cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
10 MHz large signal bandwidth, 95% efficient power supply for 3G-4G cell phone base stations

To improve the efficiency of cell phone base station transmitters, it is desirable to run the RF Power Amplifier (RFPA) with an envelope modulating power supply that provides the RFPA with the voltage and current needed for maximum efficiency. However, cell phone transmission varies the RF output power considerably over short periods, with the average power significantly less than the peak transmission power, which is difficult for traditional power supplies to support efficiently. This paper describes a switched-mode 8-phase buck envelope modulating power supply with a lookup table that varies the duty cycle and operating frequency to maintain soft switching under all operating conditions, and with dynamic timing correction to keep the phases uniformly distributed in time except when tracking signal dynamics that require simultaneous switching of multiple phases. The power supply does not require active compensation to keep the phase currents balanced. The experimentally demonstrated power supply provides 10 MHz large signal bandwidth, >40 A/μsec current slew rate, with switching frequency of up to 15 MHz at 95% efficiency. The supply is suitable for 2-carrier WCDMA and LTE cell phone base stations.
Dimerization of MLH1 and PMS2 Limits Nuclear Localization of MutLα

DNA mismatch repair maintains genomic stability by detecting and correcting mispaired DNA sequences and by signaling cell death when DNA repair fails. The mechanism by which mismatch repair coordinates DNA damage and repair with cell survival or death is not understood, but it suggests the need for regulation. Since the functions of mismatch repair are initiated in the nucleus, we asked whether nuclear transport of MLH1 and PMS2 is limiting for the nuclear localization of MutLα (the MLH1-PMS2 dimer). We found that MLH1 and PMS2 have functional nuclear localization signals (NLS) and nuclear export sequences, yet nuclear import depended on their C-terminal dimerization to form MutLα. Our studies are consistent with the idea that dimerization of MLH1 and PMS2 regulates nuclear import by unmasking the NLS. Limited nuclear localization of MutLα may thus represent a novel mechanism by which cells fine-tune mismatch repair functions. This mechanism may have implications in the pathogenesis of hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer.
A Comparison of Methods for Sampling Epiphytic and Nektonic Aquatic Invertebrates in Playa Wetlands

Abstract We compared two techniques (a 50 × 50 cm box-type sampler [Gerking device] vs. a combination of a quadrat of the same size and a 5 cm diameter water column sampler) for sampling epiphytic and nektonic invertebrates in four playas dominated by moist-soil plants during August 1994. Estimates of aquatic invertebrate biomasses and numbers derived from a combination of the quadrat and water-column sampler were generally higher (P 0.05) between the two methods. Collection time for samples was less (P < 0.05) with the quadrat and column sampler method. The combination of a quadrat and a water column sampler appeared to be the better method for sampling aquatic invertebrates in playas dominated by annual emergent vegetation.
Effects of Heat and Fermentation on the Extractability of Minerals from Soybean Meal and Corn Meal Blends

Autoclaving (121°C for 30 min) soybean meal reduced phytate phosphorus by 17.5%; phosphorus soluble in 0.03N HCl decreased 27.1%, and iron decreased 17.2%. Heat treatment increased (P < 0.05) extractability of zinc and potassium (soluble in 0.03N HCl) in soybean meal. A natural lactic acid fermentation of corn meal decreased phytate phosphorus by 77.8% and increased phosphorus soluble in 0.03N HCl by 37.9%. Phosphorus and iron from corn meal soluble in 0.03N HCl decreased in quantity when soybean meal was added. There was little difference in the % magnesium, zinc and potassium soluble in 0.03N HCl whether in corn meal or corn meal-soybean meal blends.
Pregabalin in the Treatment of Alcohol and Benzodiazepines Dependence

We review all available studies on the use of the newer anticonvulsant drug pregabalin (PGB) in the treatment of both alcohol dependence (AD) and benzodiazepine dependence (BD). In AD, the available evidence includes one open-label and one double-blind randomized studies, whereas in BD, only a few case reports and one open-label study are as yet available. In both conditions, PGB was found efficacious with significant improvement in withdrawal symptoms at the dosage ranges of 150-450 mg/day (AD) and 225-900 mg/day (BD). Moreover, its side effects were mild and transient. Despite the limited quality of the studies design, their findings suggest that PGB might constitute a novel efficacious and safe option in the treatment of both AD and BD.
Image database retrieval with multiple-instance learning techniques

In this paper, we develop and test an approach for retrieving images from an image database based on content similarity. First, each picture is divided into many overlapping regions. For each region, the sub-picture is filtered and converted into a feature vector. In this way, each picture is represented by a number of different feature vectors. The user selects positive and negative image examples to train the system. During the training, a multiple-instance learning method known as the diverse density algorithm is employed to determine which feature vector in each image best represents the user's concept, and which dimensions of the feature vectors are important. The system tries to retrieve images with similar feature vectors from the remainder of the database. A variation of the weighted correlation statistic is used to determine image similarity. The approach is tested on a medium-sized database of natural scenes as well as single- and multiple-object images.
Impact of technology sustainability on healthcare governance

