cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adjunctive telmisartan treatment on body metabolism in clozapine or olanzapine treated patients with schizophrenia: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial

This study examined the effect of adjunctive telmisartan on body metabolism in clozapine- or olanzapine-treated patients with schizophrenia. Each subject had been on stable dose of olanzapine or clozapine for at least 1 month. In a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, subjects received either telmisartan (80 mg once per day) or placebo. The homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated based on fasting blood levels of insulin and glucose. Fasting blood levels of triglycerides and cholesterols, as well as serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. The whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition. Lipid particles were assessed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All assessments were conducted at baseline and repeated at week 12. Fifty-four subjects were randomized and 43 completed the study (22 in the telmisartan group, 21 in the placebo group). There were no significant differences between the two groups in week 12 changes for HOMA-IR or fasting triglycerides (− 0.18 ± 1.24 vs 0.39 ± 1.39, p = 0.181; − 26 ± 76 vs − 10 ± 81 mg/dL, p = 0.679, respectively) (telmisartan vs placebo). Further, there were no significant between group differences in week 12 changes for other fasting lipids, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, as well as various measures of lipid particles (p’s > 0.100). The DXA assessment showed no significant differences between the two groups in week 12 changes for fat mass, lean mass, or total mass (p’s > 0.100). In the present study, adjunctive treatment of telmisartan did not seem to improve body metabolism in schizophrenia patients receiving olanzapine or clozapine. The implications for future studies were discussed. NCT00981526.
Synthesis of L-DOPA based pigments with different physic-chemical properties

Using air- or Fe2+/H2O2-mediated oxidation, the formation of melanin-like pigments from L-DOPA was evaluated. The effects of the various reaction conditions on the efficiency of the reaction and the physic-chemical properties of the pigments generated (UV-Vis absorbance, fluorescence emission) was evaluated. As previously observed for other phenolic and indolic compounds, the use of high concentrations of H2O2 resulted in melanin-like materials with a much lighter color. In addition, we observed that, unlike for air-mediated oxidation, the Fe2+/H2O2-mediated oxidation of L-DOPA can yield melanin-like pigmentation in an acidic environment. In general, our results suggest that depending on the intensity of the oxidizing reaction conditions involved, light- or dark-colored melanin-like pigments can be generated from L-DOPA. This may be an important factor when evaluating the visible outlook of histological specimens: the presence of a lighter color or the absence of a dark color may not necessarily mean the absence of melanin-like biomolecules. We discuss all our observations in the context of the importance of melanin-like pigmentation in human physiology.
Cosmetics and Lasers

In this section we review cosmetic techniques used in dermatology including neuromodulators, fillers, chemical peels, microneedling, fat reduction strategies, sclerotherapy and lasers. We discuss treatment techniques, patient evaluation and counseling as well as common side effects.
Demand-dependent recovery decision-making of a batch of products for sustainability

Abstract This research examines the demand-dependent product recovery decision-making problem for a batch of products that undergo remanufacturing/dismantling via a hybrid recovery system. Product recovery provides an attractive approach to achieving sustainable manufacturing. Faced with changing demand, flexible recovery decisions on product recovery strategies, component recovery options, and recovery yields are critical to enable a successful and sustainable operations. However, a need exists for an integrated model to provide a comprehensive optimal solution from the integrated perspective of economic, environmental, and societal sustainability. This research gap is addressed by proposing and validating a multi-objective decision-making model. Demand-dependent optimal solutions are identified that balance different sustainable performance constraints. Further, a two-stage meta-heuristic method is developed to solve the model, where a cooperative evolution mechanism is designed to optimize dismantling decisions and recovery yields simultaneously. Numerical experiments are conducted that illustrate and validate the developed solution. In addition, the impacts of demand on optimal decisions and different sustainable performance are investigated. The results verify the effectiveness of our new model and approach in assisting decision makers in finding a flexible path to sustainable recovery while providing insights into analyzing the counteraction effect of different demands in hybrid recovery implementation.
Ménière's disease clinical subtypes in a population from the USA.

Objective To ascertain the distribution of Meniere's disease phenotype subgroups in a US-based cohort, based on a recently introduced classification scheme utilising a Spanish and Portuguese cohort. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional, single-institutional chart review was conducted. The electronic medical records of Meniere's disease patients were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes at a tertiary referral centre and reviewed to extract subgroup-defining features. Patients with definite Meniere's disease as per American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery criteria were categorised into one of five subgroups, for unilateral and bilateral Meniere's disease. Results Eighty-one patients with definite Meniere's disease were identified. Seventy-two cases of unilateral Meniere's disease were observed: 52.8 per cent were type 1, 20.8 per cent were type 2, 4.2 per cent were type 3, 18.1 per cent were type 4, and 4.2 per cent were type 5. This cohort differed significantly in distribution to a comparison Mediterranean cohort (p < 0.01). Nine cases of bilateral Meniere's disease were observed. Conclusion The distribution of unilateral Meniere's disease subtypes in this US population was different from that observed in a European population.
First and second moments of the size distribution of bond percolation clusters on rings, paths and stars

