cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contributions to quantum biology. I. Mobile electronic characteristics of riboflavin radicals

Quantum biology is the quantum mechanical study of electrons in molecules of biological interest. This requires the solution of problems involving many electrons. Approximation methods are therefore necessary and are discussed. The present study, concerned with the mobile electrons in riboflavin (FMN) and its radicals (FMN−, FMNH and FMNH2 +), is based on the approximation method, developed by B. Pullman and A. Pullman. The solution of the eigenvalue problems so obtained gives the energy levels of the mobile electron systems involved. The corresponding eigenvectors yield the mobile electronic charges of the atoms of riboflavin radicals which have contributed mobile electrons. Important differences of the net charge distributions of these radicals are emphasized. The longest wave length of light absorption is calculated from the obtained energy levels and agrees, within the accuracy of the method, with corresponding experimental results. From the appropriate calculated results, electronic assignments are obtained for the experimental transitions involved.
Avian Diuretic Response to Renal Portal Infusions of the Mycotoxin Citrinin

Abstract Citrinin is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by common molds. Previous research has shown that citrinin causes increased urine flow, increased free water clearance, and increased sodium, potassium, and inorganic phosphate excretion. The present study was conducted to evaluate the dose-response effects of citrinin and to further evaluate previously reported phosphaturic effects of citrinin. Ureteral urine was collected from anesthetized domestic fowl during a control period (30 min) and during unilateral renal portal infusion (90 min) of citrinin carrier vehicle, 200 ppm citrinin, or 400 ppm citrinin. Comparisons of the portal infused vs. uninfused kidneys were used to evaluate the direct effects of citrinin. Citrinin caused acute (unilateral) dose-related increases in urine flow, free water clearance, and fractional sodium excretion and dose-related decreases in urine osmolality. Citrinin had no direct effect on glomerular filtration rates, fractional potassium excretion, or fractional inorganic phosphate excretion. An additional group of birds received systemic intravenous infusions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) beginning 40 min after the start of unilateral renal portal infusion of citrinin. The citrinin and PTH infusion were continued for 60 min. Fractional inorganic phosphate excretion increased bilaterally during the citrinin-PTH infusion period but citrinin had no direct phosphaturic effect. Previously reported phosphaturic effects of citrinin were not confirmed in the present study.
The professional voice and airline flight.

As the world shrinks and demands for quality performers precipitously increase around the globe, travel becomes an important part of the professional's life. The professional voice user may encounter many circumstances and situations over which he has little control and which may subject him to potential vocal irritation or injury. Airline travel is an aspect that, by and large, is uncontrollable but absolutely necessary for professional survival, yet it may have the potential for harm. The majority of airline traffic is carried by wide-bodied aircraft, mainly the Boeing 747 and 767, the Lockheed L1011, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, and the European Airbus. Similar but smaller aircraft include the Boeing 707, 727, and 737 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-8 and DC-9. Basically, these aircraft appear to exhibit relatively similar in-flight environments, including ambient noise level, cabin temperature, pressurization, humidity, and ozone. Each of these factors will be discussed to clarify aspects of flight which...
Finding hope and giving thanks in “dark times”

Welcome to the team! Now get to work, for there is much to do! Indicators from across the sociopolitical landscape suggest that we are teaching in dark times. A few details to consider as you prepare those initial lesson plans: Thirteen years after police riddled Amadou Diallo with 19 bullets, the recent murders of Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin1 remind us that it is still very much a crime to be a young Black male in America.
Emerging roles for histone modifications in DNA excision repair.

DNA repair is critical to maintain genome stability. In eukaryotic cells, DNA repair is complicated by the packaging of the DNA ‘substrate’ into chromatin. DNA repair pathways utilize different mechanisms to overcome the barrier presented by chromatin to efficiently locate and remove DNA lesions in the genome. DNA excision repair pathways are responsible for repairing a majority of DNA lesions arising in the genome. Excision repair pathways include nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER), which repair bulky and non-bulky DNA lesions, respectively. Numerous studies have suggested that chromatin inhibits both NER and BER in vitro and in vivo . Growing evidence demonstrates that histone modifications have important roles in regulating the activity of NER and BER enzymes in chromatin. Here, we will discuss the roles of different histone modifications and the corresponding modifying enzymes in DNA excision repair, highlighting the role of yeast as a model organism for many of these studies.
Treatment-Based Three-Dimensional Classification and Management of Anorectal Infections

This article provides a current overview on clinical anatomy, pathophysiology, workup and surgical management of anorectal abscesses. Based on the three-dimensional nature of anorectal abscesses, a novel treatment-based classification is proposed. It examines the basis of a philosophic shift from simple drainage to concomitant definitive treatment of abscesses and their underlying primary fistulous trajectories. Complications are discussed specifically in this context.
Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease among participants of the Millennium Cohort: incidence, deployment‐related risk factors, and antecedent episodes of infectious gastroenteritis

