cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatotoxicity in the Peri-HSCT Period

Hepatotoxicity in the peri-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) period is relatively common with an incidence of approximately 80%. Because the liver plays such a central role in the metabolism of drugs; elimination of toxins; detoxification of metabolic waste products; synthesis of key proteins, such as albumin and clotting factors; bile production; the storage of vitamins A, D, E, and K; as well as the synthesis, metabolism, and/or storage of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, liver damage during any phase of HSCT can cause a significant degree of morbidity and mortality. The most common causes of HSCT-related hepatotoxicity that occur during the peri-HSCT period include the chemotherapy and/or irradiation used in conditioning regimens, medications commonly used during the peri-HSCT period (e.g., immunosuppressants and antibiotics), total parental nutrition (TPN), iron overload, and infection/sepsis. The most common hepatic complications during the peri-HSCT period are transaminitis, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease (SOS/VOD), acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) of the liver, and infections involving the liver. Because infections and acute GvHD are addressed in detail in other chapters (see Chaps. 17 and 18, respectively), this chapter will focus primarily on transaminitis and SOS.
Position statement: The case for a visualization performance benchmark

Visualizations are an invaluable tool in the data analysis process, as they enable scientists to explore and interpret billions of datapoints quickly, and with just a few rendered images. However, many visualization systems are unable to keep up with the unprecedented accumulation of data through remote sensors, field sensors, medical and personal devices, social networks, and more. This is due to certain assumptions that many of these tools rely on, such as the assumption that these systems can store entire datasets directly in main memory. With so many datasets massive datasets available, ranging from the NASA MODIS satellite imagery dataset[3] to the Internet Movie Database [4] to Twitter streams [1], this assumption no longer matches reality.
Consumer knowledge of foodborne microbial hazards and food-handling practices.

A national telephone survey was conducted of 1,620 randomly selected U.S. residents who spoke English, were at least 18 years old, and resided in households with kitchen facilities. Respondents were interviewed about their recognition of foodborne pathogens, foods at risk for transmitting infection, knowledge of safe food handling, and food-handling practices. One-third of the respondents who prepared meals reported unsafe food hygiene practices: e.g., they did not wash hands or take precautions to prevent cross-contamination from raw meat. Unsafe practices were reported more often by men, adults 18 to 29 years of age, and occasional food preparers than by women, persons 30 years old or older, and frequent food preparers. Respondents who identified a food vehicle for Salmonella spp. were more likely to report washing their hands and cleaning cutting boards after preparing raw meat and poultry. The results raise concerns about consumer food-handling practices. The influence of food safety training, food-handling experience, and age on food-handling practices should be studied further. Awareness of a food vehicle for Salmonella spp., for example, may indicate knowledge of the etiology of foodborne disease that promotes safe food handling. Understanding the factors associated with safe food handling will assist in development of effective safe-food instruction programs.
Systems and Models

As its title suggests, this book is about a special class of systems which in recent decades have become an integral part of our world. Before getting into the details of this particular class of systems, it is reasonable to start out by simply describing what we mean by a “system”, and by presenting the fundamental concepts associated with system theory as it developed over the years. This defines the first objective of this chapter, which is for the benefit of readers with little or no prior exposure to introductory material on systems and control theory (Section 1.2). Readers who are already familiar with concepts such as “state spaces”, “state equations”, “sample paths”, and “feedback” may immediately proceed to Section 1.3.
Multivariate Analysis of Discrete Data

Discrete rather than continuous variables are the norm in most datasets analyzed in the social and behavioral sciences. Many researchers routinely apply continuous-data models to analyze discrete data, but this practice is valid only in limited ways. Recent developments in statistical theory, computational algorithms, and social science methodology make it possible to analyze discrete data in a valid manner without recourse to models based on continuity (or normality) assumptions. This chapter presents an overview of one approach to the analysis of discrete data, that based on log-linear models. Log-linear models for discrete data are (1) just as flexible as corresponding linear models for continuous data, (2) consistent with distributional assumptions appropriate for discrete variables, and (3) based on measures of relationship (bivariate or multivariate) that are meaningful for discrete variables (odds, odds ratios, and their logarithms).
Metabolic Inhibitors and the Anabolic Actions of Testosterone Propionate

The utility of the mouse kidney as a physiological tool for the study of the anabolic action of androgenic steroids is a reflection of the multiplicity of the metabolic responses of this organ to testosterone, its esters, and other androgens. These responses include increases in kidney weight, in nucleic acid content, and in the concentrations of a number of enzymes (1,2). In addition, acute effects of androgens upon the rates of incorporation of precursors into RNA and protein can be demonstrated.
Sleep Disorders and Cancer Risk