Abstract The main objective of this paper is to study the first and second moments of the size of a typical cluster of bond percolation on ring, path, and star graphs. These graphs are essential building blocks of graphs that represent hybrid local area networks (LANs). In our setting, the edges are independently open with probability p , and the aim is to find the exact expressions for the first and second moments of the number of vertices in the cluster of open edges containing a vertex chosen uniformly at random. This work is motivated by a network science question of resilience as well as pricing of cyber risk in hybrid LANs.
Searching for Prosociality in Qualitative Data: Comparing Manual, Closed‐Vocabulary, and Open‐Vocabulary Methods

Although most people present themselves as possessing prosocial traits, people differ in the extent to which they actually act prosocially in everyday life. Qualitative data that were not ostensibl...
Analysis of arsenic content in environmental media after implementing comprehensive control measures in coal-burning-borne epidemic arsenism areas of Guizhou province

Objective To evaluate the influence of coal arsenic on food arsenic after implementing comprehensive control measures in coal-burning-borne epidemic arsenism areas of Guizhou province.Methods In 2011,according to the history of arsenic disease of Guizhou province,25 diseased villages from Xingyi,Xingren,Anlong counties that had carried out comprehensive prevention and control measures in 2005 were choosen.Because of the different sources of coal sample,5 families,which used the same coal,were selected for the survey in each village.The levels of arsenic in coal,pepper and corn were measured.According to the provisions of "Define and Division Standard for Endemic Arsenism" (WS 277-2007),the residents surveyed were divided into two groups by the level of arsenic:low-risk group(≤40 mg/kg) and high-risk group(＞ 40 mg/kg).The risk of arsenic exposure between the two groups was analyzed.Arsenic in coal samples was determined by hydride-atomic absorption method and in corn and pepper by hydride atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry.Results In 25 diseased villages,a total of 125 coal samples were tested,and the mean contents of arsenic was 30.54 mg/kg; 125 capsicum samples were tested,and the mean contents of arsenic was 0.25 mg/kg; 125 corn samples were tested,and the mean contents of arsenic was 0.20 mg/kg.Difference between low risk and high risk groups of capsicum arsenic was statistically significant(Z =-2.261,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with 1991,the the mean contents of coal,pepper and corn arsenic(472.49,5.28,586.60 mg/kg) in arsenic diseased areas was significantly reduced(Z =-9.15,-11.93,-9.94,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Comprehensive prevention and control measures have achieved the expected results in prevention and control of arsenic pollution.Food arsenic contamination is significantly reduced in diseased areas,and partially met the standard requirements of National Pollutant Limits.The work of prevention and control should be continued. Key words: Endemic arseniasis; Pollution remediation; Coal mining; Capsicum; Zea mays
Rare case of abdominal scar endometriosis by direct communication between fallopian tube and abdominal wall

Introduction:Endometriosis involving a surgical scar occurs in 1%–2% of patients after cesarean section. There are three theories of pathogenesis: direct seeding of endometrium during surgery, dist...
Introduction: The Good of Freedom

Freedom is a great political good. This is not a claim that many who live in contemporary western states would be inclined to reject. Nor is it a claim that those thinkers who have undertaken a scholarly exploration of the nature of freedom would be inclined to dispute. But it is one thing to notice that freedom is all but universally considered a central political virtue, and quite another to have a clear sense of precisely what this virtue involves. The pursuit of such clarity requires a theoretical construction of the idea/ideal of freedom that effectively describes this particular political good and explains why it deserves its reputation as a central virtue of civil association. The purpose of this work is to move in this direction. This chapter introduces the purpose and scope of the work, places it within the literature and controversies associated with the subject of political freedom, and indicates the direction and flow of the argument to follow.
Lower nodule biomass with increased nitrogenase efficiency in Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings when grown under low soil phosphorus conditions

Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation is the largest non-anthropogenic N input to many terrestrial ecosystems. The energetic expense of symbiotic N fixation suggests soil phosphorus (P) availability may regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation directly through nodule development and function, and/or indirectly through plant growth. Since P availability is heterogenous in the landscape, we sought to understand if symbiotic nitrogen fixation responds to both P availability and heterogeneity. To test how P availability affects symbiotic nitrogen fixation, we grew Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under high (8.1 g P m−2) and low (0.2 g P m−2) conditions. Soil P heterogeneity was simulated by splitting roots into soil patches receiving P or no-P fertilizer. At the whole plant level, P availability limited seedling and nodule biomass. However, the low P treatment had higher nitrogenase efficiency (acetylene reduced (AR) g−1 nodule; a nodule efficiency proxy). High P seedlings had significantly more root and nodule biomass in the patches directly receiving P fertilizer, but patch proliferation was absent in the low P treatment. AR g−1 seedling did not differ between P treatments, suggesting P indirectly limited symbiotic nitrogen fixation through plant growth, rather than directly limiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This relatively consistent AR g−1 seedling across treatments demonstrates the ability of seedlings to respond to low P conditions with increased nitrogenase efficiency.
Prediction of transient ischemic attack and minor stroke in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Aims People with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have an increased risk of transient ischemic attack and minor stroke (TIA) which are frequently followed by an ischemic stroke. We aimed to develop a predictive model for incident TIA in people with T2DM. Methods We pooled data from two longitudinal cohort studies, Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) and the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), using a two-stage approach. First, we used a random effects model to interpolate risk factors of individuals between follow-up exams. Second, we used forward selection to develop a proportional hazards model for time to incident TIA. We internally validated our model using 10-fold cross-validation. Results Among 3575 participants with T2DM, mean (SD) age was 60 (10) years and body mass index was 30 (6) kg/m2. Sixty-nine incident TIAs occurred during 38,364 person-years of follow-up. The multivariable model included age at diagnosis of diabetes (hazard ratio 1.13 (95% confidence interval: 1.05,1.21) per year), systolic blood pressure (1.25 (1.04,1.49) per 10 mmHg), a quadratic function of diastolic blood pressure, and history of congestive heart failure (2.08 (1.26, 3.42)). The median cross-validated Harrell's C-index was 0.80. Conclusion Blood pressure and heart failure are risk factors for the earliest stages of cerebrovascular disease.
Effects of bound diprotons and enhanced nuclear reaction rates on stellar evolution

Abstract Deuterium represents the only bound isotope in the universe with atomic mass number A = 2 . Motivated by the possibility of other universes, where the strong force could be stronger, this paper considers the effects of bound diprotons and dineutrons on stars. We find that the existence of additional stable nuclei with A = 2 has relatively modest effects on the universe. Previous work indicates that Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) produces more deuterium, but does not lead to catastrophic heavy element production. This paper revisits BBN considerations and confirms that the universe is left with an ample supply of hydrogen and other light nuclei for typical cosmological parameters. Using the MESA numerical package, we carry out stellar evolution calculations for universes with stable diprotons, with nuclear cross sections enhanced by large factors X . This work focuses on X = 10 15 − 10 18 , but explores the wider range X = 10 − 3 − 10 18 . For a given stellar mass, the presence of stable diprotons leads to somewhat brighter stars, with the radii and photospheric temperatures roughly comparable to those of red giants. The central temperature decreases from the characteristic value of T c ≈ 1.5 × 10 7 K for hydrogen burning down to the value of T c ≈ 10 6 K characteristic of deuterium burning. The stellar lifetimes are smaller for a given mass, but with the extended possible mass range, the smallest stars live for trillions of years, far longer than the current cosmic age. Finally, the enhanced cross sections allow for small, partially degenerate objects with mass M * = 1 − 10 M J to produce significant steady-state luminosity and thereby function as stars.
Comparison of models for missing pedigree in single-step genomic prediction

Pedigree information is often missing for some animals in a breeding program. Unknown-parent groups (UPGs) are assigned to the missing parents to avoid biased genetic evaluations. Although the use of UPGs is well established for the pedigree model, it is unclear how UPGs are integrated into the inverse of the unified relationship matrix (H-inverse) required for single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction. A generalization of the UPG model is the metafounder (MF) model. The objectives of this study were to derive 3 H-inverses and to compare genetic trends among models with UPG and MF H-inverses using a simulated purebred population. All inverses were derived using the joint density function of the random breeding values and genetic groups. The breeding values of genotyped animals (u2) were assumed to be adjusted for UPG effects (g) using matrix Q2 as u2∗=u2+Q2g before incorporating genomic information. The Quaas-Pollak-transformed (QP) H-inverse was derived using a joint density function of u2∗ and g updated with genomic information and assuming nonzero cov(u2∗,g'). The modified QP (altered) H-inverse also assumes that the genomic information updates u2∗ and g, but cov(u2∗,g')=0. The UPG-encapsulated (EUPG) H-inverse assumed genomic information updates the distribution of u2∗. The EUPG H-inverse had the same structure as the MF H-inverse. Fifty percent of the genotyped females in the simulation had a missing dam, and missing parents were replaced with UPGs by generation. The simulation study indicated that u2∗ and g in models using the QP and altered H-inverses may be inseparable leading to potential biases in genetic trends. Models using the EUPG and MF H-inverses showed no genetic trend biases. These 2 H-inverses yielded the same genomic EBV (GEBV). The predictive ability and inflation of GEBVs from young genotyped animals were nearly identical among models using the QP, altered, EUPG, and MF H-inverses. Although the choice of H-inverse in real applications with enough data may not result in biased genetic trends, the EUPG and MF H-inverses are to be preferred because of theoretical justification and possibility to reduce biases.
More than Valley Fever: Pulmonary Actinomycosis and Coccidioidomycosis Co-infection in a Patient.

Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and pulmonary actinomycosis are unheard of as co-pathogens. Infection with these organisms on their own can mimic lung cancer, thus presenting a diagnostic challenge. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman presenting with haemoptysis with a chest CT chest finding of a lung mass suggestive of lung cancer. A diagnosis of concomitant infection by Coccidioides posadasii/immitis and Actinomyces odontolyticus was made based on culture and histopathology results. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of antifungal and antibacterial therapy. This is the first reported case of co-infection by these two microorganisms. LEARNING POINTS Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and pulmonary actinomycosis can mimic lung cancer.The diagnosis of infection by Coccidioides posadasii/immitis and Actinomyces odontolyticus is best obtained by histopathology and tissue culture.Treatment comprises a combination of oral azoles and a beta-lactam antibiotic for a total of 12 months.
Apocalyptic Ethics, End-Time Christians, and the Storming of the US Capitol:

This article argues that an apocalyptic interpretation of divine revelation provides the theological foundation for discerning the appropriate space for human life to thrive. This apocalyptic theol...
Maternal stress predicts neural responses during auditory statistical learning in 26-month-old children: An event-related potential study.

Abstract Exposure to high levels of early life stress have been associated with long-term difficulties in learning, behavior, and health, with particular impact evident in the language domain. While some have proposed that the increased stress of living in a low-income household mediates observed associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and child outcomes, considerable individual differences have been observed. The extent to which specific variables associated with socioeconomic status – in particular exposure to stressful life events – influence the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying language acquisition are not well understood. Auditory statistical learning, or the ability to segment a continuous auditory stream based on its statistical properties, develops during early infancy and is one mechanism thought to underlie language learning. The present study used an event-related potential (ERP) paradigm to test whether maternal stress, adjusting for socioeconomic variables (e.g., family income, maternal education) was associated with neurocognitive processes underlying statistical learning in a sample of 26-month-old children (n = 23) from predominantly low- to middle-income backgrounds. Event-related potentials were recorded while children listened to a continuous stream of tri-tone “words” in which tone elements varied in transitional probability. “Tone-words” were presented in random order, such that Tone 1 always predicted Tones 2 and 3 (transitional probability for Tone 3 = 1.0), but Tone 1 appeared randomly. A larger P2 amplitude was observed in response to Tone 3 compared to Tone 1, demonstrating that children implicitly tracked differences in transitional probabilities during passive listening. Maternal reports of stress at 26 months, adjusting for SES, were negatively associated with difference in P2 amplitude between Tones 1 and 3. These findings suggest that maternal stress, within a low-SES context, is associated with the manner in which children process statistical properties of auditory input.
Bulk storage of hydrogen

Abstract The technical aspects and economics of bulk hydrogen storage in underground pipes, lined rock caverns (LRC) and salt caverns are analyzed. Hydrogen storage in underground pipes is more economical than in geological caverns for useable amounts 750-t useable H2 requires multiple caverns. The cost of salt caverns scales more favorably with size because the salt caverns are larger than lined rock caverns and need to be added at a slower rate as the storage capacity is increased.
H-2A Visas for Agriculture: The Complex Process for Farmers to Hire Agricultural Guest Workers

Congress created the H‑2A program in 1986 to allow legal foreign workers to temporarily work for U.S. farmers who were unable to hire qualified Americans. However, illegal immigrant workers came to dominate the industry in the 1990s, and the H‑2A program was rarely used. While it still supplies only about 10 percent of farm labor, H‑2A employment has increased fivefold since 2005. The H-2A program needs reforms, but productive reform is only possible if policymakers understand how the system currently operates. This brief explains how the H-2A visa program works. Its main findings include the following: - The H-2A program has more than 200 rules and is bureaucratically complex. - H-2A minimum wages are higher than every state’s minimum wage by, on average, 57 percent. - Americans accept only 1 in 20 H-2A job offers, and most later quit. - H-2A expansion is likely responsible for much of the large decline in illegal immigration from Mexico. - Violations of H-2A regulations are generally minor. An average of only 0.27 percent of farmers per year have been barred from the program because of serious H-2A violations.
General Medicine Training in Psychiatry Residency

With growing awareness of the need for integrated health care settings, psychiatrists may be required to provide clinical care at the primary care and behavioral health interface. This article discusses the curricular changes that could enhance the development of psychiatrists as leaders in integrated primary and behavioral health care. Psychiatrists may be called upon to provide enhanced collaborative care services at primary care or behavioral health settings. This article focuses on the provision of integrated care in behavioral health settings, especially in the public sector. The authors review the additional training in general medicine that would facilitate these skills. They outline the principles and goals to be considered in building such a curriculum. They examine the curricular building blocks of such training and also discuss challenges in implementing these curricular changes. Finally, they discuss the implications of incorporating integrated health care training on the future of psychiatric practice.
The Impact of Climatic Change on Available Moisture in Arid Lands: Examples from the American Southwest