SummaryBackground Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are two pathotypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with unique pathology, risk factors and significant morbidity. Aim To estimate incidence and identify IBD risk factors in a US military population, a healthy subset of the US population, using information from the Millennium Cohort Study. Methods Incident IBD was identified from medical encounters from 2001 to 2009 or by self-report. Our primary risk factor of interest, infectious gastroenteritis, was identified from medical encounters and self-reported post-deployment health assessments. Other potential risk factors were assessed using self-reported survey responses and military personnel files. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results We estimated 23.2 and 21.9 diagnoses per 100 000 person-years, respectively, for CD and UC. For CD, significant risk factors included [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 95% confidence interval]: current smoking (aHR: 2.7, 1.4–5.1), two life stressors (aHR: 2.8, 1.4–5.6) and prior irritable bowel syndrome (aHR: 4.7, 1.5–15.2). There was no significant association with prior infectious gastroenteritis. There was an apparent dose–response relationship between UC risk and an increasing number of life stressors. In addition, antecedent infectious gastroenteritis was associated with almost a three-fold increase in UC risk (aHR: 2.9, 1.4–6.0). Moderate alcohol consumption (aHR: 0.4, 0.2–0.6) was associated with lower UC risk. Conclusions Stressful conditions and the high risk of infectious gastroenteritis in deployment operations may play a role in the development of IBD in military populations. However, observed differences in risk factors for UC and CD warrant further investigation.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL FOR CONVECTION IN LASER MELTED POOL.

A three-dimensional axis-symmetry model of the fluid flow and heat transfer of laser melted pool is developed. The model corresponds physically to a stationary laser source. Non-dimensional form of the governing equations are derived. Four dimensionless parameters arise from the non-dimensionalization, namely, Marangoni number (Ma), Prandtl number (Pr), Dimensionless melting temperature (Tm*), and Radiation factor (RF). Their effects and significances are discussed. Numerical solutions are obtained. The solid liquid interface, which is not known a priori, is solved. Quantitative effects of the dimensionless parameters on pool shape are obtained. In the presence of the flow field, the heat transfer becomes convection dominated. Its effect on isotherms within the molten pool is discussed. Experimental results are also obtained and presented.A three-dimensional axis-symmetry model of the fluid flow and heat transfer of laser melted pool is developed. The model corresponds physically to a stationary laser source. Non-dimensional form of the governing equations are derived. Four dimensionless parameters arise from the non-dimensionalization, namely, Marangoni number (Ma), Prandtl number (Pr), Dimensionless melting temperature (Tm*), and Radiation factor (RF). Their effects and significances are discussed. Numerical solutions are obtained. The solid liquid interface, which is not known a priori, is solved. Quantitative effects of the dimensionless parameters on pool shape are obtained. In the presence of the flow field, the heat transfer becomes convection dominated. Its effect on isotherms within the molten pool is discussed. Experimental results are also obtained and presented.
The Dynamic Nature of Interest: Embedding Interest Within Self-Regulation

When thinking about how people sustain motivation over the longer term, even for an important activity, their experience during the activity (not just why they started doing it) matters. Thus, we focus on the experience of interest and describe a model that embeds interest within a self-regulation framework. We review research that illustrates the implications of this model for individuals’ choices and actions when they are deciding whether to engage with an activity or domain (prior to engagement), engaged with an activity (during engagement), and evaluating their experience (after engagement). The research suggests that rather than certain activity features always being associated with greater or lesser interest, it is important to know whether those factors match or are congruent with the person’s goals. Moreover, individuals actively monitor and react to their experiences and take these anticipated or actual experiences into account when deciding whether to start, persist, or re-engage with an activity or related activities. This active role includes engaging with activities in ways that make them more congruent with goals (and thereby more interesting), as well as engaging with the activity in ways that makes the experience more interesting whether or not it advances progress toward the goal. How individuals engage with the activity has implications for performance as well as subsequent evaluations of performance and of interest by one’s self and by others upon completion. We discuss the implications of this dynamic self-regulatory model for understanding “effective” regulation, as well as how this perspective can contribute to our understanding of ostensible group-based differences in interest in certain domains (e.g., gender differences in STEM interest).
A multinational clinical validation study of PD ADEQUEST 2.0. PD ADEQUEST International Study Group.

