cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combination of ketamine and propofol versus either agent alone for procedural sedation in the emergency department

Purpose The safety of using ketamine–propofol combinations as an alternative to using either agent alone for procedural sedation is discussed. Summary A total of 10 trials comparing the combination of ketamine and propofol with either agent alone for procedural sedation in the emergency department were examined. The evidence reviewed suggests that combining these agents may help to minimize adverse effects such as hypotension and respiratory depression. Ketamine is not commonly used as a single agent in adults because of the risk for emergence reactions; however, when combined with propofol, no significant increase in this adverse effect was found compared with propofol monotherapy. Administering ketamine and propofol can be accomplished by using a two-syringe technique or combining both medications into a single syringe. When two syringes are used, a ketamine 0.3–0.5-mg/kg i.v. bolus dose is administered, followed by a propofol 0.4–1-mg/kg i.v. bolus dose. Sedation is maintained with intermittent i.v. boluses of propofol 0.1–0.5 mg/kg. A 1:1 ratio of ketamine and propofol can also be combined into a single syringe by using the same concentration (10 mg/mL) and equal volumes of each drug, yielding a final concentration of 5 mg/mL for each component. Conclusion The combined use of ketamine and propofol is a reasonable alternative to propofol alone for procedural sedation in patients at higher risk for respiratory depression or hypotension. Use of the combination requires the development of standardized protocols for drug preparation and dosage to minimize the potential for errors.
Microscale features and surface chemical functionality patterned by electron beam lithography: a novel route to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp fabrication.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) has become a ubiquitous material for microcontact printing, yet there are few methods available to pattern a completed PDMS stamp in a single step. It is shown here that electron beam lithography (EBL) is effective in writing patterns directly onto cured PDMS stamps, thus overcoming the need for multiple patterning steps. Not only does this method allow the modification of an existing lithographic pattern, but new 3D features such as cones, pits, and channels can also be fabricated. EBL can also be used to fabricate PDMS masks for photolithography whereby 1:1 pattern transfer into a photoresist is achieved. Additionally, direct EBL writing of surface chemical features has been achieved using a PDMS stamp coated with a self-assembled monolayer. An electrostatic mechanism appears to be operative in the EBL patterning process, as supported by calculations, thermogravimetric analysis, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, optical and atomic force microscopy, and chemica...
Strain Space Formulation of the Armstrong-Frederick Family of Plasticity Models

Strain space based plasticity models have certain advantages in theoretical development and numerical implementation. Previous efforts have been made to formulate cyclic plasticity models in strain space using the idea of multiple-yield surface theory. Recently, however, Armstrong-Frederick type plasticity models have received increasingly more attention because of their enhanced performance in predicting ratchetting behavior. In this paper, the strain space formulation of the Armstrong-Frederick family of cyclic plasticity models is established, and several representative strain controlled loading paths are used to compare the results from the proposed formulation and previous experimental data. The excellent agreement suggests the proposed strain space formulation is very promising in strain controlled cyclic plasticity such as finite element analysis, strain gage rosette applications, and multiaxial notch analysis using pseudo-stress or pseudo-strain approaches.
The Effects of Aspiration Status, Liquid Type, and Bolus Volume on Pharyngeal Peak Pressure in Healthy Older Adults

The reasons for aspiration in healthy adults remain unknown. Given that the pharyngeal phase of swallowing is a key component of the safe swallow, it was hypothesized that healthy older adults who aspirate are likely to generate less pharyngeal peak pressures when swallowing. Accordingly, pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter pressures were examined as a function of aspiration status (i.e., nonaspirator vs. aspirator), sensor location (upper vs. lower pharynx), liquid type (i.e., water vs. milk), and volume (i.e., 5 vs. 10 ml) in healthy older adults. Manometric measurements were acquired with a 2.1-mm catheter during flexible endoscopic evaluation. Participants (N = 19, mean age = 79.2 years) contributed 28 swallows; during 8 swallows, simultaneous manometric measurements of upper and lower pharyngeal and upper esophageal pressures were obtained. Pharyngeal manometric peak pressure was significantly less for aspirators (mean = 82, SD = 31 mmHg) than for nonaspirators (mean = 112, SD = 20 mmHg), and upper pharyngeal pressures (mean = 85, SD = 32 mmHg) generated less pressure than lower pharyngeal pressures (mean = 116, SD = 38 mmHg). Manometric measurements vary with respect to aspiration status and sensor location. Lower pharyngeal pressures in healthy older adults may predispose them to aspiration.
Scientific Uncertainty and Societal Decisions: The Challenge to the Analytical Chemist