About one-third of the Earth’s land surface is classified as arid to extremely arid (Fig-1), receiving insufficient precipitation to support continuous ground cover, or to permit cultivation without irrigation(Meigs, 1952). The bulk of these deserts lie between 15° and 30° North and South latitude (Fig.12-1). In these tropical and temperate deserts, precipitation primarily arrives during the summer via. monsoonal circulation. However, in western North America and central Asia, where arid lands may extend to 55° North, winter precipitation dominates. Figure 12-2 compares the temperature and precipitation regimes in the northern (winter precipitation) and southern (summer-precipitation) Great Basin.
Febrile Seizures and the Risk for Epilepsy

Publisher Summary The increased risk for later unprovoked seizures is substantially greater among children with neurologic abnormalities present from birth than among children without such abnormalities. The tendency of recurrent seizures with or without fever is not uniform across all children with febrile seizures. Factors that consistently increase the risk of unprovoked seizures, following a first febrile seizure, include a family history of epilepsy, complex features of the febrile seizure, and the presence of neurodevelopmental abnormalities present from birth. This chapter discusses the approaches to understanding the association between febrile seizures and later unprovoked seizures. In a study described in the chapter, among a group of three-year-old children with seizures who visited a health center in Tokyo between November 1, 1974, and June 30, 1980, 1406 were identified with febrile seizures. Neurodevelopmental abnormalities present from birth are a strong and consistent risk factor for the development of unprovoked seizure following a febrile seizure. The association between febrile seizures and complex partial seizures is explored in the chapter by examining the characteristics of febrile seizures.
The Changing Shapes of Molecules

A new microwave spectrometer enables the geometries of molecules to be tracked as they interconvert between different shapes.
Mechanism of Myelin Breakdown in Experimental Demyelination: A Putative Role for Calpain

Although calpain has been extensively studied, its physiological function is poorly understood. In contrast, its role in the pathophysiology of various diseases has been implicated, including that of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS). In EAE, calpain degrades myelin proteins, including myelin basic protein (MBP), suggesting a role for calpain in the breakdown of myelin in this disease. Subsequent studies revealed increased calpain activity and expression in the glial and inflammatory cells concomitant with loss of axon and myelin proteins. This suggested a crucial role for calpain in demyelinating diseases.
A Lower Limit to the Age of The Galaxy from the White Dwarf Luminosity Function

We present the white dwarf luminosity function (WDLF) for stars in common proper motion binary systems. Most of these systems were initially identified in the Proper Motion Surveys conducted by Luyten (1963) (et seq.) and Giclas et al. (1971); (1978). The candidate systems were selected based on their reduced proper motions and colors. Spectroscopic observations of the systems (Oswalt et al. 1991) confirmed the white dwarfs and determined that most of the companions were main sequence M dwarfs. We obtained BVRI photometry for approximately 475 of the 512 systems in our sample. These contain about 325 relatively cool WDs. Of these, 152 met the criteria for inclusion in our “completable” sample space (Oswalt & Smith 1995; Smith 1997). We formed the WDLF (Figure 1) using the 1/V max : method (Schmidt 1975), following the techniques of Leibert et al. (1988).
Criteria for return to work

This paper presents a step by step crieteria for returning a hypertensive to work. The importance of differential diagnosis of hypertension was discussed in terms of a definitive and proper diagnosis. A table of symptoms was presented to help the determination of the effect of primary hypertension. It was emphasized that in uncomplicated cases of primary hypertension, there is no impairment since impairment is always the result of a complication. Factors influencing prognosis, considerations upon return to work and drug side effects were outlined to guide the industrial physician in the management of the patient upon his return to work. The need for a close cooperative relationship between the patient's own treating physician and the industrial physician to facilitate the proper treatment and management of an illness was stressed.
What is answer set programming

Answer set programming (ASP) is a form of declarative programming oriented towards difficult search problems. As an outgrowth of research on the use of nonmonotonic reasoning in knowledge representation, it is particularly useful in knowledge-intensive applications. ASP programs consist of rules that look like Prolog rules, but the computational mechanisms used in ASP are different: they are based on the ideas that have led to the creation of fast satisfiability solvers for propositional logic.
Nicole Biamonte, ed., Pop-Culture Pedagogy in the Music Classroom

Leaving aside the question of pop music’s place in the college music curricula, this volume of sixteen essays offers practical suggestions for integrating the skills, technologies, and repertories of popular music into the classroom. Several essays focus on aural skills seldom taught in college, such as analyzing a recorded mix, following formal concepts without notation, and beat and pitch matching using turntables . More applicable to music history are essays on teaching critical listening via American Idol , a methodology to help students critically compare cover versions of popular songs, and the culture of Crunk, the Southern rap genre.
Field emission properties of different forms of carbon