Healthcare technology investments must be borne by charity, government subsidy, or patient reimbursement. Such investments can be expensive and require partnerships of public and private institutions. This paper explores the relationship between technology sustainability and healthcare governance of multi-institutional technology partnerships. A technology is assumed to be sustainable if the initial investment is paid and the operating costs are covered from one or more of these sources. Entirely possible is need for new governance forms in order to manage the initial and ongoing partner expectations. Can partnerships that initially rely on charity and government subsidy transform into self-sustaining or profitable operations? This paper incorporates findings from a business study of the Brazos Valley Telehealth Partnership (BVTP) that provides telemedicine infrastructure for a group of healthcare institutions who serve a seven county rural area. This paper explores the impact of technology sustainability on partnership governance. The findings are based on experiences gained during the formation and operation of the BVTP. The paper considers the valuation of network externalities. The paper posits that impact of technology adoption on organizational continuity on governance forms. The paper suggests incremental and continuous changes are best addressed by individual organizations or partnerships. For disruptive changes, new organizational forms are needed to isolate the disruptive impacts on organizations and processes. The paper concludes by advocating practical suggestions and further research.
Bio-inspired Algorithms for Autonomous Deployment and Localization of Sensor Nodes

Optimal deployment and accurate localization of sensor nodes have a strong influence on the performance of a wireless sensor network (WSN). This paper considers real-time autonomous deployment of sensor nodes from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Such a deployment has importance, particularly in ad hoc WSNs, for emergency applications, such as disaster monitoring and battlefield surveillance. The objective is to deploy the nodes only in the terrains of interest, which are identified by segmentation of the images captured by a camera on board the UAV. Bioinspired algorithms, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA), are presented in this paper for image segmentation. In addition, PSO and BFA are presented for distributed localization of the deployed nodes. Image segmentation for autonomous deployment and distributed localization are formulated as multidimensional optimization problems, and PSO and BFA are used as optimization tools. Comparisons of the results of PSO and BFA for autonomous deployment and distributed localization are presented. Simulation results show that both the algorithms perform multilevel image segmentation faster than the exhaustive search for optimal thresholds. Besides, PSO-based localization is observed to be faster, and BFA-based localization is more accurate.
Cytotoxic Effects of Ellagitannins Isolated from Walnuts in Human Cancer Cells

Walnuts contain many bioactive components that may slow cancer growth. A previous report showed that a diet supplemented with walnuts decreased the tumor size formed by MDA-MB-231 human cancer cells injected into nude mice. However, the mechanism of action was never determined. We characterized the effects of a methanol extract prepared from walnuts on human MDA-MB-231, MCF7, and HeLa cells. The extract was cytotoxic to all cancer cells. We identified compounds from the methanol extract that induced this cytotoxicity. The predominant compounds were Tellimagrandin I and Tellimagrandin II, members of the ellagitannin family. We also show a walnut extract decreases the intracellular pH, depolarizes the mitochondrial membrane with release of cytochrome c and phosphatidylserine flipping. The antimitogenic effects of walnut extract were associated with a twofold reduction of mitochondria respiration. These results suggest impairment of mitochondrial function and apoptosis as relevant mechanism of anticancer effects of the walnut extract.
Effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate activated signaling pathways on 1α, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 Regulated Human 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase Gene Expression in Differentiated Caco-2 Cells

Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C(PKC) activator, can modulate 1α, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3))-induced expression of the 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) gene but this has not been studied in differentiated enterocytes, a primary 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) target cell. We found that in differentiated Caco-2 cells, an established model of the mature absorptive epithelial cell, PMA significantly enhanced 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced human CYP24A1 (hCYP24A1) mRNA accumulation and hCYP24A1 promoter-luciferase reporter gene activation by 150%. Reporter gene studies further identified the region between -298 and +74 bp in the hCYP24A1 promoter as critical for the PMA enhancing effect and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis showed that PMA enhanced 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced binding of vitamin D receptor to this region. PMA can activate PKC, ERK1/2, and p38 MAP kinases and inhibition of these signaling pathways reduced both 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced hCYP24A1 gene transcription and the enhancing effect of PMA. The PMA enhancing effect on 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) action was evident in a minimal promoter with three osteocalcin VDREs and was reduced after mutation of a putative vitamin D stimulatory site in the hCYP24A1 promoter. In contrast, mutation of a Ets binding site (EBS) in the hCYP24A1 promoter had no impact on 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) action or the PMA enhancing effect. These data suggest that in the differentiated enterocyte PMA-induced activation of several signaling pathways contribute to 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced hCYP24A1 gene expression through multiple regulatory motifs within the proximal hCYP24A1 promoter.
A K-band (HTS,gold)/ferroelectric thin film/dielectric diplexer for a discriminator-locked tunable oscillator

