cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Dose and Timing of Preoperative Statins on Mortality After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Background Preoperative statin administration is associated with reduced mortality risk after a coronary artery bypass graft operation. However, the optimal dose and timing are unknown. Methods We retrospectively reviewed data from 3,025 primary isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients at our institution. Patients were divided into three groups, according to timing of their preoperative statin: 24 hours or less (n = 1,788), 24 to 72 hours (n = 452), or more than 72 hours before operation or no dose (n = 781). We then grouped patients by preoperative dose: no statin (n = 739), 20 mg or less (n = 920), or more than 20 mg (n = 1,284) atorvastatin or equivalent. Primary outcome was 30-day all-cause postoperative mortality. Results Thirty-day all-cause mortality was significantly lower for patients taking a statin 24 hours or less preoperatively (1.7%) compared with 24 to 72 hours (2.9%), more than 72 hours, or no dose (3.8%). Multivariate analysis of a propensity-matched cohort showed taking statins 24 hours or less preoperatively was associated with reduced 30-day all-cause mortality (odds ratio 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.28 to 0.98, p = 0.04) versus more than 24 hours or no dose. For preoperative statin dose, 30-day all-cause mortality was significantly lower when taking 20 mg or less(1.8%) or more than 20 mg atorvastatin or equivalent (2.1%) than when taking none (3.8%). In multivariate analysis of the propensity-matched cohort, more than 20 mg preoperative dose was associated with a 68% reduction of 30-day all-cause mortality (odds ratio 0.32, 95% confidence interval: 0.13 to 0.82, p = 0.02) compared with no preoperative statin. However, a 20 mg or less preoperative dose showed no mortality reduction. Conclusions Both statin use 24 hours or less preoperatively and preoperative statin dose of more than 20 mg were independently associated with decreased 30-day all-cause mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
On the Arguments for Indirect Speech Acts

The usual treatment of a dinner table utterance of ‘Can you pass the salt?’ is that it involves an indirect request to pass the salt as well as a direct question about the hearer’s ability to do so: an indirect speech act. These are held to involve two illocutionary forces and two illocutionary acts. Rod Bertolet (1994) has raised doubts about whether consideration of such examples warrants the postulation of indirect speech acts and illocutionary forces other than the literal ones. In a recent article, Mary Kate McGowan, Shan Shan Tam, and Margaret Hall claim to show that these doubts are unfounded. The purpose of this paper is to show that they have not established this.
Performance of two respiratory protective devices used by home-attending health care workers (a pilot study)

ABSTRACTObjectives: This pilot study aimed at determining the Workplace Protection Factor (WPF) for respiratory protective devices widely used by health care workers to reduce exposure to potentially hazardous aerosols when attending patients in their homes. Two devices were tested, an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) and a surgical mask (SM).Methods: Three home-attending health care workers were recruited, medically cleared and fit tested. At the workplace, the aerosol concentrations outside (Cout) and inside (Cin) of the tested respiratory protective device worn by a subject were measured using two simultaneously operating P-Trak condensation particle counters within the particle size range of approximately 20–1,000 nm. Real-time and integrated (time-weighted average, TWA) values of WPF = Cout/Cin were determined.Results: This pilot study demonstrated that the WPF of the tested N95 FFR consistently exceeded that of the SM. The WPFTWA(C) values calculated for the entire test time (based on the TW...
Bioavailability of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in wastewaters from animal feedlots and storage lagoons

Abstract Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from animal wastes can contribute to pollution of surface waters. Bioavailable DON (ABDON) is a portion of DON utilized by algae with or without bacteria. This study determined DON and ABDON levels in animal wastewater collected from two different sources: an animal feedlot wastewater storage tank and a sheep wastewater storage lagoon. Inocula for the ABDON bioassays were comprised of individual species and several combinations involving two algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chlorella vulgaris) and a mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) bacterial culture. The ratio of initial DON to initial total dissolved nitrogen was 18% in the feedlot wastewater samples and 70% in the lagoon wastewater samples. The results showed that between 1.6 and 4.5 mg-NL-1 DON (45–79% of initial DON) in the feedlot samples and between 3.4 and 7.5 mg-NL-1 DON (36%–79% of initial DON) in the lagoon samples were bioavailable with the inocula tested. These results suggest that when considering eutrophication potential of livestock wastewater, organic nitrogen should be included in addition to the obvious culprits, ammonia and nitrate.
Empirical Relationships Among Indices

In this chapter I present analyses that document various aspects of the empirical relationships among the segregation indices examined in this study. I document both situations where the indices consistently agree and also situations where they often disagree. I then offer observations on what may be learned from considering these two situations. In addition, I use portions of the chapter to review several practical issues researchers may want to consider when using the indices in empirical studies.
Geometric Defects and Icosahedral Viruses.