Sleep disturbance is emerging as a novel risk factor for cancer and a number of other chronic diseases. Disruption of circadian rhythm with resultant perturbed homeostasis is believed to drive sleep disturbance-associated tumorigenesis. Much of the supporting evidence comes from studies of shift work and, more recently, short duration of sleep with risks of various types of cancer and precancerous lesions. Less is known about the relationship of other sleep disorders, which encompass a number of conditions that broadly affect sleep health, with cancer. This chapter reviews current knowledge of the association between common sleep disorders and cancer and briefly discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying the link between sleep disturbance and cancer. Effective intervention on sleep health can potentially be a new avenue for reducing cancer risk and enhancing survival.
Gaussian Process–Based Inverse Uncertainty Quantification for TRACE Physical Model Parameters Using Steady-State PSBT Benchmark

In the framework of Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty methodology, the uncertainties involved in model predictions must be quantified to prove that the investigated design is reasonable and acceptable...
Reducing Mental Illness Stigma in the Classroom: An Expanded Methodology

Psychology courses present unique opportunities to reduce mental illness stigma. The literature highlights contact with people diagnosed with disorders as the best stigma reduction technique. Simpl...
Chapter 38 – Nanoscience and Water: Public Engagement at and Below the Surface

Potable water is a threatened resource for the developing world. As nanoscience contributes to the development of nanotechnologies with the potential to provide safe and inexpensive drinking water to developing countries, it is imperative that the public accepts and maintains the technology. Converting the public in developing countries into advocates can increase the probability of overall acceptance of exotic treatment technologies. Anchoring public sentiment positively will improve the options when resolving problems that predictably arise as new water technologies are implemented. Public engagement demands an approach both appropriate to the public and to the technology. A municipally based system will demand a different engagement approach than a point-of-use system. As such, a relevant case-specific strategy of engagement must be developed to coincide with the introduction of new water treatment technologies.
Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Life

Introduction. J.D. Mayer, J. Ciarrochi, Emotional Intelligence and Everyday Life: An Introduction. Part 1. Fundamental Issues. J.D. Mayer, A New Field Guide to Emotional Intelligence. M.A. Brackett, G. Geher, Measuring Emotional Intelligence: Paradigmatic Diversity and Common Ground. M. Buckley, C. Saarni, Skills of Emotional Competence: Developmental Implications. J.P. Forgas, C.L. Wyland, Affective Intelligence: Understanding the Role of Affect in Everyday Social Behavior. M. Zeidner, G. Matthews, R.D. Roberts, Emotional Intelligence, Coping with Stress, and Adaptation. Part 2. Applications of Emotional Intelligence Research to Everyday Life. J. Fitness, The Emotionally Intelligent Marriage. J. Flury, W. Ickes, Emotional Intelligence and Empathic Accuracy in Friendships and Dating Relationships. M.J. Elias, J.S. Kress, L. Hunter, Emotional Intelligence and the Crisis in Schools. D.R. Caruso, B. Bienn, S.A. Kornacki, Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace. J. Ciarrochi, J.T. Blackledge, Mindfulness-based Emotional Intelligence Training: A New Approach to Reducing Human Suffering and Promoting Effectiveness. P. Salovey, Applied Emotional Intelligence: Regulating Emotions to Become Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. Part 3. Integration and Conclusions. J. Ciarrochi, The Current State of Emotional Intelligence Research: Answers to Some Old Questions and the Discovery of Some New Ones. J.D. Mayer, J. Ciarrochi, Clarifying Concepts Related to Emotional Intelligence: A Proposed Glossary.
Sublethal effects of the insecticide pyrifluquinazon on the European honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Pyrifluquinazon (PQZ) is an Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) Group 9 insecticide that has recently been registered for use in the United States for control of soft-bodied sucking insect pests. Although it has been classified as practically nontoxic to honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), based on acute contact bioassays, additional information on sublethal effects of this insecticide on honey bees is lacking. Using a combination of laboratory assays with video movement tracking software and near-field evaluations of colonies foraging in a high-tunnel experiment, we determined that, when fed PQZ at a concentration of 84 mg active ingredient (ai)/liter (= ppm) in sugar water, a reduction in overall movement by the foraging worker bees was observed. However, when provided with honey reserves in the hive, honey bees rejected the PQZ-treated sugar water. These results indicate that, if ingested at levels of 84 mg ai/liter, PQZ could have a negative effect on honey bee behavior; however, honey bee workers appear to be able to detect the presence of PQZ in their food and reject it.
Systems and Methods for Studying Microbial Processes and Communities in Landfills

The objective of this chapter is to review research on the microbiology of landfills. This chapter focuses on anaerobic reactions that dominate waste decomposition in engineered landfills and begins with a brief description of the major components of a sanitary landfill followed by a discussion of MSW (municipal solid waste) composition. The processes by which cellulosic substrates are converted to CH4 and CO2 are described. Systems for studying landfill processes (including testing setups and sampling) are then discussed, followed by traditional and molecular methods that have been used to investigate the microbial ecology of landfills.
Multivalued Action Integrals

