cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimation of parameters describing lipid metabolism in lactation: challenge of existing knowledge described in a model of metabolism.

Abstract We have been conducting research to improve quantitative descriptions of metabolism in lactating dairy cows depicted in an existing mechanistic, computer-assisted model. The model is dynamic and deterministic and is based on biochemical equations describing ruminal fermentation and chemical interactions in body tissues. The objective was to challenge this model with data collected in in vivo and in vitro experiments on high producing dairy cattle fed a range of energy. Cows that varied in genetic propensity for milk production (7045 to 12,909 kg of milk/305 d), lactation number (1 to 4), stage of lactation (–30 to 345 d in milk), and rate of intake (14 to 29 kg/d of dry matter) and that were fed various energy-yielding feedstuffs were used. Dietary inputs, milk component outputs, body fat, nutrient concentrations in blood, and maximal velocity and substrate sensitivity of adipose tissue metabolic reactions were observed. Model simulations were conducted; simulated yields of milk components for a 305-d lactation were within 5% of observed means. Simulated lipid metabolism and accumulation of body fat were adequate in many situations; however, the model response to changes in energy intake was too sensitive. This inadequacy was especially noticeable in later lactation because of inadequate representation of dynamic responses over periods more than a few weeks long. The model behaves consistently with biochemical principles, behavior was in the correct direction, and precision was adequate for many variables. Lack of precision in long-term dynamic changes indicates that the parameters describing energy-utilizing reactions are inadequate. This severe challenge of the model supports its functionality. Further experiments must be designed to determine how nutrients in viscera, muscle, and adipose tissue are used; these experiments must encompass sufficient range in genetic ability, nutrient input, and time to adequately describe the dynamic and integrated nature of metabolic reactions.
Molecular pathways: understanding the role of Rad52 in homologous recombination for therapeutic advancement

The Rad52 protein was largely ignored in humans and other mammals when the mouse knockout revealed a largely "no-effect" phenotype. However, using synthetic lethal approaches to investigate context-dependent function, new studies have shown that Rad52 plays a key survival role in cells lacking the function of the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1)-BRCA2 pathway of homologous recombination. Biochemical studies also showed significant differences between yeast and human Rad52 (hRad52), in which yeast Rad52 can promote strand invasion of replication protein A (RPA)-coated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in the presence of Rad51 but hRad52 cannot. This results in the paradox of how is hRad52 providing Rad51 function: presumably there is something missing in the biochemical assays that exists in vivo, but the nature of this missing factor is currently unknown. Recent studies have suggested that Rad52 provides back-up Rad51 function for all members of the BRCA1-BRCA2 pathway, suggesting that Rad52 may be a target for therapy in BRCA pathway-deficient cancers. Screening for ways to inhibit Rad52 would potentially provide a complementary strategy for targeting BRCA-deficient cancers in addition to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.
Should laparoscopic appendectomy be avoided for complicated appendicitis in children

Abstract Background/Purpose: Laparoscopic appendectomy is becoming the preferred technique for treating acute appendicitis. However, recent literature on adults suggests that laparoscopic appendectomy may increase the risk for postoperative infectious complications in complicated (gangrenous or perforated) cases. This study was undertaken to compare the results of open versus laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis in children. Methods: A retrospective review from two institutions was performed for all children treated operatively for complicated appendicitis from January 1994 through November 1996. Results: Fifty-six cases were identified. Twenty-seven children underwent laparoscopic appendectomy, whereas 22 underwent open appendectomy. Seven children underwent conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. Operating times and length of hospital stay did not differ significantly between the laparoscopic and open groups. Postoperative complications developed in 24 children (42.8%). Complications were more frequent after laparoscopic appendectomy compared with open appendectomy (56% v 18%, P = .002). A postoperative intraabdominal absess (IAA) developed in 14 children (25%). An IAA occurred in two children after open appendectomy compared with 11 children after laparoscopic appendectomy (9% v 41%, P = .01). Conclusion: The findings suggest that laparoscopic appendectomy should be avoided in children who have complicated appendicitis because of the increased risk for postoperative intraabdominal abscesses. The authors propose a prospective, randomized trial to verify this finding.
Max-margin classification of incomplete data

We consider the problem of learning classifiers for structurally incomplete data, where some objects have a subset of features inherently absent due to complex relationships between the features. The common approach for handling missing features is to begin with a preprocessing phase that completes the missing features, and then use a standard classification procedure. In this paper we show how incomplete data can be classified directly without any completion of the missing features using a max-margin learning framework. We formulate this task using a geometrically-inspired objective function, and discuss two optimization approaches: The linearly separable case is written as a set of convex feasibility problems, and the non-separable case has a non-convex objective that we optimize iteratively. By avoiding the pre-processing phase in which the data is completed, these approaches offer considerable computational savings. More importantly, we show that by elegantly handling complex patterns of missing values, our approach is both competitive with other methods when the values are missing at random and outperforms them when the missing values have non-trivial structure. We demonstrate our results on two real-world problems: edge prediction in metabolic pathways, and automobile detection in natural images.
Importance of sulphur in crop production

