cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-Effectiveness of Prophylaxis for Mycobacterium avium Complex Disease

There are now several alternative drug regimens that have been shown to be effective in preventing Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The effectiveness and the costs of these drugs should be taken into account when choosing a specific drug regimen, as the cost of treating MAC can be relatively high. Our results are formulated from an analysis to assess the comparative cost-effectiveness of available prophylactic drugs for MAC. A decision analysis was undertaken comparing no prophylaxis and prophylaxis with either rifabutin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, or azithromycin and rifabutin in combination. Estimates of effectiveness of prophylaxis and costs of illness were obtained from published literature. Drug costs were based on national average wholesale prices. Sensitivity analyses were done over plausible ranges of estimates of cost and effectiveness. Given our baseline assumptions, the most cost-effective regimen in regard to cases of avoided MAC or death is azithromycin used alone. Clarithromycin used alone is the next most cost-effective approach. Combination therapy with azithromycin and rifabutin is less cost-effective than macrolide monotherapy, and rifabutin used alone is less cost-effective than any of the macrolide-containing regimens. Using some type of MAC prophylaxis is preferable to no prophylaxis when considering cost as well as efficacy. At current prices and using currently available effectiveness data, azithromycin is probably the most cost-effective choice of prophylactic therapy for MAC. Not using MAC prophylaxis is the least cost-effective option. Prevention of MAC with drug therapy provides clinical benefit at a reasonable cost.
Wind turbine performance assessment using multi-regime modeling approach

Prognostics & health management system is an integral component of any wind energy program to ensure high turbine availability and reliability. Traditional vibration-based condition monitoring practices have been proposed to be utilized with wind turbines as they have demonstrated varying degrees of success with other rotary machinery. However, high-frequency data such as vibration and acoustic emission signals, generally, are not collected and recorded due to limitations with data storage capacities. In addition, the highly dynamic operating conditions of a wind turbine pose a challenge to conventional frequency domain analysis tools. Thus, a systematic framework that utilizes multi-regime modeling approach is proposed to consider the dynamic working conditions of a wind turbine. Three methods were developed, and they were evaluated using SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) data only that have been collected from a large-scale on-shore wind turbine for 27 months. Empirical observations from the results of the three methods indicate the ability of the approach to trend and assess turbine degradation prior to known downtime occurrences.
Cognitive mediators of stressful experience: Self-efficacy and perceived control

Cognitive strategies for the amelioration of stressful experience have drawn increasing interest in recent years, but the means by which these strategies result in decreasing aversiveness are not well understood. Two cognitive constructs in particular have been proposed as mediators of stressful experience and mediators of behavior in stressful encounters: perceived self-efficacy and perceived control. It has been suggested that cognitive strategies are successful to the extent that perceptions of control or of self-efficacy are enhanced. Both of these constructs have been examined separately in the literature as to their influence on the behavioral, subjective, and physiological outcomes of stressful events, and evidence has been gathered indicating a mediating potential for each. However, neither perception of direct control over an event nor high expectations regarding ability to cope with a given stressor can fully explain the various outcomes that have been reported or the success of cognitive strategies. The present paper reviews the literature regarding these two constructs as they have been applied to the conceptualization of coping with aversive events, and discusses the complexities that have arisen from a variety of clinical and experimental investigations. In the final section of this paper an attempt is made to integrate the constructs of self-efficacy and perceived control into existing models of appraisal and coping.
Traveling waves in the modelling of aerosolised skin grafts

Abstract Denman et al. [P.K. Denman, D.L.S. McElwain, J. Norbury, Analysis of travelling waves associated with the modelling of aerosolised skin grafts, Bull. Math. Biol. 69 (2007) 495–523] proposed a novel model on the growth pattern of keratinocyte cell colonies that were sprayed on to a severe burn site to facilitate the healing process. They studied traveling wave solutions of the model by asymptotic analysis and obtained several qualitative properties. In this paper we establish the following result on the traveling waves: there exists a minimal speed c min such that the model has a unique biologically meaningful travelling wave solution for each speed c ≥ c min and has no such a solution for any c c min .
The use of particle filtering with the unscented transform to schedule sensors multiple steps ahead

In a multisensor network, sensor scheduling can be used to minimize the cost of resources and improve system performance. We propose a multisensor scheduling algorithm using a particle filter and the unscented transform for a target tracking application. Under the constraint that only one sensor may be used at each time step, we predict the expected cost multiple steps ahead. We achieve this using several sets of particles for each sequence of sensors and then choose the sequence that minimizes the predicted cost. An advantage of the proposed algorithm is that it can incorporate arbitrary cost functions. Monte Carlo simulations, using squared error as the cost function, demonstrate the improved target tracking performance achieved with sensor scheduling.
Microphonics detuning in the 500 MHz superconducting CESR cavities

