cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High Prevalence of Important Cardiac Findings in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease Referred for Echocardiography

Background Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) diagnosed by ankle-brachial index evaluation are known to have high cardiovascular mortality. Although this has primarily been attributed to coexistent coronary artery disease, the prevalence of abnormal echocardiographic findings for patients with PAD has not been studied. Our goal was to study the association between PAD and clinically important echocardiographic findings in symptomatic patients with PAD referred for echocardiography. Methods Eligible patients were identified from a database of 615 consecutive patients referred for clinically indicated ankle-brachial index evaluation in our vascular laboratory. Patients were included (n = 309) if they also had a complete transthoracic echocardiogram in the digital echocardiogram database at our institution. Final transthoracic echocardiographic reports were retrospectively reviewed for study indication and clinically important echocardiographic findings. Patients with PAD (ankle-brachial index Results Patients with PAD were found to have a high prevalence of clinically important echocardiographic findings, and significantly more clinically important echocardiographic findings (61.6% vs 35.3%, P P = .001), LV ejection fraction P = .02), and any clinically important echocardiographic finding (odds ratio 2.65, 95% confidence interval 1.61–4.36, P Conclusion In symptomatic patients with PAD referred for echocardiography, there is a high prevalence of clinically important echocardiographic findings, including LV dysfunction, and PAD appears to be an independent predictor of an abnormal echocardiogram. These findings suggest that a prospective echocardiographic screening study in symptomatic patients with PAD is warranted.
Decentralized control and interactive design methods for large-scale heterogeneous self-organizing swarms

We present new methods of decentralized control and interactive design for artificial swarms of a large number of agents that can spontaneously organize and maintain non-trivial heterogeneous formations. Our model assumes no elaborate sensing, computation, or communication capabilities for each agent; the self-organization is achieved solely by simple kinetic interactions among agents. Specifications of the final formations are indirectly and implicitly woven into a list of different kinetic parameter settings and their proportions, which would be hard to obtain with a conventional top-down design method but may be designed heuristically through interactive design processes.
Physiology and Functioning: Parents' Vagal Tone, Emotion Socialization, and Children's Emotion Knowledge.

This study examined relationships among parents’ physiological regulation, their emotion socialization behaviors, and their children’s emotion knowledge. Parents’ resting cardiac vagal tone was measured, and parents provided information regarding their socialization behaviors and family emotional expressiveness. Their 4- or 5-year-old children (N = 42) participated in a laboratory session in which their knowledge of emotional facial expressions and situations was tested and their own resting vagal tone was monitored. Results showed that parents’ vagal tone was related to their socialization behaviors, and several parent socialization variables were related to their children’s emotion knowledge. These findings suggest that parents’ physiological regulation may affect the emotional development of their children by influencing their parenting behaviors.
Distribution of immunoreactive somatostatin (ISRIF) in the nervous system of the squid, Loligo pealei.

Somatostatin (SRIF) is a neuropeptide with a -widespread distribution in the mammalian CNS. In the present study we have examined the distribution of immunoreactive-like SRIF (ISRIF)-containing elements in the nervous system of the cephalopod mollusk Loligo pealei or the Woods Hole squid. ISRIF was localized by light immunocytochemistry in sections of the squid—optic lobe, circumesophageal ganglia—and in stellate ganglion. In the optic lobe, ISRIF neurons were found in the internal granule cell layer and medulla and immunoreactive fibers were seen throughout the lobe and in the optic tract but were absent from the optic nerve, i.e., the projection between the retina and optic lobe. In the supraesophageal complex, ISRIF neurons were found in all lobes, but primarily in the vertical, subvertical, and frontal. In the subesophageal ganglion, ISRIF neurons were seen mainly following unilateral pallial nerve lesions; these neurons were primarily small-to-medium sized. ISRIF fibers were seen in many of the nerves exiting from the brain and in nerves extending between the sub- and supra-esophageal ganglia. In the stellate ganglion, ISRIF was present in many neurons as well as in a plexus of fibers within the ganglion; the peptide was absent from the second-order fibers and the giant axon. The data suggest that a molecule immunologically similar to vertebrate SRIF may be a major transmitter/modulator in this invertebrate. These results provide a foundation for further studies to evaluate the role of this molecule.
The absolute arithmetic continuum and the unification of all numbers great and small

