORESTRY AS EMBEDDED PROCESS: TWO CASES FROM DURANGO AND QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO *

Recent neoliberal economic restructuring and related legal reform undermine the peasant-based organizations underlying Mexican community forestry. Technical services have been relegated to markets and new economic groups within communities authorized to use forest resources. Researchers have found that individuals may develop successful management regimes when they agree on resource problems and change strategies, they value benefits of cooperation relative to costs, and they constitute a relatively well-defined and stable group. But examination of two peasant-based, intermediate level forestry organizations in Durango and Quintana Roo reveals that internal and external pressures lead the organizations to reformulate objectives, rework how they “deliver the goods” to members, and redefine the boundaries of stakeholder “communities.” Peasant-based organizations remain key actors in the pursuit of sustainable forestry and merit support in adapting to new conditions. Common pool resource research might fruitfully view such organizations as historical processes embedded in structural contexts ranging from local to global. ?
Inequality and Labor Market Institutions

The paper examines the role of labor market institutions in the rise of income inequality in advanced economies, alongside other determinants. The evidence strongly indicates that de-unionization is associated with rising top earners’ income shares and less redistribution, while eroding minimum wages are related to increases in overall income inequality. The results, however, also suggest that a lack of representativeness of unions may be associated with higher inequality. These findings do not necessarily constitute a blanket recommendation for higher unionization and minimum wages, as country-specific circumstances and potential trade-offs with other policy objectives need to be considered. Addressing inequality also requires a multipronged approach, which should include taxation reform and curbing excesses associated with financial deregulation.
The Gut Microbiome Is Altered in a Letrozole-Induced Mouse Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have reproductive and metabolic abnormalities that result in an increased risk of infertility, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The large intestine contains a complex community of microorganisms (the gut microbiome) that is dysregulated in humans with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Using a letrozole-induced PCOS mouse model, we demonstrated significant diet-independent changes in the gut microbial community, suggesting that gut microbiome dysbiosis may also occur in PCOS women. Letrozole treatment was associated with a time-dependent shift in the gut microbiome and a substantial reduction in overall species and phylogenetic richness. Letrozole treatment also correlated with significant changes in the abundance of specific Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes previously implicated in other mouse models of metabolic disease in a time-dependent manner. Our results suggest that the hyperandrogenemia observed in PCOS may significantly alter the gut microbiome independently of diet.
Mass density at geostationary orbit and apparent mass refilling

We used the inferred equatorial mass density ρm,eq based on measurements of Alfven wave frequencies measured by the GOES satellites during 1980–1991 in order to construct a number of different models of varying complexity for the equatorial mass density at geostationary orbit. The most complicated models are able to account for 66% of the variance with a typical variation from actual values of a factor of 1.56. The factors that influenced ρm,eq in the models were, in order of decreasing importance, the F10.7 EUV index, magnetic local time, the solar wind dynamic pressure Pdyn, the phase of the year, and the solar wind BZ (GSM Z direction). During some intervals, some of which were especially geomagnetically quiet, ρm,eq rose to values that were significantly higher than those predicted by our models. For 10 especially quiet intervals, we examined long-term (>1 day) apparent refilling, the increase in ρm,eq at a fixed location. We found that the behavior of ρm,eq varies for different events. In some cases, there is significant apparent refilling, whereas in other cases ρm,eq stays the same or even decreases slightly. Nevertheless, we showed that on average, ρm,eq increases exponentially during quiet intervals. There is variation of apparent refilling with respect to the phase of the solar cycle. On the third day of apparent refilling, ρm,eq has on average a similar value at solar maximum or solar minimum, but at solar maximum, ρm,eq begins with a larger value and rises relatively less than at solar minimum.
EVALUATION OF SELECTED INSECTICIDES AGAINST FALL ARMYWORM IN A LAB-FIELD TEST, 2005

