cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium current in single human cardiac myocytes.

Calcium Current in Human Heart. Introduction: Significant species-, issue-, and age-dependent differences have been described for the L-type calcium current (ICa). Therefore, extrapolation data obtained from the many animal models to human cardiac physiology is difficult. In this study, we have characterized the voltage-dependent properties of ICa from pediatric and adult, atrial and ventricular human heart tissue. Methods and Results: ICa, was measured in single human heart muscle cells using the “whole cell,” voltage clamp method. Single myocytes were isolated from myocardial specimens obtained intraoperatively from both pediatric and adult patients (ages 3 months to 75 years) undergoing cardiac surgery. Cells obtained for these experiments appeared to be healthy; the resting potential was between -80 and -85 mV. The action potential shape and duration and current-voltage relationship for 1Ca were similar to that reported by others for human heart cells. The steady-state activation variable, dx was found to be similar in both pediatric atrial and ventricular cells but shifted approximately 5 mV negative in the adult atrial and ventricular cells. I, of all cells displayed biex-ponential inactivation and steady-state inactivation was incomplete at positive potentials (steady-state inactivation curves turned up at positive potentials) consistent with inactivation arising from voltage-dependent and calcium-dependent processes as reported in heart cells from many species. The potential of maximal inactivation was more negative for adult cells (around -10 mV) than pediatric cells (around 0 mV). Estimates of the calcium “window” current, using a modified Hodgkin-Huxlcy model, could explain measured differences in action potential shape and duration. Conclusion: Human cardiac I, can be investigated using whole cell, voltage clamp methods and a modified Hodgkin-Huxley model. Quantitative characterization of many of the properties of ICa in human heart tissue suggests that important species differences do exist and that further investigations are required to characterize the dependence of inactivation on [Ca2+]i in human heart cells. Since the array of characteristics of ICa in different species varies, the study of human myocardial cells per se continues to be important when examining human cardiac physiology.
Using the new biologic therapies in rheumatoid arthritis: practical aspects

In recent years, an increase in our understanding of the inflammatory cascade in rheumatoid arthritis has led to the development of newer targeted therapies with novel mechanisms of action. This review examines the day-to-day aspects of using currently approved biologic therapies for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the implications of how this relates to patient management. The tolerability considerations of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies are overviewed, and the recently-approved targeted therapies rituximab and abatacept are discussed in terms of their indication and dosing, efficacy, safety and tolerability, to assist rheumatology healthcare professionals in making optimal treatment choices for their patients.
Making new markets in the British NHS

Since its founding in 1948, the British National Health Service (NHS) has been both demonized and celebrated as a model of health-care delivery. Americans’ particular fascination with the NHS is probably rooted in that system’s supply-side approach to cost control through central government global budgeting, the antithesis of the traditional market-based approach of the U.S. health-care system. The successes of the NHS, including per capita costs 36% of those of the United States, excellent home care services, better infant mortality and life expectancy than the United States, and regional planning, must be considered along with the criticisms-implicit rationing, the 10% of citizens with private insurance for queue hopping, lack of inpatient continuity, and poor responsiveness of the bureaucracy.’ Many of the strengths and weaknesses of the NHS are a direct product of its structure. The historical NHS structure was consolidated with purchasers and providers being one and the same, the government. Because the global budgets to hospitals, salaries to consultant specialists, and capitation payments to general practitioners (GPs) were not influenced by the volume of individual services, providers had little incentive to decrease queues or consider costs in their clinical decision making. Piecemeal reforms, such as providing add-ons to capitation payments to GPs who meet certain performance targets to provide incentives for preventive care, have been introduced to correct some of the inherent weak
Disc Plate Method of Microbiological Antibiotic Assay: II. Novel Procedure Offering Improved Accuracy

A detailed disc plate procedure is introduced for assay of antibiotics. The procedure is based on a previous study by the authors and deviates from conventional procedures in several respects: selected plastic petri dishes are employed; critical temperature control is simply provided at all stages of the test with refrigeration of the plates never used; all dilution is done with displacement microburettes; six pads (6.3 mm diameter) per dish are employed, all filled with the same unknown or reference solution; the sequence of all plates handled on 1 day is made a part of the protocol which allows accounting for the influence of the order of pouring and setting the plates; external reference plates are set at specified locations in the sequence; and, by averaging the diameters of all zones on a plate, most of the consequence of wedge shape of agar in plates, which is common and almost unavoidable, is removed. The present method is economical, uses simple facilities, and provides good accuracy of test results. Bacillus subtilis was most commonly employed, but other organisms may be employed in the present procedure.
The Violent and Sexual Victimization of College Women Is Repeat Victimization a Problem

