cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation and Retention: A Magnetic Resonance Probe for the Detection of Acute Thrombosis

Blood-clot formation that results in the complete occlusion of a blood vessel (thrombosis) often leads to serious life-threatening events, such as strokes and heart attacks. As the composition of a thrombus changes as it matures, new imaging methods that are capable of distinguishing new clots from old clots may yield important diagnostic and prognostic information. To address this need, an activatable magnetic resonance (MR) probe that is responsive to a key biochemical process associated with recently formed clots has been developed.
Skill assessments of first electronics course

Industries are demanding that engineering graduates must have certain skills. The author discusses his experience in teaching an electronics course whose outcomes are expected to develop some of desirable skills. Both the instructor and the students independently assess the learning experience of the course and rate the level of skill achievements. The results of these assessments are analyzed and presented.
A Biomechanical Analysis of Rotator Cuff Deficiency in a Cadaveric Model

We conducted this cadaveric study to define a biomechanical rationale for rotator cuff function in several deficiency states. A dynamic shoulder testing apparatus was used to examine change in middle deltoid muscle force and humeral translation associated with simulated rotator cuff tendon paralyses and various sizes of rotator cuff tears. Supraspinatus paralysis resulted in a significant increase (101%) in the middle deltoid force required to initiate abduction. This increase diminished to only 12% for full glenohumeral abduction. The glenohumeral joint maintained ball-and-socket kinematics during glenohumeral abduction in the scapular plane with an intact rotator cuff. No significant alterations in humeral translation occurred with a simulated supraspinatus paralysis, nor with 1-, 3-, and 5-cm rotator cuff tears, provided the infraspinatus tendon was functional. Global tears resulted in an inability to elevate beyond 25 degrees of glenohumeral abduction despite a threefold increase in middle deltoid force. These results validated the importance of the supraspinatus tendon during the initiation of abduction. Glenohumeral joint motion was not affected when the "transverse force couple" (subscapularis, infraspinatus, and teres minor tendons) remained intact. Significant changes in glenohumeral joint motion occurred only if paralysis or anatomic deficiency violated this force couple. Finally, this model confirmed that rotator cuff disease treatment must address function in addition to anatomy.
Selection and socialization effects of fraternities and sororities on US college student substance use: a multi-cohort national longitudinal study.

Aims To examine how membership in fraternities and sororities relates to the prevalence and patterns of substance use in a national sample of full-time US college students. Design Nationally representative probability samples of US high school seniors (modal age 18 years) were followed longitudinally across two follow-up waves during college (modal ages 19/20 and 21/22). Setting Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires from US high school seniors and college students. Participants The longitudinal sample consisted of 10 cohorts (senior years of 1988‐97) made up of 5883 full-time undergraduate students, of whom 58% were women and 17% were active members of fraternities or sororities. Findings Active members of fraternities and sororities had higher levels of heavy episodic drinking, annual marijuana use and current cigarette smoking than non-members at all three waves. Although members of fraternities reported higher levels than non-members of annual illicit drug use other than marijuana, no such differences existed between sorority members and nonmembers. Heavy episodic drinking and annual marijuana use increased significantly with age among members of fraternities or sororities relative to non-members, but there were no such differential changes for current cigarette use or annual illicit drug use other than marijuana. Conclusions The present study provides strong evidence that higher rates of substance use among US college students who join fraternities and sororities predate their college attendance, and that membership in a fraternity or sorority is associated with considerably greater than average increases in heavy episodic drinking and annual marijuana use during college. These findings have important implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed toward college students, especially members of fraternities and sororities.
Spectral energy transfer in high Reynolds number turbulence

The spectral energy transfer of turbulent velocity fields has been examined over a wide range of Reynolds numbers by experimental and empirical methods. Measurements in a high Reynolds number grid flow were used to calculate the energy transfer by the direct Fourier-transform method of Yeh & Van Atta. Measurements in a free jet were used to calculate energy transfer for a still higher Reynolds number. An empirical energy spectrum was used in conjunction with a local self-preservation approximation to estimate the energy transfer at Reynolds numbers beyond presently achievable experimental conditions.Second-order spectra of the grid measurements are in excellent agreement with local isotropy down to low wavenumbers. For the first time, one-dimensional third-order spectra were used to test for local isotropy, and modest agreement with the theoretical conditions was observed over the range of wavenumbers which appear isotropic according to second-order criteria. Three-dimensional forms of the measured spectra were calculated, and the directly measured energy transfer was compared with the indirectly measured transfer using a local self-preservation model for energy decay. The good agreement between the direct and indirect measurements of energy transfer provides additional support for both the assumption of local isotropy and the assumption of self-preservation in high Reynolds number grid turbulence.An empirical spectrum was constructed from analytical spectral forms of von Karman and Pao and used to extrapolate energy transfer measurements at lower Reynolds number to Rλ = 105 with the assumption of local self preservation. The transfer spectrum at this Reynolds number has no wavenumber region of zero net spectral transfer despite three decades of range of the empirical energy spectrum.
A first-principles investigation of the effect of Pt cluster size on CO and NO oxidation intermediates and energetics.