The efficacy of selected insecticide treatments was evaluated against fall armyworm at the Macon Ridge Research Station near Winnsboro, LA. The soil type for this trial consisted of a Gigger-Gilbert silt loam soil with a pH = 6.1 and 1.1% organic matter. Cotton was planted on 5 May into plots that were four rows centered on 40-inches and 50 feet in length. Treatments were arranged in a RCB design with three replications. On 25 Jul, treatments were applied using a compressed air system calibrated to deliver 10 gpa through Teejet 80015 flat fan nozzles (2/row) at 30 psi. One hour following insecticide application, three first position squares from the upper third of a plant were harvested and placed in a plastic Petri dish. In addition, one first position and quarter-sized boll from the mid-canopy of a plant was placed in a 1 oz plastic cup. For both tissues harvested, 10 plants were sampled in each plot. Each plastic dish was infested with five 2-d-old larvae and 1oz cups were infested with one 5-d-old larva. Mortality was determined at 72 and 96 h after infestation (HAI). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated according to DMRT. No rainfall occurred during the test.
Non-extraction HPLC method for the simultaneous measurement of theophylline and caffeine in human serum.

A non extraction HPLC method is described for the simultaneous measurement of theophylline and caffeine in human serum using a Pinkerton ISRP column and u.v. detection at 275 nm. The method is suitable for therapeutic monitoring of theophylline levels in adults and, in particular, quantitation of both theophylline and caffeine in premature neonates where as little as 10 microL of sample can be used. Comparison of theophylline levels obtained by this method with EMIT analysis show a correlation coefficient of 0.97 (n = 37) in adults and 0.79 (n = 16) in premature neonates. There was no correlation between serum theophylline and caffeine levels in premature neonates receiving theophylline therapy. No interference was encountered from endogenous plasma components or other drugs in the 53 patients studied. Precision of the assays compares well with reported values for extraction HPLC and immunochemical analyses.
The dynamics of a parachute retraction soft landing system

The U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command's Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (NRDEC) is currently examining a concept for reducing the ground impact shock sustained by airdropped payloads. A device placed between the payload and parachute confluence point, called a parachute retractor, is activated to pull the parachute and payload together prior to ground impact, thus decreasing the payload impact velocity. This method may replace the present method of using paper-honeycomb cushioning materials to reduce the loads sustained by airdropped cargoes upon ground impact. The use of this device would not only lead to a reduction in the time required to rig payloads for airdrop, but also provide a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) capability for vehicles. In the spring of 1994, a series of experiments were conducted at Tustin Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) near Santa Ana, California. This effort demonstrated that this soft landing concept, now called the Parachute Retraction Soft Landing System (PRSLS), is capable of slowing and even stopping parachute cargoes just before landing. Since the Tustin experiments, there has been an effort to determine how feasible it would be to scale-up the system to soft land heavier payloads. This effort has been conducted on two fronts: experimental and computational. The purpose of this paper is to describe the Tustin experiments, as well as more recent testing and analytical efforts to further our understanding of PRSLS behavior.
Mengzi and Hume on Extending Virtue

Mengzi and David Hume both suggest that virtue arises from original features of human nature. This article explores how the Humean explanation of the passions along with Hume’s double relation of impressions and ideas can complete the Mengzian account by showing how original “sprouts” can be extended to others as a fully developed virtue.
A Simple Complex Analysis and an Advanced Calculus Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra

(2009). A Simple Complex Analysis and an Advanced Calculus Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 116, No. 1, pp. 67-68.
Readmission following primary surgery for larynx and oropharynx cancer in the elderly.