The performance of a K-band conductor/ferroelectric thin film/dielectric tunable diplexer that is being developed as a critical part of a discriminator-locked tunable oscillator will be discussed. This diplexer consists of two K-band (18 to 22 GHz), two-pole YBCO/SrTiO/sub 3//LaAlO/sub 3/ bandpass filters coupled to the microwave signal input port through a 50 /spl Omega/ power splitter. When tested independently at 77 K and varying bias of /spl plusmn/400 V, these filters exhibited a passband frequency shift greater than 1.7 GHz, while maintaining a non-deembedded insertion loss near 2.0 dB. Electromagnetic modeling results for the diplexer indicate that varying the dielectric constant of the SrTiO/sub 3/ from 3000 (/spl sim/77 K) to 500 (/spl sim/300 K) will shift the diplexer's "cross-over" frequency from 19 to 21 GHz, with only minor variations in insertion loss. Measurements at 298 K of this diplexer circuit using a gold/SrTiO/sub 3// LaAlO/sub 3/ structure resulted in non-deembedded insertion losses of 3.3 dB and 2.5 dB at the filters' maxima at 20.65 and 22.43 GHz, respectively, with a cross-over frequency at 21.07 GHz. These room temperature results are consistent with modeling. The measured characteristics of YBCO/SrTiO/sub 3//LaAlO/sub 3/ diplexers at cryogenic temperatures will be presented.
Genetic Structure of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations Based on Mitochondrial ND5 Sequences: Evidence for an Independent Invasion into Brazil and United States

Aedes albopictus (Skuse), Asian tiger mosquito, a dengue fever vector, colonized the United States and Brazil ≈15 yr ago. The geographic origin and changes in population structure were examined using DNA sequences of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5). A 450 bp region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and screened for variation by both the single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) mutation detection technique and direct sequencing. The United States populations were typified by some local differentiation, but the most common and widespread haplotype was characteristic of the native range (Asian) populations as well. A comparison of the native range populations with the United States populations indicated a shared ancestral origin. The Brazil populations contained private (population specific) haplotypes, indicating no genetic exchange between the Brazil and the United States populations since introduction. Local differentiation was not observed among Brazil populations in contrast to the United States populations; this suggested distinctive dispersal mechanisms in the two countries. Extremely low variability was present in the A. albopictus mitochondrial sequences when contrasted with other taxa, reflecting a history of dispersal from a narrow genetic base. In contrast, relatively high levels of variation in several sequenced nuclear loci indicated the following colonization sequence: (1) the founding population was small, genetic drift had insufficient time to reduce variation at nuclear loci, and (2) populations successively expanded to new geographic areas established from a few founder females.
Disparities in Maternal Child and Health Outcomes Attributable to Prenatal Tobacco Use

Objectives Previous estimates of smoking-attributable adverse outcomes, such as preterm births (PTBs), low birth weight (LBW) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs) generally do not address disparities by maternal age, racial/ethnic group or socioeconomic status (SES). This study develops estimates of smoking-attributable PTB, LBW and SIDS for the US by age, SES and racial/ethnic groupings. Methods Data on the number of births and the prevalence of PTB, LBW and SIDS were used to develop the number of outcomes by age, race/ethnicity, and SES. The prevalence of prenatal smoking by age, race/ethnic and education and the relative risk of outcomes for smokers were used to calculate smoking-attributable fractions of outcomes. Results Prenatal smoking among ages 15–24 is above 12 %, with 20–24 year olds representing at least 35 % of PTB, LBW SIDS cases. Women with a high school education or less represented more than 50 % of PTB and LBW births, and 44 % of SIDS cases. While non-Hispanic Whites had the majority of smoking-attributable outcomes, non-Hispanic Blacks represented a disproportionately high percentage of PTBs (18 %), LBW births (22 %), and SIDS cases (13 %). Conclusions Reducing prenatal smoking has the potential to reduce adverse birth outcomes and costs with long-term implications, especially among the young, non-Hispanic Blacks and those of lower SES. Stricter tobacco control policies, especially higher cigarette taxes, higher minimum purchase ages for tobacco and improved cessation interventions can help reduce disparities and the cost to insurers, especially public costs through Medicaid.
Reaction kinetics of the CN radical with methyl bromide

Abstract The kinetics of the CN + CH 3 Br reaction were studied using transient infrared laser absorption spectroscopy to detect CN reactants and HCN products. This reaction has a rate constant of k = (2.20 ± 0.6) × 10 −12 exp (453 ± 98/ T ) cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 over the range 298–523 K. Hydrogen abstraction to produce HCN + CH 2 Br is only a minor reaction product, with a branching fraction of 0.12 ± 0.02. Other product channels, including BrCN + CH 3 , CH 2 CN + HBr, CH 3 CN + Br are likely. An upper limit of 0.01 was established for the HBr yield. These results are in qualitative agreement with recent ab initio calculations.
The American Drug Scene: An Anthology (5th ed.), by James A. Inciardi and Karen McElrath

