cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mobility estimation for wireless networks based on an autoregressive model

We propose an integrated scheme for estimating the mobility state and model parameters of a user based on a first-order autoregressive model of mobility that accurately captures the characteristics of realistic user movements in wireless networks. Estimation of the mobility parameters is performed by applying the Yule-Walker equations to the training data. Estimation of the mobility state, which consists of the position, velocity, and acceleration of the mobile station is accomplished via an extended Kalman filter using measurements from the wireless network. The integration of mobility state and model parameter estimation results in an efficient and accurate real-time mobility tracking scheme that can be applied in a variety of wireless networking applications. The mobility estimation scheme can also be used to generate realistic mobility patterns to drive computer simulations of mobile networks. We validate the proposed mobility estimation scheme using mobile trajectories collected from drive-test data obtained from a live cellular network.
Ultrafast hydrogen sensing through hybrids of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes and tin oxide nanocrystals

We report an ultrafast and sensitive hydrogen (H2) sensing platform using semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) decorated with tin oxide (SnO2) nanocrystals (NCs). The hybrid SnO2 NC–SWCNT platform shows a response time of 2–3 seconds to 1% H2 under room temperature and can fully recover within a few minutes in air.
"Have You Searched Google Yet?" Using Google as a Discovery Tool for Cataloging

This paper demonstrates how some of Google's search functionalities can be used to locate information to assist in the cataloging process. In addition, the results of an informal survey of catalogers shows that while some respondents never considered using Google or prefer different methods for finding information, others find Google to be a good supplement to "traditional" cataloging tools.
OpnS, an Outer Membrane Porin of Xenorhabdus nematophila, Confers a Competitive Advantage for Growth in the Insect Host

The gammaproteobacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila engages in a mutualistic association with an entomopathogenic nematode and also functions as a pathogen toward different insect hosts. We studied the role of the growth-phase-regulated outer membrane protein OpnS in host interactions. OpnS was shown to be a 16-stranded β-barrel porin. opnS was expressed during growth in insect hemolymph and expression was elevated as the cell density increased. When wild-type and opnS deletion strains were coinjected into insects, the wild-type strain was predominantly recovered from the insect cadaver. Similarly, an opnS-complemented strain outcompeted the ΔopnS strain. Coinjection of the wild-type and ΔopnS strains together with uncolonized nematodes into insects resulted in nematode progeny that were almost exclusively colonized with the wild-type strain. Likewise, nematode progeny recovered after coinjection of a mixture of nematodes carrying either the wild-type or ΔopnS strain were colonized by the wild-type strain. In addition, the ΔopnS strain displayed a competitive growth defect when grown together with the wild-type strain in insect hemolymph but not in defined culture medium. The ΔopnS strain displayed increased sensitivity to antimicrobial compounds, suggesting that deletion of OpnS affected the integrity of the outer membrane. These findings show that the OpnS porin confers a competitive advantage for the growth and/or the survival of X. nematophila in the insect host and provides a new model for studying the biological relevance of differential regulation of porins in a natural host environment.
Agro‐biotechnology and organic food purchase in the United Kingdom

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to evaluate the role of consumers’ perceived risks and benefits of agro‐biotechnology in shaping the purchase pattern for organic food among UK consumers.Design/methodology/approach – An on‐line household survey of UK consumers was conducted using household panels maintained by the National Panel Diary (NPD) group. The data included organic food purchase pattern, perceived risks and benefits of agro‐biotechnology, and socio‐demographic information about the respondents. A regression model was used to examine the impact of consumers’ general purchase behavior, perceived risks and benefits of GM technology, and socio‐demographic on organic food purchase.Findings – Only 4 percent of the respondents purchased organic foods all the time, while 26 percent never purchased. Perceived risks of agro‐biotechnology played a dominant role in influencing organic food purchase decisions. As the risk perception increased consumers were likely to buy organic food more often. Althou...
Partial pneumonectomy of telomerase null mice carrying shortened telomeres initiates cell growth arrest resulting in a limited compensatory growth response.

Telomerase mutations and significantly shortened chromosomal telomeres have recently been implicated in human lung pathologies. Natural telomere shortening is an inevitable consequence of aging, wh...
Designing a Marketing Course With Field Site Visits

A key goal of including field site visits in marketing courses is to give business students increased interaction with industry professionals and community leaders. Site visits give students a conc...
Evaluation of time delay effects to wide-area power system stabilizer design

Centralized control using system-wide data has been suggested to enhance the dynamic performance of large interconnected power systems. Because of the distance involved in wide-area interconnections, communication delay cannot be ignored. Long time delay may be detrimental to system stability and may degrade system performance. The time delay tolerance of a centralized controller and the associated performance tradeoff is analyzed using a small gain criterion. Special attention is paid to the choice of weighting functions in a robust control design. As expected, it is found that time delay tolerance decreases when the system bandwidth increases, while the nominal system time-domain performance is concomitantly improved. Several approaches which can maintain a good system performance while increasing the time delay tolerance are suggested and compared. A modern controller design technique, like gain scheduling via linear matrix inequalities, is evaluated for the design of the supervisory power system stabilizer accounting for various time delays.
Region-of-interest prediction for interactively streaming regions of high resolution video