As catalysis research strives toward designing structurally and functionally well-defined catalytic centers containing as few active metal atoms as possible, the importance of understanding the reactivity of small metal clusters, and in particular of systematic comparisons of reaction types and cluster sizes, has grown concomitantly. Here we report density functional theory calculations (GGA-PW91) that probe the relationship between particle size, intermediate structures, and energetics of CO and NO oxidation by molecular and atomic oxygen on Ptx clusters (x = 1–5 and 10). The preferred structures, charge distributions, vibrational spectra, and energetics are systematically examined for oxygen (O2, 2O, and O), CO, CO2, NO, and NO2, for CO/NO co-adsorbed with O2, 2O, and O, and for CO2/NO2 co-adsorbed with O. The binding energies of oxygen, CO, NO, and of the oxidation products CO2 and NO2 are all markedly enhanced on Ptx compared to Pt(111), and they trend toward the Pt(111) levels as cluster size increases. Because of the strong interaction of both the reactants and products with the Ptx clusters, deep energy sinks develop on the potential energy surfaces of the respective oxidation processes, indicating worse reaction energetics than on Pt(111). Thus the smallest Pt clusters are less effective for catalyzing CO and NO oxidation in their original state than bulk Pt. Our results further suggests that oxidation by molecular O2 is thermodynamically more favourable than by atomic O on Ptx. Conditions and applications in which the Ptx clusters may be effective catalysts are discussed.
National Surveillance of Kawasaki Disease

Information about 261 cases of Kawasaki disease (KD) was reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) between July 1976 and July 1978. KD occurred at all times of the year in young, previously healthy children throughout the United States. KD was more common in infants and toddlers, males, and Asian and part-Asian children. The illness was characterized by acute onset of prolonged high fever; maculopapular or scarlatiniform rash; adenopathy; injection of the conjunctival and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract; redness of the palms and soles; indurative edema of the extremities; desquamation, arthralgias; and elevated white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and platelet count. Complications included gallbladder disease and carditis; 2.8% died. Surviving patients were hospitalized for a mean of 8.9 days.
Opioid receptor activation attenuates nicotinic enhancement of spontaneous GABA release in lateral spiriform nucleus of the chick

Abstract We examined the effects of opioids on the nicotinic enhancement of spontaneous GABA release from presynaptic terminals in the lateral spiriform nucleus (SpL) of the chick. Whole cell recordings from SpL neurons in brain slices were used to monitor spontaneous GABA release. Nicotine (1 μM) produced an 8-fold increase in the frequency of GABA events without changing their amplitude, consistent with an increase of GABA release from presynaptic terminals. l -enkephalin (1 μM) blocked these effects of nicotine on presynaptic GABA release, and the opioid antagonist naloxone (100 nM) antagonized the actions of l -enkephalin. The selective mu agonist DAMGO (300 nM) also attenuated the nicotine-mediated enhancement of GABA release, and the mu selective antagonist CTOP (1 μM) blocked the actions of DAMGO. In contrast, the kappa opioid agonist U50488 (3 μM) and the delta opioid agonist DPDPE (1 μM) had no effect. The results demonstrate that presynaptic release of GABA in the SpL can be regulated by both nicotinic agonists and mu opioids. While mu opioids have little effect on GABA release by themselves, they are able to block the marked enhancement of GABA release normally produced by nicotine. Since both cholinergic and enkephalinergic nerves are present in the SpL, the interactions of these two neurotransmitter systems may serve to precisely regulate GABA release in this brain region.
Comment on “The Predictive Capacity of Personal Genome Sequencing”

Contrary to the impression given by Roberts et al . and its coverage in the media, the notion that genetic information cannot with certainty predict disease in an individual is well known, but its precision will improve as more kinds of genetic variability can be ascertained.
The genetic code as expressed through relationships between mRNA structure and protein function

Structured RNA elements within messenger RNA often direct or modulate the cellular production of active proteins. As reviewed here, RNA structures have been discovered that govern nearly every step in protein production: mRNA production and stability; translation initiation, elongation, and termination; protein folding; and cellular localization. Regulatory RNA elements are common within RNAs from every domain of life. This growing body of RNA-mediated mechanisms continues to reveal new ways in which mRNA structure regulates translation. We integrate examples from several different classes of RNA structure-mediated regulation to present a global perspective that suggests that the secondary and tertiary structure of RNA ultimately constitutes an additional level of the genetic code that both guides and regulates protein biosynthesis.
Histological characteristics of radical prostatectomy specimens in men with a serum prostate specific antigen of 4 ng./ml. or less

