cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence, clinical spectrum, and outcomes of primary sclerosing cholangitis in a United States community.

Abstract Background & Aims: The epidemiology of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in the United States is unknown. We report the incidence, clinical spectrum, and outcomes of PSC in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Methods: Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a medical records linkage system in Olmsted County, Minnesota, we identified county residents with PSC, and the diagnosis was confirmed according to clinical, biochemical, radiographic, and histologic criteria. Results: Twenty-two patients met diagnostic criteria for PSC in 1976–2000. The age-adjusted (to 2000 U.S. whites) incidence of PSC in men was 1.25 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI, 0.70 to 2.06) compared with 0.54 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI, 0.22 to 1.12) in women. The prevalence of PSC in 2000 was 20.9 per 100,000 men (95% CI, 9.5 to 32.4) and only 6.3 per 100,000 women (95% CI, 0.1 to 12.5). Seventy-three percent of cases had inflammatory bowel disease, the majority with ulcerative colitis. Survival among PSC patients was significantly less than expected for the Minnesota white population of similar age and gender ( P Conclusions: These data represent the first population-based estimates of the incidence and prevalence of PSC in the United States. The incidence and prevalence of PSC were approximately one third of those previously described for primary biliary cirrhosis in the same population. Our data suggest that the prevalence of PSC in the United States, with its attendant medical burdens, is significantly greater than previously estimated.
Scale Construction: Developing Reliable and Valid Measurement Instruments:

The purpose of this paper is to describe the process for developing reliable and valid measurement instruments that can be used in any hospitality industry field research setting. Many instances ex...
Psychology of scientist: XXXIV. MMPI characteristics of physical and social science students: replication and reanalysis.

In the original study, using freshmen data, 291 male college graduates in physics, zoology, sociology, and history were used to test four hypotheses derived from other MMPI studies of science stude...
Coupled-quantum-well field-effect resonant tunneling transistor for multi-valued logic/memory applications

A vertical field-effect resonant tunneling transistor is demonstrated consisting of a triple-barrier, double-well resonant tunneling diode (3bRTD) that can be depleted by the action of side gates. The 3bRTD features a double peak current-voltage characteristic in which the second valley current is less than the first valley current. Combination of the resonant tunneling transistor and a constant current load is shown to yield both binary and ternary logic and memory functions. >
Product Life Cycle, and Market Entry and Exit Decisions Under Uncertainty

A key characteristic of the Product Life Cycle (PLC) is the depletion of the product's market potential due to technological obsolescence. Based on this concept, we develop a stochastic model for evaluating market entry and exit decisions during the PLC under uncertainty. The model explicitly shows the conditions for the optimality of a two-threshold policy based on the estimated earnings potential of the product, and can be used by manufacturing firms to assess entry and exit decisions under such conditions. To aid the applications of the model in actual decision situations, we also provide the procedures for computing the exact and approximate values of the two thresholds.
Report on the VLDB workshop on technologies for e-services (TES)

1 Aims and scope The Web is changing every aspect of our lives, but no area is undergoing as rapid and significant changes as the way businesses operate. Today, large and small companies are using the Web to communicate with their partners, to connect with their back-end systems, and to perform electronic commerce transactions. The next chapter of the Internet story is the evolution of today's e-business and e-commerce systems into "e-services", such as order procurement, on-line trading, customer relationship management, product promotion, or real-time car navigation and traffic information services. In order to make e-services available to customers, service providers need to address several issues, such as: • e-service description: which are the attributes of an e-service that should be made visible to customers or applications, and how they should be described. • e-service advertisement: how service providers can publish service description so that they can be discovered and accessed by customers and applications. • e-service discovery and selection: how customers and applications can discover and select the e-service (or the combination of e-services) that best fulfill their requirements. • e-service composition: how basic e-services (possibly offered by different companies) can be combined to form value-added, reliable services. Which architectures, models, and languages can achieve zero latency service integration and cross-organizational business process automation. • e-service delivery: how e-services are delivered to businesses and to customers • e-service monitoring and analysis: how service executions can be monitored and how service execution data can be analyzed in order to improve the service quality or efficiency • e-service contracts: how to agree on and perform legal contracts between service providers and clients electronically. • e-service ratings: how to validate service claims and evaluate the quality of the different service providers.
Electrical Properties of Wood

It has been noted (Chap. 1.2.1.5) that two general types of electrical moisture meters have been used to estimate the moisture content of wood. These are resistance meters which measure essentially the direct current (DC) electrical resistance, and dielectric moisture meters which measure some function of the complex dielectric constant or electrical permittivity of wood, usually by means of alternating current (AC).
The Field of Schizophrenia: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

