cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive vulnerabilities and development of suicidal thinking in children of depressed mothers: A longitudinal investigation

Although children of depressed parents are at heightened risk for suicidal ideation, little is known about specific risk factors. This study focused on the relation between a broad range of cognitive vulnerabilities proposed by the leading cognitive theories and the development of suicidal ideation in children. Participants were 209 mothers (aged 24-55) and their 8-14 year old children. Children of depressed mothers who had previously experienced suicidal ideation themselves reported higher levels of brooding rumination than children of depressed mothers who had not experienced suicidal ideation as well as children of never depressed mothers who had not experienced suicidal ideation. Further, among children of depressed mothers with no prior history of suicidal ideation, higher levels of hopelessness and lower global self-worth predicted first onset of suicidal ideation over a 2-year follow-up. Importantly, these results were maintained even after taking the occurrence of major depressive disorder in children during the follow-up into account. The findings highlight specific cognitive vulnerabilities that could be targeted in early suicide prevention and intervention efforts.
Assessment of the cortical rim sign in posttraumatic renal infarction.

PURPOSE The cortical rim sign has frequently been described as a sign of renal infarction. It is reported to be present in approximately 50% of focal or global infarcts and is thought to be due to an intact renal collateral circulation. This study evaluates the incidence and temporal development of the cortical rim sign in posttraumatic renal vascular compromise. METHOD This retrospective study included 20 patients who were diagnosed by contrast-enhanced CT to have posttraumatic focal or global infarcts. The CT scans were reviewed to evaluate the size of infarcts and the presence and appearance of the rim sign. Medical records were reviewed to identify the timing of trauma in relation to the CT examination. RESULTS Eight patients had multiple CT examinations and 12 had a single CT study. For all cases that demonstrated a rim sign (n = 14, 8 of which had more than one CT), the earliest appearance of the rim sing was 8 h (median time to appearance was 7 days). All cases with no rim sign (n = 6) were evaluated within 10 h of trauma, with a median time of 4 h. CONCLUSION This study suggests that in spite of the presence of renal collateral circulation, it takes a minimum period of 8 h after trauma for this circulation to expand and become apparent on CT. CT demonstrated a rim sign in all cases performed after 1 week.
Electrical conduction in single-crystal Fe3-yTiyO4 (0<y<0.9).

Measurements of electrical resistivity versus temperature are reported for single-crystal specimens of the ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{y}}$${\mathrm{Ti}}_{\mathit{y}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ system in the composition range 0y0.9 and are compared to similar studies on ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Zn}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. These resistivity data are fitted to an Arrhenius law; various trends are briefly described. For y\ensuremath{\ge}0.2, beyond which ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}$ ions are increasingly present on tetrahedral interstices, the variation of the preexponential factor with y can be described on the basis of a small polaron model, assuming that the octahedral sites occupied by ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{4+}$ ions are not accessible to charge carriers. For y0.2 this model fails; a possible explanation is offered in terms of changes in lattice properties in the concentration range where only ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}$ ions are present on tetrahedral interstices.
CARBOXYMETHYLATION OF NUCLEAR PROTEIN SERINE/THREONINE PHOSPHATASE X

Specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies against peptides corresponding to the highly homologous protein serine/threonine phosphatase 2A and X catalytic subunits (PP2A/C and PPX/C respectively) were used to investigate the cellular and subcellular distribution of PP2A/C and PPX/C, as well as their methylation state. Immunoblots of rat tissue extracts revealed a widespread distribution of these enzymes but particularly high levels of PP2A/C and PPX/C in brain and testes respectively. In addition, immunoblots of subcellular fractions and immunocytochemical analyses of rat brain sections demonstrated that PPX/C is predominantly localized to the nucleus, whereas PP2A/C is largely cytoplasmic. Treatment of nuclear extracts with alkali resulted in increased PPX/C immunoreactivity to a polyclonal antibody directed against the C-terminus; no change in PPX immunoreactivity was observed using an antibody against an internal peptide. Alkali treatment of brain and liver cytosolic and nuclear extracts did not change the molecular mass or the isoelectric point of PPX/C. Furthermore, tritiated PPX/C was immunoprecipitated from COS cell extracts incubated with the methyl donor S-adenosyl-l-[methyl-3H]methionine. Thus the increase in immunoreactivity probably results from removal of a carboxymethyl group from PPX/C, as has been shown previously for PP2A/C [Favre, Zolnierowicz, Turowski and Hemmings (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 16311-16317]. Together, our results indicate that the PPX catalytic subunit is a predominantly nuclear phosphatase and is methylated at its C-terminus.
The control of ventilated supercavity pulsation and noise