In his monograph On Numbers and Games, J. H. Conway introduced a real-closed field containing the reals and the ordinals as well as a great many less familiar numbers including −ω, ω/2, 1/ω, and ω − π to name only a few. Indeed, this particular real-closed field, which Conway calls No, is so remarkably inclusive that, subject to the proviso that numbers—construed here as members of ordered fields—be individually definable in terms of sets of NBG (von Neumann–Bernays–Godel set theory with global choice), it may be said to contain “All Numbers Great and Small.” In this respect, No bears much the same relation to ordered fields that the system ℝ of real numbers bears to Archimedean ordered fields. In Part I of the present paper, we suggest that whereas ℝ should merely be regarded as constituting an arithmetic continuum (modulo the Archimedean axiom), No may be regarded as a sort of absolute arithmetic continuum (modulo NBG), and in Part II we draw attention to the unifying framework No provides not only for the reals and the ordinals but also for an array of non-Archimedean ordered number systems that have arisen in connection with the theories of non-Archimedean ordered algebraic and geometric systems, the theory of the rate of growth of real functions and nonstandard analysis. In addition to its inclusive structure as an ordered field, the system No of surreal numbers has a rich algebraico-tree-theoretic structure—a simplicity hierarchical structure—that emerges from the recursive clauses in terms of which it is defined. In the development of No outlined in the present paper, in which the surreals emerge vis-a-vis a generalization of the von Neumann ordinal construction, the simplicity hierarchical features of No are brought to the fore and play central roles in the aforementioned unification of systems of numbers great and small and in some of the more revealing characterizations of No as an absolute continuum.
A Quantitative Study of Mobility Impact for Real-Time Services on a Wi-Fi Multi-hop Network

In this paper, we analyze the performance of mobile real time services in a large-scale IEEE 802.11 multi-hop network. We present our field measurements with discussion of performance bottlenecks for VoIP services under mobile scenarios. We utilized our test bed which is located in Nebraska and supported by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), US Federal Railroads Administrations (FRA), and major US railroad companies. Our UNL-FRA test bed consists of 8 outdoor access point towers, which are deployed along 3.5 mile of BNSF railroad. Passive measurement approaches are taken to ensure the integrity of collected data and multi-layer stream based packet analyzer has been implemented to provide a global view of the entire performance of the monitored network from the physical layer to the application layer. Based on our analysis of collected data, we conclude that in a typical outdoor 802.11 environment similar to our UNL-FRA test bed, uncertain handoff latencies and lack of Quality of Service guarantee are main performance bottlenecks for real-time applications. Furthermore, we discuss the enhancement strategies to support mobility in high-speed railway networks. We believe our work is one of the initial efforts in wireless mobile network field measurement in terms of scale, methodology, and analysis.
Current-Activated, Pressure-Assisted Infiltration: A Novel, Versatile Route for Producing Interpenetrating Ceramic–Metal Composites

A novel technique is proposed and demonstrated for processing interpenetrating ceramic–metal composites by the infiltration of molten metals/alloys into ceramic foams utilizing a current-activated, pressure-assisted technique. Ti2AlC foams were prepared and used as the infiltration preform. Aluminum alloy 6061 (AA6061) has been infiltrated into the Ti2AlC foams, resulting in AA6061/Ti2AlC composites. The microstructure, composition, and distribution of phases in the composites were studied. The AA6061/Ti2AlC composites were studied under compression testing, and the results were compared with those of the pure components of the composites. Advantages of this method in comparison to other methods for processing metal–ceramic composites are discussed.
Botulinum Toxin in the Management of Painful Conditions

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) has been used clinically to impair muscle contraction and thereby has become useful in treating conditions characterized by persistent muscle spasticity, muscle spasm, or contraction. It has more recently been found to reduce pain in clinical pain syndromes. This chapter will present the current state of knowledge about the clinical use of BoNT in the treatment of painful conditions. It will also review the mechanism of action of BoNT with regard to inhibition of nociceptive activity.
Antihypertensive, vasodilating, and sympatholytic activities of ofornine® in spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study of spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats documents oral antihypertensive activity of the vasodilator Ofornine®, an anthranilamide whose effect was sustained, at least in part, by suppression of compensatory renal and neurohumoral responses. Doses of 2.5 to 100 μg/kg p.0. reduced systolic blood pressure (BP) by up to 75 mm Hg. Effect lasted 6-24 hr and did not diminish during a 16 day (25 μg/kg/day) regimen. Metoclopramide (10.0 μg/kg)and haloperidol (3.0 μg/kg) antagonized the antihypertensive effect. Antihypertensive activity was confirmed by direct (arterial cannula) monitoring where 0.001-1.O μg/kg i.v. reduced mean BP by 6-47% without tachycardia. Doses of 1-10 ag/kg i.a. reduced perfusion pressure of the SH rat hindquarters by 35-74 mm Hg. A dose of 5.0 μg/kg p.0. reduced BP and urine norepinephrine levels of SH rats by 58 mm Hg and approximately 50% without raising plasma renin activity or causing sodium retention. How- ever, Ofornine® (25 μg/kg p.0. daily for 6 days) did not affect reflex bradycardic or tachy- cardic effects of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside in SH rats. These and other results indicate that Ofornine@ reduces SH rat blood pressure through vasodilating and presynaptic adrenolytic activities, and that a dopaminergic mechanism may be involved.
Composite angioimmunoblastic T-cell and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

