cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dimensionality and Item-Difficulty Hierarchy of the Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment in Individuals With Subacute and Chronic Stroke.

Abstract Objective To investigate the dimensionality and item-difficulty hierarchy of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the lower extremity (FMA-LE). Design Secondary analyses of data pooled from 4 existing datasets: a phase III randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of body weight support and a treadmill for rehabilitation of walking poststroke, and 3 cross-sectional studies investigating the link between impaired motor performance poststroke and walking. Setting University research centers and rehabilitation centers. Participants A pooled sample of individuals with a stroke (N=535, men=313; mean age ± SD, 61.91±12.42y). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and Rasch residual principal component analysis (PCA) investigated the dimensionality of the FMA-LE. The Rasch analysis rating scale model investigated item-difficulty hierarchy of the FMA-LE. Results The CFA showed adequate fit of a 3-factor model, with 2 out of 3 indices (CFA=.95; Tucker-Lewis Index=.94; root mean square error of approximation=.124) showing good model fit. Rasch PCA showed that removal of the reflex and coordination items explained 90.8% of variance in the data, suggesting that the abnormal synergy items contributed to the measurement of a unidimensional construct. However, rating scale model results revealed deviations in the item-difficulty hierarchy of the unidimensional abnormal synergy items from the originally proposed stepwise sequence of motor recovery. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the FMA-LE might represent a multidimensional construct, challenging the use of a total score of the FMA-LE to predict lower extremity motor recovery. Removal of the misfit items resulted in creation of a unidimensional scale composed of the abnormal synergy items. However, this unidimensional scale deviates from the originally proposed hierarchical ordering.
An Empirical Comparison of Features and Tuning for Phrase-based Machine Translation

Scalable discriminative training methods are now broadly available for estimating phrase-based, feature-rich translation models. However, the sparse feature sets typically appearing in research evaluations are less attractive than standard dense features such as language and translation model probabilities: they often overfit, do not generalize, or require complex and slow feature extractors. This paper introduces extended features, which are more specific than dense features yet more general than lexicalized sparse features. Large-scale experiments show that extended features yield robust BLEU gains for both Arabic-English (+1.05) and Chinese-English (+0.67) relative to a strong feature-rich baseline. We also specialize the feature set to specific datadomains, identifyanobjectivefunction that is less prone to overfitting, and release fast, scalable, and language-independent tools for implementing the features.
Importance of Regular Testing of Private Drinking Water Systems in North Carolina

North Carolina state laws require that water from newly constructed private wells be tested for chemical and microbiologic contamination, but existing wells are not routinely tested. This commentary highlights the importance of regular testing of all private sources of drinking water.
Measurements of Instability in Supersonic Flow with Injection by Time-Resolved Flow Visualization

Experiments were performed in a Mach 4 Ludwieg tube to examine the transition process in flow over a sharp cone with boundary layer injection. Full-field images with nitrogen, helium, and RC-318 injection reveal that transition occurs earlier with higher injection rates and with lighter injected gas. High-speed imaging at 290 kHz allows the measurement of wavelength and convective velocity by autoand cross-correlation, respectively, in the cases with nitrogen injection. The wavelength is found to be approximately 8 mm with a convective velocity of 515 m/s, resulting in a frequency range of 60-70 kHz. These properties of the instability waves are roughly constant over all injection rates tested even though the thickness of the injection layer varies by a factor of two.
Sons, daughters, and intergenerational support in China

Traditionally, in the patriarchal Chinese family system, sons, rather than daughters, are expected to take the major responsibility for taking care of parents. However, demographic changes, economic development, and cultural transitions may have altered the traditional gender patterns of providing support to parents. This study examines the gender disparities in providing financial, instrumental, and emotional support to parents in rural and urban China. Using data from Chinese General Social Survey in 2006, the analysis shows that, after controlling for relevant factors, gender differences in financial assistance (with sons providing more) exist in rural areas, but not in cities. Daughters provide more instrumental and emotional support to parents in urban China, whereas sons and daughters do not differ in rural China. Furthermore, gender-based exchange contracts between parents and adult children persist in rural areas, but they have disappeared in urban China.
Nitric oxide production and the expression of two nitric oxide synthases in the avian retina.

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to exert multiple effects on the function of many retinal neurons and their synapses. Therefore, it is equally important to understand the potential sources of NO within the retina. To explore this, we employ a combination of 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM) based NO detection and immunohistochemistry for the NO synthetic enzymes, neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and eNOS). We find DAF signals in photoreceptors, horizontal cells, amacrine cells, efferent synapses, Muller cells, and cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). nNOS immunoreactivity was consistent with the DAF signal with the exception that horizontal cells and Muller cells were not clearly labeled. eNOS-like immunoreactivity (eNOS-LI) was more widespread with photoreceptors, horizontal cells, occasional bipolar cells, amacrine cells, Muller cells, and cells in the GCL all showing labeling. Double labeling with antibodies raised against calretinin, syntaxin, and glutamine synthetase confirmed that horizontal cells, amacrine cells, and Muller cells (respectively) were expressing eNOS-LI. Although little or no nNOS labeling is observed in horizontal cells or Muller cells, the expression of eNOS-LI is consistent with the ability of these cells to produce NO. Together these results suggest that the capability to produce NO is widespread in the chicken retina. We propose that multiple forms of regulation for nNOS and eNOS play a role in the patterning of NO production in the chicken retina.
Network Profiles of the Dorsal Anterior Cingulate and Dorsal Prefrontal Cortex in Schizophrenia During Hippocampal-Based Associative Memory.