We propose that viruses with geometric defects are not necessarily flawed viruses. A geometric defect may be a reactive site. Defects may facilitate assembly, dissociation, or accessibility of cellular proteins to virion components. In single molecule studies of hepadnavirus assembly, defects and overgrowth are common features. Icosahedral alphaviruses and flaviviruses, among others, have capsids with geometric defects. Similarly, immature retroviruses, which are non-icosahedral, have numerous “errors”. In many viruses, asymmetric exposure of interior features allows for regulated genome release or supports intracellular trafficking. In these viruses, the defects likely serve a biological function. Commonly used approaches for spherical virus structure determination use symmetry averaging, which obscures defects. We suggest that there are three classes of asymmetry: regular asymmetry as might be found in a tailed phage, irregular asymmetry as found, for example, in defects randomly trapped during assembly, and dynamic asymmetry due to Brownian dynamics of virus capsids. Awareness of their presence and recent advances in electron microscopy will allow unprecedented investigation of capsid irregularities to investigate their biological relevance.
Lawyer and Social Worker as an Interdisciplinary Team

Certain areas of concern by their nature require expertise from both the legal and the social work professional. An interdisciplinary team of lawyer and social worker can serve clients effectively ...
Vocabulary Instruction at the College/Adult Levels: A Research Review

(1977). Vocabulary Instruction at the College/Adult Levels: A Research Review. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Western College Reading Association: Vol. 10, Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Conference of the WCRA. Personalizing Learning Systems: Ecologies and Strategies, pp. 19-29.
Stability and small Oscillations

Let \(\{\mathcal{M};d\mu \}\)be a mechanical system with N degrees of freedom, by the Lagrangian parameters \(({q}_{1},\ldots, {q}_{N})\). We will assume that \(\{\mathcal{M};d\mu \}\)is subject to fixed holonomic constraints satisfying the principle of virtual work and is acted upon by conservative forces.
Nail Issues in Diverse Populations

The nail unit is similar between ethnic groups, yet the greater number of activated and differentiated nail matrix melanocytes in darker skin types has important implications on nail appearance and pathogenesis of nail disorders. Longitudinal melanonychia (LM), the presence of a light brown to black linear streak within the nail plate, is more commonly observed in blacks, Asians, and Hispanics due to activation or proliferation of melanocytes within the distal nail matrix. Similarly, the relative frequency of nail apparatus melanoma (compared to other melanoma subtypes) is significantly higher in darker skin phototypes and the overall prognosis appears to be poorer than in whites. These conditions, in addition to other primary nail disorders, medication side effects, cultural practices, and environmental exposures that disproportionately affect certain ethnic groups, are important to consider when treating an increasingly multi-ethnic patient population.
High extracellular lactate increases reductive carboxylation in breast tissue cell lines grown under normoxic conditions

Abstract In cancer tumors, lactate accumulation was initially attributed to high glucose consumption associated with the Warburg Effect. Now it is evident that lactate can also serve as an energy source in cancer cell metabolism. Additionally, lactate has been shown to promote metastasis, generate gene expression patterns in cancer cells consistent with “cancer stem cell” phenotypes, and result in treatment resistant tumors. Therefore, the goal of this work was to quantify the impact of lactate on metabolism in three breast cell lines (one normal and two breast cancer cell lines – MCF 10A, MCF7, and MDA-MB-231), in order to better understand the role lactate may have in different disease cell types. Parallel labeling metabolic flux analysis (13C-MFA) was used to quantify the intracellular fluxes under normal and high extracellular lactate culture conditions. Additionally, high extracellular lactate cultures were labelled in parallel with [U-13C] lactate, which provided qualitative information regarding the lactate uptake and metabolism. The 13C-MFA model, which incorporated the measured extracellular fluxes and the parallel labeling mass isotopomer distributions (MIDs) for five glycolysis, four tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and three intracellular amino acid metabolites, predicted lower glycolysis fluxes in the high lactate cultures. All three cell lines experienced increased reductive carboxylation of glutamine to citrate in the TCA cycle as a result of high extracellular lactate. Increased reductive carboxylation previously has been observed under hypoxia and other mitochondrial stresses, whereas these cultures were grown aerobically. In addition, this is the first study to investigate the intracellular metabolic responses of different stages of breast cancer progression to high lactate exposure. These results provide insight into the role lactate accumulation has on metabolic reaction distributions in the different disease cell types while the cells are still proliferating in lactate concentrations that do not significantly decrease exponential growth rates.
Data Extraction from Charts via Single Deep Neural Network

Automatic data extraction from charts is challenging for two reasons: there exist many relations among objects in a chart, which is not a common consideration in general computer vision problems; and different types of charts may not be processed by the same model. To address these problems, we propose a framework of a single deep neural network, which consists of object detection, text recognition and object matching modules. The framework handles both bar and pie charts, and it may also be extended to other types of charts by slight revisions and by augmenting the training data. Our model performs successfully on 79.4% of test simulated bar charts and 88.0% of test simulated pie charts, while for charts outside of the training domain it degrades for 57.5% and 62.3%, respectively.
Incarnations of XXX $\widehat{\frak{sl}_N}$ Bethe ansatz equations and integrable hierarchies