A58-year-old female smoker with a history of hypertension presented to the emergency department with a recurrent episode of worsening shortness of breath over five days. Her exam was significant for sinus tachycardia, cervical lymphadenopathy, and a firm left supraclavicular node. Laboratory values demonstrated a normal white cell count and differential, normocytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and a lactate dehydrogenase of 803 IU/L. She was HIV negative. Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis demonstrated extensive bilateral cervical, supraclavicular and axillary adenopathy, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy with infiltrate and consolidation of the right lower and posterior upper lobe and encasement of the right pulmonary artery, as well as splenomegaly with paraaortic and retroperitoneal adenopathy. An echocardiogram revealed a normal left ventricle and a severe pericardial effusion. She underwent a pericardial window and an excisional supraclavicular lymph node biopsy, which revealed T-cells with features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and large atypical B-cells consistent with diffuse large Bcell lymphoma (DLBCL) (Figure 1A). Destruction of the lymph node architecture was noted, with many medium-sized atypical lymphocytes with irregular nuclei and moderate amounts of pale cytoplasm. In addition, scattered and focally increased large atypical lymphocytes with prominent nucleoli were seen. Blood vessels were increased. Immunostains demonstrated atypical T-cells expressing CD3 (Figure 1B), CD4 (Figure 1C), CD5, CD2, CD7, CD4, CD10, PD-1 (Figure 1D), as well as clustered large B-cells positive for expression of CD20, Bcl-6 and BOB-1 (Figure 1E). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing revealed a clonal TCR gamma gene rearrangement, as well as a clonal IgH gene rearrangement. Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) was negative by in situ hybridization (ISH). Bone marrow biopsy and CSF analysis were negative for lymphoid or plasma cell infiltrates. The patient was initiated on R-CHOEP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone) and completed three cycles of chemotherapy. Her CT scan after three cycles was consistent with a partial response, with significantly diminished bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy, improved mediastinal, perihilar and right lower lobe infiltrates, decreased splenomegaly, and upper abdominal and retroperitoneal adenopathy. The patient eventually had progression of her disease during the course of subsequent R-CHOEP cycles. She then progressed through two cycles of gemcitabine-carboplatin and one course of romidepsin. Her performance status deteriorated, not enabling any further treatment and the patient finally expired, approximately 24 months after initial diagnosis. This case illustrates a rare hematologic malignancy presenting with a dual primary lymphoma population. The treatment of composite lymphoma with simultaneous Band T-cell components is challenging and the less favorable prognosis component determines
Estimation of the Aortic Pressure Waveform and Beat-to-Beat Relative Cardiac Output Changes From Multiple Peripheral Artery Pressure Waveforms

We introduce a patient- and time-specific technique to estimate the clinically more relevant aortic pressure (AP) waveform and beat-to-beat relative changes in cardiac output (CO) from multiple peripheral artery pressure (PAP) waveforms distorted by wave reflections. The basic idea of the technique is to first estimate the AP waveform by applying a new multichannel blind system identification method that we have developed (rather than the conventional generalized transfer function) to the PAP waveforms and then estimate the beat-to-beat proportional CO by fitting a Windkessel model to the estimated waveform in which wave distortion should be attenuated. We present an evaluation of the technique with respect to four swine datasets including simultaneous measurements of two peripheral AP waveforms, a reference AP waveform, and reference aortic flow probe CO during diverse hemodynamic interventions. Our results show an overall AP waveform error of 3.5 mmHg and an overall beat-to-beat CO error of 12.9% (after a single CO calibration in each animal). These estimation errors represent substantial improvements compared to those obtained with several alternative PAP waveform analysis techniques. With further successful testing, the new technique may ultimately be employed for automated and less invasive monitoring of central hemodynamics in various cardiovascular patients.
Assigned to the margins: Teachers for minority and immigrant communities in Japan

Abstract As communities of immigrant families gather in the low-income neighbourhoods of Tokyo and neighbouring cities, Japanese teachers face new challenges as well as the stigma of classrooms for immigrant children. Within the intricate politics of assignment in Japanese school districts, teachers and administrators can find themselves with students who are barely acknowledged and poorly served by mainstream Japanese schools and other community services. The interviews with teachers, principals, immigrant translators and other cultural intermediaries as well as numerous school visits focused on the ways in which teachers had been required to interrogate their pedagogies, practices and prejudices in order to be effective teachers of low income and immigrant youth. The results reveal strains in the lives and careers of teachers who work with marginalised youth in Japan and are addressed within a critical view of how Japanese schooling is responding to the needs of an increasingly heterogeneous urban population.
3D Face Reconstruction from Stereo Video

Face processing in video is receiving substantial attention due to its importance in many securityrelated applications. A video provides rich information about a face (multiple frames and temporal coherence) that can be utilized in conjunction with 3D face models, if available, to establish a subjects identity. We propose a 3D face modeling method that reconstructs a user-specific model derived from a generic 3D face model and two video frames of the user. The user-specific 3D face model can be enrolled into the 3D face database at the enrollment stage to be used in later identification process. The reconstruction process can also be used for the probe data in recognition stage, where the reconstructed 3D face model using probe face is used to generate an optimal view and lighting for the recognition process. The advantage of utilizing reconstructed 3D face model is demonstrated by conducting face recognition experiments for 15 probe subjects against a gallery database containing 100 subjects.
Particle arrays in the surface membrane of paramecium: Junctional and possible sensory sites

