cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cholestasis of the Newborn (Obstructive Jaundice)

Obstructive jaundice of the newborn is a misnomer as fewer than half of all cases usually referred to as "obstructive jaundice" result from mechanical interference with the flow of bile. In the majority of cases, intrinsic liver disease is the cause of this type of jaundice. The term "cholestasis" more comprehensively describes the various disorders and the pathophysiology, which includes retention of direct-reacting (conjugated) bilirubin, bile acids, and other components of bile. Direct-reacting hyperbilirubinemia is almost always the first definitive sign of hepatobiliary dysfunction, often appearing during the first weeks of life just as the normally occurring, indirect-reacting (unconjugated) hyperbilirubinemia of physiologic jaundice of the newborn is receding. Initially, there may be uncertainty as to the significance of the persisting or recurring jaundice, particularly whether the direct-reacting fraction is elevated. As a general rule, when the direct-reacting portion exceeds 2.0 mg/dl and is more than 10% of the total serum bilirubin, it should be considered clinically significant. Although the direct-reacting fraction may occasionally account for 90% of total serum bilirubin, in most cases the direct-reacting portion will range only from 25% to 75%. The degree of variation has no diagnostic significance. As only water-soluble, direct-reacting bilirubin is excreted by the kidney, the presence of bilirubinuria may be used as confirmation of elevation of the direct-reacting fraction.
Characteristic impedance and electromagnetic field distribution in metal-insulator-semiconductor microstrip

A rigorous study of MIS (metal-insulator-semiconductor) microstrip transmission lines is presented. The characteristic impedance for MIS microstrip is calculated using a space-domain representation of electromagnetic fields. The numerical results obtained are compared with published experimental data. Transverse field distributions for various structural parameters are presented and used to illustrate the three distinct modes of operation for MIS transmission lines. >
The Capture and Curation of the Cannibal ‘Vendovi’: Reality and Representation of a Pacific Frontier

ABSTRACTThe United States Exploring Expedition into the Pacific launched in 1838 was marked, like the continental expansion westward, by violent encounters with Native peoples. By examining the record of the expedition's kidnapping of the Fijian Ro Veidovi, the fate of his body after death, and the ways his story came to be invoked in the official narrative of the expedition, the popular press, the ‘National Gallery’ and, more recently, the Fijian press, this paper demonstrates how violent contacts on the Pacific frontier were remembered, effaced, and reconceived. The changing story of Ro Veidovi permanently bridged distant locales in an emerging ‘Pacific World’, setting in motion transcultural negotiations that continue to this day.
Measures of stored red blood cell quality

Blood banking underpins modern medical care, but blood storage, necessary for testing and inventory management, reduces the safety and efficacy of individual units of red blood cells (RBCs). Stored RBCs are damaged by the accumulation of their own waste products, by enzymatic and oxidative injury, and by metabolically programmed cell death. These chemical activities lead to a complex RBC storage lesion that includes haemolysis, reduced in vivo recovery, energy and membrane loss, altered oxygen release, reduced adenosine tri-phosphate and nitric oxide secretion, and shedding of toxic products. These toxic products include lysophospholipids that can cause transfusion-related acute lung injury, free iron that can potentiate infections and cause inflammation, and shed microvesicles that can scavenge nitric oxide and potentiate inflammation and thrombosis. However, most of the obvious negative outcomes of RBC storage are uncommon and appear to be related to exceptionally bad units. Generally, the quality of stored RBCs is highly related to the conditions of storage, so refrigerator temperature, intact bags, residual leucocyte counts and visible haemolysis remain excellent general measures. Specific biochemical measures, such as adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) concentrations, calcium and potassium content or lipid breakdown products, require specialized measures that are not widely available, involve destructive testing and generally reflect only a part of the storage lesion. This review describes a number of components of the storage lesion and their measurement and attempts to access the utility of the measures.
Lessons from the Asian Financial Crisis: The Role of the IMF and the United States

My discussion of these issues begins with a brief survey of how the disasters unfolded in Thailand, Indonesia, and Korea and how the IMF and other international financial institutions responded. Then I evaluate (in part III) a central element of the IMF "conditionality" that attached to the bailout funding for each of the three countries - the requirement that dramatic changes can be made in their national financial (banking) systems.
Formation and structure of two luminescent salts of [Au(SCSN3)2]− obtained through the [2 + 3] cyclization of carbon disulfide and azide ion