Little attention has been given to repeat violent and sexual victimization among college women. Using two national-level data sets, the authors find that a small proportion of college women experience a large proportion of violent and sexual victimizations. Women are more likely to experience repeat sexual victimization than repeat violence incidents. Repeat victimization tends to happen in the same month of the initial victimization, and the most likely next type of victimization is by far the same type of victimization. Comparing incident-level characteristics of repeat incidents to single incidents, there are few differences, with the exception that, in a larger proportion of single incidents, women took self-protective action. Implications for prevention and educational programs are discussed.
The effect of hypoxia on permeability and bacterial translocation in Caco-2 adult and I-407 fetal enterocyte cell culture models

Hypoxia has been implicated in the breakdown of the intestinal epithelial barrier in animals, leading to bacterial translocation (BT); however, the mechanism of this hypoxic insult is unknown. To determine the effects of hypoxic injury in vitro on epithelial membrane integrity, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), mannitol permeability (Ma-Pm), and BT were measured in both an adult (Caco-2) and fetal (I-407) intestinal epithelial cell culture model. Caco-2 adult and I-407 fetal epithelial cell monolayers were treated with or without bacteria (1×107 Escherichia coli. C-25), and then incubated under either normoxic (5% CO2 in room air) or hypoxic (5% CO2 and 95% N2) conditions at 37°C for 6 h. Hypoxia caused a 10% increase in Ma-Pm in the I-407 fetal cell model independent of the bacterial challenge. In contrast, a bacterial challenge in the Caco-2 adult model caused a 485% increase in Ma-Pm independent of hypoxia. Neither hypoxia, nor C-25 bacteria, for 6 h caused BT in either cell culture model. In the adult cell culture model, bacteria appear to mediate changes in epithelial barrier function, with hypoxia having no effect. On the other hand, hypoxia is the major factor in the loss of epithelial barrier function in fetal epithelium, but has no effect on adult epithelium. The data suggest that the breakdown of barrier function caused by a hypoxic insult is the primary stimulus for subsequent BT in neonates.
Comparison of first-opinion and second-opinion histopathology from dogs and cats with cancer: 430 cases (2001–2008)

Second-opinion histopathology is intended to detect clinically significant discrepancies that have a direct impact on patient care. We sought to determine if this practice at our institution affected patient management and prognosis. First- and second-opinion histopathology reports from cases were retrospectively reviewed. Reports were considered to be in diagnostic agreement, partial diagnostic disagreement or complete diagnostic disagreement. Four hundred and thirty cases were studied. In 70% of cases there was a diagnostic agreement. In 20% of cases, there was partial diagnostic disagreement, where diagnoses were the same but information such as grade or lymphatic and/or vascular invasion was changed. In 10% of cases, complete diagnostic disagreement resulted from a change in degree of malignancy (malignant to benign, or converse; 7%) or a change in cell type (3%). In 17% of the cases evaluated, the histopathology review prompted a change in treatment or prognosis. These findings support the use of second-opinion histopathology as an important part of patient care.
Early Evolution of the Eukaryotic Ca2+ Signaling Machinery: Conservation of the CatSper Channel Complex

Calcium signaling is one of the most extensively employed signal transduction mechanisms in life. As life evolved into increasingly complex organisms, Ca(2+) acquired more extensive and varied functions. Here, we compare genes encoding proteins that govern Ca(2+) entry and exit across cells or organelles within organisms of early eukaryotic evolution into fungi, plants, and animals. Recent phylogenomics analyses reveal a complex Ca(2+) signaling machinery in the apusozoan protist Thecamonas trahens, a putative unicellular progenitor of Opisthokonta. We compare T. trahens Ca(2+) signaling to that in a marine bikont protist, Aurantiochytrium limacinum, and demonstrate the conservation of key Ca(2+) signaling molecules in the basally diverging alga Cyanophora paradoxa. Particularly, our findings reveal the conservation of the CatSper channel complex in Au. limacinum and C. paradoxa, suggesting that the CatSper complex likely originated from an ancestral Ca(2+) signaling machinery at the root of early eukaryotic evolution prior to the unikont/bikont split.
An alternative functional to determine dynamic multipole polarizabilities

A functional based on the hydrodynamic model ansatz for the total time-dependent wave function is discussed and used to determine the first-order 2 l -pole functions of H, He+, He and Li+ in the presence of a time-varying electric field. From the first-order corrections dynamic multipole polarizabilities of the atomic systems are determined. The functional is shown to give lower bounds to the dynamic multipole polarizabilities and upper bounds to the imaginary frequency multipole polarizabilities for all frequencies.
Characterization inconsistencies in CdTe and CZT gamma-ray detectors