values of weekly peritoneal urea Kt/V (pKt/V) and total Kt/V, weekly peritoneal creatinine clearance (pCCr, L/week/ 1.73 m 2 ) and total CCr (L/week/1.73 m 2 ), daily drain volume (L/day), net ultrafiltration (UF, L/day), daily peritoneal urea and creatinine mass removal (g/day), and daily peritoneal glucose absorption (g/day). Measured values were obtained from three repeat 24-hour urine and dialysate collections per patient, while modeled values were calculated using the Baxter PD ADEQUEST 2.0 program in conjunction with kinetic parameters estimated from a 4-hour PET and long-dwell exchange independent of the 24-hour collections. ♦ Results: The results show there is excellent agreement between measured and modeled urea Kt/V and CCr with concordance correlation coefficients ranging from 0.83 to 0.97 among CAPD and APD patients. There was also excellent agreement between measured and modeled values of glucose absorption and total drain volumes (concordance correlations of 0.90 and 0.98, respectively). This
Effects of Band-Structure and Electric Fields on Resonant Tunneling Dynamics

Tunneling phenomena in quantum wells and superlattices have been studied extensively for potential applications in quantum devices. Due to the many contemporary resonant tunneling experiments performed on double barrier structures, many analytical analyses and numerical simulations have been focused on such structures (Merzbacher, 1970; Stovneng and Hauge, 1991; Frensley, 1986). Theoretical calculations have affirmed that resonant tunneling occurs for the free electron in the double barrier structure (Merzbacher, 1970), and for the Bloch electron in the one-dimensional nearest neighbor tight binding band with double potential barriers (Stovneng and Hauge, 1991).
Measurement of Free Calcium Concentration inside Single Cells with New Fluorescent Calcium Indicators

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the measurement of free calcium concentration inside single cells with new fluorescent calcium indicators. The new fluorescent calcium indicators fura-2 and indo-1 offer great promise for the measurement of intracellular calcium. However, it is uncertain at the present time whether the intracellular environment seriously alters their calcium sensitivity or reaction rates. It is expected that these uncertainties will be clarified in the near future; the affinity of the dyes for calcium is such that the dyes are nonlinear over the range of calcium concentrations encountered inside cells. The properties of future dyes would, therefore, be improved if their calcium affinity were reduced, which should also increase the ability of the dye to report rapid changes in intracellular calcium. In addition, a shift in excitation wavelength toward the visible wavelengths would ease the design of fluorescence microscopes and decrease UV damage to cells, and reducing contamination of the recorded signals by cell autofluorescence.
Chemometrics: The Use of Multivariate Methods for the Determination and Characterization of Off-Flavors

ABSTRACT Flavor is a complex phenomenon, for which statistical analyses of one variable at a time do not often suffice especially in problems of sample classification. Multivariate statistics is a set of tools that can help deal with the complexities and subtleties that must be confronted as researchers try to analyze, and characterize and classify flavors. Treating two or more variables simultaneously requires the use of the mathematical apparatus of matrix algebra, including the use of vectors, eigenvectors, and eigenvalues. When categories are already known and samples are available from each category, techniques such as SIMCA and nearest neighbor analysis can serve to classify unknown samples. When researchers do not know ahead of time what categories exist, techniques such as clique analysis and multidimensional scaling can suggest categories. When the underlying variables are not known to the researcher, then the technique of factor analysis helps provide clues to what these “phantom” variables might be. Reducing the number of variables — clearing out the underbrush, so to speak — is often accomplished by techniques such as (1) principal components analysis, which condenses the variability into just a limited number of variables and (2) discriminant analysis, which focuses on those few combinations of the variables that distinguish among categories. Typically, in multivariate analysis, the individual initial variables are combined to form new variables that are more tractable and more meaningful. The coefficients in these combinations correspond to the relative importance of each of the original variables. Thus, the values for the coefficients provide a filter for removing insignificant variables. Computers do the tedious computations but the researcher must do the deciding, the thinking, and the interpreting. Selected articles on food research given in the last part of this chapter furnish concrete examples of the uses and often, misuses of multivariate statistics. This chapter is intended to help bridge the gap between what the researcher knows and what the researcher needs to know in order to understand and appreciate other people's published results and to apply intelligently and appropriately multivariate statistics to his/her own research.
Evaluating Clinical Outcomes of an Advanced Practice Provider-Led Newborn Circumcision Clinic.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and efficacy of advanced practice provider (APP)-performed newborn circumcisions (NBCs), we reviewed outcomes of NBCs performed by pediatric urologists and APPs. We hypothesize comparable clinical outcomes between the groups. METHODS All urology performed NBCs during a 5-year period were reviewed, including time surrounding implementation of the APP-led clinic. Return to emergency department (ED) rates, return to operating room (OR) rates, and intraprocedure bleeding requiring intervention were reviewed. Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney testing were utilized. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in rates of intraprocedure bleeding, return to ED in 30days, return to OR for revision or other related penile surgery, or the overall number of patients with complications between the groups. Thirteen patients had complications in the APP cohort, compared to 8 in the urologist cohort. There was a difference in age and weight, with urologists performing NBCs on older and heavier patients. There was no difference in clinical outcomes between children over and under 10 pounds (4.5 kg). There was a significant difference in the need for revision circumcision when comparing children older vs younger than 30days (1.9% vs 0%, P = 0.034). CONCLUSION An APP-led NBC clinic is both safe and feasible. The widely used age and weight cutoffs for NBC need to be further evaluated, as there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes. This practice design provides pediatric urologists more time to focus on the most complex patients, both in the clinic and OR.
Brain arterial dilatation modifies the association between extracranial pulsatile hemodynamics and brain perivascular spaces: the Northern Manhattan Study

