cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new world revealed: early experience with digital ureteroscopy.

Purpose: The latest digital ureteroscope, the DUR-D (Gyrus ACMI Inc., Southborough, Massachusetts) offers image quality that greatly exceeds current analog image capabilities. The purpose of this report was to document the applicability of this device in studying the earliest stages of stone formation.Materials and Methods: Symptomatic patients with nephrolithiasis (less than 1 cm in diameter) were prospectively enrolled and their renal papilla digitally mapped prior to stone removal. Recovered stones were photographed and analyzed using micro-computerized tomography. If the procedure could not be completed with the DUR-D, a conventional ureteroscope was used. Minors, pregnant patients and those with systemic disorders were excluded.Results: Eight patients (10 renal units), 2 cystine and 6 calcium oxalate stone formers, were studied with a mean age of 50.1 years. Excellent images were collected for all papilla except in 2 cases; a proximal ureteral stricture and acute angulation of the lower pole collecti...
Gaussian Analysis: Identifying Environmental Factors Influencing Bell-Shaped Species Distributions

In seeking to identify environmental factors controlling the distribution of individual species, ecologists have most commonly used techniques which assume a linear relationship between an environmental factor value and species response (e.g., canonical correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, discriminant analysis). Many species assume nonmonotonic, curvilinear response curves along a variety of environmental axes, however. A method is presented to help identify environmental factors controlling species distributions when the latter species response occurs. The technique builds on theoretical and empirical observations indicating that the distribution of species importance values is most often approximately bell—shaped when arrayed along an axis representing linear change in an environment factor strongly influencing the growth and survival of the species. The method consists of identifying those environmental factor axes along which a species distribution curve best fits a Gaussian form. The method is illustrated using coastal sage scrub vegetation and habitat data from southern California. The "Gaussian analysis" technique described here will not identify all of the important predictors of species response, for reasons arising largely from the multifactorial nature of influences on species performance. The technique does, however, permit identification of some important environmental predictors which are missed by traditional techniques that assume linear response curves.
Prospective Analysis of HLA Immunogenicity of Cryopreserved Valved Allografts Used in Pediatric Heart Surgery

Background The HLA immunogenicity of cryopreserved valved allografts used in the surgical repair of congenital heart defects is unknown. Methods and Results To determine the immunogenicity of these allografts, we measured prospectively the frequency of panel-reactive HLA class I alloantibodies (PRA) before, 1 month after, and 3 months after allograft implantation in 9 children (age, 5.4±2.1 years) and after open-heart surgery without allograft implantation in 11 age-matched control children (age, 4.0±1.5 years). PRA was determined against an HLA-select frozen T-lymphocyte panel using the antiglobulin cytotoxicity technique. After allograft implantation, PRA increased from 3.2±2.7% before surgery to 63.3±12% at 25±2 days after surgery and 99.7±0.3% at 3.4±0.3 months after surgery. The use of dithiothreitol to remove IgM alloantibodies resulted in a modest decrease in PRA at 1 month (33.2±13%) but no change at 3 months (93.0±3.4%), suggesting the initial humoral response is an IgM alloantibody that switches...
Why Public Schools Don't Change An Assessment of Current Attempts at Educational Reform in the United States

Though the topic has always been one of importance to Americans, the decade of the 1960's saw an unprecedented output of writing focusing on the condition of American public schools. Terms such as "crisis", "demise", "collapse", or "failure" all pointed to the same message — that American public schools have not met the expectations set for them. Perhaps the major lay response to this perceived failure has been demonstrated by the persistent rejection of tax bonds and property tax increases designated for school support. It is ironic that this rejection of the schools comes after a time of unprecedented fiscal support on the local, state and federal levels. School systems have had more money to spend in the decade on architectural innovation, curriculum reform, experimental teacher training programs and decentralised school control than at any other time in the history of American public education. Yet taking stock of the efforts during the decade of the 1960's suggests that merely more of the same, only ...
Plant functional traits capture species richness variations along a flooding gradient

Local species coexistence is the outcome of abiotic and biotic filtering processes which sort species according to their trait values. However, the capacity of trait-based approaches to predict the variation in realized species richness remains to be investigated. In this study, we asked whether a limited number of plant functional traits, related to the leaf-height-seed strategy scheme and averaged at the community level, is able to predict the variation in species richness over a flooding disturbance gradient. We further investigated how these mean community traits are able to quantify the strength of abiotic and biotic processes involved in the disturbance - productivity - diversity relationship. We thus tested the proposal that the deviation between the fundamental species richness, assessed from ecological niche-based models, and realized species richness, i.e. field-observed richness, is controlled by species interactions. Flooding regime was determined using a detailed hydrological model. A precise vegetation sampling was performed across 222 quadrats located throughout the flooding gradient. Three core functional traits were considered: specific leaf area (SLA), plant height and seed mass. Species richness showed a hump-shaped response to disturbance and productivity, but was better predicted by only two mean community traits: SLA and height. On the one hand, community SLA that increased with fl ooding, controlled the disturbance diversity relationship through habitat filtering. On the other hand, species interactions, the strength of which was captured by community height values, played a strong consistent role throughout the disturbance gradient by reducing the local species richness. Our study highlights that a limited number of simple, quantitative, easily measurable functional traits can capture the variation in plant species richness at a local scale and provides a promising quantification of key community assembly mechanisms.
A spin-foam vertex amplitude with the correct semiclassical limit