We consider the space of solutions of the Bethe ansatz equations of the $\widehat{\frak{sl}_N}$ XXX quantum integrable model, associated with the trivial representation of $\widehat{\frak{sl}_N}$. We construct a family of commuting flows on this space and identify the flows with the flows of coherent rational Ruijesenaars-Schneider systems. For that we develop in full generality the spectral transform for the rational Ruijesenaars-Schneider system.
The Effect of Nitrogen Dosage Applications on Yield and Quality in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

In this study, the effect of nitrogen doses on yield and quality characteristics of durum wheat varieties (Levante, Zenit, Yelken 2000, Dumlupinar, Eminbey, Altin, C-1252, and Kiziltan-91) was investigated. The research was conducted in Isparta ecological conditions in 2010-2012 seasons using different nitrogen doses of 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg/da N. The experiments were carried out for two years using randomized complete block design with three replications in factorial arrangement. All of the phosphorus (6 kg/da P2O5) and half of the nitrogen were given with sowing and the other half of the nitrogen was given during the tillering period. As a result of two years in this study, it was determined that nitrogen doses have a significant effect on all examined characteristics (number of spikes per m2, grain yield, 1000 grain weight, test weight, vitreousness and crude protein ratio). But the effect of nitrogenous fertilization varied significantly according to the varieties. In general, increasing in the amount of nitrogen above 10 kg/ha did not create a statistically significant increase in other characteristics except 1000 grain weight. As a result when grain yield and quality characteristics are taken into consideration, 10 kg/da N dose and Cesit-1252, Altin, Kiziltan-91 and Dumlupinar varieties could be recommended in Isparta conditions.
Estimating parameters in a sea ice model using an ensemble Kalman filter

Abstract. Uncertain or inaccurate parameters in sea ice models influence seasonal predictions and climate change projections in terms of both mean and trend. We explore the feasibility and benefits of applying an Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) to estimate parameters in the Los Alamos sea ice model (CICE). Parameter estimation (PE) is applied to the highly influential dry snow grain radius and combined with state estimation in a series of perfect model observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs). Allowing the parameter to vary in space improves performance along the sea ice edge compared to requiring the parameter to be uniform everywhere. We compare experiments with both PE and state estimation to experiments with only the latter and found that the benefits of PE mostly occur after the DA period, when no observations are available to assimilate (i.e., the forecast period), which suggests PE’s relevance for improving seasonal predictions of Arctic sea ice.
Hospital Performance in the First 6 Years of Medicare's Value-Based Purchasing Program.

The Medicare value-based purchasing (VBP) program, ongoing since 2013, uses financial bonuses and penalties to incentivize hospital quality improvements. Previous research has identified characteri...
Evaluation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in drinking water originating from Lake Erie

Abstract This project evaluated pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) concentrations in drinking water originating from Lake Erie. Raw and treated water samples were collected from the local water treatment plant in Erie, Pennsylvania over a 10 month period. Along with grab samples, long-term samples were collected using Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS). The samples were analyzed for 17 PPCPs (acetaminophen, ampicillin, atrazine, bisphenol-A, caffeine, carbamazepine, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, digoxin, gemfibrozil, ibuprofen, metformin, naproxen, simazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfathiazole, trimethoprim) in raw and treated drinking water. For grab samples, six of the 17 PPCPs were found at detectable levels in raw or treated drinking water including atrazine, bisphenol-A, caffeine, ibuprofen, metformin, and simazine. Detectable PPCP levels in treated water samples were usually lower than those in raw water. For long-term samples, an additional four PPCPs (ten total) were found at detectable levels including gemfibrozil, naproxen, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim. Aqueous phase concentrations of PPCPs were estimated using sampling rates, deployment periods, and analytical results of POCIS samplers.
Genetic Variation in the Androgen Receptor Modifies the Association Between Testosterone and Vitality in Middle-Aged Men