Sulphur in agricultural soils occurs in organic and inorganic forms, with organic S accounting for > 95% of the total S. Analysis of a wide range of soils shows that from 25 to 75% of the organic S in soils is HI-reducible, from 7 to 30% is C-bonded, and from 11 to 22% is unidentified S. Nitrogen is associated with S in soil organic matter in a ratio of about 8 : 1, although the extreme ratios may vary from 5: 1 to 13: 1. Laboratory studies showed that humus S is depleted faster than humus N. Mineralization of S in crop residues varied with type of crop residue and soil studied The amounts of S fertilizers (gypsum, elemental S, and sulfuric acid) used in the United States in 1981 and 1982 were 1.9 × 106 and 1.5 × 106 tons, respectively. Of the total amount used in 1982, 3, 5, 20, and 71% were used in the West North Central, Mountain, South Atlantic, and Pacific regions, respecitively. A survey of S deposition at about 100 sites in the United States and many other sites in Canada in 1980 showed that annual addition by precipitation in North America ranged from 0.5 to slightly above 10 kg/ha. The usual ranges of values in concentrations and spatial rates of N, P, and S in precipitation is well within the ranges of these elements in natural waters. Atmospheric sources are important components in meeting crops S requirements and should be considered in benefit-cost analyses relating to S emissions.
Sodium butyrate suppresses the transforming activity of an activated N-ras oncogene in human colon carcinoma cells.

The transforming activity of DNA from a newly established undifferentiated human colon carcinoma cell line (MIP-101) was tested in the NIH-3T3 transfection assay. Southern blot analysis of the transfectant DNA revealed the presence of a human N-ras oncogene. Treatment of MIP-101 cells with the maturational agent sodium butyrate induced a more normal phenotype, including diminished growth rate, elimination of anchor-age independent growth, and decreased tumorigenicity (R. Niles, S. Wilhelm, P. Thomas, and N. Zamcheck (1988) J. Cancer Invest. 6, 39). Here we report that there is a significant reduction in the transforming efficiency of the DNA from butyrate-treated MIP-101 cells. A nonspecific reduction in total DNA uptake as an explanation for these findings was eliminated by showing that there was similar uptake and expression of the thymidine kinase gene from the DNA of butyrate-treated and control MIP cells. Butyrate treatment had no detectable effect on the overall structure, methylation, and level of expression of the human N-ras gene from MIP-101 cells. An NIH-3T3 transformant carrying the human N-ras gene was evaluated for phenotypic reversion and DNA transforming ability after treatment with sodium butyrate. Although butyrate suppressed several transformed properties similar to MIP-101 cells, DNA from control and treated cultures had an identical level of transforming activity. The results suggest that the environment of the MIP cells may contain additional elements not present in the NIH-3T3 transformants which are required to observe the effect of butyrate on reduction of transforming activity.
High-efficiency transformation of the diploid strawberry (Fragaria vesca) for functional genomics

Fragaria vesca L., a diploid (2n=2x=14) relative of the commercial octoploid strawberry, is an attractive model for functional genomics research in Rosaceae. Its small genome size, short reproductive cycle, and facile vegetative and seed propagation make F. vesca a promising candidate for forward and reverse genetics experiments. However, the lack of a high-efficiency transformation protocol required for systematic production of thousands of T-DNA insertional mutant lines and high-throughput gene validation is a major bottleneck. We describe a new transformation procedure that uses leaf explants from newly unfolded trifoliate leaves obtained from stock plants 6–7 weeks after seed germination, co-cultivation with Agrobacterium strain GV3101, and stringent selection on MS medium containing 4 mg l−1 hygromycin. Using this protocol we achieved 100% transformation efficiency for 6 of 14 F. vesca accessions tested. Accession PI 551572 was determined to be the best candidate for a model in F. vesca functional genomics research, as it showed the greatest propensity for callus formation, transformation, shoot regeneration, ex vitro establishment, and plant growth, requiring only 14–15 weeks to complete its life cycle in different seasons in the greenhouse.
Evaluation of a high-efficiency, filter-bank system.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigators evaluated filtration efficiencies at three U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities. Ventilation and filtration systems (VFSs) had been installed after the 2001 bioterrorist attacks when the USPS unknowingly processed letters laden with B. anthracis spores. The new VFS units included high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and were required by USPS contract specifications to provide an overall filtration efficiency of at least 99.97% for particles between 0.3 μm and 3.0 μ m. The USPS evaluation involved a modification of methodology used to test total filtration system efficiency in agricultural tractor cab enclosures. The modified sampling strategy not only proved effective for monitoring the total filtration system component of VFS performance but also distinguished between filtration systems performing to the high USPS performance criteria and those needing repair or replacement. The results clearly showed the importance of...
IN SITU ESTIMATE OF SHEAR WAVE VELOCITY USING BOREHOLE SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF SURFACE WAVES TOOL

