cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative thermal performances of various substrate materials in a simple packaging application: actual versus predicted

A finite element study on the thermal performance of several substrate materials in a simple package application was carried out by D.P Button et al. (Proc. Int. Symp. on Ceramic Substrates and Packages, 1989). Materials examined were aluminium nitride, alumina, epoxy-glass, refractory-glass, and a composite consisting of alumina fibers in a polyimide matrix. Three cooling approaches were addressed: natural convection, forced convection, and a heat sink placed on the substrate face opposite the chip. In the present work, experiments to confirm these model predictions are described. Actual packages were prepared, closely resembling those addressed in the previous study. Thermal Test Chips manufactured by Texas Instruments Inc., were used to make the measurements. These chips are designed for this purpose, containing both resistive heating elements and temperature-sensing elements. The test packages of each material were successively placed in natural convection, forced convection, and heat sink environments, and their respective performances were monitored. The results closely support the conclusions of the earlier model study, although numeric differences are noted. >
Evaluation of client preference for function-based treatment packages.

Functional communication training (FCT) and noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) are commonly prescribed treatments that are based on the results of a functional analysis. Both treatments involve delivery of the reinforcer that is responsible for the maintenance of destructive behavior. One major difference between the two treatment procedures is that client responding determines reinforcement delivery with FCT (e.g., reinforcement of communication is delivered on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule) but not with NCR (e.g., reinforcement is delivered on a fixed-time 30-s schedule). In the current investigation, FCT and NCR were equally effective in reducing 2 participants' destructive behavior that was sensitive to attention as reinforcement. After the treatment analysis, the participants' relative preference for each treatment was evaluated using a modified concurrent-chains procedure. Both participants demonstrated a preference for the FCT procedure. The results are discussed in terms of treatment efficacy and preference for control over when reinforcement is delivered. In addition, a method is demonstrated in which clients with developmental disabilities can participate in selecting treatments that are designed to reduce their destructive behavior.
Image Enhancement for Degraded Binary Document Images

This paper presents a novel set of image enhancement algorithms for binary images of poorly scanned real world page documents. Problems that are targeted by the methods described include large blobs or clutter noise, salt-and-pepper noise and detection and removal of non-text objects such as form lines or rule-lines. The algorithms described are shown to be very effective in removing clutter noise and pepper noise as well as form lines and rule-lines. A region growing algorithm is also described to enhance the quality of the text and to fix the problems arising from the salt noise which leaves holes in the text and creates broken strokes. The methods were tested on 204 images from the challenge set of the DARPA MADCAT Arabic handwritten document image data. The results indicate that the methods described are robust and are capable of significantly improving the image quality for downstream OCR systems.
Low-Energy Demonstration Accelerator (LEDA) test results and plans

The LEDA 75 keV injector and 6.7 MeV RFQ have been tested with pulsed and cw proton beam currents up to 100 mA. Several LINAC2000 papers give the results of those measurements. A follow-on experiment, to intentionally introduce and measure beam halo on the RFQ output beam, is reported in several papers at this conference (PAC2001). In this paper we summarize the LEDA RFQ commissioning results and the beam-halo measurements and we discuss future test plans for this high-current, high-average-power RF structures test bed.
Prices And Availability Of Pharmaceuticals: Evidence From Nine Countries

This study compares average price levels for pharmaceuticals in eight coun- tries—Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom—rela- tive to the United States. Our most comprehensive indexes, adjusted for U.S. manufacturer discounts, show Japan's prices to be higher than U.S. prices, and other countries' prices ranging from 6 percent to 33 percent lower than U.S. prices. The decline of the Canadian dollar and rise of the U.K. pound contribute to the finding of lower Canadian prices and higher U.K. prices in 1999 than in 1992. Our findings suggest that U.S.-foreign price differ- entials are roughly in line with income and smaller for drugs than for other medical services. C ross-national d ifferences in pharmaceutical prices are of great in- terest around the world. Reports of U.S. senior citizens making bus trips to Canada to buy prescription drugs, together with the conclusions of several previous price-comparison studies, suggest that drug prices are much higher in the United States than in other countries. 1 However, most previous studies are based on a few widely used brand-name drugs and omit all generics, even though generics now account for roughly half of unit volume in the United States. 2 This paper provides more representative comparisons of drug prices in eight coun- tries—Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and the United King- dom—with U.S. prices. Such comprehensive comparisons are essential to obtain- ing more accurate measures of overall price differences and to understanding the effects of each country's regulatory and competitive environment. To this end, we also compare use as well as prices. Price comparisons are reported separately for originator, generic, and over-the-counter (OTC) products, to illustrate the bias that results from focusing solely on originator products. We also show the effects of exchange-rate movement, of converting currencies at purchasing power parities (PPPs) rather than exchange rates, and of adjusting for income.
Enhanced smart-card based license management

