cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biobehavioral Insights into Adaptive Behavior in Complex and Dynamic Operational Settings: Lessons learned from the Soldier Performance and Effective, Adaptable Response Task.

The purpose of this study was to explore the biobehavioral correlates of adaptive behavior in the context of a standardized laboratory-based mission-relevant challenge [the Soldier Performance and Effective, Adaptable Response (SPEAR) task]. Participants were 26 healthy male volunteers (M = 34.85 years, SD = 4.12) with active military duty and leadership experience within the last 5 years (i.e., multiple leadership positions, operational deployments in combat, interactions with civilians and partner nation forces on the battlefield, experience making decisions under fire). The SPEAR task simultaneously engages perception, cognition, and action aspects of human performance demands similar to those encountered in the operational setting. Participants must engage with military-relevant text, visual, and auditory stimuli, interpret new information, and retain the commander's intent in working memory to create a new plan of action for mission success. Time-domain measures of heart period and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were quantified, and saliva was sampled [later assayed for cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA)] before-, during-, and post-SPEAR. Results revealed a predictable pattern of withdraw and recovery of the cardiac vagal tone during repeated presentation of battlefield challenges. Recovery of vagal inhibition following executive function challenge was strongly linked to better task-related performance. Rate of RSA recovery was also associated with better recall of the commander's intent. Decreasing magnitude in the skin conductance response prior to the task was positively associated with better overall task-related performance. Lower levels of RSA were observed in participants who reported higher rates of combat deployments, and reduced RSA flexibility was associated with higher rates of casualty exposure. Greater RSA flexibility during SPEAR was associated with greater self-reported resilience. There was no consistent pattern of task-related change in cortisol or sAA. We conclude that individual differences in psychophysiological reactivity and regulation in response to an ecologically valid, military-relevant task are associated with performance-related adaptive behavior in this standardized operational setting. The implications for modern day warfare, where advancing our understanding of the nature of individual differences in adaptive problem solving is critical to mission success, fitness for duty, and other occupational health-related outcomes, are discussed.
Difference Bands in Time-Resolved Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectra of Photoexcited Intermolecular Electron Transfer from Chloronaphthalene to Tetracyanoethylene.

The time-resolved femtosecond stimulated Raman spectra (FSRS) of a charge transfer (CT) excited noncovalent complex tetracyanoethylene:1-chloronaphthalene (TCNE:ClN) in dichloromethane (DCM) is reported with 40 fs time resolution. In the frequency domain, five FSRS peaks are observed with frequencies of 534, 858, 1069, 1392, and 1926 cm–1. The most intense peaks at 534 and 1392 cm–1 correspond to fundamentals while the features at 858, 1069, and 1926 cm–1 are attributed to a difference frequency, an overtone and a combination frequency of the fundamentals, respectively. The frequency of the 1392 cm–1 fundamental corresponding to the central C═C stretch of TCNE•– is red-shifted from the frequency of the steady state radical due to the close proximity and electron affinity of the countercation. The observation of a FSRS band at a difference frequency is analyzed. This analysis lends evidence for alternative nonlinear pathways of inverse Raman gain scattering (IRGS) or vertical-FSRS (VFSRS) which may contrib...
Changes in the thermal structure of freshwater lakes within Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, USA) from 1996 to 2014

AbstractFreshwater lakes throughout many parts of the world have undergone substantial warming in response to climate change. In southern New England, within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS; Massa...
The Life of Abraham Wald

Abraham Wald was born October 31, 1902, in Cluj, Rumania. His entire elementary and secondary school education was obtained at home, mainly under the direction of an older brother. After graduating from the local university in Cluj, he went to Vienna, entering the University of Vienna in 1927. Here he studied mathematics, particularly geometry, and contributed to the colloquium led by Karl Menger. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1931, Wald could not find an academic post because of religious prejudice; he began work in econometrics first with Karl Schlesinger, a banker and economist, and then with Oskar Morgenstern at the Business Cycle Research Institute.
Closed-Form Determination of the Impedance Locus Plot of Fault Current Limiters: A Rigorous Approach With Graphical Representation

In this paper, a mathematically rigorous method is presented to calculate the impedance of FCLs based on a desirable change of short circuit currents. The method is found on the principle of superposition and can be easily incorporated into standard short circuit current calculations of power systems. The changes of the short circuit currents for each FCL installed are easily calculated without having to build a new impedance matrix for each new case. In addition, the method gives a clear graphical representation of the impact of the FCL on the power system taking advantage of the FCL impedance locus in the complex plane. The resultant plots provide valuable insight and information to utilities, system planners, and FCL manufacturers. FCL manufacturers can use these plots to identify the FCL impedance value and angle subject to the manufacturing and system constraints. The plots also allow utilities and system planners to compute the changes of fault current distribution caused by the FCL quickly and accurately. Results show that FCLs can increase short circuit currents in other branches. High-limiting FCLs may cause larger increase in short circuit currents of other branches and therefore a compromise may have to be made between fault current limitation and the maximum additional currents that are acceptable in other branches. Examples on a three-bus system and an eleven-bus system are presented for illustration and validation.
Are fishbowl activities effective for teaching pharmacotherapy and developing postformal thought in pharmacy students? A pilot study