Abstract During the past decade recognition of the intrinsic relationship between scientific information and complex societal problems has increased enormously. So, too, has the awareness that decisions which cannot be postponed must be made on the basis of incomplete or uncertain scientific data. In reference to the question of the effect of nitrogen oxides on the stratospheric ozone layer, for example, the President of the National Academy of Sciences in an address before the American Association for the Advancement of Science1, pointed to “a new type of societal problem, [in which] effects have been predicted by scientific theory, [but] not demonstrated.” Because of the hazards attending strictly theory-based decisions and because chemical species, often at trace levels and in complex media, play a central role in so many of these societal problems, the analytical chemist has a special responsibility and opportunity. He can make a major contribution to the validation of theory and the demonstration of ...
Viscous Drag Torque on a Rotating Nanofabricated Cylinder Near an Infinite Plane Boundary

Microrheological and single molecule biological measurements often involve the use of a microscopic probe particle near a surface. On such systems a precise understanding of the hydrodynamic interactions between the particle and the surface is required. Recently nanofabricated nearly cylindrical quartz particles have been used as ideal trapping particles for an angular optical trap. Here the rotational viscous drag torque imposed on a nanofabricated quartz cylinder near a surface is measured with the angular optical trap. The deviation of torque from the Stokes drag relation in solution is measured as a function of distance from the plane surface of a microscope cover glass. The surface effect is found to be significant for distances on the order of the characteristic dimension of the cylinder. These findings will allow for more accurate and quantitative torsional measurements of angular trapping systems.
The information content of the recovery limb of the electrodermal response.

Recent observations suggest that skin conductance or resistance responses manifest, in the shape of the recovery limb, two components, a slow one associated with the negative skin potential response and sweating, and a faster one associated with the positive skin potential response and with the recently reported sweat reabsorption response. Part of the recovery limb has an exponential form, and its recovery rate is interpreted as a measure of the relative participation of these two components. Two simple manual methods, utilizing overlays, allow rapid determination of recovery half-time or time constant. Recovery rate is not determined by amplitude. It can differentiate between spontaneous responses during rest and during a task, between orienting responses to a light flash and responses to the same flash when it takes on signal properties, and between responses to an alerting signal and to an execution signal for a task. Individuals with fast recovery rates during a task also tend to show slower habituation of electrodermal responses. It is concluded that the reabsorption process represents an adaptation for goal-directed behavior.
The role of child temperament on Head Start preschoolers' social competence in the context of cumulative risk

This study examined the main and interactive effects of cumulative risk and child temperament on teacher ratings of social competence and observer ratings of peer play in a sample of Head Start preschoolers. A cumulative risk index (CRI) was computed by summing the total number of risk factors for each family. There was a difference in the predictive power of the CRI when it consisted of 10 (including child temperament) versus 8 possible risk factors (excluding child temperament) for teacher ratings of social competence. The CRI based on 10 risk factors was related significantly and negatively to social competence. A significant interaction between inhibited child temperament and cumulative environmental risk revealed that highly inhibited children were perceived by their teachers as equally competent under both high- and low-risk, whereas less inhibited children received lower ratings as environmental risk increased. Less inhibited and less impulsive temperament emerged as promotive factors associated with high levels of interactive peer play and teacher ratings of social competence, respectively, regardless of the risk level.
A Simplified Eigenvector-Following Technique for Locating Transition Points in an Energy Landscape

We derive an eigenvector-following technique for locating transition points in an N-dimensional energy landscape. A separate Lagrange multiplier is used for each eigendirection to provide maximum flexibility in determining step sizes. In contrast to previous techniques based on a similar approach, we provide a simple algorithm for choosing specific values of these Lagrange multipliers. We demonstrate the robustness of the algorithm using two-dimensional Cerjan−Miller and Adams landscapes. The technique has also been applied to the S12 molecular cluster.
Diabetes and pregnancy

Summary There is considerable evidence that under rigid control during pregnancy, the diabetic woman may have a satisfactory course and gestatory product. Although reports vary it is difficult to prove that the infantile insulin production has any effect on the maternal blood sugar. Where the maternal diabetes has not been adequately controlled, the newborn infants may present temporary symptoms referable to hypoglycemia. In some cases these symptoms of cyanosis, vomitting, and feeding difficulty may persist for as long as three weeks and necessitate parenteral glucose administration for that time. A follow-up of one patient showed a hyperinsulin-like, sugar curve at 4 years of age. Reports of postmortem studies of infants born of diabetic mothers vary. In some no hyperplasia of islet tissue has been found, and the hypoglycemia must be considered functional in type. In others the finding of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the islets of Langerhans makes the correlation obvious. One study is made in which the relative macrosomia, advanced bone age, and more mature genital tract suggest a pituitary effect. Complete endocrine pathology is reported but with our present limited knowledge the interrelationship is best described as dysfunction. Perhaps some interrelationship will be found to account for the mild as well as the fatal hypoglycemia of the newborn infant. Fetal glycogen storage hypertrophy also is postulated as a possible etiology for some of the pathology.
Resetting the Biological Clock in Gonyaulax with Ultraviolet Light