Schizophrenia is a disorder characterized by brain network dysfunction, particularly during behavioral tasks that depend on frontal and hippocampal mechanisms. Here, we investigated network profiles of the regions of the frontal cortex during memory encoding and retrieval, phases of processing essential to associative memory. Schizophrenia patients (n=12) and healthy control subjects (n=10) participated in an established object-location associative memory paradigm that drives frontal-hippocampal interactions. Network profiles were modeled of both the dorsal prefrontal (dPFC) and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) as seeds using psychophysiological interaction analyses, a robust framework for investigating seed-based connectivity in specific task contexts. The choice of seeds was motivated by previous evidence of involvement of these regions during associative memory. Differences between patients and controls were evaluated using second-level analyses of variance with seed (dPFC vs. dACC), group (patients vs. controls), and memory process (encoding vs. retrieval) as factors. Patients showed a pattern of exaggerated modulation by each of the dACC and the dPFC during memory encoding and retrieval. Furthermore, group by memory process interactions were observed within regions of the hippocampus. In schizophrenia patients, relatively diminished modulation during encoding was associated with increased modulation during retrieval. These results suggest a pattern of complex dysfunctional network signatures of critical forebrain regions in schizophrenia. Evidence of dysfunctional frontal-medial temporal lobe network signatures in schizophrenia is consistent with the illness’ characterization as a disconnection syndrome.
Expansion of eIF4E and 4E-BP Family Members in Deuterostomes

Analysis of eIF4E sequences from the more than twenty fish genomes currently available, as well as those of select tetrapods, echinoderm (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), tunicate (Ciona intestinalis), and cephalocordate (Branchiostoma lanceolatum), has allowed a glimpse of the origins and evolution of the eIF4E and 4E-BP families in vertebrates. Metazoan eIF4E family members group into three classes, with Class I containing the canonical cap-binding translational initiation factor, eIF4E-1. Class II and III eIF4E family members have distinct characteristics and have been shown to regulate the translation of particular mRNAs. All deuterostomes have at least one representative from each of the three classes of eIF4E. Outgroup deuterostomes such as sea urchins, tunicates, and lancelets have only one eIF4E from each class: eIF4E-1, eIF4E-2, and eIF4E-3. Evidence of the duplication of Class I eIF4Es can be seen in elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii), coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae), and the basal ray-finned fish, spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), which all have three eIF4E-1 subclasses: eIF4E-1A, -1B, and -1C. The emergence of eIF4E-1 subclasses is consistent with the duplication of Class I prior to the teleost-specific whole genome duplication (TGD), probably at one of the vertebrate genome duplications that occurred at ~550 Ma (VGD1) and 500 Ma (VGD2). eIF4E-1C has maintained the function of a prototypical initiation factor. It has been retained in all teleosts, but lost in tetrapods; eIF4E-1B has neofunctionalized to become a tissue-specific regulator of mRNA recruitment. It has been retained in tetrapods and most teleosts, but lost in the Tetraodontiforms such as Tetroadon and Takifugu species. Some percomorphs have acquired new cognates of eIF4E-1A and eIF4E-3 to give eIF4E-1A1 and -1A2 and eIF4E-3A and -3B. A duplication of class II eIF4Es occurred prior to the emergence of the tetrapod branch to give eIF4E-2A and -2B. eIF4E-2B is retained by amphibians and teleosts, but has been lost in coelacanth and amniotes. Overall, duplication within the different classes of eIF4E occurred early in vertebrate evolution with some neofunctionalization. Further duplication within teleosts of eIF4E-1A and eIF4E-3 occurred and has been retained in some teleost lineages. Asymmetric losses in different vertebrate classes also occurred. Similarly, expansion of the 4E-BPs took place in vertebrates to give three classes, 4E-BP1, -BP2, and -BP3, with further duplication in select teleosts to give six 4E-BP cognates, with asymmetric loss in more recently emerging teleosts.
OpERA: Opportunistic and Efficient Resource Allocation in Hadoop YARN by Harnessing Idle Resources

Efficiently managing resources and improving throughput in a large-scale cluster has become a crucial problem with the explosion of data processing applications in recent years. Hadoop YARN and Mesos, as two universal resource management platforms, have been widely adopted in the commodity cluster for co-deploying multiple data processing frameworks, such as Hadoop MapReduce and Apache Spark. However, in the existing resource management, a certain amount of resources are exclusively allocated to a running task and can only be re-assigned after that task is completed. This exclusive mode unfortunately leads to a potential problem that may underutilize the cluster resources and degrade system performance. To address this issue, we propose a novel opportunistic and efficient resource allocation approach, named OpERA, which breaks the barriers among the encapsulated resource containers by leveraging the knowledge of actual runtime resource utilizations to re-assign opportunistic available resources to the pending tasks. We implement and evaluate OpERA in Hadoop YARN v2.5. Our experimental results show that OpERA significantly reduces the average job execution time and increases the resource (CPU and memory) utilizations.
The Club of Mainz (1983)