Several special arrays of intramembranous particles observed in freeze-fracture replicas on the P face of the cell membrane of Paramecium caudatum are described for the first time. These arrays include bands of closely spaced particles bordering both the cytopharynx and the cytoproct. These arrays, along with the proximate intermembranous links, bear some resemblance to intercellular septate junctions of invertebrates. Linear rows of particles in the surface membrane of the oral region indicate possible sites of direct microtubular attachment to the cytopharyngeal membrane as well as attachment via a microfilament which is inserted between the ribbon of microtubules and the membrane. Circumferentially aligned rows of particles in the contractile vacuole pore membrane also suggest microtubule-to-membrane attachments. Finally large rectilinearly arrayed particle plates are found in the plasma membrane mostly on the anterior ventral surface of the cell. The location suggests that they may be receptors of chemical stimuli.
Effect of Salt on the Adsorption Affinity of an Aromatic Carbonyl Molecule to the Air−Aqueous Interface: Insight for Aqueous Environmental Interfaces

The interface-selective second harmonic generation (SHG) nonlinear optical spectroscopy and the surface tension method have been used to measure the effect of electrolyte on the adsorption isotherm of 4-hydroxyacetophenone (4-HA) at the air−solution interface. It was observed that high NaCl concentration favors adsorption of organic molecules to the air−solution interface. Measurements of the polarization of the SHG field showed that the orientation of the organic molecule at the air−solution interface is close to that in the neat air−water interface and does not vary with organic concentration. The free energy of adsorption of the molecule to the air−solution interface becomes significantly more negative with an increase in salt concentration, and good agreement was found between the results from the two different techniques. We conclude that the increased affinity of 4-HA for the air−water interface in the presence of NaCl is due to the salting-out effect.
Crustal structure of Iraq from receiver functions and surface wave dispersion: Implications for understanding the deformation history of the Arabian–Eurasian collision

SUMMARY We report the crustal structure for two locations in Iraq estimated by joint inversion of P-wave receiver functions (RFs) and surface (Rayleigh) wave group velocity dispersion. RFs were computed from teleseismic recordings at two temporary broad-band seismic stations located in Mosul (MSL) in the Zagros Fold Belt and Baghdad (BHD) in the Mesopotamian Foredeep. Group velocity dispersion curves at the sites were derived from continental-scale tomography. The inversion results show that the crustal thicknesses are 39 km at MSL and 43 km at BHD. We observe a strong PsMoho at BHD consistent with a sharp Moho discontinuity. However, at MSL we observe a weak PsMoho suggesting a transitional Moho where crustal thickening is likely to be occurring in the deep crust. Both sites reveal low velocity surface layers consistent with sedimentary thickness of about 3 km at station MSL and 7 km at BHD and agreeing well with the previous reports. Ignoring the sediments, the crystalline crustal velocities and thicknesses are remarkably similar at both stations. The similarity of crustal structure suggests that the crust of the northeastern proto-Arabian Platform was uniform before subsidence and deposition of the sediments in the Cenozoic. If crystalline crustal structure is uniform across the northern Arabian Platform then crustal thickness variations in the Zagros Fold Belt and Thrust Zone should reveal the history of deformation and crustal shortening in the Arabian‐ Eurasian collision zone and not reflect pre-existing crustal thickness variations in the Arabian Plate.
Habituation in Stentor: produced by mechanoreceptor channel modification

Habituation in Stentor was shown in the previous paper (Wood, 1988) to result from a progressive diminution in mechanoreceptor potential amplitude during the course of repetitive mechanical stimulation. The source of this diminution was analyzed in the present studies by eliciting mechanoreceptor currents from control and habituated cells under voltage clamp control. The I-V plots obtained have a voltage- dependent region between -60 and -20 mV, and a linear voltage- independent region between -20 and 20 mV, with a reversal potential near 20 mV. The slope of the linear region did not change as a result of habituation indicating that the maximum mechanoreceptor current, and hence the total number of mechanoreceptor channels, was the same in control and habituated cells. The mechanoreceptor current reversal potential was changed by only a few millivolts, from 21.6 to 17.2 mV, leaving the driving force term for the mechanoreceptor current at resting potential relatively unchanged. On the other hand, the voltage- dependent region of the I-V plot became significantly steeper after habituation (9.6 mV/e-fold change) compared to its value before habituation (12.3 mV/e-fold change). This shift in voltage dependence is sufficient to explain the diminution in receptor potential amplitude seen during normal recordings at resting potential. The importance of the voltage-dependent characteristic of the mechanoreceptor channels to the habituation process was corroborated by the observation that the amplitude of receptor potentials elicited from cells depolarized by current pulses habituated to only a very limited degree while receptor potentials elicited at resting potential underwent marked habituation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Assimilation of SST Data into a Real-Time Coastal Ocean Forecast System for the U.S. East Coast*

