cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing pain with genetic amniocentesis—A randomized trial of subfreezing versus room temperature needles

Objective. To determine whether pain associated with second trimester genetic amniocentesis is decreased by using subfreezing rather than room temperature needles.Methods. Subjects were randomized to a −14°C or room temperature (20–22°C) 22-gauge spinal needle. Patients, blinded to allocation, recorded anticipated and actual pain before and after the procedure, respectively, using a 0–10 visual analog scale with 0 = no pain and 10 = excruciating pain.Results. Thirty-three subjects were randomized to room temperature and 29 subjects to subfreezing needles. Anticipated pain was similar in room temperature, 5.1 ± 1.7, and subfreezing groups, 4.9 ± 2.0, respectively (p = 0.6). Actual pain was also similar in the room temperature, 3.6 ± 2.0, and subfreezing groups, 2.8 ± 2.0, respectively (p = 0.14). Similar numbers of subjects in the room temperature and subfreezing groups reported less actual pain (20 vs. 18), greater actual pain (4 vs. 4) or no difference in pain (9 vs. 5) than anticipated (p = 0.6).Conclus...
Throughput Optimization Routing Under Uncertain Demand for Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless mesh networks have attracted increasing attention and deployment as a high-performance and low-cost solution to last-mile broadband Internet access. Network routing plays a critical role in determining the performance of a wireless mesh network. To study the best mesh network routing strategy which can maximize the network throughput while satisfying the fairness constraints, existing research proposes to formulate the mesh network routing problem as an optimization problem. These works usually make ideal assumptions such as known static traffic input. Whether they could be applied for practical use under the highly dynamic and uncertain traffic in wireless mesh network is still an open issue. The main objective of this paper is to understand the effects of traffic uncertainty in wireless mesh networks and consider these effects in throughput maximization routing. It identifies the appropriate optimization framework that could integrate the statistical user traffic demand model into a tractable throughput maximization problem. The trace-driven simulation study demonstrates that our algorithm can effectively incorporate the traffic demand uncertainty in routing optimization, and outperform the throughput maximization routing which only considers static traffic demand.
Photovoltage Decay in CDTE/CDS Solar Cells

Photo-voltage decay (PVD) is a common technique used to characterize numerous semiconductor devices. However, the technique has not been widely applied to CdTe-based solar cells. We have applied PVD to CdTe solar cells made with various fabrication conditions using a red (620 nm) LED and digital oscilloscope. We find the decay to be described by the equation v(t)=V0+A1exp (-t/tau1)+A2exp (-t/tau2)+A3 exp (-t/tautau1) where v is the voltage, t is time, tau1, tau2 and tau3 are characteristic decay times, and A1, A2, A3 and V0 are constants. The three time constants have values of approximately 5-10 mus, 50-100 mus, and 800-1500 mus respectively. In general, cells with lower conversion efficiency have shorter decay times. The exponential nature of the decay indicates that in CdTe/CdS solar cells, the PVD is dominated by capacitance effects. The time constants decrease with increasing temperature
Pretransplant Evaluation of Renal Transplant Candidates

Kidney transplantation should be strongly considered for all medically suitable patients with chronic and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Improvements in outcomes after renal transplantation have resulted in a more liberal selection of patients. High-risk category patients including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, highly sensitized patients, T-cell positive cross-match, and ABO blood group-incompatible patients are now considered potential renal transplant candidates. Unfortunately, the demand for kidney transplants far exceeds the supply of available organs, causing a persistent increase in the number of patients on the waiting list with a parallel increase in the waiting time for a cadaveric kidney transplant. This has 2 major consequences. First, patients on the waiting list are getting sicker and older. Second, living donors have assumed increasing importance in renal transplantation. Pre-existing morbidities including malignancies, cardiovascular disease, infections, and coagulopathies should be extensively evaluated before proceeding to transplantation. Special attention should be given to cardiovascular risk factors because the leading cause of death after renal transplant is cardiovascular disease. A full immunologic evaluation with ABO blood group determination, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing, screening for antibody to HLA phenotypes, and cross-matching need to be gathered before transplantation to avoid antibody-mediated hyperacute rejection or to proceed with specific protocols in highly sensitized or in positive T-cell cross-match patients. With the increased rate of donation from living donors, regular follow-up evaluation of kidney donors is recommended to detect hypertension or proteinuria in those who may develop it.
Peripheral Artery Aneurysm