In quantum mechanics and quantum field theory many quantities can be represented as functional integrals over possible histories: that is, along possible trajectories in quantum mechanics and over possible time dependencies of the fields in quantum field theory. The set of histories over which integration is performed and the form of the integrand depend on the quantity to be calculated: see Chapter 24. The important point to us is that the integrand includes the exponential of the classical action integral S multiplied by i/ħ. This means that a functional integral may be meaningful even if S is a multivalued functional, so long as exp(iS/ħ) is single-valued. In other words, several values of S correspond to the same integrand if they differ by an integral multiple of 2πħ = h. This condition on multivalued functionals implies that the constants appearing in S may assume only a discrete set of values, that is, they are quantized. We give examples of this.
Determining Etiology of Facial Nerve Paralysis With MRI: Challenges in Malignancy Detection

Objective:Compare experts’ ability to differentiate malignant and benign causes of facial nerve paralysis (FNP) using the initial presenting magnetic resonance image (MRI) for each patient.Methods:...
Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody 3F8 plus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for primary refractory neuroblastoma (NB) in bone marrow (BM)

9502 Background: Despite high-dose chemotherapy, NB in BM often persists and forebodes death. Methods: 3F8/GM- CSF was used in 63 patients (pts) with NB in BM by morphology and/or metaiodobenzylgua...
For Us, by Them?: A Study on Black Consumer Identity Congruence & Brand Preference

Nielsen reports Black buying power is expected to increase to nearly $2 trillion by 2021. Thus our research is rooted in offering intellectual support to exploring that economic contribution and fi...
Feasibility of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System Applied to Hybrid-Electric Regional Aircraft

NASA’s vision for the future of flight includes highly energy efficient aircraft that are environmentally friendly and have positive national economic impact. Although battery-powered electric aircraft are a viable alternative to reduce environmental impact, purely electric aircraft have drawbacks such as the low specific energy of batteries, which translates to an unfavorable weight scaling. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems also have promise in providing environmentally friendly electrical power for new aircraft configurations at a higher efficiency than current methods, such as electrical generators. This study explores the use of the Fostering Ultra-Efficient, Low Emitting Aviation Power (FUELEAP) power system architecture for hybrid-electric regional aircraft. The FUELEAP power system utilizes a SOFC as part of a hybrid-electric power system architecture, enabling higher efficiency and specific power with a reduction in carbon and NOx emissions compared to state-of-the-art hybrid-electric SOFC architectures. The study includes comparisons of hybrid-electric power architectures and integration of the FUELEAP power system for two regional-sized passenger aircraft concepts. Results suggest that use of the FUELEAP power system as a replacement for onboard batteries may provide up to a 50% reduction in the weight of the electric d energy system for a typical regional aircraft mission.
Patient Attributes Associated With Better Long-Term Outcomes on Palliative Milrinone.

Milrinone is a phosphodiesterase three inhibitor used as an inotrope in patients with advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Its action is independent of β-receptor stimulation, which makes it preferable in patients who are on β blockers as part of a guideline-directed neurohormonal blockade. There have been numerous studies evaluating the risks, benefits, and mortality associated with milrinone in the management of chronic heart failure patients. Time and again, there has been concern regarding the undesirable outcomes associated with it, including higher mortality and cardiac arrhythmias. Additionally, it has been difficult to determine whether milrinone or disease progression is responsible for adverse outcomes and mortality. In light of such discrepancy, the selection of patients for milrinone remains challenging. We hypothesized that there are underlying patient characteristics that influence the response to milrinone and may predict milrinone's adverse outcomes in spite of milrinone. A retrospective study review of 10 patients on palliative milrinone was conducted to identify these factors with a mean follow-up of 36 months. During the study period, four of 10 patients died. These four patients were on milrinone for a mean of 11.5 months. The attributes of the survivors compared to the deceased included lower age at start of therapy (67.5 vs 79 y), female gender (66% vs 33%), non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (33% vs 50%), associated diagnosis of atrial fibrillation/flutter(50% vs 25%), hyperlipidemia (66% vs 50%), or anemia (83% vs 75%), presence of chronic resynchronization therapy (CRT) (66% vs 25%), and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) (16% vs 0%), as well as lower sodium (136 vs 140 mEq), chloride (101.5 vs 104.5 mEq), potassium (4.07 vs 4.23 mEq), and creatinine (1.3 vs 1.8 mg/dL) Conversely, the deceased patients were more likely to have coronary artery disease (75% vs 33%), diabetes mellitus (50% vs 16%), hypertension (100% vs 83%), chronic kidney disease (75% vs 66%), peripheral vascular disease (25% vs zero), higher pulmonary artery pressures (54 vs 50.5%), and history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (50% vs 16%). These trends exhibit patient characteristics that may predict better outcomes on long-term milrinone although larger studies are needed to assess the statistical significance of these findings.
Chapter 12 – Microscopic Modeling