Abstract The real-time, three-dimensional, limited-area Coastal Ocean Forecast System (COFS) has been developed for the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and implemented at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. COFS generates a daily nowcast and 1-day forecast of water level, temperature, salinity, and currents. Surface forcing is provided by 3-h forecasts from the National Weather Service's Eta Model, a mesoscale atmospheric prediction model. Lateral oceanic boundary conditions are based on climatic data. COFS assimilates in situ sea surface temperature (SST) observations and multichannel satellite SST retrievals for the past 48 h. SST predictions from the assimilating and nonassimilating versions of COFS were compared with independent observations and a 14-km-resolution multichannel SST analysis. The assimilation of SST data reduced the magnitude and the geographic extent of COFS's characteristic positive temperature bias north of the Gulf Stream. The root-mean-square SST differences between the ...
Potential Increase in Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Interceptions Using Ionizing Irradiation Phytosanitary Treatments

Irradiation postharvest phytosanitary treatments are used increasingly and show further promise because of advantages compared with other treatments. Its chief disadvantage is that, unlike all other commercially used treatments, it does not provide acute mortality, although it prevents insects from completing development or reproducing. The objective of this research was to determine to what extent irradiated egg and early instars of tephritids would develop to later instars that could be found by phytosanitary inspectors or consumers. Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), eggs and first instars in grapefruit, Citrus paradisi Macfayden, were irradiated with 70–250 Gy and held at ≈27°C until third instars completed development. The accepted minimum absorbed phytosanitary dose for this pest is 70 Gy, although higher doses may be applied under commercial conditions. The more developed a fruit fly before it was irradiated, the greater the proportion that survived to the third instar. Also, dose was inversely related to developmental success, e.g., a mean of ≈65 and 35%, respectively, of late first instars reached the third instar when irradiated with 70 and 250 Gy. Of those, 65.1 and 23.4%, respectively, pupariated, although no adults emerged. Irradiation may result in a greater frequency of live (albeit incapable of resulting in an infestation) larvae being found than would be expected compared with other treatments that provide acute mortality. The regulatory community should be aware of this and the fact that it does not increase the risk of irradiation phytosanitary treatments resulting in an infestation of quarantine pests.
Enzymatic Catalysis in Bioseparations

Organic acids and alcohols often constitute the active components of biologically functional molecules including pharmaceuticals, sweeteners, insectides, herbicides, and hormones.1–5 The large-scale production of these molecules generally requires efficient and selective methods of purification.6 Presently, individual peptides are separated from fermentation broths, blood serum, or chemical liquors by reverse phase or ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).7 Similarly, racemic mixtures of organic compounds are separated (i.e., optically resolved) into their optically active, biologically functional isomers using chiral-based chromatographic supports,8 or by reaction of the racemate with an optically active co-reactant to form diasteriomers which are more easily separated.9 While these methods have proved to be effective for laboratory-scale separations, they suffer from several limitations for commercial-scale applications. Chromatographic methods are expensive, solvent-intensive, and cannot be run in a continuous fashion. Diasteriomeric separations often require multiple recrystallization steps and consume expensive and often toxic coreactants. Thus, a need has developed for high-volume, low-cost processes for separations of organic acids and alcohols.
A 1.65 mW PLL-free PSK receiver employing super-regenerative phase sampling

This paper presents a 1.65 mW low-power receiver that uses a super-regenerative oscillator (SRO) to replace power hungry phase lock loops (PLLs) that are conventionally required for phase-demodulation. It is shown that operating an SRO in the amplification mode preserves the phase of incoming RF signals, and thus an SRO is used to periodically sample the phase of two incoming training bits, after which the SRO operates as a local oscillator for a superheterodyne receiver. Operating at 0.5 V in a 0.18 Jim process, the receiver achieves −70 dBm of sensitivity at BER of 1e-3 when demodulating an 800 kbps BPSK signal without a PLL.
Performance Model of a Campus Wireless LAN

In this study we measured simulated end user HTTP response times in a 802.11g WLAN. Our results show that, ceteris paribus, modeling heavy tailed file sizes at an HTTP server, results in two times worse response times as compared to modeling Web pages of lognormal file sizes. Accesses to content containing large images and embedded documents appear to result in tolerable end user response times, as long as HTTP server directories contain a small number of such large files, that is, if file sizes are modeled by a heavy tailed Pareto distribution, where minimum file sizes are 100 Kbytes or less. When file size at the server become larger, with a minimum size of 1Mbytes, response times increase substantially and may quickly become intolerable by users. Our results confirm related findings in [3] and demonstrate that studies which do not consider these findings may present too optimistic results, misrepresenting real end user delays of Web accesses.
Two Years' Worth of Estate and Gift Tax Law Review Articles

