cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of educational music therapy on illness management knowledge and mood state in acute psychiatric inpatients: a randomized three group effectiveness study

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of educational music therapy on illness management knowledge and mood in acute care psychiatric inpatients. A secondary purpose was to determine if there were between-intervention differences in songwriting and lyric analysis conditions. Participants (N = 98) were randomly assigned by cluster to one of three single-session group-based scripted conditions: educational lyric analysis, educational songwriting, or wait-list control. Results indicated significant between-group differences in the illness management knowledge measure in the songwriting and wait-list control conditions as well as in the vigor subscale measure in the lyric analysis and wait-list control conditions. Although not significant, both educational music therapy conditions tended to have slightly more positive mean scores than the wait-list control condition in measures of illness management knowledge, depression, vigor, confusion, tension, and fatigue. Single-session educational musi...
Van-mounted UV-IR active/passive remote sensing system for chemical/biological warfare (CBW) and environmental applications

A state-of-the-art, dual-use, mobile sensor suite has been developed incorporating both active, multi-wavelength, laser remote sensing technologies, as well as passive multispectral imaging systems. This paper discusses the current status and objectives of work ongoing at Battelle in the field of remote sensing for chemical/biological warfare (CBW) agents and environmental applications.
Homophobia: Conceptual, definitional, and value issues

The construct of homophobia and the psychometric properties of instruments purporting to measure homophobia are critically evaluated. The history of the term and its various definitions are briefly reviewed. We conclude that existing measures of homophobia have been inadequately psychometrically evaluated and therefore it is not clear whether currently this construct can be accurately measured. It is also concluded that the construct of homophobia, as it is usually used, makes an illegitimately pejorative evaluation of certain open and debatable value positions, much like the former disease construct of homosexuality. Finally, proposals for theory development and construct definition in the domain of reactions to homosexuals and homosexuality are provided.
Rapid growth and flow-mediated nucleation of millimeter-scale aligned carbon nanotube structures from a thin-film catalyst.

We discuss the rapid growth of films and lithographically templated microstructures of vertically aligned small-diameter multiwalled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWNTs), by atmospheric-pressure thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of C2H4/H2/Ar on a Fe/Al2O3 catalyst film deposited by electron beam evaporation. The structures grow to 1 mm height in 15 min and reach close to 2 mm in 60 min. The growth rate and final height of CNT microstructures grown from catalyst patterns depend strongly on the local areal density of catalyst, representing a reverse analogue of loading effects which occur in plasma etching processes. Abrupt transitions between areas of micrometer-thick tangled CNT films and millimeter-scale aligned CNT structures are manipulated by changing the duration of pretreatment by H2/Ar prior to introduction of C2H4 and by changing the configuration of the substrate sample in the furnace tube. This demonstrates that the flow profile over the sample mediates the supply of reactants to the catalyst and ...
Math5 is required for both early retinal neuron differentiation and cell cycle progression.

Abstract CNS progenitors choose a fate, exit mitosis and differentiate. Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors are key regulators of neurogenesis, but their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the mouse retina, removal of the bHLH factor Math5 (Atoh7) causes the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and appearance of excess cone photoreceptors. Here, we show a simultaneous requirement for Math5 in retinal neuron formation and cell cycle progression. At embryonic day E11.5, Math5−/− cells are unable to assume the earliest fates, particularly that of an RGC, and instead adopt the last fate as Muller glia. Concurrently, the loss of Math5 causes mitotically active retinal progenitors to undergo aberrant cell cycles. The drastic fate shift of Math5−/− cells correlates with age-specific alterations in p27/Kip1 expression and an inability to become fully postmitotic. Finally, Math5 normally suppresses NeuroD1 within Math5-expressing cells and inhibits Ngn2 expression and cone photoreceptor genesis within separate cell populations. Thus, Math5 orchestrates neurogenesis in multiple ways, regulating both intrinsic and extrinsic processes.
A manufacturing decision framework for minimizing inventory costs of a configurable off-shored product using postponement