Abstract A technique to control ventilated supercavity pulsation and noise is explored analytically and verified experimentally. The technique, which has its roots in parametric oscillators, changes the stiffness and, therefore, resonance frequency of the ventilated supercavity gas/water system by modulating or adding a sinusoidal component to the ventilation rate. This results in the ventilated supercavity effectively being driven off-resonance as the frequency of the interface waves which force the supercavity gas/water system remain largely unchanged. A wide range of ventilation rate modulation frequencies cause the pulsating supercavity to transition into twin vortex closure, typically within 0.25 sec of modulation initiation. Accompanying the transition from pulsation to twin vortex closure is a reduction in the radiated noise, to the continuum at the pulsation frequency, often by 35 dB or more. Other modulation frequencies do not suppress pulsation, but are effective at changing the supercavity pulsation frequency.
Families Under Stress: The Diagnosis of Hurler's Syndrome

Families of children who have certain inborn errors of metabolism are subjected to great stress and have need for professional counseling. Analysis of the adaptation of three families who had children with Hurler's syndrome reflects the problems encountered, as well as the influence of the families' individual strengths and values, and the effectiveness of supportive counseling programs.
The effects of nitrogen mustard on DNA template activity in purified DNA and RNA polymerase systems.

The effects of nitrogen mustard (HN2) on DNA and RNA synthesis in preparations utilizing purified DNA templates and polymerase enzymes have been investigated in order to more completely define the mechanism of action of antineoplastic alkylating agents at the molecular level. Pretreatment of native calf thymus DNA with 5 x 10 -7 M HN2 produced a significant inhibition of DNA template activity in a purified RNA polymerase system from Escherichia coli . Concentrations of HN2 20-100 times higher were required to achieve an equivalent amount of inhibition of DNA template function utilizing a DNA polymerase system from E. coli . The template activities of both native and denatured DNA were inhibited by HN2. The quantity of alkylation of the DNA templates was determined by measuring the binding of 14 C-HN2, and the percent inhibition of DNA template activity was correlated with the number of alkylations per 10 4 nucleotide units. It was found that the template function of DNA as it exists in a nucleoprotein complex isolated from E. coli is relatively insensitive to treatment with HN2. The possible relationships of these findings to the cytotoxic effects of HN2 are discussed.
Role of NMR in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis

Diagnosis and prognosis of atherosclerosis can no longer be evaluated with morphological parameters only. A description of atherosclerotic plaque composition is necessary to study the mechanisms of plaque rupture, which depends on collagenous cap and lipid core thicknesses. NMR, as a biochemical imaging technique, allows visualization of these components using T1 contrast (mobile lipids), T2 contrast (cap vs. core), spin density (calcifications), diffusion imaging, 1H and 13C spectroscopy. Today, these imaging sequences allow to study in vitro the effects of interventional techniques such as angioplasty or atherectomy. Clinical investigations begin, which will attempt to develop in vivo microscopy and test the ability of NMR to predict plaque rupture.
Multi-Tissue Interface Bioengineering

Abstract Restoring the interface where two tissues meet lies at the heart of the most significant challenges in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this chapter we will review emerging approaches to engineer tissue interfaces using monolithic scaffolds, scaffolds assembled from separate tissue layers, and approaches to extend tissue engineering techniques to current clinical techniques for the purpose of repairing or regenerating tissue interfaces. Specifically, we will highlight innovative materials-based approaches to forming tissue interfaces. Engineered craniofacial tissue interfaces will be highlighted due to the numerous biointerfaces in the craniofacial region. We also suggest future approaches to form craniofacial interfaces harnessing the significant potential of pluripotent stem cells.
Information and access to United Nations diplomatic missions

ABSTRACTUnited Nations (UN) diplomats play an important role in international policy, yet there is a scarcity of evidence and theory on their preferences and behaviour. We report the results of an online field experiment designed to identify the revealed preferences of diplomats. In particular, we investigate whether and how diplomats will provide access to outside organizations based on offers of information. We contacted diplomats by email and randomized offers of information on either peer missions or world affairs. While offers of information on peers garnered nearly 45% more responses indicating interest than offers of information on world affairs, response rates across both treatments were low, and the difference is only 3.3 percentage points. Our estimated treatment effects of assignment to the peer as compared to world affairs treatment are not statistically significant. Our experiment failed to provide evidence that these types of informational offers facilitate differential access to UN diplomats.
Keynote address: Will reliability limit Moore's law?