The colorless, two-coordinate gold(I) complex, [(H2O)3Na][Au(SCSN3)2], has been synthesized through the [2 + 3] cyclic reaction of carbon disulfide and sodium azide in the presence of the labile complex (tht)AuCl. Metathesis of [(H2O)3Na][Au(SCSN3)2], with tetra(phenyl)arsonium chloride produced colorless needles of (Ph4As)[Au(SCSN3)2]. The structure of [(H2O)3Na][Au(SCSN3)2] involves linear gold coordination by two exocyclic sulfur atoms of the 1,2,3,4-thiatriazole-5-thiolate anions. These two-coordinate anions self-associate to form extended, zig-zag chains that are connected by aurophilic bonding with Au⋯Au distances of 3.2653(3) A and 3.3090(3) A. Remarkably, the individual S–Au–S units that are connected though aurophilic interactions are eclipsed. The structure of (Ph4As)[Au(SCSN3)2] also contains linear, two-coordinate gold ions with bonding to the 1,2,3,4-thiatriazole-5-thiolate anionic ligands through the exocyclic sulfur atoms. However, in this salt, the anions self-associate through Au⋯Au bonds (Au⋯Au distance of 3.2007(3) A) to form simple dimers, which also have an eclipsed arrangement of the ligands. Electronic structure calculations strongly suggest that the staggered geometry for the [(Au(SCSN3))2]+ dimer is energetically favored relative to the eclipsed geometry. However, attractive π-stacking interactions appear to promote the observed eclipsed arrangement of the ligands.
A low phase noise silicon 18-GHz push-push VCO

The design and measurement of a push-push voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) at 18.66-18.3 GHz are presented in this paper. The circuit includes two packaged silicon transistors (Siemens BFP 540F) and a microstrip resonator tuned by two GaAs varactor diodes (M/A-COM ML46580). A 360-MHz tuning range is obtained with an output power of 0-3.1 dBm. The fundamental rejection is around 17 dB for a wide range of collector bias current. The phase noise is below -103 dBc/Hz at 100-kHz offset and below -122 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz for the entire tuning bandwidth.
Arabidopsis Family GT43 Members are Xylan Xylosyltransferases Required for the Elongation of the Xylan Backbone

Xylan is the second most abundant polysaccharide in plant biomass targeted for biofuel production. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the biochemical mechanism underlying xylan biosynthesis. Although previous genetic studies have identified several genes implicated in xylan biosynthesis, biochemical proof of any of their encoded proteins as a xylan xylosyltransferase (XylT) responsible for xylan backbone biosynthesis is still lacking. In this study, we investigated the enzymatic activities of two Arabidopsis thaliana GT43 members, IRX9 (Irregular Xylem9) and IRX14, which have been genetically shown to be non-redundantly involved in the elongation of the xylan backbone. IRX9 and IRX14, alone or simultaneously, were heterologously expressed in tobacco BY2 cells, and microsomes isolated from the transgenic BY2 cells were tested for XylT activity using xylotetraose (Xyl(4)) as an acceptor and UDP-[(14)C]xylose as a donor. It was found that although microsomes with expression of IRX9 or IRX14 alone exhibited little incorporation of radiolabeled xylose, a high level of incorporation of radiolabeled xylose onto Xyl(4) was conferred by microsomes with co-expression of IRX9 and IRX14. Further analysis using fluorescent anthranilic acid-labeled xylotetraose (Xyl(4)-AA) as an acceptor revealed that up to five β-(1,4)-linked xylosyl residues were able to be transferred onto Xyl(4)-AA by microsomes with co-expression of IRX9 and IRX14. Furthermore, it was shown that xylooligomers ranging from Xyl(3)-AA to Xyl(6)-AA could all be used as acceptors for the xylosyl transfer by microsomes with co-expression of IRX9 and IRX14. Together, these findings provide the first biochemical evidence that IRX9 and IRX14 are xylosyltransferases that operate cooperatively in the elongation of the xylan backbone.
Automated beam based alignment of the ALS quadrupoles

Knowing the electrical offset of the storage ring beam position monitors (BPM) to an adjacent quadrupole magnetic center is important in order to correct the orbit in the ring. We describe a simple, fast and reliable technique to measure the BPM electrical centers relative to the quadrupole magnetic centers. By varying individual quadrupole magnets and observing the effects on the orbit we were able to measure the BPM offsets in half the horizontal and vertical BPMs (48) in the ALS. These offsets were measured to an accuracy of better than 50 /spl mu/m. The technique is completely automated and takes less than 3 hours for the whole ring.
Modernization, Marginalization, and Emancipation: Toward a Normative Model of Journalism and National Development

The idea of “development journalism,” central to many discussions of mass communication and development in the Third World, needs to be reconceptualized because deliberations about its validity and usefulness have been bogged down in arguments structured by Western notions of press freedom. The debate has diverted attention from important questions about how journalism can contribute to participatory democracy, security, peace, and other humanistic values. This article argues that social transformations are deeply rooted in changing ideas and practices related to space and time. Thus, as background for reconceptualizing development journalism, the expectations and actual impacts of the dominant models of mass communication and development are analyzed, with particular attention to the relationships among mass communication, space, and time. Then the concept of emancipation is explicated and a normative model for “emancipatory journalism” is outlined. The model specifies an activist role within “new social movements” for journalism and journalists in the process of national development. The relationship between emancipatory journalism and social change is considered in the final section.
Effects of light acclimation on the photosynthesis, growth, and biomass allocation in American chestnut (Castanea dentata) seedlings