Abstract Background Low vitality is a common symptom of testosterone deficiency; however, clinical trial results remain inconclusive regarding the responsiveness of this symptom to hormone replacement. Aim The aim of the present study was to determine if the relationship between circulating testosterone levels and vitality would be moderated by the CAG repeat length in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, which influences the receptor’s sensitivity to testosterone. Methods We examined 676 men in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging when they were, on average, 55.4 years old (SD = 2.5). Salivary testosterone levels were measured by using 3 samples collected at waking on 3 nonconsecutive days. The average testosterone level was classified as low, normal, or high based on 1-SD cutoffs. Analyses were conducted using multilevel, mixed linear models, which accounted for the nonindependence of the twin data, and adjusted for the effects of age, ethnicity, BMI, chronic health conditions, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality. Outcomes Vitality was measured using the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) vitality subscale. Results We observed a significant interaction between salivary testosterone and the AR-CAG repeat length. When the repeat length was short, men with low testosterone had significantly lower vitality. As the AR-CAG repeat length increased, the magnitude of the testosterone effect decreased. Clinical Translation The observed interaction between testosterone and variation in the AR gene suggests that men with more sensitive ARs, as indicated by a shorter AR-CAG repeat, are more likely to experience symptoms of age-related testosterone deficiency. Strengths & Limitations Strengths of the present study include our use of a large community-based sample, the use of multiple testosterone measurements, and the availability of a comprehensive set of covariates that may impact the association of interest. Limitations include the homogeneous nature of the sample with respect to ethnicity, the brevity of the 36-item Short Form vitality subscale, and our inability to establish change in testosterone levels because of the cross-sectional nature of data. Conclusions The association between testosterone and vitality appears to be clinically meaningful and is in part dependent on variation in the AR gene. Panizzon MS, Bree K, Hsieh T-C, et al. Genetic Variation in the Androgen Receptor Modifies the Association Between Testosterone and Vitality in Middle-Aged Men. J Sex Med 2020;17:2351–2361.
Analysis on impact of shared energy storage in residential community: Individual versus shared energy storage

Abstract Considering a scenario where residential consumers are equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels integrated with energy storage while shifting the portion of their electricity demand load in response to time-varying electricity price, i.e., demand response, this study is motivated to analyze the practical benefits of using shared energy storage in residential communities. The main objective of this study is to compare individual and shared energy storage operations economically (in terms of electricity cost) and operationally (in terms of energy storage use) with various parameter settings. We propose mathematical optimization models formulated to find optimal energy operations of individual and shared energy storage so that the best practices can be compared. Through the analysis of the optimal shared energy storage operations resulting from the mathematical optimization model, we intend to discover underlying patterns that can be used for developing efficient control policies tailored to shared energy storage use. We conduct numerical experiments using real historical data, and the results show that shared energy storage results in electricity cost saving with higher utilization compared to individual energy storage. Cost savings and energy storage utilization improvements up to 13.82% and 38.98%, respectively, exist when using shared energy storage instead of individual energy storage. We find that the maximum charging/discharging rate parameters have the most significant effect on individual and shared energy storage settings. We provide useful insights about how to assign residential consumers to shared energy storage and how to control changing and discharging shared energy storage by multiple consumers.
Characterization of the Immune Landscape of EGFR-Mutant NSCLC Identifies CD73/Adenosine Pathway as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Abstract Introduction Lung adenocarcinomas harboring EGFR mutations do not respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapy and their EGFR wildtype counterpart. The mechanisms underlying this lack of clinical response have been investigated but remain incompletely understood. Methods We analyzed three cohorts of resected lung adenocarcinomas (Profiling of Resistance Patterns of Oncogenic Signaling Pathways in Evaluation of Cancer of Thorax, Immune Genomic Profiling of NSCLC, and The Cancer Genome Atlas) and compared tumor immune microenvironment of EGFR-mutant tumors to EGFR wildtype tumors, to identify actionable regulators to target and potentially enhance the treatment response. Results EGFR-mutant NSCLC exhibited low programmed death-ligand 1, low tumor mutational burden, decreased number of cytotoxic T cells, and low T cell receptor clonality, consistent with an immune-inert phenotype, though T cell expansion ex vivo was preserved. In an analysis of 75 immune checkpoint genes, the top up-regulated genes in the EGFR-mutant tumors (NT5E and ADORA1) belonged to the CD73/adenosine pathway. Single-cell analysis revealed that the tumor cell population expressed CD73, both in the treatment-naive and resistant tumors. Using coculture systems with EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells, T regulatory cell proportion was decreased with CD73 knockdown. In an immune-competent mouse model of EGFR-mutant lung cancer, the CD73/adenosine pathway was markedly up-regulated and CD73 blockade significantly inhibited tumor growth. Conclusions Our work revealed that EGFR-mutant NSCLC has an immune-inert phenotype. We identified the CD73/adenosine pathway as a potential therapeutic target for EGFR-mutant NSCLC.
Digital Phenotype for Childhood Internalizing Disorders: Less Positive Play and Promise for a Brief Assessment Battery

Childhood internalizing disorders, like anxiety and depression, are common, impairing, and difficult to detect. Universal childhood mental health screening has been recommended, but new technologies are needed to provide objective detection. Instrumented mood induction tasks, designed to press children for specific behavioral responses, have emerged as means for detecting childhood internalizing psychopathology. In our previous work, we leveraged machine learning to identify digital phenotypes of childhood internalizing psychopathology from movement and voice data collected during negative valence tasks (pressing for anxiety and fear). In this work, we develop a digital phenotype for childhood internalizing disorders based on wearable inertial sensor data recorded from a Positive Valence task during which a child plays with bubbles. We find that a phenotype derived from features that capture reward responsiveness is able to accurately detect children with underlying internalizing psychopathology (AUC = 0.81). In so doing, we explore the impact of a variety of feature sets computed from wearable sensors deployed to two body locations on phenotype performance across two phases of the task. We further consider this novel digital phenotype in the context of our previous Negative Valence digital phenotypes and find that each task brings unique information to the problem of detecting childhood internalizing psychopathology, capturing different problems and disorder subtypes. Collectively, these results provide preliminary evidence for a mood induction task battery to develop a novel diagnostic for childhood internalizing disorders.
Protective effect of emodin pretreatment in young rats with intrahepatic cholestasis