Moore's law continues to be the engine of growth for the global electronics industry. The understanding of IC degradation mechanisms has resulted in rapid reliability improvements that have enabled the rapid rate technology progression we have experienced. Going forward it is clear that the reliability margins the industry has enjoyed in the past will shrink. The question is now whether reliability will pose a constraint on Moore's law. In this talk we will discuss reliability issues that can most directly impact the industry's capability to maintain the pace of technology progression required by Moore's law.
Precision of Atmospheric Persistent Organic Pollutant Concentration Measurements

Environmental measurement programs are often undertaken with the assumption that measurements at a given location will be comparable to others that would be observed at the same time in the immediate vicinity, but this assumption has seldom been tested. This paper does so. We discuss here the precision of atmospheric concentration measurements of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) near the North American Great Lakes-measurements that we have been conducting since 1994. We report the relative percent differences between the measured values for 100-200 duplicate samples, and through our use of surrogate (recovery) standards, we have separated the analytical error from the sampling error for the target compounds. The error contributions we calculated were on the order of 5% for the analytical error and 20% for the sampling error, suggesting that the latter is the greatest hindrance to increased precision. In a comparison of relative percent differences for measurements among different atmospheric phases, we observed the highest errors for precipitation samples, with an average median of 35 ± 3, which is more than for vapor-phase samples (27 ± 3) or particle-phase samples (27 ± 2). We suggest that sampling errors are principally the result of inaccuracies in measuring the sample volume and possibly the result of spatial heterogeneity of the atmosphere.
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF FLAMES SEEDED WITH LARGE CONCENTRATIONS OF SODIUM, BARIUM, AND STRONTIUM*

Summary The electrical conductivity due to sodium, barium, and strontium has been investigated in H2-O2 and C3H3-O2 flames at a total pressure of 1 atm and the temperature range 1400° to 2200°K. Both sodium and barium have an ionization potential of approximately 5·1 eV. Flames seeded with barium acetate had a higher conductivity (an order of magnitude at 1800°K) than those with sodium hydroxide. Flames seeded with strontium also had conductivities higher than can be due to the ionization of the alkaline earth metal. The emission limit of graphite electrodes was markedly improved with barium seeded flames compared to the limit found with flames seeded with potassium.
Supply-Doubled Pulse-Shaping High Voltage Pulser for CMUT Arrays

A supply-doubled pulse-shaping high voltage (HV) pulser is presented for medical ultrasound imaging applications, particularly those that use capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs). The pulser employs a bootstrap circuit combined with dynamically biased stacked transistors, which allow HV operation above process limit without lowering device reliability. The new pulser overcomes supply voltage limitation of conventional unipolar pulsers by generating output signals that are almost twice the supply level. It also can generate three-level pulses to further optimize the transmit pressure signals. A proof-of-concept prototype has been implemented in 0.18- ${\mu }\text{m}$ HV CMOS/DMOS technology with 60 V devices. Measurement results show that the HV pulser can safely generate controllable three-level pulses with up to 85 $\text{V}_{{\mathrm{ pp}}}$ from 45 V supply. Acoustic measurements are conducted connecting the pulser to a CMUT with 2 pF capacitance and 8.3 MHz center frequency. The pulse shape has been adjusted for the CMUT under test to generate maximum pressure output and the results are in good agreement with a large signal CMUT model.
Technological change and generic effects in a university Herbarium: A textography revisited:

Herbaria principally host and study collections of dried vegetal specimens, and the curators and researchers employed there are mainly systematic botanists working on plant taxonomy. Twenty years ago, a textographic investigation of the University of Michigan Herbarium was conducted as part of a larger study. In this follow-up inquiry, we investigate what sort of changes have – or have not – occurred over the intervening period. Two of the five original Herbarium informants are still working there, and mainly through text-based interviews and discourse analysis we trace their subsequent careers and research outputs. We find that there has been considerable technological change since the 1990s, such as the growth of molecular studies, the digitization of specimens, and the use of the web, which has greatly impacted the processes of scholarly textual production. However, technological effects on the highly distinctive genres of systematic botany turn out to be more moderate. This genre set, comprising monog...
Conflict in Teams: Modeling Early and Late Conflict States and the Interactive Effects of Conflict Processes:

We introduce a model of teams’ early and late conflict states, conflict processes, and performance. In a study of 529 individuals in 145 teams, we provide a theoretical framework and empirically test a series of hypotheses pertaining to the influence of conflict states, including task and relationship conflict, on performance, as well as the moderating effect of two conflict processes (cooperative and competitive management approaches). We address inconsistencies in the literature related to the effect of team conflict, specifically task conflict, within teams. Our results suggest that task conflict in the end of a team’s life cycle, like relationship conflict, can have a significant negative effect on performance, but only when teams’ conflict management approaches are competitive (rather than cooperative). We also provide evidence that conflict management approaches are affected by the type of conflict teams exhibit in their early life cycle stages. Thus, we present a study of how early levels of confli...
Vestibular Schwannoma, Radiosurgery and Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is an uncommon and controversial complication of radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma (VS). The controversy arises as hydrocephalus can also be associated with untreated vestibular schwannoma. Nevertheless, retrospective review of radiosurgical cases suggest that in a minority of cases of treated vestibular schwannomas, radiosurgery appears to cause or significantly accelerate subsequent hydrocephalus. This chapter discusses the evidence for this claim, and reviews the frequency of this complication, correlating variables, predisposing factors, proposed mechanisms, and patient management options.
Formation of macropores in calcium phosphate cement implants.