AbstractPurpose: Of most reported radical prostatectomy series 20 percent consist of men with a serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) of 4.0 ng./ml. or less. Since our series is not only prospective but all prostates are reconstructed at 3 mm. intervals, we determined the clinical and histological findings in this important subset of men undergoing radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods: Of 911 consecutive men undergoing radical prostatectomy 187 (21 percent) had a preoperative serum PSA of 4.0 ng./ml. or less (values equivalent to those of the Hybritech Tandem-R assay).Results: Mean tumor volume was 2.3 cc. Of the 187 cancers 156 (83 percent) were in the peripheral zone and 31 (17 percent) in the transition zone, while 137 (73 percent) were organ-confined and 50 (27 percent) showed capsular penetration. No patient had positive pelvic lymph nodes, only 5 had seminal vesicle invasion and positive surgical margins were present in 14 percent. Cancer volumes less than 0.5 cc were noted in 9 percent of th...
Molecular Mechanism and Cellular Distribution of Insect Circadian Clocks

Circadian clocks are endogenous timing mechanisms that control molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral rhythms in all organisms from unicellulars to humans. Circadian rhythms influence many aspects of insect biology, finetuning life functions to the light and temperature cycles associated with the solar day. Genetic studies in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster have led to the cloning and characterization of several genes involved in the mechanism of the circadian clock. Periodic transcription and translation of these clock genes form the basis of a molecular feedback loop that has a "circa" 24-hour period. Rhythmic expression of clock genes in specific brain neurons appears to control behavioral rhythms in adult flies. However, clock genes are also expressed in other tissues, both within and outside of the nervous system. These observations prompted chronobiologists to investigate whether nonneural tissues possess intrinsic circadian clocks, what role they may be playing, and what the relationships are between clocks in the nervous system and those in peripheral tissues. Answers to those questions are providing important insights into the overall organization of the circadian system in insects.
Electronic broker impacts on the value of postponement

Global and electronic markets are increasingly forcing manufacturing enterprises to become more competitive. As a result, many manufacturing enterprises are seeking to manage their supply chains more effectively. Product differentiation timing is one important factor in supply chain management. Under an early product differentiation process, finished products are manufactured and stored in a distribution center until delivery. Under a delayed product differentiation process, partially completed product components are manufactured and stored in a distribution center; later, based on demand information, finished products are completed from the product components. The difference in value between early product differentiation and delayed product differentiation is the value of postponement. Prior research has analytically shown that the value of postponement is affected by information precision in demand forecasts. We investigate whether adding a market-making electronic broker to a supply chain increases the value of postponement. We hypothesize that it may do so by providing greater accuracy in demand forecasting. We test this relationship by comparing the results of several agent-based simulations that vary between early and late differentiation strategies and the use of an electronic broker.
Postprandial lipemia in subjects with hypobetalipoproteinemia and a single intestinal allele for apoB-48

Hypobetalipoproteinemia in many kindreds is as- sociated with truncated forms of apoB-100. Mutations of the apoB gene specifying more than 20 different carboxyl terminal truncations of apoB have been identified ranging in length from apoB-2 to apoB-89. Truncations longer than apoB-48 appear to be secreted only by liver, while truncations shorter than apoB-48 are secreted by liver as well as intestine. Thus, intestines of sub- jects heterozygous for truncations > apoB-48 contain two alleles producing apoB-48, while intestines of heterozygotes with truncations 48. Ten subjects heterozygous for apoB > 48 (apoBs -89, -75, -54, -52), six heterozygous for apoB 48 vs. 372 f 155 for apoB<48) versus controls (1162 + 441), but were not different when corrected for differences in LDL-C. Plasma vitamin A levels (uncorrected) were not different. Meal responses were characterized in terms of peak concentrations and areas under the curves (after subtraction of minimum points). These in- dices of fat absorption were comparable in ail apoB phenotype groups suggesting that one allele specifying the intestinal production of apoB-48 is sufficient for normal fat absorption. -Averna, M., R. L. Seip, K. Mankowitz, andG. Schonfeld. Postprandial lipemia in subjects with hypobetalipoproteinemia and a single intestinal allele for apoB-48. J. Lipid Res. 1993. 34: 1957-1967.
Dynamic Patterns and Self-Knotting of a Driven Hanging Chain

When shaken vertically, a hanging chain displays a startling variety of distinct behaviors. We find experimentally that instabilities occur in tonguelike bands of parameter space, to swinging or rotating pendular motion, or to chaotic states. Mathematically, the dynamics are described by a nonlinear wave equation. A linear stability analysis predicts instabilities within the well-known resonance tongues; their boundaries agree very well with experiment. Full simulations of the 3D dynamics reproduce and elucidate many aspects of the experiment. The chain is also observed to tie knots in itself, some quite complex. This is beyond the reach of the current analysis and simulations.
NanoOK: multi-reference alignment analysis of nanopore sequencing data, quality and error profiles

