cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of a 12‐Lead Electrocardiogram in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Tamponade as Diagnosed by Transthoracic Echocardiography in Patients With Malignant Pericardial Effusion

Background Few studies have looked at the utility of the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) in diagnosing cardiac tamponade in malignant pericardial effusion (PE). The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 12-lead ECG in diagnosing cardiac tamponade in PE. Hypothesis Abnormalities on a 12 lead ECG can be used to diagnose or exclude cardiac tamponade in patients with malignant PE. Methods Using echocardiography as the gold standard for diagnosis of cardiac tamponade, we determined the Se, Sp, PPV, and NPV for individual and combinations of the 3 ECG abnormalities (low-voltage complexes, electrical alternans, and sinus tachycardia). Results For PEs of all sizes, the Se, Sp, PPV, and NPV for detecting cardiac tamponade were: low-voltage complexes (56%, 74%, 81%, 46%), electrical alternans (23%, 98%, 95%, 39%), and sinus tachycardia (76%, 60%, 79%, 56%), respectively. Presence of all 3 and any of the 3 ECG abnormalities had a Se, Sp, PPV, and NPV of 8%, 100%, 100%, 36% and 89%, 47%, 77%, 69%, respectively, for cardiac tamponade. The odds ratios for cardiac tamponade in PE were 3.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65-8.30) for low-voltage complexes, 12.3 (95% CI: 1.58-95.17) for electrical alternans, and 4.9 (95% CI: 2.22-10.80) for sinus tachycardia. Presence of any of 3 ECG abnormalities had an odds ratio of 7.3 (95% CI: 2.9-18.1) for cardiac tamponade. Conclusions In malignant PE, combination of ECG abnormalities can supplement clinical examination in the diagnosis of echocardiographic cardiac tamponade. Due to its low NPV, 12-lead ECG cannot be used as a screening tool to exclude cardiac tamponade with malignant PE.
Issues for Pharmacists in Assisted Patient Death

SUMMARYAssisted suicide and euthanasia are explored from the pharmacist's perspective. Legal, operational and clinical issues are described. The assumption that pharmacists will simply fill prescriptions for drugs intended to end the lives of terminally ill patients who wish to do so has not been tested. The position adopted by the Washington State Society of Hospital Pharmacists opposed the proposed Washington Death with Dignity Act. Survey data on pharmacist attitudes about use of drugs to end the lives of terminally ill patients are described. Ethical codes of the profession of pharmacy as they pertain to this issue are discussed. Clinical issues addressed include published criteria for appropriate patients for assisted death. Operational impediments to pharmacists participating in assisted death include the silence on the role of the pharmacist in proposed laws to legalize hastened death. The importance of ensuring good pain and symptom management and control of psychiatric disorders is discussed. The...
REPRODUCTION AND BODY CONDITION OF CALIFORNIA COYOTES (CANIS LATRANS)

Population dynamics and life-history evolution depend heavily on fecundity, which, in the coyote (Canis latrans), can vary substantially according to environmental conditions. Although well studied in the central part of its range, little is known about coyote reproduction in the Mediterranean climates associated with Pacificcoastal North America. I used postmortem examinations of 441 coyotes collected throughout central California to investigate reproduction, including age-specific fecundity, breeding synchrony and seasonality, and relationship to nutritional condition. Reproductive parameters did not vary significantly among sampling locations. Overall, numbers of corpora lutea averaged 6.9 (range ¼ 4‐11) and litter size (based on fetuses or placental scars) averaged 6.6 (range ¼ 1‐12) among postpartum females. The number of corpora lutea increased with maternal age, and litter size also increased with age to 6 years but decreased in older females. Most (77%) adult females became pregnant and 13% of 1st-year females became pregnant. During January‐March, 96% of adult males and 68% of 1st-year males had reproductive testes. Reproductive signs in both sexes occurred 3‐4 weeks later in 1styear coyotes than in adults. Parturition dates, which decreased with increasing maternal age, ranged from 9 March to 7 May, indicating that estrus occurred from early January to late March. Of 1st-year coyotes, reproductive individuals were larger during the breeding season and had higher marrow fat indexes than nonreproductive ones (both sexes). After the breeding season, 1st-year females that did not breed (become pregnant) had similar body mass to 1st-year and adult coyotes that did breed, and adult females that did not breed were larger than the others but similar to the weight of breeders during the breeding season. Thus, whether yearlings attained breeding condition apparently depended on their nutritional condition. Adult fecundity estimates were among the highest reported for coyotes.
The Role of Trophoblast Differentiation in the Control of the hCG and hPL Genes