Pulsatile hemodynamics are associated with brain small perivascular spaces (SPVS). It is unknown whether the stiffness of intermediary arteries connecting the aorta and brain modifies this association. Participants from the Northern Manhattan Study were assessed for SPVS (defined as ≤3 mm T1 voids) and white matter hyperintensity volume (WMH) using MRI. Middle (MCA) and anterior cerebral arterial (ACA) diameters (measured on time-of-flight MRA) and CCA strain (assessed by ultrasound) were used as surrogates of stiffness. Brachial and aortic pulse pressure (PP) and aortic augmentation index (Aix, assessed by applanation tonometry) were used as markers of pulsatility. We tested whether stiffness in intermediary arteries modifies the association between extracranial pulsatility with SPVS and WMH. We found that among 941 participants (mean age 71 ± 9 years, 60% women, 66% Hispanic), the right MCA/ACA diameter was associated with right anterior SPVS (B = 0.177, P = 0.002). Brachial PP was associated with right anterior SPVS (B = 0.003, P = 0.02), and the effect size was bigger with right MCA/ACA diameter in the upper tertile (P = 0.001 for the interaction). The association between right CCA strain and ipsilateral SPVS was modified by MCA/ACA diameter, with the largest effect size in those with ipsilateral MCA/ACA diameter in the upper tertile (P = 0.001 for the interaction). Similar dose-effects and statistical interactions were replicated using aortic AIx or aortic PP. We found no evidence of effect modification between pulsatile measures and WMH by stiffness measures. In summary, pulsatile hemodynamics relate to brain SPVS, and the association is the strongest among individuals with dilated brain arteries.
Investor Sentiment and Mutual Fund Alpha

AbstractThe author examines the relationship between investor sentiment and mutual fund alpha. The author finds that investor sentiment plays a significant role in the value and occurring probabili...
Statistical Modeling of Networked Solar Resources for Assessing and Mitigating Risk of Interdependent Inverter Tripping Events in Distribution Grids

It is speculated that higher penetration of inverter-based distributed photo-voltaic (PV) power generators can increase the risk of tripping events due to voltage fluctuations. To quantify this risk utilities need to solve the interactive equations of tripping events for networked PVs in real-time. However, these equations are non-differentiable, nonlinear, and exponentially complex, and thus, cannot be used as a tractable basis for solar curtailment prediction and mitigation. Furthermore, load/PV power values might not be available in real-time due to limited grid observability, which further complicates tripping event prediction. To address these challenges, we have employed Chebyshev's inequality to obtain an alternative probabilistic model for quantifying the risk of tripping for networked PVs. The proposed model enables operators to estimate the probability of interdependent inverter tripping events using only PV/load statistics and in a scalable manner. Furthermore, by integrating this probabilistic model into an optimization framework, countermeasures are designed to mitigate massive interdependent tripping events. Since the proposed model is parameterized using only the statistical characteristics of nodal active/reactive powers, it is especially beneficial in practical systems, which have limited real-time observability. Numerical experiments have been performed employing real data and feeder models to verify the performance of the proposed technique.
Topologically stable, finite-energy electroweak-scale monopoles

Abstract The existence of a magnetic monopole, if it exists, remains elusive. Experimental searches have been carried out and are continuing in this quest. Of great uncertainty is the mass of the monopole which is model-dependent and ranging from some Grand Unified scale to the electroweak scale. In this paper, we propose a model where topologically stable, finite-energy monopoles a la 't Hooft-Polyakov could exist with a mass proportional to the electroweak scale. This comes about in a model of neutrino masses where right-handed neutrinos are non-sterile whose electroweak-scale Majorana masses are obtained by the coupling to a complex triplet Higgs field. Custodial symmetry which insures M W = M Z cos ⁡ θ W requires the introduction of another triplet Higgs field but real this time. It is this real Higgs triplet that is at the core of our proposal.
Seeing the Glass as Half Full or Half Empty: The Role of Affect-Induced Optimistic and Pessimistic States on Justice Perceptions and Outcomes

In this paper, we develop and test theory to explain how employees’ perceptions of supervisor justice behavior are subjectively influenced by optimistic and pessimistic states. We propose that stat...
Modeling Reading Ability Gain in Kindergarten Children during COVID-19 School Closures.