Peripheral aneurysms typically present as asymptomatic incidental findings or may present with symptoms when there is local compression of other structures, such as nerves or veins, with ischemia, or rarely with rupture. Larger and symptomatic aneurysms should be repaired. Ultrasonography, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography can be used to define inflow and outflow and better characterize the aneurysm, particularly size and thrombus. Repair of peripheral aneurysms typically involves resection with interposition grafting, although certain anatomic sites may be amenable to endovascular approaches. Femoral pseudoaneurysms can be managed with observation, surgical repair, ultrasound-guided compression, or ultrasound-guided thrombin injection.
Phrenic nerve conduction studies as a biomarker of respiratory insufficiency in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Our objective was to examine the value of phrenic nerve conduction studies (PNCS) in quantifying diaphragm dysfunction in ALS, as no ideal test of respiratory insufficiency exists in ALS. We prospectively recorded bilateral PNCS, forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP), respiratory rate, ALSFRS-R, and respiratory symptoms in 100 ALS patients attending our clinic over a nine-month period. Survival data were collected for two years. Results showed that PNCS were reproducible and well tolerated. When the Pamp was abnormal ( 18 was 7.2 (95% CI 2.2-37.2, p 80%. The median survival was 1.07 years when the Pamp was 2 years when the Pamp was >0.3 mV (p <0.001). In conclusion, the phrenic Pamp correlated closely with multiple symptoms, signs, and laboratory measures of respiratory insufficiency and may prove to be a useful biomarker of respiratory dysfunction in ALS.
Reproduction and Fertility

The crucial participation of hormones in reproduction and fertility is the most complicated story in endocrinology, because it involves several organ systems; gametes as well as hormones; two classes of receptors and intracellular signals; and a myriad of environmental factors such as seasonal signals and, of course, the nearby presence of a conspecific carrier of the opposite gamete type. As complicated as this system is in mammals, being quite different among major classes, it is even more complex when one deals with the vast number of nonmammalian vertebrate species. In a marvelous recent review, Rothchild discussed the evolution of placental mammals from other vertebrates. This chapter is limited to two mammals: the rat, which has been the species of choice for elucidating basic science, and the primate, which is obviously of major interest in dealing with clinical issues. The rat runs a 4- or 5-day estrous cycle, from the onset of follicular growth under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), to ovulation following an luteinizing hormone (LH) surge.
A Self-Management Program for Adolescents and Children with Renal Transplantation

This paper describes the development and implementation of a self-management program designed to address noncompliance in adolescents with renal transplants. Transplantation provides the best treatment alternative for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), but is a procedure that subsequently demands recipients follow a life-long medication regimen. Nonadherance to medical therapy is a serious problem for adolescents; it is one of the most common causes of chronic graft rejection in this population. To improve compliance rates for this population, a self-management program was designed: (1) to provide social support; (2) to review information about medications and transplant management; and (3) to both teach and provide transplantation patients the opportunity to practice self-management skills. Details about the program, including recruitment issues and session content, are provided. Evaluations by participants indicated that the program was effective in creating a supportive environment for both patients and their parents, and in addressing health-related concerns.
Abstract 11447: Low Incidence of Appropriate Therapy Following Defibrillator Implantation for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young adults. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) effectively terminate ventricular tac...
Remote Ischemic Preconditioning for Cardiac Surgery Reflections on Evidence of Efficacy

Effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: the ERICCA Trial Hausenloy et al N Engl J Med . 2015;373:1408–1417. A multi-center trial of remote ischemic preconditioning for heart surgery Meybohm et al N Engl J Med. 2015;373:1397–1407. Ever since its discovery more than 2 decades ago, remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has generated tremendous interest among scientists and clinicians alike. However, two recent large, well-conducted, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have failed to identify any significant benefit of RIPC during cardiac surgery. A reconciliatory yet objective review of cumulative evidence with regard to cardiac surgery reveals that RIPC in preclinical studies reduced infarct size after experimental myocardial infarction (MI), which is different from cardiac surgery; improved release of biomarkers, but not hard clinical end points, in proof-of-concept clinical trials with discordant results; and failed to produce significant improvement in outcomes in meta-analyses. This difficult journey of RIPC across the valley of death underscores the importance of scientific rigor and exercise of caution in interpreting data at every step of the way until efficacy of a purported therapy is proven conclusively in large RCTs . RIPC is a phenomenon, whereby brief episodes of ischemia in a distant vascular bed protect other organs in the body from subsequent ischemic injury. The concept that a noninvasive and simple procedure can protect organs during elective ischemic episodes has continued to generate tremendous interest among clinicians and scientists. Promising results from numerous basic studies led to many smaller clinical trials and meta-analyses, and then to two large, well-conducted RCTs. The recent results from Effect of Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning on Clinical Outcomes in CABG Surgery (ERICCA) and RIPHeart, however, have failed to identify any significant benefit of RIPC on hard clinical end points or surrogate markers of organ protection. …
Analyzing Censored and Sample-Selected Data with Tobit and Heckit Models