Normal trophoblast of the human placenta elaborates at least two major protein hormones, hCG and hPL. Molar and choriocarcinoma tissues characteristically synthesize large amounts of hCG and small quantities of hPL. To examine the role of trophoblast differentiation in the expression of the hCG and hPL genes, we studied the cytological distribution of their mRNAs in tissue sections of human hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma by in situ hybridization. Histologically, these tissues are in different stages of cellular differentiation. In normal placenta, hCG alpha and hCG beta mRNAs can be localized to some cytotrophoblasts and primarily to the syncytium, whereas hPL mRNA appears only in the syncytial layer. In hydatidiform mole, which still retains placental villous morphology, the hPL gene and hCG alpha and hCG beta genes are expressed but are poorly localized because of the admixture of cyto- and syncytiotrophoblasts. By contrast, choriocarcinoma, which is devoid of placental villous pattern but in which the cyto- and syncytiotrophoblast-like components are distinguishable, expresses hCG alpha and hCG beta in the syncytial-like areas but little, if any, hPL. These results suggest that a certain level of trophoblast differentiation, such as villus formation, is associated with hPL expression, while the hCG alpha gene and the hCG beta gene can be expressed in more disorganized tissues which contain cytotrophoblastic elements.
Efficiency of portable HEPA air purifiers against traffic related combustion particles

Abstract Exposure to diesel combustion particles is known to cause and exacerbate respiratory conditions, including asthma. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers can provide health benefits by reducing concentrations of these particles. National standards call for air purifiers to be tested using tobacco smoke, as well as aerosolized dust, pollen, and potassium chloride (KCl) particles. Little is known about the efficiency of HEPA air purifiers against diesel particles. Previous studies performed with respirator filters have shown higher penetration of combustion generated particles compared to standard test particles. Within a controlled laboratory setting, we compared the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of six models of air purifiers with diesel and KCl particles, and measured noise during operation. CADR was determined for total concentration and size-selectively for particles of 0.03–1 μm. Lowest CADRs were consistently found for particles
Persuasion is an Art...But it is also an Invaluable Tool in Advocacy

The article is about persuasion. It highlights the origins of advocacy, details how to write persuasive documents, and provides tips for presenting persuasive oral arguments. Appendices include practical checklists for editing and preparing for oral arguments, and a list of style tips. This Article is important because it gives advocates the tools they need to better prepare for making persuasive arguments, both in writing and orally, while grounding the “art of persuasion” in rhetoric and ancient-Greek philosophies and teachings.
Judicial Review of Congressional Power Before and After Shelby County v. Holder

This solicited Article sketches the landscape of the litigation surrounding the Voting Rights Act leading up to the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder, in which the Supreme Court found Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional, and finds that, in three specific contexts, the Court was generally consistent with its previous practice of employing a relatively searching judicial review of Congress's exercise of its enumerated powers. First, the Court took a minimalist approach to the thorny issue of the appropriate standard of review of Congress's power under the Reconstruction Amendments because it could properly answer the question in this case without addressing the standard of review. Second, the Court's practice of scrutinizing the congressional record in light of a "stringent" and "potent" exercise of congressional power is consistent with its practice in recent congressional power cases generally, and in its history of scrutinizing the Voting Rights Act specifically, a practice the Court will likely continue and that Congress ought to heed. Third, a facial challenge in this case is consistent with its previous practice in Voting Rights Act cases, in addition to its frequent practice in other enumerated power cases. This analysis, however, does expose some of the Court's historic inconsistency with facial challenges more generally and highlights uncertainty in future judicial decisions. Ultimately this Article concludes that the type of review seen in Shelby County is, on the whole, consistent with how the Court has approached review of Congress's exercise of its enumerated powers.
Large-Eddy simulation of a reactive shear coaxial injector configuration

Acquiring experimental data on hydrogen/oxygen coaxial elements under realistic conditions (super-critical pressure, liquid oxygen, high momentum flux ratios) is di cult and the injection of hydrogen at cryogenic temperature makes it even more complex. Not only are there additional cooling requirements but the same injector that provides realistic momentum/velocity ratios with room-temperature hydrogen will produce very small momentum/velocity ratios with a cryogenic hydrogen injection at the same flow rate. The reduced fuel injection temperature has been shown to change the combustion characteristics of the chamber, a phenomenon that is not fully understood yet. Here, a single-element liquid-oxygen gaseous-hydrogen shear-coaxial injector is studied with hydrogen injected at 50 K. Performing three-dimensional simulations of these type of configurations is very costly due to the dimensions of the chamber, the range of scales and also to the diversity of physical phenomena involved, such as complex thermodynamics at elevated pressure. This work investigates the use of two-dimensional models of the real three-dimensional configuration to perform parametric studies. The main advantage of the two-dimensional simulations compared to the full chamber is the reduction in computational cost. Although the flow features observed with the 2D model are not identical to the ones found in the three-dimensional case, some common characteristics can be reproduced. This paper highlights the similarity and di↵erences between two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases and identifies which issues can be studied using two-dimensional simulations.
Caregiver Perspectives During the Post Inpatient Hospital Transition: A Mixed Methods Approach