In many e-commerce (electronic commerce) situations, the owner of a digital object wants to enforce policies on the object after the object is in the customer's hands. The object can be thought of as being software, because data is often protected by forcing access to it to take place through a particular authorized software (e.g., a "reader" for an encrypted media file, in which case a license to view the movie is, in some sense, a "software license"). One of the ways that were proposed for such policy enforcement is the use of smart cards. We describe an enhanced solution to software license management based on tamper-resistant smart cards. Our public-key protocols for binding software licenses to smart cards improve on previous schemes in that they support flexible and partial transfers of licenses between cards. The license is verified by checking the presence of the associated card. The user can therefore have several software licenses all of which are bound to one card, to avoid juggling several cards in and out of the card reader.
Characteristics of bilateral MOS-controlled thyristors (BMCT)

The operation of the continuous-gate-control BMCT and the interrupted-gate-control BMCT is described and compared. Particular attention is focused on the analysis of the turn-on and turn-off characteristics. The result provides useful guidelines for designing these devices. Parameters such as the minimum MOS gate voltages required for turn-on and turn-off and the maximum controllable current are analytically derived and experimentally verified. Switching tests using fabricated devices indicate that BMCT is capable of handling current exceeding 800 A/cm/sup 2/ with a turn-off time less than 1 mu s for discrete devices. >
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in celiac sprue: A cause of treatment failure

Abstract The coexistence of nontropical sprue and advanced pancreatic insufficiency is uncommon. The purposes of this report are to: (a) describe 3 patients with nontropical sprue and severe pancreatic insufficiency, (b) determine the frequency, magnitude, and clinical importance of diminished pancreatic secretion in nontropical sprue, and (c) assess whether patients with pancreatic insufficiency secondary to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer have jejunal mucosal histologic abnormalities. In each of 3 patients with nontropical sprue and associated severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, an optimal clinical response required the appropriate treatment of both causes of malabsorption. Of 31 subjects with proved nontropical sprue, cholecystokinin-stimulated duodenal tryptic activity or lipolytic activity (or both) was reduced in 13 (42%) but severely reduced in only the three case reports (10%). The morphologic structure of the small bowel was normal in 21 patients with primary pancreatic insufficiency secondary to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Mild-to-moderate exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a frequent finding in untreated nontropical sprue, is presumably reversible, and rarely contributes to the development of steatorrhea. However, if patients with nontropical sprue fail to respond to a glutenfree diet, coexistent severe pancreatic insufficiency is a possible cause for treatment failure.
Family Caregivers as Members of the Alzheimer’s Treatment Team

Alzheimer’s is a common disease with predictable neuropathology changes and characteristic functional declines. Family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease most frequently generate the impetus for workup and diagnosis, since it is a hallmark feature of the disease that patients lack the ability to recognize their own functional decline. Following initial diagnosis, family caregivers find themselves directing a series of multiplying and complex interactions with the health care system on behalf of their afflicted relations as the disease pursues its course through complications to the finality of death. Alzheimer’s disease patients are hospitalized more frequently and, when hospitalized, experience significantly longer lengths of stay than matched controls. Sixty-three (63) percent of Medicare expenditures for patients with Alzheimer’s disease are for in-patient hospital care (Lyketos, Sheppard, & Rabins, 2000). More than 60 % of residents in skilled nursing facilities suffer from dementia (Matthews & Deming, 2002; Rovner et al., 1990). This cognitive dysfunction (not always but primarily Alzheimer’s disease) is usually the major reason for institutional care. The role of the family caregiver in this progression is pivotal, the responsibility enormous. This chapter will consider the pivotal role of the family caregiver, the shortcomings inherent in current modes of practice and reimbursement, as well as the direction of promising new approaches, and the need for ongoing research to firmly establish a justification for a major paradigmatic shift.
Pulsed-CO2-Laser Annealing of Ion-Implanted Silicon

From studies of time-resolved reflectivity and microstructural changes, we have obtained direct evidence of CO/sub 2/ laser-induced melting above a threshold energy density. Results of the optical measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and secondary ion mass spectrometry are reported. The measurements show that melt depths as deep as 1 ..mu..m can be achieved with pulsed CO/sub 2/ laser radiation. By using differential absorption between layers with different free-carrier densities, we find that a CO/sub 2/ laser can be used to melt regions which are embedded in the material. It is likely that this observed phenomenon is impossible to obtain with a visible or ultraviolet laser.
Boys Physical Ability Test

(1942). Boys Physical Ability Test. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 34-48.
Thermodynamic Properties of 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride (C 4 mim(Cl)) Ionic Liquid