By 15 April 2020, more than 1.5 billion students worldwide experienced school closures in an effort to slow the spread of a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), during the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These interruptions in formal in-person educational experiences caused adverse consequences on school-age children’s academic outcomes. Using a pre-existing database, we calculated changes in children’s reading ability without formal education (i.e., the summer months). The resultant models predicted that the rate of reading ability gain in kindergarten children during COVID-19 school closures without formal in-person education will decrease 66% (2.46 vs. 7.17 points/100 days), compared to the business-as-usual scenario, resulting in a 31% less reading ability gain from 1 January 2020 to 1 September 2020. Additionally, the model predicted that kindergarten children who have books read to them daily would have 2.3 points less loss (42%) compared to those who do not, who are predicted to have a 5.6-point loss during the same time period. Even though reading books to children will not substitute the critical role of formal education in teaching children how to read, families, educators, and policy makers can promote this simple strategy to facilitate and maintain reading ability gain during school closures, which may be a common occurrence as nations see the public health benefits of physical distancing for the current and future pandemic outbreaks.
[Impact of mild hypothermia therapy on hemodynamics during the induction stage in neonates with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy].

Objective To study the changes in hemodynamics during the induction stage of systemic mild hypothermia therapy in neonates with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods A total of 21 neonates with HIE who underwent systemic mild hypothermia therapy in the Department of Neonatology, Dongguan Children's Hospital Affiliated to Guangdong Medical University, from July 2017 to April 2020 were enrolled. The rectal temperature of the neonates was lowered to 34℃ after 1-2 hours of induction and maintained at this level for 72 hours using a hypothermia blanket. The impedance method was used for noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring, and the changes in heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) from the start of hypothermia induction to the achievement of target rectal temperature (34℃). Blood lactic acid (LAC) and resistance index (RI) of the middle cerebral artery were recorded simultaneously. Results The 21 neonates with HIE had a mean gestational age of (39.6±1.1) weeks, a mean birth weight of (3 439±517) g, and a mean 5-minute Apgar score of 6.8±2.0. From the start of hypothermia induction to the achievement of target rectal temperature (34℃), there were significant reductions in HR, CO, and CI (P 0.05). There was a significant increase in TPR (P 0.05). Conclusions The systemic mild hypothermia therapy may have a significant impact on hemodynamics in neonates with moderate to severe HIE, and continuous hemodynamic monitoring is required during the treatment.
Mixtures of airborne lidar-based approaches improve predictions of forest structure

The most common method for modeling forest attributes with airborne lidar, the area-based approach, involves summarizing the point cloud of individual plots and relating this to attributes of inter...
New York Bail Reform: A Quick Guide to Common Questions and Concerns

In the wake of New York state passing comprehensive bail reform in 2019, legislators encountered fervent backlash. That backlash prompted several amendments, but many questions concerning the practical effects of the reforms remain. In this Essay, we explore the history of bail in New York, the amendments, and provide answers to some of the biggest questions and concerns surrounding bail reform in New York and elsewhere.
Evaluation of a Multifunction Ventilator Compared to a Commonly Used Ventilator in Pressure Control Ventilation

Background: The VOCSN (Ventilator, Oxygen, Cough, Suction, and Nebulizer) is a ventilator classified as a critical care ventilator and is also used as a home ventilator. The VOCSN is compatible as an invasive, noninvasive, and mouthpiece ventilator. This study was to evaluate the performance of the VOCSN, in PC AC, compared to the Philips Respironics V60 in PCV. Methods: To evaluate each ventilator, the IngMar Medical ASL 5000 Electronic Breathing Simulator (ASL 5000) was used. The ASL 5000 was used to trigger breaths and simulate patient lung mechanics for three different lung models: Normal, COPD and ARDS. Lung models were set as follows, Normal: resistance inspiratory 13 cm H2O/L/s, resistance expiratory 12 cm H2O/L/s, static compliance 54 mL/cm H2O, spontaneous rate 10 breaths/min and Pmus 8 cm H2O; COPD: resistance inspiratory 22 cm H2O/L/s, resistance expiratory 18 cm H2O/L/s, static compliance 59 mL/cm H2O, spontaneous rate 10 breaths/min and Pmus 8 cm H2O; ARDS: resistance inspiratory 12 cm H2O/L/s, resistance expiratory 14 cm H2O/L/s, static compliance 39 mL/cm H2O, spontaneous rate 10 breaths/min and Pmus 8 cm H2O. The mode on the VOCSN was PC AC; the mode on the Phillips V60 was PCV without autotrak. Each mode, at each disease state, was run on the ASL 5000 for at least 3 min. The settings were as follows: set inspiratory pressure 10 cm H2O, set PIP 20 cm H2O, PEEP 10 cm H2O, inspiratory time 1 s and respiratory rate 5 breaths/min. Results: The time to trigger, as noted in the table, shows that the VOCSN has a prolonged time to trigger compared to the V60. Peak pressure, PEEP and PEEPtot were all relatively comparable and did not fluctuate much from each other. Inspiratory tidal volumes were smaller on the VOCSN in comparison to the V60, with the largest difference amongst all patient scenarios of 102 (mL). Time to Pmin after the start of inspiratory effort was delayed more on the VOCSN than the V60. Maximum pressure drop during trigger was greater on the VOCSN than the V60, indicating a greater effort to trigger on the VOCSN compared to the V60. Conclusions: There are similarities and differences between the two ventilators, as is true with most ventilators. It is important to monitor the patient and the ventilator closely to ensure proper ventilation is being administered. Each ventilator function has its purpose for individual needs of patients in the hospital and in the home. It9s imperative that the clinician meets the needs of the patient effectively and efficiently.
Joint estimation of selection intensity and mutation rate under balancing selection withapplications to HLA

