cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ante-partum and post-partum markers of metabolic syndrome in pre-eclampsia.

It is rare for a study to address immediate metabolic change in pre-eclamptic pregnancy. Our aim is to study the ante-partum and post-partum metabolic markers in pre-eclampsia. A total of 33 pre-eclamptic and 200 uncomplicated women with singleton pregnancies were recruited for the prospective research. Immediately ante-partum and 24–48 h postpartum venous blood samples were collected for the analysis of metabolic markers. In the pre-eclamptic group, the ante-partum fasting glucose, fasting insulin, triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were found to be higher than in the control group; however, ante-partum high-density lipoprotein level was lower. Interestingly, fasting glucose and insulin levels decreased by 24–48 h post-partum in both groups and no significant differences were found. Pre-eclamptic patients had lower post-partum high-density lipoprotein (P=0.02), higher triglyceride (P<0.001), higher free fatty acid (P=0.02) and higher apolipoprotein B levels (P=0.01) than the control group. Dyslipidemia lasts from ante-partum to immediate post-partum in pre-eclamptic women in the form of increased triglyceride, higher free fatty acid and decreased high-density lipoprotein levels. We speculate that women with dyslipidemia and higher baseline blood pressure tend to develop pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Hence, the development of pre-eclampsia may be a ‘marker’ of possible future cardiovascular or metabolic disease.
The history and moral foundations of human-subject research.

Blustein J: The history and moral foundations of human-subject research. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007;86:82–85.
The infrared and Raman spectra of perfluorocyclohexane

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra are reported for perfluoro cyclo hexane, cyclo -C 6 F 12 . D 3 d symmetry is assumed, and is completely satisfactory. Assignments are made for 24 of the 27 optically active fundamentals.
Child and Parent Perceptions of Relational Aggression Within Urban Predominantly African American Children’s Friendships: Examining Patterns of Concordance

Increasing research documents the negative short- and long-term effects of relational aggression on children’s behavior and social–emotional functioning. Although parents likely play an important role in the way children learn to cope with and attempt to resolve relational aggression, there is little research on this issue. The present study explored children and parents’ beliefs concerning relational aggression and the children’s use of coping strategies when experiencing relational aggression in close friendships. Fifty-four low-income, urban, predominantly African American children and a parent/guardian participated in the current study. Findings suggest that the children and their parents were largely discordant in their perceptions of relational aggression and the way the children cope with being a victim of relational aggression. Although the vast majority of parents perceived that their children would come to them for support when experiencing relational aggression, the girls were most likely to report going to teachers, whereas boys were most likely to go to another adult. These results enhance our understanding of how parents and children view relationally aggressive behaviors and may inform the development of strategies to help children cope with relational aggression.
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of non-Fermi liquid behaviour in Y0.8UxTh0.2−xPd3 and Y0.95U0.05Pd3

Abstract 89 Y NMR spectra of the non-Fermi liquid alloys Y 0.8 U x Th 0.2− x Pd 3 , x =0, 0.01, 0.025, and 0.05, exhibit resolved impurity satellites due to specific configurations of U impurities around Y sites. The strongly concentration-dependent satellite linewidths grow more rapidly than the satellite shifts as temperature is reduced, indicating a distribution of characteristic temperatures and the influence of interactions between U ions. The data suggest a disorder-driven mechanism for non-Fermi liquid behavior in this system. The concentration-independent satellite shifts from the bulk resonance are not proportional to the macroscopic magnetic susceptibility, suggesting an unconventional Kondo effect. 89 Y NMR spectra of the related non-Fermi liquid alloy Y 0.95 U 0.05 Pd 3 also exhibit resolved impurity satellites, the behavior of which gives no indication of widely distributed characteristic temperatures. This suggests that ligand disorder is more important than f-sublattice dilution in driving non-Fermi liquid behavior in Y 0.8 U x Th 0.2− x Pd 3 .
Fear Learning Enhances Neural Responses to Threat-Predictive Sensory Stimuli

The central nervous system rapidly learns that particular stimuli predict imminent danger. This learning is thought to involve associations between neutral and harmful stimuli in cortical and limbic brain regions, though associative neuroplasticity in sensory structures is increasingly appreciated. We observed the synaptic output of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in individual mice before and after they learned that a particular odor indicated an impending foot shock. OSNs are the first cells in the olfactory system, physically contacting the odor molecules in the nose and projecting their axons to the brain’s olfactory bulb. OSN output evoked by the shock-predictive odor was selectively facilitated after fear conditioning. These results indicate that affective information about a stimulus can be encoded in its very earliest representation in the nervous system.
Plasma response functions, fluctuation-dissipation relations and the velocity-average-approximation