This book features both classic and contemporary essays and articles on the historical and present-day patterns of and societal reactions to legal and illegal drug use in the United States. The col...
Real-Time Reachability for Verified Simplex Design

The Simplex architecture ensures the safe use of an unverifiable complex/smart controller by using it in conjunction with a verified safety controller and verified supervisory controller (switching logic). This architecture enables the safe use of smart, high-performance, untrusted, and complex control algorithms to enable autonomy without requiring the smart controllers to be formally verified or certified. Simplex incorporates a supervisory controller that will take over control from the unverified complex/smart controller if it misbehaves and use a safety controller. The supervisory controller should (1) guarantee that the system never enters an unsafe state (safety), but should also (2) use the complex/smart controller as much as possible (minimize conservatism). The problem of precisely and correctly defining the switching logic of the supervisory controller has previously been considered either using a control-theoretic optimization approach or through an offline hybrid-systems reachability computation. In this work, we show that a combined online/offline approach that uses aspects of the two earlier methods, along with a real-time reachability computation, also maintains safety, but with significantly less conservatism, allowing the complex controller to be used more frequently. We demonstrate the advantages of this unified approach on a saturated inverted pendulum system, in which the verifiable region of attraction is over twice as large compared to the earlier approach. Additionally, to validate the claims that the real-time reachability approach may be implemented on embedded platforms, we have ported and conducted embedded hardware studies using both ARM processors and Atmel AVR microcontrollers. This is the first ever demonstration of a hybrid-systems reachability computation in real time on actual embedded platforms, which required addressing significant technical challenges.
Alighting of Aphids on Colored Cards m a Flight Chamber

Color preferences of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.); the green peach aphid, Myzus perslcae (Sulzer); and the garden nasturtium aphid, Aphis Sp., were observed under controlled conditions in a flight chamber. The aphids were tested with colored 15.2 × 22.9.cm paper cards. In replicated tests the flying insects were presented with a horizontal row of 3 or 5 colored cards. In each replicate the position of the cards in the row was changed. The 3 species of aphids alighted more frequently on yellow cards than on those where yellow was mixed with orange or green. Orange or green hues presented alone were unattractive. All other hues tested were unattractive as were several shades of gray. Some tints were as attractive or more attractive to the garden nasturtium aphid than their hue or base colors. The possible relationship of the responses observed to color vision of the aphid and to the buildup of aphids following use of some pesticides is discussed.
Ab Initio calculations of phonon splitting in antiferromagnetic Zn Cr 2 O 4

The full zone-center optical phonon spectrum and the exchange coupling constant $J$ of the uniform collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordered phase of $\mathrm{Zn}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ are calculated within density functional theory using the local spin density approximation (LSDA), the LSDA plus Hubbard $U$ $(\mathrm{LSDA}+U)$, and the spin-polarized generalized gradient approximation $(\ensuremath{\sigma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{GGA})$. The AFM ordering is found to induce splittings in the infrared-active phonon modes, confirming the importance of spin-phonon coupling in $\mathrm{Zn}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. The $\ensuremath{\sigma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{GGA}$ and the $\mathrm{LSDA}+U$ give magnitudes of phonon frequencies close to experiment, while the LSDA frequencies are slightly softer. However, only the $\mathrm{LSDA}+U$ exchange constant and phonon splittings are consistent with experiment and previous calculations. A correspondence between the exchange constant and the splittings for the infrared-active phonon modes is found.
Surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux and its complications

Although most patients with reflux peptic esophagitis have the sliding type of hiatal hernia, correction of the hernia is incidental and the objective of the surgeon is to reestablish continence of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The presence of this crucial closure mechanism between the stomach and esophagus was demonstrated just over 2 decades ago by manometric and cineradiographic studies of the esophagogastric junction. Although the abdominal location of the LES exerts a favorable influence, it is possible to have normal LES function in the supradiaphragmatic position, and the relationship between the sliding hiatal hernia and reflux peptic esophagitis remains unclear. Some patients develop esophagitis in the absence of a hernia.
Vasomotor response in human subjects: Conditioning and pseudo-conditioning

The vasomotor responses to a light of 9 Ss administered a series of light-sound pairings did not differ in the course of over 40 trials from those of 6 Ss administered the same stimuli unpaired. Classical conditioning did not occur; the occurrence of (unpaired) conditioned and unconditioned stimuli was sufficient to explain the behavior.
Regulation of permeabilized endothelial cell retraction by myosin phosphorylation

Permeabilized endothelial cell monolayers retracted on exposure to ATP and Ca2+. ADP, inosine triphosphate (ITP), GTP, adenosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate (ATP-gamma S), and 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate failed to support retraction. However, ATP gamma S, a substrate for myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) but not myosin adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase), combined with ITP, a substrate for myosin ATPase but not MLCK, supported retraction. Two MLCK pseudosubstrate peptides, M5 and SM-1, inhibited endothelial cell retraction equally and more effectively than myosin kinase-inhibitory peptide with a sequence based on the phosphorylated site of myosin light chain. M5 was shown to inhibit thiophosphorylation of endothelial cell myosin light chains. Endothelial cells incubated with exogenous unregulated kinase in the presence of ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid retracted on addition of ATP. This retraction was accompanied by thiophosphorylation of the 19 kDa myosin light chains in the presence of ATP gamma 35S. The N-ethylmaleimide-modified subfragment 1 of myosin heads, a specific inhibitor of actin-myosin interaction, prevented retraction. These data add support to the proposal of a central role for MLCK activation of myosin in endothelial retraction.
The surgical management of large goiters.