This paper investigates region-of-interest (ROI) prediction strategies for a client-server system that interactively streams regions of high resolution video. ROI prediction enables pro-active pre-fetching of select slices of encoded video from the server to allow low latency of interaction despite the delay of packets on the network. The client has a buffer of low resolution overview video frames available. We propose and study ROI prediction schemes that can take advantage of the motion information contained in these buffered frames. The system operates in two modes. In the manual mode, the user interacts actively to view select regions in each frame of video. The ROI prediction in this mode aims to reduce the distortion experienced by the viewer in his desired ROI. In the tracking mode, the user simply indicates an object to track and the system supplies an ROI trajectory without further interaction. For this mode, the prediction aims to create a smooth and stable trajectory that satisfies the user’s expectation of tracking. While the motion information enables the tracking mode, it also improves the ROI prediction in the manual mode.
Implementation of interactive arm playback behaviors of social robot Zeno for autism spectrum disorder therapy

In this paper, we describe control algorithms accomplishing human-robot interaction through mimicking behaviors between the humanoid robot Zeno and humans. Specifically, arm and torso motions of the robot follow closely those of the human, this mimicking behavior, can be used for clinical treatment and diagnosis during robot therapy of subjects suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In this paper, we describe algorithms and results of implementing simple position control schemes on Zeno via visual feedback from Kinect data. The behavior can be used by therapists to achieve desired poses of the robot that may be beneficial to children with ASD by enhancing their motor skills as well as social interaction. Results show that in this case, simple actuators, sensors and control schemes can generate smooth and responsive robot trajectories.
Adoptees' Contact with Birth Relatives in Emerging Adulthood.

While openness in adoption has become more common in the United States, little research has examined contact between birth and adoptive families as adoptees become adults. Using quantitative and qu...
Sociocultural—Geospatial Anthropological Portal (SC-GAP): Enhanced Sociocultural Understanding Through Crowdsourced Service Member Narratives

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2015.07.533
Genetic Analysis of the Cell Division Protein FtsI (PBP3): Amino Acid Substitutions That Impair Septal Localization of FtsI and Recruitment of FtsN

FtsI (also called PBP3) of Escherichia coli is a transpeptidase required for synthesis of peptidoglycan in the division septum and is one of several proteins that localize to the septal ring. FtsI comprises a small cytoplasmic domain, a transmembrane helix, a noncatalytic domain of unknown function, and a catalytic (transpeptidase) domain. The last two domains reside in the periplasm. We used PCR to randomly mutagenize ftsI, ligated the products into a green fluorescent protein fusion vector, and screened ∼7,500 transformants for gfp-ftsI alleles that failed to complement an ftsI null mutant. Western blotting and penicillin-binding assays were then used to weed out proteins that were unstable, failed to insert into the cytoplasmic membrane, or were defective in catalysis. The remaining candidates were tested for septal localization and ability to recruit another division protein, FtsN, to the septal ring. Mutant proteins severely defective in localization to the septal ring all had lesions in one of three amino acids—R23, L39, or Q46—that are in or near the transmembrane helix and implicate this region of FtsI in septal localization. Mutant FtsI proteins defective in recruitment of FtsN all had lesions in one of eight residues in the noncatalytic domain. The most interesting of these mutants had lesions at G57, S61, L62, or R210. Although separated by ∼150 residues in the primary sequence, these amino acids are close together in the folded protein and might constitute a site of FtsI-FtsN interaction.
Placental Mesenchymal Dysplasia Is Associated With High Rates of Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Fetal Demise

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare condition of placentomegaly and abnormal chorionic villi often clinically mistakenly as partial hydatidiform mole. However, it is clinicopathologically distinct with high incidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and fetal death. This study presents 11 new PMD cases and provides a meta-analysis of the associated IUGR and fetal death rates. The cases were identified between 1971 and 2005, mostly from consultation files. To our knowledge, 71 PMD cases have previously been reported; 15 of these were associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS). With the addition of our new results, among all cases without BWS, 50% had IUGR and 43% had intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) or neonatal death. Females represented 82% of cases. Thus, PMD is associated with high IUGR and IUFD/neonatal death rates and disproportionally affects females. The pathogenesis is yet unknown. The current understanding and hypotheses involving PMD are discussed.
Morin Transition in α - Fe 2 O 3 Microcyrstals

Surface effects depress the Morin transition in microcrystals of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ by increasing the lattice spacing homogeneously throughout the whole microcrystal volume.
Dispersion and Spread of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Moniliales: Moniliaceae) in a Soybean Field