Knowledge of caregiver perspectives of their psychosocial resources and needs during the post inpatient psychiatric hospitalization is limited. Examining caregivers’ perspectives of the transition period may be a critical step in improving the transition success of children with emotional and behavioral disorders. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we investigated the psychosocial resources and needs of caregivers after a child inpatient hospitalization. This study sought to examine the psychosocial resources of caregivers of children leaving intensive psychiatric care and participating in a post-inpatient transition program, and to describe their reported needs at home and school. Forty-four caregivers were recruited from the child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient units of two hospitals (one urban, one suburban). We utilized a partially mixed concurrent equal status design for mixed-methods analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research methodology. Caregivers reported high levels of strain, child symptomatology, and low levels of empowerment and social support. Their satisfaction with school and mental health services were mixed. Caregivers identified a need for increased knowledge of behavior management strategies, improved caregiver/child relationship, more emotional support, and increased access to services for their children. Areas of concern in the school setting included social–emotional functioning, learning, access to school services, and advocacy. These findings expand our knowledge of caregivers’ psychosocial resources and needs during their children’s inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and subsequent transition to home and school. As research in this area develops, we suggest that incorporating caregivers’ needs into transition planning may result in more effective and acceptable interventions for families.
Methods for handling redox-sensitive smectite dispersions

Redox activation (reduction of structural Fe) of smectites greatly alters their chemical reactivity and physical properties, which may be exploited for various environmental, agricultural or industrial purposes. Their re-oxidation during preparation, characterization, and use is, however, a significant risk to their utility. In this study, methods and apparatus were developed and described which mitigated reoxidation. Ferruginous smectite (sample SWa-1, Na saturated) was used as the model smectite. It was reduced with sodium dithionite in a citrate-bicarbonate buffer solution at 70°C for 4 h, which achieved a maximum Fe(II)/total Fe ratio of 0.9113 ± 0.0048. The first step in rendering reduced samples useful is to remove from them the reducing agents and other solutes present during reduction. This was accomplished in the present study by reducing the sample in an inert-atmosphere reaction tube (IRT) (a 50 mL centrifuge tube equipped with a removable septum cap), then removing solutes from the suspension by centrifuge washing. The washing steps were performed with the aid of a controlled-atmosphere liquid exchanger (CALE) which provided connections between the sample suspension and deoxygenated solutions. The reduced state was measured by 1,10-phenanthroline or by Mossbauer spectroscopy at 77 K to give Fe(II)/total Fe ratios. Some samples were freeze dried after washing. Results revealed that if reduced smectites are washed without protection from atmospheric O2, the extent of reoxidation is on the order of 40 to 60%. If the sample is subsequently dried, reoxidation increases to more than 76%. If the sample is protected using the IRT and the CALE, however, reoxidation is decreased to less than 2%. Freeze drying in a glove box allowed reoxidaton to increase to slightly more than 10%. These results indicate that more reoxidation occurred during the drying stage than during the washing stage. These observations lead to the conclusions that (1) protection of reduced samples from atmospheric O2 is essential if extensive reoxidation is to be prevented, and (2) the methods and apparatus described herein are effective for accomplishing that purpose in abiotically reduced smectites. They may also be effective if applied to microbially reduced smectites.
Helix Stabilization of Poly(ethylene glycol)–Peptide Conjugates

Hybrid polymer-peptide conjugates offer the potential for incorporating biological function into synthetic materials. The secondary structure of short helical peptides, however, frequently becomes less stable when expressed independent of longer protein sequences or covalently linked with a conformationally disordered synthetic polymer. Recently, new amphipathic peptide-poly(ethylene glycol) conjugates were introduced (Shu, J., et al. Biomacromolecules 2008, 9, 2011), which displayed enhanced peptide helicity upon polymer functionalization while retaining tertiary coiled-coil associations. We report here a molecular simulation study of peptide helix stabilization by conjugation with poly(ethylene glycol). The polymer oxygens are shown to favorably interact with the cationic lysine side chains, providing an alternate binding site that protects against disruption of the peptide hydrogen-bonds that stabilize the helical conformation. When the peptide lysine charges are neutralized or poly(ethylene glycol) is conjugated with polyalanine, the polymer exhibits a negligible effect on the secondary structure. We also observe the interactions of poly(ethylene glycol) with the amphipathic peptide lysines tends to segregate the polymer away from the nonpolar face of the helix, suggesting no disruption of the interactions that drive tertiary contacts between helicies.
A Dynamic Mobile DNA Family in the Yeast Mitochondrial Genome