Abstract We derive and list relationships for quadratic and cubic static response functions and connect them with three- and four-point functions through generalized fluctuation-dissipation relations. We also introduce the useful concept of “response function of the second kind.” to describe the reponse of a system through the perturbation of its two-point functions. Next, we point out that the VAA (velocity-average-approximation) introduced earlier as a part of a dynamical approximation scheme for strongly coupled one-component plasmas is exact in the static limit. This observation, combined with the fluctuation-dissipation relations, allows one to derive a hierarchy of equations for response functions of increasing nonlinearity, which is equivalent to the BGY hierarchy for particle distribution functions.
Generalizations of the Nikodym boundedness and Vitali–Hahn–Saks theorems

Generalizations of the Nikodym boundedness and Vitali–Hahn–Saks theorems for scalar-valued measures on rings of sets that are in general not σ-rings are presented. As a consequence, the rings of subsets of N with density zero and uniform density zero are shown to have the Nikodym property. In addition, vector measure generalizations of the Vitali–Hahn–Saks theorem are given.
Does preoperative anemia adversely affect colon and rectal surgery outcomes

Background Complications associated with blood transfusions have resulted in widespread acceptance of low hematocrit levels in surgical patients. However, preoperative anemia seems to be a risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes in certain surgical patients. This study investigated the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to determine if preoperative anemia in patients undergoing open and laparoscopic colectomies is an independent predictor for an adverse composite outcome (CO) consisting of myocardial infarction, stroke, progressive renal insufficiency or death within 30 days of operation, or for an increased hospital length of stay (LOS). Study Design Hematocrit levels were categorized into 4 classes: severe, moderate, mild, and no anemia. From 2005 to 2008, the NSQIP database recorded 23,348 elective open and laparoscopic colectomies that met inclusion criteria. Analyses using multivariable models, controlling for potential confounders and stratifying on propensity score, were performed. Results Compared with nonanemic patients, those with severe, moderate, and mild anemia were more likely to have the adverse CO with odds ratios of 1.83 (95% CI 1.05 to 3.19), 2.19 (95 % CI 1.63 to 2.94), and 1.49 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.86), respectively. Patients with a normal hematocrit had a reduced hospital LOS, compared with those with severe, moderate, and mild anemia (p Conclusions This large multicenter database analysis suggests that the presence of severe and moderate and even mild preoperative anemia is an independent risk factor for complications and a longer hospital stay after colon surgery.
Menu controller: making existing software more accessible for people with motor impairments

Menu Controller was developed to make existing software more accessible for people with severe motor impairments, especially individuals who use mouse-replacement input systems. Windows applications have menus that are difficult to access by users with limited muscle control, due to the size and placement of the menu entries. The goal of Menu Controller is to take these entries and generate customizable user interfaces that can be catered to the individual user. Menu Controller accomplishes this by harvesting existing menu items without needing to change any existing code in these applications and then by displaying them to the user in an external toolbar that is more easily accessible to people with impairments. The initial challenge in developing Menu Controller was to find a method for harvesting and re-displaying menu items by using the Windows API. The rest of the work involved exploring an appropriate way for displaying the harvested menu entries. We ultimately chose an approach based on a two-level sliding toolbar. Experiments with a user with severe motor impairments, who used the Camera Mouse as a mouse-replacement input system, showed that this approach was indeed promising. The experiments also exposed areas that need further research and development. We suggest that Menu Controller provides a valuable contribution towards making everyday software more accessible to people with disabilities.
Resist deconstruction as a probe for innate material roughness

We developed an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based technique to measure intrinsic material roughness after base development. This method involves performing an interrupted development of the resist film and measuring the resulting film roughness after a certain fixed film loss. Employing this technique, we have deconstructed the resist into component materials and established that the photoacid generator (PAG) is a major material contributor of film roughness and that PAG segregation in the resist is likely responsible for nanoscale dissolution inhomogeneities. Small differences in PAG concentration as a result of standing waves in the resist can lead to large changes in surface roughness due to PAG or PAG-photoproduct segregation and the resultant nonlinear change in nanoscale dissolution rates. The temperature dependence of the PAG segregation suggests that increased mobility of the PAG that occurs may be due to a lowering of the film Tg during the deprotection process.
LiNbO3 acoustic plate mode sensor for dilute ionic solutions

Experimental studies of ZX-LiNbO/sub 3/ acoustic plate modes as detectors for dilute electrolyte or metal ion solutions are reported which indicate a strong acousto-ionic interaction. The results show an increase in sensitivity and resolution by more than two orders of magnitude compared with previously reported acoustic wave sensors. >
Introduction: climate change and indigenous peoples of the USA

This special issue of Climatic Change, dedicated to the examination of impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples and their homelands, and proposed strategies of adaptation, constitutes a compelling and timely report on what is happening in Native homelands and communities. Indigenous peoples and marginalized populations are particularly exposed and sensitive to climate change impacts due to their resource-based livelihoods and the location of their homes in vulnerable environments.
Mio/dChREBP coordinately increases fat mass by regulating lipid synthesis and feeding behavior in Drosophila

