cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and Performance of Silicon-Embedded Permanent-Magnet Microgenerators

This paper focuses on the design, fabrication, and characterization of silicon-packaged permanent-magnet (PM) microgenerators. The use of silicon packaging favors fine control on shape and dimensions in batch fabrication and provides a path toward high rotational speeds (1Mr/min), a requirement for ultimate compactness of microgenerators. The successful silicon packaging of these microgenerators consisted of three essential elements: (1) a winding scheme allowing both nonplanar fabrication and through-wafer interconnects; (2) laminations built into the silicon for enhanced electrical performance; and (3) a balancing scheme for the heavy PM rotor to ensure its maximum performance. The devices were fabricated using bonded silicon wafers, integrated magnetics, and an electroplated metal. The mechanical strength of the 12-mm-diameter silicon-packaged PM rotors was evaluated at high rotational speeds using an external spindle drive. Speeds up to 200000 r/min were achieved prior to a mechanical rotor failure. The generators were electrically characterized, and an output power in excess of 1 W across a resistive load of 0.32 ? was measured at a maximum speed. A 225% power increase was also experimentally determined due to the addition of a laminated stator back iron.
A Generic Chip-to-World Fluidic Interconnect System for Microfluidic Devices

In the recent years, there has been considerable research interest in microfluidic devices which are based on the single or multiphase flow of liquids and gases through micro-scale channels or systems fabricated by micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Due to their ability to perform complex, multiple tasks with biochemicals, such devices have many applications, especially in the biomedicine area and are expected to continue generating interest. However, due to the need for handling micro-scale flow of liquids and the diverse nature of microfluidic devices, some of the major challenges in their development are the establishment of chip-to-world fluidic interconnects and device packaging. This paper reports on the development of a generic fluidic interconnect methodology based on assembly and plugging-in of the components. This approach greatly simplifies the currently difficult task of implementing fluidic connections and provides an integration capability that facilitates the experimental development of microfluidic devices.
The transport properties of carbon dioxide

Experimental viscosity, thermal conductivity, and self-diffusivity data available in the literature for carbon dioxide have been critically reviewed and used to develop reduced state correlations of the transport properties for this substance. These correlations should apply to nonpolar compounds having critical compressibility factors approximately equal to that of carbon dioxide, zc = 0.275. In order to establish the dependence of these transport properties in the high pressure and liquid state regions, use has been made of relationships between the residual properties, μ-μ*, k-k*, and (P)*-(P) and density. These residual quantities represent the differences between the values of the properties at any pressure and temperature and those at atmospheric pressure and the same temperature. These relationships also allow the determination of the values of the transport properties at the critical point. The resulting critical values along with the residual relationships enabled the construction of reduced state correlations for viscosity, thermal conductivity, and the product of self-diffusivity and pressure for carbon dioxide. These correlations extend from the saturated vapor and liquid states to reduced temperatures of TR = 10 and reduced pressures of PR = 50. Comparisons made between values resulting from these correlations and corresponding experimental values, including the region of high pressure for both the gaseous and liquid states and the vicinity of the critical point, produced an average deviation of 2.0% for viscosity, 1.4% for thermal conductivity, and 5.9% for self-diffusivity.
Comparison of Predicted and Measured Multipath Impulse Responses

The fundamental concepts used to evaluate multipath effects date back over 50 years. Today's technology can support wide-bandwidth communications and radar systems that were not available or considered when these multipath concepts were being formulated. This paper presents a slightly modified version of the original analytical approaches for evaluating multipath effects and compares the predicted multipath with data collected from a wideband instrumentation radar. The multipath model presented herein covers both the specular (coherent) and diffuse (noncoherent) components of multipath. The test data were collected for conditions strongly favoring diffuse multipath, but the experimental technique supported detection of any unanticipated specular contributions. Because the purpose of this validation effort was to perform an in-depth examination of multipath effects, the demanding test conditions revealed a couple of real-world effects that had to be addressed. After incorporating these effects into the analytical multipath formulations, we were able to show very close agreement between the predicted and observed multipath.
Treatment preferences for resuscitation and critical care among homeless persons