At the same time that this issue commemorates the seminal contributions of Eugene Bleuler, we are also confronted with a climate in which the lay press finds occasion to call into question the very real progress that has been made in the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses. A recent example is provided by Marcia Angell’s 2-part contribution to the New York Review of Books. 1,2 Perhaps, in this context, it is a fitting time to step back and conduct a so-called SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)
Post-liquefaction Shear Behavior of Bonneville Silty-Sand

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study addressing the post-liquefaction undrained shear behavior of a silty-sand characterizing the main liquefiable layer within Bonneville sediments at the Farmington Siding Landslide Complex (FSLC). FSLC is located in Davis County, Utah where liquefaction flow- slides associated with past earthquake activity in the region have been documented. Undrained cyclic triaxial tests to trigger liquefaction in water-pluviated samples of Bonnevile silty-sand consolidated isotropically under various effective confining stresses were followed by undrained monotonic triaxial compression tests on the liquefied specimens. The experimental results revealed a dilative behavior of the liquefied soil element, and the post-liquefaction undrained shear strength showed an increase with increasing initial effective consolidation stress. An infinite slope analysis addressing the onset of flow-slide in a liquefied Bonneville silty-sand deposit, using the post-liquefaction undrained shear strength data from laboratory testing, resulted in required minimum slope inclinations much greater than the actual slope gradient at the FSLC.
An architecture and implementation toward multiprotocol mobility

The challenge is to design a set of protocols that provide seamless and robust network connectivity to mobile users for a variety of existing network protocol suites. An important additional constraint is that the design should not require any changes to the existing stationary infrastructure and it should interoperate with the existing protocol stacks at the stationary hosts. We propose a mobile data link (MDL) architecture that endeavors to meet this design challenge. The architecture hides the topological effects of mobility at the data link layer, thus making topology changes due to mobility transparent at layers above the data link. This provides a single mechanism to support a variety of distributed applications that use different protocol stacks without requiring changes to the implementations of the stacks. Further, the-solution provides the enhanced degree of mobility provided by prior network layer solutions. The novel features of the proposed solution are the use of the network layer infrastructure for carrying data link traffic, the ability to dynamically maintain a data link overlay over a common network layer infrastructure, and efficient handling of the broadcast traffic. We have developed an MDL architecture that allows data link networks (formed by the interconnection of LAN segments by bridges) to be dynamic, thereby supporting mobile hosts, eliminating the need for manual configuration. Moreover, our scheme efficiently handles broadcasts and multicasts. >
Task-oriented self-organization of ad hoc sensor systems

An ad hoc network is a collection of perhaps wireless mobile nodes dynamically forming a network without the use of any pre-existing network infrastructure or centralized administration. Resource limitations of sensors deployed in an ad hoc setting necessitates careful consideration of the choice of sensors. In this paper, a distributed task-oriented self-organization algorithm for sensors in such a network to organize themselves according to the task being announced is proposed. The proposed algorithm uses appropriate attribute vectors to describe the specifications of tasks and sensors. When a task is announced, a distributed leader election algorithm is used to select the sensor that is best matched based on minimizing a distance measure between the announced task and sensor specifications. The selected sensor then uses a task decomposition method to generate, and then announce, residual tasks that 'cover' the matching error. In this manner, sensors are sequentially selected until all residual tasks are 'covered'. All sensors selected by the algorithm form a sensor group for the originally announced task.
Sheaved memory: architectural support for state saving and restoration in pages systems

The concept of read-one/write-many paged memory is introduced and given the name sheaved memory. It is shown that sheaved memory is useful for efficiently maintaining checkpoints in main memory and for providing state saving and state restoration for software that includes recovery blocks or similar control structures. The organization of sheaved memory is described in detail, and a design is presented for a prototype sheaved-memory module that can be built easily from inexpensive, off-the-shelf components. The module can be incorporated within many available computers without altering the computers' hardware design. The concept of sheaved memory is simple and appealing, and its potential for use in a number of software contexts is foreseen.
Joint maximum likelihood estimation of the fMRI hemodynamic response function and activation

Modeling the hemodynamic response function (HRF) and estimating the activation level are two important aspects in the statistical analysis of the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). It is known that the HRF varies between experiments, subjects, and brain regions. A good model should be able to capture these variabilities. On one hand, a good HRF model results in a better activation detection; on the other hand, active voxels need to be defined for the estimation of the HRF. It has been shown that in a homogenous Region Of Interest (ROI), neighbor voxels have the same HRF shape with varying magnitude. Therefore, we propose a joint maximum likelihood estimation of the HRF and activation level in a ROI. There is no assumption on the exact shape of the HRF, thus it is possible to capture the HRF variabilities. The proposed method uses the rank one approximation of the data matrix, which is very convenient to calculate using the singular value decomposition (SVD). Results on the simulated data show that the joint estimate of the HRF and activation levels in a ROI are precise estimates, which are obtained without any assumption on the exact shape of the HRF.
Future Directions in Renal Cell Carcinoma: 2011 and Beyond