Objective To examine 30-day readmission rates and associations with risk factors, survival, length of hospitalization, and costs in elderly patients with laryngeal and oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (SCC). Study Design Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data. Methods We evaluated 1,518 patients diagnosed with laryngeal or oropharyngeal SCC from 2004 to 2007 who underwent primary surgery using cross-tabulations, multivariate regression modeling, and survival analysis. Results Thirty-day readmission occurred in 14.1% of hospitalizations. Readmission was more likely in patients with postoperative complications during initial hospitalization (24.8% vs. 4.5%, P < 0.001), and was associated with an increased 30-day mortality incidence rate (5.1% vs. 0.9%; P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, 30-day readmission was significantly associated with advanced stage (odds ratio [OR] = 1.81 [1.13–2.90]), comorbidity (OR = 2.69 [1.65–4.39]), divorced/separated marital status (OR = 2.00 [1.19–3.38]), preoperative tracheostomy (OR = 3.39 [1.55–7.44]), major surgical procedures (OR = 2.58 [1.68–3.97]), greater length of initial hospitalization (OR = 1.72 [1.09–2.71]), pneumonia (OR = 2.86 [1.28–6.40]), postoperative dysphagia (OR = 5.97 [2.48–15.83]), and cardiovascular events (OR = 5.84 [1.89–17.96]). Thirty-day readmission was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (OR = 5.89 [2.21–15.70) and higher 1-year mortality (68.0% vs. 89.2%, P < 0.001). The mean incremental costs of surgical care were significantly greater for patients with unplanned readmission ($15,123 [$10,514–$19,732]), after controlling for all other variables. Conclusion Unplanned readmissions are associated with increased short- and long-term mortality and costs. Elderly patients with advanced disease, advanced comorbidity, lack of spousal support, pretreatment organ dysfunction, more extensive surgery, postoperative pneumonia, postoperative dysphagia, and prolonged hospitalization are at increased risk of 30-day readmission. These findings suggest a need for targeted interventions before, during, and after hospitalization to reduce morbidity, mortality, and excess costs in this high-risk population. Level of Evidence 2c. Laryngoscope, 127:631–641, 2017
Spouted bed design considerations for coated nuclear fuel particles

Abstract High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) are fueled with tristructural isotropic (TRISO) coated nuclear fuel particles embedded in a carbon-graphite fuel body. TRISO coatings consist of four layers of pyrolytic carbon and silicon carbide that are deposited on uranium ceramic fuel kernels (350 μm – 500 μm diameters) in a concatenated series of batch depositions. Each layer has dedicated functions such that the finished fuel particle has its own integral containment to minimize and control the release of fission products into the fuel body and reactor core. The TRISO coatings are the primary containment structure in the HTGR reactor and must have very high uniformity and integrity. To ensure high quality TRISO coatings, the four layers are deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using high purity precursors and are applied in a concatenated succession of batch operations before the finished product is unloaded from the coating furnace. These depositions take place at temperatures ranging from 1230 °C to 1550 °C and use three different gas compositions, while the fuel particle diameters double, their density drops from11.1 g/cm3 to 3.0 g/cm3, and the bed volume increases more than 8-fold. All this is accomplished without the aid of sight ports or internal instrumentation that could cause chemical contamination within the layers or mechanical damage to thin layers in the early stages of each layer deposition. The converging section of the furnace retort was specifically designed to prevent bed stagnation that would lead to unacceptably high defect fractions and facilitate bed circulation to avoid large variability in coating layer dimensions and properties. The gas injection nozzle was designed to protect precursor gases from becoming overheated prior to injection, to induce bed spouting and preclude bed stagnation in the bottom of the retort. Furthermore, the retort and injection nozzle designs minimize buildup of pyrocarbon and silicon carbide on the retort wall and manage nozzle orifice accretions. The equipment and operating methods have yielded very good reliability of equipment and product reproducibility in the TRISO coated particles batches.
Determination of selected metals in rice and cereal by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)

Abstract A study to determine the concentration of metals in a variety or rice and cereal foods from various locations was performed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). According to the results of the study, in our samples no concentrations of Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and V were found except for Red Gram, Green Gram and Black Gram for which Ni was 6.8 ppm, 8.0 ppm and 8.8 ppm, respectively, and for Black Gram, Cow Peas and Black Sesame Seeds for which V was 4.8 ppm, 8.8 ppm, and 3.4 ppm, respectively. Despite the large geographic differences, shape and color, the metal concentrations were somewhat similar. Sample concentration for Al were at 3.9 ppm to 207 ppm, except for Black Gram which was at 4400 pm, for Cu at1.7–13.6 pm, for Mg at 243–1526 ppm with outlier of 3230 ppm (Black Sesame Seeds), for Mn at 4.3–118 ppm, for Zn at 1.2–22.3 ppm and Fe at 8.9 to 99.5 with an outlier of 210 ppm for Flattened Rice.
Exploiting Radiation-Induced Signaling to Increase the Susceptibility of Resistant Cancer Cells to Targeted Drugs: AKT and mTOR Inhibitors as an Example.