Thermodynamic properties of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C4mim[Cl]) ionic liquid were determined using thermogravimetric (TG) differential thermal analysis (DTA). A new method called DTA mass-difference baseline, was used to measure the heat capacity and enthalpy change of phase transformation of ionic liquid from DTA curves. Based on this, the changes in standard enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs energy were determined. The results show that standard enthalpy and entropy changes of C4mim[Cl] increase nonlinearly with increasing temperature, while the standard Gibbs energy change decreases nonlinearly with increasing temperature within the temperature range studied (298–453 K). The standard enthalpy of melting and enthalpy of vaporization were determined to be 0.93 and 11.07 kJ/mol, respectively.
Making learning meaningful: facilitating interest development and transfer in at-risk college students

AbstractThe Teaching for Transformative Experience in Science (TTES) model has shown to be a useful tool to generate learning and engagement in science. We investigated the effectiveness of TTES for facilitating transformative experience (TE), learning, the development of topic interest and transfer of course concepts to other courses employing a quasi-experimental design. Our goal was to determine the effectiveness of TTES compared to an alternative teaching method in a course designed for academically at-risk undergraduate students. Specifically, we explored the impact of TTES for teaching about motivation in a college success course. The results showed that TTES generated TE outside of the biological sciences, increased learning, developed student interest and facilitated self-reported transfer to other courses. The findings have important implications for facilitating learning and motivation in academically at-risk college students, which may subsequently impact college student retention and academic ...
Clinical applications of caffeine in neonates

Caffeine belongs to central nervous system stimulants and the mechanisms of action for which include primary stimulation of the respiratory center,blockade of adenosine-receptor and improvement of the respiratory muscles. Many studies show that caffeine can improve the lung function,reduce the frequency of apnea in premature newborns, facilitate extubation,and have protective effects on brain as well.Therapeutic drug monitoring is not necessary.However, serum concentration should be monitored among all the extremely premature newborns,neonates with frequent apnea and symptoms of intoxication.
Inactivation of microbial contaminants of blood components.

Despite the low risk of transfusion-transmitted infection currently present in the blood supply, processes to inactivate con-taminating viruses and bacteria may improve the safety of transfusion even further. A variety of techniques, using both physical and chemical processes, are being explored. Particularly promising is adaptation of the solvent/detergent technique (already in use for plasma derivatives) to plasma for transfusion. Inactivation of viruses in cellular components may require a combination of techniques, possibly including leukocyte depletion filtration, photoactive compounds, and subsequent washing. Concerns about potential toxicity of the agents employed and retention of component efficacy after treatment and storage remain unresolved, however.
Disruption of the ERK/MAPK pathway in neural crest cells as a potential cause of Pierre Robin sequence

Disrupted ERK1/2 signaling is associated with several developmental syndromes in humans. To understand the function of ERK2 (MAPK1) in the postmigratory neural crest populating the craniofacial region, we studied two mouse models: Wnt1-Cre;Erk2(fl/fl) and Osr2-Cre;Erk2(fl/fl). Wnt1-Cre;Erk2(fl/fl) mice exhibited cleft palate, malformed tongue, micrognathia and mandibular asymmetry. Cleft palate in these mice was associated with delay/failure of palatal shelf elevation caused by tongue malposition and micrognathia. Osr2-Cre;Erk2(fl/fl) mice, in which the Erk2 deletion is restricted to the palatal mesenchyme, did not display cleft palate, suggesting that palatal clefting in Wnt1-Cre;Erk2(fl/fl) mice is a secondary defect. Tongues in Wnt1-Cre;Erk2(fl/fl) mice exhibited microglossia, malposition, disruption of the muscle patterning and compromised tendon development. The tongue phenotype was extensively rescued after culture in isolation, indicating that it might also be a secondary defect. The primary malformations in Wnt1-Cre;Erk2(fl/fl) mice, namely micrognathia and mandibular asymmetry, are linked to an early osteogenic differentiation defect. Collectively, our study demonstrates that mutation of Erk2 in neural crest derivatives phenocopies the human Pierre Robin sequence and highlights the interconnection of palate, tongue and mandible development. Because the ERK pathway serves as a crucial point of convergence for multiple signaling pathways, our study will facilitate a better understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of craniofacial development.
The creation of the international thymic malignancies interest group as a model for rare diseases.

Overview:Similar to other orphan diseases, little progress has been made in the past decades in thymic malignancies. A determination to make a difference, despite the challenges facing a rare disea...
Mechanical ventilation in pediatric patients.