Emerging from a largely cytokine-based era, the last several years have witnessed a dramatic change in the therapeutic landscape of renal cancer. Molecularly targeted and antiangiogenic agents now form the backbone of most therapeutic strategies for the majority of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). While the next few years may not see such broad paradigm shifts, there remains significant room for improvement in the care of patients with RCC. In this review, we will discuss challenges which face physicians and researchers going forward as well as innovations which may contribute to improving the therapeutic outcomes for patients with RCC.
Timing Jitter and Power Spectral Density of Random Walk Noise in VCO

Random walk noise is an important component in the output phase noise of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The relation between this non-stationary noise component and the induced timing jitter is critical for VCO performance characterization. Rigorous derivation of the relation is provided in this paper, which corrects the error in the relation obtained under wide-sense stationary assumption. Besides, the correct expression of power spectral density of the output phase noise is obtained. Additionally, discussion is provided in this paper on the measurement principle to obtain power spectral density of non-stationary phase noise.
A PATTERN-WEIGHT FORMULATION OF SEARCH KNOWLEDGE

Pattern-weight pairs (pws) are a new form of search and planning knowledge. Pws are predicates over states coupled with a least upper bound on the distance from any state satisfying that predicate to any goal state. The relationship of pws to more traditional forms of search knowledge is explored with emphasis on macros and subgoals. It is shown how pws may be used to overcome some of the difficulties associated with macro-tables and lead to shorter solution paths without replanning. An algorithm is given for converting a macro-table to a more powerful pw set. Superiority over the Squeeze algorithm is demonstrated. It is also shown how pws provide a mechanism for achieving dynamic subgoaling through the combination of knowledge from multiple alternative subgoal sequences. The flexibility and execution time reasoning provided by pws may have significant use in reactive domains. The main cost associated with pws is the cost of applying them at execution time. An associative retrieval algorithm is given that expedites this matching-evaluation process.
Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with insulin resistance cross-sectionally but not longitudinally in older adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background Despite extensive study, the role of vitamin D in insulin resistance and secretion remains unclear.
Magnetic bead purification as a rapid and efficient method for enhanced antibody specificity for plant sample immunoblotting and immunolocalization

Molecular analysis of plant tissues with antibodies has traditionally been hindered by the presence of high non-specific binding by plant cell walls and other components along with significant contaminants within sera that retard identification of specific plant tissue targets. Methods which rely on immobile solid supports conjugated with high-affinity molecular entities, have been used to purify sera. Despite their wide use, traditional antibody purification methods can result in low yields or activity and can produce significant levels of secondary contaminants, resulting in high non-specific background and dilution of tissue-specific signals. Mobile support matrixes like magnetic beads conjugated with high-affinity antisera have recently become an efficient alternative method for isolating and identifying diverse molecular targets. In this study, rabbit anti-calreticulin (CRT) immunoglobulin G (IgG) was isolated from whole anti-CRT sera with magnetic beads and tested by Western blot and immunocytochemistry for CRT localization in Pistia stratiotes plant tissues. IgG protein quantitation and purity was compared between purified and non-purified pre-immune and anti-CRT sera using spectrophotometric, reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and fluorescence staining followed by quantitative densitometry analysis. Anti-CRT IgG binding specificity after purification was determined by Western blot of total soluble protein extract. Purified and non-purified pre-immune and anti-CRT samples were subsequently utilized for CRT immunogold localization in Pistia tissue sections and visualized with confocal microscopy. The results demonstrate that magnetic bead purified anti-CRT IgG from whole serum shows enhanced specificity and reduced background. The ease of use and speed of this IgG purification technique should find widespread use in the plant biology field.
Adaptive mode switching in the MIMO broadcast channel

This paper proposes an adaptive mode switching between single user and multi-user multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmissions for Gaussian MIMO broadcast channels with partial channel state information at the transmitter. With full channel state information, it is known that multi-user transmission outperforms all other policies. With alternate channel state information available at the transmitter, it is not true that one transmission strategy always dominates the other. In particular, under some practical side information assumptions, there is instead a transition point - when the number of users is below this point, single user transmission outperforms multi-user transmission, and the reverse is true when the number of users exceeds this critical value. In this paper, we determine this mode switching point both analytically and numerically for a MIMO channel with transmit side correlation.
Fed males increase oviposition in female hawkmoths via non-nutritive direct benefits

