cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Living alone with dementia: lack of awareness adds to functional and cognitive vulnerabilities.

Background: Approximately 25% of individuals with dementia live alone, yet little is known about the cognitive and functional factors that impact detection of impairment. Methods: Subjects with dementia (n = 349) from a community study of dementia management were administered the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and were asked to rate their cognitive status. Each participant's knowledgeable informant (KI) was interviewed to provide information about the subject's mental health and levels of cognitive and functional impairment. Subjects with dementia living alone (n = 97, 27.8%) were compared to subjects living with others (n = 252, 72.2%) regarding functional impairment, psychiatric symptoms, cognitive functioning, and dementia recognition. Results: While subjects with dementia living alone had significantly fewer ADL impairments (p < 0.0001) and less cognitive impairment (p < 0.0001) than subjects with dementia who were living with others, nearly half of subjects living alone had two or more IADL impairments. Both knowledgeable informants (p < 0.001) and primary care physicians (p < 0.009) were less likely to detect dementia in subjects living alone, while 77.3% of subjects with dementia living alone rated their cognitive abilities as "good" or "a little worse". Subjects with dementia living alone and those living with others had similar rates of psychosis (p = 0.2792) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.2076). Conclusions: Lack of awareness of cognitive impairment by individuals with dementia living alone as well as their knowledgeable informants and physicians, combined with frequent functional impairment and psychiatric symptoms, heightens risk for adverse outcomes. These findings underscore the need for increased targeted screening for dementia and functional impairment among older persons living alone.
Thermal dose control of ultrasound therapies using MR thermometry images: an in-vitro phantom study

An MR-based thermal treatment controller that delivers a specified thermal dose to a selected target has been developed and evaluated in-vitro using a magnetic resonance (MR) compatible focused ultrasound heating system. The thermal treatment control system has a cascade structure with the main nonlinear dose controller continuously generating the reference temperature trajectory for the secondary constrained, model predictive temperature controller. The control system allows the physician to impose constraints on the maximum allowable temperature elevation at the selected normal tissue location. To reflect hardware imitations and to prevent tissue cavitation, constraint on the maximum transducer power can also be imposed. The combination of a surface coil designed for in-vitro experiments, a gradient echo sequence with k-space reduction and a 3T scanner allowed for fast (1.45s) and low noise (/spl plusmn/0.5/spl deg/C) MR temperature acquisition. The noninvasive thermal images are used during the pre-treatment heating session to characterize the spatial distribution of applied power and effective perfusion, and for the online feedback control of target thermal dose. During the in-vitro phantom experiments, the prescribed thermal dose was delivered to the target while restricting the temperature elevation at a selected normal tissue location to below a specified limit. The results demonstrate the robustness of the developed MR-based thermal dose controller in terms of target dose delivery and normal tissue safety.
EXAMPLES OF RESOLUTION IMPROVEMENT IN GEOELECTRICAL SOUNDINGS APPLIED TO GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS1

One simulation and two field examples from New Jersey illustrate resolution improvement in geoelectrical soundings applied to groundwater exploration. Layered-earth parameter resolution is derived from data obtained with the commonly used methods of resistivity, induced polarization (IP) and transient electromagnetic (TEM) soundings. Resolution improvement is achieved by simultaneous inversion of two or more data sets and by constraining parameters of the inverse problem. A quantitative analysis showing the contribution of IP data to the resolution of geo-electric sections is presented. Simultaneous inversion of simple IP data with conventional resistivity and resistivity-TEM data sets resulted in improved parameter resolution. IP data improved resolution in three ways: (1) by decoupling correlated layered-earth parameters, (2) by adding information to a geological interpretation about a second physical property, namely chargeability, and (3) by increasing the electrical information available.
A computational framework for the simulation, verification, and synthesis of force-guided robotic assembly strategies

Robotic assemblies are inherently hybrid systems. This paper pursues a class of multitiered peg-in-hole assemblies that we call "peg-in-maze" assemblies. These assemblies require a force-responsive, low-level controller governing physical contacts plus a decision-making, strategic-level supervisor monitoring the overall progress. To capture this dichotomy we formulate hybrid automata, where each state represents a different force-controlled "behavior" and transitions between states encode the high-level strategy of the assembly. Our over-arching goal is to produce a computational framework for the simulation, verification, and synthesis of such force-guided robotic assembly strategies. We investigate the use of three general hybrid-systems software tools (Hybrid cc, HyTech, and CEtool) for the simulation and verification of these strategies. We describe the computational environment we developed at Case to synthesize and implement real-world assembly strategies.
Finite state automata and simple recurrent networks