A 0.84-ha soybean field was divided into 64 plots and sweep sampled for lepidopterous pests at 2- to 7-day intervals. Green cloverworms, Plathypena scabra (F.), velvetbean caterpillars, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, and soybean loopers, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), were detected initially in the field on 3, 8, and 10 August, respectively. The entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson was detected on 13 August in sampled insects reared in the laboratory. The disease first appeared in relatively limited foci within the field and was present in 37 of the plots by 24 August, at which time only 4.3% of susceptible insects in the field were infected. Between 30 August and 6 September, prevalence of the disease declined from 16.5 to 0.6% after heavy rainfall. Dispersion of the three host species as well as Nomuraea -infected larvae best fit the negative binomial distribution. Infected hosts were more aggregated than uninfected.
Credible Liberalization: Beyond the Three Theorems of Neoclassical Welfare Economics

The world economy is undergoing startling change. Almost every country has been moving towards freer markets and extensions of the private enterprise capitalist system. Of late the process has been most marked, I suppose, in China during the early 1980s and the more recently in the amazing transformation of the formerly communist nations of Eastern Europe. But nations belonging to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have also privatized state-owned industries, deregulated private industry, freed international trade and capital movements, and seem intent on further liberalizations. Meanwhile the aid, loans and debt relief to developing countries provided by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other lending agencies appear to be tied more and more to schemes that extend the influence of competition in world markets upon each nation’s economic system.
Rh(III) Catalysts for Tail-to-Tail Dimerization of Methyl Acrylate

The development of an efficient, highly selective Rh(III) catalyst system for the tail-to-tail dimerization of methyl acrylate is described. The catalytic cycle is entered by protonation of Cp*Rh(C2H4)2 to yield Cp*(C2H4)RhCH2CH2-μ-H+, followed by reaction with methyl acrylate. The catalyst resting state has been generated by low-temperature protonation of Cp*Rh(CH2CHCO2Me)2 and identified as Cp*RhCH2CH2C(O)OMe(η2-CH2CHCO2Me)+. The turnover-limiting step is the C-C coupling reaction from the resting state. Additional low temperature NMR experiments provide a complete picture of the catalytic cycle. Investigation of Ir analogs has led to the isolation and X-ray structural characterization of Cp*IrCH2CH2C(O)OMe(η2-CH2CHCO2Me)+ thought to be isostructural with the Rh resting state.
Are antimicrobial peripherally inserted central catheters associated with reduction in central line–associated bloodstream infection? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Antimicrobial peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may reduce the risk of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). However, data regarding efficacy are limited. We aimed to evaluate whether antimicrobial PICCs are associated with CLABSI reduction. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL, and Web of Science were searched from inception to July 2016; conference proceedings were searched to identify additional studies. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by 2 authors. Results Of 597 citations identified, 8 studies involving 12,879 patients met eligibility criteria. Studies included adult and pediatric patients from intensive care, long-term care, and general ward settings. The incidence of CLABSI in patients with antimicrobial PICCs was 0.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0%-0.5%), and the incidence among nonantimicrobial catheters was 5.3% (95% CI, 2.6%-8.8%). Compared with noncoated PICCs, antimicrobial PICCs were associated with a significant reduction in CLABSI (relative risk [RR], 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.78). Statistical heterogeneity ( I 2 , 71.6%; T2 = 1.07) was resolved by publication type, with peer-reviewed articles showing greater reduction in CLABSI (RR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.74). Twenty-six patients (95% CI, 21-75) need to be treated with antimicrobial PICCs to prevent 1 CLABSI. Studies of adults at greater baseline risk of CLABSI experienced greater reduction in CLABSI (RR, 0.20; P = .003). Conclusions Available evidence suggests that antimicrobial PICCs may reduce CLABSI, especially in high-risk subgroups. Randomized trials are needed to assess efficacy across patient populations.
Caffeine combined with sedative/anesthetic drugs triggers widespread neuroapoptosis in a mouse model of prematurity

AbstractObjectives: Caffeine (CAF) and sedative/anesthetic drugs (SADs) are often coadministered to premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While SAD neurotoxicity in the developing brain is well established, it is not fully clear whether CAF interacts with SADs and whether this interaction is detrimental. Using a mouse model of prematurity, we hypothesized that CAF would increase apoptotic neurotoxicity when coadministered with SADs.Methods: Postnatal day 3 mice were treated with vehicle or 80 mg/kg CAF prior to challenge with 6 mg/kg midazolam, 40 mg/kg ketamine, or 40 μg/kg fentanyl. Six hours later, pups were sacrificed for activated caspase 3 (AC3) immunohistochemistry, and number of AC3 positive cells per mm3 throughout neocortex, hippocampus, caudate, thalamus, and colliculi was analyzed.Results: CAF caused a statistically significant increase in AC3 positive cells when coadministered with midazolam (p = 0.002), ketamine (p = 0.014), or fentanyl (p < 0.001). Our composite data...
Word learning mechanisms