Implementing targeted drug therapy in radio-oncologic treatment regimens has greatly improved the outcome of cancer patients. However, the efficacy of molecular targeted drugs such as inhibitory antibodies or small molecule inhibitors essentially depends on target expression and activity, which both can change during the course of treatment. Radiotherapy has previously been shown to activate prosurvival pathways, which can help tumor cells to adapt and thereby survive treatment. Therefore, we aimed to identify changes in signaling induced by radiation and evaluate the potential of targeting these changes with small molecules to increase the therapeutic efficacy on cancer cell survival. Analysis of "The Cancer Genome Atlas" database disclosed a significant overexpression of AKT1, AKT2, and MTOR genes in human prostate cancer samples compared with normal prostate gland tissue. Multifractionated radiation of three-dimensional-cultured prostate cancer cell lines with a dose of 2 Gy/day as a clinically relevant schedule resulted in an increased protein phosphorylation and enhanced protein-protein interaction between AKT and mTOR, whereas gene expression of AKT, MTOR, and related kinases was not altered by radiation. Similar results were found in a xenograft model of prostate cancer. Pharmacologic inhibition of mTOR/AKT signaling after activation by multifractionated radiation was more effective than treatment prior to radiotherapy. Taken together, our findings provide a proof-of-concept that targeting signaling molecules after activation by radiotherapy may be a novel and promising treatment strategy for cancers treated with multifractionated radiation regimens such as prostate cancer to increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to molecular targeted drugs. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(2); 355-67. ©2017 AACRSee all articles in this MCT Focus section, "Developmental Therapeutics in Radiation Oncology."
ResLoc: Deep residual sharing learning for indoor localization with CSI tensors

Wi-Fi based indoor localization has attracted great interest due to its ubiquitous access in many indoor environments. In this paper, we propose ResLoc, a deep residual sharing learning based system for indoor localization with channel state information (CSI) tensor data. We first introduce CSI data in wireless systems and show how to build CSI tensors for indoor localization. Then, we present the design of ResLoc, which employs dual-channel, bi-modal CSI tensor data to train the deep network using the proposed deep residual sharing learning in the offline phase. In the online test phase, we use newly received CSI tensor data to estimate the location of the mobile device based on an enhanced probabilistic method. The experimental results show that the proposed ResLoc system can obtain submeter level accuracy with a single access point.
Not Just Figureheads: Trustees as Microfoundations of Higher Education Institutions.

Despite the importance of trustees for higher education institutions, few studies address how they influence the institutions they steward. To address this gap, we used a social network approach within a comparative case study design to evaluate how trustees interacted with two private, elite universities: Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While trustees interacted with these institutions in differing ways, results indicated that some of them significantly influenced institutional behaviors, structures, and policies. This suggests that the role of trustees should be re-conceptualized to reflect their ability to influence higher education institutions, making them a fundamental part of the microfoundations of these institutions.
Stuart Hall: diasporic Caribbeanness and discourses of ethnocultural belonging

Hall’s analyses merge the intersecting fields of Black Britishness, diaspora studies, Caribbean studies, postcolonialism, and cultural studies, centering on the ways in which new arrivants and thei...
Abiotic and Biotic Determinants of Steppe Productivity and Performance – A View from Central Asia

With over 13 Mio. km², grasslands of Eurasia form one of the largest continuous terrestrial biomes. They mostly represent environments with low productivity and with a long evolutionary history of natural grazing. Over the last few decades, increasing population sizes and socio-economic changes have subjected these steppes to increasing pressure, and associated degradation. We concentrate on the steppes of Central Asia (Mongolia, northern China and Tibet) and show that land use practice, climate and soil conditions are the most important drivers of change in these grasslands.
Chapter 19 Economic analysis of food safety

Abstract This chapter addresses the analysis of markets for food products that are differentiated by safety characteristics. The first part of the paper surveys the broad array of issues that are involved in food safety and the regulations that have been devised to address them. The next sections of the paper consider the analysis of the demand and supply of safety-differentiated products and the implications of alternative information regimes for market equilibrium. The final section of the paper considers the measurement of benefits and costs of food safety regulations in the context of recent efforts at regulatory impact assessment.
Cost and morbidity of surgical management of resectable gallbladder cancer (GBC): Results from the National Inpatient Sample database.