Many physiological processes show regular daily fluctuations in rate. Much information is now available to show that these daily fluctuations continue to occur in constant light and constant temperature. Thus they do not merely reflect changes in the environment but must be controlled endogenously. The diurnal rhythms, as these phenomena have been called, are so common and the processes involved, so varied, that a general mechanism for time keeping, a biological clock, has been postulated (7). The solar time at which the maximum biological activity of a process occurs may be shifted in a predictable way by exposure to light, and the biological clock, like its mechanical counterpart, can be reset. This property is of considerable practical importance since it enables biological time to be adjusted to external solar time. In spite of extensive studies, the mechanism of the postulated biological clock is unknown. The ability of light to reset the diurnal rhythms offers a possible point of attack for the examination of the mechanism of time keeping, since light must presumably alter some clock component to reset or shift the phase. Studies of the effects of visible light on phase shifting have not as yet revealed the nature of this change. It is possible to shift the phase of at least one of the biological clocks, that controlling mating behavior in Paramecium bursaria (2, 3), with ultraviolet irradiation. Therefore, the possibility that the biological clock in Gonyaulax can also be reset by ultraviolet light has been investigated, with the hope that such a study might reveal additional clues to the mechanism by which phase is changed, and hence to the operation of the biological clock.
Localized Noise Propagation Effects In Parameter Transforms

A parameter transform produces a density function on a parameter space. Ideally each instance of a parametric shape in the input would contribute to the density with a delta function. Due to noise these delta functions will be broadened. However, depending on the location and orientation of the parametric shapes in the input, differently shaped peaks will result. The reason for this is twofold: (1) In general a parameter transform is a nonlinear operation; (2) A parameter transform may also be a function of the location of the parametric shape in the input. We present a general framework that deals with both the above mentioned problems. By weighing the response of the transform by the determinant of a matrix, we obtain a more homogeneous response. This response preserves heights instead of volumes in the parameter space. We briefly touch upon the usefulness of these techniques for organizing the behavior of connectionist networks. Illustrative examples of parameter transform responses are given.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Elevation of nitrate levels in pregnant ewes and their fetuses

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator released by endothelial cells that may play an important role in modulating maternal and fetal vascular tone in normal pregnancy. The current study was designed to evaluate whether plasma or urine nitrite and nitrate (the metabolites of nitric oxide) concentrations are elevated in pregnant compared with those of nonpregnant sheep and whether the nitrate concentrations in the fetal circulation were increased in comparison with the maternal circulation. STUDY DESIGN: Eleven pregnant sheep and seven nonpregnant oophorectomized sheep were instrumented with catheters in the maternal and fetal femoral arteries and veins, uterine and umbilical veins, and amniotic cavity. Blood, urine, and amniotic fluid samples were collected for nitrate determination at least 5 days after surgery. After extraction nitrate was reduced to nitrite and quantitated with the Griess reagent. RESULTS: Arterial plasma nitrate concentrations in the pregnant sheep were significantly elevated compared with those of nonpregnant sheep (5.0 ± 0.9 vs 2.5 ± 0.6 μmol/L, p p p n = 3). No venous-arterial differences were measurable across either the maternal or fetal sides of the placenta. CONCLUSION: Nitrate concentrations in pregnant sheep and their fetuses are increased. The increased nitrate concentrations in the maternal and fetal circulations may reflect the increased nitric oxide synthesis, which may in part mediate the cardiovascular adaptations to normal pregnancy and the low systemic and umbilical vascular resistance in the fetus. (AM J OBSTET GYNECOL 1996;174:573-7.)
Coping and Defense Mechanisms of Mothers of Learning Disabled Children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which mothers of learning disabled children cope with and defend against the diagnosis and manifestations of their child's problem, as well as to explore the mothers' reactions and experience with the process of diagnosis and treatment in a clinic setting. Results indicated that the mothers generally evidenced coping mechanisms when involved with medical, social and educational agencies, and were able to appropriately obtain services for their child. However, coping functions broke down and gave way to more defensive mechanisms in direct confrontation with the child: projection, denial of the problem and displacement of anger on to the child were seen. Mothers, contrary to traditional attitudes, experienced relief at receiving a diagnosis, confirming their suspicions rather than experiencing shock or grief.
Van der Waals mixing rules for cubic equations of state: applications for supercritical fluid extraction modelling

A new concept for the development of mixing rules for cubic equations of state consistent with statistical-mechanical theory of the van der Waals mixing rules is introduced. Utility of this concept is illustrated by its application to the Redlich-Kwong (RK) and the Peng-Robinson (PR) equations of state. The resulting mixing rules for the Redlich-Kwong and the Peng-Robinson equations of state are tested through prediction of solubility of heavy solids in supercritical fluids. It is shown that the new mixing rules can predict supercritical solubilities more accurately than the original mixing rules of the Redlich-Kwong and Peng-Robinson equations of state.
Latin American Attitudes toward Women in Politics: The Influence of Elite Cues, Female Advancement, and Individual Characteristics