How do children acquire the meanings of words? Many word learning mechanisms have been proposed to guide learners through this challenging task. Despite the availability of rich information in the learner's linguistic and extralinguistic input, the word-learning task is insurmountable without such mechanisms for filtering through and utilizing that information. Different kinds of words, such as nouns denoting object concepts and verbs denoting event concepts, require to some extent different kinds of information and, therefore, access to different kinds of mechanisms. We review some of these mechanisms to examine the relationship between the input that is available to learners and learners' intake of that input-that is, the organized, interpreted, and stored representations they form. We discuss how learners segment individual words from the speech stream and identify their grammatical categories, how they identify the concepts denoted by these words, and how they refine their initial representations of word meanings. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1435. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1435 This article is categorized under: Linguistics > Language Acquisition Psychology > Language.
Efficacy of Triaging Direct Immunofluorescence in Intraepidermal Bullous Dermatoses.

Background Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is considered pivotal in diagnosing autoimmune blistering diseases. Our goal was to examine the necessity of DIF in intraepidermal bullous cases, of which pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is the prototype. Methods Sixty-six cases from 2010 to 2014 submitted for DIF with an intraepidermal blistering disease listed in the differential diagnosis were reviewed by 2 board-certified dermatopathologists to see if they would order DIF based on routine histologic findings. If either pathologist requested DIF, it was considered required. Results DIF was "required" in 29% (19/66) (94% intraobserver concordance) and was positive in 16% (3/19) of those "required," leading to a diagnosis of PV (2/3) or pemphigus foliaceus [(PF) 1/3]. DIF was "not required" in 71% (47/66). Of these, 37/47 had negative/nonspecific DIF findings (79%). Of the 10 DIF+ cases, 8 were accurately diagnosed as PV based solely on the hematoxylin and eosin (HE negative predictive value was 95%. H&E triaging could significantly reduce the need for DIF, especially in PV. If PF is in the differential diagnosis, DIF is necessary. In certain settings, triaging by H&E can obviate the need for DIF, resulting in significant savings.
A parametric model of NIR and SWIR reflectance spectra for dyed fabrics

AbstractThis study describes a parametric model of diffuse reflectance for the purpose of simulating the spectral response of near-infrared (NIR, 0.7–0.9 μm) and shortwave infrared (SWIR, 0.9–1.7 μm) absorbing dyes for minimizing NIR-SWIR reflectance of dyed fabrics. This model is purely phenomenological, but is optimal with respect to numbers of parameters. This model establishes ground-work for development of a prediction tool, which when given the constituent materials available, will enable rapid optimization of NIR/SWIR band contrast matching of composite systems, (e.g. uniforms and ancillary gear) for a given specification of NIR-SWIR reflectance. This model adopts absorption coefficients for NIR/SWIR absorbing dyes whose absorption spectra span the NIR/SWIR spectral range. Military camouflage fabric consisting of 50/50 nylon/cotton blend in a ripstop weave printed with four-color digital pattern was used as the test substrate for NIR/SWIR dye application. The results of this study provide validatio...
An Examination of the Dimensions of Market Orientation in the Polish Retail Sector

Today, the retail sector in Poland is a combination of privatized state-owned firms, start-up private firms and foreign investment/joint-venture firms. Prior to “shock therapy” in 1989, 95 percent of retail sales in Poland were generated by state and cooperative organizations (Wojciech and Jeffrey 1997). Of all of the Polish state industries to be privatized, retailing was the first. By 1998, the Polish Ministry of the Treasury estimated that close to 100 percent of retail firms in Poland were privately owned.
Optimization of region-of-interest sampling strategies for hepatic MRI proton density fat fraction quantification.

BACKGROUND Clinical trials utilizing proton density fat fraction (PDFF) as an imaging biomarker for hepatic steatosis have used a laborious region-of-interest (ROI) sampling strategy of placing an ROI in each hepatic segment. PURPOSE To identify a strategy with the fewest ROIs that consistently achieves close agreement with the nine-ROI strategy. STUDY TYPE Retrospective secondary analysis of prospectively acquired clinical research data. POPULATION A total of 391 adults (173 men, 218 women) with known or suspected NAFLD. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE Confounder-corrected chemical-shift-encoded 3T MRI using a 2D multiecho gradient-recalled echo technique. ASSESSMENT An ROI was placed in each hepatic segment. Mean nine-ROI PDFF and segmental PDFF standard deviation were computed. Segmental and lobar PDFF were compared. PDFF was estimated using every combinatorial subset of ROIs and compared to the nine-ROI average. STATISTICAL TESTING Mean nine-ROI PDFF and segmental PDFF standard deviation were summarized descriptively. Segmental PDFF was compared using a one-way analysis of variance, and lobar PDFF was compared using a paired t-test and a Bland–Altman analysis. The PDFF estimated by every subset of ROIs was informally compared to the nine-ROI average using median intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland–Altman analyses. RESULTS The study population's mean whole-liver PDFF was 10.1 ± 8.9% (range: 1.1–44.1%). Although there was no significant difference in average segmental (P = 0.452) or lobar (P = 0.154) PDFF, left and right lobe PDFF differed by at least 1.5 percentage points in 25.1% (98/391) of patients. Any strategy with ≥4 ROIs had ICC >0.995. 115 of 126 four-ROI strategies (91%) had limits of agreement (LOA) 0.995, and 2/36 (6%) of two-ROI strategies and 46/84 (55%) of three-ROI strategies had LOA <1.5%. DATA CONCLUSION Four-ROI sampling strategies with two ROIs in the left and right lobes achieve close agreement with nine-ROI PDFF. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.
Hypo- and Hypercalcemia