e15663Background: GBC is the most common biliary tract cancer. Based on a retrospective, single-institution data, extended cholecystectomy (EXT) has been recommended over simple cholecystectomy (CH...
The Magnitude of Health Inequalities Among Older Adults in Brazil and Mexico

This chapter assesses the magnitude of wealth-related inequalities on five health outcomes (obesity, abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease) among older adults in Brazil and Mexico. Analyses were based on cross-sectional data from the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey and the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey. Socioeconomic status was based on a wealth index. We calculated wealth-related inequalities in the prevalence of five health outcomes by calculating the concentration index (CI) and horizontal index (HI). Data analyses were performed in STATA SE 14 and ADePT (6.0). Results indicated that prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease were higher in the central wealth-quintiles. The concentration indices were all positive, indicating a higher concentration of these health conditions among older adults who are more affluent. Wealth inequalities in health conditions were mainly explained by socioeconomic factors, such as place of residency and educational attainment, rather than demographic factors, such as age and sex. Nonetheless, in both countries, strong inequities in health prevail. Brazil and Mexico have expanded public health actions aimed at improving health behaviours, diagnosis, and access to treatment of chronic conditions. However, prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease is high in both countries, and among older adults, even more concentrated among those with higher wealth. Prevention and early detection strategies, including improving lifestyle behaviours, such as physical activity and dietary habits, could benefit both countries.
Substances Involved in Suicidal Poisonings in the United States.

Objective This study investigated specific substances most commonly involved in suicidal poisonings, causing severe clinical effects, and leading to intensive treatments. Method Suicidal poisoning cases for individuals ≥13 years old were obtained from the National Poison Data System for 2011-2015. The most common products involved in single and multiple-product poisonings were identified. Single product cases were used to calculate substances causing the largest numbers of serious clinical effects and leading to intensive treatments. Results More than half of reported cases involved only a single product (54.4%), but this frequency was higher at the extremes of age (66.7% in adolescents 13-19 years old and 70.5% in individuals ≥90 years old) and among pregnant women (65.8%). The top three substances involved in single-product poisonings were over-the-counter (OTC) medications, while alcohol and prescription sedatives were most common in multiple-product poisonings. One OTC medication, diphenhydramine, was a frequent cause of several serious clinical effects and intensive treatments. Conclusions Single product suicidal poisonings were more frequent with extremes of age and in pregnancy. OTC products were more frequently used in single product attempts. Products causing serious clinical effects can be targeted for suicide prevention efforts as well as education of health care providers.
Nutritional influence on bone: role of gut microbiota

Gut microbiota (GM) located within the intestinal tract lumen comprises the largest number of cells (10E14) in the human body. The gut microbiome refers to the collection of genomes and genes present in gut microbiota. GM can vary according to age, sex, genetic background, immune status, geography, diet, prebiotics, which are non-digestible fibers metabolized in the distal part of the gastrointestinal tract, probiotics, which are micro-organisms conferring a health benefit on the host when administered in adequate amounts, living conditions, diseases and drugs. A source of probiotics is fortified fermented dairy products, which in addition provide calcium, protein, phosphorus and various micronutrients. Bone homeostasis is influenced by GM composition and/or products. GM appears to be a major player in the various determinants of bone health. However, it remains to be demonstrated in well conducted long-term randomized controlled trials, whether interventions changing GM composition and/or function are capable of reducing fracture risk.
The impact of escalating service failures and internet addiction behavior on young and older customers' negative eWOM

Abstract This study combines the theory of addictive behavior with the framework of customer complaining behavior to examine the effects of customers' Internet Addiction (IA) and their hotel service failure experiences on their negative word-of-mouth behaviors. Since there is a generational gap in internet use between young and older people, two experiments were conducted, each focusing on one of these populations. A series of analyses identified that IA and functional/technical service failure partially influenced four different types of customers' word-of-mouth (eWOM) behaviors on social media (i.e., Badmouthing, Tattling, Spite and Feeding the Vultures). Data were analyzed with sets of four multivariate regression models to evaluate eWOM behaviors. The findings suggest that both young and older customers represented more negative eWOMs when they experienced technical service failures. The findings were not consistent regarding functional service failures. IA was not a consistent predictor of young customers' negative eWOM, but it was a consistent predictor of older customers' negative eWOM for all service failure categories.
Facilitators and barriers to successful recruitment into a large comparative effectiveness trial: a qualitative study.