Transposable elements (TEs) are an important factor shaping eukaryotic genomes. Although a significant body of research has been conducted on the abundance of TEs in nuclear genomes, TEs in mitochondrial genomes remain elusive. In this study, we successfully assembled 28 complete yeast mitochondrial genomes and took advantage of the power of population genomics to determine mobile DNAs and their propensity. We have observed compelling evidence of GC clusters propagating within the mitochondrial genome and being horizontally transferred between species. These mitochondrial TEs experience rapid diversification by nucleotide substitution and, more importantly, undergo dynamic merger and shuffling to form new TEs. Given the hyper mobile and transformable nature of mitochondrial TEs, our findings open the door to a deeper understanding of eukaryotic mitochondrial genome evolution and the origin of nonautonomous TEs.
An Overview of Mammography: Benefits and Limitations

Although broad consensus exists that mammography is beneficial, there has been persistent and evolving debate over the extent of the benefit, as well as concerns about cost-effectiveness. Ongoing evaluation of the world's randomized clinical trials as well as new evaluations of population service screening (ie, organized, community-based screening) clearly show that mammography is beneficial and that the benefit of modern mammography among women who attend screening exceeds what has conventionally been estimated from the trials. Limitations of mammography include human and financial costs associated with missed cancers and false-positive results. However, it is important to distinguish those limitations of mammography that are inherent limitations of the technology from those that can be reduced through greater attention to quality assurance.
Design and Implementation of a Novel Embedded Residential Gateway

This paper introduces the basic configuration and major functions of the residential gateway based on 32-bit ARM em- bedded microprocessor S3C44BOX and uClinux operating system.According to the design requirements of the system,the scheme of hardware design is presented,the relevant hardware drivers are developed and the relevant flowcharts are shown.
Clinical therapeutic effect of Pidotimod particles on 100 cases of infantile recurrent respiratory infection

Objective:To probe the curative effect of Pidotimod particles on infantile recurrent respiratory infection.Methods:The 100 children with recurrent respiratory infection were randomly divided into Pidotimod group(n=50) and control group(n=50).All children were treated with conventional anti-infection and symptomatic treatment,but the patients of Pidotimod group were treated with Pidotimod particles on the basis of expectant treatment.The infections frequency,infections duration,clinical symptom and therapeutic effect were compared between the two groups.Results:In Pidotimod group,19 cases were obviously effective,28 cases were effective and 3 cases was inefficacy,and its total effective rate was 94%,but that of control group is 12,22,16 and 68%,respectively.The curative effect of Pidotimod group was better than control group,and there was statistical significance(P0.05).Conclusion:The infantile recurrent respiratory infection can be treated effectively with Pidotimod particles without obvious side effects.
Words and Networks: How Reliable Are Network Data Constructed from Text Data?

Social network data as well as the information produced or shared by network participants are prominent sources for studying reputation and authority in social media. Research studies on this topic often start with one or more network datasets and bring relevant substantive questions about socio-technical concepts such as the evolution of credibility to the data. This chapter deals with the reliability of network data itself and aims to shed some light on the following question: How reliable or accurate are network data depending on the data construction method for cases where text data are used as an input to this process? I provide a concise overview on some of the most common methods for constructing network data from text data sources, report on our findings from applying these methods to three corpora from different domains and genres, and derive implications and suggestions for theoretical and practical work.
Blood Pressure Treatment Targets in Adults Aged 60 Years or Older

The editorialists discuss the hypertension guidelines from the American College of Physicians and American Academy of Family Physicians. They provide advice for implementation of an office-based pr...
Predicting College Performance of American Indians: A Large-Sample Examination of the SAT.

Extensive research has examined the validity and fairness of standardized tests in academic admissions. However, due to their underrepresentation in higher education, American Indians have gained much less attention in this research. In the present study, we examined for American Indian students (1) group differences on SAT scores, (2) the predictive and incremental validity of SAT over high school grades, (3) the effect of socioeconomic status on SAT validity, (4) differential prediction in the use of SAT scores, and (5) potential omitted variables that could explain differential prediction for American Indian students. Results provided evidence of predictive and incremental validity of SAT scores, and the validity of SAT scores was largely independent of socioeconomic status. Overprediction was found when using SAT scores to predict college performance and it was reduced when including high school grades as an additional predictor. This study provides substantial evidence of the validity and fairness of SAT scores for American Indians.
Physical activity patterns and associations with health-related quality of life in bladder cancer survivors.