A composite likelihood method is introduced for jointly estimating the intensity of selection and the rate of mutation, both scaled by the effective population size, when there is balancing selection at a single multi-allelic locus in an isolated population at demographic equilibrium. The performance of the method is tested using simulated data. Average estimated mutation rates and selection intensities are close to the true values but there is considerable variation about the averages. Allowing for both population growth and population subdivision do not result in qualitative differences but the estimated mutation rates and selection intensities do not in general reflect the current effective population size. The method is applied to three class I (HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C) and two class II loci (HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQA1) in the 1000 Genomes populations. Allowing for asymmetric balancing selection has only a slight effect on the results from the symmetric model. Mutations that restore symmetry of the selection model are preferentially retained because of the tendency of natural selection to maximize average fitness. However, slight differences in selective effects result in much longer persistence time of some alleles. Trans-species polymorphism (TSP), which is characteristic of MHC in vertebrates, is more likely when there are small differences in allelic fitness than when complete symmetry is assumed. Therefore, variation in allelic fitness expands the range of parameter values consistent with observations of TSP.
Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and Its Binding Proteins: Regulation of Secretion and Mechanism of Action at the Receptor Level

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates the functional role of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) in relation to insulin-like growth factor (IGFs) and their receptors. These proteins have largely been portrayed as carrier proteins whose function is to block the access of their cognate ligands to the IGF-IR. The family of IGFBPs has evolved to fulfill a regulatory function at the extracellular level. Evidence from a number of laboratories suggests that additional functions for the IGFBPs exist that are independent of their abilities to bind and sequester the IGFs. The role of surface association, phosphorylation, and proteolysis and their effects on the affinity of the IGFBPs for their respective ligands can clearly target cell actions. Though current in vivo data are conflicting as to whether the net effect of binding proteins is inhibitory or stimulatory, certain functions, such as the role of IGFBP-3 in serum as a potentiator of IGF action, have been delineated.
Spiral lifecycle increment modeling for new hybrid processes

The spiral lifecycle is being extended to address new challenges for Software-Intensive Systems of Systems (SISOS), such as coping with rapid change while simultaneously assuring high dependability. A hybrid plan-driven and agile process has been outlined to address these conflicting challenges with the need to rapidly field incremental capabilities. A system dynamics model has been developed to assess the incremental hybrid process and support project decision-making. It estimates cost and schedule for multiple increments of a hybrid process that uses three specialized teams. It considers changes due to external volatility and feedback from user-driven change requests, and dynamically re-estimates and allocates resources in response to the volatility. Deferral policies and team sizes can be experimented with, and it includes tradeoff functions between cost and the timing of changes within and across increments, length of deferral delays, and others. Both the hybrid process and simulation model are being evolved on a very large scale incremental project and other potential pilots.
A computer model of oscillator phase noise

A computer model of radar oscillator phase noise based on the simplified oscillator output function defined by D.G. Leeson (1966) is derived. The Leeson model is extended to generate a computer model which includes an accurate power spectral density representation of the actual phase noise output given a white noise input. The computer model representation of the output phase noise power spectral density is compared with Leeson's equation and with measured data. >
Talking About Teaching: Curricula for Improving Instructors' Classroom Performance

Abstract Although teaching is a primary function of social work educators, most instructors receive little training in teaching methods and, once engaged in teaching, have few opportunities to hone their craft and engage in dialogue about their classroom experiences. Teaching Circles are an example of ongoing curricula designed to improve classroom performance, foster support for excellent teaching and, ultimately, improve student satisfaction. This paper describes the rationale, structure, content, incentives, evaluation, and merit of Teaching Circles.
Intrapartum paracervical block anesthesia with 2-chloroprocaine