Abstract Spin-foam models are hoped to provide a dynamics for loop quantum gravity. These start from the Plebanski formulation of gravity, in which gravity is obtained from a topological field theory, BF theory, through constraints, which, however, select more than one gravitational sector, as well as an unphysical degenerate sector. We show this is why terms beyond the needed Feynman-prescribed one appear in the semiclassical limit of the EPRL spin-foam amplitude. By quantum mechanically isolating a single gravitational sector, we modify this amplitude, yielding a spin-foam amplitude for loop quantum gravity with the correct semiclassical limit.
Institutional Determinants Of Individual Mobility: Bringing The Professions Back In

In this research, we developed and tested a theory of institutional effects on the timing of resignation in accounting. The institutional effects examined are credentialing processes. We found that the interaction of certification requirements and job duties affected early-career resignation rates of accounting firm employees. Auditors in all certification jurisdictions studied and nonauditors in jurisdictions with broadly focused experience requirements postponed resignation until after the completion of the requirement.
Partial results on social learning with observations from neighbors

We study a model of social learning with partial observations from the past Each individual receives a private signal about the correct action he should take and also observes the action of his immediate neighbor. We show that in this model the behavior of asymptotic learning is characterized in terms of two threshold values that evolve deterministically. Individual actions are fully determined by the value of their signal relative to these two thresholds. We prove that asymptotic learning from an ex ante viewpoint applies if and only if individual beliefs are unbounded. We also show that symmetry between the states implies that the minimum possible amount of asymptotic learning occurs.
Infections in children and young adults with bone malignancies undergoing limb-sparing surgery.

BACKGROUND The epidemiology, risk factors, and efficacy of therapy for infections complicating limb-sparing surgery (LSS) are not understood completely. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective review of children and adolescents with bone malignancies who underwent LSS. RESULTS One hundred three patients underwent 104 LSS procedures. Patients experienced a median of 4 infections (range, 0–13 infections), including focal bacterial infections in 67% of patients and bacteremia in 21% of patients. Infections at the LSS site occurred in 26% of patients, and 21% of patients developed orthopedic device infections (ODIs). Compared with patients without ODIs, patients who developed ODIs were more likely to be African American and to have wound infections, and they were less likely to have tumors of the femur than the tibia. In a multivariate analysis, only African-American race and local infection at the LSS site retained a significant association with ODIs. Among survivors, patients who developed ODIs were more likely to undergo amputation (odds ratio [OR], 24.0; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 5.1–114.0; P < 0.001) and were less likely to have good functional outcomes (OR, 0.02; 95%CI, 0.002–0.15; P < 0.001) compared with patients who did not have an ODI. Overall, only 1 of 22 patients with an ODI was treated successfully without removal of the orthopedic device or amputation. CONCLUSIONS Current treatment for bone malignancies is complicated by an unexpectedly high incidence of infection. ODI was the most common reason for amputation and poor functional outcomes. The identification of risk factors for ODI may allow modifications of therapy that reduce the incidence and severity of infection, but prevention of all ODIs will require novel strategies. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Reverse transcriptase adds nontemplated nucleotides to cDNAs during 5'-RACE and primer extension.

In determining the terminal sequences of the genomic dsRNAs of rotavirus by 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'-RACE), it was found that most of the viral cDNAs contained extra nucleotides at their 5' termini that had not been reported before on any rotavirus sequence. Although the extra nucleotides could be dA, dC, dG, or dT residues, the extra nucleotides on the cDNAs usually consisted of a single dT residue. Experiments performed with DNA/RNA duplexes indicated that reverse transcriptase has an associated terminal nucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-like activity, which can add nontemplated nucleotides to the 3' ends of DNA, and that reverse transcriptase was responsible for the presence of the extra nucleotides detected on the 5'-RACE cDNAs. The TdT-like activity of reverse transcription was specific for double-stranded substrates (i.e., DNA/DNA or DNA/RNA duplexes) and was active over a wide range of temperatures and enzyme concentrations. Both commercially available Moloney murine leukemia virus and avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptases contained the TdT-like activity. This work implies that 5'-RACE and primer extension assays must be used carefully in determining the terminal sequences of nucleic acids because, under standard reaction conditions, reverse transcriptase can add nontemplated nucleotides to the 3' ends of cDNAs following template-directed synthesis.
Television Exposure and Disordered Eating Among Children: A Longitudinal Panel Study