SUMMARY Mechanical ventilation in infants and children is guided by the same principles used in ventilating adults. The child's unique anatomy and pulmonary physiology, however, require special considerations. An understanding of these differences will enable the physician to approach the ventilatory management of pediatric patients in a logical manner.
Two-area system analysis and control using real-time digital simulator

This paper studies the effects of inter-area oscillations on a practical two-area system using Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS). RTDS is a hardware-in-the-loop simulator, which enables the real-time analysis and testing of devices in a controlled environment before they are actually connected to the grid. We study the two-area system stability with and without power system stabilizer (PSS). The system is modeled in RSCAD (Real Simulation Computer Aided Design). We show that by finely tuning the PSS system, the harmful low frequency oscillations can be reduced by 50%.
Examination of Black Sea Bass Trap Catches in Relation to Soak Time in the Middle Atlantic Bight

AbstractFish traps were soaked for long (d) and short (min) intervals to examine the relationship between the catch of Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata and soak time for traps used in the Middle Atlantic Bight commercial fishery. First, we soaked traps over a 14-d period to examine how catch changes over time and modeled catch as a function of soak time using two three-parameter models from the literature. Maximum catches were obtained after 11 soak days before declining. Models applied to catch and soak time data fit reasonably well and may be used to correct for changes in soak time to develop abundance estimates. Second, we used a modified trap equipped with video cameras to observe fish interactions, including entry and escapement dynamics with traps over short (~60 min) soak times. Out of all the fish that were observed entering the trap, 48 (84.2%) exited while 9 (15.8%) were caught. Patterns for cumulative distributions of entries and exits indicated that entry and escapement behaviors may lead...
Development of a Numerical Model for Dynamic Analysis of a Built-Up Structure by a Two-Step FEM-Test Correlation Approach

A finite element method (FEM) model of a lightly damped built-up structure was developed based on a two-step approach. The approach utilizes the fact that damping changes natural frequencies very little but the resonance amplitudes significantly. In the first step, stiffness property of the model is refined by correlating natural frequencies obtained from test and FEM model while neglecting the effect of damping. In the second step, damping properties are identified by matching the resonance amplitudes of the system obtained from the FEM model with those obtained from measurement. As a demonstration, the approach was applied first to a simple cantilevered beam structure, then a simplified vane assembly structure clamped into a fixture. The two-step approach was applied to the vane assembly in the free-free configuration, then the assembly clamped in a cantilever form. It was shown that the proper boundary condition of the FEM model can be identified by adjusting the contact stiffness at the clamped edge. Various different damping models were adopted to identify the damping property of the model. It was shown that different models lead to slightly different forced responses of the system. Typical applications and limitations of the correlated model are discussed with some practical examples.
Family and Gender in Renaissance Italy, 1300–1600

This book studies family life and gender broadly within Italy, not just one region or city, from the fourteenth through the seventeenth centuries. Paternal control of the household was paramount in Italian life at this time, with control of property and even marital choices and career paths laid out for children and carried out from beyond the grave by means of written testaments. However, the reality was always more complex than a simple reading of local laws and legal doctrines would seem to permit, especially when there were no sons to step forward as heirs. Family disputes provided an opening for legal ambiguities to redirect property and endow women with property and means of control. This book uses the decisions of lawyers and judges to examine family dynamics through the lens of law and legal disputes.
Market orientation: reflections on field-based, discovery-oriented research

For years, market orientation remained an appealing concept that was, in practice, less favored than other approaches to management. A surge of research on market orientation helped clarify the concept and provide needed logical structure, creating a foundation for the further research and for adoption in practice. Among the most influential papers in that surge is Kohli and Jaworski (Journal of Marketing, 54, 1–18, 1990). In this paper, we comment on Jaworski and Kohli’s essay, exploring the process for field-based, discovery-oriented research, drawing comparisons with experimental, analytical or empirical approaches. We explore how one formulates and poses questions differently, the process of choosing collaborators, differences in the data collection, analysis, and differences in crafting papers. Illustrating these differences with Kohli and Jaworksi (Journal of Marketing, 54, 1–18, 1990), we explore more recent advances in market orientation and propose directions for future work.
RDA Essentials: by Thomas Brenndorfer. Chicago: American Library Association, 2016. xvi, 376 p. ISBN 978-0-8389-13238-4. $105.00.