Abstract Introduction Physical activity has been shown to significantly improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and survivorship in a variety of patients with cancer . However, little is known about the physical activity patterns of bladder cancer survivors and how these are related to HRQOL in the United States. Our objective was to describe self-reported physical activity patterns and HRQOL and examine the association between these measures in a large cohort of bladder cancer survivors. Material and methods In this cross-sectional study, long-term bladder cancer survivors identified through an institutional database were mailed a survey that included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Bladder Cancer (FACT-BL) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Associations between HRQOL, as assessed by the FACT-BL, and physical activity, as assessed by the IPAQ, were examined by stratified analyses of HRQOL by different levels of physical activity, proportional odds ordinal logistic regression models, and local polynomial regression models. Results A total of 472 subjects (49% response rate) completed the survey. The mean age was 74 years; 81% were male and 87% were white. The median total weekly physical activity was 2,794 MET-min. Subjects reporting “high” physical activity had a median FACT-BL score of 129 compared with 119 among those reporting “low” physical activity, a statistically and clinically significant difference. Similarly, subjects reporting “high” physical activity had a 2.2-fold increased odds of reporting higher global HRQOL compared with subjects reporting “low” physical activity. Conclusions This large cohort of bladder cancer survivors reported high levels of physical activity. Physical activity was positively associated with HRQOL. Further studies investigating the causal relationship between physical activity and HRQOL in the posttreatment setting in bladder cancer survivors are warranted.
P288 Characterization of evolving eeg patterns in patients with remarkable late recovery from coma after cardiac arrest

Objectives Reports of exceptionally late recoveries from coma after cardiac arrest (CA) argue for currently unknown biological mechanisms of cellular preservation where time as a factor is not well understood. We aim to longitudinally characterize EEGs patterns of CA patients in search of underlying mechanisms. Methods Three CA patients with very late recoveries from coma were identified. Routine clinical variables, neurological exam and clinical EEG reports were assessed daily. Time-frequency dynamics of ongoing EEGs were tracked longitudinally using multi-taper method. Results All three patients had initially preserved pupillary responses, but absent corneal and motor responses. All had prolonged burst-suppression (B-S) on EEG (until days 37, 9 and 15, respectively) with spectral analysis of bursts indicating relative preservation of EEG dynamics (emergence of 6–8 Hz feature). Slow, but remarkable recovery followed: return of eye opening (days 17–37), motor responses (days 30–50), command following (days 45–71) and eventual ambulation. Discussion Exceptional outcomes in the era of modern intensive care may indicate a shift in probabilities of neuronal death or permanent dysfunction after anoxic brain injury. Interestingly, all patients reported here had prolonged B-S, traditionally considered an agonal state in this setting. However, recent modeling studies of B-S suggest it promotes cellular preservation via stabilization of membrane potentials in low energy states, with each burst representing an attempt to recover circuit dynamics. Conclusions/significance Our observations contrast with common practice of early (3–7 days) withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy decisions and highlight the need for better understanding of possible mechanisms of neuronal preservation after CA.
Notes on the Fauna of the Chipola Formation - XXIII On the Occurrence of the Genus Basterotia (Mollusca:Bivalvia)

The genus Basterotia Mayer in HOrnes, 1859, type species B. corlruloides Mayer in Homes, described from the Tortonian (late middle Miocene) of the Vienna Basin, is represented in the fauna of the Burdigalian (late lower Miocene) Chipola Formation of western Florida by two species, one referable to Basterotia sensu stricto, the other to the subgenus Basterotella Olsson and Harbison, 1953; each represents the oldest presently known occurrence of the respective subgenus in the western Hemisphere. The form described by Aldrich as "Basterotia? prima" from the lower Eocene Wilcox Formation of Alabama is not a member of this genus (see below).
Course Content for Social Work Practice in Health Care

Abstract The challenge faced by social work faculties interested in education for health care practice is to develop curricula which integrate health-specific content with traditional foundation content. This paper presents guidelines for developing such curricula. The authors propose specific course content for practice in human behavior, social environment, organization, and policy sequences which are essential to prepare social work students for careers in health care.
Computational Modeling for Fate, Transport and Evolution of Energetic Metal Nanoparticles Grown via Aerosol Route

Energetic nanomaterials have gained prominence in the development of solid-state propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics. Such interests stem from kinetically controlled ignition processes in nanoscale regimes resulting from larger specific surface areas, metastable structures and small diffusion length scales at fuel-oxidizer interfaces. To this end, numerous works have investigated the energetic properties of a large class of metal nanoparticles (NPs) that include Al, Si and Ti. Gas-phase synthesis of metal NPs involve rapid cooling of supersaturated metal vapor (monomers) that initiates free-energy-driven collisional process including condensation/evaporation, and finally, leads to nucleation and the birth of a stable critical cluster. This critical cluster subsequently grows via competing coagulation/coalescence processes while undergoing interfacial reactions including surface oxidation. A fundamental understanding of the thermodynamics and kinetics of these processes can enable precise controlling of the synthesis process parameters to tailor their sizes, morphology, composition and structure, which, in turn, tune their surface oxidation and, energetic properties. The complexity and extremely diverse time scales make experimental studies of these processes highly challenging. Thus, hi-fidelity computational tools and modeling techniques prove to be powerful for detailed mechanistic studies of these processes in an efficient and robust manner. The current chapter focuses on computational studies of fate, transport and evolution of metal NPs grown via aerosol routes. The chapter starts with the discussion on gas-phase homogeneous nucleation, and nucleation rates of critical clusters, followed by kinetic Monte-Carlo (KMC) based studies on non-isothermal coagulation/coalescence processes leading finally to the mass transport phenomena involving oxidation of fractal-like NPs.
The Duration of Auditory Sensory Memory for Vowel Processing: Neurophysiological and Behavioral Measures.