Although the link between media consumption and eating disorders has been widely studied, relatively little is known about the development of this link in childhood. A longitudinal panel survey of 315 White and Black preadolescent boys and girls revealed that television exposure, after controlling for age, perceived body size, selective exposure to ideal-body television, and baseline disordered eating, significantly predicted disordered eating 1 year later for girls but not for boys. Findings suggest that disordered eating as an outcome of television exposure is an important issue for Black girls as well as White girls. Results also highlight the need for continued investigation into gender differences in the effects of media exposure on eating disturbance in childhood.
A 90-ns one-million erase/program cycle 1-Mbit flash memory

Describes the design and performance of a 245-mil/sup 2/ 1-Mbit (128K*8) flash memory targeted for in-system reprogrammable applications. Developed from a 1.0- mu m EPROM-base technology, the 15.2- mu m/sup 2/ single-transistor EPROM tunnel oxide (ETOX) cell requires only 42 percent of the area required by the previous 1.5- mu m device. One of the most significant aspects of this 1-Mbit flash memory is the one-million erase/program cycle capability. The 1-Mbit memory exhibits 90-ns read access time while the reprogramming performance gives a 900-ms array erase time and a 10- mu s/byte programming rate. Ample erase and program margins through one-million erase/program cycles are guaranteed by the internal verify circuits. Column redundancy is implemented with the utilization of flash memory cells to store repaired addresses. >
Background-Subtraction in Thermal Imagery Using Contour Saliency

We present a new contour-based background-subtraction technique to extract foreground objects in widely varying thermal imagery. Statistical background-subtraction is first used to identify local regions-of-interest. Within each region, input and background gradient information are combined to form a Contour Saliency Map. After thinning, an A ? path-constrained search along watershed boundaries is used to complete and close any broken contour segments. Lastly, the contour image is flood-filled to produce silhouettes. Results of our approach are presented for several difficult thermal sequences and compared to alternate approaches. We quantify the results using manually segmented thermal imagery to demonstrate the robustness of the approach.
Thermal model for the local microwave hyperthermia treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

A system for the noninvasive localized, hyperthermia treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia was investigated. The system uses a microwave transrectal antenna with a water cooled jacket to achieve localized hyperthermia. The purpose of this study is to model the temperature rise in the prostate and in the surrounding tissue during treatment. The specific absorption rate distribution for the transrectal probe is measured in a muscle tissue equivalent phantom. The specific absorption rate information is used with a finite-element solution of the bioheat transfer equation to give the temperature rise during the treatment. The finite-element solution is further used to determine the effect of the microwave power, the cooling fluid temperature, and the blood perfusion on the tissue temperature rise. The results of the solution are compared to temperature measurements in a canine protocol. It was found that the maximum temperature rise in the tissue during treatment is 44 degrees C at a depth of 2 cm from the rectal mucosa. >
Regression Analysis and Discriminant Analysis: An Application of R. A. Fisher's Theorem to Data in Political Science

The conversion of multiple regression analysis to discriminant analysis is not only of theoretical interest, but—in view of the extensive use of these methods in political science—it also has considerable value for applications. It is the purpose of this presentation to explain the underlying theoretical relationship and to demonstrate its application in the form of an example chosen from the judicial process. Specifically, the Supreme Court's acceptance or rejection of the fact that the defendant was not advised of his right to counsel in an involuntary confession case is considered as a function of the appearance, nonappearance, or denial of the fact in lower court records and appellate briefs. Since the acceptance or rejection of the fact by the Supreme Court is a dichotomous dependent variable, discriminant analysis is appropriate. It is shown in this study how discriminant analysis can be employed by initially using regression analysis, not only in the example presented for illustration, but in any situation in which a phenomenon with dichotomous manifestations may be examined as a function of specified variables.
Extracting drug-drug interaction articles from MEDLINE to improve the content of drug databases.

Drug-drug interaction systems exhibit low signal-to-noise ratios because of the amount of clinically insignificant or inaccurate information they contain. MEDLINE represents a respected source of peer-reviewed biomedical citations that potentially might serve as a valuable source of drug-drug interaction information, if relevant articles could be pinpointed effectively and efficiently. We evaluated the classification capability of Support Vector Machines as a method for locating articles about drug interactions. We used a corpus of “positive” and “negative” drug interaction citations to generate datasets composed of MeSH terms, CUI-tagged title and abstract text, and stemmed text words. The study showed that automated classification techniques have the potential to perform at least as well as PubMed in identifying drug-drug interaction articles.
Almost periodic compactifications of semidirect products of flows