We explore a network architecture introduced by Elman (1988) for predicting successive elements of a sequence. The network uses the pattern of activation over a set of hidden units from time-step t1, together with element t, to predict element t 1. When the network is trained with strings from a particular finite-state grammar, it can learn to be a perfect finite-state recognizer for the grammar. When the network has a minimal number of hidden units, patterns on the hidden units come to correspond to the nodes of the grammar, although this correspondence is not necessary for the network to act as a perfect finite-state recognizer. We explore the conditions under which the network can carry information about distant sequential contingencies across intervening elements. Such information is maintained with relative ease if it is relevant at each intermediate step; it tends to be lost when intervening elements do not depend on it. At first glance this may suggest that such networks are not relevant to natural language, in which dependencies may span indefinite distances. However, embeddings in natural language are not completely independent of earlier information. The final simulation shows that long distance sequential contingencies can be encoded by the network even if only subtle statistical properties of embedded strings depend on the early information.
Ultrafast quasiparticle relaxation dynamics in normal metals and heavy-fermion materials

(T K) down to 10 K. Kondo temperature is about 100 K in YbAgCu4 and typically characterizes the width of the large DOS near E F . In Ref. 7, we presented experimental data showing different relaxation dynamics in LuAgCu4 and YbAgCu4 along with the main theoretical ideas and final results of the calculations based on coupled electron and phonon Boltzmann transport equations. In this paper, we report on the details of the theoretical model and analysis, and clarify the underlying physics. The theories that existed before our study are summarized in Sec. II A. Sections II B and III discuss our calculations of the relaxation dynamics in normal metals and heavy-fermion materials, respectively. Section IV summarizes our results.
Diet-induced changes in plasma amino acid pattern: effects on the brain uptake of large neutral amino acids, and on brain serotonin synthesis.

Tryptophan is transported into brain by a competitive carrier system it shares with such other large neutral amino acids as tyrosine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Physiologic variations in the plasma neutral amino acid pattern (either as a change in plasma tryptophan, or in the plasma concentration of one or more of its competitors) directly alter this competitive process, and thereby modify the uptake of tryptophan into brain. Such variations in tryptophan uptake influence brain tryptophan levels, and thus serotonin synthesis. Food intake, by influencing directly the plasma levels of large neutral amino acids, can therefore predictably modify brain tryptophan uptake and serotonin synthesis.
A Riemann-Solver Free Spacetime Discontinuous Galerkin Method for General Conservation Laws

This paper summarizes a Riemann-solver-free spacetime discontinuous Galerkin method developed for general conservation laws. The method integrates the best features of the spacetime Conservation Element/Solution Element (CE/SE) method and the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method. The core idea is to construct a staggered spacetime mesh through alternate cell-centered CEs and vertex-centered CEs within each time step. Inside each SE, the solution is approximated using high-order spacetime DG basis polynomials. The spacetime flux conservation is enforced inside each CE using the DG concept. The unknowns are stored at both vertices and cell centroids of the spatial mesh. However, the solutions at vertices and cell centroids are updated at different time levels within each time step in an alternate fashion. Thanks to the staggered spacetime formulation, there are no left and right states for the solution at the spacetime interface. Instead, the solution available to evaluate the flux is continuous across the interface. Therefore, no (approximate) Riemann solvers are needed to provide a unique numerical flux. The current method can be used to solve arbitrary conservation laws including the compressible Euler equations, shallow water equations and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations without the need of any form of Riemann solvers. A set of benchmark problems of various conservation laws are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the method.
Novel position-coded methods for mining web access patterns

This paper briefly introduces two novel algorithms - PLWAPI and PLWAP2, modified from the position pre-ordered linked Web access pattern (PLWAP) algorithm, for mining Web access pattern(WAP)s from web usage log data. Their basic ideas are to create a new header that links only the nodes under the new root of a WAP tree, and reuse the WAP tree through cloning in every recursion of the mining process. They have been tested against three other existing popular algorithms, i.e. WAP tree, the conditional sequence (CS) and PLWAP, with some synthetic benchmark data and real-world web log data collected from two Web sites. The experimental results indicated that PLWAP2 performed slightly better than PLWAP whilst using less memory, but PLWAPI is much more efficient than all the others, particularly when used for large data sets with long (more than 10 events) access sequences.
The Olympia Oyster Ostrea lurida: Recent Advances in Natural History, Ecology, and Restoration

