cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fire and explosion hazards induced by repressurization of air driers

Adsorbers used to dry or purify air typically contain 4A or 13X molecular sieves which are intermittently reactivated by thermal regeneration. This article shows that nitrogen adsorbs preferentially relative to oxygen in freshly reactivated 4A, 5A and 13X molecular sieves during the repressurization step. This produces an oxygen-enriched, high-pressure gas within the adsorber vessel which emerges immediately after the air-drier is brought on-line. The enriched oxygen concentration widens the flammability range of hydrocarbons, markedly diminishes the minimum autoignition temperature of hydrocarbons, and produces both a higher explosion pressure and a higher rate of explosion pressure rise relative to air at standard temperature and pressure. Thus, the oxygen-enriched, high-pressure gas can lead to fires, explosions, and other deleterious effects in and downstream of thermally regenerated air driers which contain large pore molecular sieves. Substituting 3A molecular sieve provides a simple, safe and inexpensive way to prevent transient oxygen enrichment and the problems associated with it. Because activated aluminas and silica gels can also enhance fire and explosion hazards, type 3A molecular sieve becomes the adsorbent of choice for air drying applications.
An optical study of prebreakdown events in AC-stressed n-hexane

For a point-to-plane gap immersed in n-hexane it is shown that discrete prebreakdown streamers can be generated and recorded when 60 Hz AC is applied. The streamers are shown to be similar to those seen under impulse conditions. Simultaneous optical and electrical measurements indicate the existence of a correlation between conduction current pulse activity and streamer development. Two distinct types of streamer are observed. Bush-like events appear at the needle tip when a discharge is initiated on the negative half cycle of the applied voltage, whereas a thin filamentary streamer can be seen during the positive half cycle. Inception and breakdown resulting from the two different types of event appear to be independent. For the chosen geometry, negative events are dominant at low voltages, with the positive streamers appearing only at higher potentials. For most conditions it is the positive streamers that are responsible for breakdown. >
Improved parton distributions from global analysis of recent deep inelastic scattering and inclusive jet data

The impact of recent precision measurements of DIS structure functions and inclusive jet production at the Fermilab Tevatron on the global QCD analysis of parton distribution functions is studied in detail. Particular emphasis is placed on exploring the range of variation of the gluon distribution $G(x,Q)$ allowed by these new data. The strong coupling of $G(x,Q)$ with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}$ is fully taken into account. A new generation of CTEQ parton distributions, CTEQ4, is presented. It consists of the three standard sets [modified minimal subtraction $(\overline{\mathrm{MS}})$, deep inelastic scattering (DIS), and leading order (LO)], a series that gives a range of parton distributions with corresponding ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}$'s, and a set with a low starting value of $Q$. Previously obtained gluon distributions that are consistent with the high ${E}_{t}$ jet cross section are also discussed in the context of this new global analysis.
Menu labeling perception and health behaviors among immigrant and US born minority populations: Assessment in two Los Angeles public markets

Vargas-Bustamante A. Menu labeling perception and health behaviors among immigrant and US born minority populations: Assessment in two Los Angeles public markets. Salud Publica Mex 2013;55 suppl 4:S515-S522. Abstract Objective. To analyze menu labeling perception and food choices/health behaviors in two Los Angeles public markets. Labels with food caloric content were displayed in the food court of one of these markets. Materials and methods. Bivarate means analyses compared the surveyed popula- tion by market and by nativity status. The main predictors of menu-labeling influence were identified in the sample from the market that displayed labels. A separate analysis investigated food choices/health behaviors among immigrant cohorts by time of US residence. Results. Reading labels when shopping was one of the main predictors associated with menu labeling influence. Longer-stayed immigrants were more likely to afford "balanced meals", but they were also more likely to eat in fast food restaurants and less likely to engage into moderate/intense physical activity. Conclu- sions. While nativity was not a significant predictor of menu labeling influence on food choices, our findings suggest food choices/behaviors convergence among immigrant and US- born populations.
Neural network implementation for an adaptive maximum-likelihood receiver

An artificial neural network is described for the detection of digital data symbols transmitted over a time-dispersive time-varying channel in the presence of Gaussian noise. The transmitter uses quadrature phase-shift keying modulation. The network computes a maximum-likelihood estimate of the transmitted sequence. Mapping of the maximum-likelihood sequence estimation function onto the artificial neural network structure is described. A neural-network-based receiver structure is presented which can be used for stationary or time-varying channels. Simulation results are presented which show promising error rates over a wide range of intersymbol-interference durations. Unlike the Viterbi algorithm implementation, the neural network does not require a vast amount of memory for storage and the computation time does not increase with increasing channel memory. >
New challanges in dynamic load balancing