Context Homeless people are at increased risk of critical illness and are less likely to have surrogate decision makers when critically ill. Consequently, clinicians must make decisions independently or with input from others such as ethics committees or guardians. No prior studies have examined treatment preferences of homeless to guide such decision makers. Design Interviewer-administered, cross-sectional survey of homeless persons. Setting Homeless shelters in Seattle, WA. Participants Two hundred twenty-nine homeless individuals with two comparison groups: 236 physicians practicing in settings where they are likely to provide care for homeless persons and 111 patients with oxygen-dependent COPD. Measurements Participants were asked whether they would want intubation with mechanical ventilation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation in their current health, if they were in a permanent coma, if they had severe dementia, or if they were confined to bed and dependent on others for all care. Results Homeless men were more likely to want resuscitation than homeless women (p Conclusions Homeless persons are more likely to prefer resuscitation than physicians and patients with severe COPD. Since physicians may be in the position of making medical decisions for homeless patients and since physicians are influenced by their own preferences when making decisions for others, physicians should be aware that, on average, homeless persons prefer more aggressive care than physicians. Hospitals serving homeless individuals should consider developing policies to address this issue.
Den use and selection by northern flying squirrels in fragmented landscapes.

We studied den use and den-habitat selection by the Prince of Wales Island flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus griseifrons) at multiple spatial scales in fragmented temperate rain-forest habitats because of the role dens play in the distribution, reproduction, and population density of this endemic subspecies. We observed differences in spatial patterns associated with den use between juveniles and adults: juvenile core denning areas were almost an order of magnitude larger than those of adults, and juveniles used about one-half the number of dens per month as adults. Female juveniles exhibited both the largest mean and maximum movements between consecutive dens among all age and sex classes. At the microhabitat scale of den selection snags were not selected over live trees, but flying squirrels primarily used cavities in snags and live trees. Flying squirrels also selected dens in the largest diameter live trees and snags, in snags with intermediate levels of decay, in live trees with more conks and visible bole entries, and in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). At the broader scale of den selection flying squirrels chose den locations in neighborhoods with higher-volume forests and lower levels of fragmentation, although not lower absolute amounts of edge, than was available across the landscape. Our results suggest that extensive modification of landscapes from clear-cut logging and the creation of an early-seral matrix appeared to influence spatial patterns of den use in flying squirrels and den selection at the broader scale. When compared to patterns in a more-intact landscape, den selection at the microhabitat scale did not relate to differences in landscape context, suggesting additional factors might play an important role in den use across the region.
Designing Development: Case Study of an International Education and Outreach Program

The creation of physical and material infrastructure is the cornerstone of human development; not surprisingly, engineers and designers are often motivated and inspired in their practice to improve the world around them, to make things better for others, and to apply their knowledge for the good of mankind. These aspirations often get translated into engineering and design curricula where students and faculty work on development related projects usually under the category of community or service learning. This book presents an overview of such an education and outreach program designed to empower stakeholders to improve their lives. The project described here was an international multi-institutional undertaking that included academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and private firms. Within the academic setting, an interdisciplinary set of actors that included engineering and industrial design students and faculty worked on the project. We concretize our work by presenting a design case study that illustrates how different approaches can help guide the works of engineers and designers as they create global infrastructures and localized artifacts. We emphasize the importance of developing long term relationships with organizations on the ground in order to ensure appropriate design as well as successful transfer and long term use of designed artifacts. We discuss the life trajectories of the authors to provide a grounded perspective on what motivated us to undertake this work and shaped our approach with the intention to demonstrate that there are multiple paths toward this goal. Table of Contents: Introduction / Development of the Program: Personal Trajectories Meet Professional Opportunities / Intellectual Positioning of the Program: Sociomaterial Infrastructures and Capable and Convivial Design / Case Study: Quick Response (QR) Code Based Immunization Solution / Design for Development Course and Outreach Initiative / Conclusion: Lessons Learned
Cholinesterase inhibition by potato glycoalkaloids slows mivacurium metabolism.

BackgroundThe duration of action for many pharmaceutical agents is dependent on their breakdown by endogenous hydrolytic enzymes. Dietary factors that interact with these enzyme systems may alter drug efficacy and time course. Cholinesterases such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholineste
Finance and Sustainable Development

Sustainable development (SD) requires a balance in the use and exploitation of environmental resources for economic development in order to protect the interests of the future generations. The role of development finance needs to be carefully integrated with the principles of SD, and this involves due recognition in the design of policies and their implementation. Global financial institutions and their counterparts at the national levels need to address relevant issues more systematically than has been done in the past. Integration of financial and environmental dimensions of development remains an important task.
A Remark on Continuous Coagulation-Fragmentation Equations with Unbounded Diffusion Coefficients

Continuous coagulation-fragmentation processes with diffusion are studied. It is shown that the parameter dependent diffusion term d(y). generates an analytic semigroup in suitable state spaces even for unbounded diffusion coefficients d(y). This yields existence and uniqueness of local-intime smooth solutions that are global for small initial values in the absence of fragmentation.
Conservative tightly-coupled simulations of stochastic multiscale systems