In situ field testing has been performed over the past several years at a silty sand site in Austin, Tex. using the borehole spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) tool to develop the technique and assess the validity of the method. The borehole SASW tool is an inflatable pressuremeterlike device that allows surface wave measurements to be performed along the wall of an uncased borehole while varying the in situ states of stress. Field results demonstrate the applicability of borehole SASW testing as a method to characterize soil sites and provide information about in situ shear wave velocity and the relationship between shear wave velocity and state of stress. Results from a borehole SASW test conducted at the Austin site are presented herein to demonstrate the applicability and validity of the method.
Missense mutation in exon 2 of SLC36A1 responsible for champagne dilution in horses

Champagne coat color in horses is controlled by a single, autosomal-dominant gene (CH). The phenotype produced by this gene is valued by many horse breeders, but can be difficult to distinguish from the effect produced by the Cream coat color dilution gene (CR). Three sires and their families segregating for CH were tested by genome scanning with microsatellite markers. The CH gene was mapped within a 6 cM region on horse chromosome 14 (LOD=11.74 for h=0.00). Four candidate genes were identified within the region, namely SPARC [Secreted protein, acidic, cysteine-rich (osteonectin)], SLC36A1 (Solute Carrier 36 family A1), SLC36A2 (Solute Carrier 36 family A2), and SLC36A3 (Solute Carrier 36 family A3). SLC36A3 was not expressed in skin tissue and therefore not considered further. The other three genes were sequenced in homozygotes for CH and homozygotes for the absence of the dilution allele (ch). SLC36A1 had a nucleotide substitution in exon 2 for horses with the champagne phenotype, which resulted in a transition from a threonine amino acid to an arginine amino acid (T63R). The association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with the champagne dilution phenotype was complete, as determined by the presence of the nucleotide variant among all 85 horses with the champagne dilution phenotype and its absence among all 97 horses without the champagne phenotype. This is the first description of a phenotype associated with the SLC36A1 gene.
General systems theory and criminal justice

Abstract Criminal justice agencies are organized sequentially — “output” from one agency is “input” to the next — but most scholars argue that criminal justice is not a system in a theoretical sense. In this article, it is argued that general systems theory (GST) reveals important insights into criminal justice structures and functions. Specifically, it is argued that the criminal justice system processes “cases” rather than people, and that the common goal of criminal justice processing is to “close cases so that they stay closed.” It also is argued that processing capacity progressively declines, in that at each system point the subsequent agency cannot input as many cases as the previous agency can output. Each agency therefore experiences “backward pressure” to close cases in order to reduce input to the next agency. Overall, this article highlights that criminal justice agents and agencies are best understood as operating in the context of the larger whole, thus it is concluded that criminal justice is a system in the sense of general systems theory.
A new approach to the interpolation of sampled data

A new class of interpolation kernels that are locally compact in signal space and "almost band-limited" in Fourier space is presented. The kernels are easy to calculate and lend themselves to problems in which the kernels must be analytically manipulated with other operations or operators such as convolutions and projection integrals. The interpolation kernels are comprised of a linear sum of a Gaussian function and its second derivative (and, when extended to higher order, its higher even derivatives). A numerical Gaussian quadrature method is derived that can be used with integrals involving the kernels that cannot be analytically evaluated. Potential extensions to higher order implementations of the kernels are discussed and examined. The emphasis of the manuscript is on the simplicity of the interpolation kernel and some of its mathematical properties.
Vibration analysis of beams with multiple constrained layer damping patches

A new analytical, energy based approach is described that predicts the harmonic vibration response of a damped beam with multiple viscoelastic patches. Each damping patch consists of a metallic constraining layer and an adhesive viscoelastic layer with spectrally-varying material properties. Since this approach relates all deformation variables in various layers, only flexural shape functions need to be incorporated in the complex eigenvalue problem. Consequently flexural, longitudinal and shear deformation eigenvectors can be calculated. In particular, the shear deformation modes of the viscoelastic core provide useful information regarding the effect of patch damping. The proposed method has been validated by comparing predictions with modal measurements and with those published in the literature. Also, an estimation technique is developed that determines the shear modulus and loss factor properties of two different viscoelastic materials used in experimental studies. An uncertainty study is also performed to establish the error bounds of the estimated material loss factors. Effects of patch boundary conditions, patch cutouts and locations, and mismatched patch combinations are analytically and experimentally examined.
A visual language for XML

