cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multifunctional mixed SAMs that promote both cell adhesion and noncovalent DNA immobilization.

The ability of DNA strands to influence cellular gene expression directly and to bind with high affinity and specificity to other biological molecules (e.g., proteins and target DNA strands) makes them a potentially attractive component of cell culture substrates. On the basis of the potential importance of immobilized DNA in cell culture and the well-defined characteristics of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), the current study was designed to create multifunctional SAMs upon which cell adhesion and DNA immobilization can be independently modulated. The approach immobilizes the fibronectin-derived cell adhesion ligand Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (RGDSP) using carbodiimide activation chemistry and immobilizes DNA strands on the same surface via cDNA−DNA interactions. The surface density of hexanethiol-terminated DNA strands on alkanethiol monolayers (30.2−69.2 pmol/cm2) was controlled using a backfill method, and specific target DNA binding on cDNA-containing SAMs was regulated by varying the soluble ...
Paramedic student adherence to the National Standard Curriculum recommendations.

Objectives The National Standard Curriculum–Paramedic (NSC-P) is the accepted curriculum for paramedic programs across the country. The purpose of this study was to examine the completion of the NSC-P clinical internship recommendations by paramedic students. Methods. Paramedic student internship experience data from 2001 to 2005 was retrospectively reviewed from FISDAP™. Student records that met the following inclusion criteria were analyzed: 1) student provided consent for research, 2) data verified by a preceptor, and3) student successfully graduated from their paramedic program. The data were descriptively evaluated to determine the number of students who completed 100% of the NSC-P recommendations, to determine what percentage of students were completing each category, andto determine the average number of tasks completed by students for each recommendation. Results. Of the 1,817 student records that met the inclusion criteria, 140 (7.7%) completed 100% of the NSC-P recommended goals in each category...
Preovulatory changes in ovulating hormone in the cyclic hamster.

Hamsters maintained on a 14 hr light: 10 hr dark schedule (lights on 5 AM-7 PM) were injected subcutaneously with phenobarbital (6.5 mg/100 g bw) on the afternoon of proestrus. Injection of phenobarb. at 1 PM prevented ovulation the next morning in all animals (n = 16), whereas 56.3% ovulated when phenobarb. treatment was deferred until 2:15 PM (9/16). Almost all animals ovulated by the next morning when they were injected with phenobarb. at 2:30 PM (15/16) and all ovulated after injection of phenobarb. at 2:45 PM (16/16). Hence, the critical period falls between 1 and 2:15 PM and ends in all animals between 2:30 and 2:45 PM. The ip injection of progesterone (.1–5 mg), of high doses of estrone (10 fig) but not of testosterone (.1–5 mg) concurrent with phenobarb., reversed the blockade of ovulation. Hamsters hypophysectomized (H) at half-hour intervals beginning at 1 PM spontaneously ovulated when H from 3:30 PM and thereafter, indicating that the release of the ovulatory quota of gonadotropins occurred wi...
Multi-cell communications for OFDM-based asynchronous networks over multi-cell environments

This paper investigates a multi-cell communication technique for OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)-based asynchronous networks without the use of a GPS (Global Positioning System). First, a downlink macro-diversity technique using bandwidth division allocation is presented, where each MS (Mobile Station) simultaneously receives control information from surrounding BSs (Base Stations) using an FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) module. Second, a hierarchical master-slave synchronization technique is introduced for plug & access network synchronization. Finally, an adaptive guard carrier allocation scheme is proposed to reduce the effect of MAI (Multiple Access Interference) for users receiving multiple transmission signals from surrounding BSs. In a simulation, the proposed technique is well designed to achieve SSDT (Site Selection Diversity Transmission) and adaptive synchronization for OFDM-based networks. It is particularly noteworthy that this adaptive sub-carrier allocation is very effective in reducing MAI for plug and access network synchronization.
The Line Spectra of Isotopes

COMPARISONS of the spectra of the isotopes of lead have shown that they are indentical, except for slight wave-length differences of the order of a few thousandths of an Angstrom unit. Our inability completely to separate the isotopes of other non-radio-active elements in quantities for spectroscopic investigation has left this the only experimental result of a direct nature. In order to find possible evidences of the effect in two other elements, the writer has made an accurate comparison of the spectra of samples of mercury having different atomic weights, and also of similar samples of chlorine. These have been produced by long-continued fractional diffusions in the laboratory of Prof. W. D. Harkins, who kindly made them available for this investigation.
Toxic effects of dietary polybrominated biphenyls on mink.