“The Club of Mainz for Improved Emergency and Disaster Medicine Worldwide” was founded in 1976 by ten concerned resuscitologists from seven countries under the leadership of the late Rudolf Frey, who then was Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, West Germany. The Club was founded because the potentials of modern resuscitation and life support are not realized in most everyday emergencies and natural and manmade disasters throughout the world. The idea was initiated in discussions between Frey and Safar during the International Symposium on Advanced Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Delivery Systems in Mainz in September 1973.
Integration of Agrobacterium T-DNA into the Plant Genome

Agrobacterium strains transfer a single-strand form of T-DNA (T-strands) and Virulence (Vir) effector proteins to plant cells. Following transfer, T-strands likely form complexes with Vir and plant proteins that traffic through the cytoplasm and enter the nucleus. T-strands may subsequently randomly integrate into plant chromosomes and permanently express encoded transgenes, a process known as stable transformation. The molecular processes by which T-strands integrate into the host genome remain unknown. Although integration resembles DNA repair processes, the requirement of known DNA repair pathways for integration is controversial. The configuration and genomic position of integrated T-DNA molecules likely affect transgene expression, and control of integration is consequently important for basic research and agricultural biotechnology applications. This article reviews our current knowledge of the process of T-DNA integration and proposes ways in which this knowledge may be manipulated for genome editing and synthetic biology purposes.
Thermosphere Global Time Response to Geomagnetic Storms Caused by Coronal Mass Ejections

We investigate, for the first time with a spatial superposed epoch analysis study, the thermosphere global time response to 159 geomagnetic storms caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed in the solar wind at Earth's orbit during the period of September 2001 to September 2011. The thermosphere neutral mass density is obtained from the CHAMP (CHAllenge Mini-Satellite Payload) and GRACE (Gravity Recovery Climate Experiment) spacecraft. All density measurements are intercalibrated against densities computed by the Jacchia-Bowman 2008 empirical model under the regime of very low geomagnetic activity. We explore both the effects of the pre-CME shock impact on the thermosphere and of the storm main phase onset by taking their times of occurrence as zero epoch times (CME impact and interplanetary magnetic field Bz southward turning) for each storm. We find that the shock impact produces quick and transient responses at the two high-latitude regions with minimal propagation toward lower latitudes. In both cases, thermosphere is heated in very high latitude regions within several minutes. The Bz southward turning of the storm onset has a fast heating manifestation at the two high-latitude regions, and it takes approximately 3 h for that heating to propagate down to equatorial latitudes and to globalize in the thermosphere. This heating propagation is presumably accomplished, at least in part, with traveling atmospheric disturbances and complex meridional wind structures. Current models use longer lag times in computing thermosphere density dynamics during storms. Our results suggest that the thermosphere response time scales are shorter and should be accordingly adjusted in thermospheric empirical models.
Remote Sensing of Crystal Shapes in Ice Clouds

Ice crystals in clouds exist in a virtually limitless variation of geometries. The most basic shapes of ice crystals are columnar or plate-like hexagonal prisms with aspect ratios determined by relative humidity and temperature. However, crystals in ice clouds generally display more complex structures owing to aggregation, riming and growth histories through varying temperature and humidity regimes. Crystal shape is relevant for cloud evolution as it affects microphysical properties such as fall speeds and aggregation efficiency. Furthermore, the scattering properties of ice crystals are affected by their general shape, as well as by microscopic features such as surface roughness, impurities and internal structure. To improve the representation of ice clouds in climate models, increased understanding of the global variation of crystal shape and how it relates to, e.g., location, cloud temperature and atmospheric state is crucial. Here, the remote sensing of ice crystal macroscale and microscale structure from airborne and space-based lidar depolarization observations and multi-directional measurements of total and polarized reflectances is reviewed. In addition, a brief overview is given of in situ and laboratory observations of ice crystal shape as well as the optical properties of ice crystals that serve as foundations for the remote sensing approaches. Lidar depolarization is generally found to increase with increasing cloud height and to vary with latitude. Although this variation is generally linked to the variation of ice crystal shape, the interpretation of the depolarization remains largely qualitative and more research is needed before quantitative conclusions about ice shape can be deduced. The angular variation of total and polarized reflectances of ice clouds has been analyzed by numerous studies in order to infer information about ice crystal shapes from them. From these studies it is apparent that pristine crystals with smooth surfaces are generally inconsistent with the data and thus crystal impurity, distortion or surface roughness is prevalent. However, conclusions about the dominating ice shapes are often inconclusive and contradictory and are highly dependent on the limited selection of shapes included in the investigations. Since ice crystal optical properties are mostly determined by the aspect ratios of the crystal components and their microscale structure, it is advised that remote sensing applications focus on the variation of these ice shape characteristics, rather than on the macroscale shape or habit. Recent studies use databases with nearly continuous ranges of crystal component aspect ratio and/or roughness levels to infer the variation of ice crystal shape from satellite and airborne remote sensing measurements. Here, the rationale and results of varying strategies for the remote sensing of ice crystal shape are reviewed. Observed systematic variations of ice crystal geometry with location, cloud height and atmospheric state suggested by the data are discussed. Finally, a prospective is given on the future of the remote sensing of ice cloud particle shapes.
Manganese is a Plant's Best Friend: Intracellular Mn Transport by the Transporter NRAMP2