This article outlines three theoretical arguments—socialization, status discontent, and elite cues—that generate competing predictions about the way context shapes gender attitudes. Using hierarchical analysis, we assess the power of these arguments in Latin America, a region that manifests considerable variation on our central explanatory variables and thus offers important theoretical leverage. We find men's gender attitudes to be highly contingent on elite cues and susceptible to backlash effects in response to women's economic advancement. Also, where women lack national representation, distrust of government promotes support for female leadership as an alternative to the discredited (male) establishment. The analysis supports existing individual-level explanations of gender attitudes and demonstrates a connection between diffuse democratic values and gender egalitarianism. The findings suggest that recent advances for female politicians in Latin America may be susceptible to reversal, and they illuminate strategies for strengthening women's equality in the region.
Quantitative Analysis of Exfoliation and Aspect Ratio of Calcium Niobate Platelets

Abstract This work employs tapping-mode AFM and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to investigate the effects of suspension composition (alkylammonium cation type, concentration) on the degree of exfoliation of a layered perovskite, calcium niobate (HCa 2 Nb 3 O 10 , denoted as CNP). It is well known that in aqueous suspensions, tetrabutylammonium (TBA) cations intercalate CNP’s layered structure, producing exfoliated platelets. This work shows that tetramethylammonium and tetraethylammonium cations do not produce significant levels of CNP exfoliation. However, TBA leads to complete exfoliation of CNP (>95%) in suspensions prepared with TBA:CNP ratios greater than 1:1. TGA and XRD data indicate that TBA uptake is limited by steric packing constraints. After depositing TBA–CNP platelets on mica surfaces for AFM imaging, quantitative image analysis provides the degree of exfoliation and distributions of platelet thickness, lateral size, and aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of TBA–CNP platelets has a lognormal distribution. Sedimentation of TBA–CNP suspensions under unit gravity removes unexfoliated particles from suspension, and centrifugation leads to differential sedimentation. The lateral size and aspect ratio of residual suspended TBA–CNP platelets decrease with increasing centrifugation speed. For all fractions of TBA–CNP platelets, the number-average lateral size from AFM agrees remarkably well with the effective spherical particle diameter measured by DLS.
Defect-Tolerant Design and Optimization of a Digital Microfluidic Biochip for Protein Crystallization

Protein crystallization is a commonly used technique for protein analysis and subsequent drug design. It predicts the 3-D arrangement of the constituent amino acids, which in turn indicates the specific biological function of a protein. Protein crystallization experiments are typically carried out in well-plates in the laboratory. As a result, these experiments are slow, expensive, and error-prone due to the need for repeated human intervention. Recently, droplet-based ?digital? microfluidics have been used for executing protein assays on a chip. Protein samples in the form of nanoliter-volume droplets are manipulated using the principle of electrowetting-on-dielectric. We present the design of a multi-well-plate microfluidic biochip for protein crystallization; this biochip can transfer protein samples, prepare candidate solutions, and carry out crystallization automatically. To reduce the manufacturing cost of such devices, we present an efficient algorithm to generate a pin-assignment plan for the proposed design. The resulting biochip enables control of a large number of on-chip electrodes using only a small number of pins. Based on the pin-constrained chip design, we present an efficient shuttle-passenger-like droplet manipulation method and test procedure to achieve high-throughput and defect-tolerant well loading.
Cutting the cord: a robust wireless facilities network for data centers

Today's network control and management traffic are limited by their reliance on existing data networks. Fate sharing in this context is highly undesirable, since control traffic has very different availability and traffic delivery requirements. In this paper, we explore the feasibility of building a dedicated wireless facilities network for data centers. We propose Angora, a low-latency facilities network using low-cost, 60GHz beamforming radios that provides robust paths decoupled from the wired network, and flexibility to adapt to workloads and network dynamics. We describe our solutions to address challenges in link coordination, link interference and network failures. Our testbed measurements and simulation results show that Angora enables large number of low-latency control paths to run concurrently, while providing low latency end-to-end message delivery with high tolerance for radio and rack failures.
Despite increased CD4+Foxp3+ cells within the infection site, BALB/c IL-4 receptor-deficient mice reveal CD4+Foxp3-negative T cells as a source of IL-10 in Leishmania major susceptibility.