This paper investigates the link between off-shoring, postponement, and inventory. First, the reasons for and risks of off-shoring are stated. Then the benefits and costs of postponement are outlined, followed by how off-shoring and postponement impact inventory levels and an investigation into how the two can interact is provided. Following this the inventory impact of a set of scenarios encompassing various levels of postponement for an off-shore manufactured product are explored. Using a set of real-world data applied to a simplified product the benefits of each postponement in terms of total cost are examined. Finally, the best scenario is selected. In addition, a sensitivity analysis on the key variables is performed. Also, the fact that the combined uncertainty (due to performance cycle and demand) is the most influential input to each scenario is illustrated. A quick method for determining which term of the combined uncertainty equation will be dominant in altering the inventory level of a given st...
Extrinsic Forces: How they Reprogram Cell Motility

While moving on a culture substrate, a cell can respond to two types of forces. Intrinsic force helps to maintain the cell persistence. Extrinsic force involves repulsive or attractive signals exerted by an external stimulus. Extrinsic is the stronger force, since it can overcome the intrinsic force and cause the cell to change direction. The studies were designed to determine whether these forces are associated with different protrusions. We studied fibroblasts that met a barrier while moving in a chemokinesis system. The prevalence of various protrusions was determined after movement was halted along the original trajectory. We computed latent factors corresponding to cell features: factor 4 values to filopodia, factor 7 to a nascent neurite, and factor 5 values to centrifugal mass displacement. The data showed that as cells moved further and further from the barrier, they had progressively lower values of factor 5 (R2 = 0.25). Factor 4 values rose slightly, whereas factor 7 values showed little tendency to change with distance from the barrier. A different experimental system, designed to investigate intrinsic force in epithelial cells, was also studied. Here, the frequency of various combinations of factor 4, factor 5, and factor 7 differences was obtained by using different treatments. In table 1, there are 10 combinations of changes (1 is increment, 0 is no effect, and −1 is decrement). The single most common effect of treatment was an enhancement of factor 5 values without a corresponding change in factor 4 or factor 7 values. The results, taken together, suggest that the protrusion associated with exploratory motility is factor 5. As in guidance model systems, factor 4 may be representative of persistence. Learning how the protrusive features are regulated may help investigators to understand persistence.
SU‐GG‐I‐111: Activity Concentration Degradation in Positron Emission Tomography of Objects in Motion

Purpose: To determine the functional form of activity concentration degradation for objects in motion scanned with positron emission tomography(PET).Method and Materials: A computational model was developed to simulate the behavior of spherical objects moving sinusoidally. Sinusoidal probability density functions(PDFs) of varying lengths were convolved with a noise‐free disk, producing blurred, elongated shapes of the disk similar to those observed in PET imaging of thoracic lesions. Maximum values of the convolved images were determined, plotted as a function of PDF length, and fit using least squares criteria. PET scans of a NEMA IEC phantom oscillating sinusoidally were performed to compare with model results. Motion amplitudes varied from 0 cm to 3 cm at 0.5 cm intervals. The period of the oscillation was 4 s. No background activity was present. Each scan was acquired to 15 million counts to minimize statistical fluctuation. Maximum activity concentrations were determined for each sphere at each motion amplitude and fit using least squares criteria. The functional forms which best fit the data from the model and phantom data were compared. Results:Model results suggest the degradation due to motion follows a logarithmic decline (R2 = 0.99) after the amplitude exceeds the diameter of the object. Before this extent is reached, no degradation was observed. Phantom results support model predictions: The functional form which fit the phantom data best was a natural logarithm of motion amplitude (R2 = 0.97 for sphere diameter 1.3 cm, R2 = 0.99 for sphere diameter 1.0 cm). Conclusion: Motion degradation of activity concentration follows a logarithmic function of motion extent. Modeling motion degradation could lead to development of a recovery coefficient for motion analogous to the recovery coefficient used to correct for partial volume averaging.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Outpatient Practice

Psychology has had a long history of collaboration with the medical profession. This collaboration has been greatly enhanced over the past decade or more as an increasing number of psychologists have become successful in applying the science and practice of psychology to the problems of health and i
Observations on experimental mastitis in mice with reference to summer mastitis in cattle