A calcium phosphate cement (CPC) was shown to harden at ambient temperatures and form hydroxyapatite as the only end-product. Animal study results showed that CPC resorbed slowly and was replaced by new bone. For some clinical applications, it would be desirable to have macropores built into the CPC implant to obtain a more rapid resorption and concomitant osseointegration of the implant. The present study investigated the feasibility of a new method for producing macropores in CPC. Sucrose granules, NaHCO3, and Na2HPO4 were sieved to obtain particle sizes in the range of 125 microm to 250 microm. The following mixtures of CPC powder (an equimolar mixture of tetracalcium phosphate, Ca4(PO4)2O, and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous, CaHPO4) and one of the above additive granules were prepared: control-no additive; mixture A-0.25 mass fraction of sucrose; mixture B-0.25 mass fraction of NaHCO3; mixture C-0.25 mass fraction of Na2HPO4, and mixture D-0.33 mass fraction of Na2HPO4. Cement samples were prepared by mixing 0.3 g of the above mixtures with 0.075 ml of the cement liquid (1 mol/l Na2HPO4). After hardening, the specimens were placed in water for 20 h at about 60 degrees C to completely dissolve the additive crystals. Well-formed macropores in the shapes of the entrapped crystals were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The macroporosities (mean+/-standard deviation; n = 6) expressed as volume fraction in % were 0, 18.9 +/- 1.7, 26.9 +/- 1.6, 38.3 +/- 4.4 and 50.3 +/- 2.7 for the control, A, B, C and D, respectively. The diametral tensile strengths (mean+/-standard deviation; n = 3) expressed in MPa were 10.1 +/- 0.7, 3.7 +/- 0.3, 2.4 +/- 0.2, 1.5 +/- 0.5 and 0.4 +/- 0.1, respectively, for the five groups. The results showed that macropores can readily be formed in CPC implants with the use of water-soluble crystals. The mechanical strength of CPC decreased with increasing macroporosity.
Using social network analysis to characterize the collaboration network of backyard poultry trainers in ackCalifornia

Abstract In order to better understand collaboration among trainers in the backyard poultry community (i.e. feed store managers, youth development programs (i.e. 4-H), veterinarians, government agencies, extension resources and backyard poultry club leaders), Social Network Analysis (SNA) was used as a tool to better characterize and quantify the current collaboration network structure of backyard poultry trainers in California. Invited trainer attendees of two “Train-the-Trainers” poultry workshops (n = 67) held in Northern and Southern California were given a survey that asked them to list contacts that they collaborated with on backyard poultry (BYP) related work. The collaboration network in this study included a total of 109 trainers, 18 practitioners, and 32 individuals who are both trainers and practitioners for a total of 170 nodes (11 individuals did not have affiliation information available). In order to help identify central actors or collaboration leaders, the surveys were analyzed using Social Network Analysis (SNA), which allows for a quantitative analysis of relationships among various stakeholders. While the SNA showed that the existing collaboration network is disconnected with a clustering coefficient of 0.043 and median total degree centrality of 1 (range 9) and therefore not conducive for collaboration, key insights that could help restructure and improve the network were identified. As an example, among different poultry groups, 4-H was identified as the organization with the second highest median coverage score and fifth highest median centrality score. In addition, 4-H group leaders act as both trainers and practitioners. Consequently, outreach to 4-H group leaders throughout the state would potentially have the greatest impact with respect to overall coverage both inside and outside the 4-H network due to their high centrality and boundary spanning roles. Using SNA to strengthen the collaboration network infrastructure of backyard poultry trainers ultimately offers a more targeted approach toward extension for backyard poultry owners, which could ultimately facilitate communication and knowledge-sharing with BYP owners during a disease outbreak.
The Audience and Business of YouTube and Online Videos

This collection of research studies about YouTube is an ambitious and important book that is best defined by its empirical findings. Anyone doing research on online or streaming video will apprecia...
ROMAN RHETORIC AND ‘CORRESPONDENCE EDUCATION’: THE EPISTOLARY ‘VIVA VOX’ OF MARCUS CORNELIUS FRONTO

The idealized ‘viva vox’ of face‐to‐face instruction, expressed by Quintilian and Seneca, offers a thematic paradigm for examining Fronto's pedagogical ‘self‐lettering’. Fronto's didactic letters facilitate the long‐distance rhetorical education of Marcus Aurelius, but beyond their pragmatic role, they also function symbolically to promulgate Fronto's status and intimacy with the imperial court
Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) Dust Control Using Biocompatible Polymers