Serial levels of fireMaster® FF-1, a commercial mixture of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), and tissues from chickens and a cow that had previously consumed PBB were fed to mink to ascertain the chronic effects of the commercial and “metabolized” form of this compound on mink. Diets that contained 6.25 ppm (or more) PBB were lethal to adult mink within 10 months. One to 2.5 ppm dietary PBB fed for 9 months had an adverse effect on litter size, kit weight at birth, and kit survival. The data suggest that the PBB derived from contaminated beef and poultry was more toxic than the original PBB. The clinical signs of PBB poisoning in mink were food rejection, weight loss, an unthrifty appearance, and fatty infiltration of the liver. Based on these findings, mink must be considered highly susceptible to PBB toxicity. PBB residue levels 60 times the amount in the diet were found in the adipose tissue of the PBB-treated animals.
A model for building transnational networks on Chinese overseas studies: The Hong Kong experience

Abstract The Second International Conference of Institutes and Libraries for Chinese Overseas Studies was held at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on March 13–15, 2003. The title of the conference was “Transnational Networks: Challenges in Research and Documentation of the Chinese Overseas,” co-sponsored by the Ohio University Libraries and the CUHK. This article includes a detailed description of the conference, primarily the paper abstracts from over 60 presenters in the fields of Asian history, anthropology, sociology, political science, geography, and other Asian-related disciplines. The papers were focused on the following major topics: sources on Chinese overseas studies; computer-mediated documentation and research on the Chinese overseas; documentation, research, and teaching of Chinese overseas studies; Chinese overseas and China; exhibitions on Chinese overseas; documentation on Chinese overseas; contemporary research on Chinese overseas; migration, transnational network, and Chinese overseas; libraries and private collections on Chinese overseas; administrative and demographic data and grey literature; topics on Chinese overseas; politics and political participations; migration and identity; research on Chinese in Russia and South Africa; and Chinese overseas and business. The conference concluded with the approval of the constitution made by the World Confederation of Institutes and Libraries for Overseas Chinese Studies (WCILOCS).
Substitution of Cysteine for Protohæmin as the ‘X’ Factor for Growth of H. influenzæ

THE indispensability of iron in the form of protohaemin, the so-called 'X' factor, to the growth of H: influenzae has long been an accepted fact. Recently, the Lwoffs observed that the oxygen consumption of suspensions of this organism containing minimal amounts of haemin is remarkably increased by the addition of small quantities of this compound. Accordingly, they concluded that the 'X' factor functions by supplying, to the cell, material from which it can synthesize a catalytic respiratory system comprising cytochrome C and possibly cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase and catalase, although no direct evidence was advanced for the latter1. If there is a correlation between the necessity of the haemin for growth and its ability to promote oxygen consumption, it should be possible to grow the influenza bacillus by replacing the iron complexes with any other system which is capable of inducing oxygen consumption. Since reversible oxidation-reduction systems of suitable potential can function as efficient respiratory catalysts2, we set out to determine the effect of these systems on the growth of H. influenzae.
Piezoelectric constant and conductivity relaxation in n-type InP from ultrasonic attenuation measurements☆

Abstract Measurements have been made of the attenuation of 30, 90 and 150 MHz {111}; longitudinal ultrasonic waves and of the d.c. resistivity in chromium-doped, n-type InP from -50 to +150°C. From the attenuation maximum observed for 30 MHz waves we find γe14γ = 0.040 C/m2.
Antimicrobial susceptibilities of diverse Bacillus anthracis isolates

A test of 25 genetically diverse isolates of Bacillus anthracis was conducted to determine their susceptibility to seven clinically relevant antimicrobial agents. Etest strips (AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden) were used to measure the MICs for the isolates. Using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards MIC breakpoints for staphylococci, three isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin and five were found to be resistant to cefuroxime. The penicillin-resistant isolates were negative for β-lactamase production. Continued surveillance of B. anthracis field isolates is recommended to monitor antimicrobial susceptibility.
Electrochemical Strain Microscopy: Probing Electrochemical Transformations in Nanoscale Volumes

Electrochemical and electrocatalytic phenomena underpin a broad spectrum of energy, chemical, and information technologies. Examples range from electrocatalytic activation of oxygen reduction reactions in fuel cells, gas-solid reactions, and ionic transport in gas sensors and oxygen pumps, to a wide gamut of electrochemical and transport phenomena in primary and secondary batteries. Equally important is the role of ionic phenomena in information technologies, as exemplified by a recent wave of interest in memristive and electroresisitive information storage and logic devices. This article examines a new type of scanning probe microscopy (SPM), referred to as electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM), that can provide a better understanding of these complex phenomena.
Identification of 81LGxGxxIxW89 and 171EDRW174 Domains from Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vif That Regulate APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F Neutralizing Activity