Let \(S\tilde \times T\) be a semidirect product of semitopological semigroups S and T. If S and T act on topological spaces X and Y, respectively, then under suitable conditions there is a natural action of \(S\tilde \times T\) on X × Y. In this paper we characterize the almost periodic and strongly almost periodic compactification of the flow (\(S\tilde \times T\), X × Y) in terms of related compactifications of (S, X) and (T, Y).
Responding to September 11: A Conflict Resolution Scholar/Practitioner's Perspective

We find ourselves thrust into a deadly conflict of potentially very large scale. This conflict may proceed in several different directions, some of which might prove quite destructive, involving high numbers of further civilian casualties on all sides. There are lessons to be drawn from both theory and practice in the field of conflict resolution that may be helpful in considering how to proceed. In this paper, we review a few important concepts from the field of conflict resolution, attempt to point out where some of these dynamics are occurring in the current situation, and highlight some potential pitfalls. Specific policy recommendations based on this analysis are offered, and the question of how we can best ensure that our response to the attacks does not lead to a degenerative cycle of violence that further destabilizes the Middle East and undermines American long-term interests is addressed.
A clarification on bus-cut diakoptics

The brevity required in the paper by Sasson and Brown (A. M. Sasson and H. E. Brown, "Deductions and clarifications on the diakoptics approach," in 1971 7th PICA Conf. Proc., pp. 433-439) obscures a computational aspect important to the tutorial and application value of their "bus-cut" method. A numerical example is presented here to help clarify this computation.
Hormones and gynecologic cancer.

Basic information regarding rates of production blood levels and action of steroid hormones and prolactin is reviewed. Several figures illustrate factors involvedin hormone relations. Studies with rat preparations have implicated estrogens and prolactin as hormones influenceing tumor development. Epidemiologic studies in humans have also revealed hormonal factors in tumorigenesis by showing a higher incidence of uterine and mammary tumors when estrogens are chronically circulating in the absence of progesterone. Remissionof tumors after ablation of ovaries adrenals or hypophysis or after administration of large doses of steroidal hormones furnishes even stronger evidence for hormonal involvement. 1 source of estrogen is the ovaries. The rate of ovarian output of estrogens is increased by the gonadotropins follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hromone and reduced by estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1). E2 progesterone and testosterone suppress secretion of gonadotropins by feedback inhibition. Estrogens can also be formed by estraglandular conversion of androgens. Progestins increase the metabolic clearance rate of androgens by inducing a hepatic 5alpha-reductase. Human endometrium has an active dehydrogenase that converts E2 to E1 particularly during the luteal phase. The main estrogen produced by postmenopausal women is El derived from extraglandular conversion of secreted androstenedione. The responsive cells in target tissues contain a cytoplasmic protein that binds E2 with affinity and specificity. This protein is called the E2 receptor. The modified complex formed (E2R) is found strongly bound to the nuclear protein. The levels of E2 receptors have been modified by hormones. Antiestrogens such as nafoxidine complete with E2 for binding to recepotr and interfer with the binding of E2R to the active site in the chromatin. The presence of E2 receptor does not guarantee responsiveness of a tumor to the hormone. The rate of output of prolactin from the hypophysis into circulation is increased by estrogen through the thyrotropin-releasing hormone. The receptor for prolactin is located in the cell membrane. Most of the treatments now used can be rationalized ont he basis of known mechanisms of hormone production and action.
WESTERN BALSAM BARK BEETLE, DRYOCOETES CONFUSUS SWAINE, FLIGHT PERIODICITY IN NORTHERN UTAH

The flight periodicity of western balsam bark beetle (Dryocoetes confusus Swaine) in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, was studied during the summer months of 1992, 1993, and 1994. Contents of baited funnel traps were tallied by species up to 3 times weekly. Two main periods of flight activity were observed each year. The first and, gener­ ally, largest occurred in early summer soon after flight was initiated for the season. A 2nd period was observed in late summer, generally August. Timing of the 2 periods was influenced by unusually warm or cool weather in each study year. The 1st period had more males than females while the 2nd period had a majority of females. Except during periods of cool or wet weather, western balsam bark beetles were found to be active at least at minimal levels from June through September.
Settling: Performance Pedagogy at Hull-House

“We went to Hull-House every Saturday for Miss Nancrede’s dance classes”, Dorothy Mittelman Sigel’s eyes held mine as she spoke. “And after every class we would line up on our way out the door...and...you know...as out...‘Thank you, Miss Nancrede.’”
Summation of effective synaptic currents and firing rate modulation in cat spinal motoneurons.