Data partitioning and load balancing are important components of parallel computations. Many different partitioning strategies have been developed, with great effectiveness in parallel applications. But the load-balancing problem is not yet solved completely; new applications and architectures require new partitioning features. Existing algorithms must be enhanced to support more complex applications. New models are needed for non-square, non-symmetric, and highly connected systems arising from applications in biology, circuits, and materials simulations. Increased use of heterogeneous computing architectures requires partitioners that account for non-uniform computing, network, and memory resources. And, for greatest impact, these new capabilities must be delivered in toolkits that are robust, easy-to-use, and applicable to a wide range of applications. In this paper, we discuss our approaches to addressing these issues within the Zoltan Parallel Data Services toolkit.
The preparation of 3‐substituted 1,2‐benzisothiazole‐1,1‐dioxides from the condensation‐cyclization of dilithiated β‐ketoesters with methyl 2‐(aminosulfonyl)benzoate or 1,2‐benzisothiazol‐3(2H)‐one‐1,1‐dioxide

Several β-ketoesters were dilithiated with an excess of lithium diisopropylamide, followed by condensation with methyl 2-(aminosulfonyl)benzoate to give intermediates that were not isolated but cyclized to 3-substituted 1,2-benzisothiazole-1,1-dioxides. In most instances involving the ester-sulfonamide, a single β-ketoester tautomer is usually formed after recrystallization from ethanol. The same dilithiated β-ketoesters generally condense less well with 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one-1,1-dioxide (saccharin) under the same conditions to afford the same products usually in the same or lower yields. The use of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine during these syntheses has sometimes resulted in improved yields of products.
Resveratrol is a potent inducer of apoptosis in human melanoma cells

Resveratrol is a plant polyphenol found in grapes and red wine. It has been found to have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Resveratrol also inhibits the growth of various tumor cell lines in vitro and inhibits carcinogenesis in vivo. In this study we examined the effect of resveratrol on growth of two human melanoma cell lines. We found that this plant polyphenol inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in both cell lines, with the amelanotic cell line A375 being more sensitive. The potential involvement of different MAP kinases in the action of resveratrol was also examined. Although resveratrol did not alter the phosphorylation of p38 or JNK MAP kinases in either cell line, it induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in A375, but not in SK-mel28 cells. These results suggest that in vivo studies of the effect of resveratrol on melanoma are warranted and that this plant polyphenol might have effectiveness as either a therapeutic or chemopreventive agent against melanoma.
Overlooked, misunderstood and at-risk: Exploring the lives and HIV risk of ethnic minority male-to-female transgender youth

Purpose: To describe the real life challenges and HIV-risk behaviors of male-to-female (MTF) transgender youth from communities of color. Methods: A convenience sample (n 51) of ethnic-minority MTF transgender youth aged 16 -25 years completed an anonymous questionnaire including demographics, psychosocial measures, and participation in substance use and sexual risk behaviors. Descriptive analyses and analyses of association were used to interpret the data. Results: The median age of participants was 22 years, and 57% were African-American. Twenty- two percent reported being human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV). Prevalence of life stressors among the sample included history of incarceration (37%), homelessness (18%), sex in exchange for resources (59%), forced sexual activity (52%), difficulty finding a job (63%), and difficulty accessing health care (41%). Within the past year, 98% had sex with men, 49% had unprotected receptive anal intercourse, and 53% had sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Substance use within the past year was common, with marijuana (71%) and alcohol (65%) most frequently reported. Twenty-nine percent of participants had used injection liquid silicone in their lifetime. Other injection drug use and needle-sharing behaviors were rare. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, HIV was found in higher rates among African-American youth (p .05). HIV status was not associated with any other demographic characteristic, psychosocial measure, sexual or substance use behavior. Conclusions: These findings suggest that MTF transgender youth of color have many unmet needs and are at extreme risk of acquiring HIV. Future research is needed to better understand this adolescent subgroup and to develop targeted broad-based interventions that reduce risky behaviors. © 2006 Society for Adolescent Medicine. All rights reserved.
A menu interface for wearable computing

We present a menu interface designed primarily for head-worn displays that have a small field-of-view. To support interaction with a hierarchical menu, we logically divide an absolute positioning device into finger-operated strip segments, which we use as one-dimensional scrolling devices. Our menu system is intended to make user interaction faster by not requiring constant visual feedback. This is preferable for interaction in which the visual user interface elements occupy only a small portion of the eye's entire field-of-view and in which navigating in menus with a pointer would be awkward and time-consuming. With our approach, it is even possible for the user to use peripheral vision for interaction, since there is no need to precisely position a small pointer on the screen. Thus, the user can maintain eye contact with others or keep his or her focus of attention on the environment while using a wearable device.
Effects of Revenue Distribution and Income Distribution on the Impacts of Local Taxation