Mine tailings storage facilities (TSFs) can be a significant source of fine, respirable dust. This dust poses concerns, especially for nearby communities, because of its detrimental impact on respiratory health. To address these concerns, this study examined the effectiveness of commercially available polymers, known for their biocompatible and environmentally friendly features, to prevent dust generation from upstream-type TSFs in active mining operations. It focused on two areas in TSFs: the tailings beach and slope/dike surfaces. Two types of polymers—polyethylene glycol and poloxamer—were selected, and their effectiveness was evaluated in a series of phased laboratory and field tests. The lab tests investigated the moisture-retention capacity of the tailings after treatment with the polymer solutions as well as the ability of these solutions to reduce dust emissions. Polymers were applied to a tailings bed surface in the lab and dust was generated from this surface using a wind tunnel. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were measured using laser-diffraction dust sensors, and the polymers were found to have reduced dust emissions up to 95%. Small-scale wind-blowing tests were conducted in the field (specifically, in a controlled environment at a TSF) to evaluate polymer effectiveness on the tailings beach and slope/dike areas. The tests revealed that the AP could efficiently suppress approximately 80% of PM10 and PM2.5 dust emissions at both types of areas. Finally, 1000 gallons of AP solution were discharged at the top of tailings beach and slope/dike areas, respectively, and found to be effective. The results of these tests showed the high potential of the biocompatible polymers to be a feasible solution for reducing the respirable dust emissions from upstream TSFs in arid and semi-arid regions.
Standardized Semi-structured Psychosocial Evaluation before Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Predicts Patient Adherence to Post-Transplant Regimen.

ABSTRACT In patients undergoing stem cell transplantation (SCT), nonadherence has potential for significant medical impact and potentially life-threatening complications. No study thus far has demonstrated an effective way to predict adherence in SCT recipients. A structured rating scale, the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT), has been shown to predict psychosocial outcomes and medical morbidity in solid organ transplant recipients. We assessed the SIPAT in SCT recipients. We hypothesized that the SIPAT rating would be associated with nonadherence to the post-SCT regimen. We retrospectively studied SCT recipients who had psychiatric evaluations with the SIPAT before SCT. The primary outcome was nonadherence, defined a priori as at least 1 life-threatening nonadherence event in the first 6 months post-transplant. Association of the SIPAT with outcomes was evaluated by logistic regression, and an optimal cutoff score was determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Of 85 patients (mean age 47 years; range, 18 to 74 years), 56 (66%) were male, and 43 (50.5%) received autologous SCT. Eighteen (21%) patients were nonadherent. The SIPAT rating, treated as a continuous variable and controlling for autologous versus allogeneic SCT, was significantly associated with nonadherence (per 1 point; odds ratio [OR], 1.162; P
The potential for multi-site literacy interventions to reduce summer slide among low-performing students

Abstract Despite the evidence that summer learning loss or “slide” can have devastating cumulative effects on student performance in school, there are few examples of system-wide interventions that can prevent summer learning loss at scale in urban contexts with high rates of low-performing students. This study reports on the first year of a city-wide effort to reduce summer literacy loss in Detroit, Michigan, through a multi-site collaboration between the city Parks and Recreation Department, the local public school district, and several unique program providers. Results from this pilot study suggest that short-duration, high-intensity tutoring may help to prevent learning loss in literacy among a population with high rates of socio-economic disadvantage and low initial performance, regardless of specific program methodologies. This study has implications for other large cities seeking to prevent summer slide by building on existing municipal and district infrastructure.
Diverse Neoantigens and the Development of Cancer Therapies

Cancer is the manifestation of uncontrolled cellular growth and immune escape mechanisms. Unrestrained tumor growth can be associated with incidental errors in the genome during replication and genotoxic agents can alter the structure and sequence of our DNA. Among all genetic aberrations in cancer, only limited number of mutations can produce immunogenic antigens which have the potential to bind human leukocyte antigen class I or human leukocyte antigen class II, and help activate the adaptive immune system. These neoantigens can be recognized by CD8+ and CD4+ neoantigen-specific T lymphocytes. Recently, several immune checkpoint targeting drugs have been approved for clinical use. Primarily, these drugs expand and facilitate the cytotoxic activity of neoantigen-specific T cells to eradicate tumors. Differential drug response across cancers could be attributed, at least in part, to differences in the 'tumor antigen landscape' and 'antigen presentation pathway' in patients. Although tumor mutational burden correlates with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in many cancer types and has evolved as a broad biomarker, a comprehensive understanding of the neoantigen landscape and the function of cognate T cell responses is lacking and is needed for improved patient selection criteria and neoantigen vaccine design. Here, we review cancer neoantigens, their implications for antitumor responses, the dynamics of neoantigen-specific T cells, and the advancement of neoantigen-based therapy in proposed clinical trials.
New Endoscopic In-office Surgical Therapies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Context In recent years, new technologies have been developed to treat benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). Three of these devices may be utilized in office and are promising additions. Objective To systematically review all clinical trials investigating prostatic urethral lift (PUL), water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT), and temporary implantable nitinol device (TIND), with emphasis on clinical efficacy and complications. Evidence acquisition We performed a systematic review of PubMed/Medline database in November 2020 according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines. Evidence synthesis Of 168 articles identified, 18 met the inclusion criteria. Evidence consisted of few randomized controlled trials, and multiple single-arm prospective and retrospective studies. Among the three modalities, PUL demonstrates rare occurrence of serious complications but higher retreatment rates at short- and long-term follow-up. WVTT offers lower retreatment rates with a similar safety profile. TIND studies report varying rates of retreatment and complications. All technologies offer low rates of erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, although the risk appears to be highest for WVTT ( Conclusions Among the emerging technologies introduced to treat BPE, the in-office PUL, WVTT, and TIND systems are valuable additions to the current surgical options. These systems offer unique advantages that should be considered in the shared decision-making process. Patient summary In this report, we identified all clinical trials reporting on the efficacy and safety of the in-office prostatic urethral lift (PUL), water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT), and temporary implantable nitinol device (TIND) systems for the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement. We found that PUL and WVTT demonstrate acceptable outcomes in terms of functional improvement, retreatment, and complications. More data with longer follow-up are required to further evaluate TIND, but early results are promising.
Influence of mid-life cognitive activity on cognitive function among men aged 68 years or older