During nutrient excess, triglycerides are synthesized and stored to provide energy during times of famine. The presence of high glucose leads to the activation of carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), a transcription factor that induces the expression of a number of glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes. ChREBP is expressed in major metabolic tissues and while we have a basic understanding of ChREBP function in liver, in vivo genetic systems to study the function of ChREBP in other tissues are lacking. In this study, we characterized the role of the Drosophila homolog of ChREBP, Mlx interactor (Mio), in controlling fat accumulation in larvae and adult flies. In Mio mutants, high sugar-induced lipogenic enzyme mRNA expression is blunted and lowering Mio levels specifically in the fat body using RNA interference leads to a lean phenotype. A lean phenotype is also observed when the gene bigmax, the fly homolog of ChREBP’s binding partner Mlx, is decreased in the larval fat body. Interestingly, depleting Mio in the fat body results in decreased feeding providing a potential cause of the lowered triglycerides observed in these animals. However, Mio does not seem to function as a general regulator of hunger-induced behaviors as decreasing fat body Mio levels has no effect on sleep under fed or starved conditions. Together, these data implicate a role for Mio in controlling fat accumulation in Drosophila and suggests that it may act as a nutrient sensor in the fat body to coordinate feeding behavior with nutrient availability.
A High-Performance, Low Leakage, and Stable SRAM Row-Based Back-Gate Biasing Scheme in FinFET Technology

This paper describes back-gate biasing scheme using independent-gate controlled asymmetrical (n+/p+ polysilicon gates) FinFETs devices and its applications to 6-T and 8-T SRAM. Row-based above-VDD/below-GND bias is applied to the back-gates of the access and pull-down cell nFETs to enhance the read/write performance, reduce standby leakage, and mitigate process (VT) variability. The application of the technique to stacked read transistors in 8-T SRAM is also discussed.
Ligand-Dependent Regulation of the Activity of the Orphan Nuclear Receptor, Small Heterodimer Partner (SHP), in the Repression of Bile Acid Biosynthetic CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 Genes

Small heterodimer partner (SHP) plays important roles in diverse biological processes by directly interacting with transcription factors and inhibiting their activities. SHP has been designated an orphan nuclear receptor, but whether its activity can be modulated by ligands has been a long-standing question. Recently, retinoid-related molecules, including 4-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-3-chlorocinnamic acid (3Cl-AHPC), were shown to bind to SHP and enhance apoptosis. We have examined whether 3Cl-AHPC acts as an agonist and increases SHP activity in the repression of bile acid biosynthetic CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 genes and delineated the underlying mechanisms. Contrary to this expectation, micromolar concentrations of 3Cl-AHPC increased CYP7A1 expression but indirectly via p38 kinase signaling. Nanomolar concentrations, however, repressed CYP7A1 expression and decreased bile acid levels in HepG2 cells, and little repression was observed when SHP was down-regulated by small hairpin RNA. Mechanistic studies revealed that 3Cl-AHPC bound to SHP, increased the interaction of SHP with liver receptor homologue (LRH)-1, a hepatic activator for CYP7A1 and CYP8B1 genes, and with repressive cofactors, Brahma, mammalian Sin3a, and histone deacetylase-1, and, subsequently, increased the occupancy of SHP and these cofactors at the promoters. Mutation of Leu-100, predicted to contact 3Cl-AHPC within the SHP ligand binding pocket by molecular modeling, severely impaired the increased interaction with LRH-1, and repression of LRH-1 activity mediated by 3Cl-AHPC. 3Cl-AHPC repressed SHP metabolic target genes in a gene-specific manner in human primary hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. These data suggest that SHP may act as a ligand-regulated receptor in metabolic pathways. Modulation of SHP activity by synthetic ligands may be a useful therapeutic strategy.
Current knowledge on lower virulence of Reston Ebola virus (in French: Connaissances actuelles sur la moindre virulence du virus Ebola Reston)

Ebola viruses (EBOV) and Marburg virus belong to the family Filoviridae, order Mononegavirales. The genus Ebolavirus consists of four species: Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV), Sudan ebolavirus (SEBOV), Ivory Coast ebolavirus (ICEBOV) and Reston ebolavirus (REBOV). Three species of ebolaviruses, ZEBOV, SEBOV, ICEBOV, and Marburg virus are known to be extremely pathogenic in primates and humans and cause severe hemorrhagic fever leading up to case fatality rate of some 90%, while REBOV is thought to be pathogenic in Asian monkeys but not in African monkeys and humans. Recent studies indicated several factors involved in different virulence between African EBOV and REBOV. This article reviews the history, epidemiology, and virulence of REBOV.
The University of Tennessee EcoCAR 2 Communications, Outreach, Education and STEM Recruiting Program Overview: Year 2