Abstract Background and purpose Case based learning is a commonly used pedagogy to facilitate active learning and development of problem-solving skills, however its utility may be limited in a large lecture environment. Fishbowl activities have been utilized in higher education to encourage discussion and postformal thinking and may be useful in engaging large class sizes in collective problem-solving activities. Educational activity and setting The fishbowl activity took place in a second-year six-credit hour infectious disease course delivered in the spring of 2017, consisting 95 students. A pre-post survey was administered via Google® forms and consisted of demographic items (age, race, gender), students’ self-reported level of preparation, perceived benefits of the activity, strengths and weakness of the fishbowl activity, and postformal thought using the Complex Postformal Thought (PFT) questionnaire. Findings Aggregate mean postformal thinking score was 51.98 in the pre-survey and 56.26 in the post-survey (p Discussion Overall, this activity was generally well received by the students and may have positively impacted their postformal thinking. It appears that the fishbowl activity concept may transfer easily to pharmacy education and be an additional active learning tool for pharmacy educators based on these limited pilot results. Summary Fishbowl activities may be a valuable educational tool for the development of postformal thinking skills in pharmacy students. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of using this active learning approach in pharmacy education.
A comparative study of AC-link and DC-link based frequency converters

Frequency converters are widely used in variable speed drives, aircraft power supplies and wind energy applications. Traditional frequency converters are based on the DC-link topology. Large electrolytic capacitors are needed to eliminate the ripples in the DC stage. The size, lifetime and reliability of those capacitors are detrimental to system power density and robustness. The hard-switching loss of DC-link based frequency converter is also a considerable disadvantage of this topology. Recent studies of frequency converters are focusing on a new topology based on the AC-link. This new topology utilizes an LC resonating pair between the rectifier and the inverter. By controlling the charging and discharging time of the LC resonating pair, the converter is capable of delivering power in different frequency and magnitude. In addition, soft-switching can be obtained in the AC-link based frequency converter, which increases the system efficiency. The elimination of electrolytic capacitors also reduces the size of the converter which improves system power density and reliability. For comparison, both topologies are simulated in Matlab and implemented in hardware. A 45 kW prototype is designed, assembled, and tested in the lab. Experimental results are presented at the end of this paper.
Inferences, Psychology of

One of the important findings of inference research has been to show that the distinction between inferences and assertions is not clear-cut when it comes to the cognitive processes of inferencing. This insight led to reconceptualizing the goal of comprehension from one of representing the text to one of representing what the speaker intended the text to be about. In this mental model view of comprehension, the difference between what is given and what must be filled in with an inference is defined relative to the comprehender's knowledge, not the text. Research efforts focus on defining the computational processes involved in inferencing and determining which classes of inferences are typically made in comprehension. This research has been characterized by controversy and has uncovered a number of methodological problems in assessing the occurrence of inferences. Nonetheless, it has convincingly demonstrated that inferencing is not a single cognitive skill. Thus, investigators of individual differences in cognition should not characterize people as good or poor at inferencing because it is very dependent on specific knowledge, a finding confirmed with brain imaging.
The Role of Solar Radiation in Atmospheric Chemistry

Solar radiation at visible and ultraviolet wavelengths drives the chemistry of the atmosphere, by photo-dissociating relatively stable molecules into highly reactive radical fragments. Knowledge of photo-dissociation rate coefficients (J values) is crucial to understanding the behavior of global stratospheric and tropospheric ozone, the atmospheric lifetimes of gases such as carbon monoxide, methane, and non-methane hydrocarbons, and the formation of oxidants at urban and regional scales. J values depend on molecular parameters (absorption cross sections and photo-dissociation quantum yields) that are specific to the photo-reaction of interest, and on the availability of solar radiation at any specific location in the atmosphere. Advances in computer modeling of atmospheric radiative transfer now allow rapid calculation of J values for use in photo-chemistry models, and routinely include the effects of molecular absorbers and scatterers, clouds, aerosols, and surface reflections, for any location and time of the year. However, actual atmospheric conditions needed as input to the calculation are often not available. Direct measurements of J values, while in principle preferable, are technically difficult and limited in their temporal/spatial coverage, but generally support the theoretical calculations at least under optimal conditions (e. g., cloud free skies).
Alterations in Metabolic Functions and Electrolytes