In the past few years, significant developments in cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) semiconductor materials have taken place with respect to both quality and yield. Many of the more recent developments have occurred in the area of CZT crystal growth. This has resulted in an explosion of interest in the use of these materials in ambient temperature gamma-ray detectors. Most, if not all, of the manufacturers of CdTe and CZT have acquired government funding to continue research in development and applications, indicating the importance of these improvements in material quality. We have examined many detectors, along with the accompanying manufacturer's data, and it has become apparent that a clear standard does not exist by which each manufacturer characterizes the performance of their material. The result has been a wide variety of performance claims that have no basis for comparison and normally cannot be readily reproduced. In this paper we will first support our observations and then propose a standard that all manufacturers and users of these materials may use for characterization. >
State-Space Models, Kalman Filtering, and Related Topics

In this chapter we present and discuss the state-variable (state-space) model and its basic properties. The Kalman filtering and smoothing procedures associated with state-space models will be developed. The relation of time-invariant state-variable models to vector ARMA models, including the state-space representations for vector ARMA models, and the associated topics of minimal dimensionality of the state vector and the relation with Kronecker indices and McMillan degree of a process will also be discussed. The use of the state-space formulation for construction of the exact likelihood function for the vector ARMA model will be presented also. In addition, discussion of results for the classical approach to smoothing and filtering of time series will be presented.
Donate for credibility: how contribution incentives can improve credibility

This study explores whether certain contribution incentives for online user-generated content can undermine or enhance contributor's credibility. In an online experiment, we found that contributors who are rewarded with donations made in their names are perceived to be more credible than contributors who are financially compensated through revenue-sharing or contribute voluntarily. In addition, disclosing the chosen charity for donation can also impact credibility. Content viewer's self-identification with charity and the congruency between charity and content topic are both factors that may enhance credibility. Our findings lead to practical implications on when and how to use contribution incentives to enhance credibility.
The extraction of mercuric chloride from acid chloride solutions with trioctylamine

The equilibrium distribution of mercuric chloride between aqueous sodium chloride solutions and a solution of tri-isooctylamine in xylene has been measured. The dependence on pH, amine concentration, mercury level, and temperature has been determined. At low pH mercury is extracted quite effectively with a distribution coefficient as high as 2,000. At high pH the mercury can be stripped from the organic solution. This extraction system offers the possibility of an effective mercury separation process for chlorine plant brines or chloride-based mercury leach liquors. A theoretical model of the extraction equilibria is developed to facilitate interpolation of the experimental data.
An FPGA implementation and performance evaluation of the Serpent block cipher

With the expiration of the Data Encryption Standard (DES) in 1998, the Advanced Eneryption Standard (AES) development process is well underway. It is hoped that the result of the AES process will be the specification of a new non-classified encryption algorithm that will have the global acceptance achieved by DES as well as the capability of long-term protection of sensitive information. The technical analysis used in determining which of the potential AES candidates will be selected as the Advanced Encryption Algorithm includes efficiency testing of both hardware and software implementations of candidate algorithms. Reprogrammable devices such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are highly attractive options for hardware implementations of encryption algorithms as they provide cryptographic algorithm agility, physical security, and potentially much higher performance than software solutions. This contribution investigates the significance of an FPGA implementation of Serpent, one of the Advanced Encryption Standard candidate algorithms. Multiple architecture options of the Serpent algorithm will be explored with a strong focus being placed on a high speed implementation within an FPGA in order to support security for current and future high bandwidth applications. One of the main findings is that Serpent can be implemented with encryption rates beyond 4 Gbit/s on current FPGAs.
MODELING THE EFFECTS OF LAND USE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ON RIVERINE SMALLMOUTH BASS

Anthropogenic changes in temperature and stream flow, associated with watershed land use and climate change, are critical influences on the distribution and abundance of riverine fishes. To project the effects of changing land use and climate, we modeled a smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) population in a midwestern USA, large river–floodplain ecosystem under historical (1915–1925), present (1977–1990), and future (2060, influenced by climate change) temperature and flow regimes. The age-structured model included parameters for temperature and river discharge during critical seasonal periods, fish population dynamics, and fishing harvest. Model relationships were developed from empirical field data collected over a 13-yr period. Sensitivity analyses indicated that discharge during the spawning/rearing period had a greater effect on adult density and fishing yield than did spawning/rearing temperature or winter discharge. Simulations for 100 years projected a 139% greater mean fish density under a historical flow regime (64.9 fish/ha) than that estimated for the present (27.1 fish/ha) with a sustainable fishing harvest under both flow regimes. Simulations under future climate-change-induced temperature and flow regimes with present land use projected a 69% decrease in mean fish density (8.5 fish/ha) from present and an unstable population that went extinct during 56% of the simulations. However, when simulated under a future climate-altered temperature and flow regime with historical land use, the population increased by 66% (45.0 fish/ha) from present and sustained a harvest. Our findings suggest that land-use changes may be a greater detriment to riverine fishes than projected climate change and that the combined effects of both factors may lead to local species extinction. However, the negative effects of increased temperature and precipitation associated with future global warming could be mitigated by river channel, floodplain, and watershed restoration.
Ducking the collection of costly evidence: Motivated use of statistical heuristics