When it comes to photosynthesis, manganese (Mn) is more precious than gold. Iron (Fe) usually gets all the attention and glory, but make no mistake: Life on Earth would probably not be breathing oxygen without Mn. In chloroplasts, Mn is at the center of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II
Timing of Renal Replacement Therapy for Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. With the increased use of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for severe AKI, the optimal time for initiation of RRT has become one of the most probed and debated topic in the field of nephrology and critical care. There appears to be an increased trend toward earlier initiation of RRT to avoid life-threatening complications associated with AKI. Despite the presence of a plethora of studies in this field, the lack of uniformity in study design, patient population types, definition of early and late initiation, modality of RRT, and results, the optimal time for starting RRT in AKI still remains unknown. The beneficial effects reported in observational studies have not been supported by clinical trials. Recently, 2 of the largest randomized control trials evaluating the timing of RRT in critically ill patients with AKI showed differing results. We provide an in-depth review of the available data on the timing of dialysis in patients with AKI.
Struggles, successes, and setbacks: Youth aging out of child welfare in a subsidized housing program

Abstract Youth aging out of the child welfare system report high rates of unstable housing and homelessness which has been associated with problems including employment, education, health and mental health. This study used ethnographic data to examine a program providing subsidized apartments to youth aging out. The study sought to understand youths' and service providers' perceptions and experiences about the program. Receiving services and stable housing did not eliminate youths' struggles with employment, education, and mental health. Setbacks in even one domain often undermined their ability to maintain housing. Youths' stability and well-being were compromised by structural barriers such as housing quality, location of apartments, and access to transportation. Service providers face complex challenges while assisting youth aging out.
Men who engage in both subjective and objective binge eating have the highest psychological and medical comorbidities.

Abstract Data suggest that assessing for the presence of loss of control (LOC) while eating is more useful in identifying risk for excess weight gain and psychosocial comorbidities than focusing on the amount of food consumed during episodes of perceived overeating. Yet, most of this research has included children and women. The current study examined whether perceived overeating patterns with and without LOC were uniquely associated with eating- and weight-related comorbidities in a community sample of young men. Participants (N = 1114; 18–30 y) completed a brief online survey assessing body mass index (BMI); perceived overeating habits, including overeating without LOC (OEs), and subjective (SBEs) and objective binge eating episodes (OBEs); weight-related medical comorbidities; and disordered eating pathology. After adjusting for BMI and race/ethnicity, men who reported engaging in both OBE(s) and SBE(s) were the most likely to have a weight-related medical comorbidity, and reported the highest levels of dietary restraint, concerns about body fat, and excessive exercise pathology. Group differences remained even after adjusting for frequency of disordered eating episodes, a common indicator of severity of comorbid pathology. The current study's findings suggest that young men who engage in both OBE(s) and SBE(s) may be at the highest risk for chronic disease and psychological concerns, although additional studies with prospective data are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
Heating Concentrations of Microwaves in Spherical and Cylindrical Foods: Part One: in Planes Waves

A comprehensive and systematic study of microwave heating concentration, as in spherical and cylindrical materials, is presented based on theoretical analysis and numerical investigations for both plane waves (Part One) and cavity standing waves (Part Two). In part one, along with penetration depth, the wavelength is introduced for characterization of microwave heating of foods. Based on theoretical analysis, the distributions of power density in radial direction are studied for various groups of foods with a radii range from 0.5 to 13.5 cm. At 2.45 GHz, the focusing areas are pronounced in terms of dielectric properties and the radii are then presented as heating diagrams. For example, the smallest radius that can lead to heating concentration of microwaves is 0.5 cm for any food material, and the upper limit of the radius that incurs center heating for unfrozen foods is more than 13.5 cm.
Electronic properties of La3Ni2O7 and Ln4Ni3O10, Ln=La, Pr and Nd