Political scientists are making increasing use of the Tobit and Heckit models. This paper addresses some common problems in the application and interpretation of these models. Through numerical experiments and reanalysis of data from a study by Romer and Snyder (1994), we illustrate the consequences of using the standard Tobit model, which assumes a censoring point at zero, when the zeros are not due to censoring mechanisms or when actual censoring is not at zero. In the latter case, we also show that Greene's (1981) well-known results on the direction and size of the bias of the OLS estimator in the standard Tobit model do not necessarily hold. Because the Heckit model is often used as an alternative to Tobit, we examine its assumptions and discuss the proper interpretation of the Heckit/Tobit estimation results using Grier and co-workers' (1994) Heckit model of campaign contribution data. Sensitivity analyses of the Heckit estimation results suggest some conclusions rather different from those reached by Grier et al.
HOSPITAL VOLUME AND OUTCOMES IN PERIPHERAL VASCULAR INTERVENTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

There is lack of data on the impact of hospital volume on the length of stay (LOS) and cost of hospitalization following peripheral vascular intervention. We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2000-2011 using the, ICD-9 for peripheral
Safety of Aquatic Products in China: A Review on Status Quo, Improvement and Control Measures

With the development of fisheries and the aquatic product processing industry in China, the safety issue of aquatic products is more concerned in China. This article was aiming to give a review of the current situation, development and improvement methods of aquatic product safety in China. It also pointed out that aquatic product safety risks can arise at any point from the aquatic product chain from fishing farm to mouth. In order to improve aquatic product safety in China, the control measures were proposed by controlling aquatic product safety, enforcing standard and system, intensifying management, inspection and supervision from fishing farm to aquatic product supplier, manufacturer, retailer, product service provider, consumer, media and government.
Potential of the chemical atomization atomic absorption spectrometry on determination of the Cd in lentinula edodes

Objective: Adoption of the chemical atomization atomic absorption spectrometry is efficient for the detection of the Cd in lentinula edodes. Method: PE-AA400 atomic absorption spectrophotometer and MCA-201 microscale chemical atomizer are available with wave-length of 228.8 nm,slit of 2.7 mm/1.35mm~4 mA of lamp current and 1.1 L/min of carrier gas flow velocity of argon. Result: Concentration of the Cd within 0~2.0ng/mL prefers linear relation. Calibration equation of the A=0.1999c+0.0015(r=0.9997)is proposed. Method recovery is of the 96.25%(n=9) and relative standard deviation of the 3.16%.Conclusion: Chemical atomization atomic absorption spectrometry is advantage of high in sensitivity for the detection of the Cd in lentinula edodes without background correction. Moreover,the method is potential of rapid and simple in operation and cheap in expense.
Study on the influencing factors of combustion property for minimum-smoke GAP propellant

The main combustion property influencing factors of minimum-smoke GAP propellant were determined through analyzing formulation components experiment,and the variation regularity of combustion property was also investigated.The static burning rate(r) of basic formulation was 10.5 ~12.0 mm/s at 6 MPa,and pressure exponent(n) could reduce to less than 0.4 within 3~10 MPa by filtrating appropriate plasticizer,regulating the relative content of AP/HMX and granularity graduation of AP.
Fuzzy — Genetic algorithm approach to generate an optimal meta-architecture for a smart, safe & efficient city transportation system of systems

A city's transportation infrastructure deeply affects its citizens' quality of life — from the freshness of food to the amount of frustration felt while commuting to work. Providing an optimal infrastructure has the possibility of dramatically improving the population's well-being. Since the transportation infrastructure is a system-of-systems (SoS) [1], it may be modelled and optimized for a given set of objectives [2]. In this manner, the city resources can be optimized for multiple objectives such as commute time, overall throughput, and sustainability. This is made possible by using a fuzzy assessor to map the individual objectives into a single overall fitness value that is optimized by a genetic algorithm (GA). The value of the individual objectives is determined by the selected systems which are each characterized by a set of characteristics (cost, CO 2 emissions, etc.), capabilities, and interfaces.
Gender Differences in Episodic Encoding of Autobiographical Memory

Gender differences in autobiographical memory have been widely reported; in this study, those differences were considered with regard to episodic and semantic memory, and encoding and retrieval. Participants reported memory narratives of two events that had occurred within a day of the report. They were re-tested on them 10–13 weeks later. Narratives were content coded for internal and external details, a method meant to reflect episodic and semantic memory, respectively. Results indicate gender differences in internal details at Time 1 that remained stable at Time 2, suggesting that encoding is the more promising approach to understanding gender differences in this domain and showing consistency with previous research and theory. Gender differences in external details were minimal, but implicated encoding when present.
Methodologies to exploit ATPG tools for de-camouflaging

Semiconductor supply chain is increasingly getting exposed to Reverse Engineering (RE) of Intellectual Property (IP). Camouflaging of gates are typically employed to hide the gate functionality to prevent RE. Adversaries perform RE by developing custom software to determine test patterns and analyze the outputs. In this paper, we show that RE of camouflaged design can be performed by exploiting the test features of commercial/publicly available Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG) tools. We also propose a controllability/observability and Hamming Distance sensitivity based metric to select target gates for camouflaging. Our simulation shows that the proposed techniques can increase the RE effort significantly by camouflaging small fraction of gates.
Theta characteristics and the fundamental Vanishing Property