We examined whether motivation affects people's use of statistical heuristics. In two studies, subjects had to decide how many instances to observe before making predictions. Half the subjects were led to believe that the observation of each instance would be relatively high in cost, and half were led to believe that it would be relatively low in cost. In both studies, only subjects for whom evidence collection was relatively high in cost accessed the aggregation principle and came to believe that aggregates afforded greater predictability than did single instances. Their belief that predictability increases sharply with sample size may have allowed these subjects to conclude what they wanted to conclude, namely that smaller samples would suffice for their predictions.
Growth rate regulation of rRNA content of a marine Synechococcus (Cyanobacterium) strain

The relationship between growth rate and rRNA content in a marine Synechococcus strain was examined. A combination of flow cytometry and whole-cell hybridization with fluorescently labeled 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes was used to measure the rRNA content of Synechococcus strain WH8101 cells grown at a range of light-limited growth rates. The sensitivity of this approach was sufficient for the analysis of rRNA even in very slowly growing Synechococcus cells (m = 0.15 day-1). The relationship between growth rate and cellular rRNA content comprised three phases: (i) at low growth rates ( approximately 1.6 day-1), rRNA cell-1 dropped abruptly. Total cellular RNA (as measured with the nucleic acid stain SYBR Green II) was well correlated with the probe-based measure of rRNA and varied in a similar manner with growth rate. Mean cell volume and rRNA concentration (amount of rRNA per cubic micrometer) were related to growth rate in a manner similar to rRNA cell-1, although the overall magnitude of change in both cases was reduced. These patterns are hypothesized to reflect an approximately linear increase in ribosome efficiency with increasing growth rate, which is consistent with the prevailing prokaryotic model at low growth rates. Taken together, these results support the notion that measurements of cellular rRNA content might be useful for estimating in situ growth rates in natural Synechococcus populations.
Effect of High Intensity Ultrasound on Crystallization Behavior of Anhydrous Milk Fat

The need to eliminate trans-fatty acids from foods’ formulation resulted in the exploration of new lipid sources and alternative processing conditions that will improve the physicochemical characteristics and nutritional qualities of lipid-based foods. In general, the physicochemical characteristics of lipid networks depend on the microstructure and crystallization behavior of the system. The objective of this work was to use high intensity ultrasound (HIU) as an additional processing condition to alter the crystallization behavior of a lipid model system (anhydrous milk fat). Results show that HIU application not only decreases the induction time of crystallization (faster crystallization) at a constant crystallization temperature, but also generates smaller crystals. In addition, higher viscosities are obtained when samples are crystallized after HIU application. The degree of supercooling, ultrasound application settings and a combination of both parameters influence the degree of ultrasound effect on the crystallization behavior.
Market Size and Investment Performance of Defaulted Bonds and Bank Loans: 1987-2002

This article assesses and analyzes the size and performance of defaulted bonds and bank loans for the period 1987-2002. Defaulted bonds and bank loans performed somewhat poorly during 2002, reversing the relatively good performance of the preceding year, but more in line with several of the past recent years. This "asset class" has attracted an increasing amount of new capital, however, as the supply of distressed and defaulted debt securities continued its substantial growth over the past four years. Indeed, the estimated supply of defaulted public and private, distressed and defaulted, debt reached an enormous total of $942 billion by year-end 2002. The outlook for distressed investing was extremely bullish at the start of 2003, given the supply/demand dynamics and the likely regression to the mean of the market to face value ratio.
Solidification Interface Instabilities During Zone Melting Recrystallization Processing of Multilayer thin Film Structures

This paper describes a stability analysis of the solidification interface during graphite-strip zone-melting-recrystallization of Silicon-On-Insulator thin film structures. The study focused on instabilities induced by i) variations in the optical properties due to thickness perturbations in the structure and ii) changes in optical properties during phase change. Reflective and emissive interference effects between multilayers play a significant role in the temperature distributions during processing. The presence of a step perturbation imbedded within the film structure affects local heat absorption and resulting temperature profiles. Such disturbances that trigger instabilities at the solid-liquid interface were investigated numerically. Processing speeds which cause interface instability due to optical property variation during phase change were identified.
Andean Livelihood Strategies and the Livestock Portfolio