Motivation: The Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencer, currently in pre-release testing through the MinION Access Programme (MAP), promises long reads in real-time from an inexpensive, compact, USB device. Tools have been released to extract FASTA/Q from the MinION base calling output and to provide basic yield statistics. However, no single tool yet exists to provide comprehensive alignment-based quality control and error profile analysis—something that is extremely important given the speed with which the platform is evolving. Results: NanoOK generates detailed tabular and graphical output plus an in-depth multi-page PDF report including error profile, quality and yield data. NanoOK is multi-reference, enabling detailed analysis of metagenomic or multiplexed samples. Four popular Nanopore aligners are supported and it is easily extensible to include others. Availability and implementation: NanoOK is an open-source software, implemented in Java with supporting R scripts. It has been tested on Linux and Mac OS X and can be downloaded from https://github.com/TGAC/NanoOK. A VirtualBox VM containing all dependencies and the DH10B read set used in this article is available from http://opendata.tgac.ac.uk/nanook/. A Docker image is also available from Docker Hub—see program documentation https://documentation.tgac.ac.uk/display/NANOOK. Contact: ku.ca.cagt@tteggel.drahcir Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Spinoza on Lying and Suicide

Spinoza is often taken to claim that suicide is never a rational act, that a ‘free’ person acting by the guidance of reason will never terminate his/her own existence. Spinoza also defends the prima facie counterintuitive claim that the rational person will never act dishonestly. This second claim can, in fact, be justified when Spinoza's moral psychology and account of motivation are properly understood. Moreover, making sense of the free man's exception-less honesty in this way also helps to clarify how Spinoza should, and indeed does, recognize the possibility of rational suicide.
Broadening Our Scope: International Collaboration for Retooling the Academic Library

The internationalization of higher education and the continuing expansion of technology as a means for learning and sharing information have radically changed the way in which academic libraries offer services and perform outreach. Retooling is essential to maintaining a vibrant and responsive workforce. Continual innovation on the part of training and development professionals is required to manage the expansion of relevant competencies. Through analysis of the current literature and using the results of an exploratory study, which engaged library associations globally, the author demonstrates the need and desire for increased international dialog and collaboration in the area of professional development.
Analysis on Polluting Situation of Causative Vibrio in External Environmental Water and Sea Products in Nanjing Area from 2011

Objective:To understand contamination status of external environmental water and sea products in Nanjing,prevention and treatment of food poisoning.Method:External environmental water and sea products samples were collected,samples were proliferated in alkaline liquid mediam, and purified in Gentamycin Agar,Thiosulfate-Citrate-Bile-Sucrose agar and chromager vibrio colored agar,The virulence gene and phenotype of the isolated strains were detected by coagulation with diagnostic serum and multi-fluorescent PCR.Result:2011 In Nanjing,collection a total of 151 environmental water and sea products,with 38 strains of eight kinds of causative vibrio isolated,the rates of isolation of V.chelera,V.parahaemolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila,V.alginalyticus,Aeromonas mild,V.vulnicus,V.metschnikovi,Plesiomonas shigelloides were 7.28%,5.83%,4.64%,3.33%, 3.31%,1.67%,0.83% and 0.83%,respecvtively.The vibrio cholera were Non-01 Non-0139 vibrio cholera and not carry cholera toxin.Conclusion:In 2011,sea products from Non-01 Non-0139 vibrio cholera polluted more serious,Secondly,Vibrio parahaemolyticus、Vibrio vulnificus etc,in external water,aeromonas hydrophila relatively serious,must to strengthen the monitoring and disease prevention of environmental water and aquatic products.
Further Applications to Problems in Living

I fought all day to forget it was an Olympic Games. When I thought about the Olympics and trying to win the gold, it was just overwhelming. I tried to convince myself, “This is just another decathlon. Just get through it and you'll be fine.” (Dan O'Brien, 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon) Perhaps that is why desire causes men calamity. By identifying with our desires and taking them too seriously … we actually create a climate inhospitable to the free and easy fulfillment of those desires. (Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume ) I've failed over, and over, and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. (Michael Jordan, for Nike) The preceding pair of chapters introduced some concepts that haven't been widely discussed by personality and social psychologists until recently. Our goal there was to indicate how these ideas complement and supplement those presented earlier in the book. We continue to examine them in this chapter, but now in relation to behavioral problems. Just as the earlier ideas had implications for understanding problems (Chapters 12 and 13), so do the newer ones. In this chapter we explore implications of dynamic systems and catastrophe theories for problems and their alleviation. CATASTROPHES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS In Chapter 15 we described the cusp catastrophe as a construct that's applicable to several aspects of human experience. It also appears to be helpful in conceptualizing certain kinds of problems.
Empirical Models: Dimensionless Analytical Solutions