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series is a long running collegiate vehicle design competition for North American universities. The current three year competition series, known as EcoCAR 2: Plugging In To the Future, has students design and build a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that also incorporates alternative fuel. Teams are donated a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu by General Motors to modify. A significant aspect of the competition series is the public outreach and education aspect that leverages the expertise of the students in advanced vehicle technologies and alternative fuels. This also highlights the systems level approach to integrating all aspects of the vehicle to build a vehicle that has the best possible fuel economy, lowest well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions and lowest criteria air pollutant emissions while maintaining or exceeding vehicle performance, utility and safety. This paper presents an overview of the University of Tennessee’s (Team Tennessee) EcoCAR 2 outreach program, including core program goals and measures of effectiveness of the program for Year 2 of the competition. The paper focuses on the role that such programs can have on effective science, technology, engineering and mathematics recruiting through an overview of the outreach activities and the integration of hands on activities and partnerships with local schools. The leveraging of outreach and education capabilities with the team’s outreach partners is also highlighted.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Transition of crack path at bi-material interfaces

Abstract The manner in which a crack incident on an interface transitions between penetration across the interface and deflection along it has not been widely studied. This paper uses a stress-and-energy-based (cohesive-zone) method to show that at and near transition, competing process zones exist causing both applied load for propagation and transition toughness ratios to differ from energy-based-method predictions. This finding is supported through comparison to an LEFM solution for propagation of branching cracks. However, far from transition only a single significant process zone exists and the two methods are in agreement. Results are also provided for cases of modulus mismatch.
A Behaviorally-Based Measure of Manifest Needs in Work Settings.

Abstract This investigation represents an attempt to develop and validate a research instrument (Manifest Needs Questionnaire) capable of measuring the four needs of achievement, affiliation, autonomy, and dominance using behaviorally-based scales. The instrument is designed to measure such needs with specific reference to work settings and with minimal time requirements for completion. Results of both laboratory and field studies among 640 subjects indicate that the instrument exhibits acceptable levels of convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity, as well as reasonably high test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Results are compared to other, lengthier instruments designed to measure similar needs.
Hunt for an economical synthesis of cortisol: discovery of the fluorosteroids at Squibb (a personal account)

Abstract The author's recollections of the events leading to the first synthesis of the 9α-fluorosteroids at Squibb, the further development of this discovery and its influence on the steroid industry are presented.
Contact Resistance and Contact Resistivity

This paper mainly offers guidance to the technologist who has to characterize metal‐semiconductor contacts for process development and production control. To abolish confusion clear definitions are proposed for the terms contact resistance and contact resistivity. Based on these definitions, methods of determining contact resistivity are discussed, revealing the common source of error of the methods and making comparisons. New methods like the TLM method are described and included in the comparison. Results of contact resistivity measurements on Al‐Si contacts over a wide range of silicon surface doping are presented.
Cultural differences in the use of instant messaging in Asia and North America

Information technologies have the potential to facilitate cross-cultural collaboration, but this potential may be limited by different styles of IT use in different cultures. We report the results of a preliminary study and a larger follow-up study that focus on the use of Instant Messaging (IM) in North America and Asia. Consistent with the distinction between Western individualistic, low-context cultures and Eastern collectivistic, high-context cultures, we found that multi-party chat, audio-video chat and emoticons were much more popular in Asia than in North America. We conclude that cultural differences should be taken into consideration when designing tools for cross-cultural communication.
The sexual division of leadership in volunteer emergency medical service squads.

This article reports on theoretical and empirical research that explored the hypothesis that there is a sexual division of leadership in volunteer emergency medical service (EMS) squads. This hypothesis was tested against survey data obtained from 216 current members of nine upstate New York volunteer EMS squads. Despite several mitigating characteristics of these organizations, and despite the lack of supporting statistical evidence at the aggregate level of officership, the research found statistically significant confirmation of sex bias in officer selection when leadership was disaggregated into line and staff officer positions. Medical qualifications and length of EMS squad membership were also included in the model as determinants of leadership experience. These results are discussed relative to the question of the sexual division of leadership in the overarching nonprofit and voluntary sector of the U.S. economy.
Detection of herpes simplex RNA in human sensory ganglia.