Cognitive activity in early and late life has been associated with increased cognitive function among older adults. There is less evidence on the effects of midlife cognitive activity. We examined the association of midlife cognitive activity with cognitive function after age 65. We studied 78 men 68 years old or older. We asked participants to assess their current and midlife cognitive activity using adaptations of a measure created by Wilson et al., which includes reading, writing letters, visiting museums and other leisure activities. Our outcomes were validated measures of cognitive and overall function. We compared midlife cognitive activity to our outcome measures in simple bivariable analyses, then adjusted for demographic characteristics using linear regression. Our study population of older (mean age 74.8 years) men was primarily white (87%) and well-educated; 65% had at least some post high school education. Although 67% were retired, household income was high (24% $50 k). More midlife cognitive activity was related to more current cognitive activity (p = < .0001, r2 = 0.55339). However, midlife activity was not associated with measures of cognitive or overall function, adjusted analyses gave similar results. We did not find an association between midlife cognitive activity and later life function. However, the Wilson measure of cognitive activity that we used excludes instrumental cognitive activities such as dealing with finances or healthcare, likely underestimating cognitive activity for many participants. Midlife cognitive activity was associated with late-life cognitive activity, suggesting efforts to increase late-life cognitive activity may need to start earlier in life. However, more robust measures of everyday cognitive activity might detect such an association.
LaserFactory: A Laser Cutter-based Electromechanical Assembly and Fabrication Platform to Make Functional Devices & Robots

LaserFactory is an integrated fabrication process that augments a commercially available fabrication machine to support the manufacture of fully functioning devices without human intervention. In addition to creating 2D and 3D mechanical structures, LaserFactory creates conductive circuit traces with arbitrary geometries, picks-and-places electronic and electromechanical components, and solders them in place. To enable this functionality, we make four contributions. First, we build a hardware add-on to the laser cutter head that can deposit silver circuit traces and assemble components. Second, we develop a new method to cure dispensed silver using a CO2 laser. Third, we build a motion-based signaling method that allows our system to be readily integrated with commercial laser cutters. Finally, we provide a design and visualization tool for making functional devices with LaserFactory. Having described the LaserFactory system, we demonstrate how it is used to fabricate devices such as a fully functioning quadcopter and a sensor-equipped wristband. Our evaluation shows that LaserFactory can assemble a variety of differently sized components (up to 65g), that these can be connected by narrow traces (down to 0.75mm) that become highly conductive after laser soldering (3.2Ω/m), and that our acceleration-based sensing scheme works reliably (to 99.5% accuracy).
An Analysis of Characteristics Affecting Trust Formation in Human Versus Machine Interactions from a Systematic Literature Review Perspective

This study aims to identify characteristics affecting trust in human versus machine interactions through a systematic literature review (SLR) of articles about trust in machine/object. We perform a systematic literature search focusing on trust in humans and trust in machines, identify a total of 85 relevant studies, and find two sets of focal dimensions of trust in object/machine. The first set of dimensions are related to the trust in human characteristics such as benevolence, ability, the integrity of object/machine, and the second set of characteristics are related to trust in mechanical/machine characteristics like performance, integrity, purpose, and structural assurance/organizational factors. The results of SLR indicate the evolution of trust and the dynamic relationship between trustor and trustee in terms of the trustor’s disposition/culture, privacy and security. The study also discusses the dynamic trust relationship between trustor and trustee and how over trust and distrust impact the relationship between trustor and trustee.
Modelling and Control of a Novel High Step-down 48V-1V DC-DC Converter