The human cytidine deaminases APOBEC3G (A3G) and APOBEC3F (A3F) potently restrict human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication, but they are neutralized by the viral protein Vif. Vif bridges A3G and A3F with a Cullin 5 (Cul5)-based E3 ubiquitin ligase and mediates their proteasomal degradation. This mechanism has been extensively studied, and several Vif domains have been identified that are critical for A3G and A3F neutralization. Here, we identified two additional domains. Via sequence analysis of more than 2,000 different HIV-1 Vif proteins, we identified two highly conserved amino acid sequences, (81)LGxGxSIEW(89) and (171)EDRWN(175). Within the (81)LGxGxSIEW(89) sequence, residues L81, G82, G84, and, to a lesser extent, I87 and W89 play very critical roles in A3G/A3F neutralization. In particular, residues L81 and G82 determine Vif binding to A3F, residue G84 determines Vif binding to both A3G and A3F, and residues (86)SIEW(89) affect Vif binding to A3F, A3G, and Cul5. Accordingly, this (81)LGxGxSIEW(89) sequence was designated the (81)LGxGxxIxW(89) domain. Within the (171)EDRWN(175) sequence, all residues except N175 are almost equally important for regulation of A3F neutralization, and consistently, they determine Vif binding only to A3F. Accordingly, this domain was designated (171)EDRW(174). The LGxGxxIxW domain is also partially conserved in simian immunodeficiency virus Vif from rhesus macaques (SIVmac239) and has a similar activity. Thus, (81)LGxGxxIxW(89) and (171)EDRW(174) are two novel functional domains that are very critical for Vif function. They could become new targets for inhibition of Vif activity during HIV replication.
Conservation's ambiguities. Rangers on the periphery of the W park, Burkina Faso

This article demonstrates the central role of ambiguity in the (re)production process of conservation practice. It argues that some current political economy as well as environmentality approaches to research conservation practice fail to capture the complexity of the lived experience of local conservationists. The article focuses on the multiple identities of rangers in interaction with other residents at the periphery of the W Park in Burkina Faso, as rangers are local conservationists who simultaneously submit to and produce conservation practices. Park rangers are village men who are recruited under the banner of community participation in conservation projects and state forestry. On a day-to-day basis, these rangers help the foresters with the management of the natural resources on the one hand, and guide tourists, especially in the hunting concessions, on the other. They occupy ambiguous positions at the crossroads of conservationist, state, political, economic, spiritual, social, and cultural practices, inherent to their conservation occupations at the lowest echelon, where residents have to transform conservation policies into practices. It is precisely this ambiguity that turns out to ensure the conservation implementation.
Endometrial Ablation: Normal Imaging Appearance and Delayed Complications

OBJECTIVE. Nonresectoscopic endometrial ablation techniques are being used as an alternative first-line management for menorrhagia. With these techniques, patients are at risk of developing delayed complications including painful obstructed menses, such as central hematometra and cornual hematometra, and postablation tubal sterilization syndrome. Pregnancy and the detection of endometrial cancer after ablation pose challenges in management. CONCLUSION. Radiologists should recognize the normal imaging findings in patients who have undergone endometrial ablation, be aware of the causes of treatment failure, and accurately identify delayed complications associated with these procedures.
Giant Fibrovascular Polyp of the Esophagus

An adult patient with a giant fibrovascular esophageal polyp, measuring 17 cm in length, is described in this report. The patient presented with dysphagia and intermittent partial regurgitation of a fleshy mass in the mouth, only after the polyp had attained giant proportions. The polyp appeared as a large polypoid filling defect on a barium swallow and the findings were confirmed at endoscopy. The stalk was attached just below the cricopharyngeus muscle, and the club-shaped polyp extended almost up to the gastroesophageal junction. Because of the vascularity of this large structure and the proximity of respiratory passages to the site of attachment of the stalk, surgical resection of the polyp was undertaken.
Emplotting the traumatic self: Narrative revision and the construction of coherence

Abstract In this article we provide a constructivist‐narrative conceptualization of the origins and psychotherapeutic methods for treating trauma. We believe that the experience of trauma ensues when lived events outpace peoples’ abilities to emplot or narrate these events from the perspective of dominant life narratives. The sights, sounds, and smells associated with traumatic events preclude such emplotment. The therapeutic objectives of narrative therapy include finding ways to develop meanings for the trauma and subsequently to integrate these with the dominant narrative. Two case studies are provided to illustrate our conceptualization and therapeutic approach.
Emperor penguin colony at Cape Washington, Antarctica

This article describes the natural history of a large colony of emperor penguins Aptenodytes for steri, its size, dispersal pattern of chicks, and associations with other bird and mammal species. A mid-season count of 19,364 chicks indicated that about 20–25,000 breeding pairs had been present in June and July. The colony was fragmented into several sub-groups which showed different mean sizes of chicks and survival to fledging. Other species observed included leopard seals Hydrurga leptonyx, the only major predators, which preyed heavily on both adults and fledging chicks. Fledgelings left the colony over a period of about 10 days; departure was an active process in which the chicks walked to the ice edge and dispersed in groups, swimming consistently southward. At this time they were still in about 60% down and weighed about 10 kg, having lost some 30% of the heaviest mass achieved during parental feeding.
Relationship of Alcohol Use to Delinquency and Illicit Drug Use in Adolescents: Gender, Age, and Racial/Ethnic Differences

Alcohol use has been linked to other substance use and delinquency in adolescents. However, few studies have examined variations in these relationships in representative subsamples of gender, age and racial/ethnic groups. Respondents in this study were 19,321 New York State 7–12th grade students. After controlling for significant sociodemographic factors in a regression analysis, all of the alcohol measures remained strong predictors of both delinquency and illicit drug use. Significant interactions between alcohol measures and gender, age and racial/ethnic groups were also found. For example, the relationship between binge drinking and delinquency was stronger for males than females. The relationships between alcohol measures and both delinquency and illicit drug use were stronger for younger adolescents than older adolescents. American Indians showed an added risk over other groups of being delinquent and using illicit drugs if they began drinking at an early age. Prevention efforts to delay initiation ...
Prediction of Postcontact Parameters of Fluid Droplet Impact on a Smooth Surface