American chestnut (Castanea dentata) is currently regarded as functionally extinct because of chestnut blight. To reintroduce blight-resistant American chestnut back to its historic range, it is imperative to understand the silvics and silviculture of the species. In an outdoor rainout shelter, we grew American chestnut seedlings at four levels of irradiance (4, 12, 32 and 100% of full sunlight) to examine how light intensity affects photosynthesis, growth, and biomass allocation. Net photosynthetic rate increased linearly with increasing irradiance while instantaneous water use efficiency peaked at 32% full sunlight, when seedlings were measured at their acclimated irradiance level. Height and diameter increased with increasing irradiance. However, seedlings only grew laterally under 4% full sunlight. Total biomass increased linearly with increasing irradiance and root to shoot ratio was lowest under 4 and 12% full sunlight. Regardless of irradiance level, >70% of total biomass was allocated to shoot growth. With increasing shade, specific leaf area significantly increased. These observed physiological and morphological light acclimation characteristics indicate that American chestnut is shade tolerant, which partially explains why the species has persisted in the understory for almost a century. The shade-tolerance and fast growing characteristics suggest that an underplanting-and-release or gap-phase regeneration approach would be a suitable silvicultural alternative to a clearcut-and-planting approach for the reintroduction of blight-resistant American chestnut.
Fostering Motivation in Professional Development Programs

The Motivational Framework for Culturally Responsive Teaching is presented as a guide to foster participation, learning, and transfer throughout a professional development program for all participants.
Phenetics of Natural Populations. V. Genetic Correlates of Phenotypic Variation in the Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) in California

From the Board of Environmental Studies (SoulS) and The Board of Biology (Zegers), University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 96064. The cooperation and assistance of James Patton and Margaret Smith were indispensable throughout this project. Philip Myers, Steve Fain, and Bill Rice provided essential guidance. The collaboration of David Foran is gratefully acknowledged. Steve Fain, Richard Frankham, William Atchley, Phil Hedrick, Russell Lande, and Enrique Lessa, are thanked for their comments and criticisms of an earlier draft. James Patton and an anonymous reviewer are thanked for constructive critiques of the manuscript. We thank the University of California and a Smithsonian Regents Fellowship (to M.E.S.) for support.
Annual Report on Access to and Utilization of Health Care for Children and Youth in the United States–1999

The dynamics of health care delivery for children and adolescents have greatly evolved over the last 5 years. The growth of managed care has been especially rapid, and has coincided with other fundamental changes—declines in private coverage, growth of Medicaid, welfare reform, and the creation of the state Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP).1 Over the past 10 years, the number of children covered through employer-sponsored plans and other private plans has dropped.2 During this same period, changes to Medicaid have begun to de-couple eligibility from welfare eligibility, theoretically enabling states to expand coverage. For children, this movement from private to public coverage has accelerated the movement to managed care systems. Between 1991 and 1997, Medicaid enrollment in managed care plans increased from 9.5% to 47.8% of total Medicaid enrollment.3 Recent estimates suggest that over half of these Medicaid managed care enrollees are children.4 However, little is known about the impact of these trends on children's access to and use of services, let alone the quality and outcomes of that care. This report is the first in what is anticipated to be an annual series of reports on access to and use of health care services by America's children and youth. The report capitalizes on the existence of 2 national datasets, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), which have not been widely used by the child health services research community. As background to these new sources of data, we have provided a detailed description of the datasets, and review some of the fundamental tabulations. In future years, as more data are accumulated, these reports will focus on delineation of key trends and analyses addressing policy issues. ### MEPS The MEPS is conducted to provide nationally representative estimates of health care use, …
Reinforcement of epoxy networks with sulfur‐ and carbon‐based molecular fortifiers