The RF system of the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) consists of four superconducting (s.c.) 500 MHz cavities. For a charm-tau upgrade (CESR-c) we plan to drive two cavities by one klystron and to operate some cavities in passive mode. During the previous high energy run the RF system performance was not significantly affected by microphonic cavity detuning, since the cavities were operated under strong beam loading with a low loaded quality factor of 2 /spl middot/ 10/sup 5/. However, in low energy CESR-c operation with increased loaded Q-factor the RF system becomes less tolerant to microphonics, especially when two cavities are driven by one klystron. In order to address this potential problem we have studied microphonics in the CESR cavities in detail. Significant improvements have been achieved by reducing major contributions to the detuning. For further improvements we plan to study the performance of an active microphonics compensation scheme, which is based on a fast piezoelectric-driven frequency tuner.
Quasi-Ohmic Single Molecule Charge Transport through Highly Conjugated meso-to-meso Ethyne-Bridged Porphyrin Wires

Understanding and controlling electron transport through functional molecules are of primary importance to the development of molecular scale devices. In this work, the single molecule resistances of meso-to-meso ethyne-bridged (porphinato)zinc(II) structures (PZn(n) compounds), connected to gold electrodes via (4'-thiophenyl)ethynyl termini, are determined using scanning tunneling microscopy-based break junction methods. These experiments show that each α,ω-di[(4'-thiophenyl)ethynyl]-terminated PZn(n) compound (dithiol-PZn(n)) manifests a dual molecular conductance. In both the high and low conductance regimes, the measured resistance across these metal-dithiol-PZn(n)-metal junctions increases in a near linear fashion with molecule length. These results signal that meso-to-meso ethyne-bridged porphyrin wires afford the lowest β value (β = 0.034 A(-1)) yet determined for thiol-terminated single molecules that manifest a quasi-ohmic resistance dependence across metal-dithiol-PZn(n)-metal junctions.
Silent ships sometimes do encounter more fish. 2. Concurrent echosounder observations from a free-drifting buoy and vessels

The reactions of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) to the NOAA ships “Miller Freeman” (MF), a conventionally designed research vessel, and the “Oscar Dyson” (OD), a noise-reduced research vessel, were compared near the Shumagin Islands, Alaska. Observations with a buoy-mounted echosounder indicated a stronger decrease in pollock backscatter strength and a greater increase in pollock backscatter depth associated with the passage of the MF than the OD. The pollock began to respond at a distance of 270 m from the vessel and were disturbed for several minutes after vessel passage. The reaction to the OD was weak, suggesting that measurements of pollock made by the OD in this environment are not strongly biased by vessel avoidance. Comparison of echosounder observations collected on board each vessel indicated that the MF measured less pollock backscatter, a deeper pollock depth distribution, and weaker single-target echoes than the OD. Together, the results indicate that acoustic measurements from the two vessels are not equivalent because of a reduced avoidance response to the noise-reduced vessel.
Linked magma ocean solidification and atmospheric growth for Earth and Mars

Abstract Early in terrestrial planet evolution energetic impact, radiodecay, and core formation may have created one or more whole or partial silicate mantle magma oceans. The time to mantle solidification and then to clement surface conditions allowing liquid water is highly dependent upon heat flux from the planetary surface through a growing primitive atmosphere. Here we model the time to clement conditions for whole and partial magma oceans on the Earth and Mars, and the resulting silicate mantle volatile compositions. Included in our calculations are partitioning of water and carbon dioxide between solidifying mantle cumulate mineral assemblages, evolving liquid compositions, and a growing atmosphere. We find that small initial volatile contents (0.05 wt.% H 2 O, 0.01 wt.% CO 2 ) can produce atmospheres in excess of 100 bars, and that mantle solidification is 98% complete in less than 5 Myr for all magma oceans investigated on both Earth and Mars, and less than 100,000 yr for low-volatile magma oceans. Subsequent cooling to clement surface conditions occurs in five to tens of Ma, underscoring the likelihood of serial magma oceans and punctuated clement conditions in the early planets. Cumulate mantles are volatile-bearing and stably stratified following solidification, inhibiting the onset of thermal convection but allowing for further water and carbon emissions from volcanoes even in the absence of plate tectonics. Models thus produce a new hypothetical starting point for mantle evolution in the terrestrial planets.
Sources of Uncertainty in Lateral Resistance of Slender Reinforcement Used for Slope Stabilization

Significant uncertainty remains in predicting the stabilizing forces that can be developed in slender reinforcing members used for slope stabilization. This uncertainty arises from the high number of potential failure modes as well as from uncertainties present in predicting the resistance contributed by the individual failure modes themselves. The aim of this research has been to identify the most significant sources of uncertainty in the design of slender reinforcement through parametric analyses so that the uncertainty can be addressed by modifications to current design and construction practice, and future research. Results of the parametric analyses showed that the degree of improvement in the factor of safety of a reinforced slope depends on a combination of the design parameters evaluated. The parameters with greater influence on the factor of safety for a given soil condition were slope inclination, method for predicting limiting soil resistance, and capacity of reinforcement used. While the uncertainty in limiting resistance for weak reinforcing members is greatly reduced due to the controlling effect of the structural failure mode, significant uncertainty still exists in predicting the limiting resistance on strong reinforcing members.
A general theory of anisotropic membranes