As its title suggests, RDA Essentials seeks to present Resource Description and Access (RDA) in a more refined and elemental form than what appears in the RDA Toolkit. The purpose of this approach ...
Development and Evaluation of Enhanced Airfield Signage for Temporary Information

The aviation community has faced several accidents and incidents on infrastructures and procedures temporarily modified for the purpose of construction works. The analysis of these events shows that usual means of communication to the air crews are the weak link of the safety chain. To address the key challenge of situational awareness during construction works, the Airport Construction Advisory Council of FAA and Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris-CDG) developed and evaluated with the airfield community, from 2011 to 2016, an innovative aviation signage. Parallel and complementary studies in human factors led to the definition of specifications for a temporary information signage, also called orange construction sign. Paris-CDG focused on the development of specific messages for each one of the major hazards that could require an increased situational awareness of the air crews during taxiing and takeoff. The results of the evaluation conducted by FAA were published in September 2015. The purpose of ...
Ten simple rules for writing a career development award proposal.

Career development awards support intensive training and provide valuable funding for promising postdoctoral and/or junior faculty–level scientists during the transition to research independence. Therefore, career development awards are typically competitive and are a significant undertaking. Many countries have such awards, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) K series being the most well known in the United States. If funded, the career development award demonstrates success in obtaining research funding, a key factor for future success. In addition, regardless of whether or not the application is funded, a well-designed proposal will help launch the transition to independence by providing a detailed plan for career development and future research. This guide provides an overview for formulating a strong career development award, with principles generalizable to other grant proposals.
Lights, Camera, Project-Based Learning!.

A physical education instructor incorporates a teaching method known as project-based learning (PBL) in his physical education curriculum. Utilizing video-production equipment to imitate the production of a televisions show, sixth-grade students attending a charter school invited college students to share their stories about physical activity and maintaining healthy lifestyles. The experiences shared in this article reflect how a physical education class utilized PBL while incorporating digital media.
Electrospun fiber surface nanotopography influences astrocyte-mediated neurite outgrowth

Aligned, electrospun fiber scaffolds provide topographical guidance for regenerating neurons and glia after central nervous system injury. To date, no study has explored how fiber surface nanotopography affects astrocyte response to fibrous scaffolds. Astrocytes play important roles in the glial scar, the blood brain barrier, and in maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system. In this study, electrospun poly L-lactic acid fibers were engineered with smooth, pitted, or divoted surface nanotopography. Cortical or spinal cord primary rat astrocytes were cultured on the surfaces for either 1 or 3 d to examine the astrocyte response over time. The results showed that cortical astrocytes were significantly shorter and broader on the pitted and divoted fibers compared to those on smooth fibers. However, spinal cord astrocyte morphology was not significantly altered by the surface features. These findings indicate that astrocytes from unique anatomical locations respond differently to the presence of nanotopography. Western blot results show that the differences in morphology were not associated with significant changes in glial fibrillary acidicprotein (GFAP) or vinculin in either astrocyte population, suggesting that surface pits and divots do not induce a reactive phenotype in either cortical or spinal cord astrocytes. Finally, astrocytes were co-cultured with dorsal root ganglia to determine how the surfaces affected astrocyte-mediated neurite outgrowth. Astrocytes cultured on the fibers for shorter periods of time (1 d) generally supported longer neurite outgrowth. Pitted and divoted fibers restricted spinal cord astrocyte-mediated neurite outgrowth, while smooth fibers increased 3 d spinal cord astrocyte-mediated neurite outgrowth. In total, fiber surface nanotopography can influence astrocyte elongation and influence the capability of astrocytes to direct neurites. Therefore, fiber surface characteristics should be carefully controlled to optimize astrocyte-mediated axonal regeneration.
Extracellular release of tissue plasminogen activator is increased with the phagocytic activity of the retinal pigment epithelium.

Primary confluent cultures of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells harvested from porcine eyes were challenged with latex spheres. The extracellular release of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) that was associated with phagocytosis of the beads by the RPE was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent and chromogenic substrate assays. In the presence of serum and as compared to the controls, the phagocytosis of latex spheres produced a 5.5-fold increase in the amount of t-PA released into the ambient medium. Cell lysis was not a significant feature in either treated or control groups. Because the RPE in vivo is exposed to serum through the fenestrated choriocapillaris, and because phagocytosis by the RPE outer segments shed by the photoreceptors contributes to the maintenance of the functional integrity of the neural retina, we suggest that the release of t-PA associated with the phagocytic activity of RPE cells is an important physiologic event. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:2470-2473,1989 The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the photoreceptor cells of the retina are intimately related morphologically and physiologically through the interdigitation of the apical processes of the RPE cells with the outer segments of the rods and cones. One of the major functions of the RPE is the daily phagocytosis of the discs shed by the outer photoreceptor tips during the course of renewal of the photoreceptor membrane. 1 Among the various events associated with phagocytosis in general, one event that has been documented is the extracellular release of lysosomal enzymes, collagenase, and neutral serine proteases by phagocytes such as macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, and RPE cells. 2 " 7 These enzymes degrade extracellular macromolecules. 4 It is known that an increase in the activity of a plasminogen activator of undetermined type is associated with the phagocytic activity of macrophages, and that RPE cells possess various macrophagelike characteristics. 8 Therefore,
Malignancy and Immunologic Deficiency States in Experimental Animals