Multiphysics problems often involve components whose macroscopic dynamics is driven by microscopic random fluctuations. The fidelity of simulations of such systems depends on their ability to propagate these random fluctuations throughout a computational domain, including subdomains represented by deterministic solvers. When the constituent processes take place in nonoverlapping subdomains, system behavior can be modeled via a domain-decomposition approach that couples separate components at the interfaces between these subdomains. Its coupling algorithm has to maintain a stable and efficient numerical time integration even at high noise strength. We propose a conservative domain-decomposition algorithm in which tight coupling is achieved by employing either Picard's or Newton's iterative method. Coupled diffusion equations, one of which has a Gaussian white-noise source term, provide a computational testbed for analysis of these two coupling strategies. Fully-converged ("implicit") coupling with Newton's method typically outperforms its Picard counterpart, especially at high noise levels. This is because the number of Newton iterations scales linearly with the amplitude of the Gaussian noise, while the number of Picard iterations can scale superlinearly. At large time intervals between two subsequent inter-solver communications, the solution error for single-iteration ("explicit") Picard's coupling can be several orders of magnitude higher than that for implicit coupling. Increasing the explicit coupling's communication frequency reduces this difference, but the resulting increase in computational cost can make it less efficient than implicit coupling at similar levels of solution error, depending on the communication frequency of the latter and the noise strength. This trend carries over into higher dimensions, although at high noise strength explicit coupling may be the only computationally viable option.
Re-imagining Central Banking

The urgency of the task obviously arises from the experience of the global financial crisis, during which central banks intervened in dramatically new ways and to a dramatically greater degree than ever before, at least in peacetime. Central banks invented new tools on the fly, because the familiar old tools were not working. Now the crisis is over comes the important intellectual task of understanding how these new things fit within the standard pre-crisis toolkit. Just so, Borio and Disyatat (2009) distinguish between the old “interest rate policy” and the new “balance sheet policy”, urging us to understand the latter as, on the one hand, nothing more than an extension of traditional techniques of FX intervention to a broader asset class and, on the other hand, nothing less than use of the central bank balance sheet to implement debt management policy that is more traditionally undertaken by the Treasury. The present paper can in part be understood as a critical but sympathetic reconsideration of this early appraisal.
Relation between Semen Quality and Fertilizing Ability of White Holland Turkeys

Abstract LOW fertility is often a baffling and costly problem in turkey breeding operations. It has been suggested that turkey males are the chief offenders because of complete or near sterility. Fertility tends to decrease rather rapidly as the breeding season progresses, particularly in out-of-season hatching, suggesting changes in the physiological activity of the male reproductive System. Although research has been conducted to determine semen production and quality in the chicken, there is practically no information available on the quality of turkey semen. Parker (1947), however, has shown that spermatogenesis in the turkey, as measured by number of spermatozoa per collection, continued to increase from January until late March, after which time there was some decline. Considerable seasonal variation in semen production of the chicken has been reported by Parker and McSpadden (1942), Parker (1943), and Wheeler and Andrews (1943). In general, the reports of these workers and others show that …
"Indefinite for Dysplasia" in Barrett's Esophagus: Inflammation and DNA Content Abnormality are Significant Predictors of Early Detection of Neoplasia.

“Indefinite for Dysplasia” in Barrett’s Esophagus: Inflammation and DNA Content Abnormality are Significant Predictors of Early Detection of Neoplasia
In-situ Formation of a Series of AgFeO2/γ-Fe2O3 Composites: Impact on Electrochemical Performance

A paradigm for the synthetic manipulation of composition and crystallite size of bimetallic composites via a low-temperature, aqueous co-precipitation technique employing non-stoichiometric ratios of starting materials, AgNO3 and Fe(NO3 3, is introduced. In-situ formation of composites containing crystalline silver ferrite, AgFeO2, and nanocrystalline maghemite, γ-Fe2O3 is demonstrated and established by Raman spectroscopic and X-ray absorption analyses. As a cathode, the lowest silver content composites exhibited profoundly improved electrochemical performance, with reversible capacities approximately 100% higher relative to stoichiometric AgFeO2, and demonstrate the lowest capacity fade.
A CHALLENGING CASE OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION IN THE SETTING OF PRIMARY MYELOFIBROSIS

Primary myelofibrosis can be associated with pulmonary hypertension and is considered to be multifactorial. One etiology is from the development of extramedullary hematopoiesis in the lungs. Although not well defined, therapies have been traditionally aimed at treating the underlying cause. A 61-
Mapping the Social World of Classrooms: A Multi-Level, Multi-Reporter Approach to Social Processes and Behavioral Engagement.