A computable equilibrium model of city government tax policy is constructed and analyzed for the impacts of taxes on all land and on capital, with four patterns of distribution of the tax revenue. Workers' utilities are exogenous. Choices of tax base and of tax distribution policy affect the extent of tax-exporting and the efficiency of tax collection, as does the distribution of landownership. Local land taxation is more efficient than local capital taxation, regardless of landownership patterns. A non-Tiebout theory of local government is implicit in the model, and interaction of government structure and choice of policies merits further study.
A Recombinant Humanized Anti-Cocaine Monoclonal Antibody Inhibits the Distribution of Cocaine to the Brain in Rats

The monoclonal antibody (mAb), h2E2, is a humanized version of the chimeric human/murine anti-cocaine mAb 2E2. The recombinant h2E2 protein was produced in vitro from a transfected mammalian cell line and retained high affinity (4 nM Kd) and specificity for cocaine over its inactive metabolites benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine methyl ester. In rats, pharmacokinetic studies of h2E2 (120 mg/kg i.v.) showed a long terminal elimination half-life of 9.0 days and a low volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) of 0.3 l/kg. Pretreatment with h2E2 produced a dramatic 8.8-fold increase in the area under the plasma cocaine concentration-time curve (AUC) and in brain a concomitant decrease of 68% of cocaine’s AUC following an i.v. injection of an equimolar cocaine dose. Sequestration of cocaine in plasma by h2E2, shown via reduction of cocaine’s Vdss, indicates potential clinical efficacy. Although the binding of cocaine to h2E2 in plasma should inhibit distribution and metabolism, the elimination of cocaine remained multicompartmental and was still rapidly eliminated from plasma despite the presence of h2E2. BE was the major cocaine metabolite, and brain BE concentrations were sixfold higher than in plasma, indicating that cocaine is normally metabolized in the brain. In the presence of h2E2, brain BE concentrations were decreased and plasma BE was increased, consistent with the observed h2E2-induced changes in cocaine disposition. The inhibition of cocaine distribution to the brain confirms the humanized mAb, h2E2, as a lead candidate for development as an immunotherapy for cocaine abuse.
Modeling catalytic gauze reactors: HCN synthesis

The performance of the industrial HCN synthesis Andrussow reactor on a Pt gauze catalyst is simulated using rate equations for 13 simultaneous unimolecular and bimolecular surface reactions. Individual rates have been determined experimentally for reactants, intermediates, and products on polycrystalline Pt, and the model therefore contains no adjustable parameters except for reactant flux limits. Predicted selectivities of HCN formation agree quite well with those observed in commercial reactors, and a distinct optimum with feed composition is obtained near that observed experimentally. In addition, behaviors are predicted at compositions, pressures, and temperatures inaccessible to the commercial reactors. Both isothermal and nonisothermal situations are examined. Questions concerning the validity of models, reactant flux limits, and the decoupling of simultaneous surface reactions are considered.
Fully integrated low-loss band-pass filters for wireless applications

Fully integrated low insertion loss micromachined band-pass filters are designed and fabricated on the silicon substrate (ρ = 10‐20 � cm, er = 11.9) for UHF applications. Filters are made of silver, which has the highest conductivity of all metals, to minimize the ohmic loss. A detailed analysis for realizing low insertion loss and high out-of-band rejection filters using elliptic magnitude characteristics is presented, and a comprehensive model to take into account inductive parasitics of the interconnects is developed. Temperature characteristics of the filters are measured and show stable performance. The presented filters are different from the previously reported lumped element filters in that all filters are fully integrated on silicon substrate and occupy a remarkably smaller die area. Two filters are fabricated using the silver micromachining technique with center frequencies at 1.05 and 1.35 GHz. The filters have a constant 3 dB bandwidth of 300 MHz (28.6% and 22.2%) and an insertion loss of 1.4‐1.7 dB. The low insertion loss and CMOS compatibility make the presented filters suitable candidates for radio frequency integrated circuits. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
An Evaluation of Rules for Assigning Tables to Walk-in Parties in Restaurants:

A survey of 276 restaurant and food-service managers found that, when it comes to seating walk-in guests, just over half maintain a policy of seating the party that has waited the longest. About on...
Channel and intensity estimation for a class of point processes

We show that the blind linear time invariant (LTI) channel estimation problem, when the input sequence is independent, but has time-varying statistics, mimics that for the i.i.d. case under appropriate persistence of excitation conditions. Hence, consistent parametric and non-parametric estimators based on a single realization are readily obtained. We establish an ergodicity theorem for the time-averages of non-stationary continuous time processes; we use this to establish blind identifiability of the LTI channel of a filtered inhomogeneous point process, with multiplicative marks. These results extend to a class of time-varying channels as well. The theoretical results are corroborated by simulations.
Science and Engineering: Human Resource Needs in the Next Three Decades

The changing composition of the workforce in the United States raises fears that the country will soon suffer from a shortage of scientists and engineers. The author analyzes survival rates of college students and doctoral students to show that nondemographic trends must be investigated before we can understand the impact of the changing population on the production of scientists and engineers. He then discusses two other models of the projected supply and demand for engineers.
Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Is a Major Advance in Tumor Hypoxia Imaging