The theory of composite membranes with one “active” layer whose permeability varies with solute concentration is developed. The case of exponential dependence of permeability on concentration is treated in detail, but the case of a general dependence follows the same pattern and leads to the treatment of multi-layered membranes.
Socially Supportive Transformational Leaders: Paradigm and Prescription for Organizational Stress Management

Many organizational leaders find themselves in a quandary. By trying to grow followers the actual result may be increased stress. However, transformational leaders have the potential to mediate the...
Arabidopsis RopGAPs Are a Novel Family of Rho GTPase-Activating Proteins that Require the Cdc42/Rac-Interactive Binding Motif for Rop-Specific GTPase Stimulation

The plant-specific Rop subfamily of Rho GTPases, most closely related to the mammalian Cdc42 and Rac GTPases, plays an important role in the regulation of calcium-dependent pollen tube growth, H 2 O 2 -mediated cell death, and many other processes in plants. In a search for Rop interactors using the two-hybrid method, we identified a family of Rho GTPase-activating proteins (GAP) from Arabidopsis, termed RopGAPs. In addition to a GAP catalytic domain, RopGAPs contain a Cdc42/Rac-interactive binding (CRIB) motif known to allow Cdc42/Rac effector proteins to bind activated Cdc42/Rac. This novel combination of a GAP domain with a CRIB motif is widespread in higher plants and is unique to the regulation of the Rop GTPase. A critical role for CRIB in the regulation of in vitro RopGAP activity was demonstrated using point and deletion mutations. Both types of mutants have drastically reduced capacities to stimulate the intrinsic Rop GTPase activity and to bind Rop. Furthermore, RopGAPs preferentially stimulate the GTPase activity of Rop, but not Cdc42 in a CRIB-dependent manner. In vitro binding assays show that the RopGAP CRIB domain interacts with GTP- and GDP-bound forms of Rop, as well as the transitional state of Rop mimicked by aluminum fluoride. The CRIB domain also promotes the association of the GAP domain with the GDP-bound Rop, as does aluminum fluoride. These results reveal a novel CRIB-dependent mechanism for the regulation of the plant-specific family of Rho GAPs. We propose that the CRIB domain facilitates the formation of or enhanced GAP-mediated stabilization of the transitional state of the Rop GTPase.
Corrective Hair Restoration Techniques for the Aesthetic Problems of Temperoparietal Flaps

BACKGROUND. Temperoparieto-occipital flaps (Juri flap) and temperoparietal flaps (Elliott) were commonly performed in the previous decades but have fallen out of favor for the most part with the development of follicular unit hair transplantation. Besides high complication rates, these procedures created straight abrupt hairlines in many cases, posterior hair direction, hair density that was disproportionately thick, and blunt temperofrontal angles. OBJECTIVE. Because there are many patients who live with cosmetic deformities created by previous flap procedures, the objective of this article is to present a series of techniques that will restore these patients to normal cosmesis. METHODS. The techniques for amelioration of poor cosmesis secondary to flap procedures are (1) undulating follicular unit grafting anterior to the hairline, (2) removal of 2- to 3-mm cylinders of hair-bearing scalp at the anterior hairline, (3) removal of 2- to 3-mm cylinders of hair-bearing scalp from within the flap itself, and (4) appropriate fusiform excision techniques to create a normal temperofrontal angle. RESULTS. The combination of the aforementioned techniques has restored a very natural cosmesis in patients who have poor aesthetics after flap surgery. CONCLUSION. Many patients exist who have had Juri and Elliott flaps. Although the cosmetic deformities that are created from these flaps are difficult to improve, they can be ameliorated effectively through a series of maneuvers that are described in this article.
Common Genetic Variation Influences the Heterogeneity of Response to Oral Glucose

Saxena R, Hivert MF, Langenberg C, et al.: Genetic variation in GIPR influences the glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose challenge.
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the forearm: A case report

A 40-year-old man sustained a circumferential crush injury to his right forearm. Four months after injury, he experienced the onset of numbness and tingling in the distribution of the median nerve after exercise. Elevated compartment pressures of the palmar forearm and slowing of median nerve conduction after exercise suggested chronic exertional compartment syndrome. A flexor fasciotomy led to complete relief of symptoms, which allowed the patient unrestricted activity.
Efficient modes extraction and numerically exact matched sources for a homogeneous waveguide cross-section in a FDTD simulation

Using the orthogonality of modes, an efficient real-time modes extraction is available for the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation of a waveguide. This paper demonstrates that, even at one cell beyond the discontinuity, S-parameters still can be accurately extracted. Combined with numerically exact matched sources, the computational volume for S-parameter computation can be reduced to a minimum. >
Intramuscular lipid oxidation and obesity