The aim of this study was to examine how cat spinal motoneurons integrate the synaptic currents generated by the concurrent activation of large groups of presynaptic neurons. We obtained intracellu...
A measure of supply chain complexity incorporating virtual arcs

Increased globalization, as well as the ability to have virtual supply chain partners, has had numerous effects on supply chains. While some of these effects are positive, making more resilient supply chains, there are also the negative effects of scale and complexity, making these supply chains more challenging than ever to manage. Having a means to measure the complexity is crucial for today’s managers to make more informed decisions. This measure must not only account for the number of arcs, but the amount of information and material carried on it, as well as incorporate the benefit that virtual arcs add to the network by increasing efficiency and reducing information, product and financial transfer costs and time. This research utilizes newer models in network clustering and complexity theory to make them applicable to supply chains and creates a new, practical approach to measuring supply chain complexity which can be easily implemented by practitioners.
A Theory of Allocation of Time in Markets for Labor and Marriage: Multiple Markets for Work-In-Household

The model presented in Chap. 2 assumed that there is only one type of woman and one type of man. This chapter expands the analysis to multiple WiHo (Work-In-Household) markets, assuming that (1) there are many types of both men and women, differing in skills, physical appearance, education, ethnicity, religion, age, etc.; (2) men can easily substitute among women of different types and women can easily substitute among men of different types; and (3) there are competitive markets for each type. The major implications are that own positive traits of WiHo-suppliers will be associated with higher market prices for WiHo and that compensating differentials are expected to be observed: positive traits of WiHo-users will be associated with lower prices for WiHo. Such differences in WiHo prices then have implications for labor supply (Chaps. 5 to 8), time devoted to household chores (Chap. 9), consumption (Chap. 10) and savings (Chap. 11).
Quality control testing with the disk antibiotic susceptibility test of Bauer-Kirby-Sherris-Turck.

During two 6-month periods, daily quality control procedures for the single high potency disk diffusion antibiotic sensitivity test were monitored for 16 frequently used antibiotics using control strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . During the first 6-month period disks were stored at 4 to 10 C. Disks were stored in a frozen condition (–20 C.) during the second 6-month period. Testing during the first 6-month period showed greater day-to-day variability than during the second 6-month period. Zone sizes were within a 4 mm. range in 98% of tests with E. coli for all antibiotics tested with the exception of sulfisoxazole, and were within a 4 mm. range for S. aureus in 94% of tests with the exception of lincomycin. The acceptable range for lincomycin has been modified to 6 mm. Testing was performed by 13 individuals, and the results demonstrate the practicality, accuracy, and reproducibility of this method when carried out by a well standardized method in the clinical laboratory.
Book Review: Kwame Anthony Appiah. Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a world of strangers. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006.

(2006). Book Review: Kwame Anthony Appiah. Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a world of strangers. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 646-652.
Effect of Nitrogen Levels on Rice Water Weevil Populations1

A test was conducted in 1959 to investigate the effects of nitrogen levels on rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Kuschel), larval populations and the resulting yields of rice. Data recorded on the number and total length of adult feeding scars indicated no significant difference between rates of 0, 40, 80, and 120 lb. of nitrogen per acre or between untreated plots and plots treated to control rice water weevil larvae. Data on larval populations showed an increase with each increase in rate of nitrogen and differences between treated and untreated plots. The yield data showed differences among all rates of nitrogen and between treated and untreated plots. The yield increases were approximately linear with each increase in rate of nitrogen in both the treated and untreated plots.
Patterns of Variation in Some Quantitative Characters of Malacosoma disstria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Malacosoma disstria Hubner egg masses were collected from 2 locations and reared in the laboratory on prepared diet. Measurements of 6 characters were tested for significant differences at 4 levels of organization. Populations differed in larval survival, sex ratio, and development time but not in hatchability and pupal weight. Sibling groups were significantly different for all characters except fecundity. Males and females differed in development time and pupal weight. Eggs and weights were significantly correlated in all but one group, but their relation varied between populations. This paper reports the first evidence for genetic determination of quantitative characters in the forest tent caterpillar.
Analytical Modelling of a Refined Fcfs Queueing Discipline in Multiprogrammed Parallel Processing Systems

A multiprogrammed (or partitionable) parallel computer system can be partitioned into subsystems which are allocated to independent jobs. The performance of such a parallel processing system is determined by the system partitioning strategy and the job scheduling policy adopted. In this paper, we consider the impact of a job scheduling algorithm on the system performance, mainly the average job response time. A refined First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) queueing discipline called FCFS/SJE is studied, which, when there are not enough processors available for large jobs in the front of a waiting queue, schedules small jobs behind these large jobs earlier. We develop a multi-server queueing system for modelling multiprogrammed parallel processing systems. A system is specified by the number of processors and jobs are characterized by a probability distribution of the number of processors requested, a Poisson arrival process, and an exponential distribution of execution time. Our analysis as well as simulation indicate that FCFS/SJE results in a noticeable improvement on system performance compared with FCFS.
Drafting Legislation: Art and Technology of Rules for Regulation