Legal scholarship produced by law professors can be of great use to tax practitioners and policymakers. In the Tax Notes tradition of publishing "Law Review Summaries," Professor Crawford reviews five estate and gift tax articles from each of 2015 and 2014 that were published in student-run law reviews and which are likely to be of interest to tax professionals. The articles from 2015 are: (1) Steven J. Arsenault, "Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts: After $100 Billion, It's Time to Solve the Great GRAT Caper," 63 Drake L. Rev. 373 (2015); (2) Stephanie R. Hoffer, "Making the Law More ABLE: Reforming Medicaid for Disability," 76 Ohio St. L.J. 1255 (2015); (3) Sergio Pareja, "How the Uber-Wealthy Benefit From Investing Outside Retirement Plans (and How You Can Too)," 64 Cath. U. L. Rev. 563 (2015); (4) Margaret Ryznar, "The Odd Couple: The Estate Tax and Family Law," 76 La. L. Rev. 523 (2015); (5) Reid Kress Weisbord, "Trust Term Extension," 67 Fla. L. Rev. 73 (2015). The articles from 2014 are: (1) Mark L. Ascher, "Federalization of the Law of Charity," 67 Vand. L. Rev. 1581 (2014); (2) Naomi Cahn, "Probate Law Meets the Digital Age," 67 Vand. L. Rev. 1697 (2014); (3) Rebecca N. Morrow, "Valuation in Light of Uncertainty: How Stock Option Pricing Models Can Inform More Accurate Valuation Discounts for Built-In Gains," 102 Ky. L.J. 653 (2014); (4) Jeffrey Schoenblum, "Strange Bedfellows: The Federal Constitution, Out-of-State Nongrantor Accumulation Trusts, and the Complete Avoidance of State Income Taxation," 67 Vand. L. Rev. 1945 (2014); (5) Jacob L. Todres, "Bad Tax Shelters -- Accountability or the Lack Thereof: Ten Years of Tax Malpractice," 66 Baylor L. Rev. 602 (2014).
Home Sweet Mind-Controlled Home

Students at Colorado State University built a virtual reality prototype for experimenting with cognitive control of connected household devices.
Design of a miniature LTCC diplexer

A chip LTCC diplexer for mobile application was studied.Two branches of the component are LC structured LPF and HPF.Simulation results showed that high isolation could be achieved by introduction of serial resonances in the two branches separately.Analysis of the equivalent circuits of embedded elements indicated that total number of the buried elements needed for the diplexer could be decreased by replacing a "real" capacitor by the parasitic one of a buried inductor.An AMPS/PCS band diplexer with a size of 2.0×1.25×1.0mm3 and higher electrical performance was designed in this work.
COVALENT LINKAGE OF STREPTOKINASE TO RECOMBINANT HIRUDIN : A NOVEL THROMBOLYTIC AGENT WITH ANTITHROMBOTIC PROPERTIES

In a continuing effort to create an agent which has both thrombolytic and antithrombotic properties, streptokinase (SK) was covalently bound to the potent antithrombin agent recombinant hirudin (rHir). Linkage of SK to 125I-rHir was accomplished via heterobifunctional crosslinkers in an average molar ratio of 1:1. The 125I-rHir-SK complex was purified from starting components by anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The major band containing covalently bound 125I-rHir had a molecular weight of 53 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Biologic activity of each component was then assayed utilizing the chromogenic substrate for each compound. Complex bound 125I-rHir exhibited a 1.2 fold decrease in thrombin inhibition when compared to concentrations of 125I-rHir greater than 3.13 nM. Complex bound 125I-SK, replacing the 125I label on rHir, displayed a 7.9-fold loss in plasminogen activation when compared to 125I-SK. These chromogenic assay results were not adversely altered in the presence of the converse compound's substrate. The 125I-SK-rHir complex (examined at various concentrations) also demonstrated a 0.17- to 17-fold greater affinity for thrombin immobilized onto Sepharose beads as compared to 125I-SK. These findings indicate the rHir-SK complex maintained both thrombolytic and antithrombin properties while also obtaining affinity for immobilized thrombin.
Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (FSCV) Detection of Endogenous Octopamine in Drosophila melanogaster Ventral Nerve Cord

Octopamine is an endogenous biogenic amine neurotransmitter, neurohormone, and neuromodulator in invertebrates and has functional analogy with norepinephrine in vertebrates. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) can detect rapid changes in neurotransmitters, but FSCV has not been optimized for octopamine detection in situ. The goal of this study was to characterize octopamine release in the ventral nerve cord of Drosophila larvae for the first time. A FSCV waveform was optimized so that the potential for octopamine oxidation would not be near the switching potential where interferences can occur. Endogenous octopamine release was stimulated by genetically inserting either the ATP sensitive channel, P2X2, or the red-light sensitive channelrhodopsin, CsChrimson, into cells expressing tyrosine decarboxylase (TDC), an octopamine synthesis enzyme. To ensure that release is due to octopamine and not the precursor tyramine, the octopamine synthesis inhibitor disulfiram was applied, and the signal decreased by 80%....
Self-electro-optic bistability in hybrid silicon photonic microring resonators

We propose an on-chip self-electro-optic bistable device based on hybrid silicon microring resonators. The device enables bistability at low optical power with the switching energy of only ∼5 fJ and can potentially operate at ∼100 GHz.
The Motivational Influence of Milestone Times on 10-km Running Performance