Rural livelihoods in the Andean region evolve in a setting shaped not only by the actions of people, but also by other factors often outside their control, such as climate variation, political and institutional change, and markets. A household economic portfolio approach framed in the context of rural livelihoods allows us to look at the patterns of change in an Andean community through the 1990s, as it adjusts to drought events, changing market conditions, and new institutions. A group of households from a community in the Bolivian Altiplano (high plateau) participated in a panel study that captured information on their activities, resources and life cycle characteristics. Household portfolios of both in-kind and cash income generating activities, which include sheep and cattle production, are constructed. Distinct strategies are found, which are shaped mostly by life cycle characteristics, and by access to resources and assets. Sheep, both criollo (native) and improved, play a key and constant role in the changing livelihood strategies. While other activities grow or shrink in response to market conditions – dairy and potato production – income from sheep does not, as this activity is closely linked to household consumption and welfare expenditures. Though the role of both sheep and cattle increase in prominence during climatic stress periods as an important coping mechanism to smooth consumption, differences exist among the diverse set of rural livelihood strategies identified and their impact on individuals, which require distinct policy interventions to foster security.
Detection of Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae in different host trees and tissues by automated analyses of sound-impulse frequency and temporal patterns.

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an invasive pest quarantined in the United States, is difficult to detect because the larvae feed unseen inside trees. Acoustic technology has potential for reducing costs and hazards of tree inspection, but development of practical methods for acoustic detection requires the solution of technical problems involving transmission of resonant frequencies in wood and high background noise levels in the urban environments where most infestations have occurred. A study was conducted to characterize sounds from larvae of different ages in cambium, sapwood, and heartwood of bolts from three host tree species. Larval sounds in all of the tested trees and tissues consisted primarily of trains of brief, 3–10-ms impulses. There were no major differences in the spectral or temporal pattern characteristics of signals produced by larvae of different ages in each tissue, but larval sounds in sapwood often had fewer spectral peaks than sounds in cambium and heartwood. A large fraction, but not all background sounds could be discriminated from larval sounds by automated spectral analyses. In 3-min recordings from infested bolts, trains containing impulses in patterns called bursts occurred frequently, featuring 7–49 impulses separated by small intervals. Bursts were rarely detected in uninfested bolts. The occurrence of bursts was found to predict infestations more accurately than previously used automated spectral analyses alone. Bursts and other features of sounds that are identifiable by automated techniques may ultimately lead to improved pest detection applications and new insight into pest behavior.
Automatic Natural Language Processing and the Detection of Reading Skills and Reading Comprehension

The primary goal of this study is to assess two approaches for detecting comprehension processes in R-SAT (Reading Strategy Assessment Tool). One approach is based on Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) while the other is a combination of literal word matching and soundex. A secondary goal is to assess the potential for detecting specific reading comprehension strategies, either in isolation or combination. Participants typed “think-aloud” protocols while reading texts presented on computers. Human judges rated these protocols for the presence of the various reading comprehension strategies. LSA, word, and combined algorithms were compared and the results showed that a combination of both approaches yielded the best results. However, performance of the combined algorithm varied in terms of the type of processes and the grain size of the human coding system. Lastly, the use of reading strategies (either in isolation or combination) is positivity related to students’ Gates–MacGinitie reading comprehension scores, which illustrates the merit of this approach for assessing comprehension skill.
A Survey of the Music Integration Practices of North Dakota Elementary Classroom Teachers

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the nature of North Dakota elementary classroom teachers’ (NDECT) music integration in the general classroom. The majority of NDECTs integrate...
Optimization method of oil-gas gathering and transporting system operation

In order to cut down operation cost, an optimization mathematical model for oil-gas gathering and transporting system operation is established, whose objective function is the minimum cost of system operation, and limited conditions are wellhead back pressure constraint, wellhead mixing water pressure constraint, temperature of crude oil entering gathering station constraint, etc. According to the structure characteristic of the model, it's solved by SQP algorithm. A relevant optimization software for oil-gas gathering and transforming system operation is worked out. The application in a oilfield block indicates that it can save natural gas by 1.7×10~6 m~3 and electric power by 4.50×10~4 kW·h every year.
Study on supersonic condition in determination of fuam acid by HPLC

Objective:Study on the sonic extraction condition in determination of fumaric acid by HPLC.Methods:The sample was added the mixed solution of different rate of methanol in 0.5% ace,detected fumaric acid content by HPLC after extracting different time with supersonic.The analysis column was Agilent C18,mobile phase was methanol: 0.5% ace=1:2 detecting at 220 nm.Results:60% methanol in 0.5% ace,extracting 20 min by supersonic is a good method for extracting Fuma,the method recovery is between 98% and 104%.Conclusion:This methods is fast,simple,accurate,and it can be effectively used to determinate the fumaric acid in faked foods.
The value of immunization against hepatitis A