(1950). The Surgical Management of Large Goiters. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 58-62.
Fusion studies with low-intensity radioactive ion beams using an active-target time projection chamber

Abstract The total fusion excitation function for 10 Be+ 40 Ar has been measured over the center-of-momentum (c.m.) energy range from 12 to 24 MeV using a time-projection chamber (TPC). The main purpose of this experiment, which was carried out in a single run of duration 90 h using a ≈100 particle per second (pps) 10 Be beam, was to demonstrate the capability of an active-target TPC to determine fusion excitation functions for extremely weak radioactive ion beams. Cross sections as low as 12 mb were measured with acceptable (50%) statistical accuracy. It also proved to be possible to separate events in which charged particles were emitted from the fusion residue from those in which only neutrons were evaporated. The method permits simultaneous measurement of incomplete fusion, break-up, scattering, and transfer reactions, and therefore fully exploits the opportunities presented by the very exotic beams that will be available from the new generation of radioactive beam facilities.
Digito: A Fine-Grain Gesturally Controlled Virtual Musical Instrument.

This paper presents Digito, a gesturally controlled virtual musical instrument. Digito is controlled through a number of intricate hand gestures, providing both discrete and continuous control of Digito’s sound engine; with the finegrain hand gestures captured by a 3D depth sensor and recognized using computer vision and machine learning algorithms. We describe the design and initial iterative development of Digito, the hand and finger tracking algorithms and gesture recognition algorithms that drive the system, and report the insights gained during the initial development cycles and user testing of this gesturally controlled virtual musical instrument.
Preservation of 32 Human Kidneys by Simple Cold Storage for more than 48 Hours

AbstractTransplant centers are reluctant to use kidneys stored cold for more than 48 hours. During a 6-year interval we transplanted 32 kidneys preserved by Intracellular electrolyte flushing that were stored cold for 48.2 to 61.4 hours. Of the recipients 91 per cent required dialysis within 1 week after transplantation. The mean serum creatinine nadir within 1 month was 3.0mg. per dl. and graft survival at 1 month was 81 per cent. Short-term kidney graft function was not Influenced significantly by the addition of magnesium sulfate to the flush solutions or by cyclosporin immunosuppression. The 1 and 2-year actuarial kidney graft survival rates were 72 and 58 per cent, respectively. The 1 and 2-year mean serum creatinine levels were 1.9 and 1.6mg. per dl., respectively. Kidneys can be transplanted successfully after 48 hours of simple cold storage following flushing with an ice-cold intracellular electrolyte solution.
Robustness of \({\overline {\rm{\chi }} ^2}\) and \({\overline {\rm{E}} ^2}\): A Case for a Ranked Test in Order-Restricted Inference

In order restricted inference, the \({\overline {\rm{\chi }} ^2}\) and \({\overline {\rm{E}} ^2}\) test statistics, which assume an underlying normal distribution, are commonly used to test the null hypothesis of equality of means for k treatments against some given ordered alternative. We note the following results from Monte Carlo analysis. The \({\overline {\rm{\chi }} ^2}\) test is anticonservative for highly leptokurtic distributions (kurtosis ≥ 6), while the Ē test is conservative. A nonparametric test, \({\overline {\rm{\chi }} ^2}_{{\rm{rank}}}\), avoids these robustness concerns and provides larger power for mild alternatives than either \({\overline {\rm{\chi }} ^2}\) or \({\overline {\rm{E}} ^2}\) when the distributions are highly leptokurtic.
What Do Our Patients Truly Want? Conjoint Analysis of an Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Practice Using Internet Crowdsourcing.