Aging has been characterized as a comprehensive, progressive, and irreversible biologic process resulting in the maintenance of life but with a diminishing capability for adaptation.1,2 In fact, it has been estimated that after the age of 30 years, organ systems lose approximately 1% of their function per annum.3 Implied in this description are the concepts of increased biologic entropy, functional deterioration, loss of viability, and an augmented likelihood of death.4
A Metric for Acneiform Eruptions of the Face

There are multiple contemporary systems for grading and quantifying acneiform eruptions of the face. Clinical pharmacological studies of antiacne drugs incorporate methodology designed to enhance the differences between drugs and placebo. In the clinical setting patients and physicians desire a system for monitoring the progress of the antiacne therapy. However, in both the clinical pharmacological studies and the patient care settings, the contemporary measurement scales of the acneiform eruptions of the face do not directly derive from essential insights from mathematics, statistics, and psychometrics
Clinical Management of Marrow Suppression and Immune Suppression

Marrow suppression and immune suppression commonly accompany cancer. They are most frequently observed in the leukemias and other diseases associated with replacement of the marrow and in primary malignant diseases of the immune system. In addition “solid” tumors or non-hematologic malignancy may metastasize to the bone marrow replacing normal elements. Finally, treatment directed at the tumor may incidentally affect production of cells. Bone marrow suppression is associated with the secondary development of anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia. Peripheral and central depletion of the “formed elements” of the blood—that is, the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets—leads to anemia, and can bring about infection and/or bleeding. Immune suppression may be distinguished from marrow suppression in that the cells involved in the immune system are lymphocytes and plasma cells. Furthermore, the depletion of these elements may only be evaluated by specific tests, such as immunoglobulin analysis and the lymphocyte function tests. The management of marrow suppression and immune suppression is one of the most delicate clinical issues because the common causes of mortality in cancer result from secondary sepsis or hemorrhage. This chapter will focus on the management of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in the patient with neoplastic disease and also on the management of chemotherapy in patients with secondary marrow and immune suppression.
Abstract A27: Diversity in multiple myeloma clinical trials

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for approximately 1% of all cancers and 10% of hematologic malignancies in the United States (U.S.). MM occurs in all races, but the incidence in African Americans is two to three times higher than in non-Hispanic whites. MM is also slightly more frequent in men than women (1.4:1). Many clinical trials lack appropriate representation of specific patient populations, limiting the generalizability of the evidence obtained. Therefore, we determined the representation of ethnic minorities, the elderly, and women in MM clinical trials. Methods: Enrollment data from all therapeutic trials reported as completed in clinicaltrial.gov from 2000 to 2016 were analyzed. Clinical trials including other hematologic malignancies and with recruitment outside of the U.S. were excluded. Enrollment fraction (EF) was defined as the number of enrollees divided by the 2013 SEER database MM complete prevalence. Chi-square test was used to estimate differences in categorical data. Results: Out of 177 MM clinical trials (CT), 78 (44%) reported ethnicity with a total of 12,055 enrollees. Regarding enrollees9 ethnic composition, 84% were non-Hispanic White (NHW), 8.6% African American (AA), 2.8% Asian, 1.8% Hispanic, and 0.1% Native American/Alaskan Indian. Out of those 78 CT, 52 (66%) were phase II, 15 (19%) phase III, and 11 (14%) phase I. Most of the results were published from 2012 to 2016 (74%). Forty-six (59%) trials were sponsored by industry, 7 (9%) by NCI, and 25 (32%) were investigator initiated. Participation in CT varied significantly across ethnic groups, NHW were more likely to be enrolled in CT (EF of 0.23) than AA (EF of 0.08, p Conclusions: Despite the higher incidence of MM in African Americans and the elderly, the former only represented 8.6% of the study participants and 66% of these were less than 65 years of age; therefore, we are lacking data in the tolerability of these new agents in our aging MM population. We also observed that industry studies were less likely to recruit AA patients. Collaborations between investigators, sponsors, and the community are necessary to increase our minority and elderly patients9 access to clinical trials. Citation Format: Narjust Duma, Miguel Gonzalez Velez, Jesus Vera-Aguilera, Richardo Parrondo, Veronica Mariotti, Jonas Paludo, Yucai Wang, Ronald Go, Alex Adjei. Diversity in multiple myeloma clinical trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A27.
Social Support and Residential Stability in Privately Owned Assisted Housing

Theories explaining social cohesion in assisted housing largely pivot between two positions. The first suggests that assisted renters tend to be isolated from their neighbors because they live in h...
Dinickel catalyzed carbonylation reactions using metal carbonyl reagents as CO sources