To date, little research has been conducted to evaluate the potentially motivating effect of completing a race at a specific "milestone" finishing time. As this is difficult to perform in a laboratory setting, we examined 10-km runners from a large cohort to see if they were more likely to complete a race before rather than after a set milestone time (40:00, 45:00, and 50:00). Frequency distributions for finishers of each sex were created in 30-second time groups, with ideal normal distributions modeled based on this data. The actual time group frequencies were compared to the "expected" values from the modeled normal distributions. We included time groups that contained at least 1,000 finishers, thus were constrained to 36:00 - 52:00 for men and 43:30 to 52:00 for women. A total of 180,731 men and 53,047 women were included in the analysis. Men showed significant positive deviations (more finishers than expected) in the 39:30-40:00, 44:30-45:00, and 48:30-50:00 time groups (3 groups); they showed significant negative deviations only at 40:00-40:30 and 50:00-50:30. Women only showed significant positive time group deviations from 48:30-50:00 (1 group) with no significant negative deviations. In conclusion, despite the relatively arbitrary nature of milestones, they appear to exert a motivational influence on 10-km runners.
Conversion of Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy: Predictors and Outcomes

Data on the risk factors for conversion during minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) and its effect on postoperative outcomes are limited. This retrospective study used the pancreas-targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to compare MIDP requiring unplanned conversion with completed MIDP and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). Of the 2926 cases identified in this study, 48.8% had ODP, 42.8% had MIDP, and 7.9% had conversion to MIDP. The conversion rate was 15.3% overall, 17.3% for laparoscopic surgery, and 8.5% for robotic surgery (p < 0.001). The risk factors associated with conversion were higher body mass index (BMI), low preoperative albumin level, a current smoking habit, and malignant T3/T4 disease or chronic pancreatitis compared with benign tumor smaller than 5 cm. A robotic approach was associated with a lower adjusted conversion rate than laparoscopy (odds ratio [OR] 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19–0.52). After adjustment, conversion was associated with a higher overall complication rate than MIDP (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.35–2.66) or ODP (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.00–1.98). Chronic pancreatitis, large malignant tumors, higher BMI, lower serum albumin, and a current smoking habit were shown to be independent risk factors for conversion during MIDP. A robotic approach was associated with a lower conversion rate than laparoscopic MIDP. Conversion of MIDP was associated with a higher overall complication rate than completed MIDP or ODP. Adequate patient selection for MIDP may prevent conversion and associated increased morbidity.
Body mass index predicts selected physical fitness attributes but is not associated with performance on military relevant tasks in U.S. Army Soldiers.

Abstract Objectives Army body composition standards are based upon validated criteria; however, certain field-expedient methodologies (e.g., weight-for-height, body mass index [BMI]) may disqualify individuals from service who may otherwise excel on physical performance and military-relevant tasks. The purpose was to assess soldier physical performance and military-specific task/fitness performance stratified by BMI. Design Cross-sectional observational study. Methods Male (n = 275) and female (n = 46) soldiers performed a wide-array of physical fitness tests and military-specific tasks, including the Army physical fitness test (APFT). Within-sex performance data were analyzed by BMI tertile stratification or by Army Body Composition Program (ABCP) weight-for-height (calculated BMI) screening standards using ANOVA/Tukey post-hoc or independent t-tests, respectively. Results BMI stratification (higher vs. lower BMI) was associated with significant improvements in muscular strength and power, but also with decrements in speed/agility in male and female soldiers. Within the military specific tasks, a higher BMI was associated with an increased APFT 2-Mile Run time; however, performance on a 1600-m Loaded March or a Warrior Task and Battle Drill obstacle course was not related to BMI in either sex. Male and Female soldiers who did not meet ABCP screening standards demonstrated a slower 2-Mile Run time; however, not meeting the ABCP BMI standard only affected a minimal number (∼6%) of soldiers’ ability to pass the APFT. Conclusions Military body composition standards require a careful balance between physical performance, health, and military readiness. Allowances should be considered where tradeoffs exist between body composition classifications and performance on physical tasks with high military relevance.
Imaging the Breast in Pregnant or Lactating Women

To describe the imaging evaluation of common benign and malignant breast lesions encountered in pregnant or lactating women. There is increasing prevalence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer as the age of women during pregnancy increases. Women in the first 10 years following pregnancy demonstrate an elevated risk for breast cancer compared to the average population. MRI has been shown to be more sensitive for evaluating the extent of disease in lactating patients than mammography or ultrasound. The hormonal effects of pregnancy and lactation on the breast lead to distinct physiologic changes and pathologic lesions, which can manifest in unique imaging appearances. Most patients will undergo ultrasound for primary diagnostic evaluation. While mammography is not routinely utilized, it is not contraindicated even in pregnancy given the negligible radiation dose to the fetus. While most detected lesions are benign, pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is a rare diagnosis that must always be excluded. Women with PABC have a worse prognosis than age-matched controls partly due to delay in diagnosis. Thus prompt and accurate work-up of PABC is critical to improve outcomes.
Posttraumatic Growth as a Response to Natural Disasters in Children and Adolescents.