Earlier research with phosphorus-based molecular fortifiers showed a range of improvements in physical, thermal, and mechanical properties. This contribution introduces sulfur- and carbon-based molecules into a model epoxy network for comparison. Similar improvements inrheological, physical, and select mechanical propertiesare found between the phosphorus and sulfur- and carbon-based fortifiers. Thermal properties are not enhanced with the sulfur and carbon fortifiers. Two of the sulfur compounds phase separate upon cure of the epoxy network and show unique behavior. In addition, infrared spectroscopy is performed to identify possible mechanisms of reinforcement. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1569–1575, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Strained-layer semiconductor research and development at Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories pioneered work in strained-layer superlattice systems for electronics and optoelectronics. Based on that work, it now conducts research and development in compound semiconductor and optoelectronics physics, materials science, and device technology. Although Sandia's research relies heavily on theoretical and experimental solid state physics, this paper will emphasize applications that exploit the properties of strained-layer systems. This research allows the microelectronics and photonics community to use the special properties of strained-layer systems in an engineering, rather than an empirical, manner. The number of electronic and optoelectronic devices that depend on strained-layer systems for their highest performance with device applications indicates their importance. Selected strained-layer structures and devices developed at Sandia will be discussed.
Combined Vitamin C and Vitamin E Deficiency Worsens Early Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Objective— To assess the role of combined deficiencies of vitamins C and E on the earliest stages of atherosclerosis (an inflammatory condition associated with oxidative stress), 4 combinations of vitamin supplementation (low C/low E, low C/high E, high C/low E, and high C/high E) were studied in atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E–deficient mice also unable to synthesize their own vitamin C (gulonolactone oxidase−/−); and to evaluate the effect of a more severe depletion of vitamin C alone in a second experiment using gulonolactone oxidase−/− mice carrying the hemizygous deletion of SVCT2 (the vitamin C transporter). Methods and Results— After 8 weeks of a high-fat diet (16% lard and 0.2% cholesterol), atherosclerosis developed in the aortic sinus areas of mice in all diet groups. Each vitamin-deficient diet significantly decreased liver and brain contents of the corresponding vitamin. Combined deficiency of both vitamins increased lipid peroxidation, doubled plaque size, and increased plaque macrophage content by 2- to 3-fold in male mice, although only plaque macrophage content was increased in female mice. A more severe deficiency of vitamin C in gulonolactone oxidase−/− mice with defective cellular uptake of vitamin C increased both oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E−/− mice compared with littermates receiving a diet replete in vitamin C, again most clearly in males. Conclusion— Combined deficiencies of vitamins E and C are required to worsen early atherosclerosis in an apolipoprotein E–deficient mouse model. However, a more severe cellular deficiency of vitamin C alone promotes atherosclerosis when vitamin E is replete.
The performance and experimental results of a multiple bit rate symbol timing recovery circuit for PSK receivers

A low-power all-digital symbol timing recovery circuit for digital PSK transmission systems is implemented in a 0.35-/spl mu/m silicon on insulator (SOI) technology. The symbol timing circuit is designed for a wide range of bit rates (0.1-100 kbps) and robust against fast and large Doppler shift or frequency error on the input signal. The system is therefore well-suited for receivers in deep-space and satellite applications. It is synchronized within 3 or 4 bits and the total power dissipation of the circuit is only 310 /spl mu/W.
Boundaries of American Identity: Evolving Understandings of “Us”

This review examines empirical research about American national identity. It focuses on the social and political causes and consequences of (a) how people define what being American means and (b) their degree of attachment to being American. It explains why scholars increasingly view American identity as a social identity and reviews arguments for why political scientists should investigate American identity as both an independent and a dependent variable. Existing research documents a high degree of consensus across demographic groups regarding how American identity is defined. It also reveals both beneficial and harmful consequences of people strongly identifying as American. Empirical inquiries of American identity are motivated by demographic trends, especially the rise in immigration-driven diversity, but they are also deeply grounded in historical and philosophical assessments of the nature of American identity, and such scholarship is also discussed throughout the review.
Reputation Management at Coca-Cola and Beyond

In the third chapter, Stopford offers insight into the management framework the Coca-Cola Company has set up to monitor and steer its corporate reputation. In order to manage the stakeholder expectations around CSR systematically, Coca-Cola has introduced a five-step process including: Gathering and analyzing performance and perception data via Reputation Scorecards Mapping the findings on a Reputation Map Adding “relevance” as the third dimension to the map Setting up a business plan for Corporate Reputation Management Engaging and recalibrating indicators if needed
Time Release of Encapsulated Additives for Enhanced Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Time release of encapsulated vinylene carbonate (VC) from microcapsules in Li-ion batteries is demonstrated to enhance the rate performance without sacrificing capacity retention. VC-filled microcapsules are successfully prepared by the solvent exchange method that allows VC to diffuse through the microcapsule shell wall at an elevated temperature. The concentration of VC added directly to the electrolyte in a pouch cell (2 wt %) significantly decreases after the first cycle at C/10-rate. In pouch cells that contain 5 wt % VC-filled microcapsules, the concentration of VC increases from 0 to 3 wt % over the first cycle because of the diffusion of microencapsulated VC in the electrolyte. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, rate capability, and long-term cycling tests are conducted for pouch cells with VC additives (0, 2, and 5 wt %) and VC microcapsules (5 wt %). Pouch cells with both 5 wt % VC additive and microencapsulated VC show improved capacity retention over 400 cycles at 1 C-rate compared to the...
Abstract 972: Mythbusters: Cancer research in jeopardy