Calcium is a critical intracellular messenger and regulator of cell function. Calcium is essential for excitation–contraction coupling in muscle, neurotransmission, cell division, hormonal release, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and numerous other activities. Although these functions are usually beneficial, calcium also regulates processes that can injure and kill cells such as digestive enzyme activation, cytokine release, free radical production, inhibition of ATP synthesis, and vasoconstriction. Thus, calcium is truly a double-edged sword.
Roles of Extravasated and Modified Plasma Lipoproteins in Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is generally viewed as a consequence of hyperglycemia, but to a large extent, it may be driven by effects of plasma lipoproteins.
Concomitant Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines in the Outpatient Setting

Abstract Background Benzodiazepines have been identified as a concurrent factor in opioid related deaths. Although the dangers of concomitant administration of opioids and benzodiazepines are well documented, implementation of this knowledge into practice may be lagging behind. Objective To examine the concomitant use of opioids and benzodiazepines in the outpatient setting. Design Retrospective study. Setting Academic outpatient multispecialty practice. Participants Over 2000 outpatient clinic visits from January 2018 to April 2018 among 4 Physiatrists were analyzed. Methods All patients were reviewed in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) website to identify if they have filled either opioid or benzodiazepine prescription(s) in the last 12 months. Main Outcome Measurements Number of opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, discrepancies in reporting of medications, providers prescribing medications, and cigarette/alcohol use. Results 353 patients were identified to have filled either opioid or benzodiazepine prescription(s) in last 12 months. 49.4% of patients prescribed opioids were found to be on benzodiazepines concurrently. Reporting discrepancies were noted between the outpatient electronic medical record and PDMP in 17.2% of patients. Among patients on both opioids and benzodiazepines, 38.9% had multiple providers prescribing these medications, 41.9% were over 65 years old, and 11.9% were daily cigarette/alcohol users. Patients on both types of drugs (opioids and benzodiazepines) were significantly more likely to use different providers (38.9%) compared to patients on one type of drug (9.8%, p Conclusion The study results emphasize clinicians may not be aware that some of their patients are concurrently taking both opioids and benzodiazepines, hence highlights the importance of routinely checking the PDMP and utilizing that information to make fully informed decisions regarding the safest possible way to prescribe these controlled substances. Level of Evidence III
Epigenetics: The Process of Inheriting Health Disparities

Genetics, and the key molecule of DNA, have long been thought to be solely responsible for the heritable transmission of traits and for the production of these traits in organisms. Epigenetics has emerged as an alternative and complementary pathway for the phenomenon of the inheritance of traits, whether from cell to cell within the same individual or from individuals to their progeny, and is not dependent on modifying the sequence of DNA. The field has identified three non-DNA sequence-based mechanisms that play a major role in the transmission of traits: the methylation of DNA, the acetylation of histone proteins which serve as DNA’s structural backbone, and the production of noncoding messenger RNA molecules. These mechanisms are the most proximal epigenetic changes initiated within cells in response to changes in the environment. Applied research studies have yet to definitively document how these changes lead to either normal or diseased traits or what processes allow the multigenerational stability of epigenetic traits. However, the current evidence promises to offer a better mechanism to explain population disparities in disease incidence and prevalence. To improve population health, clinicians, public health professionals, and policymakers must take this evidence into consideration. Epigenetics and its pathways are presented in this chapter as well as its importance in clinical programs and health policies to address population health.
Effect of annatto-extracted tocotrienols and green tea polyphenols on glucose homeostasis and skeletal muscle metabolism in obese male mice.

Abstract Skeletal muscle is the major site for glucose uptake and thus plays an important role in initiating insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study evaluated the effects of tocotrienols (TT) and green tea polyphenols (GTP) individually or in combination on glucose homeostasis and skeletal muscle metabolism in obese mice with insulin resistance and elevation of blood glucose. Forty-eight male mice were fed a high-fat diet and assigned to 4 groups in a 2 (no TT vs. 400 mg TT/kg diet) × 2 (no GTP vs. 0.5% vol/wt GTP in water) for 14 weeks. Both GTP and TT improved area under curve of insulin intolerance; while GTP increased serum insulin levels in obese mice, probably due to the addition of sweetener in drinking water. An interaction (TT×GTP) was observed in glucose tolerance test, total pancreas insulin concentration, and citrate synthase activity of soleus in mice. Neither TT nor GTP affected insulin and glucagon protein expression in pancreas based on immunohistochemistry. Both TT and GTP individually increased soleus muscle weight of mice; while only GTP increased gastrocnemius muscle weight of mice. The TT+GTP group had the greatest gastrocnemius muscle cross sectional area than other groups. GTP, not TT, induced cytochrome c oxidase activity and reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels in soleus muscle. Our results suggest that TT and GTP, individually or synergistically have the potential to improve skeletal muscle metabolism in obese mice by improving glucose homeostasis, reducing lipid peroxidation, and increasing rate limiting enzymes of oxidative phosphorylation.
Plastic deformation of polyethylene: IV. Rolling of polyethylene