Dimensionless analytical solutions for three types of dam breach sections, namely, rectangular, triangular and trapezoidal, are presented. Both linear and nonlinear formulations are considered. Throughout the analysis, the reservoir surface area, A s , is assumed to remain constant. Also, the value of the exponent β in Equation (5.10) of Chapter 5 is taken as 0.5.
The Impact of Peer Mentoring on Marketing Content Mastery

This article describes and assesses a course design that uses peer mentors to facilitate a collaborative, hands-on learning experience in an introductory marketing course. Results demonstrate that peer mentoring increased content mastery and had a positive effect on students’ perceptions of the learning experience. Peer marketing mentors, along with the faculty team, achieved success in providing a demanding and engaging learning environment that meets the needs of learners and equips them with content knowledge required of career-ready professionals. A step-by-step guide is provided to enable others to develop a similar experience for students in their institutions.
An Outsider’s Inside View of the Iowa Caucuses

Every four years the state of Iowa leads off the presidential primary season by voting in its famed First in the Nation caucuses. And every four years academics, journalists, and citizens question whether Iowa is a suitable candidate to start the primary season. As a lifelong New Jerseyan, I joined this opposition view, and favored a different system—whether regional primaries, a rotating first state, or, well, anything else. Then, just three years ago I moved from New Jersey to Iowa, providing me an inside view of the state’s role in the nominating process and forcing me to see the caucuses in a new light. What I have seen, and will discuss here, are my reasons for changing my mind.
Treehouse Dreams: A Game-Based Method for Eliciting Interview Data from Children

Treehouse Dreams is a card game that can simultaneously function as an ice breaker for children engaged in group activities, and as a research tool for interviewing children. The game, which asks players to collectively imagine a fantasy treehouse, incorporates game design techniques that encourage openness and sharing. The game is also easily customizable for a variety of research agendas. We describe a case study across two different lab environments, in which Treehouse Dreams was effectively used both to introduce young participants to the study environment and to draw out relevant information for research.
Performance Evaluation of Fast Frequency Hopping Type CDMA Mobile Radio Communication Schemes

Performance evaluation is made of Fast Frequency Hopping (FFH) type Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile radio communication schemes subjected to Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN), urban/suburban multipath, multiple access interference, and near-far effects commonly encountered in ground mobile radio environment. It is commonly believed that the FFH type CDMA schemes are generally superior to the direct-sequence type CDMA schemes in combatting the near-far effects. This belief stems from approximate analyses that ignored the effects of the spectral spillover of the signals into adjacent channels, which suggests that it is possible to minimize these effects by designing the frequency-hopping patterns in such a way that the number of frequency hops over which any two user's signals hop to the same frequencies at the same time are minimized. It is shown here that there is no such advantage if the spectral spillover effects of signals into the adjacent channels are accounted for in the analysis. It is further shown that, while spectral shaping of the signals improves the performance of the FFH type CDMA schemes, such improvement is not as significant when the spectral spillover effects are included in the analysis. The performance of random hopping patterns is compared with that of hopping patterns based on the Reed-Solomon Codes as well as with that of random direct-sequence codes under various fading conditions.
Group Work That Examines Systems of Power With Young People: Youth Participatory Action Research

Youth-led group work shifts power dynamics and repositions youth as leaders in driving the learning they envision for themselves. This shift calls into question how group facilitators measure outcomes of youth empowerment groups. Youth participatory action research (YPAR) has expanded the field of knowledge production by creating shared spaces where youth participants co-create research agendas and processes that are guided by their lived experiences and expertise, and generate data-driven action to address social problems. We propose applications of YPAR as both an emancipatory epistemology and methodology to inform group work research.
Radiation-free CMR diagnostic heart catheterization in children

Children with heart disease may require repeated X-Ray cardiac catheterization procedures, are more radiosensitive, and more likely to survive to experience oncologic risks of medical radiation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is radiation-free and offers information about structure, function, and perfusion but not hemodynamics. We intend to perform complete radiation-free diagnostic right heart catheterization entirely using CMR fluoroscopy guidance in an unselected cohort of pediatric patients; we report the feasibility and safety. We performed 50 CMR fluoroscopy guided comprehensive transfemoral right heart catheterizations in 39 pediatric (12.7 ± 4.7 years) subjects referred for clinically indicated cardiac catheterization. CMR guided catheterizations were assessed by completion (success/failure), procedure time, and safety events (catheterization, anesthesia). Pre and post CMR body temperature was recorded. Concurrent invasive hemodynamic and diagnostic CMR data were collected. During a twenty-two month period (3/2015 – 12/2016), enrolled subjects had the following clinical indications: post-heart transplant 33%, shunt 28%, pulmonary hypertension 18%, cardiomyopathy 15%, valvular heart disease 3%, and other 3%. Radiation-free CMR guided right heart catheterization attempts were all successful using passive catheters. In two subjects with septal defects, right and left heart catheterization were performed. There were no complications. One subject had six such procedures. Most subjects (51%) had undergone multiple (5.5 ± 5) previous X-Ray cardiac catheterizations. Retained thoracic surgical or transcatheter implants (36%) did not preclude successful CMR fluoroscopy heart catheterization. During the procedure, two subjects were receiving vasopressor infusions at baseline because of poor cardiac function, and in ten procedures, multiple hemodynamic conditions were tested. Comprehensive CMR fluoroscopy guided right heart catheterization was feasible and safe in this small cohort of pediatric subjects. This includes subjects with previous metallic implants, those requiring continuous vasopressor medication infusions, and those requiring pharmacologic provocation. Children requiring multiple, serial X-Ray cardiac catheterizations may benefit most from radiation sparing. This is a step toward wholly CMR guided diagnostic (right and left heart) cardiac catheterization and future CMR guided cardiac intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02739087 registered February 17, 2016
A Reconsideration of William Dugger’s Analysis of Power