Abstract The results of field emission (FE) studies are reported for three different forms of carbon: smooth amorphous carbon (a-C) films with both low and high sp 3 content prepared by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD), nanostructured carbon prepared by hot-filament chemical-vapor deposition (HFCVD), and vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs). The studies reveal that smooth PLD carbon films are poor field emitters regardless of their sp 3 content. Conditioning of the films, which resulted in films' modification, was required to draw FE current and the emission turn-on fields were relatively high. In contrast, HFCVD carbon films exhibit very good FE properties, including low-emission turn-on fields, relatively high emission site density, and excellent durability. Finally, VACNFs also were found to possess quite promising FE properties that compete with those of HFCVD films. We believe that the latter two forms of carbon are among the most promising candidates for use as cold cathodes in commercial devices.
Adherence to outpatient oral medication regimens in adolescent hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Purpose Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an increasingly utilized treatment option for adolescents with many life-threatening diagnoses. Suboptimal adherence may result in compromised treatment effectiveness and increased risk of adverse medical outcomes.
Emission and absorption measurements on a strongly self-absorbed argon atom line

Abstract Spectroscopic measurements of the 7635·10 ArI line were made on an argon plasma generated in a free burning arc. The emission profile, corrected for self-absorption, was measured over a temperature range of 10 000°K to 22 000°K at 1 atm pressure. Self-absorption had a strong effect on the measured transition probability but little effect on the temperature profile that was obtained using the Fowler-Milne technique. Kirchhoff's law was used to demonstrate local thermodynamic equilibrium. An iterative technique that corrected line profiles using Kirchhoff's law yielded results that agreed with the measured line profiles. The transition probability measured in this study is 2 1 2 times greater than that reported in a shock tube experiment. Using the measured absorption coefficients, corrections were applied to the shock tube measurement giving a transtition probability that agrees with the one reported in this study.
Electrical and optical properties of magnetron sputtered Cd2SnO4 transparent conducting oxide thin films for use in CdTe solar devices

Abstract In this study cadmium stannate Cd 2 SnO 4 (CTO), was sputtered onto borosilicate glass under substrate temperatures of ~ 25 °C (room temp), 200 °C, 300 °C and 400 °C. The CTO films were then annealed in contact with cadmium sulfide (CdS). This annealing process consisted of placing the CTO samples face up in a thermal furnace with a separate piece of CdS film on a borosilicate substrate face down on top of the CTO sample. This arrangement was then heated to a temperature of 600 °C and annealed for one hour. The goal was to fabricate a CTO film with the highest transparency without sacrificing good electrical conductivity. The quality of CTO films, i.e. transparency and electrical conductivity can be greatly affected by processing conditions. In this paper the optical and electrical properties of CTO are investigated before and after thermal annealing to determine the affect of varying process conditions on the quality of the film. Spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis was performed on both as-deposited and annealed CTO to determine the nature of the optical response of the films over the spectral range of 0.73 to 3.34 eV. The electrical properties of the films were examined using both Hall effect data and optical Drude modeling of free carrier absorption. Structural properties of the films were determined from X-ray diffraction data. The result of this investigation is a high quality CTO film with a sheet resistance of ~ 8 Ω/□.
Spinal accessory nerve biopsy as an ante mortem diagnostic test for equine motor neuron disease

Summary The effectiveness of spinal accessory nerve branch biopsy evaluation as a means to confirm the diagnosis of equine motor neuron disease (EMND) was investigated. Sixteen horses with histories and clinical signs suggestive of EMND and 16 control horses with neither histories nor clinical signs of any neurological disorder, were subjects of the study. Biopsy samples of the ventral branch of the spinal accessory nerve were obtained either surgically, under general anaesthesia or post mortem immediately after euthanasia. Evaluation was done on the spinal cord of all horses to serve as the definitive diagnostic indicator of EMND. Results indicate that biopsy of the ventral branch of the spinal accessory nerve is a reliable ante mortem diagnostic test for EMND. Histological evidence of the degeneration of myelinated axons is present in both acute and arrested cases. The ventral branch of the spinal accessory nerve is easy to approach surgically and biopsy of the nerve causes no disfigurement of the sternocephalicus muscle. The use of semi-thin Epon sections is an excellent method of sample preparation. Formalin fixation and routine paraffin embedment may prove more accessible and provide good quality preparations for reliable interpretation. In the hands of an experienced pathologist, the sensitivity and specificity reliability coefficients for spinal accessory nerve branch biopsy are 94%, making this technique an extremely valuable diagnostic tool for the ante mortem diagnosis of EMND.
Immunochemical quantification of human plasma Lp(a) lipoprotein.