BALB/c IL-4Rα−/− mice, despite the absence of IL-4/IL-13 signaling and potent Th2 responses, remain highly susceptible to Leishmania major substain LV39 due exclusively to residual levels of IL-10. To address the contribution of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) cells to IL-10-mediated susceptibility, we depleted CD4+CD25+ cells in vivo and reconstituted IL-4Rα × RAG2 recipients with purified CD4+CD25− T cells. Although anti-CD25 mAb treatment significantly decreased parasite numbers in IL-4Rα−/− mice, treatment with anti-IL-10R mAb virtually eliminated L. major parasites in both footpad and dermal infection sites. In addition, IL-4Rα × RAG2 mice reconstituted with CD4+ cells depleted of CD25+ Treg cells remained highly susceptible to infection. Analysis of L. major-infected BALB/c and IL-4Rα−/− inflammatory sites revealed that the majority of IL-10 was secreted by the CD4+Foxp3− population, with a fraction of IL-10 coming from CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells. All T cell IFN-γ production was also derived from the CD4+Foxp3− population. Nevertheless, the IL-4Rα−/−-infected ear dermis, but not draining lymph nodes, consistently displayed 1.5- to 2-fold greater percentages of CD4+CD25+ and CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells compared with the BALB/c-infected dermis. Thus, CD4+Foxp3− T cells are a major source of IL-10 that disrupts IFN-γ activity in L. major-susceptible BALB/c mice. However, the increase in CD4+Foxp3+ T cells within the IL-4Rα−/− dermis implies a possible IL-10-independent role for Treg cells within the infection site, and may indicate a novel immune escape mechanism used by L. major parasites in the absence of IL-4/IL-13 signaling.
Capturing and generating social behavior with the restaurant game

The Restaurant Game demonstrates an end-to-end system that captures and generates social behavior for virtual agents. Over 15,000 people have played The Restaurant Game, and we have developed a system to automatically learn patterns of interaction and dialogue from logs of their gameplay sessions. These patterns guide a case-based planning system, which generates behavior and dialogue for a virtual customer or waitress who can interact with a human, or with another agent. The Restaurant Game demonstrates a first step toward empowering non-programmers to realize socially intelligent characters for a wide range of applications.
Aspirin treatment is associated with a significantly decreased risk of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in hemodialysis patients with tunneled catheters.

Background Hemodialysis patients with tunneled catheters are at increased risk of bacteremic Staphylococcus aureus infections. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that aspirin has direct antistaphylococcal effects by inhibiting expression of α-toxin and matrix adhesion genes through activation of sigma factor B stress-induced operon. We hypothesized that long-term treatment with aspirin may decrease the frequency of S aureus bacteremia in such patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records for a variety of clinical parameters, including catheter dwell times, blood culture results, and aspirin use in our dialysis population. Results A total of 4,722 blood cultures were performed in 872 patients during more than 476 patient-catheter-years. There was a lower rate of catheter-associated S aureus bacteremia in patients treated with aspirin versus those not treated with aspirin (0.17 versus 0.34 events/patient-catheter-year, P = 0.003), whereas no such difference was observed for other bacteria. This association was dose dependent, seen mostly with the 325-mg aspirin dose. Using the Cox proportional hazard method, risk to develop a first episode of S aureus bacteremia decreased by 54% in patients using aspirin (confidence interval, 24 to 72; P = 0.002). Aspirin was associated with decreased risk of: (1) a first episode of methicillin-resistant S aureus bacteremia and (2) metastatic complications during the first episode of catheter-related S aureus bacteremia. Conclusion These data are consistent with our clinical hypothesis that aspirin has a clinically useful antistaphylococcal effect in the dialysis population.
Dynamic optimization of a two‐stage reactor system

With the development of relatively inexpensive control computers and on-stream analyzers, on-line dynamic optimization of nonlinear, multistage systems has become more feasible. Investigators have been concerned with the static optimization and control of single-stage and multistage systems, but few have considered the optimization of a multistage system whose behavior is nonstatic owing to stochastic changes in its input and environment, and whose optimal control policy is time varying. This paper looks at the problem of dynamic optimization as it applies to the analysis of a multistage continuous stirred-tank reactor system. A variational approach, in which the physical restraints on the manipulatable variables are included by a parametric representation, led to a bang-bang, sampled-data, optimal control law, or an equivalent analytical expression for continuous optimal control. Inclusion of the inequality relationships, specifying amplitude constraints on the manipulatable variables by a penalty function, resulted in a set of nonlinear Euler-Lagrange equations specifying the control law.
Interaction Coaching For High-Risk Infants And Their Parents

This paper includes a review of literature on early interaction behaviors of infants and how they compare to adult interaction behaviors, interactions of high-risk infants and their parents, relationships of early interactions to later development, and various manipulations of early interactions. Data are then presented on interaction coaching techniques used with 60 middle income mothers of preterm infants who experienced respiratoty distress syndrome. Manipulations which effectively diminished the activity levels of these extremely active mothers and enhanced their infants' visual attentiveness during interactions included mother imitation of all infant behaviors, repetition of phrases, and silencing during infants' pauses. Manipulations which were effective in increasing the amount of mother activity and the amount of infant visual attentiveness among a subsample of mothers who were very inactive were attention-getting and gameplaying manipulations. These results are discussed in the context of facilit...
Ubiquitin and Proteasomes in Transcription