ABSTRACT This article reviews recent literature on the biology of Ostrea lurida, emphasizing information that has arisen subsequent to Baker's review in 1995. The review highlights recent work that contributes to improvements in restoration efforts. Included are sections on phylogeny, reproductive biology, shell morphology, harvesting, associations with other organisms, threats to recovering populations, ocean acidification, and larval supply, settlement and recruitment.
Psychophysical determination of the spatial connectivity function in a model of contour salience

Recently, we proposed a cortical-based model that accounts for a range of psychophysical results on contour salience [S.C. Yen, L.H. Finkel, Vision Res. 38 (1998) 719}741]. In this model, cortical units are interconnected by long-range horizontal connections where the connection strength between units is de"ned by an inter-element spatial connectivity function. In the present work, we determine the spatial connectivity function psychophysically and compare the result to the function implemented in the original computational model. The results suggest the original product of gaussian spatial weighting function does not completely describe the psychophysical data. Rather, we "nd that the connectivity function is ‘tapereda suggesting a lack of separability between position and orientation in cortical connectivity. ( 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Design considerations of a digital pressure sensor array

A digital pressure sensor array is described which is designed using aligned wafer bonding. The array produces a digital output describing the pressure differential range in the interval of 0.25 to 1.0 atmospheres of pressure. The digital pressure sensors operate on the principle of closing electrical contacts at desired pressure points. >
Design of part feeding and assembly processes with dynamics

We introduce computational support tools for the analysis and design of systems with multiple frictional contacts, with a focus on applications to part feeding and assembly processes. The tools rely on dynamic models of the processes. We describe two approaches to modeling, the Stewart-Trinkle model (1996) and the Song-Pang-Kumar model (2003), that allow the designer to experiment with different geometric, material and dynamic properties and optimize the design for performance. In order to accommodate contact transitions, we introduce a smooth cone model for friction. We illustrate the models and the design process by describing the design optimization of a part feeder.
Identification of the Cellular Sentinels for Native Immunogenic Heat Shock Proteins In Vivo

Select members of the heat shock proteins (HSPs) family, such as gp96, elicit immune responses specific to their chaperoned peptides. Although immunologic effects of HSPs on APCs described to date have largely been demonstrated with cell lines or primary cells in culture, their collective responses in vitro have been consistent with priming immune responses. In this study, we examine the physiologically relevant APCs in mice that are targeted after vaccination with native, murine HSPs, and we characterize those cells. Gp96 accesses the subcapsular region of the draining lymph node, and it is internalized predominantly by CD11b + cells in this locale. Cells acquiring gp96 can transfer protective antitumor immunity to naive mice by actively cross-presenting gp96-chaperoned peptides and providing costimulation. Our studies illustrate how HSPs act to alert the immune system of cellular damage and will be of paramount importance in immunotherapy of patients with cancer and infectious disease.
Interference avoidance for capacity optimization in mutually interfering wireless systems

In this paper we present application of greedy interference avoidance to capacity optimization of wireless sys- tems with multiple transmitters and receivers which interfere with each other. We start with a simple system consisting of two transmitters and two receivers for which we formally state a greedy interference avoidance algorithm, and show that its application converges to a simultaneous water filling solution. We discuss generalization of the algorithm to systems with more than two transmitters and receivers which interfere with each other, and present also numerical results obtained from simulations.
Force Control Is Greater in the Upper Compared With the Lower Extremity

Abstract The authors investigated whether force control is similar between the upper and lower limbs and between contractions that involve 1 or 2 joints. Six volunteers (27.5 ± 11.2 years of age) attempted to produce consistent discrete rapid force responses of 30, 60, and 90 N by using 6 different body postures, 3 with the upper and 3 with the lower limb. One of the postures for each limb involved 2 joints. The standard deviation of peak force and impulse (aggregate of the force-time curve) was significantly greater (˜25%) for the lower limb than for the upper limb (p < .01). Contractions that involved 1 or 2 joints within a limb had similar variability. Therefore, the upper limb might have better control of force than the lower limb because of its extensive use in fine motor tasks in daily activities.
Value of black blood T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Purpose: To assess whether black blood T2* cardiovascular magnetic resonance is superior to conventional white blood imaging of cardiac iron in patients with thalassaemia major (TM). Materials and methods: We performed both conventional white blood and black blood T2* CMR sequences in 100 TM patients to determine intra and inter-observer variability and presence of artefacts. In 23 patients, 2 separate studies of both techniques were performed to assess interstudy reproducibility. Results: Cardiac T2* values ranged from 4.5 to 43.8 ms. The mean T2* values were not different between black blood and white blood acquisitions (20.5 vs 21.6 ms, p = 0.26). Compared with the conventional white blood diastolic acquisition, the coefficient of variance of the black blood CMR technique was superior for intra-observer reproducibility (1.47% vs 4.23%, p < 0.001), inter-observer reproducibility (2.54% vs 4.50%, p < 0.001) and inter-study reproducibility (4.07% vs 8.42%, p = 0.001). Assessment of artefacts showed a superior score for black blood vs white blood scans (4.57 vs 4.25; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Black blood T2* CMR has superior reproducibility and reduced imaging artefacts for the assessment of cardiac iron, in comparison with the conventional white blood technique, which make it the preferred technique for clinical practice.
File server system reliability versus level of inactive and active parallel standby redundancy