A wide variety of experimental procedures which result in alteration of immunologic status have been shown to cause an increased incidence of neoplasms. Evidence has accumulated showing that in virus induced leukemias in mice there is a period of immunologic deficiency during the incubation period before the onset of frank leukemia [26, 36, 125, 146].
Electron Transfer-Oxy Radical Mechanism for Anticancer Agents: Etoposide, Cu Dips, and BIS(9-Aminoacridines)

A mechanism of action for many drugs which is gaining acceptance involves redox cycling accompanied by catalytic electron transfer (ET) and oxy radical formation. Several reviews on this subject have appeared1–3. The initial oxy radical hypothesis4–5 for anticancer agents has recently received increasing support6–9. There appear to be several categories of ET agents including quinones, aromatic nitro compounds, metal complexes, and iminium moieties. A theory has been advanced that the iminium ion 1, which may form endogenously10,11, plays an important role in biological functions7. The involvement of 1 in ET includes generation of oxidative stress or interference with normal electron transfer. Application of our general theme has been made to anticancer drugs8,12–14, carcinogens15 [O-alkylguanine salt in DNA], antibacterial agents16–18, CNS agents [benzodiazepine19; l-methyl-4-phenyl-l,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)20; phencyclidine21; nicotine21], spermine21, antimalarial agents22, mesoionic compounds23, and antiamebic agents24. The natural phagocytic response to foreign bodies involves attack by activated oxygen25.
Preventing AIDS in Female Adolescents

The increasing incidence of HIV infection is having a pervasive cultural impact among adolescents in the United States. To be sure, adolescents currently represent fewer than 1% of all reported AIDS cases in the United States [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1993b]. But this statistic underestimates the potential for HIV infection among adolescents. Young adults in their 20s constitute about 20% of all AIDS cases (1993b), and because several years typically elapse between the time a person is infected with HIV and the appearance of clinical signs sufficient to warrant a diagnosis of AIDS, many of these individuals were infected during adolescence.
Comparison of next-generation droplet digital PCR with quantitative PCR for enumeration of Naegleria fowleri in environmental water and clinical samples

Naegleria fowleri in recreational waters is a serious health threat. A rapid and accurate method to determine this pathogen in water is vital to develop effective control strategies. In this study, we compared two molecular methods: droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays in identifying N. fowleri from clinical and environmental samples. Strong agreement between ddPCR and qPCR methods over clinical DNA samples was observed. The limit of detection (LOD) for ddPCR and qPCR assays were 2·5 and 25 N. fowleri per reaction respectively. In the comparative analysis using N. fowleri genomic DNA, quantitative results obtained from ddPCR and qPCR assays showed no significant difference. The assay specificity for ddPCR and qPCR assays were 100 and 86% respectively. Results from both PCR assays indicated N. fowleri was present in surface water samples from Lake Pontchartrain during our study period. In general, the ddPCR performance demonstrated in this study on clinical and environmental samples lead to greater confidence of ddPCR technology on field application. For precise quantification using qPCR, we recommend using ddPCR to quantify the standard materials before qPCR application. Significance and impact of the study This study explored the application of ddPCR and qPCR methods in identifying Naegleria fowleri from both clinical and environmental water samples. Strong agreement between ddPCR and qPCR methods over clinical DNA samples was observed. Naegleria fowleri was present in surface water samples from Lake Pontchartrain during our study period. The ability of N. fowleri to survive in brackish water is therefore a potential risk factor for people who engage in water-related recreational activities. The ddPCR performance demonstrated in this study on clinical and environmental samples lead to greater confidence of ddPCR technology on field application.
Optimal demand in a mispriced asymmetric Carr–Geman–Madan–Yor (CGMY) economy

We employ a simple numerical scheme to compute optimal portfolios and utilities of informed and uninformed investors in a mispriced Carr–Geman–Madan–Yor (CGMY) Levy market under information asymmetry using instantaneous centralized moments of returns (ICMR). We also investigate the impact on investors’ demand for stocks and indices at different levels of asymmetric information, mispricing, investment horizon, jump intensity, and volatility. Our simulations not only confirm that uninformed expected demand falls as information asymmetry increases but also offer strong evidence that informed expected demand behaves in a similar manner. In particular, expected demand of informed investors falls whenever information asymmetry exceeds 50%. The investor that demands more of the risky asset maintains that position over the entire investment horizon at each level of mispricing and information asymmetry. The absolute difference in expected demand between the uninformed and informed investors increases with the investment horizon, but decreases with the level of information asymmetry.
Teaching Fraction Concepts Using the Concrete-Representational-Abstract Sequence:

Understanding related to fraction concepts is a critical prerequisite for advanced study in mathematics such as algebra. Therefore, it is important that elementary students form conceptual and proc...
Academic coaching for learners in medical education: Twelve tips for the learning specialist

As medical education moves toward a competency-based model of teaching and learning, the need for individual academic coaching has increased. However, coaching for improving academic performance is underexplored relative to coaching for the improvement of technical skills. This manuscript introduces 12 tips for developing academic coaching skills (in the context of one-on-one coaching encounters as well as that of the broader learning and teaching environment) that promote lifelong learning habits. These tips were developed by drawing upon relevant literature from coaching (across disciplines), educational linguistics, the learning sciences, and my experiences as a medical education learning specialist. Key considerations for impactful academic coaching include critical self-reflection (for both the learner and learning specialist), dialogic interpersonal communication, collaborating with student leaders and faculty, and facilitating the development of self-regulated, lifelong learning skills.
Medication adherence to rivaroxaban and dabigatran in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis.

Several real-world studies have evaluated adherence to direct acting oral anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF); however, these studies have not been systematically summarized. We performed a meta-analysis to compare adherence to rivaroxaban versus dabigatran therapy in United States (US) patients with NVAF in a real-world setting. Medline and Scopus were searched from January 2010 to August 2018 using keywords and MeSH terms related to adherence and oral anticoagulants. We included real-world studies of US adults with NVAF comparing adherence to dabigatran and rivaroxaban. Studies evaluating adherence by a measure other than proportion of days covered (PDC) were excluded. The proportion of patients with a PDC ≥ 80 (a commonly utilized definition of adherence) served as the primary outcome of interest. We conducted meta-analysis of non-overlapping studies using the Hartung–Knapp random-effects model to estimate risk ratios (RRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We included 5 studies evaluating 80,230 patients (range 2667–22,571). Median follow-up across studies was 6 months (range 3–12 months). The proportion of patients with a PDC ≥ 80 ranged from 59.5 to 83.5% for rivaroxaban users and 57.3 to 78.3% for dabigatran users. Upon meta-analysis, rivaroxaban use was associated with increased adherence compared with dabigatran use (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.03–1.12; I2 = 88%). In conclusion, rivaroxaban was associated with increased adherence when compared to dabigatran in ~ 80,000 patients in a real-world setting. Possible explanations for this include dosing frequency or patient tolerance.
Ready-to-eat cereal fortification: a modelling study on the impact of changing ready-to-eat cereal fortification levels on population intake of nutrients.

Objective Ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal is an important source of nutrients in the American diet. Recent regulatory changes to labelling requirements may impact the fortification of RTE cereal. We used an evidence-based approach to optimize the fortification of RTE cereal considering current dietary patterns and nutrition policy. Design A US modelling study of cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014. The percentage of the population below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and above the Upper Tolerable Intake Level (UL) was modelled under three scenarios: baseline, zero fortification and optimized fortification. Setting USA. Participants Toddlers aged 1-3 years, n 559; children aged 4-12 years, n 1540; adolescents aged 13-18 years, n 992; and adults aged ≥19 years, n 576. Results Comparing current with optimized fortification, nutrient/100 g RTE cereal decreased for vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, Ca and Fe (by 2-82 %). The amount of vitamins C and D increased (by 13 and 50 %, respectively). Among RTE cereal eaters, these changes resulted in modest increases in the percentage of the population aged ≥1 year below the EAR (+0·5 to +11·5 percentage points). Decreases were observed in the percentage of the population above the UL. Conclusions Fortification of RTE cereal can be optimized to provide key nutrients and minimize the percentage of the population below the EAR and above the UL. Dietary intake modelling is useful to ensure that RTE cereal continues to help the population meet their nutrient needs.
Are Extreme Negative Return Events Independent of the Market

This study defines an extreme daily loss event as a daily return lower than 97.5% of their historical daily returns. We also define an extreme loss of an asset as forgivable if it happens during an extreme down market, and as unforgivable if the concurrent market performance is normal. We find that a half of extreme losses generated by the Russell 3000 components are forgivable, and the average forgivable loss is similar to the average unforgivable loss. After the SP and better market returns do not reduce the occurrence of extreme loss events.
The functional significance of panting as a mechanism of thermoregulation and its relationship to the critical thermal maxima in lizards