Objective To investigate the protective effect of emodin in young rats with intrahepatic cholestasis. Methods A total of 120 young Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model, and high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups, with 24 rats in each group. The rats in the control and model groups were given sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution by gavage, while the other groups were given different doses of emodin solution by gavage. On the 5th day of experiment, alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate(ANIT, 50 mg/kg) was applied by gavage to establish the model of intrahepatic cholestasis in all groups except the control group. At 24, 48, and 72 hours after gavage, 8 rats in each group were sacrificed. Colorimetry was used to measure the serum levels of total bilirubin(TBIL), direct bilirubin(DBIL), total bile acid(TBA), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) in each group, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to observe the morphological changes of the liver under a light microscope at different time points. Results Compared with the control group, the model group had significantly increased serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, TBA, ALP, GGT, ALT, and AST at the 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour time points(P0.01). In the model group, the serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, TBA, ALT, and AST showed varying degrees of increase at 48 hours after establishment of model, compared with the values at 24 and 72 hours(P0.05). At 24, 48, and 72 hours, the high-, medium-, and low-doseemodin groups had varying degrees of reductions in the serum levels of TBIL and TBA compared with the model group(P0.05); the high- and low-dose emodin groups had significantly increased serum levels of TBA compared with the medium-dose emodin group(P0.05). The model group had the most severe pathological changes at 48 hours. Compared with the model group, the high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups showed certain improvement in pathological changes of the liver at each time point, and the medium-dose emodin group had better improvement compared with the high- and low-dose emodin groups. Conclusions Emodin can effectively improve ANIT-induced intrahepatic cholestasis in young rats, and medium-dose emodin shows the best effect.
Development and Implementation of Pediatric ICU-based Mobility Guidelines: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Critical illness results in physical impairments which may be mitigated by intensive care unit (ICU)-based early mobility. This initiative aimed to develop and implement ICU-based mobility guidelines for critically ill children. Methods A multidisciplinary team developed and implemented ICU-based mobility guidelines. Guideline implementation success was determined by comparing utilization of physical (PT) and occupational therapies (OT) and changes in functional status scale scores in preimplementation and postimplementation cohorts. The team also assessed barriers and adverse events. Results Thirty-four patients were identified preimplementation and 55 patients postimplementation. PT/OT consultation by 72 hours occurred in 44 (81.5%) of patients postimplementation compared to 6 (17%) preimplementation (P < 0.001). Implementation did not result in more ICU-based therapy sessions or shorter time to active therapies. High deferral rates for PT/OT sessions [PT: n = 72 (46.2%) preimplementation versus 112 (39.4%) postimplementation; OT: n = 71 (46.1%) preimplementation versus 134 (41.5%) postimplementation] occurred. No difference in new morbidity between cohorts was identified. Barriers to treatment included the patient's sedation status, severity of illness, and patient availability. Conclusions Implementation of ICU-based mobility guidelines resulted in a 4-fold increase in PT/OT consultation. They did not result in increased treatment sessions due to frequent deferrals. Future guidelines should focus on interventions to address identified barriers to treatment in a critically ill pediatric population.
Disruption of the circadian rhythms and its relationship with pediatric obesity.

The circadian clock system is an evolutionarily conserved system by which organisms adapt their metabolic activities to environmental inputs, including nutrient availability. The disruption of this system has been pathogenically linked to the disintegration of metabolic homeostasis, leading to the development of metabolic complications, including obesity. Lifestyle factors that disrupt this system have recently been emerging and associated with the development of obesity, which is most evidenced by the finding that shift workers are at an increased risk of developing various disorders, such as obesity and obesity-related complications. Lifestyle factors that contribute to a misalignment between the internal clock system and environmental rhythms have also been identified in the pediatric field. A short sleep duration and breakfast skipping are prevalent in children and there is mounting evidence that these lifestyle factors are associated with an increased risk of pediatric obesity; however, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated in detail. Our current understanding of the impact of lifestyle factors that cause a misalignment between the internal clock system and environmental rhythms on the development of pediatric obesity is summarized herein with a discussion of potential mechanistic insights.
A feasibility study of virtual group therapy to improve quality of life of cancer caregivers.