Background What do patients want when looking for an aesthetic surgeon? When faced with attributes like reputation, years in practice, testimonials, photos, and pricing, which is more valuable? Moreover, are attributes procedure-specific? Currently, inadequate evidence exists on which attributes are most important to patients, and to our knowledge, none on procedure-specific preferences. Objectives First, to determine the most important attributes to breast augmentation, combined breast/abdominal surgery, and facelift patients using conjoint analysis. Second, to test the conjoint using an internet crowdsourcing service (Amazon Mechanical Turk [MTurk]). Methods Anonymous university members were asked, via mass electronic survey, to pick a surgeon for facelift surgery based on five attributes. Attribute importance and preference was calculated. Once pre-tested, the facelift, breast augmentation and combined breast/abdominal surgery surveys were administered worldwide to MTurk. Results The university facelift cohort valued testimonials (33.9%) as the most important, followed by photos (31.6%), reputation (18.2%), pricing (14.4%), and practice years (1.9%). MTurk breast augmentation participants valued photos (35.3%), then testimonials (33.9%), reputation (15.7%), pricing (12.2%), and practice years (3%). MTurk combined breast/abdominal surgery and facelift participants valued testimonials (38.3% and 38.1%, respectively), then photos (27.9%, 29.4%), reputation (17.5%, 15.8%), pricing (13.9%, 13.9%), practice years (2.4%, 2.8%). Conclusions Breast augmentation patients placed higher importance on photos; combined breast/abdominal surgery and facelift patients valued testimonials. Conjoint analysis has had limited application in plastic surgery. To our knowledge, internet crowdsourcing is a novel participant recruitment method in plastic surgery. Its unique benefits include broad, diverse and anonymous participant pools, low-cost, rapid data collection, and high completion rate.
The World Reimagined: Americans and Human Rights in the Twentieth Century

Concerns about rights in the United States have a long history, but the articulation of global human rights in the twentieth century was something altogether different. Global human rights offered individuals unprecedented guarantees beyond the nation for the protection of political, economic, social and cultural freedoms. The World Reimagined explores how these revolutionary developments first became believable to Americans in the 1940s and the 1970s through everyday vernaculars as they emerged in political and legal thought, photography, film, novels, memoirs and soundscapes. Together, they offered fundamentally novel ways for Americans to understand what it means to feel free, culminating in today's ubiquitous moral language of human rights. Set against a sweeping transnational canvas, the book presents a new history of how Americans thought and acted in the twentieth-century world.
Unexpected Non-Maternally Derived Anti-PP1P k in an 11-Week-Old Patient.

Alloantibody formation at less than 4 months of age is rare. Most antibodies identified in these patients are maternally derived. Anti-PP1Pk was detected in an 11-week-old infant that was not maternally derived. A multidisciplinary team approach led to appropriate testing, diagnosis, and transfusion management in this critically ill infant.
Fluctuations in population fecundity drive variation in demographic connectivity and metapopulation dynamics

Demographic connectivity is vital to sustaining metapopulations yet often changes dramatically through time due to variation in the production and dispersal of offspring. However, the relative impo...
Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences Through the Affordable Care Act: Promising Advances and Missed Opportunities

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) occur when children are exposed to trauma and/or toxic stress and may have a lifelong effect. Studies have shown that ACEs are linked with poor adult health outcomes and could eventually raise already high health care costs. National policy interest in ACEs has recently increased, as many key players are engaged in community-, state-, and hospital-based efforts to reduce factors that contribute to childhood trauma and/or toxic stress in children. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has provided a promising foundation for advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and management of ACEs and their consequences. Although the ACA's future is unclear and it does not adequately address the needs of the pediatric population, many of the changes it spurred will continue regardless of legislative action (or inaction), and it therefore remains an important component of our health care system and national strategy to reduce ACEs. We review ways in which some of the current health care policy initiatives launched as part of the implementation of the ACA could accelerate progress in addressing ACEs by fully engaging and aligning various health care stakeholders while recognizing limitations in the law that may cause challenges in our attempts to improve child health and well-being. Specifically, we discuss coverage expansion, investments in the health workforce, a family-centered care approach, increased access to care, emphasis on preventive services, new population models, and improved provider payment models.
What is primed in priming from imagery

Priming from imagery is typically weaker than that from perception. This has been interpreted as resulting from weaker activation of perceptual processes. However, for imagery and perception, commonality is only half the story: Each is also characterized by specific processes. If priming can be due to both unshared and shared components of imagery and perception, then it should be possible to observe greater priming from imagery than from perception. Two new priming experiments were designed to test this hypothesis, while controlling incidental task differences. In both experiments, participants studied objects by counting their parts (from a mental image or a picture). Experiment 1 used a word-picture matching test task, which was hypothesized to depend on stimulus processing specific to perception, and Experiment 2 a size judgment test task, which was hypothesized to depend on retrieval and generation processes specific to imagery. As predicted, priming for perceived objects was greater than priming for imagined objects in the word-picture matching task. Conversely, in the size judgment task, more priming from imagery than from perception was observed. These results support the conclusions that (a) imagery and perception have substantial unshared processes, and (b) these processes contribute to priming.
Message Framing and Engagement in Specialty Mental Health Care.