Abstract Single-phase samples of La3Ni2O7-δ with δ=0, 0.08, 0.16 and 0.65, and Ln4Ni3O10. Ln=La, Pr and Nd were prepared and studied by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. The as prepared sample, La3Ni2O6.92 and the fully reduced La3Ni2O6.35 are semiconducting, while the oxygenated La3Ni2O7.0 is metallic For Ln4Ni3O10-δ, when Ln = La, 8 is zero and the material is metallic and Pauli paramagnetic; when Ln = Pr and Nd, δ is ~ 0.15 and an anomaly indicating a metal-to-metal transition is observed at 145 K for Pr4Ni3O10-δ, and 165 K for Nd4Ni3O10-δ. The electrical properties of the homologous series Lan+1NinO3n+1 with n=2,3 are discussed and compared in terms of the dimensionality of the crystal lattice and the electronic band structure calculated by the extended Huckel tight binding method.
123 Effect of heat stress on oocyte developmental competence and global gene expression dynamics in Bos taurus crossbred beef cows

It is known that animals under the effect of heat stress present reduced fertility. We aimed to investigate the effect of heat stress on the developmental competence and global gene expression profile of oocytes through the transition from spring to summer under Louisiana conditions. Oocytes were collected from 6 crossbred, non-lactating cows once a month from May to July. Temperature and humidity indexes for May and July were 72.48 and 78.06, respectively. An index above 75 indicates that cows are under heat stress. All cows underwent dominant follicle removal, and then 7 days later, ovum pickup was performed to aspirate germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes. Half of the oocytes were processed for RNA-seq as GV, and half were matured in vitro to metaphase II (MII). Smart-seq protocol was followed to prepare RNA sequencing libraries from a pool of 4 oocytes (GV n = 6; MII n = 6). Sequencing reads were pre-filtered and aligned to the bovine genome, and gene expression values were calculated as transcripts per million. Genes were deemed differentially expressed between different conditions if they showed a false discovery rate P-value < 0.05 using DESEqn 2 package. DAVID (https://david.ncifcrf.gov) and IPA (ingenuity pathway analysis) were used to reveal the gene ontology and pathways, respectively. The RNA sequencing showed that a total of 212 genes were differentially expressed as a result of heat stress at the GV stage, with 94 and 118 genes up- and down-regulated, respectively. Gene ontology analysis indicated significant over-representation of elements involved in steroid biosynthetic process, oxidation reduction, and mitophagy in response to mitochondrial depolarization. Several pathways were influenced by heat stress, including glucocorticoid biosynthesis, apoptosis signalling, and HIPPO signalling. At the MII oocyte stage, only 93 genes (19 up-regulated and 74 down-regulated) were significantly differentially expressed in oocytes between July and May groups. Oocytes retrieved on different collection days, from the same cows under the same treatments, showed no difference on maturation rates, suggesting that the in vitro maturation process equalizes the expression of several genes. The primary biological processes significantly affected in MII oocytes were regulation of MAPK cascade, melanosome organisation, and negative regulation of transcription. In addition, we found that UBE2I, a gene involved in phosphorylation-dependent sumoylation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), was significantly up-regulated in July compared with May in MII oocytes. Interestingly, only 5 common genes were significantly affected by heat in both GV and MII oocytes: E2F8, GATAD2B, BHLHE41, FBXO44, and RAB39B. Our findings provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of detrimental conditions (heat stress) on bovine oocytes, which may help to reveal master regulators controlling oocyte competence.
Being dishonest about our prejudices: moral dissonance and self-justification

We applied the moral dissonance reduction framework, used to explain the maintenance of a positive self-concept in dishonest behavior, to understand self-justification of prejudice. Participants identified ambiguously negative intergroup behaviors, then evaluated those behaviors when performed by others and themselves. As predicted by moral dissonance reduction, participants were less critical of their own behavior when considering others’ behaviors before their own. In a third study directly comparing prejudiced and dishonest behavior, participants’ responses showed the greatest self-justification in the initial question about their behavior regardless of the content of the question, whereas subsequent questions showed more stability, consistent with the idea that participants adjusted their initial self-reports to avoid damage to their self-concepts.
Design, Fabrication, and Characterization of a Piezoelectric AFM Cantilever Array

Atomic force microscope (AFM) is a powerful instrument, which has been successfully employed in a myriad of applications from imaging to lithography, over the last decades. Despite its widespread use, low throughput of the AFM remains one of its major limitations along with slow scan rates in tapping mode. In this work, we propose a microfabricated cantilever array composed of five cantilevers, each equipped with on-chip piezoelectric displacement sensors and an actuator for parallel imaging in tapping mode. The cantilevers are designed to have separate resonance frequencies in order to effectively minimize the vibrational coupling. The measured resonance frequencies range from 85.34 kHz to 107.78 kHz, and more than 5 kHz resonant frequency separation is achieved in the neighboring cantilevers. Vibrational coupling is mitigated by over two orders of magnitude compared to arrays with identical cantilevers. The common feedthrough problem in this type of active system is addressed by configuring the displacement sensors differentially. Finally, one of the cantilevers in the array is successfully employed for tapping mode AFM imaging.
The emergence of agroecology as a political tool in the Brazilian Landless Movement

This study examines how and why socially excluded peasant farmers in the Brazilian Landless Movement (MST) transitioned to ecological agriculture, or agroecology. Utilising the photo-elicitation me...
FIO2 Delivery During Pediatric Heated High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy

Background: Heated high-flow nasal cannula (HHFNC) systems are used to treat children with hypoxemia and respiratory distress. These devices allow modification of flow and FIO2. We evaluated the effect of different FIO2 settings and the relationship between inspiratory and cannula flows on tracheal FIO2. Methods: An anatomically correct orotracheal model of a 5 y old child was connected to a breathing simulator (frequency = 20 breaths/minute, tidal 180 mL, TI 0.9 s, inspiratory flow 12 L/min), and an oxygen analyzer was interposed. A Fisher Paykel (FP) Optiflow Junior 2 XL cannula was used with the Fisher Paykel HHFNC system with a blender and the AIRVO 2 device with cannula flows of 6, and 12 L/min. Another oxygen analyzer was placed in-line with the circuit at the cannula connection. FIO2 was set at 0.95, 0.70, 0.50 and 0.35. Circuit and tracheal FIO2 was measured. Absolute difference between device and tracheal FIO2 (Delta FIO2) at different FIO2 s, and Delta FIO2 at 6 and 12 L/min were analyzed. Measurements were done in quadruplicate after 7 minutes of continuous operation. Results: See table. Conclusions: Delta FIO2 was greater at higher FIO2 settings. The effect of air entrainment was more evident at higher FIO2 settings. The AIRVO 2 device was more effective than the FP device when cannula flow matched inspiratory flow.
Non-opioid Analgesics

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most commonly used over-the-counter medications prescribed. They are also commonly prescribed in various forms. As such, physicians must be familiar with the class as a whole and each drug which has different effectiveness and adverse effects.
Understanding implications of cathode architecture on energy density of solid-state batteries

Abstract Next generation solid-state batteries (SSB) will need to leverage high voltage cathodes, as well as metallic anodes to achieve the realistic performance targets necessary to replace liquid electrolyte-based batteries in cutting-edge applications including electric vehicles. However, limitations arising from mass and charge transports, kinetics and chemo-mechanical degradation at the electrode | electrolyte interface limit the performance of present day SSBs. Optimizing composite cathode architecture, which is an integral part of solid-state batteries, is vital to realize the high-energy density and high-performance goals for next-generation solid-state batteries. Cathode architecture needs to be optimized for high loadings of active material, well-percolated ion and electron transport pathways and increased resilience against electrochemical stresses. This paper provides a first report of framework for geometric modeling of composite cathode architectures and evaluates the impact of cathode architecture on cell-level energy density using hierarchical models. Packing around primary and secondary active material particles are simulated for a range of active material particle size and solid electrolyte size distributions in the composite cathode. Impact of packing architecture on processing parameters of a given cathode composition and thickness, as well as on achievable energy density is evaluated for a range of commonly used solid electrolyte and cathode materials. Overall, the proposed framework offers a facile exploratory methodology for establishing initial metrics for scalable processing of practical and competent SSBs.
Emerging experience-dependent dynamics in primary somatosensory cortex reflect behavioral adaptation

Behavioral experience and flexibility are crucial for survival in a constantly changing environment. Despite evolutionary pressures to develop adaptive behavioral strategies in a dynamically changing sensory landscape, the underlying neural correlates have not been well explored. Here, we use genetically encoded voltage imaging to measure signals in primary somatosensory cortex (S1) during sensory learning and behavioral adaptation in the mouse. In response to changing stimulus statistics, mice adopt a strategy that modifies their detection behavior in a context dependent manner as to maintain reward expectation. Surprisingly, neuronal activity in S1 shifts from simply representing stimulus properties to transducing signals necessary for adaptive behavior in an experience dependent manner. Our results suggest that neuronal signals in S1 are part of an adaptive framework that facilitates flexible behavior as individuals gain experience, which could be part of a general scheme that dynamically distributes the neural correlates of behavior during learning.
Is it time to discard outdated notions of pulmonary hypertension in constrictive pericarditis

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is the result of scarring and the consequent loss of pericardial elasticity, which constrains ventricular filling; attenuates of the inspiratory decrease in intrathoracic pressure that is normally transmitted to the cardiac chambers and enhances ventricular interaction. CP can occur after virtually any pericardial disease process. The aetiology varies widely depending on the population studied, with idiopathic and post-treatment (postoperative or post-radiation) causes being more common in developed countries and infectious aetiologies (tuberculous or purulent) being more prominent in developing countries. While echocardiography is the first-line diagnostic tool for suspected CP, invasive haemodynamic evaluation is sometimes necessary to confirm the diagnosis, particularly in those with suboptimal or non-diagnostic echocardiographic findings in whom imaging with cardiac magnetic resonance or cardiac CT is either unavailable or non-diagnostic. Cardiac catheterisation in patients with surgically confirmed CP shows the following time-honoured invasive diagnostic findings: an elevated mean right atrial pressure; an early diastolic dip followed by a plateau during diastasis (square root sign); diastolic equalisation of pressures and respiratory variation in the right ventricular and left ventricular (RV–LV) pressures (mirror image discordance). Classically, pulmonary arterial (PA) systolic pressure is mild (usually no greater than 50 mm Hg), a finding used to distinguish CP from its haemodynamic doppelganger, restrictive cardiomyopathy. Recently, elevated PA pressures owing to both isolated post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) (ie, passive transmittal of elevated left-sided filling pressures) and combined pre-capillary and post-capillary pressures (ie, additional pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary vascular remodelling) have been reported in patients with increased LV filling pressure, including CP.1 2 In these patient subsets, increased systolic PH has been associated with increased mortality and …
Applying Organizational Change Theory to Address the Long-Standing Problem of Harassment in Medical Education.