BACKGROUND Cancer caregiving can negatively impact the quality of life (QOL) of the caregiver. In-person interventions for improving coping skills have been shown to be effective in improving QOL for caregivers. OBJECTIVES This pilot project explored the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual group therapy intervention to improve short-term cancer caregiver QOL. METHODS Caregivers of cancer patients were enrolled in a structured multidisciplinary intervention of eight virtual group therapy sessions provided over four weeks between September 9, 2013 and November 17, 2014. Group sessions were led by trained facilitators and included components of physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychosocial education, cognitive-behavioral intervention, supportive discussion, spiritual reflection, and mindfulness therapy. Feasibility was based on acceptable number of recruited participants per session; acceptability was defined using attendance and 80% QOL completion rates. QOL domains and symptom burden were assessed using validated single items. RESULTS The 20 cancer caregivers who enrolled were mostly older (80% were ≥ 65 years), female (76.5%), married to the patient (88.2%), Caucasian (100%), and highly educated (100%). 60% attended one to five sessions, 15% attended six to eight sessions, and 25% attended no sessions. Thirty percent completed pre- and post- intervention ratings of QOL items. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Findings suggested that a virtual group therapy intervention is feasible for the cancer caregivers in this study. Although not statistically significant, the caregivers reported higher QOL and less symptom burden in multiple domains after participating in the virtual group therapy intervention.
Design and Fabrication of Forged Ti-6Al-4V Blocks with Synthetic Ti-N Inclusions for Estimation of Detectability by Ultrasonic Signal-To-Noise

In the work described subsequently, synthetic “hard alpha” inclusions have been fabricated within Ti-6A1-4V (Ti64) forgings. Several compositions of synthetic hard alpha were made by arc melting Ti sponge and TiN powder. Small solid cylinders of the titanium-nitrogen alloys were made by electro-discharge machining (e. d. m.) the arc-melted ingots to diameters of 0.031, 0.047, 0.062, and 0.078 inches, respectively, with heights equal to the respective diameter. Sets of eight or sixteen each identical cylinders were hot isostatic press (HIP) bonded within forged Ti64 blocks to yield uncracked inclusions with sharp interfaces with the Ti64 matrix. Detectability of the uncracked hard alpha was estimated as a function of flaw size, orientation, and nitrogen content from ultrasonic signal to noise ratios determined from C-Scan images of the blocks. Relationships of detectability to physical properties of hard alpha, and methodologies of signal to noise determinations are discussed.
Creating targeted double-stranded breaks in vitro and in vivo using RecA-dependent endonucleases P1 and φW39 Ref (552.1)

P1 bacteriophage recombination enhancement function (Ref) protein is an HNH class and RecA-dependent endonuclease. RecA-bound oligonucleotides homologous to a specific region on circular dsDNA will catalyze RecA strand-invasion, creating a displacement loop (D-loop). Upon Ref addition, double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are created within the D-loop. Thus, the Ref protein, in concert with RecA, is a programmable endonuclease. The closely related φW39 Ref protein exhibits increased RecA-dependent endonuclease activity compared to P1 Ref. P1 Ref protein missing the disordered 76 N-terminus residues is incapable of DNA binding and exhibits decreased nuclease activity, which indicates the importance of the N-terminal region for these functions. Characterization of N-terminal truncations based on charge distribution for φW39 Refs ΔN21, ΔN47, ΔN59, ΔN66, and ΔN74 revealed modulated activity for DSB formation and DNA binding. In addition to these in vitro studies, cells transformed with a plasmid containing P1 Ref an...
A field assessment of the value of steady shape hydraulic tomography for characterization of aquifer heterogeneities

[1] Hydraulic tomography is a promising approach for obtaining information on variations in hydraulic conductivity on the scale of relevance for contaminant transport investigations. This approach involves performing a series of pumping tests in a format similar to tomography. We present a field-scale assessment of hydraulic tomography in a porous aquifer, with an emphasis on the steady shape analysis methodology. The hydraulic conductivity (K) estimates from steady shape and transient analyses of the tomographic data compare well with those from a tracer test and direct-push permeameter tests, providing a field validation of the method. Zonations based on equal-thickness layers and cross-hole radar surveys are used to regularize the inverse problem. The results indicate that the radar surveys provide some useful information regarding the geometry of the K field. The steady shape analysis provides results similar to the transient analysis at a fraction of the computational burden. This study clearly demonstrates the advantages of hydraulic tomography over conventional pumping tests, which provide only large-scale averages, and small-scale hydraulic tests (e.g., slug tests), which cannot assess strata connectivity and may fail to sample the most important pathways or barriers to flow.
Chapter 20 Norms and the Law

Abstract Everyone realizes the importance of social norms as guides to behavior and substitutes for law, but coming up with a paradigm for analyzing norms has been surprisingly difficult, as has systematic empirical study. In this chapter we survey the topic.
Measles one more time.

Although measles vaccine has been licensed for more than a quarter of a century, we have failed to eradicate the disease. It appeared as though we might be approaching this goal in 1983 when only 1497 cases were reported. In 1989, however, we had approximately 17 000 cases. Prior to this there were a series of "miniepidemics" in 1971, 1976, and 1986, occurring at increasing intervals each with fewer cases than the previous one (Fig 1).1 The epidemic of 1989 was a clear departure from this pattern. One of the responses was to recommend a routine two-dose schedule of measles vaccine.
Long-term potentiation and activity-dependent retinotopic sharpening in the regenerating retinotectal projection of goldfish: common sensitive period and sensitivity to NMDA blockers.