In 1980, William Dugger published an article entitled “Power: An Institutional Framework of Analysis.” In doing so, he was following a long tradition in social and institutional economic analysis. ...
Lead Desorption and Remobilization Potential by Colloid Particles in Contaminated Sites

The utilization of coal combustion byproducts (CCB) alone or in conjunction with other wastes as soil amendments has steadily increased during the last few years. In spite of their beneficial contributions, these amendments, if not monitored, pose a considerable environmental risk because; of their high heavy metal concentrations. Lead is one of several toxic metals found in CCB in relatively high quantities. Although Pb has shown substantial attenuation by the soil matrix, it has also exhibited great sorption affinity and transportability in association with colloidal particles. This study investigated the potential of water-dispersible colloids to desorb Pb from contaminated soil particle surfaces and co-transport it to groundwater. The study employed intact soil monoliths contaminated by Pb, which were flushed with colloid suspensions of different mineralogical composition and deionized water (d-H2O) used as a control. The soil monoliths represented upper solum horizons of an Alfisol and a Mollisol with contrasting macroporosity and organic carbon content. The soil colloids were fractionated from low ionic strength Bt horizons of Alfisols with montmorillonitic, mixed, and illitic mineralogy and variable physicochemical and surface charge properties. The results indicated a sharp decrease, to near zero, of Pb desorbed by deionized water-flushing solutions after 3 pore volumes of leaching, but a continuous desorption and transport of Pb in the presence of colloids. The colloid-induced desorption and remobilization of Pb was in the range of 10-60% of the initial eluent Pb concentration. Colloids with high surface charge (montmorillonitic) and small size diameter showed a greater Pb desorption and transport potential, but the amount of remobilized Pb was the result of contributions by both ion exchange and physical exclusion processes. These findings have important ramifications on assessing and predicting contamination risks and developing remediation strategies.
Clinical Experience With Topotecan

Topotecan (Hycamtin, GlaxoSmithKline) is a water-soluble semisynthetic derivative of camptothecin (CPT), an alkaloid extracted from the stem wood of the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata (1). As a result of its anticancer activity and favorable toxicity profile, in 1996, topotecan was approved for use in the United States as an antitumor agent in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. In 1998, it was approved as a second-line treatment for patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Clinical trials have also assessed its activity in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome, pancreatic, head and neck, myeloma, prostate, renal cell, melanoma, gliomal, uterine, cervical, hepatocellular, gastric, and breast cancers. Numerous ongoing trials are evaluating the role of topotecan in combination chemotherapy. The current dosing regimen approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a 30-minute intravenous (iv) infusion of 1.5 mg/m2 daily for 5 days, which is repeated every 3 weeks. Topotecan is available as a parenteral preparation and is supplied in vials containing 4 mg, which is reconstituted in 4 mL sterile water. The resulting 1 mg/mL solution is further diluted with a 5% dextrose or 0.9% saline solution before injection.
Effectiveness of Acidic Calcium Sulfate with Propionic and Lactic Acid and Lactates as Postprocessing Dipping Solutions To Control Listeria monocytogenes on Frankfurters with or without Potassium Lactate and Stored Vacuum Packaged at 4.5°C