Safe and effective inactivated vaccines should soon be available for prevention of hepatitis A virus infections in the United States. Here we review the heterogeneous distribution of hepatitis A cases among different risk groups, age groups, and geographic regions of the United States and comment on several possible strategies for using hepatitis A vaccines in immunization programs. We conclude that immunization targeted exclusively at groups that are at high risk of developing hepatitis A is unlikely to significantly lower national rates of the disease. While universal immunization of young children may accomplish this goal, such a practice is likely to prove unacceptably costly. Alternative strategies worthy of consideration include immunization targeted to specific risk groups on a regional basis, based on knowledge of the local epidemiology of hepatitis A.
The Role of Government in Higher Education

In this chapter, we explore the economic justifications for the role of government in supporting postsecondary education. Although many refer to education (particularly public education) as a public good, the teaching function of colleges and universities does not meet the economists’ definition of a public good. Perhaps the only product from postsecondary education that may be thought of as a public good is basic research. Instead, the economic rationale for governmental financial support of postsecondary education rests on the argument that students produce positive externalities when they go to college. We will outline the main economic concepts behind public goods and externalities, and show how they relate to governmental support for higher education. We also provide an extension of the model of public choice, and consider two higher education policy issues with regard to the appropriate level of state support for higher education and the debate between need-based and merit-based financial aid.
Iatrogenic aortic dissection after minimally invasive aortic valve replacement: a case report

As minimally invasive cardiac and vascular procedures are on the rise, the incidence of iatrogenic acute aortic dissection (IAAD) will increase. Cardiovascular professionals should be aware about the risk factors, means of prevention and best management options for IAAD in the perioperative setting. We present the successful clinical management of a complicated case of IAAD after minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. High index of suspicion is required for prompt diagnosis of IAAD; collaboration of the whole perioperative team is imperative for management of this catastrophe.
Increased Partner Risk Characteristic Among Adolescents Using Alcohol In the Moment.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is a recognized risk factor for sexually transmitted diseases acquisition, but the mechanism is unclear. Potentially, adolescents using alcohol in the 2 hours before sex (in-the-moment use) have riskier sexual partners. METHODS: We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between in-the-moment alcohol use and partner risk characteristics reported for the most recent sex among primarily 17- to 18-year-old adolescents originally recruited from a representative sample of Chicago public elementary schools. We created 3 composite partner risk profiles: partner familiarity risk (casual and unexpected), partner context risk (age discordance and met in public), and overall risk using all measures except partner alcohol use. RESULTS: Teens who reported any in-the-moment alcohol use were more likely than nondrinking teens to report casual (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.1-4.9), unexpected (AOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.5), age discordant (AOR, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.0-4.6), or met in public partners (AOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.1). For each composite measure, the number of partner risk characteristics reported increased linearly with the percent of teens drinking in the moment (Cochran-Armitage trend, P CONCLUSIONS: Our findings expand the link between in-the-moment alcohol use and partner risk reported in prior studies to encompass adolescents' general sexual experiences and additional partner characteristics including the highly associated composite characteristics. Language: en
Der Deutsche Einfluss auf das Erziehungs- und Unterrichtswesen der Vereinigten Staaten

Der deutsche Einflus hat tief auf das Erziehungswesen der Vereinigten Staaten gewirkt. Aber obschon die Deutschamerikaner an der fortschrittlichen Entwicklung des Unterrichts im 19. Jahrhundert tatigen Anteil genommen haben, gebuhrt das Hauptverdienst, deutsche Lehr-und Lernmethoden in Amerika eingefuhrt zu haben, den Amerikanern selbst. Obwohl sie im Banne englischer und franzosischer Uberlieferungen lebten, so durchzogen sie doch ganz Europa, um die besten Vorbilder fur ihre Unterrichtsanstalten zu suchen, und in Deutschland fanden sie diese. Die Grundlage und die Bekronung unsers amerikanischen Erziehungssystems, die Elementarschule (einschlieslich des Kindergartens) und die Universitat sind unter deutschem Einflus entstanden. Das in die Kolonialzeit zuruckreichende College entstammt dem englischen Mutterland, hat sich aber den neuen Verhaltnissen in mancherlei Beziehung anpassen mussen. Fur die hoheren Schulen sind mannigfaltige Einflusse bestimmend gewesen, zum Teil auch deutsche.
Networks and Hierarchies: Approaching Complexity in Evolutionary Theory