The appearance of \( \vec \Delta \) in the main theorem of §5 looks quite mysterious. It appeared as a result of an involved evaluation of the integrals in Riemann’s derivation. As in the Appendix to §3, Ch. II, we would like to introduce the concept of theta characteristics in order to give a more intrinsic formulation of (5.3) and clarify the reason for the peculiar looking constant \( \vec \Delta \). It cannot be eliminated but it can be made to look more natural in this setting.
The Molecular Basis of Livestock Disease as Illustrated by African Trypanosomiasis

African trypanosomes are protozoan parasites, most species of which are transmitted by tsetse flies. They reside in the mammalian bloodstream and evade the immune system by periodically switching the major protein on their surface — a phenomenon called antigenic variation, mediated by gene rearrangements in the trypanosome genome. The trypanosomes eventually enter the central nervous system and cause a fatal disease, commonly called ngana in domestic cattle and sleeping sickness in humans. Two sub-species of Trypanosoma brucei infect humans (T. b. rhodesiense and T. b. gambiense) and one sub-species does not survive in humans (T. b. brucei) because it is lysed by the human-specific serum protein, apolipoprotein L-I. Wild animals in Africa have other (less well understood) molecular mechanisms of suppressing the number of African trypanosomes in the blood, and some indigenous breeds of African cattle also display a partial “trypanotolerance” whose genetic loci have recently been mapped.
Increased blocking voltage in solution processed ZTO HVTFTs through drain offset

Solution processed Zn-Sn-O (ZTO) is an attractive amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS) because solution processing does not require vacuum equipment enabling inexpensive large-area applications and ZTO has a higher mobility compared to amorphous silicon (a-Si) [1]. With a bandgap of ∼3eV, similar to that of GaN and SiC, amorphous oxide semiconductors may enable a new generation of thin film power devices, i.e. high voltage TFTs (HVTFTs) and rectifiers. Recent work has demonstrated HVTFTs supporting voltages of 80 to 100 V using vacuum deposited ZnO and IGZO with source and/or drain offsets [2]-[4]. In this work, we report the first solution processed ZTO HVTFTs able to support > 100 V by incorporation of a drain offset, and assess the impact of the drain offset on the device on-resistance.
Venus, Mars, and Math

The author explores how the gender gap in aspirations for scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) work changes with societal affluence. Over-time data on cohorts of eighth graders in 32 countries reveal that aspirations for mathematically related work become more gender differentiated as societal affluence grows. This relationship holds controlling for students’ social class backgrounds, mathematical achievement, and affinity for school, and it is not explained by cross-national differences in the economic integration of women, gender stereotyping of science, or Internet access. Observed patterns of gender segregation reflect more than just women’s greater freedom to indulge tastes for non-STEM work in affluent societies; tastes are themselves more gendered in these contexts.
Britain, White Supremacism and the ‘International Right’

Having declared that ‘what we lack is a liberal Utopia,’ ‘von’ Hayek insisted that ‘It is not to be denied that to some extent the guiding model of the overall order will always be an utopia.’ Certain personality types have ‘instincts’ that make them vulnerable to bogus Bilgewater ‘Dukes,’ Romanov ‘Princesses’ and Habsburg ‘vons’ and ‘Counts’—an aristocratic placebo effect.
Recent Progress in the Study of Intestinal Apolipoprotein B Gene Expression

Apolipoprotein B (apo B) is a large (MW 550 kDa), hydrophobic protein that is difficult to work with and inaccessible to conventional protein biochemistry. The combination of its size and susceptibility to proteolysis, particularly in the absence of lipid, presents formidable challenges to scientists interested in understanding its biology and regulation. These difficulties notwithstanding, interest in the biology of apo B is fueled by its requisite importance in the process of cellular lipid export and in the ligand-directed uptake of lipoprotein particles from the systemic circulation. In particular, the role of apo B as a risk factor in atherosclerosis susceptibility has channeled attention toward understanding the functional domains in the protein responsible for interaction with the low-density lipoprotein receptor. A considerable amount has been learned in the dozen or so years since the first partial cDNA clones encoding apo B were isolated and characterized (Deeb et al., 1985; Huang et al., 1985; Knott et al, 1985; Wei et al, 1985). Indeed, the availability of these reagents was indispensable to the prediction of functional domains within the apo B protein. With the identification of the structural gene spanning the chromosomal apob locus and the recognition that a single genomic template has the capacity to encode two distinct molecular forms of the apo B protein, research into the molecular regulation of apo B gene expression has uncovered the existence of multiple levels of control. These include transcriptional mechanisms, posttranscriptional RNA editing, cotranslational translocation, and posttranslational processing. Each of these may potentially function as restriction points in the expression of apo B. This chapter addresses some of the recent developments in the area of apo B gene expression, with particular focus on the regulation of intestinal apo B and its significance in intestinal lipid metabolism.
Vascular Graft Materials and Their Structure