Most of the reports of fetal bradycardia and acidosis following paracervical block anesthesia have involved the use of amide-linked anesthetics, such as lidocaine and mepivacaine. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine placental transfer of an ester-linked local anesthetic, 2-chloroprocaine, and its inactive metabolite, 2-chloroaminobenzoic acid (CABA) following paracervical block and (2) to evaluate the clinical use of 2-chloroprocaine for paracervical block anesthesia. Accordingly, 2-chloroprocaine was administered to 16 normal pregnant women in labor at term. Following injection, the levels of 2-chloroprocaine or CABA in maternal and neonatal plasma or urine were quantitated. Multiple clinical parameters, including the presence or absence of fetal bradycardia, were monitored before and after the paracervical block. The pharmacologic data indicated that 2-chloroprocaine is rapidly hydrolyzed. At delivery only trace levels of 2-chloroprocaine were present in 6.3% of the maternal samples and 25% of the cord vein samples. Furthermore, only 0.24% of the total dose of 2-chloroprocaine administered was recovered in neonatal urine as CABA. The clinical data showed no adverse effects on the parturient or neonate. Therefore, the data suggest that paracervical block anesthesia with 2-chloroprocaine may offer safe analgesia during the first stage of labor. Larger clinical studies appear warranted.
The Means to the End

(1925). The Means to the End. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 30, No. 10, pp. 535-540.
Big data and systematic reviews in nutritional epidemiology

Nutritional epidemiology today is characterized by “big data.” The last 50 years have seen an accumulation of numerous large-scale prospective studies as well as countless smaller epidemiologic studies of varying quality, providing us with a wealth of information on the dietary underpinnings of a wide range of health outcomes, particularly chronic diseases. Such a profusion of data creates a need to summarize findings into a cohesive body of evidence. Systematic reviews, carried out by following a predefined, systematic, reproducible methodology, constitute the preferred method of summarizing literature in nutritional epidemiology. These are usually divided into two categories on the basis of how data from the individual studies are summarized. If the review provides a qualitative summary of evidence, it is simply called a systematic review. If, on the other hand, a review quantitatively summarizes individual study results into one effect estimate, it is called a meta-analysis. Several such summaries of evidence have shown that diets characterized by high intakes of plant-source foods (e.g., whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, tea, and coffee) or high intakes of fish and low-fat dairy, in addition to low intakes of certain animal-source foods (e.g., red and processed meats), sugar-sweetened beverages, and refined grains, are associated with a reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers.1–4 Although the concept of systematically reviewing and summarizing scientific evidence dates back to the early 20th century, its introduction into the field of epidemiology has been relatively recent.5 Despite this, developments in this methodology within the field of epidemiology have advanced rapidly, with the number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published increasing at an astronomical rate. A PubMed search with the search strategy [“meta-analysis” or “systematic reviews”] results in 12,403 citations in 2013 alone, compared with just 1 citation in …
Determination of the monoplane 3D system geometry in X-ray imaging guidance

A simple method for determination of the geometric parameters of monoplane stereo x-ray system is proposed in this paper. According to the principle of perspective projection, a monoplane stereo imaging model was established. The geometric parameters required for 3D point recovering were described. Applying the perspective projection rule and similar triangles concept, the system geometry can be calculated with three calibration line segments in 3D space. Calibration accuracy analysis has been performed. A cube phantom with radio-opaque line segments of known length and orientation is employed during calibration procedure. Experiments were carried out using a CCD based monoplane stereo x-ray system prototype. The results are consistent with the expected value predicated by theoretic analysis. Our promising application of this technique for the system calibration lies in digital mammography imaging guidance, but applications in other type of radiographic imaging are possible also.
Teaching Evolution to Students with Compromised Backgrounds & Lack of Confidence about Evolution — Is It Possible?

Students regard evolutionary theory differently than science in general. Students’ reported confidence in their ability to understand science in general (e.g., posing scientific questions, interpreting tables and graphs, and understanding the content of their biology course) significantly outweighed their confidence in understanding evolution. We also show that those students with little incoming confidence in their understanding of evolution demonstrated more confidence and the most improved performance by the end of the semester. Collectively, our data indicate that regardless of prior experiences with evolution education, and in spite of myriad social challenges to teaching evolution, students can learn evolution.
Preceptorships: a practical approach to education in heart failure.

Abstract Heart failure is increasing in incidence and prevalence and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (1–3). The heart failure center, although well equipped to handle more complex cases of moderate to severe heart failure, cannot accommodate all heart failure cases. Because the majority of heart failure patients are, and should be, treated at the primary care level, the heart failure center can have an important role in both disseminating information on state-of-the-art care and creating a partnership between the center and the community physician. Thus, preceptorships may be an excellent tool for enabling physicians to increase their depth of knowledge about optimal treatment strategies and develop stronger relationships with regional and local physicians who specialize in heart failure management. In turn, referral networks will be strengthened and the likelihood of appropriate consultations increased. Finally, closer interaction with experts in heart failure may help clinicians in the community be aware of clinical trials suitable for their own patients. An excellent setting for sharing ideas and strategies, the preceptorship should be a comfortable training environment for most physicians. When group size is small, participants can work with preceptors to individualize the experience by identifying subject matter in which they have the most interest. First-hand observation of functional heart failure teams may enhance participants' comfort with a team approach and may provide a referral base for ancillary services, such as dietary counseling or patient education. Based on the experience at the University of Cincinnati, preceptorships are an excellent way to disseminate and encourage the adoption of standards for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of heart failure. The program also permits us to advise participants on developing their own heart failure practice and establish criteria and critical pathways for patient referrals. Preceptorships provide a unique opportunity to share with practicing physicians many of the advances that have occurred in heart failure management while clarifying and distilling the finer points of patient management into easy, memorable, and practical approaches.
Extensions of line-closed combinatorial geometries