File server based computer systems in commercial and governmental usage require high mission reliability. This can be achieved by incorporating a more reliable, costly single server, or by constructing systems with redundant, inferior servers. As an aid to cost-effective designs, absolute and relative mission reliability are determined as a function of redundancy for linked, parallel servers in both inactive and active standby modes of operation with constant hazard rates. >
Sexual awareness: contraception sexual behaviors and sexual attitudes.

Abstract An investigation was conducted to provide additional evidence for the validity of the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ), designed to measure four personality tendencies associated with sexual awareness and sexual assertiveness: sexual consciousness (attention to internal private sexual cues), sexual—monitoring (sensitivity to others' evaluations of one's sexuality), sexual assertiveness (self-reliance in sexual decision making) and sexiness consciousness (awareness of one's own public sexiness). The results revealed that sexual assertiveness in both males and females was predictive of greater contraceptive use, but only among males was sexual consciousness and sexual monitoring found to predict more favorable attitudes toward condom use. In addition, for both females and males, sexual consciousness, sexual monitoring, and sexual assertiveness were found to be positively associated with a greater variety and a more extensive history of sexual experiences. Therapy and research applications are d...
So what if housing research is thriving? Researchers' perceptions of the use of housing studies

By various indicators of scholarly viability,housing research is thriving. Its relevance,however, is unclear. This paper addressesquestions concerning the practical significanceof housing research. Is anyone actually usingthe findings? If so, who, how, and to whichends? A survey of 41 authors of articles,published in this journal from 1996 to 1999,provides insights into perceptions by housingresearchers of how practitioners andpolicymakers use their work.Most respondents think that their studies havepractical significance. However, they oftensee the responses to research recommendationsas inadequate because of ineffectivecommunication and presentation of findings,lack of time and interest on the part ofpolicymakers, disjointed professional networks,and competing policy goals. The results ofthis study bring into focus several issuesmeriting further research, including theapparent lack of effective policy engagement byresearchers, the political and economic contextof research, the perspectives of policymakersand practitioners, and the role of comparativeresearch in knowledge transfer.
Family firms and the market's sensitivity to accruals quality

Prior research shows that family firms have better financial reporting quality compared to non-family firms. However, prior research also shows that the financial markets discount the value of family firm choices. In this paper, we show that even though family firms, on average, have better realised reporting quality as measured by accruals based measures, the market's reaction to poor earnings quality is more severe for family firms. Our findings will be important to family firm managers as they grapple with how best to communicate with financial market participants.
Activity of Compounds Related to Disparlure, the Sex Attractant of the Gypsy Moth

Fifty-five analogues of disparlure, the sex attractant of Porthetria dispar (L.), were synthesized and tested at 2 levels of concentration in the field vs. disparlure for attraction of male gypsy moths. Most of the analogues were ineffective; the best of these, which were 40- to 100-fold less active than disparlure, were those most closely related to disparlure in structure. The data may aid in deciphering the mechanism of odor reception.
Infectious complications within the first year after nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Nonmyeloablative peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with malignant and non-malignant hematologic diseases. Infectious complications of this procedure have not been previously well described. Data on 12 patients transplanted at a tertiary care center were collected prospectively and verified retrospectively. Neutropenia developed in a third of patients, lasting for a median of 5 days. All patients developed some degree of graft-versus-host disease, as intended. Most patients achieved full chimerism by week 5. Bacterial infections occurred in two patients (17%). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia occurred in five patients (42%) at a median of 80 days; none had received CMV prophylaxis. Viremia was associated with fever and fatigue in three patients, possible gastrointestinal involvement in one patient and was asymptomatic in one patient. All viremic patients responded to intravenous ganciclovir therapy. No fungal infections were documented. No patients died as a result of infection. The incidence of CMV viremia in our patients was high, but the incidence of invasive disease due to CMV was low. The best strategy to prevent CMV in patients undergoing nonmyeloablative PBSCT remains to be determined, but strategies employed in traditional allogeneic bone marrow transplantation should be considered in these patients.
Genetic diversity analysis of glutinous sorghum germplasm by simple sequence repeat