Direct benefits provided by males have large effects on the fitness of females and their offspring in many species. Here, we examined whether mating or feeding experience of male Carolina sphinx moths, Manduca sexta (Sphingidae), affects the quality of direct benefits that males provide to their mates. We mated virgin females with fed and unfed, virgin and previously mated males. Feeding experience affected male mating success, spermatophore size and flight muscle size. In addition, females mated to fed males laid more eggs than females mated to unfed males, and females mated to virgin males laid more eggs than females mated to previously mated males. Using 13C-enriched glucose in the nectar of the fed males, we found that the second and third spermatophores of males were strongly labelled, but this labelled glucose was not present either in the female's fat body or in her eggs. Therefore, although fed males provided females direct benefits from the sugar in the nectar, the sugar was not used as a nutrient by females. We suggest that in short-lived species, where females mate singly and males mate multiply, and where nectar availability is highly variable, males may be selected to conserve their resources to maintain flight capability and to invest in sperm performance and, thus, provide only limited (non-nutritive) direct fitness benefits to their mates.
Tools for Collaboration Across STEM Fields

Supporting learners at different stages of learning is essential to achieve positive learning, critical thinking, technical and problem solving skills, and gainful employment upon graduation. Collaboration is critical to providing strong foundational educational support to all learners as they advance to higher level of learning. More important is the need to promote collaboration among educators and other professionals across the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields who educate the learners throughout their academic pursuit in their respective institutions of learning. To reap the value in diverse teams, the promotion of emergent interdependence fosters seamless collaborative activities across STEM disciplines. For industrial technology programs to prepare students with skills necessary to supervise and manage the future workforce of any organization successfully, necessary tools must be utilized for the success of the collaborative effort. This paper addresses leadership and knowledge sharing among collaborators, the educational aspects of research facilities and research clusters as some of the tools necessary to develop program through collaboration in STEM fields.
Action of acridines on agents of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group.

SummaryAcriflavine; 3-nitro-6, 7-dimethoxy 9 - (2-phenyl-4-diethylaminobutylamino) acridine; and 3-nitro-6, 7-dimethoxy 9 - (2-hydroxy-3-diethylaminopropylamino) acridine inhibited yolk sac infections of chick embryos with the agents of feline pneumonitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, and meningopneumonitis. The first two compounds were less active against the virus of mouse pneumonitis, but the last-named inhibited this agent in chick embryos.Proflavine, atabrine, and drugs closely related to the above-mentioned nitroacridines, except for substitution of C1 for NO2, had no significant inhibitory action. 3-nitro-9-aminoacridine was intermediate in its effect.Respiratory infections in mice caused by the agent of feline pneumonitis were retarded by the two nitroacridines, but these drugs showed slight or no effect in mice against intranasal infection with the agents of mouse pneumonitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, and meningopneumonitis.
Spider Mite Management on Pome Fruits, Revisited: Organotin and Acaricide Resistance Management

Integrated mite control based on biological control of spider mites, supplemented with physiologically selective acaricides and chemical control of other insect and disease pests of pome fruits, has been studied and implemented in many apple- and some pear-growing areas of North America. Implementation of these methods has not been complete and misuse of physiologically selective acaricides by users has been common. Recently, resistance to the organotin acaricides has developed and the number of effective acaricidal compounds has dwindled alarmingly. Fortunately, several experimental miticides (e.g., clofentezene, hexythiazox, abamectin) may be registered soon for these crops. If these products are then misused, resistance to them may also develop rapidly. Changes are needed in the policies and practices for implementing integrated mite control. Recommendations for increased maintenance research, expanded extension education, better industry cooperation, and greater grower compliance are suggested.
Family-Based Approaches to Cardiovascular Health Promotion

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the world, and the increasing burden is largely a consequence of modifiable behavioral risk factors that interact with genomics and the environment. Continuous cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention throughout the lifespan is critical, and the family is a central entity in this process. In this review, we describe the potential rationale and mechanisms that contribute to the importance of family for cardiovascular health promotion, focusing on: 1) mutual interdependence of the family system; 2) shared environment; 3) parenting style; 4) caregiver perceptions; and 5) genomics. We conclude that family-based approaches that target both caregivers and children, encourage communication among the family unit, and address the structural and environmental conditions in which families live and operate are likely to be the most effective approach to promote cardiovascular health. We describe lessons learned, future implications, and applications to ongoing and planned studies.
The behavioral characteristics and the HIV prevalence among the men who have sex with men in Jiangxi province in 2013