The models presented in Chapters 4-11 consider traffic flow as a compressible fluid and capture the collective and average behavior of vehicles. Central to these models are the relationships among flow, speed, and density as well as how they vary dynamically over time and space. Such an approach is termed macroscopic modeling. Starting from this chapter, we introduce a new approach called microscopic modeling where the motion of and interaction between individual vehicles are captured. Whereas macroscopic models treat traffic flow as waves and use partial differential equations to describe wave phenomena, macroscopic models treat vehicles as particles and use ordinary differential equations to describe their motion and interaction.
Telling Stories, Integrating Theories: A Semester-Long Case Study Assignment Written by and for Students.

Courses: Organizational Communication; any advanced communication course that can benefit from using a case study approach. Objectives: This semester-long case study assignment asks students to wri...
Polynomial bound for the localization length of Lorentz mirror model on the 1D cylinder

We consider the Lorentz mirror model and the Manhattan model on the even-width cylinder $\mathbb{Z} \times (\mathbb{Z}/2n\mathbb{Z}) =\{(x,y):x,y\in \mathbb{Z}, 1\leq y\leq 2n\}$. For both models, we show that for large enough $n$, with high probability, any trajectory of light starting from the section $x=0$ is contained in the region $|x|\leq O(n^{10})$.
Cognitive-Affective Dynamics of Crisis Intervention for School Entry, School Transition and School Failure

This paper examines crisis intervention for problems associated with school entry, school transition, and school failure from a cognitive-affective perspective. Dynamics of self-concept, self-estee...
Genome-Wide Approach to Measure Variant-Based Heritability of Drug Outcome Phenotypes.

Pharmacogenomic studies have successfully identified variants - typically with large effect sizes in drug target and metabolism enzymes - that predict drug outcome phenotypes. However, these variants may account for a limited proportion of phenotype variability attributable to the genome. Using genome-wide common variation, we measured the narrow-sense heritability [ h SNP 2 ] of 7 pharmacodynamic and 5 pharmacokinetic phenotypes across 3 cardiovascular drugs, 2 antibiotics, and 3 immunosuppressants. We used a Bayesian Hierarchical Mixed Model, BayesR, to model the distribution of genome-wide variant effect sizes for each drug phenotype as a mixture of 4 normal distributions of fixed variance (0, 0.01%, 0.1% and 1% of the total additive genetic variance). This model allowed us to parse h SNP 2 into bins representing contributions of no-, small-, moderate- and large-effect size variants respectively. For the 12 phenotypes, a median of 969 (range 235-6,304) unique individuals of European ancestry and a median of 1,201,626 (range 777,427-1,514,275) variants were included in our analyses. The number of variants contributing to h SNP 2 ranged from 2,791 to 5,356 (median 3,347). Estimates for h SNP 2 ranged from 0.05 (ACE-inhibitor induced cough) to 0.59 (gentamicin concentration). Small- and moderate-effect variants contributed a majority to h SNP 2 for every phenotype (range 61-95%). We conclude that drug outcome phenotypes are highly polygenic. Thus, larger genome-wide association studies of drug phenotypes are needed both to discover novel variants and to determine how genome-wide approaches may improve clinical prediction of drug outcomes.
Multilevel Secrecy over 1-2-1 Networks

This paper studies the problem of secure communication over noiseless 1-2-1 networks, an abstract model for networks with directional communication capabilities such as mmWave networks. A secure transmission scheme is designed and shown to achieve a secure rate that is larger than state-of-the-art lower bounds for a class of 1-2-1 network topologies. The proposed scheme leverages the scheduling nature of 1-2-1 networks, the network topology, as well as storage at intermediate nodes to create shared randomness with the source to improve the secure rate. Finally, a novel outer bound is derived and shown to match the achievability bound under certain network conditions, hence characterizing the secure capacity in such regimes.
Some Applications of Kronecker’s Limit Formula

In this note we prove a general theorem, stated as Theorem 2 below, as an application of the classical Kronecker limit formula and relate it to several problems arising in Ramanujan’s work concerning singular values of certain modular functions.
Adjustment Across the First College Year: A Matched Comparison of Autistic, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Neurotypical Students

Background: Although the number of autistic students attending higher education has grown substantially in recent decades, little is known about factors that support their retention and persistence...
Long-range migration of centrioles to the apical surface of the olfactory epithelium