It is well-known that thromboresistance, compliant properties and good healing are 3 major requisites for vascular grafts. These are closely interrelated and correlated with both the bio-chemical properties and the details of structure, such as porosity, of vascular graft materials. In this study a hydrogel (HM) which ionically combines heparin and a hydrogel (H-PEO) with long polyethylene oxide (PEO) chains have been developed as thromboresistant materials. The effects of the heparin release profile and of the chain length of PEO on the thromboresistance were studied in both the HM and the H-PEO. A thromboresistant material for vascular grafts, a hydrogel (HMN) with PEO chains which releases heparin has been developed. A new vascular graft has also been developed using ultra fine polyester fibers. The effects of fineness of vascular graft fiber on mechanical properties and the healing process were investigated.
A Paleoindian Stone Tube from the Lindenmeier Site, Colorado

This report introduces a newly identified stone tube from the Lindenmeier site, Colorado. The artifact was recovered by Frank H. H. Roberts Jr in 1938 as he was excavating the Lindenmeier site for ...
To Overwrite or to Recall? Individual Differences in Motor Adaptation

The central nervous system predicts the consequences of motor commands by leaning multiple internal models of external perturbations and of the body. It is not well understood, however, how new internal models are created. Here, we propose a novel computational model of motor adaptation in which a stochastic Bayesian decision-making process determines whether i) a previously updated expert perturbation model is recalled and updated, ii) a novice model is selected and is updated into a new expert, or iii) the body model is updated. Results from computer simulations provide insights into various and contradictory experimental data on savings and error-clamp, and predicts qualitative individual differences in adaptation. We verified these predictions in a visuomotor adaptation experiment in which we varied the perturbation amplitudes as well as the amount of noise added to perturbation, and added trigger trials in the error-clamp condition. Single trigger trials led to largely qualitatively different behavior and can therefore be used to probe individual differences in memory updates between one-model and two-model learners. One-model learners continuously update the body model, showing no savings during re-adaptation to the perturbation, and gradual decay during error clamp. In contrast, two-model learners switch between an updated expert model and the body model, showing large savings during re-adaptation and stochastic lags during error clamp. Our results thus support the view that motor adaptation belongs to the general class of human learning according to which new memories are created when no existing memories can account for discontinuities in sensory data.
A case of West Nile virus encephalitis accompanied by diabetic ketoacidosis and rhabdomyolysis.

Abstract Introduction We present here a case of West Nile Virus (WNV) encephalitis that initially presented with diabetic ketoacidosis and rhabdomyolysis. Case presentation A 35-year-old male with no past medical history presented to the emergency department complaining of polydipsia, generalized weakness, lightheadedness, and visual disturbances of one week duration. He was found to be in diabetic ketoacidosis. His hemoglobin A1c was 11%. The patient was appropriately treated for diabetic ketoacidosis and it resolved on hospital day 1. On hospital day 2, the patient developed a fever of 101.6 °F and his mental status became severely altered. He developed auditory and visual hallucinations. IgM and IgG antibodies to West Nile Virus were positive in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The patient's creatine kinase level rose to 118,400 U/L during his hospitalization and eventually returned to baseline. The patient made a full recovery with no residual neurologic deficits after an 11 day hospital course. Discussion In this patient, neuroinvasive WNV was confirmed with positive CSF IgM. The patient’s newly diagnosed diabetes likely contributed to his susceptibility to neuroinvasive disease. Furthermore, WNV encephalitis in a background of DKA has not been previously described in the literature and this case demonstrates WNV neuroinvasive disease should be in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with unexplained neurological symptoms. Conclusion Diagnosis of neuroinvasive WNV is imperative to stop unnecessary therapies, limit further diagnostic evaluation, help predict patient outcomes, direct public health prevention measures, and further provide investigations into the clinical conditions that define the spectrum of WNV disease.
Near-Ultraviolet Dielectric Metasurfaces for Surface-Enhanced Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy and Handedness-Preserved Reflection