In the United States, less than 5% of eligible adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials. Lack of information and commonly held beliefs or myths are among the biggest barriers to enrollment in cancer clinical trials. Additionally, traditional methods of education can be intimidating, frightening or even boring and the most difficult time to educate patients about cancer clinical trials is at the time of diagnosis. Thus, there is a need to develop novel strategies to educate individuals and the community about clinical trials prior to a cancer diagnosis. The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Patient Advocacy Program and the Vanderbilt Postdoctoral Association collaborated to develop and deliver an innovative, interactive pilot program aimed at dispelling myths commonly associated with cancer clinical trials. Patient advocates, researchers, and clinicians scripted and participated in a “Jeopardy” game show format to provide factual information in a relaxed and entertaining environment. For a community audience of 50, a response to each myth was surveyed electronically prior to the presentation. After the preliminary response of audience members was noted, an expert clarified each myth by presenting factual information. After the presentation of ten myths, a post-test was administered to assess changes in knowledge. We found that audience knowledge was significantly increased by 20%. 96% of audience members indicated that the game show format was an effective method for learning. 87% indicated that they would discuss cancer clinical trials with family, friends or co-workers. We conclude that “Mythbusters: Cancer Research in Jeopardy” is an effective learning tool and significantly increases community knowledge about cancer clinical trials. The results of this pilot will provide a model for effective community education and may ultimately impact participation in cancer clinical trials. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 972.
Diagnosis of AIDS by Using a 12 Amino Acid Peptide Representing an Immunodominant Epitope of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

We mapped an immunodominant domain of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We selected hydrophilic amino acid sequences encoded by conserved regions of the gag, pol, and env genes of HIV as potential antigenic domains. Eighteen peptides representing these sequences were synthesized; the peptides elicited strong antibody responses in rabbits. Sera from 53 HIV-infected patients and 50 controls were tested against the synthetic peptides. Although no antibodies to peptides from gag, pol, or env gp120 proteins were present, antibodies to four of the six peptides from env gp41 were detected. Epitope mapping using overlapping peptides showed that sera from 53 (100%) of 53 HIV-infected patients (and from none of 50 controls) reacted with peptides aa584-609 and aa598-609 from gp41, sera from 32 (60%) of 53 patients reacted with peptide aa603-614, and sera from 19 (35%) of 53 patients reacted with peptides aa609-620. Thus, amino acid sequence LeuGlyIleTrpGlyCysSerGlyLysLeuIleCys (aa598-609) from the transmembrane glycoprotein is an immunodominant domain of HIV recognized by serum antibodies from HIV-infected patients.
The development in peptide-based drugs

Peptide drugs display such multiple and unique advantages as ready synthesis, quick optimization, fewer immune responses, less toxic side effects and rapid clearance. Significant progress has been made in this field. Currently, there are 60～70 peptide drugs in the global market, with many more under clinical and pre-clinical studies. Many of them are short,synthetic and long-acting peptides and mainly target G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs). These peptide drugs are mainly applied in treating cancers, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. However, such disadvantages as easy degradation,poor oral bioavailability and poor permeability hamper the clinical applications of these peptide drugs and limit their commercial markets. Despite of these challenges, it is believed that there is a promising future in peptide-based drug development due to the advances in peptide-associated technologies. In particular, it is a potential and critical approach for using peptides as drug delivery vehicles.
The Obstetric Hemorrhage Initiative (OHI) in Florida: The Role of Intervention Characteristics in Influencing Implementation Experiences among Multidisciplinary Hospital Staff

Objectives Obstetric hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. The Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative coordinates a state-wide Obstetric Hemorrhage Initiative (OHI) to assist hospitals in implementing best practices related to this preventable condition. This study examined intervention characteristics that influenced the OHI implementation experiences among Florida hospitals. Methods Purposive sampling was employed to recruit diverse hospitals and multidisciplinary staff members. A semi-structured interview guide was developed based on the following constructs from the intervention characteristics domain of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research: evidence strength; complexity; adaptability; and packaging. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using Atlas.ti. Results Participants (n = 50) across 12 hospitals agreed that OHI is evidence-based and supported by various information sources (scientific literature, experience, and other epidemiologic or quality improvement data). Participants believed the OHI was 'average' in complexity, with variation depending on participant's role and intervention component. Participants discussed how the OHI is flexible and can be easily adapted and integrated into different hospital settings, policies and resources. The packaging was also found to be valuable in providing materials and supports (e.g., toolkit; webinars; forms; technical assistance) that assisted implementation across activities. Conclusions for Practice Participants reflected positively with regards to the evidence strength, adaptability, and packaging of the OHI. However, the complexity of the initiative adversely affected implementation experiences and required additional efforts to maximize the initiative effectiveness. Findings will inform future efforts to facilitate implementation experiences of evidence-based practices for hemorrhage prevention, ultimately decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality.
The Management of Alcoholic Hepatitis