The Lp(a) lipoprotein was purified from human plasma by ultracentrifugation and gel filtration on 6% agarose. It contained 27% protein, 65% lipid, and 8% carbohydrate. Quantification of the Lp(a) lipoprotein was performed by radial immunodiffusion. Both within-assay and between-assay coefficients of variation were inversely concentration dependent, decreasing from 20% and 27%, respectively, at 3 mg/100 ml to 7% and 12%, respectively, at concentrations above 8 mg/100 ml. The lower limit of sensitivity of the assay was 1.5 mg/100 ml. Of 340 unrelated fasting subjects tested, 81% had levels of the Lp(a) lipoprotein exceeding this lower limit. The distribution of Lp(a) concentrations in this population was skewed with a mean of 14 mg/100 ml and a median of 8 mg/100 ml. Lp(a) lipoprotein was not significantly correlated with age, sex, or cholesterol or glyceride concentrations.
Effects of phenobarbital on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in young and aged rats

The cerebrovascular and cerebral metabolic changes produced by intraperitoneal injection of phenobarbital (50, 150, and 250 mg/kg) were studied in young adult (6-month) and senescent (28-month) Wistar rats. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using radioactive microspheres and cerebral oxygen consumption (CMRO2) was obtained by multiplying cortex CBF by the arterial-sagittal sinus oxygen content difference. Control values for blood pressure, blood gas tensions, CBF, and CMRO2 were similar in the young and aged animals during 70% N2O/30% O2. Intraperitoneal phenobarbital produced dose-dependent decreases in CBF with no significant difference between young and aged rats at each phenobarbital dose. At the highest phenobarbital dose (250 mg/kg) CBF was reduced by 49% in the young rats and 52% in the aged rats (P greater than 0.10). CMRO2 was also depressed in a dose-dependent fashion in both young and aged animals with each phenobarbital dose. However, the decrease produced by the highest phenobarbital dose was significantly greater in the aged rats (55%) than the young rats (43%, P less than 0.05), even though the EEG was isoelectric in both groups. The difference in CMRO2 between young versus aged rats at a time when the EEG is isoelectric suggests that high-dose phenobarbital may depress nonelectrical cerebral metabolic processes more in aged rats.
Dominant suppressor mutation bypasses the sphingolipid requirement for growth of Saccharomyces cells at low pH: role of the CWP2 gene

Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae termed sphingolipid compensatory (SLC) do not grow at low pH when the cells lack sphingolipids. To begin to understand why sphingolipids are required for growth at low pH, we isolated derivatives of SLC strains, termed low pH resistant (LprR), carrying the LPR suppressor gene that allows growth at pH 4.1 when cells lack sphingolipids. Suppression is due to mutation of a single nuclear gene. The LPR suppressor gene functions, at least in part, by enhancing the ability of cells lacking sphingolipids to generate a net efflux of protons in suspension fluid with a pH range of 4.0–6.0. The LPR suppressor gene also enables cells lacking sphingolipids to maintain their intracellular pH near neutrality when the pH of the suspension fluid is low, unlike cells lacking the suppressor gene, which cannot maintain their intracellular pH in the face of a low external pH. These results demonstrate that some functions(s) of sphingolipids necessary for growth at low pH can be bypassed by a suppressor mutation. Attempts to clone the LPR suppressor gene were not successful, but they led to the isolation of the CWP2 gene, which encodes a major mannoprotein component of the outer cell wall. It was isolated because an increased copy number has the unusual property of increasing the frequency at which LprR strains arise. As we show here, part of the reason for this effect is that the CWP2 gene is essential for generating a net efflux of protons and for controlling intracellular pH in LprR strains that lack sphingolipids. These results suggest new cellular functions for the Cwp2 protein.
Context dependence of trinucleotide repeat structures.

Long repeated sequences of DNA and their associated secondary structure govern the development and severity of a significant class of neurological diseases. Utilizing the effect of base stacking on fluorescence quantum yield, 2-aminopurine substitutions for adenine previously demonstrated sequestered bases in the stem and exposed bases in the loop for an isolated (CAG) 8 sequence. This study evaluates (CAG) 8 that is incorporated into a duplex, as this three-way junction is a relevant model for intermediates that lead to repeat expansion during DNA replication and repair. From an energetic perspective, thermally induced denaturation indicates that the duplex arms dictate stability and that the secondary structure of the repeated sequence is disrupted. Substitutions with 2-aminopurine probe base exposure throughout this structure, and two conclusions about secondary structure are derived. First, the central region of (CAG) 8 is more solvent-exposed than single-stranded DNA, which suggests that hairpin formation in the repeated sequence is disrupted. Second, base stacking becomes compromised in the transition from the duplex to (CAG) 8 , resulting in bases that are most similar to single-stranded DNA at the junction. Thus, an open (CAG) 8 loop and exposed bases in the arms indicate that the strand junction profoundly influences repeated sequences within three-way junctions.
Dropping the baton: a qualitative analysis of failures during the transition from emergency department to inpatient care.