This paper proposes a novel non-isolated buck- derived resonant DC-DC converter topology that achieves a significantly high step-down gain. Because of the limitations pertaining to the duty cycle limits and constraints related to minimum deadtime requirements that result in reduced efficiency and higher peak stress on power components, it is difficult to attain high step-down with a normal single switch buck converter. Multistage buck-derived topologies, including a greater number of active power devices, make the converter complex and inefficient in many cases. In this work, a novel circuit structure is proposed, that achieves a very high step-down gain without pushing duty cycles to the extreme limits, resulting in an efficient power conversion, making it very relevant to datacenters and point of load applications. To characterize the converter, state space averaging formulation is utilized, and corresponding gain plots have been presented. To examine the converter performance and closed loop performance, the converter is simulated for 200W load in MATLAB/Simulink, and it exhibits over 94% efficiency and 10ms settling time under 50% step change in load power. In addition to that, experimental results are also included for a laboratory proof-of-concept hardware prototype.
Rural Versus Urban Comparison: Physical Activity and Functioning Following Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Purpose The purpose of this sub-analysis was to compare the early recovery of elderly patients following coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) by geographic location (urban/rural) on physical functioning and physical activity. Methods The sample was 124 subjects who had been in the usual care group (or control group) of a randomized controlled trial. Subjects were categorized into geographic locales using Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes: urban n=35, large rural n=17, small rural n=23 and isolated rural n=33. Measures included the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 and the RT3® accelerometer. Mixed linear models were used to analyze the data. Results No significant differences were found for physical functioning by RUCA group. However, there was a statistically significant difference for physical activity, for average kcals/kg/ per day (F = 3.01, p < .05) and average daily activity counts (F = 3.95, p < .01), with the subjects in large rural communities having significantly ( p < 0.05) more average kcals/kg per day than urban subjects (M = 29.04 and M = 27.25 respectively). Subjects in the large rural also had significantly ( p < .005) more average daily activity counts than urban (M = 216635 and M = 161221 respectively). Conclusions This is the first study to compare early recovery functioning and activity outcomes of CABS subjects by rural/urban locations. Additional study is warranted to evaluate why these differences exist and the potential need to tailor interventions for CABS based on geographic location. Key Words Rural Urban Comparison; Cardiovascular Surgery; Physical Activity; Physical Functioning.
Good Works and Networks: Information System as Nexus for the Promotion of Sustainable Community Development

In this report on work in progress, we describe our efforts to create an account of a project aimed at building a website to support sustainable community development in coffee-growing regions. The system will provide match-making between NGOs running development projects and coffee roasters who are seeking to help fund such projects. The new information system will also provide a means for participants to report on other sustainability-related activities in which they are engaged. The Specialty Coffee Association of American (SCAA), an industry association of some 4000 coffee roasters and related firms, provides the larger institutional context for this initiative. The SCAA is a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations, a program that specifies a set of eight objectives intended to improve conditions in under-developed parts of the world. The SCAA’s new system is envisioned as the principal mechanism for both facilitating and representing the SCAA community’s engagement in fostering the MDGs. As the project and the resulting system will bring together a complex set of heterogeneous interests, including a mix of for-profit firms and not-for-profit organizations, we have chosen actor-network theory (ANT) as the theoretical and methodological foundation for developing our account. ANT offers a powerful strategy for tracing the developments in a complex initiative such as this one. Furthermore, ANT’s positioning of technology as actor (or “actant”) helps to ensure that the information system itself is properly and fully taken into account. We anticipate that the central contribution of the research will turn on our adapting ANT as a strategy for studying mixed profit/non-profit initiatives in settings characterized by complex and dynamic inter-organizational relationships.
Economic Sanctions and Human Security: The Public Health Effect of Economic Sanctions

Despite the abundance of country-specific evidence and policy debate on the humanitarian effects of sanctions, there has not been any cross-national empirical research that examines the human cost of sanctions. In this study, I offer a quantitative analysis of the effect that economic sanctions have on public health conditions in target countries. I use the child mortality rate among under five-year olds as a proxy for health status and utilize time-series cross-nation data for the 1970–2000 period. According to the results, the public health effect of sanctions is largely conditional on the extent to which economic coercion is costly on the target economy. The United States as a sender is also likely to increase the negative impact of sanctions on public health conditions. The economic wealth of target countries is unlikely to play any significant interactive role in mitigating the effect of economic coercion on public health. Similarly, the involvement of an intergovernmental organization (IGO) in sanction imposition has no discernable impact on child mortality.
Urocanase of Pseudomonas putida SUBUNIT STRUCTURE AND ORIGIN OF ENZYME-BOUND α-KETOBUTYRATE