XML is becoming one of the most influential standards concerning data exchange and Web presentations. The article presents a visual language for querying and transforming XML data. The language is based on a visual document metaphor and the notion of document patterns. It combines an intuitive, dynamic form based interface for defining queries and transformation rules with powerful pattern matching capabilities and offers thus a highly expressive yet easy to use visual language. Providing visual language support for XML not only helps end users, it is also a big opportunity for the VL community to receive greater attention.
The interaction between the 2009 H1N1 influenza A hemagglutinin and neuraminidase: mutations, co-mutations, and the NA stalk motifs

As the world is closely watching the current 2009 H1N1 pandemic unfold, there is a great interest and need in understanding its origin, genetic structures, virulence, and pathogenicity. The two surface proteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), of the influenza virus have been the focus of most flu research due to their crucial biological functions. In our previous study on 2009 H1N1, three aspects of NA were investigated: the mutations and co-mutations, the stalk motifs, and the phylogenetic analysis. In this study, we turned our attention to HA and the interaction between HA and NA. The 118 mutations of 2009 H1N1 HA were found and mapped to the 3D homology model of H1, and the mutations on the five epitope regions on H1 were identified. This information is essential for developing new drugs and vaccine. The distinct response patterns of HA to the changes of NA stalk motifs were discovered, illustrating the functional dependence between HA and NA. With help from our previous results, two co-mutation networks were uncovered, one in HA and one in NA, where each mutation in one network co-mutates with the mutations in the other network across the two proteins HA and NA. These two networks residing in HA and NA separately may provide a functional linkage between the mutations that can impact the drug binding sites in NA and those that can affect the host immune response or vaccine efficacy in HA. Our findings demonstrated the value of conducting timely analysis on the 2009 H1N1 virus and of the integrated approach to studying both surface proteins HA and NA together to reveal their interdependence, which could not be accomplished by studying them individually.
Whole cell kinetics of ureolysis by Sporosarcina pasteurii.

NSF's Collaborations in Mathematical Geosciences (CMG) program no. DMS-0934696; DOE Subsurface Biogeochemical Research (SBR) Program no. DE-FG02-09ER64758; University Scholars Program (USP);U.S. DOE DE-FE0004478, DE-FE0009599 and DE-FG02-13ER86571
Identification of Novel Host Cell Binding Partners of Oas1b, the Protein Conferring Resistance to Flavivirus-Induced Disease in Mice

Oas1b was previously identified as the product of the Flvr allele that confers flavivirus-specific resistance to virus-induced disease in mice by an uncharacterized, RNase L-independent mechanism. To gain insights about the mechanism by which Oas1b specifically reduces the efficiency of flavivirus replication, cellular protein interaction partners were identified and their involvement in the Oas1b-mediated flavivirus resistance mechanism was analyzed. Initial difficulties in getting the two-hybrid assay to work with full-length Oas1b led to the discovery that this Oas protein uniquely has a C-terminal transmembrane domain that targets it to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Two peptides matching to oxysterol binding protein-related protein 1L (ORP1L) and ATP binding cassette protein 3, subfamily F (ABCF3), were identified as Oas1b interaction partners in yeast two-hybrid assays, and both in vitro-transcribed/translated peptides and full-length proteins in mammalian cell lysates coimmunoprecipitated with Oas1b. Knockdown of a partner involved in Oas1b-mediated antiflavivirus activity would be expected to increase flavivirus replication but not that of other types of viruses. However, RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of ORP1L decreased the replication of the flavivirus West Nile virus (WNV) as well as that of other types of RNA viruses. This virus-nonspecific effect may be due to the recently reported dysregulation of late endosome movement by ORP1L knockdown. Knockdown of ABCF3 protein levels increased the replication of WNV but not that of other types of RNA viruses, and this effect on WNV replication was observed only in Oas1b-expressing cells. The results suggest that Oas1b is part of a complex located in the ER and that ABCF3 is a component of the Flvr-mediated resistance mechanism.
Seminal Vesicles Are Novel Sites of Luteinizing Hormone/Human Chorionic Gonadotropin—Receptor Gene Expression

The hypothesis that rat seminal vesicles may contain luteinizing hormone (LH)Ihuman chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) re- ceptors was tested by means of a number of different techniques. Northern blotting demonstrated that rat seminal vesicles contained multiple LH/hCG-receptor transcripts. In situ hybridization revealed that these transcripts were present primarily in the principal epithelial cells lining the lumen. Western immunoblotting detected proteins, two of which disappeared (80 and 46 kDa) and another of which decreased (30 kDa) after preabsorption of the receptor antibody with excess receptor peptide. Ligand blotting showed that 1251-hCGcould bind only to an 80-kDa protein and that this binding was inhibited by coincubation with excess unlabeled hCG. lmmunocytochemistry demonstrated that LH/hCG-receptor protein was present primarily in the principal epithelial cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that seminal vesicles contain LH/hCG receptors, thus making this pre- viously unsuspected male accessory reproductive organ a potential target of direct regulation by LH.
Degrees of Freedom