Human paravertebral ganglia were examined for the presence of viral-specific RNA by in situ cytological hybridization using a nick-translated 3H-labeled herpes simplex virus-2 DNA probe. Ganglia from several locations (lumbar, thoracic, etc.) were obtained from seven patients at autopsy. In two cases HSV RNA was detected in all of the ganglia assayed. The autoradiographic grains were localized in the neurons (ganglions cells), and only a fraction of the neurons in any one ganglion were synthesizing viral-specific RNA. These results argue that the HSV genome can be active in the latent state.
Massive Hemoptysis Associated with Foreign Body Removal

Exsanguinating hemoptysis accompanied removal of an endobronchial foreign body in a 12-year-old child. Preparations to treat this complication should be made prior to removal of any foreign body of prolonged sojourn in the tracheobronchial tree.
Storm surge forecast through a combination of dynamic and neural network models

Abstract An operational surge forecast system based on a combination of a hydrodynamic model and an artificial neural network is described. The system runs at the Centre for sea level forecasting and flood warnings of the Venice Municipality (ICPSM, Istituzione Centro Previsioni e Segnalazioni Maree) and is focused on the prediction of the surge near Venice. The hydrodynamic model provides a five-day forecast for the Mediterranean Sea. Then, results near Venice are extracted and improved using a neural network. The method exposed in this paper reduced by half the average error of the hydrodynamic model for the first day forecast and maintains good performances also for longer forecasts. Moreover it is able to reduce the bias error of the model.
Localized and non-localized nonlinear normal modes in a multi-span beam with geometric nonlinearities

The nonlinear normal modes of a geometrically nonlinear multi-span beam consisting of n segments, coupled by means of torsional stiffeners are examined. Assuming that the stiffeners possess large torsional stiffness, the beam displacements are decomposed into static and flexible components. It is shown that the static components are much smaller in magnitude than the flexible ones. A Galerkin approximation is subsequently employed to discretize the problem, whereby the computation of the nonlinear normal modes of the multi-span beam is reduced to the study of the periodic solutions of a set of weakly coupled, weakly nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Numerous stable and unstable, localized and non-localized nonlinear normal modes of the multi-span beam are detected. Assemblies consisting of n = 2, 3, and 4 beam segments are examined, and are found to possess stable, strongly localized nonlinear normal modes. These are free synchronous oscillations during which only one segment of the assembly vibrates with finite amplitude. As the number of periodic segments increases, the structure of the nonlinear normal modes becomes increasingly more complicated. In the multi-span beams examined, nonlinear mode localization is generated through two distinct mechanisms: through Pitchfork or Saddle-node mode bifurcations, or as the limit of a continuous mode branch when a coupling parameter tends to zero.
EPENDYMAL/SUBEPENDYMAL ZONE CELLS OF POSTNATAL AND ADULT SONGBIRD BRAIN GENERATE BOTH NEURONS AND NONNEURONAL SIBLINGS IN VITRO AND IN VIVO

The songbird forebrain continues to generate neurons in adulthood, from precursor cells located in the ependymal/subependymal zone (SZ) over the mediocaudal neostriatum. Precursor mitosis is followed by migration of neuronal daughter cells into the underlying forebrain, along radial fibers derived from the SZ. To define the ontogeny of both the new neurons and their radial guide cells, we employed retroviral insertion of the lacZ gene into neostriatal SZ precursor cells derived from postnatal and adult songbirds. We found that single SZ cells generate both neurons and substrate glia in vitro, and in an analogous fashion, both neurons and radial cells in vivo. This suggests that newly generated neurons and radial cells of the adult avian brain derive from a common pluripotential progenitor. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Do Wrist Guards Protect Against Fractures

Abstract Study objective: To determine whether wrist guards increase the fracture threshold for wrist and forearm fractures. Methods: We conducted a controlled, blinded experimental study using matched cadaveric arms—one fitted with a wrist guard—dropped with the use of a device designed to simulate a fall. We measured the mean number of drops before the occurrence of fracture, mean height and velocity change to fracture, mean kinetic energy, mean peak acceleration (in Gs), and summed impulse [weight (kilograms) × Δ velocity (meters/second)] to fracture with and without wrist guards. Fracture severity was compared with the use of an ordinal ranking system and analyzed with the Mann-Whitney rank-sum test. Results: Wrist guards were associated with a statistically significant increase in the number of drops, mean drop height, mean kinetic energy, and summed impulse required to cause a fracture. Fractures also tended to be less severe when wrist guards were used. Conclusion: The biomechanical evidence of a protective effect of wrist guards against wrist fractures seen in this study, coupled with previous epidemiologic evidence, is strong enough to warrant pediatricians, family practitioners, and emergency physicians to counsel skaters to use these devices when using roller skates, skateboards, or in-line skates. [Lewis LM, West OC, Standeven J, Jarvis HE: Do wrist guards protect against fractures? Ann Emerg Med June 1997; 29:766-769.]
Using influence diagrams to analyze decisions in 4D seismic reservoir monitoring