Objective To describe the behavioral characteristics and the status of HIV infection of men who have sex with men(MSM) in Jiangxi province,so as to explore the effective interventions. Methods Using the HIV/AIDS monitoring sentinel data of men who have sex with men in Jiangxi province in 2013,the data was analyzed by statistical software. Results Finally,a total of 1542 MSM interviewees from 7 monitoring sentinels were enrolled. A proportion of 63.1% of interviewees kept using the condom in the previous half year,and 49.7% received the companion education about HIV acknowledge.Forty-nine interviewees were confirmed HIV positive among 1534,and the positive rate was 3.2%. Twenty-four interviewees were positive for syphilis ELISA and TRUST test,and the positive rate was 1.6%. Conclusion The proportion of condom usage is still low,but the infected rate of HIV and syphilis infection rate are higher among MSM in Jiangxi province. The services of HIV/AIDS prevention and control,the high risk behavior intervention for the MSM should be strengthened. More effective interventions should be strengthened including the tests for sex partner,the usage of condom,the companion education and the intervention in internet.
Iodine salt result analysis in Bincheng District between 2007 and 2009

Obiective:To find out the situation about the resident iodine salt eating in Bincheng district,and investigate questions in time and adopt relevant in tervenient measures,and tactics that all the people eat iodine salt generally to receive effective implementation.Methods:According to The National Iodine Salt Monitored Plan,we carry out random selective examination and result judgement to the iodine salt of resident respectively.Results:Between 2007 and 2009 years,the rate of coverage about iodine salt and the rate of qualified iodine salt and the rate of utilization about qualified iodine salt in the whole district are higher than 95%.The rate of qualified iodine salt is less than 90%.Conclusion:Between 2008 and 2009,the rate of coverage about iodine salt and the rate of the eligible quality of iodine salt and the edible rate of eligible iodine salt all reach the national standard.
Why Inherited Colonial Language Ideologies Persist in Postcolonial Africa

The main focus of this chapter is to explain why colonial language ideologies discussed in Chap. 3 and subsequently in Chap. 4 continue to inform language policy and planning in postcolonial Africa. In particular, the chapter reviews the argument, often made in the literature, that the ideology of the nation-state persists in postcolonial Africa because the continent’s linguistic diversity or multilingualism is both a problem and a handicap to development. It reviews this argument against the background of Africa’s arguably monolingual countries, Lesotho and Swaziland, and shows that the argument asserting that multilingualism is a problem is a myth. Instead, it argues that inherited colonial language ideologies persist as a result of at least three interconnected factors, including linguistic instrumentalism: the market value of former colonial languages compared to African languages, Africa’s economic dependency on Western countries, among them former colonial powers, and what Scotton (Language Policy and Political Development. Ablex, 1990) has termed elite closure.
Golden Rules: The Origins of California Water Law in the Gold Rush . By Mark Kanazawa.

Golden Rules: The Origins of California Water Law in the Gold Rush . Markets and Governments in Economic History Series. By Mark Kanazawa. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015. xvii + 351 pp. Illustrations, maps, charts, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, index. $55.00.) Mark Kanazawa wears at least three hats in his assessment of the relationship of mining and water in gold rush California. Narrative historians’ eyes will likely glance over Kanazawa’s introduction and first chapter dealing with economic theory, but succeeding chapters will be eye-openers, as the author digs into the complexities of what it meant to be involved in the gold rush. Prospecting evolved from the familiar individual prospector panning for gold, to joint-stock companies, ditch companies, and dam builders. Each succeeding technology became more elaborate, … hoffmanaz{at}gmail.com
Functional similarity and human pharmacokinetic (PK) equivalence of ABP 215 and bevacizumab.

e14659 Background: ABP 215 is a biosimilar candidate to bevacizumab (BEV), a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Biosimilar mAbs are likely ...
Computer Control of Manufacturing Processes

The availability of a mathematical description of a manufacturing process provides a quantitative basis for process control that is understood as maintaining the desired status of the process in spite of many external and internal disturbance effects. The desired status is defined by the set points, also known as reference signals that represent the desired numerical values of controlled variables of the process. The control task implies that the difference between the actual and desired process variables (error) is determined, and on the basis of this difference and according to the control law, the control efforts are defined and applied to the process. The manner in which the control effort drives the system from its actual state to the desired state, and the allowable discrepancy between the actual and the desired states are quite important. They are dependent on the control law and are explicitly defined by the design specifications along with the discrete time step (or clock frequency). Modern computer systems facilitate every function of the control task; process monitoring, specification of the set points, extraction of the errors, implementation of the control law, and the application of control efforts.
Donald Enlow, M.S., Ph.D.: The consumate student of human facial growth and development.