There is an accumulating amount of evidence indicating that lipid oxidation is depressed in the skeletal muscle of obese individuals. Decrements in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) have been reported with obesity in models ranging from whole body measurements to isolated skeletal muscle preparations as well as in myotubes raised in culture. This reduction appears to be associated with a depression in the activities of enzymes involved in various steps of lipid oxidation, which subsequently partitions lipid entering the cell toward storage. The defect in FAO in skeletal muscle may be critical in relation to health, as a reduction in the capacity for lipid oxidation could directly or indirectly contribute to the insulin resistance commonly evident with obesity. Although less characterized, a decrement in FAO has also been linked with weight gain, which suggests that this characteristic may be an integral aspect leading to the obese state. In terms of intervention, weight loss does not seem to correct the defect in FAO with obesity. This review will provide evidence supporting a reduction in muscle FAO with obesity.
The essential transcription factor Reb1p interacts with the CLB2 UAS outside of the G2/M control region

Regulation of CLB2 is important both for completion of the normal vegetative cell cycle in Saccharo myces cerevisiae and for departure from the vegetative cell cycle upon nitrogen deprivation. Cell cycle-regulated transcription of CLB2 in the G2/M phase is known to be brought about by a set of proteins including Mcm1p, Fkh2/1p and Ndd1p that associate with a 35 bp G2/M-specific sequence common to a set of co-regulated genes. CLB2 transcription is regulated by additional signals, including by nitrogen levels, by positive feedback from the Clb2–Cdc28 kinase, and by osmotic stress, but the corresponding regulatory sequences and proteins have not been identified. We have found that the essential Reb1 transcription factor binds with high affinity to a sequence upstream of CLB2, within a region implicated previously by others in regulated expression, but upstream of the known G2/M-specific site. CLB2 sequence from the region around the Reb1p site blocks activation by the Gal4 protein when positioned downstream of the Gal4-binding site. Since a mutation in the Reb1p site abrogates this effect, we suggest that Reb1p is likely to occupy this site in vivo.
The pathogenesis of Candida tropicalis infections in mice

Candida tropicalis produced progressive infection in the kidneys of mice and transient multiplication in the brain after intravenous infection. Renal parasitism appeared to be dependent on rupture into and growth within the protected environment of the renal tubular lumen.The administration of adrenal glucocorticoids enhanced infection in all tissues studied, especially the brain and kidneys. Augmentation appeared to be related to delayed mobilization of host cellular defenses.In mice made diabetic by alloxan, mortality was greater. Tissue population studies indicated increased censuses in both the kidneys and brain.Neither radioactive-iodide induced hypothyroidism nor the administration of triiodothyronine altered mortality after intravenous infection.
Appendix III: Conformal Mapping Techniques

This appendix contains sections titled: Conformal Mapping Elliptic Sine Function Capacitance between Two Parallel Strips Strip Transmission Line Conductor Loss Conductor Losses for a Microstrip Transmission Line Attenuation for a Coplanar Line
A new species of Cicadetta (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae) from Hispaniola

Abstract. The Caribbean cicada Cicadetta ramosi Sanborn (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadidae) is described as a new species. The species had previously been referred to as the North American species C. calliope (Walker, 1850) in a summary of the cicadas of the Dominican Republic. Comparisons are made with C. calliope and other cicadas found on Hispaniola. Total cicada diversity of this family on Hispaniola remains at 13 species.
H-ZSM5 Catalyzed Co-Pyrolysis of Biomass and Plastics

This study aims to address two important problems vital to agriculture: disposal of agricultural plastics and production of drop-in fuels from biomass via co-pyrolysis of both feedstocks. Mixtures of biomass (switchgrass, cellulose, xylan, and lignin) and plastic (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and polystyrene (PS)) were subjected to catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) at 650 °C in the presence of H-ZSM5. A micro-pyrolyzer coupled with GC/MS (py-GC/MS) was utilized to evaluate desired mixes and product distribution. Yields of the aromatic compounds typically observed as catalytic pyrolysis products including toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, o-xylene, naphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene and their sum were tracked. The carbon yield of products from CFP of mixtures of biomass and plastic were compared with that of biomass alone, plastic alone, and the calculated arithmetic sum of yield values expected if there was no chemic...
A Novel Compression Tester for Detecting Anisotropy in Very Soft Biological Tissues

Quantifying the mechanical behavior of very soft tissues (VST) is important when studying responses to injury or designing therapeutic devices; fat, brain, or liver being examples of such tissues. VST can have poor suture retention or clamp holding strength, making tensile tests difficult. As a result, uniaxial compression tests are typically the preferred choice to quantify the mechanical behavior. In these tests, isotropy is generally assumed and measuring the deformation in only one direction is needed if the material is considered incompressible [13]. In this study we present a novel testing apparatus for use on VST under uniaxial compression that can detect anisotropic behavior of the tissue if present. We validate the tester using cardiac adipose tissue and isotropic rubber as the control. Understanding the directional behavior of the tissue is important since anisotropy would require testing in multiple directions to fully characterize the material properties.© 2012 ASME
Lateral Temporal Bone Resection