This expansion of the hierarchy theory of evolution provides a new perspective in which biological phenomena are conceptualized. In this work, we (1) attempt to revise the ontology of levels of biological organization and clarify the relationship between the economic and genealogical hierarchies; (2) explore the implications of network theory for evolutionary dynamics in a hierarchical context; and (3) elucidate evolutionary causality by disentangling abiotic drivers from proximal evolutionary processes (the origin and sorting of variation) and their integration across hierarchies. We suggest that a pervasive pattern of stability in living systems across scale results from the architecture of nature’s economy itself—biological systems consisting of hierarchically nested, complex networks are extremely robust to extrinsic perturbations. We further argue that instances of evolution are episodic and rapid; they are transient between equilibrial states that ensue when network stability is compromised by sufficiently strong disturbances affecting biological entities at multiple levels of organization. We also claim that environmental abiotic factors are ultimately responsible for these perturbations that, when filtered through the economic hierarchy, shape the patterns of diversity and disparity of life as we know it.
An Observation of Very Low Frequency (VLF) Electromagnetic Waves Generated by Lightning Strikes via RockSat-X

In an attempt to observe how very low frequency (VLF) signals from lightning discharges vary as a function of altitude, a sounding rocket payload was built and launched via the Colorado Space Grant Consortium’s RockSat-X program. The main components of the payload consisted of three magnetic field antennas, two pairs of electric field plate antennas, an amplification and filtration circuit board, and two microSD cards interfaced with high performance multi-core microcontrollers for data storage. Despite a flight anomaly preventing the retrieval of the stored data, low resolution telemetry data from flight shows the expected presence power line interference.
A Newborn with a Large Tongue

A 1-day-old preterm neonate with a large tongue (Fig). Figure. Neonate with marcroglossia. ### Prenatal and Birth Histories ### Presentation
Reconstructing the Firing and Pigment Processing Technologies of Corinthian Polychrome Ceramics, 8-6th Centuries B.C.E

Decorative, polychrome ceramics from Corinth, Greece, produced during the 8th-6th centuries B.C.E. were luxury goods widely traded throughout Greece and the Mediterranean. Corinthian pottery is the first 5-color polychrome ceramic technology, having slip-glazes in distinctive white, black, red, yellow, and purple colors, and in a variety of surface finishes from glossy, to semi-matte, to matte. The firing temperature range, 925-1075°C, was determined experimentally to be to be higher than previously reported, similar to the Corinthian amphorae and other ceramic products. This firing range is higher than that of the better known, more prestigious Athenian Black-figure and Red-figure ceramics. In this study three examples of Corinthian and one example of Athenian Black-figure ceramics from the Marie Farnsworth collection at the University of Arizona were tested and compared to thirteen clays from Corinth. Analytical techniques included Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning-electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and wavelength-dispersive electron microprobe (EPMA with BSE-SEM). Artisans in Corinthian workshops experimented to change the colors of the slips by varying the type and amount of iron-rich raw material, as well as the composition of the clay used as a binder and the amount of flux used as a sintering aid to promote glass formation. Corinthian artisans developed not only different recipes to produce the various colors, but also they were able to control raw-material particle size and composition to produce variations in surface luster (matte, semi-matte and glossy). This research suggests that Corinthian polychrome-slip technology was based on careful control of particle processing, of compositional control of raw materials and their admixtures, and of firing temperature. The behavior or practice of adding different ratios of pigments and glass-forming fluxes to form various optical effects implies a detailed knowledge of what happens when these are heated and fired. This is a process of experimentation focused on developing a distinctive craft practice, which produced a distinctive and highly valued material. The Corinthians developed a more complex, easily recognizable, and culturally distinctive ceramic technology that was intentionally established as a cultural brand, and probably as a luxury brand of high socio-economic value. This research deepens our understanding of the complex pigment processing and firing technologies employed in the production of Corinthian ceramics.
Manure and tillage use in remediation of eroded land and impacts on soil chemical properties.