Abstract The prosthetic group α-ketobutyrate of urocanase from Pseudomonas putida has been found to originate from l-threonine. This was established by growing a threonine auxotroph of P. putida on a medium containing [14C]threonine and observing that α-ketobutyrate (isolated as α-hydroxybutyrate following borohydride reduction) and threonine present in purified urocanase had similar specific radioactivities. The nature of the bond between α-ketobutyrate and the protein was determined to be an amide linkage rather than an ester on the basis of stability of the bond to mild alkaline hydrolysis. A logical position for such an amide-bound α-ketobutyrate directly derived from a threonine precursor is at the NH2 terminus of the protein. The absence of any α-modified amino acid residues upon treatment of urocanase with dimethylaminonaphthalene sulfonyl chloride is consistent with this idea. Tryptic peptide maps, cyanogen bromide cleavage patterns, gel electrophoresis of urocanase treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation of enzyme in guanidine HCl all suggested the existence of 2 identical subunits of molecular weight 54,000 composing the native molecule of 110,000. Since previously only 1 mole of α-ketobutyrate per mole of enzyme had been detected, the number of keto-acid groups was redetermined by reduction of a tryptic digest of urocanase with tritium-labeled NaBH4. The digested protein incorporated 2 gram-atoms of nonexchangeable tritium per mole of enzyme. Thus each subunit presumably contains one α-ketobutyrate moiety.
Partial resolution of the enzymes catalyzing oxidative phosphorylation. XX. Characterization of ASU-particles.

Abstract Highly resolved submitochondrial particles (ASU-particles) required coupling factors 1, 2, 3, and 5 (F1, F2, F3, and F5) for optimal rates of phosphorylation associated with oxidation of DPNH and for the 32Pi-ATP exchange. The ATP-dependent reduction of DPN by succinate required, in addition to coupling factors, exposure of ASU-particles to minute amounts of DPNH for maximal activity. After treatment with DPNH, the particles became sensitized to inhibition by low concentrations of mersalyl. For optimal rates of DPN reduction by succinate and for the reduction of TPN by DPNH driven by oxidative energy, addition of F1 as well as rutamycin was needed. An antibody against F1 did not inhibit these reductive processes, indicating that F1 was required as a structural component.
Pulmonary tissue and cigarette smoke: 2. Parenchymal response

Cigarette smoke and hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) induce marked abnormalities in lungs of C57BL/6J male mice. In many pulmonary regions of smoke-exposed, HCA-treated animals, alveoli were highly congested with surfactant and flocculent material. In addition, prominent alveolar collapse and septal hypertrophy were common. These conditions resembled pulmonary alveolar proteinosis described in humans. Administration of HCA to sham-treated animals also produced lung abnormalities, however, considerably milder in severity, while stress (resulting from sham treatment) or HCA injections of mice alone failed to induce any pulmonary tissue disorder. Data reported indicate that the genesis of abnormal conditions which resemble pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is potentiated by cumulative effects of different treatments (i.e., smoke, HCA, and stress), most significant being the interaction between cigarette smoke and the steroid.
Practical ways to add software testing to programming assignments: tutorial presentation

This tutorial provides a practical description of how to incorporate software testing activities into programming assignments. It introduces possible strategies for incorporating testing, provides examples of each technique, and discusses the corresponding advantages and disadvantages. A brief overview of open source tools useful for student testing is also presented.
Myoclonic Epilepsy and Ragged Red Fibers (MERRF) Syndrome: Selective Vulnerability of CNS Neurons Does Not Correlate with the Level of Mitochondrial tRNAlys Mutation in Individual Neuronal Isolates

Selective vulnerability of subpopulations of neurons is a striking feature of neurodegeneration. Mitochondrially transmitted diseases are no exception. In this study CNS tissues from a patient with myoclonus epilepsy and ragged red fibers (MERRF) syndrome, which results from an A to G transition of nucleotide (nt) 8344 in the mitochondrial tRNALys gene, were examined for the proportion of mutant mtDNA. Either individual neuronal somas or the adjacent neuropil and glia were microdissected from cryostat tissue sections of histologically severely affected brain regions, including dentate nuclei, Purkinje cells, and inferior olivary nuclei, and from a presumably less affected neuronal subpopulation, the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. Mutant and normal mtDNA were quantified after PCR amplification with a mismatched primer and restriction enzyme digestion. Neurons and the surrounding neuropil and glia from all CNS regions that were analyzed exhibited high proportions of mutant mtDNA, ranging from 97.6 +/- 0.7% in Purkinje cells to 80.6 +/- 2.8% in the anterior horn cells. Within each neuronal group that was analyzed, neuronal soma values were similar to those in the surrounding neuropil and glia or in the regional tissue homogenate. Surprisingly, as compared with controls, neuronal loss ranged from 7% of the Purkinje cells to 46% of the neurons of the dentate nucleus in MERRF cerebellum. Thus, factors other than the high proportion of mutant mtDNA, in particular nuclear-controlled neuronal differences among various regions of the CNS, seem to contribute to the mitochondrial dysfunction and ultimate cell death.