Lateral temporal bone resection is the workhorse procedure to remove tumors that involve the ear canal and temporal bone. The indications for this procedure are enumerated. The goal is complete en bloc resection of the ear canal along with the disease within it. The steps for this procedure are illustrated and discussed. The facial nerve is decompressed and dissected. The rationale for facial nerve sacrifice is given. Reconstructive techniques are outlined. The inner ear is spared, and patients are good candidates for hearing rehabilitation using an osseointegrated implant. Complications and postoperative management are highlighted.
Effectiveness of Sulfanilamide upon Anaerobic Hemolytic Streptococci

Summary1. Two weakly virulent strains of “anaerobic,” Group A, hemolytic streptococci were subjected to in vivo and in vitro tests with sulfanilamide. 2. One strain was resistant, the other moderately susceptible, to the drug in mice. 3. No essential difference between the strains could be demonstrated, however, by in vitro bacteriostatic, phagocytic and biochemical tests. 4. Following adaptation to aerobic incubation (14 and 18 months) both strains were refractory in mice. 5. The results indicate that anaerobiosis, per se, was not the fundamental factor in determining drug response of these “anaerobic” hemolytic streptococci.
Premedication with Intravenous Ibuprofen Improves Recovery Characteristics and Stress Response in Adults Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective(s). Examine the effect of preoperative dose of IV ibuprofen on stress response and postoperative recovery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients. Design. Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial. Setting. Three university-based, tertiary care hospitals. Subjects. Fifty-five adults, ASA 1, 2, or 3 scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were given a single preoperative dose of placebo or IV ibuprofen 800 mg. Methods. Neurobehavioral assessments were evaluated preoperatively, in PACU, POD 1, and POD 3, using the 40-item Quality of Recovery questionnaire (QoR40), 9-item Modified Fatigue Severity Scale (MFSS), and 15-item Geriatric Depression scale (GDS). Blood samples were taken for cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFNγ), cortisol, CRP, epinephrine, and norepinephrine prior to the administration of study drug/placebo, intraoperatively, and after surgery. Results. Global QoR40 scores remained at baseline for ibuprofen patients but significantly decreased in the placebo group. Severity of fatigue increased in patients receiving placebo but had no change with ibuprofen. The placebo group had lower GDS scores on POD 3. Epinephrine and norepinephrine were significantly lower intraoperatively for the ibuprofen group. Cortisol decreased postoperatively in the ibuprofen group. There was an impact of drug treatment on the immune response, as seen by an increase in TNFα and an increase in IL-10 when compared with placebo. Conclusions. Our results suggest the addition of NSAIDs may improve the overall quality of recovery, postsurgical fatigue, and early postoperative outcomes. Preoperative administration of IV ibuprofen modulates the stress and inflammatory response, as demonstrated by a decrease in the level of catecholamines, cortisol, and cytokines. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01938040.
Recently proposed changes to legal and ethical guidelines governing human subjects research

In recent months, updates have been proposed to two important documents in human subjects research oversight: the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects or ‘Common Rule’1 and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research2 (hereafter, ‘CIOMS Guidelines’). The two proposals have garnered significant attention within the research community because, if finalized, they would be the first major revisions to these documents since 1991 and 2002, respectively. Moreover, they include substantive changes that could have far-reaching effects on the conduct of human subjects research.
A common vision

The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) have a shared vision that health care professionals from multiple disciplines will work together in a coordinated fashion to improve the health and well-being of patients. Numerous recent
Mental Health Services in Juvenile Correctional Facilities: A National Survey of Clinical Staff

This study determined the use of best practices in providing mental health services to youth within juvenile correctional facilities. A national sample of 94 (49.7 %) lead clinical staff from all available and qualifying facilities responded to a mail and on-line survey. There were no statistically significant differences across respondents versus nonrespondents for security level, gender served, or census region of facilities. Specifically, we examined the provision of facility-wide mental health programming, individual, group, and family counseling, and case management services. Examination of these services included the use of evidence-based interventions provided through an established curriculum and methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. We also examined staff involvement, and the perceived quality of services and barriers to providing interventions. Participants reported using a variety of evidence-based interventions; however, participants also acknowledged using other approaches that may not have empirical support. Additionally, although at least half of the participants reported mandatory individual and group counseling, less than a third of the participants reported that their facilities required family counseling. Clinical staff also reported a variety of methods used for evaluating the effectiveness of mental health services. Additional findings, as well as implications for research and practice, are discussed.
Chemical and antifungal properties of the nickel(II) complexes of 2-formylpyridine4 N-methyl-,4 N-dimethyl-,4 N-diethyl- and4 N-dipropylthiosemicarbazones