Speech perception behavioral research suggests that rates of sensory memory decay are dependent on stimulus properties at more than one level (e.g., acoustic level, phonemic level). The neurophysiology of sensory memory decay rate has rarely been examined in the context of speech processing. In a lexical tone study, we showed that long-term memory representation of lexical tone slows the decay rate of sensory memory for these tones. Here, we tested the hypothesis that long-term memory representation of vowels slows the rate of auditory sensory memory decay in a similar way to that of lexical tone. Event-related potential (ERP) responses were recorded to Mandarin non-words contrasting the vowels /i/ versus /u/ and /y/ versus /u/from first-language (L1) Mandarin and L1 American English participants under short and long interstimulus interval (ISI) conditions (short ISI: an average of 575 ms, long ISI: an average of 2675 ms). Results revealed poorer discrimination of the vowel contrasts for English listeners than Mandarin listeners, but with different patterns for behavioral perception and neural discrimination. As predicted, English listeners showed the poorest discrimination and identification for the vowel contrast /y/ versus /u/, and poorer performance in the long ISI condition. In contrast to Yu et al. (2017), however, we found no effect of ISI reflected in the neural responses, specifically the mismatch negativity (MMN), P3a and late negativity ERP amplitudes. We did see a language group effect, with Mandarin listeners generally showing larger MMN and English listeners showing larger P3a. The behavioral results revealed that native language experience plays a role in echoic sensory memory trace maintenance, but the failure to find an effect of ISI on the ERP results suggests that vowel and lexical tone memory traces decay at different rates.
Research on lightning stroke model and characteristics of electronic transformer

In order to improve the reliability of power supply, a large number of electronic voltage and current transformers are used in digital substations. In this paper, the mathematical model of the electronic transformer is analyzed firstly, and its circuit model is given. According to the difference of working characteristics between voltage transformer and current transformer, the circuit model of voltage type electronic transformer and current type electronic transformer is given respectively. By analyzing their broadband transmission characteristics, the accuracy of the model is verified, and their lightning analysis models are obtained.
Pediatric rheumatology infusion center: report on therapeutic protocols and infusions given over 4 Years with focus on adverse events over 1 Year.

Children with chronic rheumatic disease often require intravenous (IV) therapy. Our center has instituted standardized protocols for use of IV medications in rheumatology patients. Herein, we introduce the therapeutic protocols and report on their short-term safety. This was an institutional review board (IRB) approved retrospective chart review of all patients who had received IV infusions between the years 2012 and 2015 at a single center, prescribed by a pediatric rheumatologist. Infusion medications included abatacept, belimumab, cyclophosphamide, immune globulin, infliximab, methylprednisolone, N-acetylcysteine, pamidronate disodium, rituximab, and tocilizumab. For calendar year 2015, all adverse infusions reactions were recorded along with treatment strategies used to manage them, and outcomes. Rates of adverse events were calculated per infusion medication. During calendar years 2012–2015, 7585 IV infusions were administered to 398 unique patients. In the year 2015, 2187 infusions were administered to 224 patients, with 34 patients experiencing 41 infusion reactions (1.9% of all infusions). Rituximab had the highest rate of adverse drug reactions with 10 patients experiencing reactions during 106 infusions (9.4%). None of the reactions were life-threatening, and only 6 resulted in discontinuation of therapy. In a recent 4-year span, the UAB Pediatric Rheumatology Infusion Center has given thousands of IV infusions with minimal adverse reactions over a one-year reporting period. The combination of standard infusion protocols, experience of and communication between physicians and nurses who staff the center, and safety of the medications themselves, allows for safe IV administration of a variety of therapies for pediatric rheumatology patients. Not applicable; this was a retrospective study.
Simulation: Improving Knowledge and Retention of Infant Safe Sleep Practices