Summary This article reviews several attempts to define degrees of freedom, and offers some simple explanations of how they are derived and why they are used in various contexts.
Radical innovation and global patterns of breakthrough technology development: an analysis of biotechnology and nanotechnology

This paper explores growing public and organizational interest in commercialization of products based on revolutionary technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology. International knowledge dynamics and organizational participation is analyzed. The analysis concludes that learning has occurred and that at least with respect to nanotechnology we begin to see the reality of global integration.
Self-consistent generation of tectonic plates in three-dimensional mantle convection

Abstract Despite the fundamental importance of plates in the Earth's mantle convection, plates have not generally been included in numerical convection models or analog laboratory experiments, mainly because the physical properties which lead to plate tectonic behavior are not well understood. Strongly temperature-dependent viscosity results in an immobile rigid lid, so that plates, where included at all in 3-D models, have always been imposed by hand. An important challenge is thus to develop a physically reasonable material description which allows plates to develop self-consistently; this paper focuses on the role of ductile shear localization. In two-dimensional geometry, it is well-established that strain-rate softening, non-Newtonian rheologies (e.g. power-law, visco-plastic) cause weak zones and strain-rate localization above up- and down-wellings, resulting in a rudimentary approximation of plates. Three-dimensional geometry, however, is fundamentally different due to the presence of transform plate boundaries with associated toroidal motion. Since power-law and visco-plastic rheologies do not have the property of producing shear localization, it is not surprising that they do not produce good plate-like behavior in three-dimensional calculations. Here, it is argued that a strain-rate-weakening rheology, previously shown to produce plate-like behavior in a two-dimensional sheet representing the lithosphere, is a reasonable generic description of various weakening processes observed in nature. One- and two-dimensional models are used to show how this leads to shear localization and the formation of ‘faults’. This rheology is then applied to the high-viscosity lithosphere of 3-D mantle convection calculations, and the velocity-pressure/viscosity solution for the entire 3-D domain (lid and underlying mantle) is solved self-consistently. It is found that the lithosphere divides into a number of very high-viscosity plates, separated by narrow, sharply defined weak zones with a viscosity many orders of magnitude less than the plate interiors. Broad weak zones with dominant convergent/divergent motion above up- and down-wellings are interconnected by a network of narrow weak zones with dominant strike-slip motion. Passive spreading centers are formed in internally heated cases. While the resulting plates are not fully realistic, these results show that self-consistent plate generation is a realizable goal in three-dimensional mantle convection, and provide a promising avenue for future research.
Recent innovations in the development of magnetic resonance imaging conditional pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

The first generation of magnetic resonance conditional pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators has finally arrived in clinical practice after many years of development. These devices have been optimized to properly function within magnetic fields of 1.5 T and ensure safe operation in controlled environments. Further progress is needed to develop a new generation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conditional devices that can operate in higher powered MRI machines (3 T) which produce clearer images. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 1: 98–104)
Employer Demand for Welfare Recipients and the Business Cycle: Evidence from Recent Employer Surveys

In this paper I present evidence on the extent to which labor market tightness, and measured by job vacancy rates and other indicators of hiring difficulty, affect the willingness of establishments to hire welfare recipients. From these estimates, I infer the effects of the business cycle on the labor market demand for welfare recipients. The data are from a new survey of employers in Michigan. The results indicate that labor market tightness has a substantial effect on employer demand for welfare recipients. They also suggest that employer willingness to provide workplace amenities or supports to welfare recipients (such as child care, transportation assistance, training, etc.), and their receptiveness to policy interventions on behalf of recipients, are influenced by labor market tightness as well.
P2P Systems Meet Mobile Computing: A Community-Oriented Software Infrastructure for Mobile Social Applications

The widespread adoption of powerful mobile devices creates an unprecedented potential for innovative mobile applications that can enhance users' social interactions. The current centralized mobile system and service architectures do not allow large-scale dynamic interactions between mobile devices, as required by these applications. This paper proposes Mobius, a decentralized solution that supports mobile social applications via a two-tier software infrastructure. In Mobius, a socially-aware peer-to-peer tier provides community-oriented data and persistent services for the mobile tier that runs the applications.
Jiffy Lube International, Inc. (Abridged)

This is an abridged version of Jiffy Lube International (UVA-BP-0303), intended to highlight strategy issues and focus less on the economics of franchising. See abstract of original case.
Social Work Practice with Children with Perinatally-Infected with HIV: Considerations Regarding Diagnostic Disclosure