The safety of ready-to-eat meat products such as frankfurters can be enhanced by treating with approved antimicrobial substances to control the growth of Listeria monocytogenes. We evaluated the effectiveness of acidic calcium sulfate with propionic and lactic acid, potassium lactate, or lactic acid postprocessing dipping solutions to control L. monocytogenes inoculated (ca. 10(8) CFU/ml) onto the surface of frankfurters with or without potassium lactate and stored in vacuum packages at 4.5 degrees C for up to 12 weeks. Two frankfurter formulations were manufactured without (control) or with potassium lactate (KL, 3.3% of a 60% [wt/wt] commercially available syrup). After cooking, chilling, and peeling, each batch was divided into inoculated (four strains of L. monocytogenes mixture) and noninoculated groups. Each group was treated with four different dips: (i) control (saline solution), (ii) acidic calcium sulfate with propionic and lactic acid (ACS, 1:2 water), (iii) KL, or (iv) lactic acid (LA, 3.4% of a 88% [wt/wt] commercially available syrup) for 30 s. Noninoculated frankfurters were periodically analyzed for pH, water activity, residual nitrite, and aerobic plate counts (APCs), and L. monocytogenes counts (modified Oxford medium) were determined on inoculated samples. Surface APC counts remained at or near the lower limit of detection (<2 log CFU per frank) on franks with or without KL and treated with ACS or LA throughout 12 weeks at 4.5 degrees C. L. monoctogenes counts remained at the minimum level of detection on all franks treated with the ACS dip, which indicated a residual bactericidal effect when L. monocytogenes populations were monitored over 12 weeks. L. monocytogenes numbers were also reduced, but not to the same degree in franks made without or with KL and treated with LA. These results revealed the effectiveness of ACS (bactericidal effect) or LA (bacteriostatic effect) as postprocessing dipping solutions to inhibit or control the growth of L. monocytogenes on vacuum-packaged frankfurters stored at 4.5 degrees C for up to 12 weeks.
Effect of cooling rate on the calcium halophosphate luminescence

The rate of cooling alters the luminescent properties (absorption, spectral emission and emission intensity) of halophosphate phosphors in characteristic and reversible manner. The Mn emission changes in both position and intensity, the Sb emission only in intensity, and the changes of both are dependent upon the nature of the halide. Interpretation of x-ray diffraction patterns, together with the luminescence results, leads to conclusions regarding the probable position of the halide, Mn and Sb atoms in the lattice.
Preparation for Prostate Biopsy

Although a very routine procedure, transrectal ultrasound biopsy lacks accepted guidelines for technique and patient preparation. This chapter explains the preparation protocol at the University of Miami, including the administration of prophylactic antibiotics, the lack of necessity for the use of enemas, and the need for obtaining a detailed consent describing the procedure and possible complications. All patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound biopsy receive periprostatic lidocaine injection to minimize discomfort during the procedure.
Deficiency in hormone-sensitive lipase accelerates the development of pancreatic cancer in conditional KrasG12D mice.

Hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) is a neutral lipase that preferentially catalyzes the hydrolysis of diacylglycerol contributing to triacylglycerol breakdown in the adipose tissue. HSL has been implicated to play a role in tumor cachexia, a debilitating syndrome characterized by progressive loss of adipose tissue. Consequently, pharmacological inhibitors of HSL have been proposed for the treatment of cancer-associated cachexia. In the present study we used the conditional KrasG12D (KC) mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with a deficiency in HSL to determine the impact of HSL suppression on the development of PDAC. KC;Hsl+/+ and KC;Hsl−/− mice were fed standard rodent chow for 20 weeks. At sacrifice, the incidence of PDAC was determined and inflammation in the mesenteric adipose tissue and pancreas was assessed histologically and by immunofluorescence. To determine statistical significance, ANOVA and two-tailed Student’s t-tests were performed. To compare PDAC incidence, a two-sided Fisher’s exact test was used. Compared to KC;Hsl+/+ mice, KC;Hsl−/− mice gained similar weight and displayed adipose tissue and pancreatic inflammation. In addition, KC;Hsl−/− mice had reduced levels of plasma insulin and leptin. Importantly, the increased adipose tissue and pancreatic inflammation was associated with a significant increase in PDAC incidence in KC;Hsl−/− mice. HSL deficiency is associated with adipose tissue and pancreatic inflammation and accelerates PDAC development in the KC mouse model.
Growth factor signaling in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor metastases.

256Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are among one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses, yet clinical management for patients with metastatic disease is largely empirically ...
Synthesis of novel heterocycles from 2-amino-3-(cyanomethylsulfonyl)thiophene

The synthesis and selected reactions of 2-amino-3-(cyanomethylsulfonyl)thiophene is reported. In particular, cyclization reaction of the versatile aminothiophene yielded a number of novel thieno[3,2-b][1,4]-thiazine 1,1-dioxides, as well as the analogous thieno[2,3-e][1,3,4]thiadiazine 4,4-dioxide. Reaction of the thienothiazine system with hydrazine was subsequently explored, which resulted in either ring-opening of the thiazine and formation of an aminopyrazole or solely ring cleavage depending on the thiazine substituent. Additionally, the synthesis of bis(2-amino-3-thienyl)sulfone and the corresponding bis-acetamide is described.
Rydberg-Mediated Entanglement in a Two-Dimensional Neutral Atom Qubit Array.