Liquid drop impact, spread, and surface coating is critical in wing icing, combustor liner cooling, and other aerospace applications. This study reports an investigation of droplet impact on a smooth quartz surface and formulates new data correlations with extensive error assessment. Several previous models were compared with the experimentally obtained results for droplet maximum spread over a wide range: 1) impact speeds (1.2 < V < 3.1 m/s), 2) initial droplet diameter (2.7 < D < 4.0 mm), and 3) Reynolds and Weber numbers (4500 < Re < 13,700 and 80 < We < 510). Droplet images were collected using a high-speed digital camera recording at ∼2500 frames per second with an image plane spatial resolution of ∼16 μm. Based on the large amount of data collected, a statistical analysis was performed to account for error contribution in model prediction and to determine experimental repeatability. Relative mean error in model prediction ranged from 81.3 to 4.0%. Comparison of maximum spread time models with experimental spread times was also made and an improved model that decreases error by a factor of 2 is presented.
Mercury offloaded in Northern elephant seal hair affects coastal seawater surrounding rookery

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin that is biomagnified approximately 1–10 million-fold in aquatic carnivores such as the Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), whose excreta and molted pelage, in turn, constitute a source of environmental MeHg contamination at the base of marine food chains. The potential for this top-down contamination is greatest in coastal areas with productive marine ecosystems that provide ideal habitats for large marine mammal colonies that can number in the thousands. This recycling of MeHg was evidenced by comparing total mercury (HgT) and MeHg concentrations in seawater, and HgT in molted pelage of M. angustirostris, at the Ano Nuevo State Reserve pinniped rookery with concentrations at neighboring coastal sites in Central California. Seawater MeHg concentrations around the rookery (average = 2.5 pM) were markedly higher than those at the comparison coastal sites (average = 0.30 pM), and were as high as 9.5 pM during the M. angustirostris molting season. As a consequence, excreta and molts from this marine mammal colony, and presumably other marine predator populations, constitute a major source of MeHg at the base of the local marine food chain.
The outcome of acute respiratory distress syndrome in relation to body mass index and diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Objective To determine the 28 day mortality of patients with ARDS in relation to body mass index (BMI) and presence diabetes mellitus (DM). Design Retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the ARDS Network randomized controlled trials. Results 2914 patients were enrolled in these trials. 112 patients were underweight (BMI Conclusions The short term mortality in patients with ARDS is not affected by BMI or the presence of DM.
Update on tuberculous pleural effusion

The possibility of tuberculous pleuritis should be considered in every patient with an undiagnosed pleural effusion, for if this diagnosis is not made the patient will recover only to have a high likelihood of subsequently developing pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis Between 3% and 25% of patients with tuberculosis will have tuberculous pleuritis. The incidence of pleural tuberculosis is higher in patients who are HIV positive. Tuberculous pleuritis usually presents as an acute illness with fever, cough and pleuritic chest pain. The pleural fluid is an exudate that usually has predominantly lymphocytes. Pleural fluid cultures are positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in less than 40% and smears are virtually always negative. The easiest way to establish the diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis in a patient with a lymphocytic pleural effusion is to generally demonstrate a pleural fluid adenosine deaminase level above 40 U/L. Lymphocytic exudates not due to tuberculosis almost always have adenosine deaminase levels below 40 U/L. Elevated pleural fluid levels of gamma-interferon also are virtually diagnostic of tuberculous pleuritis in patients with lymphocytic exudates. In questionable cases the diagnosis can be established by demonstrating granulomas or organisms on tissue specimens obtained via needle biopsy of the pleura or thoracoscopy. The chemotherapy for tuberculous pleuritis is the same as that for pulmonary tuberculosis.
Stimulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Binding Protein-3 Synthesis by IGF-I and Transforming Growth Factor-α Is Mediated by Both Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways in Mammary Epithelial Cells

IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 is an important regulator of mammary epithelial cell (MEC) growth and can enhance the ability of both IGF-I and epidermal growth factor ligands such as TGFalpha to stimulate MEC proliferation. Here we investigate the role of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and MAPK pathways in the regulation of IGFBP-3 expression by IGF-I and TGFalpha in bovine MECs. Both growth factors stimulated DNA synthesis, although IGF-I was the stronger mitogen. IGF-I and TGFalpha also stimulated IGFBP-3 mRNA and protein levels. TGFalpha stimulated rapid, transient activation of Akt that was maximal at 5 min and diminished by 15 min. In contrast, IGF-I-induced Akt activation was maximal between 15 and 90 min and was sustained for 6 h. Although ERK 1/2 was maximally stimulated by TGFalpha between 5 and 15 min, IGF-I did not stimulate discernible activation of ERK 1/2. In addition, TGFalpha but not IGF-I induced rapid phosphorylation of Shc, whereas only IGF-I activated insulin receptor substrate-1. Pretreatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 or knockdown of p85 with small interfering RNA inhibited IGF-I or TGFalpha-stimulated IGFBP-3 expression. Similarly, MAPK kinase-1 inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 each abolished TGFalpha-stimulated increases in IGFBP-3 mRNA levels. In contrast to TGFalpha, IGF-I retained the ability to partially increase IGFBP-3 mRNA levels in the presence of MAPK kinase-1 inhibitors, indicating that IGF-I may activate alternative substrates of the PI3K pathway that are involved in IGFBP-3 regulation. In conclusion, stimulation of IGFBP-3 mRNA levels by mitogens is regulated through both the PI3K and MAPK pathways in bovine MECs.
Black Americans and the Feminization of Poverty: The Intervening Effects of Unemployment

More than twenty years after the height of the civil rights movement, black citizens still suffer the highest rate of poverty of any major group in America. The official rate of poverty for black Americans has never fallen below 30%.1 As Table 1 shows, the lowest official rate of poverty for black Americans was in 1978 when 30.6% were found to be poor. Since 1978, poverty among the black population has been on the increase. Between 1978 and 1983 the number of poor blacks increased by 2.3 million, a percentage increase of 30.3%. In 1983 there were 9.9 million poor black Americans, the largest number since the early 1960s (Bureau of the Census, 1976). The poverty rate for black Americans in 1983 was 35.7%,2 the highest since 1967, and almost three times the poverty rate for white Americans (Bureau of the Census, 1984: 20). This article will examine the extent and some of the major causes of continuing high rates of poverty among black Americans. The analysis will reveal important changes over the last two decades in the composition of the poor black population. Empirical analysis will be used to examine the relationship between the economic problems of the black male
Human Carbonyl Reduction Pathways and a Strategy for Their Study In Vitro

Carbonyl reduction plays a significant role in physiological processes throughout the body. Although much is known about endogenous carbonyl metabolism, much less is known about the roles of carbonyl-reducing enzymes in xenobiotic metabolism. Multiple pathways exist in humans for metabolizing carbonyl moieties of xenobiotics to their corresponding alcohols, readying these molecules for subsequent conjugation and/or excretion. When exploring carbonyl reduction clearance pathways for a drug development candidate, it is possible to assess the relative contributions of these enzymes due to their differences in subcellular locations, cofactor dependence, and inhibitor profiles. In addition, the contributions of these enzymes may be explored by varying incubation conditions, such as pH. Presently, individual isoforms of carbonyl-reducing enzymes are not widely available, either in recombinant or purified form. However, it is possible to study carbonyl reduction clearance pathways from simple experiments with commercially available reagents. This article provides an overview of carbonyl-reducing enzymes, including some kinetic data for substrates and inhibitors. In addition, an experimental strategy for the study of these enzymes in vitro is presented.
"The Age of Feeling in-Between": Addressing Challenges in the Treatment of Emerging Adults With Substance Use Disorders

Abstract Substance use and substance-related disorders are among the most prodigious public health problems in the United States. Emerging adults (ages 18–25) appear to carry a disproportionately large share of this societal burden, as they are more than twice as likely as adolescents and older adults to be diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs), and comprise more than 20% of SUD treatment seekers. Described as the "age of feeling in-between," emerging adulthood is associated with a biopsychosocial profile distinct from both adolescence and older adulthood, making members of this age group unique and challenging clinical cases. Data suggest that although emerging adults can benefit from cognitive-behavioral (CB) and other psychosocial treatments for SUD, they are likely to have poorer treatment response than their younger and older counterparts. Therefore, we propose several theoretically and empirically-grounded treatment modifications for this vulnerable group, such as parent counseling (or "coaching") to facilitate better treatment engagement and benefit via contingency management. A case example is used to illustrate challenges typical in SUD treatment for emerging adults and how a CB practitioner might choose to modify his/her approach based on the proposed modifications. We also offer several recommendations for practitioners who wish to address their patients' SUD or harmful substance use when it is not the primary focus of treatment.
WHAT CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? HIGH DEGREE AV BLOCK AND TAKOTSUBO'S CARDIOMYOPATHY

Takostubo's cardiomyopathy is a transient left ventricular(LV) dysfunction that usually follows an acute stressful event like an acute medical illness or other forms of emotional or physical stress. There are few case reports of this cardiomyopathy associated with high degree AV block reported in
Time-Optimal Path Planning With Power Schedules for a Solar-Powered Ground Robot

This paper examines an integrated path planning and power management problem for a solar-powered unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). The proposed method seeks to minimize the travel time of the UGV through an area of known energy density by designing a smooth, heuristically optimized path and allocating the vehicle’s power among its electrical components, while the UGV harvests ambient energy along the designed path to satisfy with the mission’s strict energy constraints. A scalar field is first established to evaluate the solar radiation density at discrete locations. A modified particle swarm optimization method is applied to search for a minimal time path wherein the energy gathered is equal to or greater than the energy expended. The proposed modeling and optimization strategy is verified through computer simulation and experimental demonstration.
Tailoring the Electronic Structure in Bilayer Molybdenum Disulfide via Interlayer Twist