Nickel(II) complexes of 2-formylpyridine4 N-methyl-,4 N-dimethyl-,4 N-diethyl- and4 N-dipropylthiosemicarbazones having approximately octahedral, planar and tetrahedral stereochemistry have been prepared and characterized spectroscopically.1H-n.m.r. of the thiosemicarbazones and a diamagnetic nickel complex are reported as well as the thiosemicarbazones’13C-n.m.r. spectra. The nickel(II) complexes show no growth inhibitory activity againstAspergillus niger, but have considerable activity againstPaecilomyces variotii, decreasing with increasing size of the ligand.
The First Transition: Sovietization (1945–53)

Four decades of socialism radically transformed Hungary’s socio-political and economic systems. As in these areas, the most significant changes in civil-military relations occurred as a result of two comprehensive transformation processes. The first took place in the 1948–53 period, when the primary role of the armed forces shifted from the defense of the nation-state to the protection of the Communist regime. By the late 1940s Hungarian Communists were the undisputed domestic masters of the national armed forces. The second transformation, discussed in Chapter 5, was an inverse process. With the demise of Communism in 1989–90, the Communist Party’s control over the military gradually weakened and in time evaporated altogether.
FalconSAT-7: a membrane space solar telescope

The US Air Force Academy of Physics has built FalconSAT-7, a membrane solar telescope to be deployed from a 3U CubeSat in LEO. The primary optic is a 0.2m photon sieve – a diffractive element consisting of billions of tiny circular dimples etched into a Kapton sheet. The membrane its support structure, secondary optics, two imaging cameras and associated control, recording electronics are packaged within half the CubeSat volume. Once in space the supporting pantograph structure is deployed, extending out and pulling the membrane flat under tension. The telescope will then be directed at the Sun to gather images at H-alpha for transmission to the ground. We will present details of the optical configuration, operation and performance of the flight telescope which has been made ready for launch in early 2017.
Ovarian hyperstimulation: past, present, and future

The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease. —William Osler
Sulforaphane treatment in men with recurrent prostate cancer.

5017 Background: Diets high in cruciferous vegetables are strongly associated with lower prostate cancer risk. Sulforaphane is a constituent of these foods postulated to harbor the anti-neoplastic ...
The Taste of Caffeine

Many people avidly consume foods and drinks containing caffeine, despite its bitter taste. Here, we review what is known about caffeine as a bitter taste stimulus. Topics include caffeine's action on the canonical bitter taste receptor pathway and caffeine's action on noncanonical receptor-dependent and -independent pathways in taste cells. Two conclusions are that (1) caffeine is a poor prototypical bitter taste stimulus because it acts on bitter taste receptor-independent pathways, and (2) caffeinated products most likely stimulate “taste” receptors in nongustatory cells. This review is relevant for taste researchers, manufacturers of caffeinated products, and caffeine consumers.
High-level theoretical study of the reaction between hydroxyl and ammonia: Accurate rate constants from 200 to 2500 K.

Hydrogen abstraction from NH3 by OH to produce H2O and NH2—an important reaction in combustion of NH3 fuel—was studied with a theoretical approach that combines high level quantum chemistry and advanced chemical kinetics methods. Thermal rate constants calculated from first principles agree well (within 5%–20%) with available experimental data over a temperature range that extends from 200 to 2500 K. Quantum mechanical tunneling effects were found to be important; they lead to a decided curvature and non-Arrhenius behavior for the rate constant.
Model based photopic electroretinogram source separation: A multiresolution analysis approach

Visual function testing using electroretinogram (ERG) signal is used to detect abnormalities of the retina. This is accomplished by measuring, characterizing and analyzing the bio potential responses from various retinal cells formed due to a visual stimulation. The objective of this study is to improve the existing ERG signal characterization models by identifying and including a key component called i-wave in the photopic response. To validate the proposed characterization model, a signal analysis and processing algorithm based on Multi Resolution Analysis has been developed to reliably separate various underlying components of this signal. Finally, the fidelity of this separation is quantitatively and qualitatively assessed by computing the Pearson's correlation coefficient and the corresponding scatter plots between the composite and the reconstructed ERG signal.
An implementation of ultra-low-stand by power SRAMs using 65 nm Silicon-on-Thin-Box (SOTB) for Smart IoT

In 65-nm Silicon-on-Thin-Box (SOTB) technology [1, 2], we demonstrate fully functional embedded single-port (SP) SRAM and dual-port (DP) SRAM for Smart IoT applications [3, 4]. By using back-bias (BB) control in the sleep mode, 13.72 nW/Mbit ultra-low standby power for SP SRAM is observed, which is reduced to 1/1000 compared to the normal standby mode. The measured read access time of SP SRAM with forward BB is less than 2.0 ns at 1.0 V overdrive and 25°C, which is over 2.5∗ faster than that of normal mode at 0.75 V with zero-BB, achieving over 380 MHz operation. Besides, we propose the localized adoptive wordline width control in SP SRAM, reducing up to 20% active read power. Read/write disturbance issues in DP SRAM are also evaluated by test chips, confirmed there are no issues.
Interactions Between a Plant Probiotic and Nanoparticles on Plant Responses Related to Drought Tolerance