Exploration and production decisions are complex due to several uncertainties: uncertainty in the geologic properties, seismic imaging, repeatability, reservoir structure, rock and fluid properties, etc. Furthermore, several decisions need to be made over the entire life cycle, and often it is not clear how current decisions might affect the future bottom line. In the exploration and characterization stage, more information is acquired about the reservoir structure, reservoir rock and fluid properties, and the spatial distributions of lithology, porosity, and saturations. Exactly how much information needs to be acquired is a critical decision at this stage. Later, decisions have to be made about the technical and economic feasibility of seismically monitoring the reservoir during production. Simple tools like decision trees have become popular (e.g., Newendorp and Schuyler, 2000) but complex situations demand the use of more sophisticated decision-analysis tools and their integration with the existing to...
4 $\,\times\,$ 44 Gb/s Packet-Level Switching in a Second-Order Microring Switch

We demonstrate simultaneous switching of wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) data consisting of four 44-Gb/s channels (176 Gb/s total) through an electro-optically active second-order microring switch with a 0.7-ns rise and a 3.4-ns fall time. The higher order microring device allows fast simultaneous switching of multiple high data rate WDM channels. We verify the correct active switching operation and low resultant power penalties on both switch output ports. The ability to switch multiple high data rate channels simultaneously at high speed with low power consumption makes higher order ring switches attractive components for silicon photonic switching fabrics.
WBC-containing allogeneic blood transfusion and mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: An association between allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) and mortality was reported by one team of investigators from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing recipients of non-WBC-reduced versus WBC-reduced RBCs in open-heart surgery. A meta-analysis was undertaken to examine whether this finding can be generalized across clinical settings and/or transfused RBC components. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RCTs reporting on adverse immunomodulatory effects of ABT between January 1992 and August 2002 were retrieved. Fourteen studies had recorded mortality as a primary or secondary outcome and met all other criteria for meta-analysis. Summary ORs of mortality in a treatment arm receiving WBC-containing allogeneic RBCs versus a control arm receiving autologous or WBC-reduced allogeneic RBCs were calculated across studies, for groups of studies in which the hypothesis of homogeneity was not rejected. RESULTS: There was no association between ABT and mortality across 14 RCTs reporting on short-term mortality (summary OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.87–1.65) or across 3 RCTs reporting on long-term mortality (summary OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.64–1.19). In subgroup analyses, RCTs using autologous blood or conducted in abdominal or vascular surgery showed no difference in mortality, but short-term mortality differed across 3 RCTs conducted in open-heart surgery (summary OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.31–3.90; p < 0.05) and 7 RCTs comparing recipients of non-WBC-reduced versus WBC-reduced allogeneic RBCs filtered before storage (summary OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.00–2.11; p ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An association between ABT and either short-term or long-term mortality was not detected across clinical settings and transfused RBC components, but subgroup analyses suggest that an association between WBC-containing ABT and short-term mortality may exist in open-heart surgery and in settings where WBC-reduced allogeneic RBCs filtered before storage are administered.
A Comparative Analysis of Sport and Business Organizations: Factors Perceived Critical for Organizational Success

The purpose of the present investigation was to compare and contrast sport and business leaders' perceptions regarding what makes for a successful organization. Twenty sport ( N = 10) and business ( N = 10) leaders were interviewed and asked about their perceptions of organizational effectiveness in the area of group dynamics including (a) leadership, (b) group cohesion, and (c) communication. Using qualitative methods, results revealed more similarities than differences, with most sport and business leaders in agreement on the factors relating to organizational success. Specifically, all higher- and lower-order themes were identified by leaders in both areas, the emphasis simply being a matter of degree. Some of the more notable differences included business leaders putting more emphasis on being honest and being a reflective listener, whereas sport leaders emphasize interactions with others and having positive reinforcement in their communications. These similarities and differences are discussed in ter...
A Review of the Agreement Between Clinicians’ Personality Disorder Diagnoses and Those From Other Methods and Sources

This review synthesizes a wide literature on the agreement of treating clinicians’ PD diagnoses with each other and their convergence with common research methods. Median interrater reliability between clinicians was moderate when calculated dimensionally (r = .46) or categorically (κ = .40). The agreement between clinicians’ diagnoses and those from research methods (e.g., self-report questionnaire) was more modest. Median dimensional agreement across 27 studies ranged from .05 to .36, with an overall median of .23. This overall value was moderated by several factors. First, clinicians’ diagnoses agreed more with semi-structured interviews than self-report questionnaires. Second, convergence increased slightly when clinicians utilized more systematic diagnostic methods. Results suggest relatively little overlap between PD diagnoses assigned in research versus naturalistic settings.
Top tagging: a method for identifying boosted hadronically decaying top quarks.