Background: Recruitment of participants into research studies, especially individuals from minority groups, is challenging; lack of diversity may lead to biased findings. Aim: To explore beliefs about research participation among individuals who were approached and eligible for the GRADE study. Methods: In-depth qualitative telephone interviews with randomized participants (n = 25) and eligible individuals who declined to enroll (n = 26). Results: Refusers and consenters differed in trust and perceptions of risk, benefits and burden of participation. Few participants understood how comparative effectiveness research differed from other types of trials; however, some features of comparative effectiveness research were perceived as lower risk. Conclusion: We identified facilitators and addressable barriers to participation in research studies.
Hospital use for non-traumatic dental conditions among older adults in Florida.

Objective Older Americans are at risk of many oral diseases and conditions, but limited access to dental care may lead to the use of hospital emergency departments (EDs) or inpatient admissions. This study examined the use of hospitals for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) among persons aged ≥65 years in the Florida. Methods We analysed hospital use for NTDCs in Florida in 2018 from health department data sets. We calculated frequencies and rates of ED visits and hospital inpatient admissions, overall and by county, age, sex, race/ethnicity and principal payer. We also examined the source of hospital admission, primary diagnoses and charges. Results In 2018, there were 4894 ED visits and 747 inpatient admissions for NTDCs among persons aged ≥65 years in Florida. The rate for ED visits was 112.30 per 100 000 population and for hospital inpatient admissions was 17.14; rates varied widely among counties. Medicare was the most common primary payer. Referrals from EDs accounted for 76.2% of inpatient admissions for NTDCs by older adults. Total charges were $21.4 million for ED visits and $40.2 million for inpatient admissions. The most common principal diagnosis for ED visits for NTDCs was "periapical abscess without sinus tract" (K04.7; 26.2%) and for inpatient admissions was "inflammatory conditions of the jaw" (M27.2; 19.1%). Of the 747 inpatient admissions, two people died. Conclusions Hospital use for NTDCs in Florida among persons aged ≥65 years is a clinical and financial challenge. Public coverage for basic adult dental services may lead to more effective use of funds and better health outcomes.
A Matter of the Heart: Daytime Relationship Functioning and Overnight Heart Rate in Young Dating Couples

BACKGROUND Although past longitudinal research demonstrates that romantic partners affect one another's health outcomes, considerably less is known about how romantic experiences "get under the skin" in everyday life. PURPOSE The current study investigated whether young couples' naturally occurring feelings of closeness to and annoyance with each other during waking hours were associated with their overnight cardiovascular activity. METHODS Participants were 63 heterosexual young adult dating couples (Mage = 23.07). Using ecological momentary assessments, couples reported their hourly feelings of closeness to and annoyance with their partners across 1 day; subsequent overnight heart rate was captured through wearable electrocardiogram biosensors. Actor-partner interdependence models tested whether individuals' overnight heart rate varied as a function of (a) their own daytime feelings of closeness and annoyance (actor effects) and (b) their partner's daytime feelings of closeness and annoyance (partner effects) while controlling for daytime heart rate. RESULTS Although young adults' feelings of romantic closeness and annoyance were unrelated to their own overnight heart rate (i.e., no actor effects), gender-specific partner effects emerged. Young men's nocturnal heart rate was uniquely predicted by their female partner's daytime relationship feelings. When women felt closer to their partners during the day, men exhibited lower overnight heart rate. When women felt more annoyed with their partners during the day, men exhibited heightened overnight heart rate. CONCLUSIONS The findings illustrate gender-specific links between couple functioning and physiological arousal in the everyday lives of young dating couples, implicating physiological sensitivity to partner experiences as one potential pathway through which relationships affect health.