Harassment is a common experience for medical and healthcare trainees. Experiencing harassment can have significant consequences for trainees in multiple domains, including mental, physical, social...
Flüsse in Netzwerken

Graphentheoretische Konzepte finden haufig Anwendung bei Problemstellungen wie Transportsteuerung, Informationsweiterleitung, Rohstoffversorgung usw. Die Knoten reprasentieren dabei die Stellen, an denen die Objekte vorbeigeleitet werden sollen und wo die Leitungen verzweigt werden konnen. Oft sind besondere Knoten ausgezeichnet, sogenannte Quellen und Senken, von denen aus und zu denen hin der Transport erfolgen muss. Die Bogen reprasentieren Kanale oder Wege, auf denen der Transport oder Durchfluss erfolgt. Die Bogengewichte geben die Kapazitaten der Kanale an.
Tales from the war on error: the art and science of curating QSAR data

Curating the data underlying quantitative structure-activity relationship models is a never-ending struggle. Some curation can now be automated but much cannot, especially where data as complex as those pertaining to molecular absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity are concerned (vide infra). The authors discuss some particularly challenging problem areas in terms of specific examples involving experimental context, incompleteness of data, confusion of units, problematic nomenclature, tautomerism, and misapplication of automated structure recognition tools.
PATHOGENESIS OF RADIATION-RELATED LEUKÆMIA AND LYMPHOMA: Speculations Based Primarily on Experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Abstract Malignant lymphomas and the leukaemias are thought to have much in common, but the prevalence of the two diseases in populations exposed to ionising radiation is very different. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that the pathogenesis of the two conditions may be different—leukaemia, with a low radiation threshold, being caused by bone-marrow hypoplasia, while lymphoma is induced at higher radiation doses which affect the body's immune system. Support for this view comes from experience of the atomic-bomb survivors at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Myocardial effects of PDE5 inhibition: more function with less mass.

Before the 1980s, cardiac hypertrophy was thought to be a compensatory response of the heart to hemodynamic overload that normalized left ventricular (LV) wall stress and permitted individual cardiac myocytes to operate under a normal load. However, during the last 3 decades, we have increasingly
Drosophila insulin-like peptide-6 (dilp6) expression from fat body extends lifespan and represses secretion of Drosophila insulin-like peptide-2 from the brain

Reduced insulin/IGF signaling extends lifespan in diverse species, including Drosophila melanogaster where the genome encodes seven insulin-like peptides (dilp1-7). Of these, reduced dilp2 expressed in the brain has been associated with longevity assurance when over-expression of dfoxo in fat bodies extends lifespan. Here, we show that the insulin-regulated transcription factor dFOXO positively modulates dilp6 mRNA in adult fat body. Over-expression of dilp6 in adult fat body extends lifespan and increases longevity-associated metabolic phenotypes. Adult fat body dilp6 expression represses dilp2 and dilp5 mRNA in the brain, and the secretion of DILP2 into the hemolymph. The longevity benefit of expressing dfoxo in fat body, and the nonautonomous effect of fat body dfoxo upon brain dilp expression, is blocked by simultaneously repressing dilp6 by RNAi in fat body. dilp6 thus appears to bridge dFOXO, adipose tissue and brain endocrine function to regulate Drosophila longevity.
cDNA cloning, localization, and candidate binding partners of acid-extractable vitelline-coat protein Ci-v-Themis-like in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis.

SUMMARY Ascidians are hermaphrodites, although several ascidian species show self-sterility because of the occurrence of a self/nonself-recognition system called the self-incompatibility system. We previously reported that two pairs of sperm polycystin 1-like receptors, s-Themis-A and s-Themis-B, and egg fibrinogen-like ligands, v-Themis-A and v-Themis-B, are responsible for self-incompatibility in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Our previous results showed that v-Themis-A and v-Themis-B were hardly extracted from the vitelline coat (VC) by acid treatment, which is not in accordance with a report that an acid-extractable VC factor has the ability to distinguish self- from nonself-sperm. These results led us to explore a novel factor from acid-extractable VC proteins that could be involved in self-incompatibility. Here, we report cDNA cloning, expression, and localization of Ci-v-Themis-like, a major acid-extractable VC protein. This protein has a fibrinogen-like domain, as do v-Themis-A and v-Themis-B, but it showed no polymorphisms. Phylogenic analysis suggested that Ci-v-Themis-like is an ancestral protein of v-Themis-A and v-Themis-B. Whole mount in situ hybridization revealed that Ci-v-Themis-like mRNA is expressed in the ovary and testis. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry showed the occurrence of Ci-v-Themis-like in developing oocytes and on the VC of mature eggs. Yeast two-hybrid screenings using testis and ovary libraries revealed candidate interacting proteins; among these candidates, we succeeded in identifying several testis-specific proteins, including sperm proteases and coiled-coil-domain-containing proteins. The results suggest that Ci-v-Themis-like and its binding partners are involved in sperm binding to the VC prior to the allorecognition process during C. intestinalis fertilization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 840–848, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Surface-enhanced nonlinear optical effects and detection of adsorbed molecular monolayers