Abstract Colonization of certain probiotic microbes as a biofilm on plant roots induces beneficial responses that boost plant health. The surface colonization, biofilm formation, and production of ...
Cellulose as a novel energy source

Cellulose was undoubtedly man's first fuel, being the major component of wood for his fires. Therefore, when we consider cellulose as a “novel” energy source we have more indirect use in mind, such as its conversion to synthetic fuels (Huge, 1968) and to food (Meller, 1969).
Warning Systems: Response Models and Optimization

Probabilistic analysis of warning systems can be used to make technical, strategic, and tactical decisions regarding the signals to be observed, the warning to be issued, and the response to alerts. Response to alerts can be either a decision variable or a parameter of the problem.
Quick Atomic Broadcast (Extended Abstract)

In Atomic Broadcast protocols, the participating processors may initiate the broadcast of a message at any time; the goal is to make all non-faulty processors deliver the same set of messages in the same order. Our objective in this paper is to assure that the delivery time (from the moment of initiation of a message to its last delivery by a correct processor) is proportional to the actual number of faults in a given run of the protocol. We study this problem in synchronous systems and two models of semi-synchronous systems in presence of various classes of processor failures.
Omics, big data and machine learning as tools to propel understanding of biological mechanisms and to discover novel diagnostics and therapeutics.

Medical research focuses on identifying the causes and deciphering the mechanisms related to a disease, aiming to eventually develop accurate diagnostic tools and effective treatments. With the breakthrough technological advances of the last decades, the “educated” guess that had been previously used for raising scientific hypotheses is rapidly being replaced by the knowledge provided through untargeted high-throughput methods that are able to generate enormous data sets in a short amount of time and in a cost-effective manner. Fortunately, major advances have been also observed in computational mathematics which enables the accurate analysis of the “big” data sets deriving from high-throughput approaches. Here, we summarize the most important “-omics” procedures and describe the current challenges related to their use. Additionally, we describe the novel methods of data-mining and machine learning analysis, and particularly, how they can be used in a hierarchical manner to produce robust results for medicine from “big” data.
Suppression of Harmaline Tremor by Activation of an Extrasynaptic GABAA Receptor: Implications for Essential Tremor.

Background: Metabolic imaging has revealed excessive cerebellar activity in essential tremor patients. Golgi cells control cerebellar activity by releasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) onto synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors on cerebellar granule cells. We postulated that the extrasynaptic GABA A receptor-specific agonist THIP (gaboxadol; 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol) would suppress tremor in the harmaline model of essential tremor and, since cerebellar extrasynaptic receptors contain α 6 and δ subunits, would fail to do so in mice lacking either subunit. Methods: Digitally measured motion power, expressed as 10–16 Hz power (the tremor bandwidth) divided by background 8–32 Hz motion power, was accessed during pre-harmaline baseline, pre-THIP harmaline exposure, and after THIP administration (0, 2, or 3 mg/kg). These low doses were chosen as they did not impair performance on the straight wire test, a sensitive test for psychomotor impairment. Littermate δ wild-type and knockout ( Gabrd +/+ , Gabrd –/– ) and littermate α 6 wild-type and knockout ( Gabra6 +/+ , Gabra6 –/– ) mice were tested. Results: Gabrd +/+ mice displayed tremor reduction at 3 mg/kg THIP but not 2 mg/kg, and Gabra6 +/+ mice showed tremor reduction at 2 and 3 mg/kg. Their respective subunit knockout littermates displayed no tremor reduction compared with vehicle controls at either dose. Discussion: The loss of anti-tremor efficacy with deletion of either δ or α 6 GABA A receptor subunits indicates that extrasynaptic receptors containing both subunits, most likely located on cerebellar granule cells where they are highly expressed, mediate tremor suppression by THIP. A medication designed to activate only these receptors may display a favorable profile for treating essential tremor.
Voices on the wind, traces in the earth: Integrating oral narrative and archaeology in Polynesian history

Polynesian societies have long been noted for encoding their histories in the form of oral narratives. While some narratives are clearly cosmogonic or mythological in nature, others purportedly recount the affairs of real persons, chronologically indexed to chiefly and family genealogies. Late 19th- and early 20th-century scholars such as Abraham Fornander and Te Rangi Hiroa relied upon such oral narratives to write the pre-European histories of various Polynesian societies. In the second half of the 20th century, however, archaeologists and cultural anthropologists alike have tended to dismiss the historical validity of oral narratives. Based on four case studies from Futuna, Tikopia, Niuatoputapu and Hawai'i, I reassess the linkages between oral narratives and the archaeological record, finding that in all cases there is strong evidence to support the view that the traditional narratives relate to real persons and events. Such traditional narratives typically do not extend farther back in time than three to four centuries, but for these later time periods they offer an invaluable resource - an indigenous perspective on island histories that complements and augments the empirical archaeological record.
Repeating blood cultures after initial bacteremia: When and how often?

Repeating blood cultures after an initial positive result is superfluous except in certain situations.
Quantification of in vivo transverse relaxation of glutamate in the frontal cortex of human brain by radio frequency pulse-driven longitudinal steady state.