It is well established that hypoxia is prevalent in human tumors and is associated with resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy ([1–3][1]); furthermore, hypoxia contributes to immune checkpoint activation ([4–7][2]), higher likelihood for development of metastasis, and worse overall
Quantitative analysis of powdered caffeine products purchased from the Internet using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

ABSTRACTContext: Powdered caffeine is sold on the Internet as a supplement. Severe toxicity and fatalities have been reported with use, but it is unclear if this toxicity was due to excessive dosing, mislabeled products, or adulterant stimulants. Our objective was to analyze the contents of commercially available powdered caffeine products in order to assess product purity and presence of additional ingredients, contaminants, or adulterants which may contribute to toxicity. Methods: A sample of nine powdered caffeine products was purchased from the Internet. Two sample replicates of each caffeine product were analyzed. Liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS) was used to identify and quantify substances in the purchased products and purity of the compounds were calculated. Results: Comparison of actual mass versus labeled mass of caffeine demonstrated a mean purity of 88.25% (SD 13.41%) and median purity of 90.1%. The products studied contained 1.6–5.3 g per teaspoon....
61 Port 1×6 selector switch for data center networks

We present design and preliminary characterization of a scalable MEMS-based “selector switch” for high performance computing networks. The 170 μs, 61-port prototype uses relay image steering to route all 61 SMF channels through one of six pre-structured interconnects.
Reputation Revisited: Evidence from Virtual Worlds

This paper explores the question of whether and how individuals may sustain economic cooperation absent government. To do so I present and examine a case study of EVE Online, wherein individual players seeking to fight one another in an online virtual world must nevertheless figure out how cooperate in an anarchic setting. Contrary to what some of the previous literature might suggest, I find that players effectively establish property rights and engage in contractual exchange through the combined use of a simple reputation mechanism and self-policing.
Fundamentals of Electronics: Book 4 Oscillators and Advanced Electronics Topics

This book, Oscillators and Advanced Electronics Topics, is the final book of a larger, four-book set, Fundamentals of Electronics. It consists of five chapters that further develop practical electronic applications based on the fundamental principles developed in the first three books. This book begins by extending the principles of electronic feedback circuits to linear oscillator circuits. The second chapter explores non-linear oscillation, waveform generation, and waveshaping. The third chapter focuses on providing clean, reliable power for electronic applications where voltage regulation and transient suppression are the focus. Fundamentals of communication circuitry form the basis for the fourth chapter with voltage-controlled oscillators, mixers, and phase-lock loops being the primary focus. The final chapter expands upon early discussions of logic gate operation (introduced in Book 1) to explore gate speed and advanced gate topologies. Fundamentals of Electronics has been designed primarily for use in upper division courses in electronics for electrical engineering students and for working professionals. Typically such courses span a full academic year plus an additional semester or quarter. As such, Oscillators and Advanced Electronics Topics and the three companion book of Fundamentals of Electronics form an appropriate body of material for such courses.
Lifestyle behaviors to chronic diseases of adult residents in Fuyang city in 2011

Objective To investigate the lifestyle behaviors to chronic diseases of adult residents in Fuyang city,and to provide the scientific basis for making control measures of chronic diseases.Methods A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was employed.A total of 1 008residents from 480households were surveyed by questionnaire interview.Results The current smoking rate was 25.79%(58.50%for males),the heavy smoking rate was 16. 67%,and the passive smoking rate was 54.17%,while the average daily duration of passive smoking was 100minutes among the passive smokers.The now drinking rate was 30.06%(59.41%for males),the excessive drinking rate was 15.77%(33.56%for males),and the highest rate of excessive drinking up to 21.43% was in the 45-59age group. The mild activity rate and the active exercise rate were 34.72%,15.77%,respectively.The highest rate of mild activity up to 42.92% was in the over 60years old age group.Compared with the recommended balanced diet pagoda,the average daily intake of fruit,milk and nuts were less,and the salt and cooking oil was more.Conclusions There are many unhealthy lifestyles among Fuyang residents,such as high smoking rates,excessive drinking,low active exercise,unreasonable dietary structure,and so on,therefore,behavioral lifestyle intervention should be strengthened.
Enhanced discriminative stimulus effects of δ9-THC in the presence of cannabidiol and 8-OH-DPAT in rhesus monkeys