An ongoing study is described that seeks to evaluate the role of steroid therapy in the management of alcoholic hepatitis; it is being conducted in patients classified as severely ill by the criterion of spontaneous encephalopathy. While it would be premature to offer conclusions, there does seem to be a trend toward improved survival in the steroid group. Other aspects of overall management are detailed.
HBV Slow Maturation Process Leads to Infection

Initial hepatitis B virus (HBV) attachment occurs via heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), which then trigger receptor-mediated internalization. Although HSPGs express in many tissues, HBV is destined for hepatotropic infection. A recent paper by Seitz et al. proposed that the slow viral maturation process plays a critical role in liver-specific distribution.
Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infections: Diagnostic Considerations

Acute post-operative infections occur within first 6 weeks after surgery and are challenging to diagnose due to the heightened inflammatory state of normal healing. Wound erythema, fevers, and swelling may be expected findings in the early postoperative period and can be difficult to differentiate from infection, deep venous thrombosis, or other diagnoses. The first step in determining an accurate diagnosis is avoiding the administration of antibiotics until an appropriate evaluation for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has been performed.
Time-Optimal Path Planning for a Kinematic Car with Variable Speed

This paper investigates the minimum-time path-planning problem for a kinematic car with variable speed and turn rate controls. The speed is strictly positive, ranging from a lower to an upper limit, and the turn rate limits are symmetric about zero. The minimum principle is used to characterize the extremal controls and, using additional geometric arguments, a finite and sufficient set of candidate optimal controls is derived. It is found that, in addition to straight and maximum rate turning segments at maximum-speed, minimum-time paths may include “cornering” turns at the minimum forward speed and the maximum turn rate. A procedure is proposed for solving the path synthesis problem of constructing the minimum-time path between two “oriented points” in the plane.
Platelets as a novel target for PPARgamma ligands : implications for inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is an important transcription factor for lipid and glucose metabolism. Currently, the PPARγ ligands rosiglitazone and pioglitazone are used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus because they are potent insulin sensitizers. Recently, PPARγ has emerged as an important anti-inflammatory factor. Platelets, anucleate cells involved in hemostasis, have also been implicated as key contributors to inflammation, because they produce many pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic mediators when activated. Surprisingly, it was discovered recently that platelets contain PPARγ and that PPARγ ligands, both natural and synthetic, inhibit platelet activation and release of bioactive mediators. In particular, release of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and thromboxane (TXA2) was inhibited by PPARγ ligands in thrombin-activated platelets. CD40L signaling induces pro-inflammatory processes in many cell types, and increased blood levels of sCD40L are closely associated with inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Targeting platelet PPARγ will, therefore, be an important treatment strategy for the attenuation of chronic inflammatory processes and prevention of thrombus formation.
The View of Swidden Agriculture, by the Early Naturalists Linnaeus and Wallace.

Neither Linnaeus nor Wallace are known for their scholarship on swidden agriculture and, indeed, few modern scientists are even aware of this scholarship. But both men did examine swidden agriculture, and both had prescient things to say about it. Revisiting what they said puts current practices of swidden agriculture into historic perspective and, of equal importance, it puts into perspective our study of swidden and the enduring problems of the politics of knowledge and the divide between nature and culture. The ability of Linnaeus and Wallace to comprehend the dynamics of swidden systems in the face of historic and enduring biases illuminates the epistemology of swidden agriculture; and their ability to appreciate the value of swidden landscapes illuminates the stark, modern dichotomy between society and environment and the blinders it imposes on us. In the following analysis, I will review the swidden-related work of first Linnaeus and then Wallace. In each case, I will place their observations in historic, social, political, and intellectual context. I will conclude with some suggestions as to what this study tells us about the global history of swidden agriculture, the historic construction of ignorance regarding it, and the implications of a less- versus well-developed Cartesian divide of nature and culture.
Knowledge-based robot workstation: supervisor design

There are several problems currently inhibiting the growth of automation in industry. In particular, the growing interest in the application of robots to assembly tasks is being limited by the way such tasks are programmed and executed. Current robotic assembly systems force an exact, detailed description of the task to be executed. To perform a given assembly task, the detailed actions of the robot, as well as the successive positions and orientations of the gripper, must be specified. In addition, the work environment of the robot and the state of the objects in it must be completely controlled for the robot to successfully accomplish its task. These requirements could be reduced by the use of a variety of sensors and, in this way, allow the degree of uncertainty in the environment to be increased. Nevertheless, the use of sensors alone could also make the prograrnming phase more difficult.
SILAC-Based Quantification of Sirt1-Responsive Lysine Acetylome

Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC) is one of the in vivo metabolic labeling methods widely used for dynamic analysis of protein modifications. Here, we describe a general approach to applying SILAC, in combination with affinity enrichment of acetyllysine peptides and mass spectrometry, to study the dynamic changes of the Lysine acetylome in response to Sirt1. The method should be applicable to quantify changes to other post translational modifications in diverse cellular systems.
Web-Protege: A Lightweight OWL Ontology Editor for the Web.