Regulation of gene transcription is vitally important for the maintenance of normal cellular homeostasis. Failure to correctly regulate gene expression, or to deal with problems that arise during the transcription process, can lead to cellular catastrophe and disease. One of the ways cells cope with the challenges of transcription is by making extensive use of the proteolytic and nonproteolytic activities of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Here, we review recent evidence showing deep mechanistic connections between the transcription and ubiquitin-proteasome systems. Our goal is to leave the reader with a sense that just about every step in transcription—from transcription initiation through to export of mRNA from the nucleus—is influenced by the UPS and that all major arms of the system—from the first step in ubiquitin (Ub) conjugation through to the proteasome—are recruited into transcriptional processes to provide regulation, directionality, and deconstructive power.
Preparation of Silicon Carbide/Aluminum Nitride Ceramics Using Organometallic Precursors

Solid solutions of 2H-SiC/AlN can be prepared at temperatures less than 1600°C by rapid pyrolysis (“hot drop”) of mixtures of [(Me3Si)0.80((CH2=CH)MeSi)1.0(MeHSi)0.35]n (VPS) or [MeHSiCH2]n (MPCS) with [R2AlNH2]3, where R=Et, i-Bu or simply by slow pyrolysis of the precursor mixture in the case of [Et2AlNH2]3. In contrast, slow pyrolysis of mixtures of VPS or MPCS with [i-Bu2AlNH2]3 yields a composite of 2H-AlN and 3C-SiC at 1600°C, which transforms into a single 2H-SiC/AlN solid solution on heating to 2000°C. The influences of the nature of the precursor and processing conditions on the structure, composition, and purity of the SiC/AlN materials are discussed.
IN SITU SYNCHROTRON X-RAY STUDIES OF FERROELECTRIC THIN FILMS

▪ Abstract This paper reviews recent in situ studies of ferroelectric thin films using synchrotron X-ray scattering, with an emphasis on single-crystal perovskite films. We describe observations of thin film growth, the ferroelectric phase transition, and structural evolution during ferroelectric switching. The importance of quantitatively characterizing the internal structure of ferroelectric films under controlled electrical and mechanical boundary conditions is discussed.
Signatures of electron Landau resonant interactions with chorus waves from THEMIS observations

Simultaneous observations of electron phase space density (PSD) and chorus waves for more than 4 years by the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) are analyzed to identify signatures of the electron Landau resonant interactions with chorus waves in the radiation belts. Chorus waves play an important role in the radiation belt dynamics by effectively interacting with electrons. Landau resonant interactions arise when the waves are not exactly parallel propagating. Such interactions lead to “plateaus” along v∥ in the electron velocity distributions, where v∥is the parallel (with respect to the background magnetic field) component of the electron velocity. The analyzed electron PSDs often demonstrate local minima in the derivative of the velocity distribution along v∥ near the Landau resonant velocity calculated from the simultaneous in situ wave observations. These minima are, therefore, direct signatures and solid evidence of the electron Landau resonant interactions with chorus waves.
Mitigating the limited scalability of bootstrapping through strategic alliances to enhance new venture growth

Although the benefits of bootstrapping are widely known, decreasing returns to venture growth from this strategy are less understood; falls in returns. Decreasing returns may result from limited scalability and increased costs resulting from reduced legitimacy among stakeholders. Using a sample of high-technology firms, this article tests the non-linear relationship between bootstrapping and venture growth and the moderating effects of alliances on this non-linear relationship. We find that bootstrapping has an inverted-U relationship with venture growth; however, alliance diversity enhances the positive effects of bootstrapping while mitigating its negative effects on venture growth.
Projecting the Knowledge Graph to Syntactic Parsing

We present a syntactic parser training paradigm that learns from large scale Knowledge Bases. By utilizing the Knowledge Base context only during training, the resulting parser has no inference-time dependency on the Knowledge Base, thus not decreasing the speed during prediction. Knowledge Base information is injected into the model using an extension to the Augmented-loss training framework. We present empirical results that show this approach achieves a significant gain in accuracy for syntactic categories such as coordination and apposition.
Orexin and Hypothalamic Control of Sleep and Waking

The hypothalamus regulates emotions, eating, drinking, body temperature, circadian rhythms, autonomic tone, and pituitary function. It also controls sleep and wakefulness; however, until recently, little was known about the specific neurons and pathways that control behavioral state. With the discovery of orexin/hypocretin, a flood of important discoveries has provided key insights into the mechanisms that stabilize sleep and wakefulness, as well as the pathways that underlie the circadian timing of sleep. This chapter reviews the hypothalamic systems regulating sleep/wake behavior and highlights how the orexin neurons play an essential role in stabilizing wakefulness and integrating arousal with other hypothalamic functions.
Rationale, Science, and Economics of Surgical Nerve Decompression for Diabetic Neuropathy Foot Complications