Abstract The mouse model for mastitis was utilized in studies relevant to the pathogenesis of summer mastitis in cattle. Lactating and non-lactating mice were inoculated by the intramammary route, with both single and mixed species of bacteria associated with mastitis. Non-lactating mice were less susceptible than lactating mice to either C. pyogenes, Strep. dysgalactiae or Staph. aureus. Combinations of C. pyogenes and Strep. dysgalactiae were also more pathogenic. In lactating than in non-lactating mice; the combined inoculum was no more pathogenic than Strep. dysgalactiae alone. Similarly, a combination of C. pyogenes, Strep. dysgalactiae, Mi. indolicus and a microaerophilic coccus was relatively unsuccessful in non-lactating mice. The results are discussed in relation to disease in cattle.
Structural Analysis of 3-D Braided Preforms for Composites Part I: The Four-step Preforms

Three-dimensional (3-D) braiding technology using high-performance fibres for advanced composite structures is receiving great attention as a result of the outstanding mechanical and thermoelastic properties of the materials produced. There are now mainly two groups of 3-D braiding techniques, namely, the four-step and the two-step processes. The objective of the research reported in this paper was to study and analyse the preform structures. In this part, theoretical models for the four-step braided structures are established. Structural geometries of the preforms are analysed and discussed in accordance with these theoretical models. Mathematical relations among the structural parameters, such as the fibre orientation, yarn-volume fraction, and preform contour sizes, as well as their dependence on machine-operating conditions, are derived. The extreme values of the parameters due to geometric constraints under the jamming conditions are also analysed and determined. These extreme values dictate the limi...
Open-Access Electronic Textbooks: An Overview

Given the challenging economic climate in the United States, many academics are looking to open-access electronic textbooks as a way to provide students with traditional textbook content at a more ...
Communicating with citizens: The power of photosimulations and simple editing

Abstract There is considerable evidence that Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) may be failing in one of their chief aims—communicating information about proposed environmental changes to citizens. This paper proposes and tests two relatively simple techniques for making EISs accessible to members of the general public. We presented three versions of the project description portion of an EIS for flood control measures on the Hickory Creek in Joliet, Illinois, US, to 373 Joliet citizens. After reading the materials, each citizen answered a number of questions about the proposed project and its environmental consequences. The original project description yielded almost no understanding, but the two modifications had consistently positive and substantial effects on understanding. These findings, in combination with the low cost of the techniques, offer considerable hope for more effective public participation in the EIS process, and therefore, more viable public projects.
Visible Light Driven V-Doped TiO2 Photocatalyst and Its Photooxidation of Ethanol

A vanadium-doped, supported TiO2 photocatalyst is presented which is quite active using visible (396−450 nm) light. The oxidation of ethanol over this catalyst was studied using 13C solid-state NMR methods that demonstrated that this catalyst photooxidizes ethanol to produce mostly carbon dioxide with small amounts of acetaldehyde, formic acid, and carbon monoxide under visible irradiation. Under UV irradiation, the catalyst has comparable activity and product distribution as a similarly prepared TiO2 thin-film monolayer catalyst.
On the information in optical flows

Abstract This paper outlines the structure of optical flows and their relation to relative depth, local surface orientation, relative motion, and the source of optokinetic information, the retinal velocities. Some possibilities and limitations of optical flows as a source of information about the three-dimensional environment are also discussed. It is found that optical flows cannot directly specify egomotion or relative motion of objects with respect to the observer, and that the relative depth and local surface orientation is unambiguously contained in optical flows.
A high-gain 15-W monolithic power amplifier with internal fault protection

A combination of circuit and device innovations has resulted in the development of a 15-W integrated-circuit power amplifier that incorporates a preamplifier on the same chip to give an overall closed-loop gain of 60 dB. Two novel devices used are a new high-frequency drift-lateral p-n-p to improve stability and a new 3-A n-p-n power transistor design with individual emitter ballasting to achieve a larger safe-operating area. Other interesting features are an externally adjustable short-circuit current limit, a built-in thermal shutdown circuit that automatically limits the junction temperature to 175/spl deg/C, an electronic shutdown control to mute the amplifier; a supply voltage range of 10-40 V, excellent power-supply rejection (55 dB), and a unique biasing technique that ensures that the output quiescent point remains at one-half the supply voltage with the total bias current changing only 3 mA over the complete supply voltage range (10-40 V).
Effect of NaF on Rat Parotid Gland Amylase Activity and cAMP Concentration in vitro and in vivo