(2008). Donald Enlow, M.S., Ph.D.: The Consumate Student of Human Facial Growth and Development. CRANIO®: Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 160-161.
Engineering nanostructures of PGM-free oxygen-reduction catalysts using metal-organic frameworks

Abstract Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the essential electrochemical reactions for the energy conversion and storage devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. However, a large amount of Pt is required for catalyzing the kinetically sluggish ORR at the air cathode, therefore greatly limiting their large scale implementation. Development of high-performance platinum group-metal (PGM)-free ORR catalysts has been a long-term goal for these clean energy technologies. However, current PGM-free catalysts are still significantly suffering from insufficient activity and limited durability especially in more challenging acidic media, such as proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), constructed from bridging metal ions and ligands, have emerged as a new type of attractive precursors for the synthesis of PGM-free catalysts, which has led to encouraging performance improvement. Compared to other catalyst precursors, MOFs have well-defined crystal structure with readily tunable chemistry and contain all required elements (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, and metal). Here, we provide an account of recent innovative PGM-free catalyst design and synthesis derived from the unique MOF precursors with special emphasis on engineering nanostructure and morphology of catalysts. We aim to provide new insights into the design and synthesis of advanced PGM-free catalysts with increased density of active sites and controlled bonding in 3D frame network. In addition, we also discuss the possibility to use the well-defined MOF precursors for building up model systems to elucidate the structure-property correlations and the nature of active sites.
Spring emergence of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina): influences of individual variation and scale of temperature correlates

Many organisms spend considerable time in dormancy to avoid stressful environmental conditions. Understanding the timing and triggers of dormancy behavior is critical for understanding an animal’s life history and behavior. Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina (L., 1758)) avoid winter temperatures by burrowing into the soil and remaining dormant. Identifying the proximate environmental cues that trigger emergence can improve conservation efforts by reducing potential aboveground turtle mortality. During a 17-year study, half of all variation in emergence timing was attributed to individual variation and the habitat that they occupied during dormancy. We suggest that individual variation in emergence timing is common within populations and confounds efforts to identify reliable emergence cues. Additionally, the scale of meteorological data limits the ability to identify emergence predictors. Using data from temperature loggers placed at dormancy locations, we found that surface air temperatures, average...
A New Intraoperative Protocol for Reducing Perioperative Transfusions in Cardiac Surgery.

Background Perioperative anemia and blood product transfusion increases short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality during cardiac surgery. We hypothesized that streamlined cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) would reduce blood product usage and improve outcomes. Methods All patients with Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores at our institution from January 2013 to June 2015 were included. Individuals were chronologically stratified into 2 groups according to institutional changes to a streamlined bypass circuit and ROTEM-guided transfusion. Blood product transfusion, hematocrit, and observed to expected outcomes (O/E) were compared between the groups. Results Patients were defined as either control group (533 patients, 12 months) or intervention group (804 patients, 18 months). The intervention group was further subdivided into streamlined circuit (290 patients, 6 months) and ROTEM (514 patients, 12 months). Use of streamlined bypass circuit correlated with significantly reduced intraoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) (23.8% versus 17.9%; p = 0.05) and platelets (28.0% versus 19.3; p = 0.01) with improvement in lowest intraoperative hematocrit (26.0 versus 26.9; p = 0.02). ROTEM was associated with a further reduction in intraoperative pRBCs (17.9% versus 11.28%; p = 0.01) and postoperative transfusion pRBCs (38.3% versus 23.5%; p = 0.02). The combination was associated with reduced intraoperative (44.6% versus 34.1; p 0.001) and postoperative transfusions (45.6% versus 40.1; p 0.001) in the intervention group, while maintaining a higher hematocrit at discharge (28.1 versus 29.1; p 0.001). Finally, the intervention was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the O/E for reoperation ( p = 0.003). Conclusions Use of streamlined cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and ROTEM may reduce transfusion and reoperation rates and improve perioperative anemia in cardiac surgical patients. This study demonstrates reproducible intraoperative methods for reducing blood product usage and improving outcomes.
Characterization of Tissue-Specific HIF-1 and HIF-2 Regulatory Elements of the Erythropoietin Gene