Objective:Engagement rates in specialty mental health care for depression are suboptimal. This study examined the extent to which framing—by gain, by loss, or neutral— of health messages promotes appointment attendance among patients referred to specialty mental health care.Methods:The study employed a randomized, prospective, experimental design. Patients meeting criteria for major depression and referred to specialty mental health care at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center were randomly assigned (N=360) to receive a patient reminder letter routinely mailed prior to scheduled specialty care appointments (neutral) or one of two messages (gain framed versus loss framed) that were added to the routine letter. Appointment and attendance data were extracted from the computerized system. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between message frame condition and initial appointment attendance.Results:The sample (mean±SD age=51.5±13.5) was primarily ...
MISSOURI RIVER RESERVOIR SYSTEM IMPACT ON THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1993

The Great Flood of 1993 was the worst flood of this century in the U.S. causing an estimated $15 billion (109) in damages and the loss of at least 48 lives. Approximately 50,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and 54,000 people were evacuated from their homes. An unusual weather pattern consisting of a high pressure system situated over the southeast and low pressure over the northwest caused wave after wave of intense thunderstorms to occur in an eight-state area of the upper Mississippi and Missouri River basins between March 14 and July 29, 1993. The Missouri River main stem reservoir system, consisting of five reservoirs in tandem, has a total storage capacity of 90.6 billion (109) m3 of which 19.7 billion (109) m3 is flood control storage. Six years of drought prior to the flood had left system storage about 12.3 billion (109) m3 below normal. This storage deficit was filled in three months and over $3.4 billion (109) in flood damage was prevented by the reservoir system. The chapter describes the Missouri River reservoir system, the Great Flood of 1993, and reservoir and levee project performance.
Imaging of 3D Molecular Orientations by Polarization-Controlled Coherent Raman Microscopy

A new optical imaging method determines the 3D angles of molecular orientation by concurrent polarization analysis of multiple Raman modes. Theoretical description and data analysis results of semicrystalline polyethylene will be presented.
Exogenous Radionanomedicine: Inorganic Nanomaterials

Roles of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in cancer diagnosis and therapy are constantly evolving. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging allows the investigation of not only morphological but also functional characteristics of tumor tissues and possess distinct advantageous characteristics, such as high specificity and sensitivity, excellent quantifiability and virtually no tissue penetration limit. Nanoparticles, as multifunctional materials, hold the potential of being surface-engineered, conjugated to numerous targeting agents while carrying therapeutic or diagnostic agents and, thus, can provide the platforms needed for enhancing imaging and therapy efficacy and specificity; hence a large number of nanocarriers have been radiolabeled with a vast array of SPECT and PET agents for preclinical studies. In this context, radiolabeled nanoparticles hold the potential to deeply impact the science of clinical practice, from disease diagnosis to patient management. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the methods of synthesis, radiolabeling and further applications of the most commonly used nanoparticles in radionanomedicine.
The Adult Patient with Acute Neurologic Deficit: An Update on Imaging Trends

Stroke is the clinical syndrome of abrupt onset of acute neurologic deficit owing to decreased oxygen delivery to the brain, resulting in ischemia or infarction. Approximately 87% of strokes are ischemic and 13% are hemorrhagic. Improved awareness of the neuroimaging findings highlighted in recent stroke clinical trials, as well as of their role in patient selection for novel treatment options-including "late window" (8-24 hours post-ictus!) intraarterial thrombectomy-has become increasingly important. This article focuses on the role of neuroimaging in the assessment and management of patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Review: After PCI in AF, OAC plus single vs dual antiplatelets reduces major bleeding; no difference for MACE.

Source Citation Khan SU, Khan MU, Ghani AR, et al. Meta-analysis of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation after percutaneous coronary intervention. Am J Cardiol. 2018;121:1200-6. 29548674
Patellofemoral joint stress during incline and decline running.

Abstract Objectives To compare patellofemoral joint (PFJ) stress between level, incline, and decline running. Design Experimental study. Setting University laboratory. Participants Twenty recreational runners. Main outcome measures Kinematics and kinetics of the trunk and lower extremity were obtained under 3 treadmill conditions: level, 6° incline, and 6° decline. PFJ stress, PFJ reaction force, and PFJ contact area were determined using a biomechanical model. One-way ANOVAs with repeated measures and post-hoc analyses were used to compare outcome variables across the 3 conditions. Results Peak PFJ stress and PFJ stress-time integral (cumulative PFJ stress over the stance phase) during decline running were significantly higher than during level and incline running. There was no difference in peak PFJ stress and PFJ stress-time integral between level and incline running. The increased peak PFJ stress during decline running was related to increased PFJ reaction force, resulting from a decrease in trunk flexion angle. Conclusions Running on a decline treadmill resulted in higher peak PFJ stress and stress-time integral. Peak PFJ stress and PFJ stress-time integral were similar during level and incline running. Results from this study may be used to prevent excessive PFJ stress during decline running, by targeting a postural strategy utilizing increased trunk flexion.
Effects of composition on crystal structure, thermal expansion, and response to pressure in ReO3-type MNbF6(M = Mn and Zn)