Abstract Dinickel complexes promote stoichiometric Pauson–Khand reactions of enynes and CO (g). However, catalytic turnover is precluded by the strong binding of CO to the Ni2 active site. This article describes the use of M(CO)x reagents as stoichiometric CO precursors in Ni2-catalyzed carbonylation reactions. As part of these studies, well-defined heterotrinuclear Ni2Fe, Ni2Co, and Ni2Mn carbonyl clusters are synthesized using the [NDI]Ni2 platform as a template (NDI = naphthyridine–diimine).
Targeting the Synapse in Alzheimer's Disease

Dynamic gain and loss of synapses is fundamental to healthy brain function. While Alzheimer's Disease (AD) treatment strategies have largely focussed on beta-amyloid and tau protein pathologies, the synapse itself may also be a critical endpoint to consider regarding disease modification. Disruption of mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, eventually resulting in a net loss of synapses, is implicated as an early pathological event in AD. Synaptic dysfunction therefore may be a final common biological mechanism linking protein pathologies to disease symptoms. This review summarizes evidence supporting the idea of early neuroplastic deficits being prevalent in AD. Changes in synaptic density can occur before overt neurodegeneration and should not be considered to uniformly decrease over the course of the disease. Instead, synaptic levels are influenced by an interplay between processes of degeneration and atrophy, and those of maintenance and compensation at regional and network levels. How these neuroplastic changes are driven by amyloid and tau pathology are varied. A mixture of direct effects of amyloid and tau on synaptic integrity, as well as indirect effects on processes such as inflammation and neuronal energetics are likely to be at play here. Focussing on the synapse and mechanisms of neuroplasticity as therapeutic opportunities in AD raises some important conceptual and strategic issues regarding translational research, and how preclinical research can inform clinical studies. Nevertheless, substrates of neuroplasticity represent an emerging complementary class of drug target that would aim to normalize synapse dynamics and restore cognitive function in the AD brain and in other neurodegenerative diseases.
Private Equity in Ophthalmology and Optometry: Analysis of Acquisitions from 2012 through 2019 in the United States.

Purpose To identify temporal and geographic trends in private equity (PE)–backed acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices in the United States. Design A cross-sectional study using private equity acquisition and investment data from January 1, 2012, through October 20, 2019. Participants A total of 228 PE acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices in the United States between 2012 and 2019. Methods Acquisition and financial investment data were compiled from 6 financial databases, 4 industry news outlets, and publicly available press releases from PE firms or platform companies. Main Outcome Measures Yearly trends in ophthalmology and optometry acquisitions, including number of total acquisitions, clinical locations, and providers of acquired practices as well as subsequent sales, median holding period, geographic footprint, and financing status of each platform company. Results A total of 228 practices associated with 1466 clinical locations and 2146 ophthalmologists or optometrists were acquired by 29 PE-backed platform companies. Of these acquisitions, 127, 9, and 92 were comprehensive or multispecialty, retina, and optometry practices, respectively. Acquisitions increased rapidly between 2012 and 2019: 42 practices were acquired between 2012 and 2016 compared to 186 from 2017 through 2019. Financing rounds of platform companies paralleled temporal acquisition trends. Three platform companies, comprising 60% of platforms formed before 2016, were subsequently sold or recapitalized to new PE investors by the end of this study period with a median holding period of 3.5 years. In terms of geographic distribution, acquisitions occurred in 40 states with most PE firms developing multistate platform companies. New York and California were the 2 states with the greatest number of PE acquisitions with 22 and 19, respectively. Conclusions Private equity–backed acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices have increased rapidly since 2012, with some platform companies having already been sold or recapitalized to new investors. Additionally, private equity–backed platform companies have developed both regionally focused and multistate models of add-on acquisitions. Future research should assess the impact of PE investment on patient, provider, and practice metrics, including health outcomes, expenditures, procedural volume, and staff employment.
Preparation of Scalable Silica‐Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Nanowarming

Cryopreservation technology allows long-term banking of biological systems. However, a major challenge to cryopreserving organs remains in the rewarming of large volumes (>3 mL), where mechanical stress and ice formation during convective warming cause severe damage. Nanowarming technology presents a promising solution to rewarm organs rapidly and uniformly via inductive heating of magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) preloaded by perfusion into the organ vasculature. This use requires the IONPs to be produced at scale, heat quickly, be nontoxic, remain stable in cryoprotective agents (CPAs), and be washed out easily after nanowarming. Nanowarming of cells and blood vessels using a mesoporous silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticle (msIONP) in VS55, a common CPA, has been previously demonstrated. However, production of msIONPs is a lengthy, multistep process and provides only mg Fe per batch. Here, a new microporous silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticle (sIONP) that can be produced in as little as 1 d while scaling up to 1.4 g Fe per batch is presented. sIONP high heating, biocompatibility, and stability in VS55 is also verified, and the ability to perfusion load and washout sIONPs from a rat kidney as evidenced by advanced imaging and ICP-OES is demonstrated.
Liberating religion from theology: Marion and Heidegger on the possibility of a phenomenology of religion