The observation of a number of surface-enhanced nonlinear optical effects is discussed. The feasibility of using second-harmonic generation to detect the adsorption of molecular monolayers on a metal surface in an electrolytic solution is shown.
Apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities of aqueous N-acetyl-d-glucosamine at temperatures from 278.15 K to 368.15 K and of aqueous N-methylacetamide at temperatures from 278.15 K to 393.15 K at the pressure 0.35 MPa

Abstract We determined apparent molar volumes Vϕ from densities measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter at 278.15 ⩽ (T/K) ⩽ 368.15 and apparent molar heat capacities Cp,ϕ with a twin fixed-cell, differential, temperature-scanning calorimeter at 278.15 ⩽ (T/K) ⩽ 363.15 for aqueous solutions of N-acetyl- d -glucosamine at m from (0.01 to 1.0) mol · kg−1 and at p = 0.35 MPa. We also determined Vϕ at 278.15 ⩽ (T/K) ⩽ 368.15 and Cp,ϕ at 278.15 ⩽ (T/K) ⩽ 393.15 for aqueous solutions of N-methylacetamide at m from (0.015 to 1.0) mol · kg−1 and at p = 0.35 MPa. Empirical functions of m and T for each compound were fitted to our results, which are then compared to those for N,N-dimethylacetamide. Estimated values of ΔrVm(m, T) and ΔrCp,m(m, T) for formation of aqueous N-acetyl- d -glucosamine from aqueous d -glucose and aqueous acetamide are calculated and discussed.
Evolution in technique for vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery and effect on outcome.

Purpose : To define changes in treatment technique for vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery and to relate them to changes in outcome, a large single institution experience was reviewed. Methods and Materials : Two hundred seventy-three patients with unilateral vestibular schwannomas underwent Gamma knife radiosurgery : 118 with computed tomography (CT) treatment planning during 1987-1991, and 155 with magnetic resonance imaging (MR) treatment planning in 1991-1994. Mean treatment parameters differed between the CT and MR groups : minimum tumor dose (D min ) was 17 vs. 14 Gy, number of isocenters was 3.4 vs. 5.8, and volume was 3.5 vs. 2.7 cc., respectively. Results : The actuarial 7-year clinical tumor control rate (no requirement for surgical intervention) for the entire series was 96.4 ± 2.3%, with a radiographic tumor control rate of 91.0 ± 3.4% ; these rates were similar for the CT and MR groups. Significantly lower rates of postradiosurgery facial, trigeminal, and auditory neuropathy were observed in the MR group compared to the CT group. Multivariate analyses found significant independent correlations of increasing rates of facial and trigeminal neuropathy with increasing transverse tumor diameter and D min , as well as with CT treatment planning (compared to MR). Decreased hearing was similarly correlated with diameter and CT planning but not with D min . Conclusions : Changes in radiosurgery technique and the use of lower doses improved the outcome after vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery by decreasing cranial neuropathy rates. MR-based treatment planning appears to have significantly contributed to this improvement. Despite decreases in radiation dose, no change in the high rate of tumor control has yet been observed.
Heteroleptic platinum(II) complexes with crown thioether and phosphine ligands: the crystal structures of [Pt(9S3)(PPh3)Cl](PF6)·CH3NO2 and [Pt(10S3)(PPh3)Cl](PF6)

Abstract We wish to report the synthesis, spectroscopic properties, and crystal structures of two Pt(II) heteroleptic complexes with triphenylphosphine (PPh3), chloride, and the crown trithioethers 9S3 (1,4,7-trithiacyclononane) or 10S3 (1,4,7-trithiacyclodecane). Both complexes have the general formula [Pt(L)(PPh3)Cl](PF6) (L=9S3 or 10S3) and form similar structures in which the Pt(II) center is surrounded by a cis arrangement of the chloride, the P donor from the phosphine, and two sulfur atoms from the 9S3 ligand. The third sulfur in each structure forms a longer interaction with the platinum resulting in an elongated square pyramidal structure. The 195Pt NMR chemical shifts for both complexes show a value near −4100 ppm, consistent with a cis-PtS2PCl coordination sphere. The trithioethers in both complexes are fluxional, resulting in relatively simple 13C NMR spectra for them (9S3, one line; 10S3, four lines). Although the fluxional behavior of the 9S3 ligand in platinum group metal complexes is well-documented, our NMR and structural data confirm definite fluxional behavior of the 10S3 ligand for the first time.