Abstract Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in vertebrates detect odorants using multiple cilia, which protrude from the end of the dendrite and require centrioles for their formation. In mouse olfactory epithelium, the centrioles originate in progenitor cells near the basal lamina, often 50 to 100 μm from the apical surface. It is unknown how centrioles traverse this distance or mature to form cilia. Using high-resolution expansion microscopy, we found that centrioles migrate together, with multiple centrioles per group and multiple groups per OSN, during dendrite outgrowth. Centrioles were found by live imaging to migrate slowly, with a maximum rate of 0.18 μm/min. Centrioles in migrating groups were associated with microtubule nucleation factors, but acquired rootletin and appendages only in mature OSNs. The parental centriole had preexisting appendages, formed a single cilium prior to other centrioles, and retained its unique appendage configuration in the mature OSN. We developed an air-liquid interface explant culture system for OSNs and used it to show that centriole migration can be perturbed ex vivo by stabilizing microtubules. We consider these results in the context of a comprehensive model for centriole formation, migration, and maturation in this important sensory cell type.
Sepsis, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Multiorgan Failure: Catastrophic Events in Severe Burns

A thermal burn is essentially an inflammatory process which, if severe enough, can elicite not only local damage but a wide spectrum of systemic manifestations accompanied by life-threatening complications.
Topological dimension and sums of connectivity functions

Abstract The main goal of this paper is to show that the inductive dimension of a σ -compact metric space X can be characterized in terms of algebraical sums of connectivity (or Darboux) functions X→ R . As an intermediate step we show, using a result of Hayashi [Topology Appl. 37 (1990) 83], that for any dense G δ -set G∈ R 2k+1 the union of G and some k homeomorphic images of G is universal for k -dimensional separable metric spaces. We will also discuss how our definition works with respect to other classes of Darboux-like functions. In particular, we show that for the class of peripherally continuous functions on an arbitrary separable metric space X our parameter is equal to either ind X or ind X−1 . Whether the latter is at all possible, is an open problem.
Economics of Privacy and User-Generated Content

The Internet has allowed an unprecedented expansion of the data firms can collect and the amount of content users can upload. Understanding the forces that shape the demand and supply of this content is critical for understanding the likely evolution of the Internet. We review foundational and cutting-edge research on the economics of privacy and user-generated content (UGC), and sketch out issues for future research. Keywords: privacy; user-generated content; Internet; online behavior; advertising
Is capitalism necessary?: A critique of the neoclassical economics of organization☆

Abstract In recent years, neoclassical economists have offered a theory of the capitalist firm which implies that the corporation is uniquely adapted to the complexities of the modern industrial economy. Hence, it is argued, capitalism is necessary to efficiency. This paper designs a non-capitalist firm that satisfies all the criteria for efficiency unumerated by the neoclassical institutional economists. The design suggests that by separating capitalism from the capital market, advocates of non-capitalist market systems need not discard the capital market as an instrument of economic control.
Evaluation of the NSDL and google for obtaining pedagogical resources

We describe an experiment that measures the pedagogical usefulness of the results returned by the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) and Google. Eleven public school teachers from the state of Virginia (USA) were used to evaluate a set of 38 search terms and search results based on the Standards of Learning (SOL) for Virginia Public Schools. Evaluations of search results were obtained from the NSDL (572 evaluations) and Google (650 evaluations). In our experiments, teachers ranked the links returned by Google as more relevant to the SOL than the links returned by the NSDL. Furthermore, Google's ranking of educational material also showed some correlation with expert judgments.
Bile acids : LXXVI. Analyses of bile acids and sterols by high-performance liquid chromatography with a microbore column

The mobilities of several free and conjugated 5 beta-bile acids, cholesterol and analogues, and alpha, beta-unsaturated sterols and steroidal acids have been investigated with a microbore reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic column (50 cm X 1 mm I.D., 12% C18) with appropriate solvent mixtures at flow-rates of 50-100 microliter/min and a UV monitor set at 193, 198, 212, or 243 nm. With a solvent mixture of 2-propanol-10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 (160:340) bile acids or their conjugates were separated in a manner similar to those by microBondapak columns (10% C18). The lower detection limit of the conjugates was 20 pmoles with the UV detector set at 193 nm, whereas the lower limit for alpha, beta-unsaturated keto sterols or steroidal acids was 5 pmoles at 243 nm. The detection limit for cholesterol with the UV monitor at 198 nm was 10 pmoles. Contributions of substituent groups of sterols to their time of elution (capacity factor) were calculated for several substituted 4-cholesten-3-ones.
Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer

Worldwide, in the year 2000, there were approx 450,000 new cases of and 240,000 deaths attributable to cancer of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, and salivary glands (ICD-9 140–149) (1). A diagnosis of cancer at these sites is important because it can result in facial disfigurement, speech impairment, chewing and/or swallowing difficulties, mental anguish, a decreased quality of life, and reduced survival.
Real-time supervised structure/parameter learning for fuzzy neural network