The deformation behaviour during rolling is studied by small-angle X-ray scattering, density measurement, and investigation of the debris after fuming nitric acid treatment. Crystallinity and mechanical properties are compared with corresponding results on drawn material. Results obtained on quenched and annealed films of two polyethylene brands, Fortiflex and ACX, show many similarities in properties between rolled and drawn samples of similar draw ratio, i. e., a progressive lattice orientation, the appearance of a new long period different from that of the original film at λ=2 in Fortiflex and at λ=1.5 at ACX, decrease in crystallinity of annealed films, and constancy in quenched material during rolling. Therefore, it is concluded that, as in the case of drawing, the basic structure transformation during rolling is the destruction of lamellae with pulling out of microfibrils. Significant differences exist, however, between the two cases in ultimate tensile strength and in ultimate elongation.
Multiorgan Failure in Immunocompetent Young Adult

An immunocompetent 21-year-old woman presented to student health services on her college campus with very dark urine, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and slight scleral icterus. She was given ciprofloxacin for a suspected urinary tract infection. After taking 1 dose, she felt her abdominal pain diminish, but she began developing bouts of watery diarrhea, dizziness, and weakness. She presented to the emergency room the following day with hypotension, respiratory distress, dark urine, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. The clinical team determined she was in shock with acute liver failure, acute renal failure, metabolic acidosis, hemolytic anemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)3. She required immediate treatment and resuscitation for stabilization. After a red blood cell transfusion for her severe anemia, she developed fever and chills that were determined to be caused by the hemolysis she was experiencing. Selected laboratory results upon admission can be found in Table 1. Of note, the patient's aspartate transferase, alanine transferase, and bilirubin levels were markedly increased, and prothrombin time (PT) was prolonged, most likely owing to the acute liver failure. The blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and phosphorus concentrations were also increased, indicative of acute renal failure. The venous blood pH and bicarbonate level were decreased owing to the partially compensated metabolic acidosis. The …
Halogen Bonding with Dihalogens and Interhalogens

The fact that iodine forms complexes with Lewis bases has been recognized since at least the middle of the nineteenth century. With the development of X-ray crystallography and modern spectroscopic techniques, the directionality and strength of halogen bonds has been determined. Halogen bonds between dihalogens and Lewis bases fall into four main categories: simple adducts, bridging adducts, amphoteric adducts, and adducts that are both bridging and amphoteric. In the case of very strong interactions between the electron donor and the dihalogen, the halogen–halogen bond is broken, leading to ionic or oxidative addition products. The theoretical description of the halogen bond has also progressed, in parallel with the development of increasingly sophisticated theories of bonding. Relatively accurate predictions of structural parameters and interaction energies are now possible, but they present a challenge to available computational hardware and software.
Extracting Trusted Pixels from Historical Cropland Data Layer Using Crop Rotation Patterns: A Case Study in Nebraska, USA

It is still a challenge to generate the timely crop cover map at large geographic area due to the lack of reliable ground truths at early growing season. This paper introduces an efficient method to extract “trusted pixels” from the historical Cropland Data Layer (CDL) data using crop rotation patterns, which can be used to replace the actual ground truth in the crop mapping and other agricultural applications. A case study in the Nebraska state of USA is demonstrated. The common crop rotation patterns of four major crop types, corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and alfalfa, are compared and analyzed. The experiment results show a considerable number of pixels in CDL following the certain crop sequence during the past decade. Each observed crop type has at least one reliable crop rotation pattern. Based on the reliable crop rotation patterns, a great proportion of pixels can be correctly mapped a year ahead of the release of current-year CDL product. These trusted pixels can be potentially used to label training samples for crop type classification at early growing season.
ASEAN’s constructed dichotomies: the ongoing need for complexity-sensitive research agendas

How best to assess ASEAN as a collective enterprise are longstanding. Producing often polar assessments of the organization and its activities, the question has been a recurrent one in the scholars...
91. Differential Impact of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Donor (D) Serostatus on Rates and Kinetics of CMV Viremia among CMV Seropositive Recipients (R+) of Ex vivo T-cell Depleted (TCD) and Unmodified (CONV) Hematopoietic Cell Transplants (HCT)