Molybdenum disulfide bilayers with well-defined interlayer twist angle were constructed by stacking single-crystal monolayers. Varying interlayer twist angle results in strong tuning of the indirect optical transition energy and second-harmonic generation and weak tuning of direct optical transition energies and Raman mode frequencies. Electronic structure calculations show the interlayer separation changes with twist due to repulsion between sulfur atoms, resulting in shifts of the indirect optical transition energies. These results show that interlayer alignment is a crucial variable in tailoring the properties of two-dimensional heterostructures.
Using synthetic clinical data to train an HMM-based POS tagger

The accuracy of part of speech (POS) tagging reported in medical natural language processing (NLP) literature is typically very high when training and testing data sets are from the same domain and have similar characteristics, but is lower when these differ. This presents a problem for clinical NLP, where it is difficult to obtain large corpora of training data suitable for localized tasks. We experimented with implementing the TnT POS tagger and training it on a manually tagged small corpus of publicly available synthetic clinical reports supplemented with widely used public corpora (GENIA and Penn Treebank). We describe this implementation and report the evaluation results on MiPACQ, a large corpus of manually tagged clinical text. Our tagger achieves accuracy comparable to POS taggers trained on large amounts of real clinical data (91–93%). This demonstrates that medical NLP developers do not need to rely on large restricted resources for POS tagging.
Epidemiological features of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in pregnant women during 2009 to 2010

Objective To describe and analyze epidemiological features of confirmed cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) in pregnant women of Beijing during 2009 ～ 2010. Methods An epidemiological investigation was carried out for each case of diagnosis - confirmed case of 2009 influenza A ( H1N1) in pregnant women and women at child - bearing age. Their epidemiological features were described and analyzed,including temporal,geographical and occupational distribution of the cases. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore related factors for deaths in pregnant woman caused by influenza A (H1N1). Results During 2009 ～ 2010,a total of 81 reported cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) occurred among pregnant women in Beijing,25 (30. 9% ) severe cases and six deaths who all were migrant laborers from other provinces and regions,with a case-fatality of 6. 2 percent. Proportion of severe cases and case - fatality of influenza A (H1N) in pregnant women were higher than those in child - bearing age women ( χ2 = 88. 2,P 0. 001 and χ2 = 9. 6,P 0. 005 ). Results of multivariate logistic regression revealed that time interval between onset and initiating medication,and body mass index (BMI) were risk factors for death caused by influenza A ( H1N1) in pregnant women. Conclusion Diagnosis-confirmed influenza A ( H1N1) cases in pregnant women seems to be at risk to complicate with respiratory failure and infectious toxic shock,and they have higher risk to develop severe cases and lead to death than child-bearing age women do. Pregnant women in migrant laborers are key target population in its prevention and control.
Analysis on Neuraminidase Genetic Characteristic of Novel Influenza A(H1N1) Virus in Changsha

To sequence and analyze the neuraminidase(NA) gene of 2009 novel influenza A(H1N1) in Changsha,and to understand the origin and variation of the virus. Methods With the sequencing primers of NA gene recommended by Chinese National Influenza Center(CNIC) and World Health Organization(WHO),the NA gene of a positive nasopharyngeal swab specimen in Changsha(A/changsha/78/2009)was sequenced by CEQTM 8000 Genetic Analysis System,and the sequencing results were submitted to GenBank,then the results were analyzed in the amino acid alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis with Lasergene and Mega5 software. Results The NA gene of A/changsha/78/2009 GenBank accession number was GQ463958.1,the nucleotide homology of the NA gene of A/changsha/78/2009 was 100% compared with the novel influenza A(H1N1) virus strain(A/Stockholm/37/2009)which was isolated from Stockholm,in Sweden.Phylogenetic tree of the NA gene showed that the NA genes of A/changsha/78/2009 and the other 2009 novel influenza A(H1N1) virus had a close evolutionary relationship with that of the Eurasian swine A/H1N1 isolates in Spain(A/swine/Spain/WVL6/1991),and were clustered with Eurasian swine in phylogenetic tree.The NA gene of A/changsha/78/2009 had seven potential glycosylation sites as A/swine/Spain/WVL6/1991,and the site of H274Y in NA gene of A/changsha/78/2009 had not happened amino acid variable. Conclusions The NA genes of A/changsha/78/2009 and the other 2009 novel influenza A(H1N1) virus might originate from Eurasian swine A/ H1N1,and the virus of A/changsha/78/2009 from Changsha responds well to the neuraminidase inhibitor treatment.
Globalization, Democracy, and Social Movements: The educational potential of activism