The regenerating retinotectal projection in goldfish goes through an activity-driven refinement that appears to involve the elimination of inappropriate branches from early arbors. Retinotopically appropriate branches may be stabilized because the normally correlated firing of neighboring ganglion cells causes summation of their postsynaptic responses and increases their effectiveness by a Hebbian mechanism. In this study, I report that the regenerating projection has an increased capacity for long-term potentiation (LTP) that may be related to the activity-driven sharpening. In the normal projection, field potentials, reflecting currents from EPSPs elicited by optic nerve shock, are large (greater than 4 mV) and very stable. In newly regenerated projections, field potentials are initially small (less than 1 mV), but a train of 20 stimuli at 0.1 Hz results in a large (100–200%) increase in amplitude that is stable for at least 8 hr, and in 3 cases overnight. The capacity for potentiation is greatest from 20 to 40 d postcrush, the time just after arrival of the optic fibers, and during the period of retinotopic sharpening. A greater-than-normal capacity for potentiation persists for many months. Topical application of NMDA receptor blockers AP5 or AP7 at 25 microM prevents potentiation without decrementing ongoing responses. The closely related agent AP6, which is not an NMDA receptor blocker, does not prevent potentiation. In addition, infusion of the NMDA receptor blockers AP5 or AP7 into the tectal ventricle (4 microliters/d of 500 microM solution) for 2–3 weeks during regeneration prevented retinotopic sharpening, as assessed by electrophysiological mapping. At each tectal point, responsive areas in the visual field were enlarged to 28 degrees vs 11–12 degrees in control regenerates and normals. This was comparable to data from fish regenerating with activity blocked with intraocular tetrodotoxin or synchronized by stroboscopic illumination and indicates uncorrected errors in targeting of regenerated arbors (Schmidt, 1985). The results support the involvement of NMDA receptors in sharpening and suggest that the initial step in stabilizing appropriate branches may be a long- lasting increase in synaptic gain.
The Black Box Module for Low-Level Fluorescence Detection Targeting Optogenetic Studies

In optogenetics, genetic labeling by enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) indicates transfected neurons expressing light-gated channel proteins, Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and Halorhodopsin (NpHR) for millisecond timescale optical manipulation of neurons. However, poor spatial understanding of transfection relative to probing is responsible for blind stimulation in complex mammalian systems and necessitates histological analysis of brain tissue. Repeatable optogenetic studies on well-trained and valuable subjects are therefore impossible. We report here the Black Box Module as a novel fluorescence detection system targeting EYFP emission and used in conjunction with a co-axial waveguide “optrode.” Results of the Black Box Module’s fluorescence detection performance in a bench-top environment simulating EYFP fluorescence with rhodamine 6g are presented. We show the Box’s filtration system to be sensitive to the EYFP-like fluorescence of rhodamine and its concentration dependent emissions behaviors. We anticipate these results to be the initial foundation in integrating the Box into optogenetic studies as a tool for locating areas of ChR2 and NpHR transfection.
Organizations and Complexity: Searching for the Edge of Chaos

Traditional organizational theory advocates increased differentiation and horizontal integration for organizations in unstable environments or with uncertain technologies. This paper seeks to develop a better understanding of the relationship of group structure and the level of interdependency between individuals on group performance under various task complexities. Complexity theory in general, and NK models in particular, are introduced as theoretical frameworks that offer an explanation for group performance. Simulation models are developed, based on the communication network research of Bavelas (1948) and Leavitt (1952), to explore the effects of decentralization and interdependence. The simulation model developed here shows general consistency with previous human subject experiments. However, contrary to predictions, not all decentralized group structures perform well when undertaking complex task assignments. Structures that are highly connected (actors communicating with all others) perform much worse than those with a lower level of connection. Further experiments varying both the number of actors and the degree of interdependence between them find evidence of the “edge of chaos.” This research advances our understanding of organizations beyond earlier models by suggesting that there is an optimal range of interconnectedness between actors or tasks that explains the variation in performance. An intriguing result is that this optimal level of interdependence is fairly low, regardless of the size of the group.
A 105 dB SNR multibit /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ ADC for digital audio applications

A four-channel multibit /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for consumer audio applications is described. The converter uses a second order switched-capacitor modulator with a 4-bit quantizer and a noise-shaped scrambler for dynamic element matching. To achieve the target settling time with reduced power consumption, the opamps are dynamically compensated. A multi-stage decimation filter with adjustable front-end sine filter is used to produce the PCM output at a selectable sample rate of 48/96 kHz. The converter achieves an SNR and D-range of 105 dB (A-weighted), THD+N of -98 dB at 48 kHz sample rate. The circuit is implemented in 0.5 /spl mu/m DPTM CMOS, dissipating 90 mW per channels. The core die size is 1.6 mm/sup 2/ per channel.
Semiempirical model for the electrical properties of La 1 − x Ca x CoO 3