Understanding the social context of classrooms has been a central goal of research focused on the promotion of academic development. Building on the current literature on classroom social settings and guided by a risk and protection framework, this study examines the unique and combined contribution of individual relationships and quality of classroom interactions on behavioral engagement among low-income Latino students in kindergarten to fifth grade (N = 111). Findings indicate that individual relationships with teachers and peers and classroom quality, each independently predicted behavioral engagement. Moreover, high-quality classrooms buffered the negative influence of students’ difficulties in individual relationships on behavioral engagement. Findings illuminate the need to consider multiple layers of social classroom relationships and interactions and suggest the potential benefit of targeting classroom quality as a mechanism for improving behavioral engagement in urban elementary schools.
Exploring potential solvation sites of proteins by multistart local minimization

The thermodynamics of solvation is studied by exploring the local minima of a function that describes the free energy of water around a protein. In particular, we determine if the ordered water positions in the crystal become preferred solvent binding sites in solution. The free energy is obtained by determining the electrostatic field of the solvated protein from a continuum model, and then calculating the interactions between this field and a single water molecule. The local minima in the neighborhood of selected points are explored by two different approaches. The first is a simple mapping of the free energy on a grid. The resulting maps show that the “free energy pockets” around crystallographic water sites are clusters of local minima. The second approach is based on the classical simplex algorithm which is used in two different implementations, one with a penalty function and the other modified for constrained minimization, called the complex method. Both the simplex and the complex methods are much faster than mapping the free energy surface. The calculations are applied to T4 lysozyme with data available on the conservation of solvent binding sites in 18 crystallographycally independent molecules. Results show that almost all conserved sites and the majority of non-conserved sites are within 1.3 A of local free energy minima. This is in sharp contrast to the behavior of randomly placed water molecules in the boundary layer which, on the average, must travel more than 3 A to the nearest free energy minimum. Potential solvation sites, not filled by a water in the x-ray structure, were studied by local free energy minimizations, started from random points in the first water layer.
Recent progress in wind field sensing by aerosol lidar and motion estimation algorithms

Recent research results that involved the application of two motion estimation algorithms (cross-correlation and wavelet-based optical flow) to data from two ground-based atmospheric aerosol lidar systems (analog and digital direct detection) will be presented.
Intensity modulated optical transmission in a non-linear dielectric environment with an embedded mono-layer transition metal dichalcogenide

We study the optical behavior of an arrangement in which the interface between a linear and non-linear dielectric media is covered by an embedded mono-layer of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC). The optical behavior is qualitatively obtained through transmission and reflection coefficients which are a function of the third order non-linear susceptibility of the Kerr-type dielectric and the inter-band optical conductivity of the TMDC mono-layer. The inter-band optical conductivity of the TMDC mono-layer is calculated using the Kubo formalism from the linear response theory. In particular, we theoretically demonstrate that the optical response of this structure can be switched between the total internal reflection and a normal transmission regime by controlling the intensity of the incident radiation. The reflection and transmission functions are shown to be amenable to further control by altering the inter-band optical conductivity of the embedded TMDC mono-layer. The optical conductivity is directly related to its energy dispersion. We specifically choose two TMDC mono-layers, MoS2 and WSe2, which have nearly identical dispersion parameters apart from a much stronger spin-orbit coupling in the latter. The stronger spin-orbit coupling in WSe2 does not significantly alter the inter-band optical conductivity to manifest as an enhanced reflection spectrum. However, we find that application of an external perturbation such as strain could be effectively used to modulate the overall optical response. We conclude by discussing briefly the phenomenon of optical bistability which arises in materials exhibiting optical non-linearity via an intensity-dependent refractive index.
Deguelin and Its Role in Chronic Diseases

Deguelin is one of four major naturally occurring rotenoids isolated from root extracts and is best recognized as a NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) inhibitor, resulting in significant alterations in mitochondrial function. Deguelin has also been implicated as a regulator of apoptosis through signaling pathways, such as the (PI3K)/Akt pathway, as well as an initiator of cell cycle arrest. Consequently, this compound has accrued great interest as a potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic. Additionally, deguelin exposure has been linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by a substantial loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, as well the manifestation of symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity, and rest tremor. While exploring the genetic impact of PD is imperative, environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides, have also been connected to the development of PD. The etiology and pathogenesis of PD are yet to be fully understood and elucidated, but mitochondrial dysfunction is gaining recognition as a molecular hallmark of PD. In fact, deguelin has been reported to elicit PD-like symptoms (degeneration of the dopaminergic pathway) in rats administered with deguelin (6 mg/kg/day for 6 days), possibly through the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I. Further research investigating the mechanisms by which deguelin inhibits central cellular processes is essential in order to advance any prospective research addressing potential applications and risks of deguelin.
Breast Disease in Elderly Women