The authors propose a real-time supervised structure and parameter learning algorithm for constructing fuzzy neural networks (FNNs) automatically and dynamically. This algorithm combines the backpropagation learning scheme for the parameter learning and a novel fuzzy similarity measure for the structure learning. The fuzzy similarity measure is a new tool to determine the degree to which two fuzzy sets are equal. The FNN is a feedforward multilayered network which integrates the basic elements and functions of a traditional fuzzy logic controller into a connectionist structure which has distributed learning abilities. The structure learning decides the proper connection types and the number of hidden units which represent fuzzy logic rules and the number of fuzzy partitions. The parameter learning adjusts the node and link parameters which represent the membership functions. The proposed supervised learning algorithm provides an efficient way of constructing a FNN in real time. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance and applicability of the proposed learning algorithm. >
Endotoxin levels in immunocompromised children with fever

Febrile episodes for which no cause can be found are common in immunocompromised children. We postulated that circulating endotoxin, a known pyrogen, might be responsible for some of these episodes in the absence of documented infection. Plasma endotoxin levels were assayed using a recently developed Limulus amebocyte lysate assay enhanced in sensitivity and objectivity by the addition of a chromogenic substrate. Eighty-seven plasma endotoxin determinations were made in 36 immunocompromised children with fever. Convalescent endotoxin levels and levels in normal children were also obtained. It was concluded that a plasma endotoxin level of 35 pg (0.10 EU)/ml constitutes the upper limit of normal in children. Five children (14%) had elevated endotoxin levels in the course of the febrile episodes, in the absence of bacteremia or clinically diagnosed infection. In each case, the levels returned to normal during convalescence. It is concluded that endotoxemia is a possible cause or contributing cause of unexplained fever in immunocompromised children.
Does lung NAD(P)H:quinone reductase (DT-diaphorase) play an antioxidant enzyme role in protection from hyperoxia?

NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, or DT-diaphorase, has been studied primarily in the liver where it appears to function as an antioxidant-like enzyme in the 2-electron reduction of some quinones to less toxic hydroquinones. This property together with new molecular biology evidence that oxidants such as H2O2 can induce gene transcription of DT-diaphorase provide especially intriguing reasons to examine the possibility that lung DT-diaphorase could have an important antioxidant enzyme role versus pulmonary O2 toxicity during exposure to hyperoxia. We found that similar to the 'classical' lung antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) DT-diaphorase activity increased significantly in the late gestational fetal lung; also its activity was altered in the same way as the antioxidant enzymes by prenatal hormonal treatment. Another similarity is that DT-diaphorase activity was induced in the neonatal animal lung during hyperoxia, but not in the adult animal lung. However, using various drug treatments which markedly increased lung DT-diaphorase activity (e.g., 3-methylcholanthrene, butylated hydroxyanisole, methimazole) we found no improved hyperoxic survival in the treated adult rats. Also, dicumarol treatment, which markedly depressed DT-diaphorase activity, did not diminish the hyperoxic survival rate in an O2-tolerant adult rat model. Thus, we conclude that unlike the classical antioxidant enzymes, increased pulmonary DT-diaphorase activity is probably neither necessary nor sufficient to protect against pulmonary O2 toxicity during hyperoxia.
Eating in: employment and home production during the Great Recession

The shift from market purchases to home production is a prevalent feature of the macroeconomy during a recession. However, the nature of aggregate data makes observing this phenomenon difficult. Using the American Time Use Survey, this work highlights the substitution between eating out and eating in at the aggregate level in the United States during the Great Recession by comparing food service industry employment and estimates of time spent on food preparation at home.
Transrectal Prostatic Biopsy in Genucubital Position

Transrectal biopsy is usually taken with the patient in the simple or exaggerated lithotomy position, although some British urologists take the biopsy with the patient in the left lateral position. We present our experience of 90 transrectal prostatic core biopsies performed with the patient in the genucubital (knee-chest) position
Do glomerular hemodynamic adaptations influence the progression of human renal disease

Although experiments in the rat suggest that glomerular hemodynamic alterations following a reduction of renal mass may be implicated in the progression of chronic renal failure, we argue that the deleterious effects of similar adaptations in human renal disease are unproven. In the otherwise normal solitary kidney the supranormal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) remains stable over the longterm, and in early diabetic nephropathy which is also accompanied by hyperfiltration, renal deterioration cannot be dissociated from a rise in systemic blood pressure. In patients with miscellaneous renal diseases and a depressed basal GFR there is indirect evidence that hyperfiltration might occur in some of the remnant glomeruli. However, at present there is little conclusive evidence to indicate that therapies which might normalize glomerular hemodynamics, e.g., dietary protein restriction, have any effect on progression of renal disease, or that angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors, which lower glomerular capillary pressure, have any advantage over other antihypertensive agents which are equally efficacious in lowering systemic blood pressure.
Genetic counseling for mitochondrial disorders