We report a design of achiral dielectric metasurfaces that can enhance the circular dichroism of chiral molecules by over 50 times and preserve the spin states of light upon reflection in the near-ultraviolet region.
From Antihistamine to Anti-infective: Loratadine Inhibition of Regulatory PASTA Kinases in Staphylococci Reduces Biofilm Formation and Potentiates β-Lactam Antibiotics and Vancomycin in Resistant Strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus are important human pathogens responsible for two-thirds of all postsurgical infections of indwelling medical devices. Staphylococci form robust biofilms that provide a reservoir for chronic infection, and antibiotic-resistant isolates are increasingly common in both healthcare and community settings. Novel treatments that can simultaneously inhibit biofilm formation and antibiotic-resistance pathways are urgently needed to combat the increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant infections. Herein we report that loratadine, an FDA-approved antihistamine, significantly inhibits biofilm formation in both S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Furthermore, loratadine potentiates β-lactam antibiotics in methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus and potentiates both β-lactam antibiotics and vancomycin in vancomycin-resistant strains of S. aureus. Additionally, we elucidate loratadine's mechanism of action as a novel inhibitor of the regulatory PASTA kinases Stk and Stk1 in S. epidermidis and S. aureus, respectively. Finally, we describe how Stk1 inhibition affects the expression of genes involved in both biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in S. epidermidis and S. aureus.
Optimal Pricing Under Diffusion-Choice Models

We develop a solution approach to the centralized pricing problem of a firm managing multiple substitutable products. Demand of these products undergoes a diffusion process, and customers choose am...
Robust Derivative Feedback Control for Systems with Uncertain Equilibrium States

This paper investigates the robust stabilization of nonlinear dynamic systems with uncertain or unknown equilibrium states by derivative feedback control. A generalized design method for the state-derivative feedback controller is presented to stabilize the dynamics of nonlinear systems at their true equilibrium state, when the exact location of such equilibrium is unknown in the design and implementation of the feedback control law. The robustness of the derivative feedback controller to norm-bounded dynamic model uncertainty is also investigated, and linear matrix inequality conditions are derived to guarantee the stability of the closed-loop system. The proposed control scheme is tested on the Rossler attractor, which exhibits complex chaotic behavior when uncontrolled, and we demonstrate the effectiveness of our derivative feedback solution.
No-show rates to a sleep clinic: drivers and determinants.

Study Objectives:Attendance to sleep clinic appointments is imperative to diagnose sleep-related disorders and to offer appropriate treatment. As part of our quality assurance program, we assessed ...
A Surface-Strained and Geometry-Tailored Nanoreactor that Promotes Ammonia Electrosynthesis

A surface-strained and geometry-optimized TiO2 nanoreactor enhances the performance of electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation. The nanotubular confinement allows spatial regulation of the mass transport of nitrogen during the NRR process and offers an enlarged surface area, thus boosting the ammonia production with high selectivity. Both experimental and theoretical evidence support strained Ti3+ sites, demonstrating a more favorable pathway for the N2 activation and selective NH3 production with a faster kinetic rate than the pristine TiO2 . The TiO2 -based nanoreactor with surface and bulk structure tailoring delivered an NH3 yield rate up to 5.50 μg h-1 cm-2 (16.67 μg h-1 mgcat-1 ) and high faradaic efficiency of 26 % under ambient aqueous conditions. Our findings highlight the concept of lattice strain and geometry modified nanoreactors, which will have broad implications in the renewable energy catalysis and electrosynthesis of valuable products.
Abstract 14802: Relation of Non-exercise Walking Activity With Exercise Performance in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Introduction: Structured exercise programs in home settings are beneficial for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, the impact of lower levels of walking activity accumulated sep...
Percutaneous Hepatobiliary Endoscopy in the Interventional Radiology Suite

Percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopy and cholecystoscopy have a growing place in the interventional radiology suite. Patients with indwelling tubes who may have once been left with limited options for stone extraction, targeted biopsy, and/or chronic biliary stricture can now have comprehensive care of their disease process by an interventional radiologist. There are a variety of low-profile and large-profile devices available in the hospital that can be repurposed for use in the biliary system and gallbladder. In many situations, these tools can be used to render patients with limited transoral endoscopic options and chronic indwelling tubes, tube free. This article provides an introduction to biliary endoscopy and cholecystoscopy and their role for the interventional radiologist.
Genus Crataegus (Rosaceae) in the Flora of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan

Based on the analysis of collected herbarium specimens during expeditions conducted between 2004 and 2018 as well as data published by others, it has been revealed that at present the genus Crataegus is represented by 22 species in the flora of Nakhchivan. Out of these, 17 are wild species distributed in the wild. Crataegus chlorocarpa, C. ferganensis, C. sanguinea, C. songarica, and C. turkestanica have been introduced into the cultural practices by their use in the landscaping of parks and gardens. In order to clarify the current state of the genus Crataegus in the flora of the Nakhchivan, a comparative analysis of herbarium collections was undertaken on the specimens deposited at the herbarium of the Institute of Botany of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Bioresources of the studies conducted have taken into account the rare and endangered species of C. orientalis and C. pontica. These have been included in the Red Book of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the ways for their protection elaborated. This chapter covers data on the synonymous species and their patterns of distribution among high-altitude zones, habitats, and flowering time and fruit formation.
Oral tofacitinib for the treatment of alopecia areata in pediatric patients.