The incidence of breast cancer increases with age. In spite of competing causes of mortality, breast cancer is a significant cause of death in elderly women. Elderly women are more likely to receive inadequate local and systemic therapy than their younger counterparts. Mastectomy and breast-sparing surgery with radiotherapy are well tolerated by the majority of elderly women. Tamoxifen is an acceptable alternative primary treatment for those with a limited life span. Treatment decisions for older women with breast cancer should be made based on biologic, not chronologic, age.
The "double discourse" on sexual and reproductive rights in Latin America: the chasm between public policy and private actions.

This article examines how political controversies affect citizens' ability to exercise sexual and reproductive rights in Latin America. The article argues that societies accommodate conflicting views on sexuality and reproduction with a "double discourse system," which defends repressive or negligent public policies while privately tolerating unofficial and often illegal mechanisms that expand private sexual and reproductive choices. The examples of divorce policy in Chile and abortion policy in Colombia and Chile are highlighted to illustrate how this breach between public discourse and private actions operates in practice, and who is harmed by it. The article concludes by discussing the implications of this system for rights advocacy. /// Cet article analyse comment les controverses politiques affectent la capacite des citoyens a exercer leurs droits sexuels et genesiques en Amerique latine. Il insiste sur le fait que les societes s'accommodent de vues contradictoires sur la sexualite et la reproduction a l'aide d'un " double systeme de discours ", lequel defend des pratiques publiques repressives ou negligentes tout en tolerant en prive des mecanismes non officiels et souvent illegaux etendant le choix prive dans les domaines de la sexualite et de la reproduction. Les exemples de la politique du divorce au Chili et de celle de l'avortement en Colombie et au Chili sont mis en evidence pour illustrer comment cette divergence entre le discours public et les actions privees fonctionne en pratique, et a qui elle nuit. Cet article s'acheve par une discussion des implications de ce systeme pour le plaidoyer des droits. /// Este articulo examina como las controversias politicas impactan la capacidad de los ciudadanos de ejercer sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos en America Latina. El articulo declara que la sociedad acomoda perspectivas opuestas sobre los derechos sexuales y reproductivos usando un "sistema de doble discurso" que, por un lado, defiende las politicas publicas represivas o indiferentes mientras que, por el otro, secretamente tolera mecanismos extraoficiales y a menudo ilegales que amplian las opciones sexuales y reproductivas del individuo. Las politicas sobre el divorcio en Chile y el aborto en Colombia y Chile se realzan a fines de ilustrar como esta brecha entre el discurso publico y las acciones privadas funciona en la practica y quienes son sus victimas. El articulo termina discutiendo el impacto de este sistema sobre la promocion de derechos.
The Economic Contributions of the Land Title Industry to the U.S. Economy

This study estimates the economic contributions of the land title industry to the U.S. economy and examines the vital role title and escrow services play in supporting the American property system. The report then assesses the negative effects of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's proposed rules on the settlement process.
Cross-Societal Cultural Differences and the Shaping of Opinions on International Trade

We address international trade as the second part of our empirical analysis of public opinion. We begin by considering whether survey respondents view trade as, on balance, a good thing or a bad thing. More specifically, as we are interested in the potential influence of cultural differences on public opinion, we examine whether opinions of trade are significantly related to the cultural distance between the respondents’ countries of residence and its trading partners. In total, our data set includes responses from individuals in 37 countries. This is followed by the examination of public opinion on three trade-related topics—namely, the influence of international trade on domestic wages, employment, and prices in the countries in which the survey respondents live.
A MECHANISM FOR LIGAMENTUM TERES INJURIES IN FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT: AN ANATOMICAL STUDY.