A semiempirical model of the Seebeck coefficient for a small polaron hopping conductor is presented. The population of small polarons is allowed to change as a function of temperature via the mechanism of charge disproportionation. The energy required for polaron formation by the disproportionation mechanism is modeled as screened by a Coulomb interaction with nearby small polarons. The charge carrier site occupancies generated by the model are used to successfully predict the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient for compositions in the ${\mathrm{La}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{CoO}}_{3}$ system. Cobalt ion valence populations predicted by the model are used to calculate effective paramagnetic moments for ${\mathrm{LaCoO}}_{3}$, which are favorably compared to those found experimentally.
Impact of changing land use practices on nitrate export by the Mississippi River

[1] The increased use of nitrogen fertilizer in the Mississippi River Basin since the 1950s has been blamed for declining water quality, the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and the growth of a seasonal hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. In this study, we use the IBIS terrestrial ecosystem model and the HYDRA aquatic transport model to examine how agricultural practices and climate influenced terrestrial and aquatic nitrogen cycling across the Mississippi Basin and the nitrate export to the Gulf. The modeling system accurately depicts the observed trends and interannual variability in nitrate export by the Mississippi River (r2 > 0.83), and several of the major tributaries, between 1960 and 1994. The challenge of simulating nitrate export from the central western sub-basins highlights the key role of processes like denitrification. The simulations demonstrate that three factors led to the doubling of nitrate export by the Mississippi River since 1960: (1) an increase in fertilizer application rates, particularly on maize; (2) an increase in runoff across the basin; and (3) the expansion of soybean cultivation. By the early 1990s, fertilized crops may have accounted for almost 90% of the nitrate leached to the river system, despite representing only 20% of the watershed area. The majority of the nitrate exported to the Gulf appears to originate from “hot spots,” including a stretch of the “Corn Belt” across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. The relative contribution of such heavily fertilized lands, particularly those in close proximity to higher order streams, can be even greater during wet years.
Pulsed light absorption induced quantum well intermixing on InGaAsP/InGaAsP MQW using 532 nm irradiation

Pulsed light absorption at 532 nm induces and achieves 45 nm blue-shifts of the bandgap but no shift at 1064 nm, when the maximal fluence is 125 mJ/cm/sup 2/.
A biomechanical evaluation of three drop wire configurations.

Objective Evaluate effect of adding drop wires to single-ring constructs. Study Design Biomechanical study Sample Population Single ring circular external skeletal fixator constructs stabilizing a Delrin segment bone model. Methods Eight replicates of 5 constructs made with 66 mm complete rings, 1.6 mm olive wires, and a 15.9-mm diameter Delrin rod were loaded in axial compression, craniocaudal and mediolateral bending, and torsion. Constructs tested were: (1) base single-ring construct; (2) single-ring construct with a drop wire mounted on fixation bolts; (3) single-ring construct with a drop wire mounted on 1-hole posts; (4) single-ring construct with a drop wire mounted on 2-hole posts; and (5) 2-ring construct. Construct stiffness for each mode of loading was compared using repeated measures ANOVAs (P ≤ .05). Results Axial compression and torsion: the 2-ring construct was stiffer than all others. Drop wire constructs were stiffer than the single-ring construct, but not significantly different from each other. Craniocaudal bending: the 2-ring construct was stiffest with the 2-hole post construct being stiffer than all except the 2-ring construct. Mediolateral bending: the 2-hole post construct was stiffer than the 2-ring construct, which was stiffer than the 1-hole post construct, which was stiffer than the fixation-bolt construct, which was stiffer than the single-ring construct. Conclusions Drop wires improved stiffness of single-ring constructs in all loading modalities. Positioning the drop wire farther from the ring surface significantly improved craniocaudal and mediolateral bending stiffness, but did not affect axial compression and torsional stiffness.
Legal Commitments and Religious Commitments

Person, individual, purpose, value, authority: Can these be realities for law without making a commitment to law into a religious commitment? Can the affinities between the world of law and the world of religious life be as close as they are without leading one to conclude, empirically or introspectively, that these dimensions of experience are the same? In a comment on Steven Smith's Law's Quandary, this essay suggests law has an ontology of its own. As Smith argues, the language of everyday life does not fully reach what is real for law, and law's ontology is clearly not limited to the ontology of science and mathematics. But we can think law need not live in an "ontological gap" unless absorbed into religious life. What is real for law is connected to what is real in religious life, but a commitment to law and a religious commitment are not the same. As dimensions of human experience, law and religious life may be not separate but nonetheless not the same.
Polarization of Atomic Radiation Excited by Electron Impact at Threshold

Polarization of He atomic radiation excited by electron impact at threshold energy, discussing deviations from theory