Pour Jean-Luc Marion, la phenomenologie religieuse est une impossibilite dans la mesure ou un phenomene objectivement definissable perd sa specificite religieuse et ou un phenomene specifiquement religieux ne peut etre decrit objectivement. Quant a Heiddeger, il distingue la phenomenologie et la theologie ce qui ouvre un espace a une science religieuse distincte ou etudes religieuses qui constitue precisement une phenomenologie de la religion distincte a la fois de la phenomenologie (comme ontologie) et de la theologie. Bien que pour Marion la phenomenologie de la religion est sans foi, celle-ci reste attachee au Dieu de la foi d'ou un imperialisme chretien. Il ne laisse aucune place a la difference et a un autre dieu. Heiddeger est ouvert a la difference pour rendre justice a la pluralite de l'experience religieuse.
Does texting make you slower

Two studies had undergraduates (n = 237) walk a path in a university building which included walking up a set of stairs, through two hallways and walking down a flight of stairs back to the research lab. Subjects responded to text messages with a single word reply or multi-word reply and also served as their own control. Subjects were 5 s slower when texting and walking in Experiment # 1 (multi-word response) and 3 s slower when texting and walking in Experiment # 2 (single word response). No order effects (control condition first, experimental condition first) were observed in either study, ruling this out as a possible confound. While it was expected that texting and walking would impede walking speed when responding with a multi-word response, these results also show that texting disrupts walking even when respoding with a single, less attention demanding, word answer. Thus, even in a condition that requires minimal cognitive effort, walking speed was compromised while texting at the same time. Implications for these results are discussed.
Risk for dental healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 global pandemic: An evidence-based assessment.

Abstract Objectives Heightened anxiety among dental healthcare professionals (DHPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic stems from uncertainties about the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE) against dental aerosols and risk levels of asymptomatic patients. Our objective was to assess the risks for DHPs providing dental care during the pandemic based on available scientific evidence. Methods We reviewed the best available evidence and estimated the annualized risk (p=das(1−1-p0p1(1-e)yn) for a DHP during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the following basic parameters: p0, the prevalence of asymptomatic patients in the local population; p1, the probability that a DHP gets infected by an asymptomatic patient; e, the effectiveness of the PPE; s, the probability of becoming symptomatic after getting infected from asymptomatic patient; da, the probability of dying from the disease in age group a; n, number of patients seen per day; and y, number of days worked per year. Results With the assumption that DHPs work fulltime and wear a N95 mask, the annualized probability for a DHP to acquire COVID-19 infection in a dental office, become symptomatic, and die from the infection is estimated at 1:13,000 (0.008 %) in a medium sized city in the US at the peak of the pandemic. The risk estimate is highly age-dependent. Risk to DHPs under the age of 70 is negligible when prevalence of asymptomatic cases is low in the local community. Conclusions Risk of COVID-19 transmission in dental office is very low based on available evidence on effectiveness of PPE and prevalence of asymptomatic patients. Face shields and pre-procedure oral rinses may further reduce the risks. Clinical significance DHPs should follow guidelines on pre-appointment protocols and on PPE use during dental treatments to keep the risk low.
Performance and cost of fuel cells for urban air mobility

Abstract Several companies are developing enabling elements of urban air mobility (UAM) for air taxis, including prototypes of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. These prototypes incorporate electric and hybrid powertrains for multi-rotor and tilt-rotor crafts. Many eVTOLS are using batteries for propulsion and charging them rapidly between the flights or swapping them for slow charging overnight. Rapid charging degrades the battery cycle life while swapping requires multiple batteries and charging stations. This study has conducted a technoeconomic evaluation of the eVTOL air taxis with alternate powertrains using hydrogen fuel cell systems being developed for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles. We consider performance metrics such as fuel cell engine power, weight, and durability; hydrogen consumption and weight of storage system; and maximum take-off weight. The metrics for economic evaluation are capital cost, operating and maintenance cost, fuel cost, and the total cost of ownership (TCO). We compare the performance and TCO of battery, fuel cell and fuel cell – battery hybrid powertrains for multi-rotor and tilt-rotor crafts. We show that fuel cells are the only viable concept for powering multi-rotor eVTOLs on an urban scenario that requires 60-mile range, and hybrid fuel cells are superior to batteries as powertrains for tiltrotor eVTOLs.
The Ighmbp2D564N mouse model is the first SMARD1 model to demonstrate respiratory defects.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress Type I (SMARD1) is a neurodegenerative disease defined by respiratory distress, muscle atrophy and sensory and autonomic nervous system defects. SMARD1 is a result of mutations within the IGHMBP2 gene. We have generated six Ighmbp2 mouse models based on patient-derived mutations that result in SMARD1 and/or Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 2 (CMT2S). Here we describe the characterization of one of these models, Ighmbp2D564N (human D565N). The Ighmbp2D564N/D564N mouse model mimics important aspects of the SMARD1 disease phenotype including motor neuron degeneration and muscle atrophy. Ighmbp2D564N/D564N is the first SMARD1 mouse model to demonstrate respiratory defects based on quantified plethysmography analyses. SMARD1 disease phenotypes, including the respiratory defects, are significantly diminished by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of ssAAV9-IGHMBP2 and the extent of phenotypic restoration is dose-dependent. Collectively this model provides important biological insight into SMARD1 disease development.
How Does Nutrient Availability Affect the Population Dynamics of the Invasive New Zealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus Antipodarum)