To evaluate the genetic relationship of 29 glutinous sorghum germplasm,25 pair of simple sequence repeat( SSR) markers were used. A total of 59 alleles were identified with an average of 2. 28 alleles per locus and the average effective number of alleles( NE) of 1. 81. The average polymorphism information content( PIC) varied widely from 0. 17 to 0.62,with an average value of 0. 34. The similarity coefficients of 29 glutinous sorghum accessions ranged from 0. 20 to 0. 95,with an average value of 0. 60. Cluster analysis with UPGMA showed that the varieties could be divided into two groups at the genetic similarity coefficient of 0. 48. The varieties from different geographic origins were clustered into one subclass,and the varieties with similar agronomic traits were classified into one subclass as well,indicating that the geographical origin were irresponsible for the genetic relationship among materials,and the glutinous sorghum germplasm showed abundant genetic diversities.
Morphologic Response of the Pulmonary Vasculature to Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction.

Introduction: Endoscopic lung volume reduction has been used to reduce lung hyperinflation in selected patients with severe emphysema. Little is known about the effect of this procedure on the intraparenchymal pulmonary vasculature. In this study we used computed tomography (CT)- based vascular reconstruction to quantify the effect of the procedure on the pulmonary vasculature. Methods: Intraparenchymal vasculature was reconstructed and quantified in 12 patients with CT scans at baseline and 12 weeks following bilateral introduction of sealants in the upper lobes. The volume of each lung and each lobe was measured, and the vascular volume profile was calculated for both lower lobes. The detected vasculature was further labeled manually as arterial or venous in the right lower lobe. Results: There was an increase in the volume of the lower lobes (3.14L to 3.25L, p=0.0005). There was an increase in BV5, defined as the volume of blood vessels with cross sectional area of less than 5mm2, (53.2ml to 57.9ml, p=0.03). This was found to be correlated with the increase in lower lobe volumes (R=0.65, p=0.02). The changes appear to be symmetric for veins and arteries with a correlation coefficient of 0.87 and a slope of near identity. Conclusion: In the individuals studied, there was an increase, from baseline, in BV5 in the lower lobes that correlated with the change in the volume of the lower lobes. The change appeared to be symmetric for both arteries and veins. The study illustrates the use of intraparenchymal pulmonary vascular reconstruction to study morphologic changes in response to interventions.
Compensation or Retrenchment? The Paradox of Immigration and Public Welfare Spending in the American States

By using American state-level data from 1999 to 2008, this article explores how the recent immigrant influx has influenced public welfare spending in the American states. By integrating the race/ethnicity and globalization compensation theory, I hypothesize that immigration will increase welfare spending in states with a bleak job market and exclusive state immigrant welfare policy; in contrast, immigration will decrease welfare spending in states with a good job market and inclusive state immigrant welfare policy. Empirical tests show evidence for both hypotheses, suggesting that the applicability of general political science theories depends on a combination of state policy and economic contexts.
Draft Genome Sequence of Marine Sponge Symbiont Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea IPB1, Isolated from Hilo, Hawaii.

ABSTRACT We report here the 6.0-Mb draft genome assembly of Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea strain IPB1 that was isolated from the Hawaiian marine sponge Iotrochota protea. Genome mining complemented with bioassay studies will elucidate secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways and will help explain the ecological interaction between host sponge and microorganism.
Learning Individual Behavior in an Educational Game: A Data-Driven Approach.

In recent years, open-ended interactive educational tools such as games have been gained popularity due to their ability to make learning more enjoyable and engaging. Modeling and predicting individual behavior in such interactive environments is crucial to better understand the learning process and improve the tools in the future. A model-based approach is a standard way to learn student behavior in highly-structured systems such as intelligent tutors. However, dening such a model relies on expert domain knowledge. The same approach is often extremely dicult in educational games because open-ended nature of these systems creates an enormous space of actions. To ease this burden, we propose a data-driven approach to learn individual behavior given a user’s interaction history. This model does not heavily rely on expert domain knowledge. We use our framework to predict player movements in two educational puzzle games, demonstrating that our behavior model performs signicantly better than a baseline on both games. This indicates that our framework can generalize without requiring extensive expert knowledge specic to each domain. Finally, we show that the learned model can give new insights into understanding player behavior.
The gut microbiome composition associates with bipolar disorder and illness severity