The development of antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) has signifi cantly lengthened the lifespan and changed the life course of most individuals infected with HIV and AIDS in the United States. Furthermore, ART use during pregnancy has signifi cantly reduced the rate of mother-to-child (perinatal) HIV transmission. While perinatal infection rates among children in the United States have declined since the 1990s, ART regimens became standard treatment protocol, there remains a population of children entering adolescence who were born HIV-positive. This paper discusses: 1) the importance of diagnostic disclosure of HIV and AIDS status to infected children, 2) stigma and the disclosure process with children, and 3) the role of clinical social workers in facilitating the disclosure process.
Drug Shortages and the Role of the Pharmacy Technician: A Review:

Objective:To increase pharmacy technicians' awareness of national drug shortages, enabling them to understand why drug shortages occur and how they can help ameliorate the effects that a drug short...
Predictors of success on Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing certification board examinations: a regression study of academic factors.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive validity of selected programmatic factors of a Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Education Program (WOCNEP) on graduates' success when completing their certification examinations. SUBJECTS AND SETTING First-time certification examination candidates over a 10-year period graduating from 1 WOCNEP located in the northeastern section of the United States comprised the sample. METHODS Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the predictive value of academic factors (entry-level grade point average [GPA], test scores from the 2 WOCNEP courses, scores in a comprehensive final examination, and scores on the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board [WOCNCB] self-assessment examinations). Program format (on-site vs online study) was not analyzed due to the small online sample size. RESULTS The predictive power of academic factors for WOCNCB certification success is similar to findings in published literature. Entry-level GPA, 4 course examination test scores, comprehensive final examination score, and 3 self-assessment examination (SAE) tests accounted for 56% of the variance in successful passing of the WOCNCB examinations (χ2 = 25.98, P < .01, R = 0.56). Entry-level GPA (R = 0.18, P < .01) and performance in course work (4 test scores) (R = 0.31, P < .01) were the strongest predictors. CONCLUSIONS Study findings suggest that entry-level GPA and achievement in academic course work are most predictive of successful completion of WOCNCB certification examination.
Flies control measures in Lanzhou city

In order to carry out pest biological control,actively create a national sanitary city.In Lanzhou city,the control of flies work is strengthened.The control of flies research and flies disinfestation activities are carried out.Comprehensive control measures based on environmental monitor is adopted,and effectively controls the density of flies.
A Pilot Clinical Trial to Objectively Assess the Efficacy of Electroacupuncture on Gait in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Using Body Worn Sensors

Background Gait disorder, a key contributor to fall and poor quality of life, represents a major therapeutic challenge in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The efficacy of acupuncture for PD remains unclear, largely due to methodological flaws and lack of studies using objective outcome measures. Objective To objectively assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) for gait disorders using body-worn sensor technology in patients with PD. Methods In this randomized pilot study, both the patients and assessors were masked. Fifteen PD patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 10) or to a control group (n = 5). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after completion of three weekly EA treatments. Measurements included gait analysis during single-task habitual walking (STHW), dual-task habitual walking (DTHW), single-task fast walking (STFW), dual-task fast walking (DTFW). In addition, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), SF-12 health survey, short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were utilized. Results All gait parameters were improved in the experimental group in response to EA treatment. After adjustment by age and BMI, the improvement achieved statistical significant level for gait speed under STHW, STFW, and DTFW (9%-19%, p 0.110). The highest correlation between gait parameters and UPRDS scores at baseline was observed between gait speed during STFW and UPDRS II (r = -0.888, p = 0.004). The change in this gait parameter in response to active intervention was positively correlated with baseline UPDRS (r = 0.595, p = 0.057). Finally, comparison of responses to treatment between groups showed significant improvement, prominently in gait speed (effect size 0.32–1.16, p = 0.001). Conclusions This study provides the objective proof of concept for potential benefits of non-pharmaceutical based EA therapy on enhancing gait in patients with PD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02556164
Thermoelectric Nanocomposites for Thermal Energy Conversion

Thermoelectric (TE) solid-state devices can convert heat into electricity. TE nanocomposites usually possess better TE performances than traditional TE bulks, such as higher figure-of-merit (ZT) and power output, playing a key role for industrial applications of TE devices, and thereby offering a great promise for improving energy efficiency over the traditional renewable energy systems. This chapter reviews manufacturing, TE properties and devices of TE nanocomposites. These nanocomposites are bottom-up compacted from nanoparticles that are produced by ball-milling . The produced nanocomposites possess unique microstructures to scatter phonons to decrease thermal conductivity and hold electric conductivity while maintaining or increasing the Seebeck coefficient. ZT of these nanocomposites are usually enhanced 10–100 %. TE devices are fabricated from these nanocomposites and their efficiencies are described. Future developments of TE nanocomposites are outlooked at the end of the chapter. The chapter will benefit material scientists, device engineers, and graduate students working in TE fields.
Three Year Old Child and Side Airbag Interaction Study Using the CVS/ATB Multi-body Simulation Program