Drafting Legislation: Art and Technology of Rules for Regulation, by Professor Helen Xanthaki, is a formidable work. It is detailed, comprehensive, and although dense in content, is a worthwhile re...
Clinical Features and Prognosis in 17 Patients With Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium

Objective:To investigate the clinical features,treatment and prognosis of the ventricular noncompaction in 17 patients in or- der to improve diagnosis and treatment. Methods:We analyzed clinical datum and followed up treatment and prognosis in 17 patients with the ventricular noncompac- tion from January 2000 to April 2006. Results:The most common presentations were congestive heart failure(88.2%),arrhythmias(88.2%)and thrombosis (11.8%).The noncompaction of ventricular myocardium(NVM)was isolated,or occurred with other cardiovascular malforma- tion.Eehocardiography was a main method for diagnosis. Conclusion:NVM has a long-term clinical course and diversity manifestations and usually has a poor progno- sis.Echocardiography is a principal means of diagnosis.Magnetic resonance imaging can contribute to the diagnosis.
When Do Capital Inflow Surges End in Tears

Abstract We investigate in a sample of 53 emerging markets over 1980-2014 whether countries with open capital accounts are necessarily at the mercy of global events, or are able to take policy acti...
CHAPTER 33 – Toll-like receptors

This chapter deals with the toll-like receptors, which represent the first point of meaningful physical contact between pathogens and the host. They are the “eyes” of the innate immune system, and they supply the information upon which the host must rely in forming an immune response, with all of the benefits, and potential problems that such a response entails. While other innate immune mechanisms work in parallel with the TLRs, and support their function, the overall pattern of the response to a pathogen is cast in stone from the moment the TLRs are activated. More specifically, it is far from deciphering the molecular events that transpire in TLR signal transduction. While all of the human TLRs have been identified, other proteins may participate in forming the macromolecular complex that detects pathogens at the surface of innate immune cells. Some of these proteins may be detected through direct biochemical techniques, and others may be identified only through mutagenesis.
Effect of dietary zinc levels on mineral concentration in milk.

Summary Effects of supplemental dietary Zn levels of O, 50, 500 and 5,000 ppm on the mineral concentration in milk of first- and secondparity sows were evaluated. Colostrum from sows fed 5,000 ppm of supplemental Zn contained less Cu and P than colostrum from sows on the other treatments. Calcium was reduced in the colostrum from sows fed 0 or 5,000 ppm Zn. Copper was reduced and Zn increased in milk from sows fed the highest Zn level compared with the other treatments during wk 1, 2 and 3 of lactation. Iron was lower in the 2nd wk milk from sows supplemented with 50 ppm Zn compared with sows on the other treatments. Copper and Zn concentrations were reduced in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd wk milk from sows fed 0, 50 or 500 ppm additional Zn compared with colostrum, but only Zn was reduced in milk from sows supplemented with 5,000 ppm Zn compared with colostrum. Calcium concentrations were increased in milk for all treatments compared with colostrum, and Mg was increased in 1st, 2nd and 3rd wk milk from sows fed O, 50 or 500 ppm Zn and in 2nd and 3rd wk milk from sows fed 5,000 ppm Zn compared with colostrum. Phosphorus was higher in 2rid wk milk from sows fed 0 or 500 ppm Zn and higher in 3rd wk milk for sows fed 0, 500 or 5,000 ppm Zn compared with colostrum. The Fe concentration in 1st wk milk from the second-parity sows was increased compared with that from the first-parity
Overview of Recent HOM Coupler Development

Higher Order Mode (HOM) damping is important for SRF applications, especially for high-intensity machines. A good HOM damping design will help to reduce power load to the cryogenic system and to reduce the risk of beam breakup. The design of HOM damping, including antenna/loop HOM couplers, beam pipe HOM absorbers and waveguide HOM couplers, is to solve a multi-physics problem that involves RF, thermal, mechanical, and beam-cavity interaction issues. In this talk, the author provides an overview on the latest advances of the HOM couplers for high-intensity SRF applications.
Transcatheter Procedure for Residual Mitral Regurgitation After MitraClip Implantation Using Amplatzer Duct Occluder II

Abstract Objectives This study reports a novel transcatheter procedure for residual mitral regurgitation (MR) after MitraClip implantation using the Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO II). Background Although the MitraClip procedure is a transcatheter treatment option for patients at high surgical risk with severe MR, management of significant residual MR after MitraClip implantation is still challenging. Methods We describe a case series of 9 consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter deployment of the ADO II plug for significant residual MR after MitraClip implantation from April to October 2015. Results The mean age was 79.3 ± 11.4 years. The deployment of the ADO II plug was performed at the initial MitraClip procedure in 7 patients and at the second procedure for recurrent symptoms in 2 patients. There were 2 types of residual MR seen after MitraClip implantation: residual commissural MR (n = 3) and residual intraclip MR (n = 6). The ADO II was successfully deployed with significant reduction of MR flow and left atrial pressure in all patients. The ADO II plug was retrieved in 1 patient because of device embolization to the ostial right coronary artery. However, all patients were discharged 1.8 ± 1.2 days after the procedure, with no significant MR on pre-discharge transthoracic echocardiography. In 8 patients who underwent 1-month symptomatic assessment, clinical symptoms were diminished to New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Conclusions Transcatheter deployment of the ADO II plug was effective for the reduction of residual commissural MR and intraclip MR after MitraClip implantation. The potential role of this technique should be established for challenging cases.
Carrier-Two Phonon Interaction in Semiconductors