Purpose The principal excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate plays an important role in many central nervous system disorders. Because glutamate resides predominantly in glutamatergic neurons, its relaxation properties reflect the intracellular environment of glutamatergic neurons. This study developed an improved echo time-independent technique for measuring transverse relaxation time and demonstrated that this radio frequency (RF)-driven longitudinal steady state technique can reliably measure glutamate transverse relaxation in the frontal cortex, where structural and functional abnormalities have been associated with psychiatric symptoms. Method Bloch and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to improve and optimize the RF-driven, longitudinal, steady-state (MARzss) technique to significantly shorten scan time and increase measurement precision. Optimized four-flip angle measurements at 0°,12°, 24°, and 36° with matched repetition time were used in nine human subjects (6F, 3M; 27–49 years old) at 7 Tesla. Longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates for glutamate were measured from a 2 x 2 x 2 cm3 voxel placed in three different brain regions: gray matter-dominated medial prefrontal lobe, white matter-dominated left frontal lobe, and gray matter-dominated occipital lobe. Results Compared to the original MARzss technique, the scan time per voxel for measuring glutamate transverse relaxation was shortened by more than 50%. In the medial frontal, left frontal, and occipital voxels, the glutamate T2 was found to be 117.5±12.9 ms (mean ± standard deviation, n = 9), 107.3±12.1 (n = 9), and 124.4±16.6 ms (n = 8), respectively. Conclusions The improvements described in this study make the MARZSS technique a viable tool for reliably measuring glutamate relaxation from human subjects in a typical clinical setting. It is expected that this improved technique can be applied to characterize the intracellular environment of glutamatergic neurons in a variety of brain disorders.
Designing Retrospective Measures on Childhood for Older African American Adults.

A growing body of research addresses the long-term implications of early-life circumstances for adult health and aging by drawing on retrospective reports on childhood. There has been little schola...
Improved Auditory-Inspired Signal Processing Algorithm Design for Tracking Multiple Frequency Components

An adaptive synchrony capture filterbank (SCFB) signal processing architecture for tracking signal frequency components was proposed in a previous paper. Detailed analysis and further improvements are presented here. The original SCFB signal processing architecture consisted of a fixed array of traditional, passive linear, gammatone filters in cascade with a bank of three adaptively tunable bandpass filters that form part of a frequency discriminator loop (FDL). The SCFB exhibits many desirable properties for processing speech, music, and other complex sounds. In this article, an improved SCFB architecture is presented along with detailed specification of parameters that yield better frequency tracking. This architecture combines a FDL with a phase-locked loop, a concept borrowed from communication systems, to acquire and track frequency components in a time-varying signal. This modified algorithm estimates frequencies with higher accuracy even in the presence of closely spaced tones in the input. The improved performance of the algorithm is demonstrated by comparing the mean square error in the frequency estimates of synthetic time-varying signals.
Traditional and Mini-Frames

Stereotactic frames have been in neurosurgical practice for more than half a century. Since the earliest models, these instruments have seen several iterative improvements, from the first rectilinear frame to arc-centric frames and finally to “frameless” or mini-frame techniques. Each iteration has aimed at improving accuracy while providing increased patient comfort and versatility. Today, the fluidity of modern imaging, robotics, and rapid manufacture techniques have enabled a new host of stereotactic systems. In this chapter, we describe the theoretical basis behind each system and its workflow for DBS lead placement. We compare the advantages and disadvantages of these systems.
Timing of the definitive procedure and ileostomy closure for total colonic aganglionosis HD: Systematic review.

Abstract Aim To establish the cogency of recommendations for the appropriate age for pull-through and ileostomy closure in Total Colonic Aganglionosis-Hirschsprung Disease's (TCA-HD). Method Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, and the ClinicalKey databases were searched without date restriction. The studies that reported TCA-HD cases were evaluated for the number of cases, age at the definitive procedure, age at the ileostomy closure, reported complications, and the type of procedure. Perianal excoriation and diaper rash rates were analyzed using SPSS software, with p Results Twenty-five studies mentioned TCA-HD findings between 1968 and 2019. The total number of patients who had definitive surgery was 218. Analysis showed no correlation between development of diaper rash and the age of the patient at the time of the definitive surgery or ileostomy closure. Studies scored between six and nine of nine possible stars on the NOS scoring system. Conclusion There is no correlation between age of surgery and postoperative diaper rash. Delaying the definitive procedure or ileostomy closure for TCA-HD has limited support on a review of current studies. The perianal excoriation/diaper rash is not reported in the literature at a high enough frequency to warrant keeping a diverting ileostomy until toilet trained of urine. Type of study Systematic review and meta-analysis. Levels of evidence IV
Incidence of Proximal Junctional Kyphosis With Pedicle Screws at Upper Instrumented Vertebrae in Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design:Longitudinal cohort.Objectives:Posterior spinal fusion (PSF) using all-pedicle screw constructs has become the standard procedure in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (A...