A primary goal of invasion biology is to predict which introduced species become invasive and which systems are susceptible to invasion. Therefore it is vital to understand how invasive species sustain positive population growth rates in their introduced range and what environmental factors control population growth. The New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) (Figure 1.) has spread throughout Europe, Australia, and North America, and has reached pest densities in many streams in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) since their introduction in the 1980âs. High rates of growth and secondary production have been documented for mud snails in its introduced range in the GYA, as have evidence of negative interactions between mud snails and native macroinvertebrates and higher trophic levels. However, little is known about how the availability of nutrients affects the invasion success of mud snails.
Novel isolation ring structure for latch-up and power efficiency improvement of smart power IC's

We propose a new isolation ring structure for latch-up immunity and power efficiency improvement in smart power IC. The proposed structure improves latch-up rule and power efficiency about 60% and 70% compare to traditional structure. Moreover, it enhances the SOA characteristics and ESD design window as well.
Modeling Life and Consciousness as Qualities (LB853)

We are familiar with the so called seven characteristics of life, featured in text books. These by themselves only describe a typical living being, but not what represents “life”. While mathematica...
Laparoscopic Colectomy and the General Surgeon

Background Laparoscopic colectomy has a shorter length of stay and less analgesic requirements than its open counterpart. Studies have suggested a learning curve of 30 cases. It is uncertain whether surgeons in rural settings have the case volume to acquire and maintain the necessary skill set. The aim of this study was to analyze the volume of colon resections performed by surgeons in rural practice.
Prostaglandin pathways in duodenal chemosensing

Acid-sensing pathways, which trigger mucosal defense mechanisms in response to luminal acid, involve the rapid afferent-mediated “capsaicin pathway” and the sustained “prostaglandin (PG) pathway.” Luminal acid quickly increases protective PG synthesis and release from epithelia, although the mechanism by which luminal acid induces PG synthesis is still mostly unknown. Acid exposure augments purinergic ATP-P2Y signaling by inhibition of intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity. Since P2Y activation increases intracellular Ca2+, we further hypothesized that ATP-P2Y signals increase the generation of H2O2 derived from dual oxidase, a member of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase family activated by Ca2+. Our recent studies suggest that acid exposure increases H2O2 output, followed by phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase activation, increasing PG synthesis. Released prostaglandin E2 augments protective HCO3− and mucus secretion via EP4 receptor activation. Thus, the PG pathway as a component of duodenal acid sensing consists of acid-related intestinal alkaline phosphatase inhibition, ATP-P2Y signals, dual oxidase 2-derived H2O2 production, phospholipase A2 activation, prostaglandin E2 synthesis, and EP4 receptor activation. The PG pathway is also involved in luminal bacterial sensing in the duodenum via activation of pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like receptors and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2. The presence of acute mucosal responses to luminal bacteria suggests that the duodenum is important for host defenses and may reduce bacterial loading to the hindgut using H2O2, complementing gastric acidity and anti-bacterial bile acids.
Magnetostriction and the Effects of Stress

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Magnetostriction of Single Crystals Magnetostriction of Polycrystals Physical Origin of Magnetostriction Effect of Stress on Magnetic Properties Effect of Stress on Magnetostriction Applications of Magnetostriction ?>E Effect Magnetoresistance Problems
The effect of cable terminations on EMI measurements

The effects of using uncontrolled or undefined cable terminations during electromagnetic interference (EMI) measurements was investigated. Several different models are described along with corresponding measurements in order to illustrate how specific terminations can be used to achieve particular measurement goals. It is noted that until a well-defined method of terminating power and signal cables is introduced, the best the EMI test engineer can do is to be aware of the significance of common-mode terminations and try to avoid situations where the common-mode termination impedance is completely undefined or not repeatable. >
DNA Structure Changes Coupled to Protein Binding