The physical importance and the strength of carrier-two phonon interaction in semiconductors have been established.
The Appeasement of 1850

This book chapter examines the history of the passage of the Compromise of 1850 and the nature of the Compromise. The chapter argues that the Compromise almost entirely favored slavery, and that rather than a "compromise," it was an appeasement of the slave South. By any measure, the Compromise of 1850 failed to achieve its major goal - to defuse sectional conflict over slavery. The compromise stimulated a decade of confrontations between northerners and the federal government over the fugitive slave law and even led to Northerns making states' rights arguments.
“Mr. President”: George Washington and the Making of the Nation's Highest Office. By Harlow Giles Unger. (Boston, MA: Da Capo Press, 2013. Pp. xii, 273. $25.99.)

The author of this book is a former journalist and professor of English and Journalism. He has written twenty books, including six biographies of Revolutionary figures. In this book, he focuses on ...
Empathy and Its Discontents

What role does the experience of feeling what you think others are feeling - often known as 'empathy' - have in moral deliberation and moral action? Empathy has many fans and there is abundant evidence that it can motivate prosocial behavior. However, empathy is narrow in its focus, rendering it innumerate and subject to bias. It can motivate cruelty and aggression and lead to burnout and exhaustion. Compassion is distinct from empathy in its neural instantiation and its behavioral consequences and is a better prod to moral action, particularly in the modern world we live in.
Sneak path enabled authentication for memristive crossbar memories

The memristive crossbar has emerged as a promising candidate for future memory technologies. In this paper, we explore a sneak path enabled authentication method for memristive crossbar memory. We show that, due to data dependent sneak paths currents, memristive crossbar memory can inherently produce authenticating tags for stored data. A reserved row of memory cells is also used in the proposed protocol which is reconfigured randomly during every write to the memory. We perform a numerical probabilistic analysis for evaluating the security of the proposed protocol for different sizes of crossbar and generated tags. Security is measured in terms of minimum number of trials needed to get a collision among data tags. Simulation results can be extrapolated for predicting the security of the system with larger data tags. Since the memory itself with minimal additional circuitry is used as the tag generating function, the proposed protocol exhibits low overhead compared to more conventional methods.
Pre-pregnancy Obesity as a Modifier of Gestational Diabetes and Birth Defects Associations: A Systematic Review

Objective Inconsistent findings of associations between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and birth defects suggest unaccounted confounders may underlie the actual basis for such associations. We conducted a systematic review to assess observed associations between GDM and birth defects and the extent to which these could be explained by pre-pregnancy obesity. Methods Using a combination of search terms for GDM and birth defects, we searched PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov for human-based studies published through September 2013. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they included information on maternal diabetes status, method of diagnosis of GDM, and assessment of birth defects. Twenty-four of 768 potential articles were included. We collected information on study design, location and period, method of determination of diabetes status, types of birth defects, and measures of association reported. Results There was no evidence for consistent association of GDM with birth defects, with the exception of a weak association between GDM and congenital heart defects. When stratified by maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, an association between GDM and congenital heart defects and between GDM and neural tube defects was evident only in women with both GDM and pre-pregnancy obesity. Conclusions for Practice Our findings suggest reported associations between GDM and birth defects may be due, in part, to undiagnosed metabolic disorders associated with obesity, such as pregestational diabetes mellitus, rather than GDM. These findings highlight the need for increased efforts for pre-pregnancy screening for undiagnosed diabetes and awareness of the importance of weight management among women of childbearing age with obesity.
Identifying Content Knowledge for Teaching Energy: Examples from High School Physics.