As part of a project to study a prototype side-impact airbag with a focus on child-to-airbag impacts, simulations were performed using the CVS/ATB multibody program to study several child dummy positions to find their probable injury severity level. This allowed a subset of the positions to be chosen for future laboratory testing. A secondary goal was to see how the predicted injury levels compared with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's current recommendations for child dummy protection reference values. The project also examined how the lack of lateral flexibility in the dummy would affect the testing of head, door, and airbag interactions for the case of an intruding door. Lastly, the effect of bag contact location, up and down the torso, was studied with regard to secondary loading of the neck and head. A nominal 3-year-old child size was used in the study, with two sets of neck and spinal joint characteristics to reflect humanlike and dummylike kinematic properties.
Information Sharing Always Helps Team Decisions? The Hidden Profile Condition

Firms generally take the pool of information shared by team members as an advantage of teamwork in the decision-making process. Yet information sharing has not been as impactful under certain circumstances. Adopting the “hidden profile” paradigm, we examine the relationships between information sharing and team decisional outcomes. Specifically, we argue that information sharing benefits team decisional outcomes only when information is equally distributed among all decision makers in a team. When information is unequally distributed, it is not information sharing, but information use, that facilitates team decision making. Furthermore, our results show that the hidden profile problem aggravates in functionally diverse teams. Through this study, we suggest that information use is the ultimate gateway that leads decision makers to optimal decision outcomes.
Theories, Consistent Expectations and Exchange Rate Dynamics

It has been apparent for some time now that the standard asset market models of exchange rate determination provide poor descriptions of exchange rate behaviour. These models are usually solved using the rational expectations hypothesis (REH) and it seems natural to inquire whether the problem lies in part with the expectational assumption. Studies that undertake this line of analysis in the exchange rate literature include Frankel and Froot (1987) and Kirman (1990). In this chapter we pursue this line of research and explore the implications of an alternative expectational assumption, recently proposed in Frydman and Phelps (1990) called the theories consistent expectations hypothesis (TCEH). We show that using the TCEH to close the monetary models of the exchange rate brings their implications more closely in line with the empirical record.
Multi-week MILP scheduling for an ice cream processing facility

Abstract This paper presents a multi-week mixed integer linear programming (MILP) scheduling model for an ice cream processing facility. The ice cream processing is a typical complex food manufacturing process and a simplified version of this processing has been adapted to investigate scheduling problems in the literature. Most of these models only considered the production scheduling for a week. In this paper, multi-week production scheduling is considered. The problem has been implemented as an MILP model. The model has been tested on a set of cases from the literature, and its results were compared to the results of problems solved using hybrid MILP-heuristics methods in the literature. The inclusion of clean-up session, weekend break and semi-processed product from previous week were also assessed with two additional sets of experiments. The experiments result show that the proposed MILP is able to handle multi-week scheduling efficiently and effectively within a reasonable time limit.
Outdoor measurements of a photovoltaic system using diffractive spectrum-splitting and concentration

In a single-bandgap absorber, photons having energy less than the bandgap are not absorbed, while those having energy larger than the bandgap lose the excess energy via thermalization. We present outdoor measurements of a photovoltaic system that overcomes these losses via spectrum splitting and concentration using a planar diffractive optic. The system was comprised of the diffractive optic coupled with GaInP and CIGS solar cells. The optic provides a geometric concentration of 3X for each solar cell. It is easily fabricated by single-step grayscale lithography and it is ultra-thin with a maximum thickness of only 2.5μm. Electrical measurements under direct sunlight demonstrated an increase of ∼25% in total output power compared to the reference case without spectrum splitting and concentration. Since different bandgaps are in the same plane, the proposed photovoltaic system successfully circumvents the lattice-matching and current-matching issues in conventional tandem multi-junction solar cells. This system is also tolerant to solar spectrum variation and fill-factor degradation of constitutive solar cells.
Risk of Seizure Recurrence after First Seizure

The frequency of seizure recurrence in 283 children presenting with a first unprovoked seizure was studied in the Montefiore/Einstein Epilepsy Management Center, Bronx, NY; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CN; and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.
Comparison of Times to Ureteral Efflux after Administration of Sodium Fluorescein and Phenazopyridine.