Mitochondrial disorders are being diagnosed wilh increased frequency, and present clinicians and genetic counselors wilh a multitude of issues to address. Mitochondrial disorders generally result in deficient energy production or availability. Mitochondrial disorders arc typically thought of as maternally inherited, but all modes of inheritance have been described and need to be considered during the genetic evaluation. The counseling issues involved with mitochondrial disorders thai are inherited in a Mendclian fashion are similar to non-mitochondrial Mendelian disorders. The maternally inherited mitochondrial disorders present the genetics team with a variety of unique issues to address. Mitochondrial disorders can affect virtually all organs systems. Most commonly the central nervous, cardiac, muscular and ophthalmologic systems are involved. When suspicious of a mitochondrial disorder it is necessary to determine the most likely mode(s) of inheritance, explain difficult genetic concepts and to provide psychological support. While these roles are typical for a genetic counselor, mitochondrial disorders do present a unique set of challenges. The genetic counselor must obtain a very targeted pedigree with special attention paid to the “soft signs” in family members, such as migraines, seizures, mental retardation, gastrointestinal complaints, chronic fatigue and weakness. Explanations of difficult concepts such as heteroplasmy, oxidative phosphorylation, nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and nuclcar-mitochondrial gene interactions are unique Providing psychological support can be a daunting task, even to an experienced learn. When one makes a diagnosis of a maternally inherited mitochondrial disease in a proband, one usually also makes the same molecular diagnosis in the mother and potentially other maternal-line relatives. In many cases prognosis varies considerably, thus counseling must by necessity be vague as to the prognosis Frequently there is no reliable prognostic indicator that can be used to predict future health concents Like with other genetic disorders the diagnosis is often accompanied by feelings of grief, despair and guilt. While those feelings are not specific to maternal line inhertance, the extremely high recurrence risk in maternal line disorders is specific to this type of inheritance. Reliable prenatal testing is not available for many mitochondrial disorders, and reproductive options and treatment are limited. In summary, mitochondrial disorders, especially those inherited maternally present many unique and difficult issues for the genetic counselor.
Room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling in single-phase BaTiO3-BiFeO3 system

In this paper, single-phase multiferroic ceramics of (1 − x) BaTiO3 − x BiFeO3 (BT − x BFO) were synthesized by solid-solution method in the wide range of material composition (x = 0.025 – 1.0). The changes in crystal structure were confirmed via X-ray diffractions (XRD) and atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs). The room-temperature ME coupling was found to exhibit significant magnitude in the narrow composition window (x = 0.71 – 0.8) where the average crystal structure was found to be rhombohedral. Especially, the BT – 0.725 BFO ceramics containing local monoclinic distortions within rhombohedral phase were found to exhibit high room-temperature ME coefficient (αME) of 0.87 mV/cm·Oe with high piezoelectric properties (g33 = 18.5 × 10 mV m N−1 and d33 = 124 pC N−1). We believe that the high room-temperature ME coupling in single-phase lead-free BT-BFO ceramics provides a possibility of developing electrically or magnetically tunable thin-film devices.
Communication outcomes in audiologic reporting.

BACKGROUND Audiologists often work collaboratively with other health professionals-particularly otolaryngology providers. Some form of written reporting of audiologic outcomes is typically the vehicle by which communication among providers occurs. Quality patient care is dependent on both accurate interpretation of outcomes and effectiveness of communication between providers. Audiologic reporting protocols tend to vary among clinics and providers, with most methods being based on preference rather than standardized definitions. PURPOSE As part of an ongoing quality-improvement program, audiologic communication was reviewed by comparing written audiometric reports to descriptions of the audiometric results dictated by otolaryngology providers to evaluate the agreement of communication between provider groups. RESEARCH DESIGN Retrospective chart review. STUDY SAMPLE The study sample consisted of 6000 randomly selected charts from a total of 15,625 for the years 2004 and 2008 in the electronic medical record system of a large academic health-care system. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Audiogram reports and associated otolaryngology reports were reviewed by an audiologist and two audiology doctoral students. Communication occurred among 37 audiology providers and 39 otolaryngology providers. Data collected included rating of congruence or incongruence between reports, normal versus abnormal audiologic outcomes, and the nature of communication disparities. Data also included provider type (audiologist, audiology doctoral student, or trainee in clinical fellowship year [CFY]; otolaryngologist, otolaryngology resident, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner). RESULTS Incongruent results were higher among the sample of audiologic evaluations with abnormal outcomes (29.2%) compared with normal outcomes (9.5%). Of those cases rated as incongruent, differences in reporting audiometric results stemmed largely from variance in reporting of numerical values from the audiogram (20%), apparent dictation errors (10.1%), and communication of the ear tested (8.6%). Of those cases in which the interpretations of audiology providers differed from those of otolaryngology providers, incongruent results occurred in the interpretation of degree (29.4%), tympanometric results (28.2%), type of hearing loss (12.8%), acoustic reflex results (4.0%), symmetry (3.3%), and other domains (4.2%). Rates of incongruent results were similar regardless of experience level of the audiology provider (audiologist or audiology doctoral student/CFY) but differed depending on the educational background and experience of the otolaryngology provider. The highest incongruent interpretations were found among residents (32.5%), followed by otolaryngologists (25.2%) and physician assistants and nurse practitioners (21%). CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the need for audiologists to critically evaluate the effectiveness of their communication with other health-care providers and demonstrates the need for evidence-based approaches for interpreting audiologic information and reporting audiologic information to others.
Exceptional enhancement of Raman scattering on silver chlorobromide nanocube photonic crystals: chemical and photonic contributions