In this paper, we present Web-Protege—a web-based lightweight ontology editor. Web-Protege is open source, uses the Google Web Toolkit (GWT) for the user interface, and Protege for supporting ontology services. We used components of Collaborative Protege to augment the ontology-editing environment with facilities for discussions and annotations. In this paper, we describe both the server and the client components of the system. We built the user interface using the portal metaphor, which allows easy customization of the user interface for individual users. The plug-in architecture allows easy extension of the user interface with custom components. The server component is implemented in Java and provides methods for accessing the ontology content and manages the changes the users make in different clients. A demo version is available at http://bmir-protege-dev1.stanford.edu/webprotege/.
High-definition wireless personal area tracking using AC magnetic field for virtual reality

This paper presents an AC magnetic field based High-Definition Personal Area Tracking (PAT) system. A low-power transmitter antenna acts as a reference for three tracker modules. One module, attached to the Head Mount Display (HMD), tracks the position and orientation of user's head and the other two hand-held modules act as an interface device (like virtual hands) in Virtual Reality. This precise, low power, low latency, non-line-of-sight system provides an easy-to-use human-computer interface. The system achieves a precision of 1 mm in position with 0.1 degree in orientation and an accuracy of 20 cm in position at a distance of 2 m from the antenna. The transmitter and the receiver consume 5 W and 0.4 W of power, respectively, providing 140 updates/sec with 11 ms of latency.
Enhancing caregiver outcomes in palliative care.

BackgroundFamilies are increasingly replacing skilled health care workers in the delivery of unfamiliar complex care to their relatives with cancer, despite other obligations and responsibilities that characterize their lives.MethodsThe authors review the needs of cancer caregivers and describe intervention strategies not only presented in the literature, but also implemented in their own program of research to address those needs during the palliative phase of cancer.ResultsResearch suggests that developing interventions that teach caregivers to become proficient in the physical and psychological aspects of patient care will benefit both patients and caregivers.ConclusionsDespite the fact that a cancer diagnosis can cause major changes in family roles and functioning, as well as increased responsibility for complex care being absorbed by family caregivers, data supporting the effectiveness of caregiver interventions have been limited.
Different cell disruption methods for obtaining carotenoids by Sporodiobolus pararoseus and Rhodothorula mucilaginosa.

Since carotenoids are synthesized inside the cell, it is desirable to find an efficient method to extract carotegenic pigments. This study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of different chemical and mechanical techniques to disrupt the cell wall of Sporidiobolus pararoseus and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa yeasts isolated from environmental samples. Among the techniques under study, the ultrasonic bath and the abrasion with glass beads yielded the most promising results for S. pararoseus (84.8 ± 2.3 and 76.9 ± 2.1 μg/g, respectively). The ultrasonic bath yielded the highest specific concentration of carotenoids for R. mucilaginosa (193.5 ± 25.8 μg/g), while the biomass freezing process improved neither the extractability nor the specific concentration of carotenoids. Lyophilization increased the specific concentrations of carotenoids from S. pararoseus and R. mucilaginosa by 20 and 13.7%, respectively, while the freezing process did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) the recovery of carotenoids from both yeasts; thus, it may be eliminated from the process.
Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC—Anticipatory Interest Rate Hedging

The case examines interest rate risk management at a U.S. utility company, Dominion Gas Holdings. In November 2012, as part of its new financing plan, it wanted to hedge the interest rate risk involved with the company's 2013 planned issuance of $1 billion in debt. While the coupon rates for the planned debt were unknown as of November 2012, the company wanted to lock in its financing costs one year ahead since interest rates were at historically low levels. The company was considering entering into a number of forward-starting interest rate swaps. The use of forward-starting interest rate swaps as a pre-issuance hedging tool could cause some accounting and regulatory risks, and some other utility companies chose not to hedge at all. A bank had approached Dominion Gas with an indicative quote for the forward-starting swap, and the Treasurer had to decide whether it was a fair rate. This case has been used in a first-year MBA class that focused on valuation of financial markets, and a more advanced second-year elective that focused on derivative securities. Excerpt UVA-F-1754 Rev. Nov. 3, 2017 Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC: Anticipatory Interest Rate Hedging In November 2012, Dominion Resources, Inc. (DRI), one of the largest producers and transporters of energy in the United States, was planning the creation of a subsidiary that would consolidate the major components of Dominion's regulated gas businesses under one intermediate holding company entity. The timeline called for the formation of a new legal entity, Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC (Dominion Gas), around September 2013 by transferring several regulated gas subsidiaries from DRI to Dominion Gas. As part of its new financing plan, Dominion Gas planned to issue at least $ 1 billion in debt in November 2013. The offering would consist of senior notes, and the maturities would be a combination of 3-year, 10-year, and 30-year notes. While the coupon rates for the planned debt were unknown as of November 2012, the company wanted to lock in its financing costs ahead of time. Interest rates were at historically low levels (see Exhibit 1), and market commentators were predicting rising interest rates with the end of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary quantitative easing looming. The company was considering entering into a number of interest rate swaps to mitigate the interest rate risk associated with the anticipated long-term debt issuance. One particular set of swaps the company was considering was designed as a pre-issuance hedge for the portion of the 3-year debt offering that assumed a $ 250 million principal amount of such notes would be issued in November 2013. Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC . . .
Blood pressure levels post mechanical thrombectomy and outcomes in large vessel occlusion strokes.