AbstractIn this essay, I explore the contemporary value of John Dewey’s conception of democracy to addressing the challenges of neoliberal globalization. I begin by describing his vision of democracy as a way of life that requires habits of experimentalism, pluralism, and hope. I then suggest that contemporary forms of mobilization, resistance, and insurgency—specifically, alter globalization activism, the Occupy Movement, and the Forward Together Moral Movement in North Carolina—model aspects of Deweyan democracy that are especially important for our times. These forms of civic activism can help reinvigorate Dewey’s vision of democracy as rich, deep, participatory, and creative. I argue a significant value of these movements is the democratic habits and ways of life they encourage and support.
Phosphate and Glucose Transport in the Proximal Convoluted Tubule: Mutual Dependency on Sodium

The possibility that diverse solutes such as glucose and amino acids may influence phosphate transport in the proximal renal tubule (1) has provided a basis for various theories regarding the mechanism of phosphate absorption. Such theories may include a polyfunctional carrier, a common, limited energy source or shared driving forces. Thus, as with other epithelia (2), absorptive processes in the proximal convoluted tubule may share a common element such as coupling to sodium transport. In this regard, the present studies were designed to examine the relationship between glucose and phosphate absorption in isolated proximal convoluted tubules from the rabbit kidney and to document that sodium transport is necessary for the renal absorption of both these solutes.
Neurocognitive deficits observed on high school football players with history of concussion: A preliminary study

Sport-related concussion diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and recovery is rightfully recognized as one of the primary health concerns nowadays. Although much clinical and systematic research, involving athletes of different ages playing different games, has been conducted, there is still a paucity of objective measures to examine and monitor the post-concussion recovery of athletes to make a confident Return to Play (RTP) decision. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the residual symptoms and neurocognitive recovery patterns of concussion by comparing adolescent athletes having a history of one or multiple concussions with athletes who have no previous history of concussion. A variety of neurocognitive assessment tools including ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) for memory, attention and processing speed, K-D (King-Devick) test for visual and suboptimal brain function analysis, and BESS (Balance Error Scoring System) to examine postural stability, were been combined. A significant difference was detected for the ImPACT test during impulse control and processing speed subtests. The analysis also revealed long-term concussion effects on the performance of athletes who had multiple concussion histories. These enduring neurocognitive deficits observed from this study suggest that athletes with concussion history may require more prolonged recovery time compared to healthy athletes.
Analysis and Simulations of Quasi-static Torsion Tests on Nearly Incompressible Soft Materials

A new torsional Kolsky bar test has been developed at Purdue University in an effort to eliminate the effects of radial inertia that complicate the analysis of compression Kolsky bar tests on soft materials such as brain tissue (Nie X, Prabhu R, Chen W, Caruthers JM, Weerasooriya T (Exp Mech 51(9):1527–1534, 2011); Sanborn B, Nie X, Chen W, Weerasooriya T (J Biomech 45:434–439, 2012); Nie X, Sanborn B, Weerasooriya T, Chen W (Int J Impact Eng 53:56–61, 2013). In an effort to quantify the complete stress and strain states in this torsion test as well as to determine the influence of any inertial effects on the test data, we have undertaken numerical simulations of both dynamic and quasi-static torsion tests on very soft and nearly incompressible materials. Here we present the results of our quasi-static torsion simulations on nonlinear elastic specimens. Results are presented for thin solid (disc-shaped) specimens and thin annular (washer-shaped) specimens, although only the latter are used in the Purdue Kolsky bar tests. On the other hand, a pure torsional deformation is possible only for incompressible solid specimens. The differences between the stress states in solid and annular specimens provides insight into axially nonuniform stresses that develop in annular specimens. In addition, explicit closed-form solutions for the full stress state for pure torsion of an incompressible solid specimen have been used to verify the numerical simulations.
Tubular Mechanisms in Proteinuria

Chronic progressive nephropathies, independent of the type of initial insult, are often associated with high levels of urinary protein excretion. In addition to well established glomerular role in proteinuria, recent studies have shown that proximal tubular cell plays important role in development of proteinuria both under physiologic and pathologic conditions. Many single-site mutations and complete PTC dysfunction result in a high level of albuminuria, without any histologic or electron microscopy structural alterations in the glomerular filtration barrier. Reabsorption of filtered albumin involves a low-capacity/high-affinity megalin-cubulin receptor-mediated process and a high-capacity/low-affinity, process that could be fluid-phase endocytosis. Future studies are warranted examining proteinuria not only as a glomerular impairment but also as proximal tubule dysfunction and may lead to many new advances in the diagnosis and treatment of proteinuric states.
Linear Systems with Constant Coefficients