Abstract Background Postdischarge, newborn caregivers are more likely to model the nursing behaviors exhibited in the hospital. Despite national recommendations, nurses' nonadherence to infant safe sleep best practices persists. Methods A pre–post design was used to examine the effect of simulation-based learning experiences on the acquisition and retention of knowledge, behavior, and skills of nursing students regarding safe sleep practices. The sample consisted of 51 baccalaureate nursing students. Results Statistically significant differences between mean preintervention/postintervention written test scores, overall simulation performance scores, and safe sleep–specific simulation scores were found. Conclusions This study may provide the foundation for an evidenced-based approach to inform safe sleep practices to the future nursing workforce, which may influence caregiver practices at home.
Genetically-determined abnormal behavior in dogs: Results of behavioral tests

Starting with relatively stable and with very timid purebred pointer stock, we have accumulated data on exploratory activity, reactions to a loud noise, and reactions to friendly and threatening humans which demonstrate clear-cut strain differences. These differences appear as early as 2 months on some tests, and later at early maturity on others. A general factor of fear or timidity explains most of the atypical behavior of the unstable animals. Further, the consistency of results over three generations of offspring suggests a relatively simple mode of autosomal inheritance.
Structure of Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) from muscles and nerves form a gene family which is part of a gene superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels formed from multiple homologous subunits (reviewed in Lindstrom et al., 1987b; Barnard et al., 1987). The muscle-like AChRs from Torpedo electric organ are the best characterized protein in this family. Using monoclonal antibody (mAb) and cDNA probes initially derived from studies of electric organ AChRs, it has recently been possible to characterize neuronal AChRs. Although neuronal AChRs exhibit sequence homologies with muscle AChRs that reveal their evolution from common precursors, these AChRs differ in sub-unit structure, pharmacological properties, and functional roles.
The GridSAT portal: a Grid Web-based portal for solving satisfiability problems using the national cyberinfrastructure: Research Articles

We present a Grid portal problem (which is accessible through ) for solving Boolean satisfiability. The portal provides a simple and public interface to a sophisticated and complex Grid application—GridSAT—running on a large set of distributed computational resources hosted in different large-scale national computing centers (i.e. the national cyberinfrastructure circa 2005). In this paper we describe the design goals of the portal and how it has influenced some of the application features. We also describe how the adaptive and self-tuning features of Grid applications (written from first principles) make the portal simpler and easier to implement. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sexual Consent In and Out of the Bedroom: Disjunctive Views of Heterosexual College Students

Previous research assumes that people communicate consent “in the bedroom” or other private settings and immediately prior to sexual activity. The research presented in this study challenges that n...
Francophonie et enjeux: États des lieux et perspectives

The francophone organization is at a turning point in its history in a perspective of a global context that is undergoing changes in geopolitical, socio-economic and climatic conditions. Since the second Intergovernmental Conference of Frenchspeaking Countries in March 1970 in Niamey, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) has never faced so many complex challenges. This concurrent circumstances require the OIF to consider radical restructuring to redefine its long-term objectives and, of course, a reassessment of its mission in order to bring it into synergy with the expectations of more than 220 million individuals in the large francophone family. This article is meant to be considered as a suggestion to the authorities of the Francophonie, to assess the extent of the gaps that need eliminating in order to measure up with the Commonwealth, as an important step forward.
Ocular Biometric Diurnal Rhythms in Emmetropic and Myopic Adults.

Purpose To investigate diurnal variations in anterior and posterior segment biometry and assess differences between emmetropic and myopic adults. Methods Healthy subjects (n = 42, 23-41 years old) underwent biometry and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging (SD-OCT) every 4 hours for 24 hours. Subjects were in darkness from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Central corneal thickness, corneal power, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, vitreous chamber depth, and axial length were measured. Thicknesses of the total retina, photoreceptor outer segments + RPE, photoreceptor inner segments, and choroid over a 6-mm annulus were determined. Results All parameters except anterior chamber depth demonstrated significant diurnal variations, with no refractive error differences. Amplitude of choroid diurnal variation correlated with axial length (P = 0.05). Amplitude of axial length variation (35.71 ± 19.40 μm) was in antiphase to choroid variation (25.65 ± 2.01 μm, P < 0.001). The central 1-mm retina underwent variation of 5.03 ± 0.23 μm with a peak at 12 hours (P < 0.001), whereas photoreceptor outer segment + RPE thickness peaked at 4 hours and inner segment thickness peaked at 16 hours. Diurnal variations in retina and choroid were observed in the 3- and 6-mm annuli. Conclusions Diurnal rhythms in anterior and posterior segment biometry were observed over 24 hours in adults. Differences in baseline parameters were found between refractive error groups, and choroid diurnal variation correlated with axial length. The retina and choroid exhibited diurnal thickness variations in foveal and parafoveal regions.
Quantifying downstream impact of inappropriate staging imaging in a cohort of veterans with low- and intermediate-risk incident prostate cancer.