Abstract Hypoxia regulates erythropoiesis and other essential processes via hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs). HIFs are heterodimers that consist of an α subunit (3 isotypes with significant homology; HIF-1α, HIF-2α, HIF-3α), and a common b-subunit; HIF-1 and HIF-2, in some instances exhibiting tissue- and gene-specific gene regulation. Erythropoietin (EPO) was the first identified HIF-1 target gene with the defined HIF-1 binding sequence. However, subsequent works suggested that HIF-2 also regulates EPO transcription and that there are other regulatory elements of EPO gene (i.e. Kidney Inducible Element KIE, Negative Regulatory Element NRE, and Negative Regulatory Liver specific Element NRLE). In silico analysis of the human EPO genome found two additional potential HIF-binding elements in the KIE and NRE regions. The comparative analysis of phylogenically conserved sequences of human, mouse, dog, and rat Epo genes further refined these mouse Epo gene HIF-binding elements as mKIE, mNRE1, mNRE2, and mNRLE2. We treated mice in hypoxia chamber (8% O2) and monitored changes of Epo mRNA levels in liver, kidney, brain, spleen, and bone marrow. All tested tissues increased Epo transcription during hypoxia. Bone marrow, spleen, kidney, and brain showed a peak of induction of Epo transcript at 3 hours of hypoxia treatment, while liver reached the highest level at 6 hours. Mice were sacrificed and organs were harvested, and in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIPs) was performed with antibodies against HIF-1α and HIF- 2α and tissue-specific binding regions were defined. The results from these studies are summarized below. HIF-1 mKIE rnNRE mNRE2 mNRLE2 Norm Hyp Norm Hyp Norm Hyp Norm Hyp Liver − + − − + − ? ? Kidney − + − − + − + − Brain − + − − − + − + BM − + − − − − − + Splsen − + − − − − − + HIF-2 mKIE mNRE mNRE2 mNRLE2 Norm Hyp Norm Hyp Norm Hyp Norm Hyp Liver − + − − − + − + Kidney + − − − + − ? ? Brain − − − − − − − + BM − − − − − − + − Spleen − + − − − − − + “+” denotes presence and “-” absence of binding of HIF-1 and HIF-2, “?” – indicates inconclusive results. “Norm” - normoxia, “Hyp” - hypoxia. In conclusion, we demonstrate the differential hypoxia-induced binding of HIF-1 and HIF-2 at different HIF binding elements in the tissues known to express Epo. Further studies will be required to define the function of these HIF-1 and HIF-2 binding elements in tissue specific Epo expression and their role in health and disease.
Show Your Stuff and Watch Your Tone: Nurses’ Caring Behaviors

Background Although it is perceived as essential, documentation of caring behaviors executed by nurses is rarely done. To facilitate what is important to patients and their family members, we need to understand what behaviors are perceived as caring or not caring. Objective To explore perceptions of nurses' caring behaviors among intubated patients and their family members. Methods A phenomenological study of 14 patients who were intubated, restrained, sedated, and received pain medication in an acute cardiovascular intensive care unit. The 14 patients and 8 of their family members were interviewed about their perceptions of this experience. A semistructured interview guide was used. Data were analyzed by using an inductive method consistent with qualitative research. Results Themes that emerged most often were providing information, providing reassurance, demonstrating proficiency, and being present. Other behaviors identified as caring behaviors were nurses giving guidance and using a soothing tone of voice. Behavior that was contrary to the perception of caring appeared as isolated incidents. These included negative attitude, interrupting sleep, not receiving information, and poor pain management. Conclusion When patients and family members are asked directly about their experience, valuable insight is gained into what they perceive as caring and what contributes to recovery as perceived by those in crisis and in high-intensity medical settings. Capturing these data is elemental to designing high-quality, safe environments that facilitate healing.
Double-Consciousness and the Rhetoric of Barack Obama: The Price and Promise of Citizenship

Robert E. Terrill’s timely and ambitious new book, Double-Consciousness and the Rhetoric of Barack Obama: The Price and Promise of Citizenship, asks readers to grapple with issues that are fundamen...
Recent Developments in the Molecular Theory of Elasticity

Some materials are capable of sustaining enormous reversible tensile deformations, perhaps as much as 1000 per cent or even greater, while exhibiting tensile moduli of only small fractions of those characteristic of typical solids such as metals, ceramics, and glasses.1–3 This phenomenon is generally referred to as rubber elasticity, and such materials are said to be rubber elastic. Rubber materials are polymers, without exception, but certain conditions must prevail: the macromolecules must be flexible at ambient temperature, and they must be tied to one another (crosslinked) at various points in order to prevent wholesale molecular slippage or flow under tension, otherwise reversibility is precluded.
Orientational Ordering in Monolayer Films of Molecular Hydrogen on Boron Nitride

NMR studies of monolayer hydrogen films for both the expected $$\sqrt {\text{3}} \times \sqrt {\text{3}} $$ commensurate solid and the incommensurate solid (for full monolayer coverage) on hexagonal boron nitride (BN) are reported for ortho-H 2 concentrations 0.30≤X≤0.74 and temperatures 0.08<T<4.2 K. Phase diagrams for these systems are mapped out in terms of X and T from clear structural changes of the NMR spectra, including the observation of a 2D orientational quadrupolar glass ordering for X<X crit =0.69, and long range orientational ordering for X>X crit for commensurate films.
Freshwater fisheries assessment using environmental DNA: A primer on the method, its potential, and shortcomings as a conservation tool