Study objective We identify, describe, and categorize vulnerabilities in emergency department (ED) to internal medicine patient transfers. Methods We surveyed all emergency medicine house staff, emergency physician assistants, internal medicine house staff and hospitalists at an urban, academic medical center. Respondents were asked to describe any adverse events occurring because of inadequate communication between emergency medicine and the admitting physician. We analyzed the open-ended responses with standard qualitative analysis techniques. Results Of 139 of 264 survey respondents (53%), 40 (29%) reported that a patient of theirs had experienced an adverse event or near miss after ED to inpatient transfer. These 40 respondents described 36 specific incidents of errors in diagnosis (N=13), treatment (N=14), and disposition (N=13), after which patients experienced harm or a near miss event. Six patients required an upgrade in care from the floor to the ICU. Although we asked respondents to describe communication failures, analysis of responses identified numerous contributors to error: inaccurate or incomplete information, particularly of vital signs; cultural and professional conflicts; crowding; high workload; difficulty in accessing key information such as vital signs, pending data, ED notes, ED orders, and identity of responsible physician; nonlinear patient flow; "boarding" in the ED; and ambiguous responsibility for sign-out or follow-up. Conclusion The transfer of a patient from the ED to internal medicine can be associated with adverse events. Specific vulnerable areas include communication, environment, workload, information technology, patient flow, and assignment of responsibility. Systems-based interventions could ameliorate many of these and potentially improve patient safety.
A multi-loss super regression learner (MSRL) with application to survival prediction using proteomics

Even though a number of regression techniques have been proposed over the years to handle a large number of regressors, due to the complex nature of data emerging from recent high-throughput experiments, it is unlikely that any single technique will be successful in modeling all data types. Thus, multiple regression algorithms from the collection of modern regression techniques that are capable of handling high dimensional regressors should be entertained for analyzing such data. A novel approach of building a super regression learner is proposed which can be fit with a training data set in order to make future predictions of a continuous outcome. The resulting super regression model is multi-objective in nature and mimics the performances of the best component regression models irrespective of the data type. This is accomplished by combining elements of bootstrap based risk calculation, rank aggregation, and stacking. The utility of this approach is demonstrated through its use on mass spectrometry data.
Eggs, Nests, and Incubation Behavior of the Moustached Wren (Thryothorus genibarbis) in Manu National Park, Perú

Abstract The genus Thryothorus is a wide spread genera in the Neotropics and nesting information is known for 85% of the species. I found four nests of the Moustached Wren (Thryothorus genibarbis) that were dome and bulky ball-like structures with a side entrance. All nests contained two white eggs with reddish-brown blotches. Daily nest attentiveness was 58.0% and average egg temperature was 32.5° C. Incubation behavior varied among nests and also throughout the incubation period, especially during early stages.
Design and analysis of the closed-loop pointing system of a scientific satellite

A spacecraft is required to perform on-orbit closed-loop pointing at various objects such as other spacecraft, stars, auroral surges, and cloud structures. Simulations of algorithms of the three onboard pointing subsystems and a scene generator run concurrently on four networked PCs (plus a fifth as a file server) allowing analysis of the end-to-end closed loop pointing system. The four areas of simulations plus the networked system are discussed.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Congenital stenosis of individual pulmonary veins: Clinical spectrum and unsuccessful treatment by transvenous balloon dilation

Congenital stenosis of the pulmonary veins is a rare but frequently lethal congenital cardiac abnormality. Eight patients with this malformation were diagnosed, evaluated and treated. All eight patients had associated congenital cardiac defects. Two of the eight died, one of sepsis and one after operative pulmonary venoplasty. In three patients who underwent transvenous balloon catheter dilation of the stenosis the procedure provided immediate but transient relief of the stenosis. The prognosis for symptomatic infants with pulmonary vein stenosis is poor and its treatment an enigma.
Hypertension Secondary to Renal Artery Occlusive Disease

Historically, the awareness of renal artery narrowing as a curable cause of hypertension has evolved gradually, highlighted especially by Goldblatt and Poutasse. The increasing use of renal arteriography over the past 8 years in this hospital has yielded a total of 70 patients with renal artery abnormalities out of 110 hypertensive patients examined. In order to select the hypertensive patients most likely to have demonstrable arterial lesions, certain indications for arteriography were used. Most useful among these were the presence of an epigastric bruit, malignant hypertension, atheroselerosis of the abdominal aorta, and recent onset of hypertension. However, no one indication was always present in patients with lesions or always absent in those without abnormalities. Of the 70 patients with renal artery abnormalities, 54 were considered to represent sufficient renal artery stenosis to be potential candidates for surgical correction, while 16 had minor renal artery abnormalities. Atherosclerotic lesion...
Educating for Cultural Competence in the Generalist Curriculum

ABSTRACT Generalist practitioners must be educationally prepared to effectively serve multicultural populations. Developing cultural competence is a dynamic process of growth through ongoing questioning, self-assessment, knowledge and skill-building, starting with the students' level of current competence and supporting enhancement of their abilities. This paper proposes a curriculum model for incorporation of knowledge and skill content for the development of culturally competent generalist practitioners.