The gut microbiome is emerging as an important factor in regulating mental health yet it remains unclear what the target should be for psychiatric treatment. We aimed to elucidate the complement of the gut-microbiome community for individuals with bipolar disorder relative to controls; and test for relationships with burden of disease measures. We compared the stool microbiome from individuals with bipolar disorder (n = 115) and control subjects (n = 64) using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence analysis. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed global community case-control differences (AMOVA p = 0.047). Operational Taxonomical Unit (OTU) level analysis revealed significantly decreased fractional representation (p < 0.001) of Faecalibacterium after adjustment for age, sex, BMI and false discovery rate (FDR) correction at the p < 0.05 level. Within individuals with bipolar disorder, the fractional representation of Faecalibacterium associated with better self-reported health outcomes based on the Short Form Health Survey (SF12); the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9); the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD7); and the Altman Mania Rating Scale (ASRM), independent of covariates. This study provides the first detailed analysis of the gut microbiome relationships with multiple psychiatric domains from a bipolar population. The data support the hypothesis that targeting the microbiome may be an effective treatment paradigm for bipolar disorder.
Comparative cophylogenetics of Australian phabine pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbidae) and their feather lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)

Host-parasite coevolutionary histories can differ among multiple groups of parasites associated with the same group of hosts. For example, parasitic wing and body lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) of New World pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbidae) differ in their cophylogenetic patterns, with body lice exhibiting higher phylogenetic congruence with their hosts than wing lice. In this study, we focus on the wing and body lice of Australian phabine pigeons and doves to determine whether the patterns in New World pigeons and doves are consistent with those of pigeons and doves from other regions. Using molecular sequence data for most phabine species and their lice, we estimated phylogenetic trees for all three groups (pigeons and doves, wing lice and body lice), and compared the phabine (host) tree with both parasite trees using multiple cophylogenetic methods. We found a pattern opposite to that found for New World pigeons and doves, with Australian wing lice showing congruence with their hosts, and body lice exhibiting a lack of congruence. There are no documented records of hippoboscid flies associated with Australian phabines, thus these lice may lack the opportunity to disperse among host species by attaching to hippoboscid flies (phoresis), which could explain these patterns. However, additional sampling for flies is needed to confirm this hypothesis. Large differences in body size among phabine pigeons and doves may also help to explain the congruence of the wing lice with their hosts. It may be more difficult for wing lice than body lice to switch among hosts that vary more dramatically in size. The results from this study highlight how host-parasite coevolutionary histories can vary by region, and how local factors can shape the relationship.
Apoptosis and Vocal Fold Disease: Clinically Relevant Implications of Epithelial Cell Death.

Purpose Vocal fold diseases affecting the epithelium have a detrimental impact on vocal function. This review article provides an overview of apoptosis, the most commonly studied type of programmed...
Glycopyrrolate (Seebri Neohaler) for Maintenance Therapy in Patients with COPD

Glycopyrrolate is a safe option for maintenance treatment to prevent moderate to severe exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe COPD, with only mild and rare adverse effects.
Genetic Mutants With Dysregulation of Corticotropin Pathways

This review emphasizes emerging concepts in regulation of the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We first discuss relevant physiologic pathways and molecular mechanisms that control the HPA axis. Imbalances at many levels can disrupt HPA axis homeostasis leading to conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, pituitary hyperplasia, and anxiety disorders. We then describe recently developed animal models with specific alterations in corticotropin pathways. The primary elements of these pathways have been engineered for upregulation, downregulation or deficiency and thus provide a powerful collection of models for studying HPA axis regulation. These models provide new views into features critical for maintaining control of the HPA axis. They have expanded our understanding of the degree of plasticity and compensation that exists within this system. In addition, they reveal novel mechanisms whereby inappropriate or absent regulatory components lead to abnormal endocrine manifestations and behavioral states.
Environmental characteristics and utilization potential of metallurgical slag

Abstract Slag, an abundant by-product from the pyrometallurgical processing of ores, can be an environmental liability or a valuable resource. The most common environmental impact of slag is from the leaching of potentially toxic elements, acidity, or alkalinity that may impact nearby soils and surface water and groundwater. Factors that influence its environmental behavior include physical characteristics, such as grain size and porosity, chemical composition with some slag being enriched in certain elements, the mineralogy and partitioning of elements in more or less reactive phases, water-slag interactions, and site conditions. Many of these same factors also influence its resource potential. For example, crystalline ferrous slag is most commonly used as construction aggregate, whereas glassy (i.e., granulated) slag is used in cement. Also, the calcium minerals found in ferrous slag result in useful applications in water treatment. In contrast, the high trace-element content of some base-metal slags makes the slags economically attractive for extraction of residual elements. An evaluation tool is used to help categorize a particular slag as an environmental hazard or valuable by-product. Results for one type of slag, legacy steelmaking slag from the Chicago area in the United States, suggest the material has potential to be used for treating phosphate-rich or acidic waters; however, the pH and trace-element content of resulting solutions may warrant further examination.
Waring’s problem for integral quaternions