Abstract Conservation of fishes is dependent on accurate and precise data about the distributions and population status of at-risk species. Moreover, effective management of fisheries requires that data be collected in ecologically and politically actionable timeframes. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, the extraction and identification of DNA from environmental samples, is a relatively new bioassessment method with the potential to improve species detection probabilities and efficiency compared to traditional capture or observation-based sampling approaches. Here, we provide a primer on eDNA analysis as it pertains to fisheries ecology and conservation. We provide a summary of the history and current status of eDNA analysis with particular attention paid to the study of fishes. We highlight the major advances that have transformed eDNA analysis into an application-ready tool that can assist fisheries professionals in achieving research and conservation goals. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the limitations of eDNA as they pertain to fisheries science.
Systematic Structure–Property Relationship Studies in Palladium-Catalyzed Methane Complete Combustion

To limit further rising levels in methane emissions from stationary and mobile sources and to enable promising technologies based on methane, development of efficient combustion catalysts that completely oxidize CH4 to CO2 and H2O at low temperatures in the presence of high steam concentrations is required. Palladium is widely considered as one of the most promising materials for this reaction, and a better understanding of the factors affecting its activity and stability is crucial to design even more improved catalysts that efficiently utilize this precious metal. Here we report a study of the effect of three important variables (particle size, support, and reaction conditions including water) on the activity of supported Pd catalysts. We use uniform palladium nanocrystals as catalyst precursors to prepare a library of well-defined catalysts to systematically describe structure-property relationships with the help from theory and in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. With this approach, we confirm that...
UV Inactivation of Bacteria in Apple Cider

Apple cider, inoculated with Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua, was processed using a simple UV apparatus. The apparatus consisted of a low-pressure mercury lamp surrounded by a coil of UV transparent tubing. Cider was pumped through the tubing at flow rates of 27 to 83 ml/min. The population of E. coli K-12 was reduced by 3.4 +/- 0.3 log after being exposed for 19 s at a treatment temperature of 25 degrees C. The population of L. innocua, which was more resistant to UV, was reduced by 2.5 +/- 0.1 log after being exposed for 58 s. The electrical energy for the process was 34 J/ml and is similar to that for conventional thermal processing. UV processing has the potential to improve the safety and extend the shelf life of apple cider.
Targeting Pericytes to Improve Wound Healing Outcomes

Recently, pericytes, a mesenchymal stem-like cell population, has been of great interest due to its plasticity and for its role in different pathologies. This review will focus on the contributions of pericytes specifically to wound healing and the potential to manipulate this specific cell population for better healing outcome. Several studies point towards the capability of pericytes to regulate inflammation, angiogenesis and the remodeling phase of healing. Interestingly, findings also show that the source from which pericytes are isolated has differential and varied effects during the process of healing. Pericytes have proven to be beneficial in healing both acute and chronic wounds. Pericytes have both mesenchymal stem cell-like property and its own signature in regulating signaling cascades and molecules making it a prime candidate for cellular therapy. Several other functions of pericytes are still being explored to further understand its potential for use in therapeutic applications.
Conceptual changes to the IEC TR series 61000-3-6, -7, -13, and -14 for power quality disturbance limit allocation procedures

The purpose of this paper is to provide a preview of the conceptual changes being considered by the CIGRE/CIRED Joint Working Group C4.40 for the IEC Technical Report series 61000-3-X which focuses on limit allocation procedures for power quality disturbances. At the time of this writing, there are four significant conceptual changes under consideration related to (1) differences in MV and HV/EHV allocation procedures, (2) the inclusion of energy producing installations, (3) allocation of remaining disturbance levels, and (4) allocation based on maximum network absorption capability. Each of these changes has been vetted by the members of the Joint Working Group and this paper is intended to provide the information to the broader international community.
The Socially Constructed Natural Origins of Self-Organization

From traffic flows to architecture, inspiration for understanding the design patterns of nature has been discovered in the behavior and structures of ant, bees, wasps, and termites. These patterns are viewed as emerging from self-organization, with each member of the group having little information yet contributing to the overall ability to create distinct, complex design from simple collective behavior. The concept of “swarm intelligence” further identifies this behavior of social insects as one that may also apply to human systems, revolutionizing our systems to match the more flexible, decentralized models of social insects. A paradigm shift in viewing social systems has occurred based on the understanding of these exemplars of natural self-organized systems.