Background Femoroacetabular impingement can produce abnormal biomechanics that lead to compensatory injuries around the hip and pelvis. Ligamentum teres pathologies are commonly associated with these bony deformities but a mechanism for injury has not been described in the literature. Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe a potential mechanism behind ligamentum teres injury and impingement between the femoral neck and acetabulum. Study Design Laboratory controlled cadaveric study. Methods Twenty-six hips from 15 embalmed cadavers (8 male; 7 female) with lifespans between 55-93 years were skeletonized. The hip was placed in 90 ° flexion and 0 ° abduction/adduction and internally rotated until the femoral head neck contacted the acetabulum. This position of impingement with respect to internal rotation was recorded with a goniometer. The hip was then further internally rotated until end range of motion was achieved and again the position of internal rotation recorded with a goniometer. Results The positions of internal rotation at which impingement occurred (mean 9 °; SD 4.2; Range -2 ° to 15 °) when compared to end range (mean 21 °; SD 5.7; Range 5 ° to 27 °) were significantly different (p<0.005; t = 14.8). In all the hips, after impingement occurred the site of bony contact between the femoral neck and acetabulum acted as a pivot point. The femoral head was levered inferiorly with a loss of the rotational center within the acetabulum, as internal rotation continued. This movement of the femoral head caused the ligamentum teres to tighten and restricted further movement. Movement into internal rotation beyond this end position caused rupture of the ligamentum teres. Conclusion Internal rotation range of motion can occur beyond the position of impingement and resulted in abnormal inferior movement of the femoral head and tightening of the ligament teres. This study provides cadaveric evidence for the mechanism of ligamentum teres injury in those with who engage in activities that required motion beyond the point of impingement.
Using ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ face in a decision-making grid to motivate students to improve academic success

Abstract A modified Decision-Making Grid was designed to collect data from students enrolled in Principles of Microeconomics classes. The students recorded their expected grade and learning tactics intended for each academic exercise throughout the course period. They earned a ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ face to signify positive or negative divergence of actual grade from expected grade. The Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) model of Behavior Modification theory was adopted to study students’ academic behavior. Regression Results from 154 participants with 60 students as Grid users and 94 students as non-Grid users show statistically significant results supporting the hypotheses that: (1) self-motivation is positively impacted by intended activities leading behaviors towards achieving academic success; (2) self-motivation, and consequence of the behavior contribute positively to academic performance; and (3) the Grid users outperformed the non-Grid users in each of the assignments.
Synthesis of proteins in cells infected with herpesvirus: VII. Lack of migration of structural viral proteins to the nucleus of arginine-deprived cells☆

Abstract Incubation of rabbit kidney cells infected with pseudorabies virus in medium lacking arginine reduces the yield of infectious virus by more than 95%. Protein synthesis is, however, inhibited only by about 50% and DNA synthesis by about 65%. Analysis of the proteins synthesized by infected cells deprived of arginine revaled that the major structural viral proteins are present but that these proteins do not migrate from their cytoplasmic site of synthesis to their site of assembly in the nucleus, as they do in cells supplied with arginine. The possible mechanism for this effect is discussed.
Bladder-Bowel Dysfunction in Children: Consequences, Risk Factors and Recommendations for Primary Care Interventions

The goals of this paper are to review potential risk factors and emerging insights into nature of bladder-bowel dysfunction (BBD) and highlight a patient-centered approach to management, which can begin in the primary care setting. (1) BBD is documented in about half of patients with vesicoureteral reflux and increases potential for renal scarring. (2) Neurodevelopmental and environmental factors are associated with BBD and greater understanding of a neurocentric basis for BBD is emerging. (3) A patient-centered approach to care is required. The way in which children and adolescents understand their bladder, bowel, or continence problem can influence coping strategies and adherence to treatment. Early identification and treatment of BBD is important to prevent significant medical and social burden. The primary care provider with foundational knowledge of the causes and risk factors for BBD and an established relationship with a patient and family is well suited to identify BBD and begin management.
Stress Adaptation Upregulates Oxytocin Within Hypothalamo-Vagal Neurocircuits

Stress plays a pivotal role in the development and/or exacerbation of functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contains neurons that are part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as well as preautonomic neurons innervating, among other areas, gastric-projecting preganglionic neurons of the dorsal vagal complex (DVC). The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that stress adaptation upregulates oxytocin (OXT) within PVN-brainstem vagal neurocircuitry. The retrograde tracer cholera toxin B (CTB) was injected into the DVC of rats which, after post-surgical recovery, were pair-housed and exposed to either homo- or heterotypic stress for five consecutive days. Fecal pellets were counted at the end of each stress load. Two hours after the last stressor, the whole brain was excised. Brainstem and hypothalamic nuclei were analyzed immunohistochemically for the presence of both OXT-immunopositive cells in identified preautonomic PVN neurons as well as OXT fibers in the DVC. Rats exposed to chronic homotypic, but not chronic heterotypic stress, had a significant increase in both number of CTB+ OXT co-localized neurons in the PVN as well as density of OXT-positive fibers in the DVC compared to control rats. These data suggest that preautonomic OXT PVN neurons and their projections to the DVC increase following adaptation to stress, and suggest that the possible up-regulation of OXT within PVN-brainstem vagal neurocircuitry may play a role in the adaptation of GI responses to stress.
Sutures, Adhesives, Staples, and Other Closure Technologies