Because most desert-dwelling lizards rely primarily on behavioral thermoregulation for the maintenance of active body temperatures, the effectiveness of panting as a thermoregulatory mechanism for evaporative cooling has not been widely explored. We measured changes in body temperature (Tb) with increasing air temperature (Ta) for seventeen species of lizards that range across New Mexico and Arizona and quantified the temperatures associated with the onset of panting, the capacity of individuals to depress Tb below Ta while panting and estimated the critical thermal maxima (CTmax) for each individual. We examined these variables as a function of phylogeny, body mass, and local acclimatization temperature. We found that many species can depress Tb 2-3°C below Ta while panting, and the capacity to do so appears to be a function of each species’ ecology and thermal environment, rather than phylogeny. Panting thresholds and CTmax’s are phylogenetically conserved within groups. Understanding the functional significance of panting and its potential importance as a thermoregulatory mechanism will improve our understanding of the potential for species’ persistence in an increasingly warmer world.
Transcriptomic data from the rat liver after five days of exposure to legacy or emerging brominated flame retardants.

Abstract Large-scale gene expression analysis of legacy* and emerging** brominated flame retardants were conducted in the male Harlan Sprague Dawley rat [1] . Each animal was dosed for 5 days with the chemical at concentrations of 0.1 – 1000 μmol/kg body weight per day. Following the last dose, a specimen of the left liver was removed for RNA extraction. The amplified RNA (aRNA) was fragmented and then hybridized to Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 Arrays. Each GeneChip® array was scanned using an Affymetrix GeneChip® Scanner 3000 7 G to generate raw expression level data (.CEL files). Statistical contrasts were used to find pairwise gene expression differences between the control group and each dose group using the R/maanova package [2] . The transcriptomic data can be used to provide insights into the degree of toxicity, toxic mechanisms, disease pathways activated by exposure, and for benchmark dose analysis. The gene expression data for each of the nine flame retardants discussed here accompanies the research article entitled, “Comparative Toxicity and Liver Transcriptomics of Legacy and Emerging Brominated Flame Retardants following 5-Day Exposure in the Rat” [1] . * polybrominated diphenyl ether 47 (PBDE 47), decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD); ** 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB); bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH); tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropyl ether (TBBPA-DBPE); 1,2-bis(tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE); decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE); hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO).
Two-On-One Pursuit When the Pursuers Have the Same Speed as the Evader

Abstract A two-on-one pursuit-evasion differential game is considered. The setup is akin to Isaacs’ Two Cutters and Fugitive Ship differential game. In this paper it is however assumed that the three players have equal speeds and the two cutters/pursuers have a non-zero capture radius. The case where just one of the Pursuers is endowed with a circular capture set is also considered. The state space region where capture is guaranteed is delineated, thus providing the solution of the Game of Kind, and the players’ optimal state feedback strategies and the attendant value function are synthesized, thus providing the solution of the Game of Degree.
COVID-19 treatment combinations and associations with mortality in a large multi-site healthcare system.

Introduction During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality associated with the disease declined in the United States. The standard of care for pharmacological interventions evolved during this period as new and repurposed treatments were used alone and in combination. Though these medications have been studied individually, data are limited regarding the relative impact of different medication combinations. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association of COVID-19-related mortality and observed medication combinations and to determine whether changes in medication-related practice patterns and measured patient characteristics, alone, explain the decline in mortality seen early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a multi-hospital healthcare system exploring the association of mortality and combinations of remdesivir, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, tocilizumab, and hydroxychloroquine. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of mortality for both the overall population and the population stratified by intensive care and non-intensive care unit admissions. A separate model was created to control for the change in unmeasured variables over time. Results For all patients, four treatment combinations were associated with lower mortality: Anticoagulation Only (OR 0.24, p < 0.0001), Anticoagulation and Remdesivir (OR 0.25, p = 0.0031), Anticoagulation and Corticosteroids (OR 0.53, p = 0.0263), and Anticoagulation, Corticosteroids and Remdesivir (OR 0.42, p = 0.026). For non-intensive care unit patients, the same combinations were significantly associated with lower mortality. For patients admitted to the intensive care unit, Anticoagulation Only was the sole treatment category associated with decreased mortality. When adjusted for demographics, clinical characteristics, and all treatment combinations there was an absolute decrease in the mortality rate by 2.5% between early and late periods of the study. However, when including an additional control for changes in unmeasured variables overtime, the absolute mortality rate decreased by 5.4%. Conclusions This study found that anticoagulation was the most significant treatment for the reduction of COVID-related mortality. Anticoagulation Only was the sole treatment category associated with a significant decrease in mortality for both intensive care and non-intensive care patients. Treatment combinations that additionally included corticosteroids and/or remdesivir were also associated with decreased mortality, though only in the non-intensive care stratum. Further, we found that factors other than measured changes in demographics, clinical characteristics or pharmacological interventions accounted for an additional decrease in the COVID-19-related mortality rate over time.