This review examines factors thought to be associated with posttraumatic growth (PTG) (demographic variables, exposure, and family and social processes) among youth exposed to natural disasters, describes the relationship between PTG and posttraumatic stress, and discusses psychological processes (rumination and coping) linked to PTG. Guided by PTG theory and the literature on PTG in adults, research has revealed relationships between PTG and child, environmental, and family and social factors among youth though the results are mixed. Youth’s subjective exposure to disasters, their level of posttraumatic stress following the disaster, and the type of psychological processes they employ to cope with the disaster appear to be associated with PTG. Research has garnered preliminary support for PTG in children exposed to natural disasters but additional research is needed to fully explicate these relationships and to understand how these relationships change over time.
I am one of them: Examining crisis communication from an intergroup communication approach

This study took an intergroup communication approach and examined how two types of social identities, namely organizational identity and shared ethnic identity with the victim, affect publics’ reactions to a crisis. Data collected via a quasi‐experiment showed that organizational identity affects publics’ reactions, such that internal publics perceive the organization more positively and have less negative word‐of‐mouth intention. Internal publics feel guilty even if they are not personally responsible for the crisis. Publics do not react more negatively when their ethnic ingroup members are accidentally victimized. Organizations should mitigate the internal publics’ anger and guilt and also clarify that the crisis is nonethnicity‐related when the victims happen to be ethnic minorities to avoid any misunderstanding of victims’ ethnic ingroup members.
Pharmacologically Guided Leukemia Therapy

Hypotheses relevant to the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anticancer drugs in human leukemias during therapy provide the focus for this review. The postulates presented are offered as approaches to investigations that experience suggests are likely to be useful to the overall goal of improving the treatment of leukemia and extending patient survival. It is important to conduct these investigations because the answers to the questions posed by these postulates will aid our understanding of clinical activity of the therapeutic agents. It is possible to propose these approaches because of the accessibility of leukemia to investigators and the sensitivity of the analytical procedures to be employed.
The Evolving Nexus of Policy, Longevity and Diversity: Agenda Setting for Latino Health and Aging

This chapter highlights the imperative of agenda setting for Latino health and aging. This approach is based on the premise that the issues raised in this book are too important to remain unattended. The rising numbers of Latinos and their increased longevity have major implications for the United States and Mexico in that the health and well being of older persons in both countries require that they be placed higher on the national agenda. To date, issues of Latino health and aging have remained within the confines of academia and Hispanic advocates but, as the United States grapples with larger concerns of finances, entitlement reform and the pending aging of its baby boomer cohort, the needs of Hispanic elderly and families may be neglected. Mexico faces its own challenges and may not yet have incorporated into its national agenda the reality that its baby boomers also are getting older, while the youth population decreases. Thus, this chapter utilizes the Kingdon model of “agenda setting” to suggest ways in which the lessons and analyses of this book might be entered into broader policy and political discussions. The chapter uses as a case example the passage of a major public, long-term care insurance plan – the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act – to recommend coalition building and policy advocacy. In time, as the United States reaches its demographic destiny of growing diversity amid an aging society, Latino health and aging may assume its rightful place as both an important policy agenda and a set of opportunities.
Phosphate Metabolism and Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Chronic Kidney Disease

Disordered phosphate metabolism is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes. In this chapter, we discuss normal phosphate handling and changes that take place as kidney function declines, with special emphasis on the central role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in mineral metabolism in health and CKD. Further, we review the extensive body of basic and clinical research that supports phosphate and FGF-23 excess as a potential novel target for a future clinical trial in CKD. We conclude by outlining remaining questions in our current understanding of disordered phosphate metabolism and by highlighting some of the existing controversies that stem from these areas of uncertainty.
Iodine Requirements in Pregnancy

Iodine is an essential micronutrient required for thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormone is critically important for growth and development, especially in utero and in early childhood. Pregnant women have increased iodine requirements of 220–250 μg/day. Maternal iodine deficiency during pregnancy can have adverse obstetrical effects such as miscarriage, prematurity, and stillbirth, as well as adverse effects on offspring development including low birth weight and head circumference, and lower intelligence quotient (IQ). Worldwide, universal salt iodization is the mainstay of iodine deficiency disorder elimination efforts. Maternal iodine supplementation prior to conception or in early gestation is beneficial to prevent the adverse effects of iodine deficiency, especially in severely iodine-deficient areas. Meta-analyses of studies of maternal iodine supplementation in moderately to severely iodine-deficient areas have shown benefits for child development and cognitive function, although more research is warranted. Maternal iodine excess in pregnancy can also adversely affect maternal and offspring thyroid function. The United States is considered generally iodine sufficient, but pregnant women in the USA have been mildly iodine deficient in recent years. To prevent adverse effects of iodine deficiency, women are currently advised to take supplements containing 150 μg iodine/day preconception, during pregnancy, and during lactation.