The effect of NaF on the cAMP concentration in and amylase secretion from rat parotid glands in vitro and in vivo was investigated. In vitro, NaF (0.05 to 10 mmol/1 ) was found to increase significantly amylase secretion and cAMP concentration in parotid gland slices. In vivo, male rats injected intraperitoneally with 15 mg Flkg body weight as NaF had a significantly lower glandular amylase activity and higher plasma amylase activity than did the control rats injected with 0.9% NaCl. The fluoride concentration both in the parotid gland and plasma was highest at 30 min after injection and decreased with time in the fluoride-injected group. The concentration of the parotid gland cAMP in the fluoride-injected group was significantly higher than that in the control group. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that NaF, both in vitro and in vivo, increases the cAMP concentration, which subsequently stimulates amylase secretion from rat parotid glands.
Low renin, "normal" aldosterone and hypertension: circadian rhythm of renin, aldosterone, cortisol and growth hormone.

ABSTRACT The upright and supine circadian rhythms of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone (PA), plasma cortisol (PC), and serum growth hormone (GH) were determined in 7 normals and 12 patients with hypertension, low PRA, and normal aldosterone excretion (LRH = low renin hypertension). In general PRA was always lower in LRH than in normals. However, PA in LRH was essentially normal. The average PC was greater in LRH than in normals and there were some differences between normals and LRH in the circadian rhythm of PC. Levels and patterns of growth hormone were not different between the two groups. A probable circadian rhythm of plasma aldosterone was demonstrated in normals and in LRH both in the upright and recumbent positions. Under these circumstances the higher plasma aldosterone noted in the morning than in the evening was not associated with changes in the mean circulating levels of PRA. However, significant decreases in PC were found from morning to evening. This suggests a possible role f...
Double-blind reviewing: more placebo than miracle cure?

In double-blind reviewing (DBR), both reviewers and authors are unaware of each others' identities and affiliations. DBR is said to increase review fairness. However, DBR may only be marginally effective in combating the randomness of the typical conference review process for highly-selective conferences. DBR may also make it more difficult to adequately review conference submissions that build on earlier work of the authors and have been partially published in workshops. I believe that DBR mainly increases the perceived fairness of the reviewing process, but that may be an important benefit. Rather than waiting until the final stages, the reviewing process needs to explicitly address the issue of workshop publications early on.
Power amplification of astro-combs: Optimization of filtering schemes

We develop an analytical approach to analyze the performance of astro-combs when amplified by a fiber amplifier. Five filtering schemes are compared to optimize side-mode suppression and radial-velocity calibration accuracy of an amplified astro-comb.
SPR Executive meets

The SPR Executive Committee met during the 1988 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. After bringing the meeting to order, SPR President Bob Helliwell opened the floor to a discussion of instituting a “named lecturer” series of talks for our annual AGU Spring and Fall meetings. The majority of those present felt this was a good idea. All agreed to consider this point further and to solicit suggestions from the general SPR membership. The next topic considered was how to facilitate the flow of information from the geophysical community to the news media. One possible mechanism suggested by Chris Russell was to appoint an SPR committee on public information to identify issues of current interest or importance, provide a readily understandable explanation of the issues, identify experts in these areas, and distribute this information to members of the media. This last task could make use of existing AGU officers.
Number of Siblings During Childhood and the Likelihood of Divorce in Adulthood

Despite fertility decline across economically developed countries, relatively little is known about the social consequences of children being raised with fewer siblings. Much research suggests that growing up with fewer siblings is probably positive, as children tend to do better in school when sibship size is small. Less scholarship, however, has explored how growing up with few siblings influences children's ability to get along with peers and develop long-term meaningful relationships. If siblings serve as important social practice partners during childhood, individuals with few or no siblings may struggle to develop successful social lives later in adulthood. With data from the General Social Surveys 1972-2012, we explore this possibility by testing whether sibship size during childhood predicts the probability of divorce in adulthood. We find that, among those who ever marry, each additional sibling is associated with a three percent decline in the likelihood of divorce, net of covariates.
The Community as A Social Field

A field concept of social organization is proposed as an alternative to systems theory with special reference to the case of the community. Field notions in physics, biology, and psychology are shown to reflect a view of reality as emergent and dynamic. The concept of the field is distinguished from the method of field analysis. The assumptions of interactional theory are taken as a frame of reference for delineating characteristics of the social field. Contributions of ecological, cultural, and psychological factors are noted, but the social field is described as having a distinctive existence. Theoretical and methodological implications of conceptualizing the community as a social field are discussed, and the concept of the community field is elaborated.
Nondextrality and autoimmune disorders among relaives of language‐disabled boys