Protein-induced DNA distortions facilitate the interactions between proteins bound to non-adjacent sites on DNA. Correct assembly of these macromolecular complexes is necessary for DNA transcription, recombination, repair and replication. Keywords: DNA bending; DNA kinking; sequence-dependent DNA structure; protein–DNA interactions; transcriptional regulation
Listening to the Community: Guidance From Native Community Members for Emerging Culturally Responsive Educators

Critical race theory (CRT) emphasizes the importance of listening to the counter-narratives of people from marginalized groups. However, the applicability of CRT in practical settings often remains unclear for educators and scholars. This project offers not only a place for Native community members to share their experiences and ideas, it also provides practical guidance for emerging culturally responsive educators and ways to use themes from narratives to guide future scholarship. As a result of interviews with five Native community members, three themes emerged for non-Native educators working in Native communities: (a) learning from the community, (b) transforming thinking through discomfort, and (c) gaining awareness of positive values. These themes can be used to guide future projects, including reservation-based field experiences and research projects exploring educator thinking in reservation communities.
Design, simulation, and testing of wireless temperature sensor

Remote monitoring and control of temperature is very important for many industrial applications. This paper presents the numerical simulation and its comparison with measurement of phase response from a wireless Surface Acoustic Wave temperature sensor. This wireless microsensor consists of two or more arrays of IDTs and reflectors on a piezoelectric substrate with different IDT-reflector spacing. Pulse modulated signals are transmitted from a remote reader system and their echoes are returned after traveling through the device with different time delays. The same reader is used to receive the signal and corresponding IF signals are generated in a mixer and their phase differences are calibrated to temperature values. Using coupled-mode theory, the phase characteristics relative to temperature was analyzed. The effect of relative distance between the two reflector arrays is demonstrated. The influence of phase reversal location, which produces multiple temperature values for a given phase difference, is also discussed and a simple solution is illustrated. This sensor is coupled with a small planar antenna, which will be well suited for applications that require passive and conformal sensors. The analysis has shown that a very high sensitivity of 20.74°/°C or a temperature resolution of 0.05°C with 1° phase measurement resolution can be achieved using the present measurement system.
Physical activity and semen quality among men attending an infertility clinic

Objective To examine the association between regular physical activity and semen quality. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Couples attending one of three IVF clinics in the greater Boston area during 1993–2003. At study entry, male participants completed a questionnaire about their general health, medical history, and physical activity. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using generalized estimating equations models, accounting for potential confounders and multiple samples per man. Patient(s) A total of 2,261 men contributing 4,565 fresh semen samples were enrolled before undergoing their first IVF cycles. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm morphology, and total motile sperm (TMS). Result(s) Overall, none of the semen parameters were materially associated with regular exercise. Compared with no regular exercise, bicycling ≥5 h/wk was associated with low sperm concentration (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.03–3.56) and low TMS (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.19–3.56). These associations did not vary appreciably by age, body mass index, or history of male factor infertility. Conclusion(s) Although the present study suggests no overall association between regular physical activity and semen quality, bicycling ≥5 h/wk was associated with lower sperm concentration and TMS.
Patch-Based Video Processing: A Variational Bayesian Approach

In this paper, we present a patch-based variational Bayesian framework for video processing and demonstrate its potential in denoising, inpainting and deinterlacing. Unlike previous methods based on explicit motion estimation, we propose to embed motion-related information into the relationship among video patches and develop a nonlocal sparsity-based prior for typical video sequences. Specifically, we first extend block matching (nearest neighbor search) into patch clustering (k-nearest-neighbor search), which represents motion in an implicit and distributed fashion. Then we show how to exploit the sparsity constraint by sorting and packing similar patches, which can be better understood from a manifold perspective. Under the Bayesian framework, we treat both patch clustering result and unobservable data as latent variables and solve the inference problem via variational EM algorithms. A weighted averaging strategy of fusing diverse inference results from overlapped patches is also developed. The effectiveness of patch-based video models is demonstrated by extensive experimental results on a wide range of video materials.
Chiral pharmacokinetics of rac-flurbiprofen and pharmacodynamics of anabolic bone response in the normal rat

The route of administration of the NSAID, flurbiprofen (sq vs. po) resulted in positive and negative results respectively with regard to enhanced cancellous and cortical bone accumulation in the immature rat. This pharmacokinetic study was an effort to understand the pharmacodynamic difference between the two routes of administration observed when the same dose range of drug, given as single daily doses, had been employed in both studies. Conventional chiral pharmacokinetics were evaluated in young rats. A significant difference was observed in the Tmax of the active (S)-enantiomer by both administration routes (sq 4 h and po 1 h). The bioavailability, as evaluated by AUCs favored the sq route as expected. The plasma concentrations over 18 h, at steady state, for one po dose group (0.5 mg/kg/day) fell well within the therapeutic window described by the 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg sq doses which had demonstrated anabolic bone activity. Oral dosing had exhibited no significant bone activity. We conclude that the pharmacodynamic difference between routes of administration cannot be simply explained on a pahrmacokinetic basis. Consequently, experiments detailing the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple dose administration of aryl-propionic acids in normal and osteopenic states need further pharmacologic study. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A non-fluorescent complex of chlorophyll a with plastocyanin