Abstract In [4], line-closed combinatorial geometries were studied. Here, given a line-closed combinatorial geometry G(X), we determine all single point extensions of G(X) that are line-closed. Further, if H(X∪Y) is a line-closed geometry that is a smooth extension of G(X) we give a natural necessary and sufficient condition for every geometry between G and H to be line-closed.
Comparison of the 4th Order Stream Function and 2nd Order Vorticity Transport Representations for Modeling Float-Zone Crystal Growth With a Constant Magnetic Field

During optically heated float-zone crystal growth processing, a cylindrical melting zone forms from a polycrystalline rod by lateral heating, then re-solidifies into single crystal rod. Thermocapillary forces drive a flow in the melt region. This base flow is susceptible to instabilities, which lead to nonuniformities and defects in the crystal. In order to minimize these imperfections, a magnetic field is employed to damp the base flow within the melt region. Modeling this base flow has proven challenging, and two representations are discussed here. The float-zone crystal growth base flow under the influence of a constant magnetic field and neglecting buoyancy is investigated with a full-zone model. The flow field and temperature distributions are calculated by a steady state, axisymmetric spectral collocation method using Chebyshev polynomials as basis functions. A 2nd order vorticity transport representation is compared with a 4th order stream function formulation. The results show high consistency between the models.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Recognition of Mixed-Sequence DNA Duplexes: Design Guidelines for Invaders Based on 2′-O-(Pyren-1-yl)methyl-RNA Monomers

The development of agents that recognize mixed-sequence double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is desirable because of their potential as tools for detection, regulation, and modification of genes. Despite progress with triplex-forming oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids, polyamides, and other approaches, recognition of mixed-sequence dsDNA targets remains challenging. Our laboratory studies Invaders as an alternative approach toward this end. These double-stranded oligonucleotide probes are activated for recognition of mixed-sequence dsDNA through modification with +1 interstrand zippers of intercalator-functionalized nucleotides such as 2′-O-(pyren-1-yl)methyl-RNA monomers and have recently been shown to recognize linear dsDNA, DNA hairpins, and chromosomal DNA. In the present work, we systematically studied the influence that the nucleobase moieties of the 2′-O-(pyren-1-yl)methyl-RNA monomers have on the recognition efficiency of Invader duplexes. Results from thermal denaturation, binding energy, and recogni...
Functional significance of recoverin localization in multiple retina cell types

Knowledge of the cellular localization of recoverin in photoreceptor cells has enabled its interaction with other proteins to be postulated, tested and verified. Recoverin, a calcium sensing protein, is now thought to act by prolongation of the light state through interference with the interaction of arrestin and rhodopsin. Because of the detection of recoverin in multiple cell populations, the specificity of the cellular localization of recoverin was investigated in the retina of the mouse, rat, rabbit, chicken, frog, and chameleon and compared to that for opsin, phosducin, and arrestin. In addition to photoreceptor cell staining, the application of affinity-purified antibodies against recoverin demonstrated immunoreactive cells in the inner nuclear layer and a rare immunopositive cell in the ganglion cell layer of the mouse, rat and rabbit retina. Only photoreceptor cells were stained with recoverin antibodies in the chameleon and frog retina, whereas no cells were recoverin-positive in the chicken retina. In all six species studied, only photoreceptor cells were labelled with antibodies against opsin, phosducin or arrestin. Based on intensity of staining, two distinct populations of anti-recoverin-immunoreactive cells were distinguished in the photoreceptor cell layer of the retinas of the rat and rabbit, with the more darkly stained cells (probably cones) representing about 3% of the photoreceptor cells. The presence of recoverin in cells other than photoreceptors suggests it has an alternative or additional function and indicates the presence of multiple cell type-specific expression signals in the regulatory region of the recoverin gene.
Ultrasonic wave measurement by differential interferometry.

The theory and performance of a two beam differential interferometer for measurement of both surface and bulk waves are described. The system is insensitive to small errors (<1 mm) in focus or in specimen flatness. Both amplitude and phase measurements are demonstrated. The system has been absolutely calibrated and can detect 6 × 10−4 A surface wave displacements on glass.