Nerve decompression is effective and safe for dealing with the pain and numbness symptoms of the frequent nerve compression entrapments in diabetic symmetric peripheral neuropathy (DSPN). Evidence has accumulated of balance and stability improvements and protection against diabetic foot ulceration, recurrence and its complication cascade. Nerve decompression proffers significant benefit versus the large socioeconomic costs of DSPN complications. Advancing understanding of the mechanism of nerve compression and altered axonal activity in diabetes clarifies the basis of clinical benefit. Clinicians should seek out and recognize nerve entrapments and consider advising nerve decompression for relief of DSPN symptoms and prevention of complications.
Comprehensive Review of the Literature on Existing Punctal Plugs for the Management of Dry Eye Disease

Numerous designs of punctal and canalicular plugs are available on the market. This variety presents challenges to ophthalmologists when choosing punctal plugs for the management of various ocular conditions. The aim of this literature review is to provide a classification system for lacrimal occlusive devices based on their location and duration of action as well as to identify different characteristics of each one of them. We want to give a comprehensive overview on punctal and canalicular plugs including their manufacturing companies, indications, and complications that have been reported in various articles. PubMed and Google Scholar were used to identify articles written in English as well as few articles written in Japanese, Chinese, Slovak, and Spanish that had abstracts in English. Nine different companies that manufacture punctal and canalicular plugs were identified and their plugs were included in this review. Punctal and canalicular plugs are used in the management of various ocular conditions including dry eye disease and punctal stenosis as well as in ocular drug delivery. Although they are a relatively safe option, associated complications have been reported in the literature such as infection, allergic reaction, extrusion, and migration.
Active Warming during Cesarean Delivery: Should We SCIP It?

Background The purpose of this open, cluster randomized controlled trial was to evaluate whether use of a fiber optic–regulated warming mattress would decrease the incidence of hypothermia in women undergoing cesarean delivery. Patients and Methods A total of 484 women were randomized via the cluster method on a rotating weekly basis allocating participants to either use of the warming mattress or the standard method of warming at Parkland Hospital (heat-retaining caps, warmed intravenous and irrigation fluids, and warmed blankets). The primary outcome of interest was maternal hypothermia. Surgical site infections and neonatal outcomes were also assessed. Results The incidence of maternal hypothermia at the conclusion of the surgery was decreased in the warming mattress group, 67 versus 80% in the standard method group (p = 0.013). There were no significant differences in maternal hypothermia at delivery or on arrival to the postanesthesia care unit. The difference in surgical site infections and neonatal outcomes were nonsignificant. Conclusion Use of a warming mattress reduced the incidence of maternal hypothermia at the conclusion of surgery; however, on admission to the postanesthesia care unit, these effects had dissipated.
Impact of Heterogeneous Technology Integration on the Power, Performance, and Quality of a 3D Image Sensor

This work investigates the effect of heterogeneous technology integration on a 3D integrated image sensor. A system level model is discussed that analyzes the correlation between design choices, power, performance, thermal, and noise. As a case study, a 3D image sensor is analyzed considering a photosensor module designed in 180 nm process, and a compression engine implemented in 180, 90, and 45 nm processes. The coupled analysis shows that scaling down the compression engine to deep sub-micron process provides higher throughput for a given system power or reduces power for a target throughout, but die-to-die thermal coupling can modulate quality of the compressed images.
On the Application of Microlecture in the Teaching of Adult College

Microlecture enjoys the characteristic of small capacity,concentrated content,flexible learning time and place. Compared with traditional courses,it has distinct advantages of being open and dynamic,students centered and in accord with the cognitive law. So microlecture can play a good role in the adult college teaching,and obviously improve the teaching effect by helps both the learning and the teaching.
Lexical bundle distribution in university classroom talk

The present study investigates the relationship between the discourse functions of lexical bundles found in classroom teaching and their position. Eighty-four lexical bundles, frequently occurring four-word combinations identified earlier in university classroom talk (Biber, Conrad, and Cortes, 2004), are tracked in the first six Vocabulary-Based Discourse Units (VBDUs) also identified previously (Biber, Csomay, Jones, and Keck, 2004) of 176 university lectures. Among others, expressions such as you might want to, I would like to, if you look at, and in the case of are traced in tandem with their previously identified classification of discourse functions. While earlier studies reported on the relationship between the bundles’ discourse functions and their position in the first three discourse units (Cortes and Csomay, 2007), there are no studies yet on how the frequency patterns may change in the second set of three discourse units.The findings of this study show a sharp increase in the use of referential bundles and those discourse organizers with a topic elaboration that focuses in the second set of discourse units. At the same time, the use of bundles expressing stance, especially those referring to personal ability and personal intention and those discourse organizers with a topic introduction, drop in the second set of discourse units. These findings provide further, lexical evidence for the claim that a strong relationship exists between intra-textual linguistic variation and the corresponding shift in discourse functions in university classes (Csomay, 2005, 2007).
Going native, going home. Ethnographic empathy and the artifice of return in Cabeza de Vaca’s Relación

‘We will always find ourselves reterritorialized again.’ Guilles Deleuze and Felix GuattariIn 1536, in the northern part of today’s Mexican state of Sinaloa, a group of slave-hunting Spanish soldie...
The complete nucleotide sequence and genomic characterization of grapevine asteroid mosaic associated virus.