A method is introduced for distinguishing top jets (boosted, hadronically decaying top quarks) from light-quark and gluon jets using jet substructure. The procedure involves parsing the jet cluster to resolve its subjets and then imposing kinematic constraints. With this method, light-quark or gluon jets with ${p}_{T}\ensuremath{\simeq}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$ can be rejected with an efficiency of around 99% while retaining up to 40% of top jets. This reduces the dijet background to heavy $t\overline{t}$ resonances by a factor of $\ensuremath{\sim}10\text{ }000$, thereby allowing resonance searches in $t\overline{t}$ to be extended into the all-hadronic channel. In addition, top tagging can be used in $t\overline{t}$ events when one of the top quarks decays semileptonically, in events with missing energy, and in studies of $b$-tagging efficiency at high ${p}_{T}$.
A low loss flexural plate wave (FPW) device through enhanced properties of sol-gel PZT (52/48) thin film and stable TiN-Pt bottom electrode

Abstract This paper presents the development of a robust process for the fabrication of a low loss FPW device. The transmission loss in the FPW is minimized by enhancing the texture and morphology of sol–gel PZT film through optimized pyrolysis and annealing processes. Reduction of lead loss in PZT coupled with the use of a new bottom electrode stack layer of Pt/TiN/Ti resulted in an eight-fold increase in the perovskite (1 1 1) phase, increasing the remanent polarization to 95.7 μC/cm 2 and coercive field to 56.7 kV/cm. This represents 50% improvement in remanent polarization over the previously reported values for this sol–gel PZT. The FPW device was tested by driving the input Inter Digitated Transducers/Electrodes (IDTs) pair differentially out of phase by 180°. A transmission loss of 15 dBm was observed for an IDT design of 160 μm periodicity.
Maintaining strong cache consistency in the World Wide Web

As the Web continues to explode in size, caching becomes increasingly important. With caching comes the problem of cache consistency. Conventional wisdom holds that strong cache consistency is too expensive for the Web, and weak consistency methods, such as Time-To-Live (TTL), are most appropriate. This study compares three consistency approaches: adaptive TTL, polling-every-time and invalidation, through analysis, implementation, and trace replay in a simulated environment. Our analysis shows that weak consistency methods save network bandwidth mostly at the expense of returning stale documents to users. Our experiments show that invalidation generates a comparable amount of network traffic and server workload to adaptive TTL and has similar average client response times, while polling-every-time results in more control messages, higher server workload, and longer client response times. We show that, contrary to popular belief, strong cache consistency can be maintained for the Web with little or no extra cost than the current weak consistency approaches, and it should be maintained using an invalidation-based protocol.
Low-profile, high-permeability antennaless RFID tags for use on metal objects

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems are used in asset tracking, but general-purpose tags typically do not perform well on or near metal. Therefore, custom solutions for on metal applications are common. Many solutions for on-metal tags use spacers or electromagnetic band-gap structures resulting in designs that are extremely thick. Our approach was to incorporate materials with permeabilities greater than 1 to create an impedance across a metal surface, diverting current into the tag IC. This type of tag is nearly antennaless as it uses the ground plane or container to excite currents through the IC. Our research has shown that these tags are sensitive to several parameters, such as the size and shape of the plane upon which they are placed, the material used in the antenna, and the type of matching network being used. Tags using magnetic materials in this manner are significantly thinner than those developed using other methods.
Mirabegron: β3-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder:

OBJECTIVETo review the place in therapy of mirabegron, a new oral β3-adrenergic receptor agonist, for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB).DATA SOURCESA literature search of MEDLINE and MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations Databases (1996-April 2013) was conducted using the key words mirabegron, receptor, adrenergic, beta-3; adrenergic beta-3 receptor; beta-3 receptor, and overactive bladder; urinary bladder; overactive. All published articles regarding mirabegron were included. References of selected articles, data from poster presentations, and abstract publications were additionally reviewed.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTIONAvailable English-language data from reviews, abstracts, presentations, and clinical trials of mirabegron in humans were reviewed; relevant clinical data were selected and included.DATA SYNTHESISMirabegron is the newest option for treatment of OAB with symptoms of urge incontinence. As a β3-receptor agonist, it reduces bladder muscle contractions. In two 12-week, ...
Hardware implementation of the advanced SCAMP downlink processor

The advanced single-channel antijam man-portable (ASCAMP) downlink is a custom-designed digital signal processor implemented in hardware that runs a tailored and efficient microcode. Appropriate sections of microcode are executed in response to the downlink requirements. The different processing functions, hardware design, and hardware implementation are discussed. The author points out the unique feature of reprogramming field programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware in order to accomplish different processing tasks with minimal hardware. Advantages and disadvantages of using FPGAs in the advanced SCAMP implementation and ideas for future development are mentioned. The ASCAMP (EHF satellite communication terminal) has stringent size, power, and weight specifications, making for a challenging design project. The downlink processor implementation has been optimized both in concept and design to meet these specifications. >
Fertilization effects on the ecohydrology of a southern California annual grassland