Abstract ReO3-type ABF6, are of interest as low and negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials. As only cubic ABF6 display NTE, the occurrence of phase transitions needs to be understood. The thermal expansion, phase behavior on heating and compression, and compressibilities of MnNbF6 and ZnNbF6 were examined by synchrotron powder diffraction. MnNbF6 undergoes a first order rhombohedral to cubic transition at ~315 K, but ZnNbF6 is rhombohedral over the temperature range examined (~100–500 K). MnNbF6 displays zero thermal expansion at ~380 K and NTE above this temperature. MnNbF6 became completely rhombohedral on initial compression and transformed to an unidentified phase at ~6 GPa. Rhombohedral MnNbF6 is initially elastically very soft (K0~5 GPa), but stiffens considerably on compression. Below ~3.5 GPa it displays negative linear compressibility. ZnNbF6 remained rhombohedral over the entire pressure range examined (0–4 GPa) and displayed a similar stiffening on compression.
Client Experiences of Trauma-Informed Care in Social Service Agencies

This paper describes a qualitative study of individual client interviews (n = 26) from four social service agencies to understand how clients experience trauma-informed care services and implementa...
Measures to Reduce the Impact of Dust From Construction in Bangkok

The study of the measures to reduce the impact of dust from construction in Bangkok has an objective of studying the type of construction activities which cause the risk of creating dust particles pollution. To evaluate the impact from the construction dust and to find the measures to reduce the impact of dust from construction in Bangkok. Sample group consisted of developers involved in 6 construction of high-rise building projects along the sky train rails in Bangkok. It is found that the activities in the construction project with risk impact from dust consisted of 4 types : 1) Demolition 2) Earthworks 3) Construction) 4) Trackout. Information collected are from in-depth interviews. Analyze results with risk assessment techniques and content analysis techniques. From the study it is found that there are 4 types of activities in the construction project which are risk factors of creating dust: 1) Demolition 2) Earthworks 3) Construction 4) Track out. The highest level of impact resulting from construction dust is breathing or respiratory system. The most important measures to take to reduce the impact of dust from construction is the law enforcement measures. Such as 1) Stating specific control area, controlling the numbers of high-rise buildings along the main highways, in order to ventilate the air, no obstruction of wind directions 2) Enforcing the law to punish the source of dust particles that causes air pollution, to be effective immediately after being caught of committing the offense or it is found that there is no good preventive measures, such as stop the construction 3) Suspension of construction where, in the control area, the air exceeding PM2.5 safety standard.
Depression in Primary Care: Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment

This Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians contains excerpts from the Clinical Practice Guideline, Depression in Primary Care: Volumes 1 and 2. It was not designed to stand on its own. Practitioners should review the Clinical Practice Guideline carefully to become familiar with the diagnosis, differential diagnoses, and treatment options for patients with major depressive disorder and then use the Quick Reference Guide to help them remember the major decision points in diagnosing and treating major depressive disorder. If the information contained in these documents is insufficient to evaluate the condition of a particular patient, the practitioner is advised to seek a consultation. The Panel's inferences as to what is optimal patient care are not expected to apply to all patients or situations. Knowledge developed through research can only provide a starting point for approaching a particular patient. Algorithms and flow charts are not applicable in every case. They do, however, provide coarse road maps for managing certain patients. Practitioners must use their own judgment in adapting guidelines to particular patients.
Retinoblastoma: Genetic Counseling and Testing

Genetic counseling and testing for retinoblastoma (RB) pose unique challenges for clinicians and patients. Despite RB being a single-gene disorder, there are complexities in the clinical phenotype that can make providing guidance to patients and their families difficult. Retinoblastoma may present as unilateral or bilateral disease. This laterality alone influences the likelihood of a germline mutation in the RB1 gene being present. All cases of bilateral RB harbor a germline RB1 mutation; however, in unilateral cases a germline mutation is present approximately 15–20% of the time. Mosaicism and incomplete penetrance are other factors that may cloud the interpretation of a family history and recurrence risk estimates. Adult RB survivors with a germline mutation have an increased risk for other cancers; however, clear guidelines on cancer surveillance have yet to be established. Finally, with the advancements in genetic testing technology, molecular analysis is readily available to diagnose patients. One must keep in mind, though, that not all genetic tests are equal in their detection rates and sensitivities. It is important to be cognizant of the limitations still present when selecting and offering genetic testing to patients, in the interpretation of test results, and in the provision of recurrence risks.
La travesía de migrantes centroamericanos en su camino hacia la frontera de México y los Estados Unidos

La Bestia, La travesia de migrantes centroamericanos en su camino hacia la frontera de Mexico y los Estados Unidos narra la historia de migrantes indocumentados que viajan en La Bestia, un tren de carga en el cual se montan los migrantes Centroamericanos en Arriaga, Ixtepec o Ciudad Hidalgo en el sur de Mexico y que los llevara hasta cerca de Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Piedras Negras o Nuevo Laredo. Amarrados precariamente del techo del tren, este camino arriesgado de mas de 3.000 km determinara que muchos de quienes emprenden el viaje, nunca lleguen a la frontera