The bulk of this chapter is devoted to homogeneous linear systems of ODEs with real constant coefficients. This means systems of the form $$\displaystyle{ \begin{array}{ccc} x_{1}^{{\prime}}& =& a_{11}x_{1} + a_{12}x_{2} +\ldots +a_{1d}x_{d}, \\ x_{2}^{{\prime}}& =& a_{21}x_{1} + a_{22}x_{2} +\ldots +a_{2d}x_{d},\\ \\ \vdots&\vdots&\vdots\\ \\ x_{d}^{{\prime}}& =&a_{d1}x_{1} + a_{d2}x_{2} +\ldots +a_{dd}x_{d}.\end{array} }$$ (2.1) (From now on, we shall let d be the dimension of our systems, so that the index n is available for other uses.) The written-out system (2.1) is awkward to read or write, and we shall normally use the vastly more compact linear-algebra notation $$\displaystyle{ \mathbf{x}^{{\prime}} = A\mathbf{x}, }$$ (2.2) where x = (x1, x2, …, x d ) is a d-dimensional vector of unknown functions, A is a d × d matrix with real entries, and matrix multiplication is understood in writing Ax. In vector notation, an appropriate initial condition for (2.2) is $$\displaystyle{ \mathbf{x}(0) = \mathbf{b}, }$$ (2.3) where \(\mathbf{b} \in \mathbb{R}^{d}\).
Perioperative Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Monitoring in Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease: Relationship of Cerebral Tissue Oxygenation Index Variability With Neurodevelopmental Outcome.

Objectives:To evaluate the value of perioperative cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring using variability analysis in the prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease.Design:Retrospective cohort study.Setting:Urban, academic, tertiary
Spectrum shaping for backscatter modulation

Abstract In this letter, we demonstrate a technique for spectrum-shaping in backscatter modulation-based communication systems. With backscatter modulation, data bits are transmitted by switching the load impedance connected to the antenna. In traditional communication systems, filters are used to perform the task of shaping the pulse or the spectrum. Since most backscatter modulation radios operate on power harvested from a reader’s RF signal, filtering may not be suitable. In this letter, we show a simple spectrum shaping technique that is based on switching three loads, instead of the usual two, to transmit a bit. We demonstrate two well known shaping techniques using only load switching. The advantages of shaping the spectrum are (i) lower complexity and power consumption at the receiver and (ii) lower bit error probability for a given signal to noise ratio.
A multi-timescale and correlated dynamic adaptive chemistry and transport (CO-DACT) method for computationally efficient modeling of jet fuel combustion with detailed chemistry and transport

Abstract A correlated dynamic adaptive chemistry and transport (CO-DACT) method is developed to accelerate numerical simulations with detailed chemistry and transport properties in a reactive flow. Different sets of phase parameters, which govern the transport properties and chemical reaction pathways, respectively, are proposed to identify the correlated groups for transport properties and reaction pathways in both temporal and spatial coordinates. The correlated transport properties and reduced chemical mechanisms in phase space are dynamically updated by different user-specified threshold values. For the calculation of detailed transport properties, the mixture-averaged diffusion model is employed. For the on-the-fly generation of reduced chemistry, the multi-generation path flux analysis (PFA) method is used. In the present method, the chemical reduction and transport properties calculation are only conducted once for all the computation cells in the same correlated group within the pre-specified thresholds. Therefore, without sacrificing accuracy within the range of uncertainty of mechanisms and transport properties, the CO-DACT method can eliminate all redundant chemistry reductions and transport properties calculations in temporal and spatial coordinates when the transport properties and chemical reaction pathways are correlated due to the similarities in phase space. The CO-DACT method is further integrated with the hybrid multi-timescale (HMTS) method to achieve efficient integration of chemistry. Simulations of outward propagating spherical premixed flames and one dimensional (1D) diffusion ignitions of a jet fuel surrogate mixture, as well as an unsteady spherical propagating diffusion flame of a DME/air mixture are conducted to validate the present algorithm. The impact of the selection of threshold values as well as the dependence of numerical errors on pressure and equivalent ratio are also examined. The results demonstrate that the CO-DACT method can increase the computation efficiency for transport properties by at least two-order of magnitudes. Moreover, it is robust, accurate, and improves the overall computation efficiency involving a large kinetic mechanism.
Tobacco Use Prevalence and Outcomes Among Perinatal Patients Assessed Through an “Opt-out” Cessation and Follow-Up Clinical Program

Purpose Cigarette smoking in the perinatal period is associated with costly morbidity and mortality for mother and infant, yet many women continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy and following delivery. This report describes tobacco use prevalence among perinatal smokers identified through an “opt-out” inpatient smoking cessation clinical service. Description Adult women admitted to the peripartum, delivery, and postpartum units at a large academic hospital were screened for tobacco use. Smokers were identified through their medical record and referred to a bedside consult and follow-up using an interactive voice response (IVR) system to assess smoking up to 30 days post-discharge. Assessment Between February 2014 and March 2016, 533 (10%) current and 898 (16%) former smokers were identified out of 5649 women admitted to the perinatal units. Current smokers reported an average of 11 cigarettes per day for approximately 12 years. Only 10% reported having made a quit attempt in the past year. The majority of smokers (56%) were visited by a bedside tobacco cessation counselor during their stay and 27% were contacted through the IVR system. Those counselled in the hospital were twice as likely (RR 1.98, CI 1.04–3.78) to be abstinent from smoking using intent-to-treat analysis at any time during the 30 days post-discharge. Conclusions This opt-out service reached a highly nicotine-dependent perinatal population, many of whom were receptive to the service, and it appeared to improve abstinence rates post-discharge. Opt-out tobacco cessation services may have a significant impact on the health outcomes of this population and their children.