The history of surgery, and therefore wound closure, is that of human social evolution. Social cohesion for Homo sapiens (which led to our species dominating other humanoid species including H. neanderthalensis and H. erectus) depended upon caring for the infirm. Some of the earliest surgical needles, dating back to at least 20,000 BC, were made of bone, and primitive sutures were made of plant material and linen (5). Middle-Kingdom Egyptians used strips of linen coated with honey and flour as some of the first documented adhesive material for wound closure. South American cultures even used the pincers of decapitated ants as a means of wound closure. The use of gut as suture material was first mentioned in ancient Greece around the time of Galen, a material still used today.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) represents an evidence-based multidisciplinary approach to perioperative management after major surgery that decreases complications and readmissions and improves functional recovery. Spine surgery is a traditionally invasive intervention with an extended recovery phase and may benefit from ERAS protocol integration. Methods We analyzed the use of ERAS in spine surgery by completing a search using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and the PICOS (Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, Study Design) model through PubMed and Ovid databases to identify studies that fit our search criteria. We assess the outcomes and ERAS elements selected across protocols as well as the study design and internal validation methods. Results A total of 19 studies met the inclusion criteria and were used in our analysis. Patient populations differed significantly across all 4 studies. Reduction in length of stay was reported in 7 studies using the ERAS protocol. Comparative studies between ERAS and non-ERAS show improved pain scores and reduced opioid consumption postoperatively, but no differences in complications or readmissions between groups. Complication rates under ERAS protocols ranged from 2.0% to 31.7%. Significant pain reduction in visual analog scale scores was observed with 3 ERAS protocols. Direct, indirect, and total cost decreases were also observed with implementation of ERAS protocols. Conclusions A limited cohort of studies with significant variability in patient population and ERAS protocol implementation have evaluated the integration of ERAS within spine surgery. ERAS in spine surgery may provide reductions in complications, readmissions, length of stay, and opioid use, in combination with improvements in patient-reported outcomes and functional recovery.
Demographic structures, savings, and international capital flows

Abstract This paper investigates how the different demographic characteristics of two countries will drive the flow of capital between them, as inhabitants of the longer-lived nation have a higher savings rate than do those with the shorter lifespan. It is motivated by the recent US experience during which its net foreign asset position declined dramatically, while simultaneously its longevity has fallen increasingly below that of other developed G7 economies. Our contribution is to address the issue by introducing empirically based survival (mortality) functions into a traditional two country macrodynamic framework. In doing so, we eliminate some of the unsatisfactory aspects associated with the traditional two country representative agent model. The sensitivity of the capital flows and the resulting net foreign assets of the two economies to key structural characteristics, and their consequences for savings are emphasized.
Abstract 851: NCLX Expression Attenuates Pathological Remodeling in Experimental Cardiac Hypertrophy and Non-ischemic Heart Failure

Mitochondrial calcium (mCa2+) uptake couples acute changes in cardiomyocyte bioenergetic demand to ATP production, but in excess triggers mitochondrial permeability transition and cardiomyocyte nec...
Association between maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and rare birth defects of the face and central nervous system.

Background Previous studies suggested associations between maternal smoking, a source of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other chemicals, and central nervous system and face birth defects; however, no previous studies have evaluated maternal occupational PAH exposure itself. Methods Jobs held in the periconceptional period were retrospectively assigned for occupational PAH exposures. Associations between maternal occupational PAH exposure and selected rare defects of the face (cataracts, microphthalmia, glaucoma, microtia, and choanal atresia) and central nervous system (holoprosencephaly, hydrocephaly, cerebellar hypoplasia, and Dandy-Walker malformation) were evaluated using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a population-based case-control study in the United States. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to estimate associations between each evaluated defect and PAH exposure using multivariable logistic regression. Results Food and beverage serving, as well as cooks and food preparation occupations, were among the most frequent jobs held by exposed mothers. Cataracts, microtia, microphthalmia, and holoprosencephaly were significantly associated with PAH exposure with evidence of dose-response (P-values for trend ≤.05). Hydrocephaly was associated with any PAH exposure, but not significant for trend. Sensitivity analyses that reduced possible sources of exposure misclassification tended to strengthen associations. Conclusions This is the first population-based case-control study to evaluate associations between maternal occupational PAH exposures and these rare birth defects of the central nervous system and face.
A service analytic approach to studying patient no-shows

Patients who fail to show up for an appointment are a major challenge to medical providers. Understanding no-shows and predicting them are keys to developing a proactive strategy in healthcare operations. In this study, we propose a data analytics framework to explore the underlying factors of no-shows via various machine learning models to predict whether a patient is a no-show. The analytics results reveal key patterns in no-show patients. We also propose a methodology to integrate the prediction model with a Bayesian inference system to create an overbooking decision support tool that allows variable overbooking rates in different time windows.
Sleep Deprived or Concussed? The Acute Impact of Self-Reported Insufficient Sleep in College Athletes.