Abstract Introduction According to current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, routine imagining for staging low-risk prostate cancer is not recommended. However, extensive overuse of guideline-discordant imaging continues to persist. Incidental findings are common on imaging and little is known about the optimal management. Rates of incidental findings vs. false positive diagnosis from inappropriate imaging are poorly understood and have yet to be quantified for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. Objective To determine the frequency of positive radiologic findings in patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer during initial staging at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients’ medical records from the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System for diagnosis from 2005 to 2015. We reviewed each individual's prebiopsy prostate specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, and clinical stage. We also determined if imaging obtained yielded a false positive, incidental finding, or if metastatic disease occurred within the 6 months following initial diagnosis. Results There were 414 men, who were classified as low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer and underwent inappropriate staging imaging of 4,306 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Of these 414 men, 178 (43%) had additional follow-up imaging for positive findings. We calculated an incidental finding rate of 10% and a false positive rate of 38% for patients. Five (1%) patients had metastatic disease. Conclusion Despite guideline recommendations, imaging overuse remains an issue for low-intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. The false positive rate found in this analysis is alarmingly high at 38%. This use of scans is burdensome to the healthcare system and patient. This study highlights the frequency of inappropriate imaging and its negative consequences.
How Black “Folk” Survived in the Modern South : Industrialization, Popular Culture, and the Transformation of Black Working-Class Leisure in the Jim Crow South

This chapter examines the class perspectives and the assimilationist projects of Jewish and black reformers during periods of substantial migration through a comparison of the activities of the Educational Alliance and the Urban League. It focuses on the class visions of Afro-American social activists in the broader frame of Progressive reform, by treating the Alliance and the League as case studies in Americanization and racial uplift. To appreciate the parallels in class perspective between Jewish and black reformers, the chapter also focuses on the housing, neighborhood improvement, and employment programs initiated by the Educational Alliance and the Urban League. Jewish leaders formed the Educational Alliance in 1891 in order to Americanize the city's growing Jewish immigrant population. Black elites established the National Urban League in 1910 to assist black migrants' adjustment to New York and other cities across the nation.
Bronchoscopic ablation of peripheral lung tumors.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and lobectomy remains the standard of care for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The combination of an aging population and the implementation of low-dose CT for lung cancer screening is leading to an increase in diagnosis of early stage NSCLC in medically “inoperable” patients. The recommended treatment for this latter group of patients is stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). However, many patients cannot undergo SBRT because they have received prior radiation or because the tumor is located next to vital structures. Percutaneous ablative therapies have become an alternative to SBRT but, unfortunately, they all violate the pleura and are associated with high rate of pneumothorax. With a more favorable safety profile and the ability to provide also diagnosis and nodal staging, bronchoscopic ablation is hence emerging as a potential future therapeutic alternative for these patients. Herein we review the current state of the art including animal and human data that exists thus far. We also discuss technical and research challenges as well as future directions that this exciting new technology may take.
Book Review Essay: Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy, by Emily Bazelon (Random House 2013)

Drawing on the author’s work in considering the problem of bullying from a public health, population-centered perspective, this essay reviews Emily Bazelon’s book, Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy. After summarizing earlier his earlier work on bullying, the author shows how Bazelon’s narrative approach maps nicely onto a population-centered consideration of the problem. The essay summarizes the stories Bazelon has chosen, and lauds her ability to distill complexity and to draw useful lessons from often-oversimplified accounts. He concludes with a few observations about the different approaches that Bazelon cites as having shown some success in combating the problem, and states that incomplete success is the best we can hope for, from a public health perspective.
Development and Testing of an Engineering Model for an Asteroid Hopping Robot.

The science and origins of asteroids is deemed high priority in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Two of the main questions from the Decadal Survey pertain to what the "initial stages, conditions, and processes of solar system formation and the nature of the interstellar matter" that was present in the protoplanetary disk, as well as determining the "primordial sources for organic matter." Major scientific goals for the study of planetesimals are to decipher geological processes in SSSBs not determinable from investigation via in situ experimentation, and to understand how planetesimals contribute to the formation of planets. Ground based observations are not sufficient to examine SSSBs, as they are only able to measure what is on the surface of the body; however, in situ analysis allows for further, close up investigation as to the surface characteristics and the inner composure of the body. The Asteroid Mobile Imager and Geologic Observer (AMIGO) is a 1U stowed autonomous robot that can perform surface hopping on an asteroid with an inflatable structure. It contains science instruments to provide stereo context imaging, micro-imaging, seismic sensing, and electric field measurements. Multiple hopping robots are deployed as a team to eliminate single-point failure and add robustness to data collection. An on-board attitude control system consists of a thruster chip of discretized micro-nozzles that provides hopping thrust and a reaction wheel for controlling the third axis. For the continued development of the robot, an engineering model is developed to test various components and algorithms.