Objective: There are limited data evaluating the effect of post mechanical thrombectomy (MT) blood pressure (BP) levels on early outcomes of patients with large vessel occlusions (LVO). We sought to investigate the association of BP course following MT with early outcomes in LVO. Methods: Consecutive patients with LVO treated with MT during a 3-year period were evaluated. Hourly systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) values were recorded for 24 hours following MT and maximum SBP and DBP levels were identified. LVO patients with complete reperfusion following MT were stratified in 3 groups based on post-MT achieved BP goals: Results: A total of 217 acute ischemic stroke patients with LVO were prospectively evaluated. A 10 mm Hg increment in maximum SBP documented during the first 24 hours post MT was independently ( p = 0.001) associated with a lower likelihood of 3-month functional independence (odds ratio [OR] 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56–0.87) and a higher odds of 3-month mortality (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.18–1.88) after adjusting for potential confounders. In addition, achieving a BP goal of p = 0.010) in comparison to permissive hypertension. Conclusions: High maximum SBP levels following MT are independently associated with increased likelihood of 3-month mortality and functional dependence in LVO patients. Moderate BP control is also related to lower odds of 3-month mortality in comparison to permissive hypertension.
Lesinurad, a Selective URAT-1 Inhibitor With a Novel Mechanism in Combination With a Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor, for Hyperuricemia Associated With Gout.

Objective:To review the pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, and role of lesinurad for the management of hyperuricemia associated with gout.Data Selection:A MEDLINE search (2000 to April 20...
Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship. John Swinton. 2016: 255 Pages-Hard back - $39.95, Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press.

In his book, Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship, Dr. Swinton explores the complexities of time, disability, and discipleship through his lens as “a practica...
ESPACIOS URBANOS EN EL TEATRO ESPAÑOL DE LOS SIGLOS XX Y XXI Cerstin BAUER-FUNKE (ed.)

Es una resena del libro de las actas del coloquio internacional de junio de 2014 llevado a cabo en la Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat Munster. Este tomo recoge los estudios de criticos reconocidos, ademas de las ponencias de los cuatro dramaturgos invitados y una pieza breve de cada uno: Jesus Campos Garcia, Carmen Resino, Jose Manuel Corredoira Vinuela y Diana M. de Paco Serrano.
Artificial neural networks based on memristive devices

The advent of memristive devices and the continuing researchand development in the field of neuromorphic computing show great potentialas an alternative to traditional von Neumann computing and bring us evercloser to realizing a true “thinking machine”. Novel neural networkarchitectures and algorithms inspired by the brain are becoming more andmore attractive to keep up with computing needs, relying on intrinsicparallelism and reduced power consumption to outperform more conventionalcomputing methods. This article provides an overview of various neuralnetworks with an emphasis on networks based on memristive emerging devices,with the advantages of memristor neural networks compared with purecomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) implementations. A generaldescription of neural networks is presented, followed by a survey ofprominent CMOS networks, and finally networks implemented using emergingmemristive devices are discussed, along with the motivation for developingmemristor based networks and the computational potential these networkspossess.
A new scheme for memory-efficient probabilistic verification

In verification by explicit state enumeration, for each reachable state of the protocol being verified the full state descriptor is stored in a state table. Two probabilistic methods — bitstate hashing and hash compaction — have been proposed in the literature that store much fewer bits for each state but come at the price of some probability that not all reachable states will be explored during the search, and that the verifier may thus produce false positives. Holzmann introduced bitstate hashing and derived an approximation formula for the average probability that a particular state is not omitted during the search, but this formula does not give a bound on the probability of false positives. In contrast, the analysis for hash compaction, introduced by Wolper and Leroy and improved upon by Stern and Dill, yielded a bound on the probability that not even one state is omitted during the search, thus providing a bound on the probability of false positives.
Intravenous Fluids: Finding the Right Balance.

Administration of intravenous fluids is common in the management of acute illness; however, despite their ubiquitous use, rigorous evidence regarding their optimal composition and administered volume is limited. Two studies (the Saline against Lactated Ringer’s or Plasma-Lyte in the Emergency