We demonstrate high fidelity two-qubit Rydberg blockade and entanglement on a pair of sites in a large two-dimensional qubit array. The qubit array is defined by a grid of blue detuned lines of light with 121 sites for trapping atomic qubits. Improved experimental methods have increased the observed Bell state fidelity to ${F}_{\text{Bell}}=0.86(2)$. Accounting for errors in state preparation and measurement we infer a fidelity of ${F}_{\text{Bell}}^{\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{SPAM}}=0.88$. Accounting for errors in single qubit operations we infer that a Bell state created with the Rydberg mediated ${C}_{Z}$ gate has a fidelity of ${F}_{\text{Bell}}^{{C}_{Z}}=0.89$. Comparison with a detailed error model based on quantum process matrices indicates that finite atom temperature and laser noise are the dominant error sources contributing to the observed gate infidelity.
Reproductive state modulates testosterone-induced singing in adult female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) exhibit seasonal changes in singing and in the volumes of the neural substrate. Increases in song nuclei volume are mediated at least in part by increases in day length, which is also associated with increases in plasma testosterone (T), reproductive activity, and singing behavior in males. The correlations between photoperiod (i.e. daylength), T, reproductive state and singing hamper our ability to disentangle causal relationships. We investigated how photoperiodic-induced variation in reproductive state modulates the effects of T on singing behavior and song nuclei volumes in adult female starlings. Female starlings do not naturally produce measureable levels of circulating T but nevertheless respond to exogenous T, which induces male-like singing. We manipulated photoperiod by placing birds in a photosensitive or photorefractory state and then treated them with T-filled or empty silastic implants. We recorded morning singing behavior for 3 weeks, after which we assessed reproductive condition and measured song nuclei volumes. We found that T-treated photosensitive birds sang significantly more than all other groups including T-treated photorefractory birds. All T-treated birds had larger song nuclei volumes than with blank-treated birds (despite photorefractory T-treated birds not increasing song-rate). There was no effect of photoperiod on the song nuclei volumes of T-treated birds. These data show that the behavioral effects of exogenous T can be modulated by reproductive state in adult female songbirds. Furthermore, these data are consistent with other observations that increases in singing rate in response to T are not necessarily due to the direct effects of T on song nuclei volume.
Pre-packaged Insolvency in India: Lessons from USA and UK

Pre-packaged bankruptcy, commonly referred to as “Pre-packs” finds its roots in United States and United Kingdom; but is yet to be formally integrated in the Indian bankruptcy regime. While the latest Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 has been helpful in improving the stressed asset statistics, the statute is still undergoing teething troubles and has scope for bringing in many improvements such as introducing Pre-packs. In this backdrop, this term paper discusses the basic features of Indian insolvency structure and how Pre-packs will fare in the market given the current regulatory regime. The paper analyses the corporate insolvency resolution process in India, highlights specific challenges to introduction of Pre-packs and presents a holistic overview of the benefits as well as disadvantages that Pre-packs would bring along with them.
Providing urban birds nutritious food to feed chicks reduces urban versus rural breeding success disparities

In Focus: Seress, G, Sandor, K, Evans, KL, Liker, A. (2020) Food availability limits avian reproduction in the city: An experimental study on great tits Parus major . Journal of Animal Ecology. 89. Animals in urban areas face a multitude of stressors, but how each stressor impacts survival and fitness can be difficult to disentangle. We need experimental manipulations of suspected stressors to examine causal relationships with traits of free-living urban and rural animals. In this issue, Seress and colleagues take on an intensive experimental approach to test whether one potential stressor-limited natural food sources in cities-can explain reduced avian reproductive success in urban areas. They employ a full factorial design, including both food supplemented and control broods in both urban and forest great tit Parus major populations. The findings are clear. Reduced food availability is the key factor limiting urban offspring growth and survival, at least in this well-studied species. Indeed, the extra insects fed to urban chicks greatly reduced the significant differences in survival rates and body sizes between urban and forest broods. The findings are also sobering. Urban insect populations would need to more than double to erase differences in reproductive success between urban and rural bird populations, an unlikely outcome with the ever-increasing urbanization of habitats.
Preparing a Disability-Competent Workforce

Public health is inclusive and collaborative, involving a diverse workforce of practitioners ranging from professionals with expertise in health promotion to healthcare providers. Although many programs and efforts are intended to reach and serve everyone living in the community, yet people with disabilities are often overlooked in public health planning and programs. A fully prepared workforce would have the capacity to include people with disabilities in public health efforts. Disability competencies, such as Including People with disabilities: Public Health Workforce Competencies and Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Education, were developed to guide disability training of the public health workforce. Workforce capacity may be built through promoting readiness for the change of inclusion of people with disabilities, practical collaboration experiences with partners, and learning from the act of working with people with disabilities in public health efforts. The public health workforce has an opportunity to more fully embrace the meaning of public health in service of the whole community by including people with disabilities.