Background Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by the loss of hair, often in well-demarcated areas. While the pathogenesis of AA is not entirely understood, it is known that CD8 T cell-mediated destruction of the hair follicle occurs. There are no curative therapies for AA, although several therapies have been utilized with variable results. Oral tofacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, has been demonstrated to be efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of adult AA. However, few studies have examined the clinical efficacy and tolerability of oral tofacitinib in the treatment of pediatric AA. Objective To summarize the clinical outcomes of pediatric patients with AA treated with oral tofacitinib at the University of Colorado Hospital Dermatology Clinic. Methods This is a retrospective case series conducted at the University of Colorado Hospital Dermatology Clinic. We included patients with a diagnosis of AA who were 18 years old or younger at the initiation of tofacitinib therapy. Demographics, treatment response, and adverse events were collected from electronic medical records. Results Eleven patients (seven females, four males) with AA presented to the University of Colorado Hospital Dermatology Clinic who were between the ages of 8 and 18 years. Eight patients (72.7%) experienced hair regrowth with oral tofacitinib, while three patients (27.3%) experienced minimal to no hair regrowth. There were no serious adverse events recorded in the study population during the observed treatment period. Conclusions Oral tofacitinib was clinically effective in the majority our of patients and well tolerated.
Horizontal Fiber Fermenter

It has been found that attaching yeast to a support results in a reaction converting sugar to alcohol that is up to nine times that when yeast is put in solution. Also investigators have found that Zymomonas reacts two to three times faster than yeast. We have found that Z. mobilis attaches quite readily to fibers. The advantage of flexible fibers is that biomass can be dislodged. Clogging is the main problem with ceramic support columns. In vertical columns, CO2 generated at the bottom, travels all the way up the column, dislodging bacteria, and biomass generated at the top of the column, travels down, coating live cells. In a horizontal fermenter, CO2 and biomass exit easier, and a way has been found to dislodge dead cells, either with striker bars or ultrasonics. The striker bars move back and forth and have internal heaters, so biomass is removed from the, too, resulting in better heat transfer. The fibers can be cotton, or, in the case where other bacteria convert cellulose to sugar and sugar to alcohol in one step, a ceramic fiber is being developed.
Uncertainties in Metering Stormwater Flows

Modern stormwater management often involves the development of numerical hydrologic/hydraulic models in order to provide decision making tools regarding placem…
IMPORTANCE OF FLOODPLAIN CONNECTIVITY TO FISH POPULATIONS IN THE APALACHICOLA RIVER, FLORIDA

Floodplain habitats provide critical spawning and rearing habitats for many large-river fishes. The paradigm that floodplains are essential habitats is often a key reason for restoring altered rivers to natural flow regimes. However, few studies have documented spatial and temporal utilization of floodplain habitats by adult fish of sport or commercial management interest or assessed obligatory access to floodplain habitats for species' persistence. In this study, we applied telemetry techniques to examine adult fish movements between floodplain and mainstem habitats, paired with intensive light trap sampling of larval fish in these same habitats, to assess the relationships between riverine flows and fish movement and spawning patterns in restored and unmodified floodplain distributaries of the Apalachicola River, Florida. Our intent is to inform resource managers on the relationships between the timing, magnitude and duration of flow events and fish spawning as part of river management actions. Our results demonstrate spawning by all study species in floodplain and mainstem river habitat types, apparent migratory movements of some species between these habitats, and distinct spawning events for each study species on the basis of fish movement patterns and light trap catches. Additionally, Micropterus spp., Lepomis spp. and, to a lesser degree, Minytrema melanops used floodplain channel habitat that was experimentally reconnected to the mainstem within a few weeks of completing the restoration. This result is of interest to managers assessing restoration activities to reconnect these habitats as part of riverine restoration programmes globally. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sequential Grazing Systems for Beef Cattle Production

A grazing study was conducted to evaluate the impact of legumes and warm-season grasses on season-long productivity of complementary grazing systems. Eight complementary and four continuous grazing systems were evaluated. Cool-season pastures used for the study consisted of smooth bromegrass alone or in mixture with birdsfoot trefoil, alfalfa, or kura clover. Warm-season pastures were monocultures of big bluestem or switchgrass. Pastures were established at the McNay Research Farm near Chariton, IA, over a two-year period starting in 1994. Grazing systems were designed on the basis of a fixed seasonal carrying capacity and pastures were stocked accordingly with growing cattle throughout the grazing period in 1997, 1998, and 1999. In 1997, animals that grazed warm-season pastures during the summer gained less weight than those that grazed cool-season pasture for the entire season, and there were no differences in total gains due to cool-season pasture species. Growing conditions in 1997 were cool and wet and therefore very conducive to growth of cool-season species. In 1998, animals grazing big bluestem pastures during summer performed as well or better than those remaining on cool-season pastures at a lower stocking rate. Birdsfoot trefoil and kura clover pastures produced higher gains regardless of which summer pasture was grazed. Results in 1999 were similar to those in 1998 except that birdsfoot trefoil pastures did not produce as well. Production from switchgrass pastures was improved in 1999 by removing initial spring growth as hay prior to the summer grazing period.
A Computational Mechanism for Initiative in Answer Generation