Abstract Background Cannabidiol, a therapeutic with potential serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) 5-HT1A receptor agonist activity, is the second most prevalent cannabinoid in Cannabis after Δ9-THC. The extent to which cannabidiol modifies the effects of Δ9-THC has not been firmly established, especially with respect to abuse-related effects in rhesus monkeys where previously antagonistic interactions have been reported for some behavioral outcomes. Methods Cannabidiol and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist (±)-8-hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT) were tested in two separate discrimination assays in rhesus monkeys. One group (n = 6) discriminated Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC; 0.1 mg/kg i.v.); a second group (n = 6) discriminated the cannabinoid antagonist rimonabant (1 mg/kg i.v.) while receiving Δ9-THC daily (1 mg/kg/12 h s.c.). Responding was maintained under a fixed ratio 5 schedule of stimulus-shock termination. Results Both training drugs dose-dependently increased the percentage of responses on the respective drug-associated levers. Cannabidiol (up to 17.8 mg/kg) and 8-OH-DPAT (up to 0.178 mg/kg) did not substitute for either training drug; however, both significantly increased the potency of Δ9-THC to produce discriminative stimulus effects. Moreover, 8-OH-DPAT significantly attenuated the discriminative stimulus effects of rimonabant, whereas cannabidiol did not modify the rimonabant discriminative stimulus. Conclusions These results, which are consistent with cannabidiol lacking CB1 receptor agonist or antagonist activity in vivo, demonstrate enhancement of the effects of Δ9-THC by cannabidiol, albeit at cannabidiol amounts larger than those in Cannabis or cannabidiol-based therapeutics (nabiximols). In addition to showing that cannabidiol and a 5-HT1A receptor agonist have overlapping behavioral effects, the current results suggest that 5-HT1A agonism enhances the CB1 receptor-mediated effects of Δ9-THC.
Approach to the Patient with Chest Pain

Despite significant advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the last few decades, a chief complaint of chest pain still presents the clinician with a challenging management situation. Chest pain can indicate serious and immediately life-threatening underlying pathology but can also be due to common and benign processes. This dichotomy makes prompt and accurate identification of chest pain etiologies important from patient care, medical-legal, and cost-effectiveness standpoints.
Algebras Associated to Bruhat Intervals and Polyhedral Cones

For any Chevalley (Bruhat) interval or face lattice of a polyhedral cone such that the Kazhdan-Lusztig polynomial or g-vector associated to each subinterval equals one, we construct an integral quasi-hereditary algebra C over the symmetric algebra of a naturally associated real vector space U. Under extension of scalars to the reals, C becomes isomorphic to a quasi-hereditary Koszul algebra with quasi-hereditary quadratic dual which has been previously defined by the author. We study a class of Koszul algebras such that both the algebra and its quadratic dual have properties similar to those of integral graded quasi-hereditary algebras, and show that for general reasons, C is a specialization under t ↦ 1 of a S(U′)-algebra of this type, where U′ = U ⊕ ℝt.
Parents' Concerns as They Relate to Their Child's Development and Later Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ABSTRACT:Objective:Data from a toddler screening study were used to examine: (1) categories of concerns regarding the development of their child reported by parents prior to diagnostic evaluation, (2) congruence of parent concerns with their child's later diagnosis, (3) the extent to which parent co
Successor Liability for Defective Products: A Redesign Ongoing

Successor products liability - cases where an injured plaintiff sues a successor business for a defective product sold by a predecessor business - is a doctrine still under development in the courts, and the doctrine's unsettled nature seems destined to continue over the next several years. Jurisdictions may be roughly divided into three categories. Several take a restrictive approach toward liability in such cases (sometimes called the "traditional approach"), allowing it only when relatively rare exceptions to a general no-liability rule apply. Several other jurisdictions are less restrictive with successor products liability, allowing recovery under the "product line" or "continuity of enterprise" approaches in addition to the traditional exceptions allowing liability. A third set of courts, also represented by several jurisdictions, have not yet firmly established an approach. Following a 1999 law review article by one of this article's authors supporting the less restrictive product line and continuity of enterprise approaches, and some subsequent judicial support for the article's position, some scholars responded that the less restrictive approaches are unfair to predecessor businesses in cases involving unforeseeable risks. This article challenges such concerns, demonstrating that in practice courts rarely impute knowledge of unknowable risks even under strict products liability, and that truly unforeseeable risks are in any event relatively rare. The article also analyzes recent trends in successor products liability, finding a mixed picture with some jurisdictions recently adopting one or both of the less restrictive approaches, and other courts adopting or hinting that they may adopt the restrictive traditional approach. The article concludes that none of the approaches seem likely to become a strong majority doctrine in the near future, but that corrective justice and public policy concerns favor utilizing the less restrictive approaches.
Appearance and Microbial Quality of Thawed Retail Cuts of Beef, Pork and Lamb 1.