Introducting a methodology for identifying content-specific teacher knowledge that shapes their in-the-moment decisions during interactions with students.
Insulin: To the periphery and beyond

Increased tau phosphorylation resulting from insulin depletion is reversed by insulin treatment in a murine model.
Gold nanoparticle/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite as novel catalyst for hydrogen evolution reactions

Abstract Gold nanoparticle/multi-walled carbon nanotube (AuMWCNT) composite was synthesized using MWCNTs and functionalized with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for applications in hydrogen evolution reactions from hydrogen feedstock materials. The resulting composite was characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), and catalytic activity of hydrogen evolution reactions. Elemental analysis and electron microscopy confirmed a loading of 3.3% for ∼18 nm AuNPs onto ∼30 nm diameter MWCNTs. Catalytic activity study determined that the catalyst performs best at pH 7, with an optimum concentration of 835 μmol evolving 29.0 mL min −1 g cat −1 of hydrogen gas at 303 K using sodium borohydride as hydrogen feedstock material. The activation energy of the reaction in the presence of the AuMWCNT composite was calculated to be one of the lowest of heterogeneous catalysts reported to date at 21.1 kJ mol −1 .
Phonon Speed, Not Scattering, Differentiates Thermal Transport in Lead Halide Perovskites

Thermal management plays a critical role in the design of solid state materials for energy conversion. Lead halide perovskites have emerged as promising candidates for photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and optoelectronic applications, but their thermal properties are still poorly understood. Here, we report on the thermal conductivity, elastic modulus, and sound speed of a series of lead halide perovskites MAPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I), CsPbBr3, and FAPbBr3 (MA = methylammonium, FA = formamidinium). Using frequency domain thermoreflectance, we find that the room temperature thermal conductivities of single crystal lead halide perovskites range from 0.34 to 0.73 W/m·K and scale with sound speed. These results indicate that regardless of composition, thermal transport arises from acoustic phonons having similar mean free path distributions. A modified Callaway model with Born von Karmen-based acoustic phonon dispersion predicts that at least ∼70% of thermal conductivity results from phonons having mean free paths shor...
Audacious Goals – 2.0 The Global Initiative for Children's Surgery

This is the Presidential Address given at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) held in Hollywood, Florida, from May 4-7, 2017.
Rubbers and Glasses

The unusual elastic and mechanical properties of rubber and rubber-like materials are well known to us from everyday experience. Rubbers represent a unique class of substances since they can undergo very large deformations without breaking and spontaneously return to their original dimensions when the applied force is removed. A typical rubber can be reversibly extended from five to ten times its original length. Such a deformation is called an elastic one. In contrast ordinary monomeric solids, such as metals and crystals, can only be elastically deformed about 1 percent. Further deformation of these materials results either in rupture or in plastic flow. Plastic flow is an inelastic deformation, for when the applied force is removed the sample remains in the deformed state. Thus, the extensibility of a rubber is about 1000 times greater than an ordinary solid. Besides the differences in extensibility, the forces required to achieve the same deformation for these two classes of substances are very different. For example, if a steel wire and rubber filament of the same diameter were stretched only 1 percent of their original length a 105 times greater force would be required for the steel wire. In Figure 4.1 we compare typical force-length curves of rubbers and monomeric solids. The monomeric material is relatively inelastic since a large force is required to achieve a small extension. On the other hand, five- to sixfold increases in length are easily achieved with the rubber by the application of only modest external forces.
Another Look at Vicariation

Vicariation has long been suggested as a mechanism for recovery of function following brain damage. Essentially, this concept involves the ability of one part of the brain to substitute for the function of another. Vicariation has been the source of much debate in neuroscience and lies at the heart of the enduring controversy known as localization of function. The idea that another area of the brain can take over the function of a damaged area following brain injury is difficult to reconcile with the concept that specific functions are located in specific areas of the brain. If there exists an isomorphic relationship between the neurological and behavioral, how could the behavior return without a parallel regrowth of the neural tissue? And if other parts of the brain also have an isomorphic relationship with other sets of behaviors, how is it possible for one or more of these neurological areas to take on new behaviors?
Author Correction: A lipid-based partitioning mechanism for selective incorporation of proteins into membranes of HIV particles

In the version of this article originally published, the name of co-author Marc C. Johnson was missing the middle initial. The middle initial 'C.' has been added in the author list as well as in the 'author contributions' section (as M.C.J.). The error has been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the paper.
Mass Customization and “Forecasting Options’ Penetration Rates Problem”

In “Mass Customization and ‘Forecasting Options' Penetration Rates Problem,’” Fattahi et al. study a new problem motivated by a large auto manufacturer that produces an extremely large number of fe...
Overcoming Satisficing: Scaffolds for Amplifying Creativity

Creative work combines exploratory thinking to find novel solutions and exploitative thinking to refine those solutions. People often assume that the idea they come up with has to be the "correct solution," leading to under-exploration and preemptive exploitation. Despite advances in the practitioner literature, a cognitive and empirical basis of exploration strategies remains sparse. My dissertation examines scaffolding methods to enhance exploration in creative tasks. I investigate this through two interventions at different stages of the creative process. First, interactive guidance and adaptive suggestions embodied in the CritiqueKit system to improve evaluation of creative work. Second, problem-framing scaffolds that attune people towards the phases of exploration and exploitation during ideation. My research demonstrates content and process scaffolds with applications in the design of creativity support tools and creative education pedagogy.