Abstract A (Lipschitz) integral quaternion is a Hamiltonian quaternion of the form a + b i + c j + d k with all of a , b , c , d ∈ Z . In 1946, Niven showed that the integral quaternions expressible as a sum of squares of integral quaternions are precisely those for which 2 ∣ b , c , d ; moreover, all of these are expressible as sums of three squares. Now let m be an integer with m > 2 , and suppose 2 r ∥ m . We show that if r = 0 (i.e., m is odd), then all integral quaternions are sums of m th powers, while if r > 0 , then the integral quaternions that are sums of m th powers are precisely those for which 2 r ∣ b , c , d and 2 r + 1 ∣ b + c + d . Moreover, all of these are expressible as a sum of g ( m ) m th powers, where g ( m ) is a positive integer depending only on m .
Classification and Management Strategies

Many classifications have been proposed for anal fistulas throughout the years. These include, but are not limited to: high vs. low, simple vs. complex, and primary vs. recurrent. In 1976 Park, Gordon, and Hardcastle proposed a detailed classification of the fistulas based primarily on the involvement of the internal and external sphincter in the fistula. This classification is not only useful in guiding the surgeon to make an educated decision at the time of surgery, but also allows the surgeon to inform the patient on the complexity of the disease process, chance of success, and possibility of postsurgical sequela, especially incontinence. Also this classification has been instrumental in the development of various surgical techniques and use of biologic and synthetic products for preservation of continence.
Enrolling patients into clinical trials faster using RealTime Recuiting.

Abstract Previous work has been done on both optimizing the clinical trials process, and on sending critical laboratory results and decision support through paging systems. We report the first integration of both these solution, focusing on improving the clinical trial recruitment process. We describe a clinical trial needing a real-time method of recruiting patients in an unbiased manner, quickly enough that study tests can be obtained before patients leave or samples discarded. The report describes how the ten currently recruited patients were found and how diagnoses of potentially life-threatening disorders are being made.
MEMBRANE-POTENTIAL DEPENDENT Ca CHANNELS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the membrane potential dependent Ca channels. Practically, all invertebrate muscle fibers show Ca spikes, whereas the major component of the action potential in the vertebrate muscle fiber is the Na spike. Protochordate is considered to represent a phylogenetical transition between invertebrates and vertebrates. The amphioxus muscle includes both Na and Ca components, whereas the tunicate muscle shows an almost pure Ca spike. In almost all cases so far examined, the Ca channel is permeable to Ca, Sr, and Ba ions. It is not easy, however, to determine the selectivity sequence among these three cations. The knowledge of the selectivity of either Na or K channels comes from the analysis of the reversal potential of the currents for the respective channels. The reversal potential E of the Ca channel is difficult to determine experimentally because the internal Ca ion concentration is very low.
Psychosocial Treatment of Elderly Alcoholics

In recent years there has been an increasing awareness that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are significant problems among the aged. This awareness has been supported by studies that looked at this problem from a variety of viewpoints including community-based prevalence studies, hospital admissions, arrests for public intoxication, outpatient treatment programs, and interviews with the staff of health, social service, and information and referral agencies.
Aeolian activity during Late Glacial time, with an example from Mongo, Indiana, USA

The last aeolian activity of a significant number of inland sand dunes in the southern Great Lakes region (SGLR) was several thousands of years after deglaciation. At Mongo, Indiana, a field of par...
ADHD Medications and Sleep

Abstract Difficulties with sleep initiation and maintenance frequently occur in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). All stimulants can produce insomnia, with little empirical data to suggest that there are substantial differences in sleep onset latency for the different stimulant formulations. While most children fall asleep with 15–20 minutes, children taking stimulant medications often take longer to fall asleep, especially during initial treatment and with dose increases. Insomnia related to stimulant medication appears to be dose-dependant, with 20%–30% of children treated in controlled trials taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep when using low to moderate stimulant dosages. When initiating pharmacotherapy for ADHD, sleep patterns should be closely monitored. Sleep hygiene and behavioral procedures to reduce bedtime problems should be emphasized at all phases of ADHD treatment. If insomnia persists after initiating an effective ADHD treatment, alternative dosages, formulations, timing of administration or medications should be considered to produce optimal benefit during the day without compromising sleep. Presumably, reducing the variability in sleep–wake cycles due to ADHD pharmacotherapy will promote attention and alertness during the day.
Virtual reality in episodic memory research: A review