Retail cuts of beef, pork and lamb were fabricated, packaged, evaluated for appearance traits, swabbed, and subsequently frozen. After storage for 7 days, one-half of the cuts were thawed at 4 C. The other cuts were thawed at 25 C. At 0, 4, 8, 24 and 48 h, the thawed retail cuts of meat were rated for appearance and swabbed. Taxonomy was conducted before freezing and after each thaw period. Evaluation revealed that differences (P < .05) in appearance for beef and pork existed between those samples thawed for 24 h and 0 h. Beef and pork cuts thawed at 25 C were less (P < .05) desirable in appearance after 24 h than for 8 h. Cuts thawed at 4 C for 48 h were less desirable than for 24 h. A higher thaw temperature increased (P < .05) microbial growth at 24 h on beef; but this trend was not observed among cuts of lamb and pork. Thaw time beyond 24 h increased (P < .05) the microbial load of only lamb and pork. Microorganisms most prevalent among samples were Pseudomonas , micrococci and staphylococci. These data suggest that retail cuts of meat should be thawed at refrigerated temperature, especially if thaw time exceeds 8 h.
How much sensory panel data do we need

Abstract An Microsoft Excel sample size and power calculator for sensory panels has been developed. The sample size tab calculates the amount of data to be collected when aiming to detect a predetermined difference between products (we recommend 10% of the scale) with 95% power. The statistical power tab calculates for a completed study the difference between products which can be detected with 95% power. Underlying methodology and the rationales for the choices made when constructing the calculator are discussed. It is argued that using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure (Benjamini & Hochberg, 1995) is a good way of dealing with the problem of multiple testing, since it provides adequate protection against this whilst preserving power of the individual product comparison tests. Regarding the latter, it compares very favorably with the well-known Bonferroni and Tukey methods. It is argued that the difference between products which can be detected (the delta value) should be corrected for multiple testing. It is explained how the procedure is implemented in sample size and power calculation. The methodology is extended to consumer studies and to incomplete designs. The percentage of effective pairs is introduced, allowing for a direct comparison with a full sequential monadic design. Two examples of sensory panel studies are provided.
O16.3 Loss to follow-up and patient self-discontinuation of hiv pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) in an std clinic-based prep program with adherence support

Introduction The municipal STD Clinic in Seattle, Washington provides PrEP to persons at high risk for HIV infection. Our objective was to determine the timing of and rationale for PrEP discontinuation among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the clinic. Methods Two disease intervention specialists (DIS) coordinate the PrEP Clinic, assist patients with payment assistance program enrollment, remind patients of appointments, and manage a two way text message-based adherence support program. The DIS collect data for each patient at each visit in an electronic database. When patients stop PrEP, DIS assign a categorical reason for discontinuation. Patients are defined as lost to follow-up if they fail to attend a follow-up appointment and do not respond to a call, text message or letter. We reviewed the clinic database from 10/2014-12/2016 to evaluate the prevalence of and reasons for first PrEP discontinuation for each patient. Results A total of 334 MSM agreed to start PrEP. Most were non-Hispanic white (52%), followed by Hispanic (24%), Asian or Pacific Islander (12%), and non-Hispanic black (8%). 27 men (8%) moved or transferred their care during the observation period. Of the remaining 307 men, 52 (17%) did not start PrEP and 81 (26%) discontinued PrEP at least once at a median time of 6 [interquartile range (IQR: 3–11)] months post-initiation for the following reasons: 53 (65%) lost to follow-up or unknown; 13 (16%) monogamous relationship with HIV-seronegative partner; 4 (5%) otherwise believed they were no longer at risk for HIV; 11 (14%) side effects. Race/ethnicity was not associated with discontinuation. Overall, the median observation time was 12 [IQR: 6–18] months. The prevalence of >1 discontinuation was 17% by 3 months (n=39/227), 26% by 6 months (45/174), 34% by 9 months (45/131), and 39% by 12 months (39/101). Of the 81 who discontinued, 5 (6%) restarted PrEP in our clinic a median of 6 months later. Conclusions Patient attrition was most common prior to starting PrEP and occurred steadily thereafter. Few men restarted PrEP after discontinuation.
Improved Sea Ice Forecasting through Spatiotemporal Bias Correction

AbstractWe propose a new method, called contour-shifting, for correcting the bias in forecasts of contours such as sea ice concentration above certain thresholds. Retrospective comparisons of observations and dynamical model forecasts are used to build a statistical spatiotemporal model of how predicted contours typically differ from observed contours. Forecasted contours from a dynamical model are then adjusted to correct for expected errors in their location. The statistical model changes over time to reflect the changing error patterns that result from reducing sea ice cover in the satellite era in both models and observations. For an evaluation period from 2001-2013, these bias-corrected forecasts are on average more accurate than the unadjusted dynamical model forecasts for all forecast months in the year at four different lead times. The total area which is incorrectly categorized as containing sea ice or not is reduced by 3.3 × 105 km2 (or 21.3%) on average. The root mean squared error of forecasts...
miRNA limits MAP kinase-mediated immunity: optimization of plant fitness.