A complex between chlorophyll a and plastocyanin has been prepared by dialysis of mixtures of chlorophyll in Triton X-100 micellar solution with the protein. The complex appears to contain no more than one chlorophyll per plastocyanin molecule, and is non-fluorescent, whether the protein is in the oxidized or reduced state. The lack of fluorescence suggests that the chlorophyll is adsorbed very close to the Cu center.
Determination of parameters related to nasal inspiratory pressures in children utilizing valved-holding chambers (valved spacers).

Summary Objective The administration of medication by the nasal route using valved spacers, may be an alternative for the concomitant treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma. The aim of this study was to determine if children are capable, in using a spacer and face mask, of opening the inspiratory valve using only nasal inhalation. Methods Prospective cross-sectional. The study included 85 children aged 4–9 years. Four types of valved spacers connected to a digital vacuum manometer were evaluated. The patients were prompted to inhale through their nose and the pressure reached in the first curve, maximal peak and time between the start of the inspiratory action and the first effective inspiration (opening of the valve) were determined. The results were compared with factors such as age, weight, BMI, gender, and presence of rhinitis or asthma. Results In two of the spacers, the valve opened in 98.8% of the tests with nasal inspiration only. The spacer ACE® holding chamber showed initial and maximal inspiratory pressures that were significantly greater than with the others (p Conclusion The results suggest that children 4–9 years old are able to open the spacer valve with only nasal inspiration. The spacer ACE® holding chamber was shown to be significantly more effective than the others tested. Studies that demonstrate that air inspired nasally reaches the lungs effectively are necessary so that this airway can be utilized for the administration of therapeutic agents.
The Helpful Responses Questionnaire: A procedure for measuring therapeutic empathy.

The development and evaluation of a measure of accurate empathy is described. The Helpful Responses Questionnaire (HRQ) is a brief free response questionnaire that can be administered to groups. Interrater reliability coefficients for items range from .71 to .91, and reliability for total HRQ scores was found to be .93. HRQ scores rose significantly following a 2-day workshop on active listening and crisis intervention skills offered in 14 communities. Normative data are reported based on a sample of 190 paraprofessional trainees. Level of empathy was found to be modestly related to respondents' self-esteem.
Radioimmunologic evidence for alpha-MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) in human pituitary and tumor tissues.

Abstract Immunization of a rabbit with synthetic α-MSH resulted in an antiserum that neutralized the biologic activity of α-MSH but not β-MSH or ACTH. This antiserum was used in the development of a radioimmunoassay method for α-MSH. Binding of 131I-α-MSH to antibodies could be demonstrated by chromatoelectrophoresis, and displacement of 131I-α-MSH from the antibodies was observed with 0.1–5.0 nanograms (ng) of unlabeled synthetic α-MSH. Several analogues of α-MSH, including highly purified human ACTH, αP-ACTH, α1–10ACTH, α1–24ACTH, α11–24ACTH, and 3 kinds of β-MSH (human, porcine and bovine) all failed to bring about comparable displacement of 131I-α-MSH from the antibodies, even in quantities as large as 10 μg-Two analogues, ACTH and Nacetyl-α1–24ACTH, showed some cross-reactivity with the α-MSH antiserum, but the quantities required for displacement of 131I-α-MSH were 2000 times greater than those of α-MSH itself. Extracts of human pituitaries and extracts of tumors from patients with the “ectopic ACTH...
Line Inclusions in Anisotropic Elastic Solids

A line inclusion in the anisotropic elastic medium of infinite extent under uniform loading at infinity is considered. Stroh's formalism is used to find the displacement and stress fields. The inclusion can be rigid or elastic. Conditions on the loading under which the line inclusion does not disturb the homogeneous field are derived
Improving the Use of Allopurinol in Chronic Gout: Monitoring Oxypurinol Levels to Guide Therapy

Urate-lowering therapy (ULT), adjusted to achieve and maintain a serum uric acid (SUA) of <6 mg/dl, remains the standard of care for the chronic management of gout. New urate-lowering medications are important options; however, these agents should be reserved for patients who do not tolerate or cannot achieve SUA <6 mg/dl on allopurinol. The result of oxypurinol monitoring to guide allopurinol therapy suggests that allopurinol should still be considered first-line ULT for gout. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2011) 90 3, 363–364. doi:10.1038/clpt.2011.146