Soil loss through wind and water erosion is an ongoing problem in semiarid regions. A thin layer of top soil loss over a hectare of cropland could be corresponding to tons of productive soil loss per hectare. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of beef feedlot manure, tillage and legume grass mixtures on changes in soil quality and nutrient components. The study was initiated in 2006 on an eroded site near Akron, Colorado, on a Norka-Colby very-fine sandy loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic, Aridic, Argiustolls). Tillage treatments were no-tillage, shallow tillage (sweeps operations with V-blade) and deep tillage (DT; moldboard plow operations). In one set of plots, DT was implemented biannually (DT-2); and in another set the DT was done once at the initiation of the experiment in 2006. Amendments consisted of beef manure and urea (46-0-0), N fertilizer. Both amendments were added at low and high rates. A control treatment, with no fertilizer or manure added, was included with no-tillage and shallow tillage only. Six years of manure addition and tillage significantly altered soil chemical properties compared with fertilizer and grass legume mixtures. Across all the tillage treatments, at the 0–30 cm depth, soil pH from 2006 to 2012, was reduced 1.8 fold with high-manure compared with high-fertilizer treatment. Soil EC, Na, and SAR increased by 2.7 fold while soil P increase by 3.5 fold with high-manure treatment compared with low-manure from 2006 to 2012 across all the tillage treatments at the surface 0–30 cm. Soil organic carbon associated with high-manure was 71% higher than low-manure and 230% higher than high-fertilizer treatments in the 0–60 cm depth. Similar patterns were observed with soil total N. Overall, manure amendments greatly improved the soil nutrient status on this eroded site. However, the legume grass mixtures showed little effect on improving soils chemical properties. The micronutrients supplied by manure improved the soil nutrient status compared with inorganic fertilizer, the grass, and the grass-legume treatments. We concluded that more than six years are needed to measure significant improvements in soil quality from specific treatments, specifically fertilizer, grasses, and grass-legume mixtures in such eroded crop land.
Relation of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Cardiovascular Events in Black Americans (From the Jackson Heart Study)

Although several prospective studies have reported independent relations between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and risk of incident cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in primarily non-African-American (AA) cohorts, the utility of CIMT values for the prediction of incident coronary heart disease and stroke events in blacks remain unclear. At the baseline examination (2000 to 2004) of the Jackson Heart Study, AA adults 21 to 94 years of age (mean 54) underwent bilateral far-wall CIMT measurement (mean 0.76 mm). Incident CVD events were then assessed over 7 to 11 years of follow-up (2000 to 2011) from samples of 2,463 women (107 CVD events) and 1,338 men (64 CVD events) who were free of clinical CVD at baseline. Each 0.2-mm increase in CIMT was associated with age-adjusted incident CVD hazard ratios of 1.4 (95% confidence interval 1.2, 1.5) for women and 1.3 (1.1, 1.6) for men. Classification accuracy improved only slightly when comparing multivariable models that used traditional risk factors alone with models that added CIMT: C-statistics 0.837 (0.794, 0.881) versus 0.842 (0.798, 0.886) in women and 0.754 (0.683, 0.826) versus 0.763 (0.701, 0.825) in men. Similarly, risk reclassification was only mildly improved by adding CIMT: Net Reclassification Index 0.13 (p = 0.05) and 0.05 (p = 0.50) for women and men, respectively; Integrated Discrimination Improvement 0.02 (p = 0.02) and 0.01 (p = 0.26) for women and men, respectively. In conclusion, CIMT was associated with incident CVD but provided modest incremental improvement in risk reclassification beyond traditional risk factors in a community-based AA cohort.
Effects of phosphorus on CC, CO, and CH bond rupture during acetic acid decomposition over Ru(0001) and Px-Ru(0001)

Abstract Investigation of the conversion of acetic acid (a model oxygenate) on well-defined metal and metal phosphide surfaces provides insight to the reasons for the high selectivities of transition metal phosphide (TMP) catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oils. Temperature programmed reaction (TPR) of acetic acid isotopologues on pristine Ru(0001) and a P modified Ru(0001) surface, representative of the Ru 2 P(111) facet, show an identical sequence of elementary steps for acetic acid decomposition. The inclusion of P atoms in the surface does, however, lead to electronic changes of the Ru atoms and increase activation barriers for C O, C C, and C H bond scission by values of ∼5–10 kJ mol −1 . The differences increase the prevalence of C C bond rupture over C O bond rupture by a factor of two (determined in TPR measurements). Based on the changes in product selectivity and the relative changes in activation energies for C C and C O bond rupture, these results indicate that the addition of P atoms will increase selectivities toward C O bond rupture during high temperature, hydrotreating catalysis, which matches reported HDO selectivities that are greater on TMP catalysts than on the corresponding metallic nanoparticles. These results provide fundamental insight to the reasons for the greater selectivity for C O bond rupture.
New Universal Nomenclature in Auriculotherapy

Abstract Objectives: To propose at the auriculotherapists a New Universal Nomenclature of Auriculotherapy, able to receive any mapping whatsoever. Design: We built this proposition by using electronic database search to find the different formulations of Auricular Acupuncture Points (AAPs), by studying neuroradiology methods describing reliable and reproducible marks able to adapt to all brain morphologies, by studying the analysis of brain dissections, showed us the internal organization of the brain; and after having proved the neurophysiological correlations between auricular displays and their brain correspondences. Results: Since the 1950s, the study of Auriculotherapy by Paul Nogier and his students regularly progressed. The World Health Organization recognized it in 1987 and developed the First International Nomenclature in 1990. The number of therapeutic zones of the ear, in proportion to the constant progress in neurophysiology, never stops growing. This growth presents a major problem: all the f...