The incidences of autoimmune diseases, nonright-handedness, and premature graying of the hair have been said to be increased among the relatives of dyslexic persons. I undertook a prospective evaluation of the relatives of 100 language-disabled boys seen in a tertiary hospital learning disabilities clinic. I established the incidence of these characteristics and compared the results with those obtained from the relatives of 100 boys referred to a neurology clinic for evaluation of seizures or muscle disease. The families of the language-disabled boys were divisible into two groups, one with an increased incidence of these characteristics and one with a Decemberreased incidence as compared with the control group. This suggests a biological heterogeneity among these families, despite a similar phenotype among all the language-disabled probands.
Neurologic Syndrome in 25 Workers From an Aluminum Smelting Plant

Background.— This article expands on an earlier series of three patients with a neurologic syndrome, who had all worked in an aluminum smelting plant. Methods.— Twenty-five symptomatic workers from the same plant were referred for a standardized evaluation, including completion of a health questionnaire, neurologic examination, and neuropsychologic evaluation. An exposure index was calculated for each worker based on level and duration of exposure in the potroom, where exposures were the greatest. This index was correlated with symptoms, signs, and neuropsychologic test scores. Results.— Twenty-two (88%) of the patients reported frequent loss of balance, and 21 (84%) reported memory loss. Neurologic examination revealed signs of incoordination in 21 (84%) of the patients. Neuropsychologic test results showed preservation in certain spheres of functioning, such as verbal IQ, with substantial impairment in others, particularly memory functioning. On memory tests, 70% to 75% showed mild or greater impairment. The majority (17 of 19 tested, or 89%) showed depression on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The exposure index was significantly correlated with signs and symptoms of incoordination. Conclusions.— This study and others in humans and animals support the existence of a syndrome characterized by incoordination, poor memory, impairment in abstract reasoning, and depression. Aluminum exposure in the potroom seems the most likely cause. (Arch Intern Med. 1992;152:1443-1448)
Variable Dietary Protein and Urea for Intake and Production in Holstein Cows

Abstract A central composite design with protein 9.4 to 16.2% and urea 0 to 40% of nitrogen, all expressed as dry matter, was the basis for nine rations to which 36 cows were allotted equally. Complete rations (18% crude fiber) were corn silage in constant ratio with a mixture of variable corn, soybean meal, or urea. After 30±5 days in lactation, cows were fed the midpoint ration (12.8% protein, 20% urea) for 4 wk, then fed assigned rations for 20 wk. Milk production and feed intake were recorded. After 5 wk ruminal ammonia was determined on fluid aspirated 2 to 4h postfeeding. Initial means of milk and for treatments were 28.1 and 23.8kg. Linear components of protein and urea for milk yield accounted for 74.4% of the sum of squares between treatments. Linear slopes were 2.58kg milk for each percentage increase in protein and –.22kg milk for each unit of urea nitrogen substituted for crude protein nitrogen. Feed efficiency for milk was enhanced by higher protein and lower urea. Mean ruminal ammonia was 27.5mg per 100ml; and 94.6% of sum of squares of treatments were accounted for by linear components of protein and urea. Families of response curves were presented to portray the influence of the significant components described above.
Importance of magnesium in congestive heart failure

There are many reasons to expect magnesium deficiency in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Medical therapy, neurohormonal activation and decreased dietary intake could all contribute to low concentrations of serum and muscle magnesium. Although the ideal serum level of this electrolyte is not known, multiple studies have documented lower magnesium concentrations in patients with heart failure than in normal persons. Magnesium deficiency could theoretically produce hemodynamic deterioration and ventricular arrhythmias. These complications have been observed in animals and in patients without heart failure, and magnesium repletion has reversed the adverse effects of hypomagnesemia in some patients. However, the consequences of chronic depletion of the electrolyte have not been adequately evaluated. Because of the high incidence of sudden death in patients with severe congestive heart failure, well designed investigations to determine the importance of magnesium are needed.
A Hodge theory for Alexandrov spaces with curvature bounded from above

It is shown that the Hodge theory for metric spaces based on the Alexander Spanier coboundary operator, in the presence of a measure previously developed in [4], holds for the class of compact Alexandrov spaces with curvature bounded from above. In particular, the real cohomology of the space is isomorphic to the corresponding space of harmonic co-chains.
(R)-N-[11C]methyl-3-pyrrolidyl benzilate, a high-affinity reversible radioligand for PET studies of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.