Although virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool for the investigation of episodic memory phenomena, to date there has been relatively little examination of how learning mechanisms operate in VR and how these processes might compare (or contrast) with learning that occurs in real life. Moreover, the existing literature on this topic is spread across several disciplines and uses various distinct apparatuses, thus obscuring whether the differences that exist between studies might be due to genuine theoretical discrepancies or may be more simply explained by accounting for methodological variations. The current review is designed to address and elucidate several issues relevant to psychological researchers interested in understanding and/or using this technological approach to study episodic memory phenomena. The principle objectives of the review are as follows: (a) defining and discussing the various VR systems currently used for research purposes, (b) compiling research of episodic memory effects in VR as they have been studied across several disciplines, and (c) surveying major topics in this body of literature (e.g., how virtual immersion has an impact on memory; transfer effects from VR to the real world). The content of this review is designed to serve as a resource for psychologists interested in learning more about the current state of research in this field and is intended to highlight the capabilities (and constraints) associated with using this technological approach in episodic memory research.
A combined screening and in silico strategy for the rapid design of integrated downstream processes for process and product‐related impurity removal

Integrated designs of chromatographic processes for purification of biopharmaceuticals provides potential gains in operational efficiency and reductions of costs and material requirements. We describe a combined method using screening and in silico algorithms for ranking chromatographic steps to rapidly design orthogonally selective integrated processes for purifying protein therapeutics from both process- and product-related impurities. IFN-α2b produced in Pichia pastoris containing a significant product variant challenge was used as a case study. The product and product-related variants were screened on a set of 14 multimodal, ion exchange, and hydrophobic charge induction chromatography resins under various pH and salt linear gradient conditions. Data generated from reversed-phase chromatography of the fractions collected were used to generate a retention database for IFN-α2b and its variants. These data, in combination with a previously constructed process-related impurity database for P. pastoris, were input into an in silico process development tool that generated and ranked all possible integrated chromatographic sequences for their ability to remove both process and product-related impurities. Top-ranking outputs guided the experimental refinement of two successful three step purification processes, one comprising all bind-elute steps and the other having two bind-elute steps and a flowthrough operation. This approach suggests a new platform-like approach for rapidly designing purification processes for a range of proteins where separations of both process- and product-related impurities are needed.
Absence of amorphous forms when ice is compressed at low temperature

Amorphous water ice comes in at least three distinct structural forms, all lacking long-range crystalline order. High-density amorphous ice (HDA) was first produced by compressing ice I to 11 kilobar at temperatures below 130 kelvin, and the process was described as thermodynamic melting1, implying that HDA is a glassy state of water. This concept, and the ability to transform HDA reversibly into low-density amorphous ice, inspired the two-liquid water model, which relates the amorphous phases to two liquid waters in the deeply supercooled regime (below 228 kelvin) to explain many of the anomalies of water2 (such as density and heat capacity anomalies). However, HDA formation has also been ascribed3 to a mechanical instability causing structural collapse and associated with kinetics too sluggish for recrystallization to occur. This interpretation is supported by simulations3, analogy with a structurally similar system4, and the observation of lattice-vibration softening as ice is compressed5,6. It also agrees with recent observations of ice compression at higher temperatures-in the 'no man's land' regime, between 145 and 200 kelvin, where kinetics are faster-resulting in crystalline phases7,8. Here we further probe the role of kinetics and show that, if carried out slowly, compression of ice I even at 100 kelvin (a region in which HDA typically forms) gives proton-ordered, but non-interpenetrating, ice IX', then proton-ordered and interpenetrating ice XV', and finally ice VIII'. By contrast, fast compression yields HDA but no ice IX, and direct transformation of ice I to ice XV' is structurally inhibited. These observations suggest that HDA formation is a consequence of a kinetically arrested transformation between low-density ice I and high-density ice XV' and challenge theories that connect amorphous ice to supercooled liquid water.
The Effect of Medicaid Expansion on the Nature of New Enrollees' Emergency Department Use.

We examine changes in emergency department (ED) visit acuity and care intensity for uninsured patients who gained Medicaid insurance in 2014 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. We...
Cryosols and Earth-System Sciences

Cryosols have played an important role in understanding Earth’s systems, including relative dating of soil parent materials, correlating geologic deposits, understanding glacier dynamics, reconstructing past environments, preservation of artefacts and microorganisms, detecting paleo-human occupation sites, predicting soils and geomorphic surfaces on extraterrestrial planets such as Mars, and determining whether or not high level lakes existed during the early Holocene in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.