Background In unmodified (CONV) HCT, CMV donor seropositivity (D+) conveys partial protection against CMV disease mediated by the transfer of donor CMV T-cell immunity through the allograft. Ex vivo T-cell depletion by CD34 selection affords a stringent depletion of donor T cells, thus transfer of donor T-cell immunity to CMV would be negligible. We evaluate the impact of CMV D serostatus on rates and kinetics of CMV viremia by Day (D)100 post-HCT in a contemporary cohort of CONV and TCD recipients from a single center.
The Theory of Representative Bureaucracy

This chapter provides the theoretical foundation for the empirical analysis that follows, focusing on the theory of representative bureaucracy. It begins with a discussion of bureaucratic accountability and the various means used to control the bureaucracy, including representative bureaucracy. The discussion then critically examines the theory of representative bureaucracy, its assumptions, and predictions. The empirical evidence linking bureaucratic representation to organizational outcomes, including performance, is reviewed. The chapter then introduces the concept of workforce diversity, discusses the distinction between this newer concept and bureaucratic representation, explains how workforce diversity can impact performance, and offers a brief review of the empirical evidence regarding workforce diversity’s effects on performance.
Metacarpal Fractures: Tips and Tricks

Metacarpal fractures account for up to 18% of all upper extremity fractures seen below the elbow. The small finger sustains the most fractures followed by the ring, long, thumb, and index fingers. Stable metacarpal fractures are traditionally treated with immobilization. There is no consensus on how to treat unstable metacarpal fractures. Ideally the fixation utilized should be stable enough to allow for mobility as early as 3 weeks to reduce the risk of stiffness. There are many treatment methods that each have their own advantages and disadvantages. This chapter presents several cases showcasing different fixation methods for various fracture patterns.
17 Impact of socioeconomic status/Race on preventable falls injuries in pediatric patients

Statement of Purpose Falls are the leading cause of ER visits for nonfatal injuries, with approximately 40% of injuries sustained in toddlers. The aim of this study is to better understand the impact socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity have on preventable falls in children so as to better target injury prevention program initiatives. Methods/Approach Interviews were conducted using a modified fall-related safety questionnaire to parents of children under the age of 3 (n=40) on the medical/surgical in-patient floor of a Level 1 Trauma Center. Results Overall, 50% of children sustained a fall-related injury (most commonly falling from a bed or walking), with 65% of those children on Medicaid. In addition, 38% of parents (47% Hispanic and 20% Black) reported leaving their child alone on a bed without a railing. Nearly 33% of parents (46% of which have a high school diploma or less) reported not using safety guards on all windows. Parents reported not using stair gates 48% of the time, with 55% of those parents having completed less than a Bachelor’s Degree. Also, 67% of parents (all on Medicaid) reported their child wore a helmet ‘sometimes’ or ‘never’ while riding a bicycle. Even though 79% of parents ‘strongly agreed’ to having the knowledge to protect their child from being injured by a fall, 63% of parents reported ‘sometimes’ or ‘rarely’ watching their child when on playground equipment. Conclusion Certain populations may be less likely to understand the importance of injury prevention. The relationship of socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, parental safety measures, and preventable injuries should be further studied in order to better focus injury prevention efforts and make the most impact on specific populations. Significance This study adds to the field of injury prevention by providing a possible population to target injury prevention efforts and to ultimately, improve patient outcomes.
Channel Models and Coding Solutions for 1S1R Crossbar Resistive Memory with High Line Resistance.

Crossbar resistive memory with the 1 Selector 1 Resistor (1S1R) structure is attractive for nonvolatile, high-density, and low-latency storage-class memory applications. As technology scales down to the single-nm regime, the increasing resistivity of wordline/bitline becomes a limiting factor to device reliability. This paper presents write/read communication channels while considering the line resistance and device variabilities by statistically relating the degraded write/read margins and the channel parameters. Binary asymmetric channel (BAC) models are proposed for the write/read operations. Simulations based on these models suggest that the bit-error rate of devices are highly non-uniform across the memory array. These models provide quantitative tools for evaluating the trade-offs between memory reliability and design parameters, such as array size, technology nodes, and aspect ratio, and also for designing coding-theoretic solutions that would be most effective for crossbar memory. Method for optimizing the read threshold is proposed to reduce the raw bit-error rate (RBER). We propose two schemes for efficient channel coding based on Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes. An interleaved coding scheme is proposed to mitigate the non-uniformity of reliability and a location dependent coding framework is proposed to leverage this non-uniformity. Both of our proposed coding schemes effectively reduce the undetected bit-error rate (UBER).
Ultrasound-Based Multimodal Imaging Predicting Ischemic-Type Biliary Lesions After Living-Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBL) are accepted as the most incomprehensible biliary complications after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Early predicting the development of ITBL in pediatric patients permits more preventive strategies. However, few studies have focused on the early prediction of ITBL. Objective This study aimed to establish a nomogram including ultrasound-based multimodal imaging to predict ITBL in children with biliary atresia (BA) within 2 years after receiving LDLT. Methods The records of 94 BA children with at least one year of follow-up after LDLT were reviewed retrospectively. They were randomly divided into a training cohort for constructing a nomogram (n=64) and a validation cohort (n=30). In the training cohort, patients diagnosed as ITBL were included in the ITBL group and those without any vascular and biliary complication were included in the non-ITBL group. Multivariate Cox regression was used for the establishment of the nomogram in predicting the risk of ITBL within 2 years post-LDLT. The discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were internally and externally validated. The performances of the nomogram and the individual components were compared by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results In the training cohort, 18 BA children were included in the ITBL group and 46 were in the non-ITBL group. Last pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), resistive index (RI), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were the independent predictors for the development of ITBL within 2 years post-LDLT. The nomogram incorporating these independent predictors showed good discrimination and calibration by the internal and external validation. Its performance was better than any individual component in predicting the prognosis (P < 0.05). Conclusion The established nomogram may be used to predict the risk of ITBL within 2 years post-LDLT in BA children.
Influence of Pediatric Patients' Developmental or Chronic Health Condition Status as a Predictor of Parents' Perceptions of Patient- and Family-Centered Care.