This article comments on:Wang C, He X, Wang X, Zhang S, Guo X. 2017. ghr-miR5272a-mediated regulation of GhMKK6 gene transcription contributes to the immune response in cotton. Journal of Experimental Botany 68, 5895-5906 .
Visualization and quantification of Cd sorption to bacteria using confocal laser scanning microscopy and Cd-specific fluorescent probes

Abstract Understanding metal sorption to bacteria is important for developing bioremediation strategies, for determining the fate of contaminants in ground water systems, and for defining controls on microbial metabolic processes in the environment. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been the only technique available for quantifying and mapping metal sorption to bacteria on an individual cell scale, but the XAS approach is time consuming and expensive, and quantitative mapping of the distribution of metals in complex samples is difficult with XAS. The development of metal-specific fluorescent probes, in conjunction with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), represents a novel and more effective approach for visualizing and quantifying biosorption. In this study, we test and calibrate the use of a commercially available Cd- and Pb-specific probe, Leadmium Green (LG), to quantify the distribution of Cd in bacteria-bearing systems. We have developed a treatment technique that uses a combination of the stock LG molecule and a chemically de-esterified form of the LG molecule (DELG) which enables us to quantify bacterial sorbed Cd. In this approach, we correlate the green fluorescence from LG and DELG with the fluorescence at a different wavelength of SYTO 63 cell stain which enables us to visualize and quantify bacterial cell Cd sorption on both a community and individual cell level. This approach, for the first time, yields a means of easily quantifying and visualizing metal adsorption onto individual bacterial cells which allows us to directly measure the distribution of Cd in bacteria-bearing environmental systems. In this study, we report the results of a range of control experiments that demonstrate the efficacy of this approach. We demonstrate that our chemical de-esterification of LG results in 100% conversion of the LG to the DELG form that is fluorescently active, and that untreated LG is not fluorescently active until it enters the cell. We also demonstrate that calibration curves for samples containing cells, LG, DELG, SYTO 63, and Cd can be developed. Our tests also demonstrate that neither LG nor DELG cause significant changes in sorption of Cd to bacterial cells. We present results from experiments showing that Cd sorption to bacteria is highly heterogeneous between cells, a result which differs from the previously held assumption of homogeneous sorption. The results of this study yield new insights into metal adsorption behavior in bacteria-bearing systems and our approach represents a powerful tool for quantifying the distribution of metals in complex realistic environmental samples.
Using a Polypharmacy Simulation Exercise to Increase Empathy in Pharmacy Students

Objective. To assess whether the Jellybean Polypharmacy Simulation Exercise (JPSE) improved empathy in pharmacy students. Methods. The JPSE was given to all third-professional year pharmacy students in a required Special Populations course with pre- and post-scores on the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale (KCES) assessed, and open-ended questions on lessons learned from the exercise. Results. Pharmacy students showed a statistically significant increase in KCES scores after completing the JPSE. Open-ended question responses reflected personal growth and appreciation for patients managing difficult medication regimens. Conclusion. This polypharmacy simulation showed the ability to increase empathy in pharmacy students, as well as mimic a realistic experience in managing a multi-drug, multi-dose medication regimen.
Antigen processing and presentation at a molecular level.

The recognition of antigen by helper T-cells through their antigen specific receptor has been the center of intense investigation by many different researchers. Helper T-cells recognize antigen in association with a class II molecule on the surface of an antigen presenting cell. Unlike B-cells which generally recognize determinants found in the native form of the antigen, most T-cells recognize a non-native form of the antigen. It is this conversion of antigen from a native form to the form recognized by T-cells which has been operationally defined as antigen processing. Over the past four years, we have developed a system which utilizes the antigen hen egg-white lysozyme to determine at a molecular level 1) what antigen processing is, 2) how the determinant recognized by the T-cell is formed, and 3) what precisely is the ligand of the T-cell receptor. In this manuscript, we would like to initially review the concept of antigen processing at a molecular level and then present our results on the formation and recognition by the T-cell receptor of an antigenic determinant of HEL.
A method of artificial insemination in captive White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus ).

Abstract Production of fawns by artificial insemination in captive White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) has been accomplished by using frozen-thawed spermatozoa. The purpose of this study was to determine if frozen-thawed semen deposited at the posterior face of the os cervix could produce conception. Five hand-raised female White-tailed deer and one hand-raised male White-tailed deer were used over two breeding seasons 1984–1985 and 1985–1986. The vasectomized buck was ued to detect estrus in the does. The does were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen containing at least 100 million live normal cells with a 60% or higher motility. The artificial insemination catheters used in this study worked well, but due to the small size of the cervix, the catheter could only be passed up to the first cervical ring, the site at which the semen was deposited. Over two breeding seasons, nine does were inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa; each doe was inseminated once each estrous cycle at one of the following times: 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 or 30 h. after detection of estrus. Of the nine does inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa, six conceived and carried to term 11 healthy normal fawns, yielding an overall conception rate of 67%.
Abstract 108: Exercise Promotes a Cardioprotective Gene Program in Resident Cardiac Fibroblasts