Photonic crystals made from self-assembly of mono-dispersed AgClxBr1−x nanocubes, which are not plasmonically active, have been discovered to exceptionally enhance the Raman scattering of molecules chemically adsorbed on their surfaces. Comprehensive control measurements and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy indicate that the Raman enhancement on AgClxBr1−x nanocube photonic crystals is primarily ascribed to the chemical enhancement mechanism associated with the chemical interactions between adsorbing molecules and the AgClxBr1−x surfaces. In addition, the ordering of AgClxBr1−x nanocubes in the photonic crystals can selectively reflect Raman scattering back to the detector at the bandgap position of the photonic crystals to provide additional enhancement, i.e., photonic mode enhancement. The thiophenol molecules adsorbed on AgCl0.44Br0.56 nanocube photonic crystals exhibit astonishingly strong Raman signals that are on the same order of magnitude as those recorded from the thiophenol molecules adsorbed on the assembled Ag nanocubes.
Temporal image capture and display characterization for metrics for moving image quality

Temporal measures of display performance are important for depiction of still images, and are even more critical for depiction of moving images (video). In addition to the flicker and crawling patterns that occasionally appear when certain colors/grayscales and patterns are displayed (e.g. DMD/plasma temporal modulation), moving images are susceptible to a host of time-based artifacts (visible defects) such as motion blur, color breakup, image distortion, and incorrect depiction of object motion. Accuracy of temporal representation can be affected by temporal compression (e.g. motion prediction) in the image data handling, and by the operation of the display system (e.g. scaling algorithm). It is widely known that well-presented motion imagery can offer both improved quality and improved interpretability compared to comparable still imagery (for example a freeze frame of a video), provided that timing characteristics are accurately reproduced. Because of the importance of display characteristics, positional measurement of the physical light output of the display is a necessary addition to measurement of image component motion in the video data file. The NIST Motion Image Quality Project team is adapting its method of sequential image capture with external hardware timestamp (Electronic Imaging 2003), to make precision measurements of the temporal characteristics of displays. Hardware measurements are being combined with subjective evaluation of video content and image file analysis, to produce a new model for moving image quality and interpretability, which will serve as a guide both for content creation and for display design.
Neighborhoods, Family, and Substance Use: Comparisons of the Relations across Racial and Ethnic Groups.

This study examines how substance use among adolescents is related to several risk and protective factors derived from two ecological contexts: the neighborhood and the family. It explicitly investigates how the relationships between substance use and the factors vary across different racial and ethnic groups. Findings suggest many common correlates and processes of substance use for adolescents, regardless of race or ethnicity, including that neighborhood safety is associated with substance use. There are also some racial and ethnic group differences in relationships, including that low attachment to and lack of social opportunities in neighborhoods more strongly predict substance use among whites than among other racial and ethnic groups and that family management decreases the relationship between neighborhood safety and substance use among African Americans. A better understanding of the associations among factors that influence substance use across racial and ethnic subgroups can help effectively tar...
Myoelectric control of a powered knee prosthesis for volitional movement during non-weight-bearing activities

This paper describes a means of controlling the knee movement of a powered knee prosthesis during non-weight-bearing activity such as sitting, by utilizing surface EMG from the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups in the residual limb. The method was implemented on a powered prosthesis on three amputee subjects, and experimental results are presented characterizing the ability of the amputee subjects to control knee motion. A comparison of the trajectory tracking error between the amputees' prosthetic and intact knees indicates that the EMG-based volitional controller provides similar trajectory tracking capability to the native (i.e., intact) knee joint.
MALDI-TOF Analysis of Polymerase Chain Reaction Products from Methanotrophic Bacteria

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were designed to amplify 56- and 99-base regions of the pmoA gene from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b and Methylomicrobium albus BG8, two species of methanotrophic bacteria that are of interest for monitoring bioremediation activity. The PCR product sizes are in a mass range that is accessible to analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. A rapid purification procedure using commercially available reversed-phase cartridges was applied prior to MALDI-TOF analysis. A small aliquot (1.5%, 1.5 μL) from a single 100-μL PCR reaction was sufficient for reliable detection. No cross-amplification products were observed when primers designed for one bacterial species were used with genomic DNA of the other species. The methodology described here has potential to allow less expensive and faster characterization of the ability of microbial populations to destroy pollutants in groundwater and soil at contaminated industrial sites.