Objective: Sleep deprivation is common among both college students and athletes and has been correlated with negative health outcomes, including worse cognition. As such, the current study sought to examine the relationship between sleep difficulties and self-reported symptoms and objective neuropsychological performance at baseline and post-concussion in collegiate athletes. Method: Seven hundred seventy-two collegiate athletes completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery at baseline and/or post-concussion. Athletes were separated into two groups based on the amount of sleep the night prior to testing. The sleep duration cutoffs for these group were empirically determined by sample mean and standard deviation (M = 7.07, SD = 1.29). Results: Compared with athletes getting sufficient sleep, those getting insufficient sleep the night prior to baseline reported significantly more overall symptoms and more symptoms from each of the five symptom clusters of the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale. However, there were no significant differences on objective performance indices. Secondly, there were no significant differences on any of the outcome measures, except for sleep symptoms and headache, between athletes getting insufficient sleep at baseline and those getting sufficient sleep post-concussion. Conclusion: Overall, the effect of insufficient sleep at baseline can make an athlete appear similar to a concussed athlete with sufficient sleep. As such, athletes completing a baseline assessment following insufficient sleep could be underperforming cognitively and reporting elevated symptoms that would skew post-concussion comparisons. Therefore, there may need to be consideration of prior night’s sleep when determining whether a baseline can be used as a valid comparison.
Temporal Association between Abdominal Weight Status and Healthy Aging: Findings from the 2011–2018 National Health and Aging Trends Study

Background/objectives: The longitudinal effect of abdominal weight status (AWS) defined by waist circumference (WC) on healthy aging has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the temporal association between WC-defined AWS and a comprehensive assessment for healthy aging. Subjects/methods: This study utilized data from 5211 respondents aged 65+ who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study from 2011 to 2018. Mixed effects regression models were used to examine the association between baseline AWS and the annual change rate in healthy aging score (HAS) via interaction terms (AWS*round) adjusting for confounding effects. Further multiple mixed models examined the relationship of AWS and HAS over an 8-year period. Results: There were no annual change rate differences in HAS by baseline AWS, regardless of sex. However, males with abdominal obesity were more likely to have a lower HAS than males with normal AWS (β = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.30, −0.10, p < 0.001) but no difference in HAS was observed between males with overweight and normal AWS. A similar pattern was observed among females. Conclusions: Study results indicate that AWS was associated with HAS but it did not modify annual HAS change rate over time.
Current perspectives on dental adhesion: (1) Dentin adhesion – not there yet

The essential goal of any adhesive restoration is to achieve a tight and long-lasting adaptation of the restorative material to enamel and dentin. The key challenge for new dental adhesives is to be simultaneously effective on two dental substrates of conflicting nature. Some barriers must be overcome to accomplish this objective. While bonding to enamel by micromechanical interlocking of resin tags within the array of microporosities in acid-etched enamel can be reliably achieved and can effectively seal the restoration margins against leakage, bonding effectively and durably to organic and humid dentin is the most puzzling task in adhesive dentistry. Much of the research and development of dental adhesives has focused on making the clinical procedure more user-friendly by reducing the number of bottles and/or steps. Although clinicians certainly prefer less complicated and more versatile adhesive materials, there is a trade-off between simplification of dental adhesives and clinical outcomes. Likewise, new materials are launched with claims of being novel and having special properties without much supporting evidence. This review article discusses dental adhesion acknowledging pioneer work in the field, highlights the substrate as a major challenge to obtain durable adhesive restorations, as well as analyzes the three adhesion strategies and their shortcomings. It also reviews the potential of chemical/ionic dental adhesion, discusses the issue of extensively published laboratory research that does not translate to clinical relevance, and leaves a few thoughts in regard to recent research that may have implications for future adhesive materials.
Political Science and Biology: Then, Now, and Next

Biology and Politics (or Biopolitics) has been a part of the political science firmament since the 1960s. Over time, it has become less an odd outlier in the discipline and more a tolerated (and sometimes respected) part of the enterprise. After about 50 years of existence, this is a proper time to reflect on where biopolitics has been, where it is now, and where it might go as an academic endeavor. Indeed, some have said that the best step would for biopolitics to no longer be seen as a special, narrow part of political science—but a part of every field in the discipline, integrated into the larger world of the study of politics.