Initiative in dialogue can be regarded as the speaker taking the opportunity to contribute more information than was his obligation in a particular discourse turn. This paper describes the use of stimulus conditions as a computational mechanism for taking the initiative to provide unrequested information in responses to Yes–No questions, as part of a system for generating answers to Yes–No questions. Stimulus conditions represent types of discourse contexts in which a speaker is motivated to add unrequested information to his answer. Stimulus conditions may be triggered not only by the discourse context at the time when the question was asked, but also by the anticipated context resulting from providing part of the response. We define a set of stimulus conditions based upon previous linguistic studies and a corpus analysis, and describe how evaluation of these stimulus conditions makes use of information from a User Model. Also, we show how the stimulus conditions are used by the generation component of the system. An evaluation was conducted of the implemented system. The results indicate that the responses generated by our system containing extra information provided on the basis of this initiative mechanism are viewed more favorably by users than responses without the extra information.
Adaptation of SARS Coronavirus to Humans

In her Perspective, Holmes discusses the elucidation of a crystal structure reported by Li et al. (in the same issue) of the receptor-binding domain of the SARS coronavirus spike glycoprotein bound to its human receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The structure reveals how only a few of the many contacting amino acids in the large interface between the spike protein and receptor are critical determinants of the host range of coronavirus binding and entry.
Pathophysiology of hypertension in the elderly.

The importance of hypertension as a cardiovascular risk factor increases progressively with aging, but diastolic blood pressure plateaus at age 50, which leads to a rise in pulse pressure in the elderly. Thus, isolated systolic hypertension with a widened pulse pressure is the most common type of hypertension seen in persons older than 65 years of age. Pulse pressure is the most robust blood pressure measurement in predicting cardiovascular disease. This rise in systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure with aging is a consequence of arterial stiffness. With aging, both structural and functional changes occur that result in a less compliant aorta and large vessels. Investigators who use pulse-wave velocity and augmentation index as measures of large artery stiffness have repeatedly shown an increase in arterial stiffness with aging. Early return of the reflected pulse wave to the aorta during systole has been shown to be the primary mechanism accounting for the rise in systolic and decline in diastolic pressure that occurs with arterial stiffness. Several factors have been shown to decrease arterial stiffness including aerobic exercise, decreased sodium intake, n-3 fatty acids, estrogen replacement therapy, nitrates, and ACE inhibitors. Drugs that specifically lower systolic blood pressure but not diastolic pressure, such as vasopeptidase inhibitors, are under investigation in treating isolated systolic hypertension.
Conceptualization and measurement of coping during adolescence: a review of the literature

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to examine the conceptualization and measurement of coping in adolescent research. Design: A review of the literature published and abstracted in four scientific databases was undertaken between July 2008 and June 2009 with the following key words: adolescent(s), cope/coping, stress(ors), and adaptation/psychological. Methods: A total of 367 articles were initially identified, and review of published abstracts yielded 104 empirical articles to retrieve and examine more closely for inclusion. Criteria for inclusion in the review were that the study (a) measured coping, (b) presented original data, (c) primarily targeted adolescent participants, (d) was reported in English, and (e) was published between 1998 and June 2009. Fifty-nine subsequent articles were organized using a matrix approach that facilitated cross-study comparisons of purpose, sample, and dependent variables. Findings: Fewer than half of the studies reviewed included a specific statement defining coping. Instead, many authors described coping in the context of stress response by identifying particular types or ways of coping or naming specific coping strategies used. The theoretical frameworks guiding examination of coping varied across studies. A range of measures, congruent with adolescent developmental processes, were used to assess adolescent coping. A wide range of stress-related risks or conditions were examined, including psychological stressors such as eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and depression; physical stressors such as chronic illness, HIV infection, sports participation, violence, or sexual abuse; familial stressors such as domestic violence or interparental conflict; social stressors such as romantic relationships or difficulties in settings such as school, prison, or a homeless shelter; and societal stressors such as discrimination. Conclusions: Coping is an important construct in understanding how adolescents react to the extensive stressors and adjustments they experience. Coping is a complex construct yet worthy of examination because it can be a critical point of intervention in the health trajectory of adolescents and young people. Research is needed to advance the conceptualization and measurement of adolescent coping such that interpretation of findings across studies is enhanced. In this way, future research, including interventions targeting coping, will work synergistically to advance the science and adolescent well-being. Clinical Relevance: Nursing and other healthcare providers working with adolescents understand the need for interventions that promote use of healthy coping strategies and minimize unhealthy coping. Findings from this study demonstrate the state of coping conceptualization and measurement in adolescent research and indicate a need for research that will advance the science and improve the usefulness of adolescent coping data. Language: en