Nitrogen limits leaf gas exchange, canopy development, and evapotranspiration in many ecosystems. In dryland ecosystems, it is unclear whether increased anthropogenic nitrogen inputs alter the widely recognized dominance of water and energy constraints on ecohydrology. We use observations from a factorial irrigation and fertilization experiment in a nitrogen-limited southern California annual grassland to explore this hypothesis. Our analysis shows growing season soil moisture and canopy-scale water vapor conductance are equivalent in control and fertilized plots. This consistency arises as fertilization-induced increases in leaf area index (LAI) are offset by reduced leaf area-based stomatal conductance,g s . We interpret this as evidence of a hydraulic feedback between LAI, plant water status, and g s , not commonly implemented in evapotranspiration models. These results support the notion that canopy physiology and structure are coordinated in water-limited ecosystems to maintain a transpiration flux tightly controlled by hydraulic constraints in the soil-vegetation-atmosphere pathway.
Four approaches to preservice teachers’ involvement in the writing of case stories: a qualitative research project☆

Abstract In this paper, professors’ framings for student-written cases in six elementary teacher education classes are examined. Analysis procedures were qualitative. There were similarities and differences in course syllabi and materials defining case writing, time spent on cases in class, ways of modeling cases, comments to students on drafts, and professors’ reasons for selecting favorite cases. All professors felt that a good case reflected a genuine dilemma which contained details, support, and reflection. Findings showed that writing roles within the research project had an impact upon ways in which case writing was directed, and how the professors thought about cases and reflected upon the experience afterward. Through their experiences with case writing and through engaging in self-inquiry about case writing, the professors came to understand their students in different ways, students came to understand professors and teaching in different ways, and professors developed new insights into their own practices.
An Empirical Explanation of the Chubb Illusion

The perceived difference in brightness between elements of a patterned target is diminished when the target is embedded in a similar surround of higher luminance contrast (the Chubb illusion). Here we show that this puzzling effect can be explained by the degree to which imperfect transmittance is likely to have affected the light that reaches the eye. These observations indicate that this 'illusion' is yet another signature of the fundamentally empirical strategy of visual perception, in this case generated by the typical influence of transmittance on inherently ambiguous stimuli.
Anabolics and cardiomyopathy in a bodybuilder: case report and literature review.

Abstract Background Athletes use androgenic-anabolic steroids to increase strength and muscle mass. Several case reports suggest that it may lead to dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results We report a case of a 41-year-old bodybuilder with severe systolic dysfunction and Class IV heart failure despite maximal medical therapy. He used anabolic steroids and insulin growth factor, and did not have any other risk factors for cardiomyopathy. We briefly review the literature and summarize other reported cases with similar scenarios. In most of them cardiomyopathy was at least partially reversible after discontinuation of anabolics. Conclusions Abuse of anabolic steroids may be an uncommon cause of cardiomyopathy in young and otherwise healthy individuals.
Identification and Characterization of Mefloquine Efficacy against JC Virus In Vitro

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare but frequently fatal disease caused by the uncontrolled replication of JC virus (JCV), a polyomavirus, in the brains of some immunocompromised individuals. Currently, no effective antiviral treatment for this disease has been identified. As a first step in the identification of such therapy, we screened the Spectrum collection of 2,000 approved drugs and biologically active molecules for their anti-JCV activities in an in vitro infection assay. We identified a number of different drugs and compounds that had significant anti-JCV activities at micromolar concentrations and lacked cellular toxicity. Of the compounds with anti-JCV activities, only mefloquine, an antimalarial agent, has been reported to show sufficiently high penetration into the central nervous system such that it would be predicted to achieve efficacious concentrations in the brain. Additional in vitro experiments demonstrated that mefloquine inhibits the viral infection rates of three different JCV isolates, JCV(Mad1), JCV(Mad4), and JCV(M1/SVEΔ), and does so in three different cell types, transformed human glial (SVG-A) cells, primary human fetal glial cells, and primary human astrocytes. Using quantitative PCR to quantify the number of viral copies in cultured cells, we have also shown that mefloquine inhibits viral DNA replication. Finally, we demonstrated that mefloquine does not block viral cell entry; rather, it inhibits viral replication in cells after viral entry. Although no suitable animal model of PML or JCV infection is available for the testing of mefloquine in vivo, our in vitro results, combined with biodistribution data published in the literature, suggest that mefloquine could be an effective therapy for PML.
Identification of a pathogenicity island required for Salmonella survival in host cells

Abstract We have identified a region unique to the Salmonella typhimurium chromosome that is essential for virulence in mice. This region harbors at least three genes: two (spiA and spiB) encode products that are similar to proteins found in type III secretion systems, and a third (spiR) encodes a putative regulator. A strain with a mutation in spiA was unable to survive within macrophages but displayed wild-type levels of epithelial cell invasion. The culture supernatants of the spi mutants lacked a modified form of flagellin, which was present in the supernatant of the wild-type strain. This suggests that the Spi secretory apparatus exports a protease, or a protein that can alter the activity of a secreted protease. The "pathogenicity island" harboring the spi genes may encode the virulence determinants that set Salmonella apart from other enteric pathogens.