Abstract In analyzing grapevine clones infected with grapevine red blotch associated virus, we identified a small number of isometric particles of approximately 30 nm in diameter from an enriched fraction of leaf extract. A dominant protein of 25 kDa was isolated from this fraction using SDS-PAGE and was identified by mass spectrometry as belonging to grapevine asteroid mosaic associated virus (GAMaV). Using a combination of three methods RNA-Seq, sRNA-Seq, and Sanger sequencing of RT- and RACE-PCR products, we obtained a full-length genome sequence consisting of 6719 nucleotides without the poly(A) tail. The virus possesses all of the typical conserved functional domains concordant with the genus Marafivirus and lies evolutionarily between citrus sudden death associated virus and oat blue dwarf virus. A large shift in RNA-Seq coverage coincided with the predicted location of the subgenomic RNA involved in coat protein (CP) expression. Genus wide sequence alignments confirmed the cleavage motif LxG(G/A) to be dominant between the helicase and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and the RdRp and CP domains. A putative overlapping protein (OP) ORF lacking a canonical translational start codon was identified with a reading frame context more consistent with the putative OPs of tymoviruses and fig fleck associated virus than with those of marafiviruses. BLAST analysis of the predicted GAMaV OP showed a unique relatedness to the OPs of members of the genus Tymovirus .
A GPU accelerated dynamic p-adaptation for simulation of EM-plasma interaction

As a dominant physical mechanism in the highly complicated nonlinear interaction between high-power electromagnetic (EM) fields and plasmas at microwave frequencies, the ionization-diffusion mechanism results in a plasma front with an extremely high density gradient. To capture such a high density gradient and the resulting highly localized secondary EM fields, a numerical method with a high spatial resolution is required. In this paper, a dynamic p-adaptation method is proposed based on the discontinuous Galerkin time-domain (DGTD) algorithm with higher-order interpolatory basis functions by changing the basis order wherever and whenever needed. The proposed dynamic p-adaptive DGTD method is further accelerated using graphics processing units (GPUs) to allow a highly efficient parallel simulation of the EM-plasma interaction problems.
Inspection systems and mechanical removal systems for bone and cartilage particles in ground beef patties.

Ground beef patties were processed from boneless beef which was subjected to two different inspection systems for bone and cartilage defects. One system permitted a higher ("high") level of defects (USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Meat and Poultry Inspection Requirements), while the other system (USDA PP-B-2120 Federal Purchasing Specification) permitted only a lower ("low") level of defects. Before formation into patties, the ground beef was subjected to three processing systems for defect removal (none, Weiler Bone Collector System, Speco Spiral Groove Plate System). A sensory approach (teeth and tongue) for detecting defects with cooked patty samples revealed more bone and cartilage defects in the "high" than the "low" formulation regardless of defect removal system. While the defect removal systems reduced the levels of detected defects in the "high" formulation, neither system produced patties with defect levels achieved through inspection procedures required to produce "low" levels of these defects. However, it appears that much of the bone remaining as a defect in boneless beef is reduced in size during grinding so as to be undetectable by sensory approaches.
Ambient Air Monitoring and Remote Sensing

This chapter discusses methods for measuring ambient concentrations and emissions of air pollutants, with an emphasis on real-time methods. Three general monitoring applications are discussed: (1) mapping and surveying, (2) baseline and trend monitoring, and (3) source attribution and emissions quantification. Various strategies are then recommended to overcome the undersampling problem, namely: (1) mobile platforms with real-time sensors, (2) passive and active remote sensing, and (3) distributed sensor networks. Several advanced measurement technologies to implement these strategies are available based on optical, ionization, and chemical separation techniques. These methods include optical gas imaging (OGI), the use of lasers and light emitting diodes (LEDs) for in situ measurements and open path remote sensing, computer aided tomography (CAT), passive infrared (IR) and solar radiation-based techniques, chemical ionization and membrane inlet mass spectrometry, and microfluidics.
Narrative as Argument in Atul Gawande’s “On Washing Hands” and “Letting Go”

This essay responds to scholarly skepticism about narrative as argument, due to its reliance on hindsight effects (because such and such happened, then so and so must be the causes), and its tendency to develop inadequate analogies or to overgeneralize from single cases. The essay contends that, while some uses of narrative as argument display these problems, they are not inherent in narrative itself. It offers warrants for that contention by (a) proposing a conception of narrative as rhetoric and (b) using that conception to analyze two essays by Atul Gawande, “On Washing Hands” (2007) and “Letting Go” (2014) that rely heavily on narrative as part of their larger problem-solution argumentative structure. The analysis leads to the conclusion that a skillful author can, depending on his or her overall purposes, use narrative either as a mode of argument in itself or as a means of supporting arguments made through non-narrative means—and can even use both approaches within a single piece.