Our study aimed to estimate how a pediatric patient’s health condition status influences parents’ perceptions of patient- and family-centered care (PFCC). We analyzed five years (2013–2017) of Medi...
Cardiac implantable electronic devices and cybersecurity.

INTRODUCTION Many cardiac devices, such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) and pacemakers (PPM), often involve a remote connection to allow for data transfer and accessibility from the device to the medical clinic. These devices are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and data breach. AREAS COVERED The FDA, device manufacturers and professional cardiology societies work in conjunction to assess and evaluate potential areas of weakness in medical devices and formulate software update improvements to strengthen patient safety. We undertook a literature review focusing on the history, progression, and improvements in monitoring of cybersecurity vulnerabilities surrounding cardiovascular medical devices. EXPERT OPINION Cardiac device cybersecurity will continue to evolve and progress as more research is conducted on potential areas of vulnerabilities. The standard procedure as of now is for multiple perspectives from the FDA, professional organizations, device manufacturers, physicians, and patients to review and analyze the effectiveness of cybersecurity safeguards for these devices. We believe this practice will continue as it equally involves all stakeholders in relation to the manufacturing, distribution, and use of these devices. As information technology capabilities expand, safer and secure medical devices and cardiac technology to prevent the threat of hacking will continue to expand and improve.
Recent Developments in Photoelectron Diffraction

Photoelectron diffraction (PD) is by now becoming a widely used probe of the structures of surfaces[1,2]. The basic experiment involves exciting a core photoelectron and observing modulations in its intensity that are due to scattering from atoms neighboring the emitter. The directly-emitted photoelectron wave thus exhibits interference with various scattered waves. An immediate advantage is thus that PD is atom-specific and probes the local structural environment around a certain type of emitter.
My Son Meets the Hibakusha

IN THE PERFECTLY symmetrical auditorium the three Japa nese visitors talk about the bomb. Naseo Kayo says the sound of the explosion was "as if heaven collapsed." Mrs. Hisako Odoriba tells of seeing the "pale blue flash" before she heard the atomic sound. Vener able Tetsuen Makajima hopes that efforts to stop nuclear warfare will rise "like an eternal being from the hellfire of Hiroshima. " Beside me is my seven-year-old son, the only child in a room full of medical students. In a notebook he has brought to divert himself he uses colored markers to draw orange and blue laser beams between warring spacecraft. And along the bottom of the page are underground living quarters, cozy tunnels with secret entrances. It is my son who points out the rigid symmetry of the auditorium. The clock on the left is balanced by the one on the right, and they hum simultaneously at the hour. The Japanese sit in four chairs at center stage, and to their right and left are identical literature tables and beyond them double entrance doors. It is a room in deliberate equilibrium, and the Japanese visitors have stood and bowed politely upon introduction. The audience of young people wear laboratory coats over denim trousers and plaid shirts. They look like clerks in a delicatessen. They sprawl about the auditorium with the same informality they bring to a class. It's noontime and many open brown bags to remove salads and fruits and containers of yogurt. Along one row they pass slices of bread like playing cards, and a jar of peanut butter follows. Each of the Japanese begins his remarks by expressing the honor he feels at addressing a medical community. Mr. Kayo says he was on the playing field at a girls' school in Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m. on August 6,1945. With him were fifty children. They were about a mile from what has become known as the hypocen ter. After the blue flash he saw the burning skin peel off everyone and hang from finger nails. Mr. Odoriba raises an instamatic camera and photographs the audience. Someone from the audience too takes a pic ture, and this flash rouses my son from his notebook. He wonders if the flash bulb has frightened these people by reminding them ofthat terrible day. Temples and schools were converted to hospitals, according to Mr. Kayo, though there were only a few medical and nursing personnel. He