Purpose: There is currently a national shortage of indigo carmine. In efforts to identify the most efficient aid for visualizing ureteral efflux intraoperatively we investigated the time to excretion of phenazopyridine vs a newly identified alternative, sodium fluorescein.Materials and Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected data on a cohort of women who underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery in 2015. Per provider preference patterns a number of patients were administered 200 mg phenazopyridine orally with a sip of water 1 hour prior to the start of operative time. Other patients were given 0.5 ml 10% sodium fluorescein intravenously in the operating room. In all cases time was measured between the administration of the agent and the visualization of color changes consistent with agent efflux in an indwelling catheter, which was placed at the start of the operation. Differences in excretion times between the groups were compared with the Wilcoxon rank sum test.Results: Seven women received phenazopy...
Galleries and Soft Power: The Gallery in The Winter’s Tale

This chapter examines the significance of Paulina’s gallery, the setting for the final scene of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. The private gallery, which functions both as a room of state and as a privy space, a place for the successful deployment of soft, coercive power, was only beginning to be commonplace in the early seventeenth century when the play was first performed (1609–11). The Winter’s Tale, stages the work of soft power diplomacy as a remedy for tyranny and as an aid to peace-making, and, in so doing, explores the extent to which such operations are both gendered and spatially rooted. Paulina’s success in brokering peace, resurrecting a tarnished Queen’s reputation, and restoring a lost heir is facilitated by the use of a site that enables a new kind of thinking. Where the palaces, prisons and courtrooms are masculine arenas of social control and correction in which rules are harsh and unbending and penalties are severe, peace-making requires a more contemplative and timeless venue that facilitates shared wonder. Paulina’s gallery, with its rare sculpture by master artist Giulio Romano, is just such a venue. Culturally, the gallery was gendered masculine (a place for male connoisseurs to gather and converse) and, on stage, it was sexualized as well (associated with sexual victimization and conquest). In The Winter’s Tale, however, Paulina makes use of the new stature of the gallery and the new emphasis on connoisseurship to influence a mostly male gathering and sway their hearts.
Seniority for nucleons in j = 9/2 orbits

Abstract Using the results of some recent experiments, the godness of seniority for identical nucleons in the 1g 9 2 , 1h 9 2 , and 2g 9 2 orbits is investigated. With the present level assignments the j = 9 2 v = 1 and v = 3 states of ( 9 2 ) 3 are calculated to be admixed with an intensity less than 1 10 of one per cent. A residual interaction which exactly preserves seniority is seen to give a two-body spectrum which has a root-mean-squared deviation from the experimental levels of less than 16 keV for these cases.
Climatic factors contributing to long-term variations in surface fine dust concentration in the United States

Abstract. High concentrations of dust particles can cause respiratory problems and increase non-accidental mortality. Studies found fine dust (with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µ m) is an important component of the total PM 2.5 mass in the western and central US in spring and summer and has positive trends. This work examines climatic factors influencing long-term variations in surface fine dust concentration in the US using station data from the Interagency Monitoring Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network during 1990–2015. The variations in the fine dust concentration can be largely explained by the variations in precipitation, surface bareness, and 10 m wind speed. Moreover, including convective parameters such as convective inhibition (CIN) and convective available potential energy (CAPE) that reveal the stability of the atmosphere better explains the variations and trends over the Great Plains from spring to fall. While the positive trend of fine dust concentration in the southwestern US in spring is associated with precipitation deficit, the increase in fine dust over the central Great Plains in summer is largely associated with enhanced CIN and weakened CAPE, which are caused by increased atmospheric stability due to surface drying and lower-troposphere warming. The strengthening of the Great Plains low-level jet also contributes to the increase in fine dust concentration in the central Great Plains in summer via its positive correlation with surface winds and negative correlation with CIN. Summer dusty days in the central Great Plains are usually associated with a westward extension of the North Atlantic subtropical high that intensifies the Great Plains low-level jet and also results in a stable atmosphere with subsidence and reduced precipitation.
THE CALCIUM CURRENT OF A VERTEBRATE NEURONE

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the calcium current of a vertebrate neuron. The existence of calcium currents in vertebrate sympathetic ganglion cells has been known for some time. The chapter discusses a study to provide an initial characterization of calcium current kinetics in sympathetic neurons. Bullfrog neurons were cesium loaded using a modified nystatin procedure. The peak calcium current amplitude was determined by subtracting the currents observed with depolarizing steps after addition of 100 μM Cd++. The threshold was about −20 mV, and the maximum current was observed at +10 mV. Beyond this potential the currents gradually decreased, and appeared to approach zero asymptotically. The tail current following steps to −20 mV and back to the holding potential did not increase with depolarization to +30 or beyond. It is found that all the channels appear to be open at +20 mV. It is found that if a Goldmanian current–voltage relation was fitted to the data beyond +10 mV, then the fraction of open channels in the range −20 to +10 mV could be calculated. The activation curve so obtained could be fitted with a midpoint of 0 mV and an effective valency of the gating particle of 4.5 mV. The calcium tail currents on repolarization to the holding potential grew in amplitude as the depolarization was prolonged, with a time course that paralleled the turn on of the calcium current. The tail currents became much faster as the repolarization potential was shifted from −20 to −30 and then −40 mV.