Exercise and disease both induce hypertrophic cardiac growth, but only disease results in fibrosis and compromised heart function. Transcriptional profiling of resident cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), the primary cellular source of fibrosis, was used to define the gene expression programs (GEP) underlying this divergent functional outcome. Bioinformatic analyses revealed distinct transcriptional responses to exercise and disease, including induction of Rho- and SRF-dependent remodeling genes in disease and NRF2-dependent antioxidant genes in exercise. The expression of a number of antioxidant genes, including metallothioneins (Mt1 and Mt2), are specifically maintained in CFs after exercise and lost in disease. Mice lacking Mt1/2 show signs of cardiac dysfunction after exercise, including cardiac fibrosis, vascular rarefaction, and reduced heart function. Importantly, Mt levels are also reduced in human heart failure (HF) patients, suggesting a potentially conserved cardioprotective role in humans. Non-canonical TGF-β1-mediated p38-MAPK signaling has previously been implicated in HF, therefore we tested the role of p38 signaling in Mt regulation. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 in human HF fibroblasts restores Mt1 and Mt2 expression and blunts the pathological fibroblast phenotype. Taken together, our study defines the transcriptional response of CFs to exercise and disease and reveals a cardioprotective mechanism that is lost in disease.
Erythropoietin Deficiency and Late-Life Anemia

As discussed extensively in this volume, anemia occurs with increasing frequency as people age. Curiously, a specific explanation for anemia is less readily apparent for older patients and approximately one-third of those with anemia over 65 years of age meet criteria for “Unexplained Anemia” (UA) as defined by Guralnik (1) and Artz (2). Although, by definition, those with kidney disease have an explanation for anemia and would not be considered to have UA, erythropoietin (EPO) insufficiency independent of overt renal excretory failure may be one component of this disorder. Certainly, other factors, including the coexistence of occult inflammatory disease, age-associated cytokine dysregulation (independent of inflammation) and androgen deficiency are also likely to contribute. In this chapter, EPO insufficiency will be considered in the context of anemia in general, and late-life UA in particular.
A new paradigm for organizing networks of computer numerical control manufacturing resources in cloud manufacturing

Abstract Cloud manufacturing is quickly emerging as an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), analogue for distributed production and supply chains, that integrates manufacturing providers and customers. This paper develops a cloud-based cyberphysical platform as a new service for spawning and organizing cloud manufacturing networks of computer numerical control (CNC) resources, provisioned and managed over the internet. The proposed layered architecture consists of hardware, virtualization, operating system, and network layers. Using modern web development technology, an operating system is created that services and virtualizes manufacturing resources in the network. This operating system offers a new, and much-needed model for physical resources and application software distribution in Cloud Manufacturing. The platform is designed with a micro-service architecture, that is used for manufacturing nodes and software applications or ‘assets’, and implemented in a Mongo, Express, Angular, Node (MEAN) stack.
Introduction to Special Issue on Health Financing in East and Southern Africa.

This special issue on health financing in East and Sothern Africa comes at an opportune time. Economic growth in the region is contributing to a changing lifestyle and an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, which are costlier to treat. Coupled with the unfinished health agenda of communicable diseases and maternal and child health, demand for health care is increasing rapidly and putting financial pressure on governments. A risky response in a resource constrained setting is governments reallocating funds away from the poor to more expensive specialist and tertiary care. Another risky response relates to ways of raising additional revenues, especially in countries where health facilities already charge user fees in the absence of prepayment. Relatively poor patients who pay fees when seeking care may have to sell assets and incur debts, which may push them into poverty or deeper into poverty. Protecting households against falling into poverty and ensuring access to essential health services are thus top priorities for governments committed to universal health coverage (UHC) in the region. Achieving this objective requires solving several pertinent problems.
Hospital-Acquired Hyponatremia in Children Following Hypotonic versus Isotonic Intravenous Fluids Infusion.

Hypotonic solutions have been used in pediatrics for maintenance of intravenous (IV) hydration. However, recent randomized control trials and cohort studies have raised significant concerns for association with hospital-acquired hyponatremia (HAH). The study aimed to assess whether the use of hypotonic parenteral solutions (PS) compared with isotonic PS is associated with increased HAH risk in children with common pediatric conditions. Retrospective chart review of 472 patients aged 2 months to 18 years who received either isotonic or hypotonic PS as maintenance fluids. Administration of hypotonic PS was associated with a four-fold increase in risk of developing HAH in the univariate analysis, (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.99; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36–11.69, p = 0.01). Hypotonic PS were associated with HAH (p = 0.04) when adjusted for the level of admission serum CO2. There was a mean decrease of serum sodium of 0.53 mEq/L in the hypotonic group compared to the mean increase of 4.88 mEq/L in the isotonic group. These data suggest that hypotonic PS are associated with HAH in children admitted for common pediatric conditions. Isotonic PS should be considered as a safer choice for maintenance fluid hydration.