We recently reported the synthesis and binding affinity of ligands for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) based on both the pyrrolidyl and piperidyl benzilate scaffold. One of these, (R)-3-pyrrolidyl benzilate, was successfully radiolabeled with [(11)C]methyl triflate and the resulting compound, (R)-N-[(11)C]methyl-3-pyrrolidyl benzilate (3-[(11)C]NMPYB), was evaluated as a reversible, acetylcholine-sensitive tracer for the mAChR (K(i) of unlabeled 3-NMPYB is 0.72 nM). This compound displayed high, receptor-mediated retention in regions of the mouse and rat brain known to have high concentrations of mAChRs. Moreover, bolus studies in a pigtail monkey showed that this compound had superior clearance from the brain when compared to muscarinic radiotracers previously employed in human PET studies. Infusion studies in the same monkey revealed that it was possible to achieve equilibrium of radiotracer distribution for 3-[(11)C]NMPYB in both the striatum and cortex. Sensitivity to endogenous acetylcholine levels was evaluated by injecting phenserine (5 mg/kg) into rats prior to administration of 3-[(11)C]NMPYB in an equilibrium infusion protocol. This pretreatment produced a modest, statistically significant decrease (9-11%) in the distribution volume ratios for muscarinic receptor rich regions of the rat brain as compared to controls.
A computing architecture composed of field‐coupled single domain nanomagnets clocked by magnetic field

SUMMARY Next neighboureld coupling of nanodevices is emerging as an alternative way to integrate nano- electronic devices (Nanotechnology 1993; 4:49). In this paper, integrated circuits composed of single domain nanomagnets are proposed. New magneticeld-coupled devices with multiple equilibrium states are introduced. The devices are made locally active by exposing them to external magneticelds. Non- reciprocity is achieved by proper design of the nanomagnet's shape together with its clocking. We demonstrate that (i) digital signal can propagate along a line of coupled single domain nano- magnets; (ii) and a family of logic circuits (inverter, majority gate, etc.) can be realized. Based on these observations we envision a new nanoelectronic computing architecture as a two-dimensional ar- ray ofeld-coupled nanomagnets. We estimate an integration density of 10 10 device=cm 2 , few hundred MHz operation speed, straightforward fabrication technology and robust operation in a wide temperature range. Copyright ? 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A nodal approach to network matrices of power systems

The importance of supplementing the branch-at-a-time algorithms for the development of power system bus matrices for bus-oriented cases is shown by examples of practical situations. The usual algorithms consist of one for a branch and another for a link. If coupled branches are present, the branch-and-link algorithms become very complicated. But by defining only the branch algorithm, the bus-fusion algorithm can be used for 'closing' the link. A method in which only the branch algorithm is defined and a bus-fusion algorithm is used to 'close' the link is proposed. A bus-fusion algorithm is developed for both impedance and admittance matrices. >
Comparison of the Inverness Medical Acceava Strep A Test With the Genzyme OSOM and Quidel QuickVue Strep A Tests

Previous studies of the accuracy of rapid in-office tests for group A Streptococcus had disparate results, ranging from sensitivity of 70% to more than 90%. The sensitivity and specificity of 3 commercially available Strep A tests were determined in 2 private pediatric office settings. Acceava Strep A, Genzyme OSOM Strep A, and the Quidel QuickVue Strep A tests were the representative rapid tests for detection of Streptococcus pyogenes. Overnight culture on standard 5% sheep blood agar was the reference standard for this study. All 3 CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)-waived tests had sensitivities and specificities that exceeded 95%.
Case reports and hypothesis: A neglect-like syndrome may be responsible for the motor disturbance in reflex sympathetic dystrophy (complex regional pain syndrome-1)

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome-1, CRPS-1) is a chronic pain disorder associated with autonomic dysregulation that most commonly involves a limb. In addition to pain, motor dysfunction in the involved extremity may be a significant cause of disability. To spur reassessment of underlying mechanisms and development of novel rehabilitative approaches for RSD, we propose a new hypothesis: a neurologic neglect-like syndrome may explain the motor dysfunction that occurs in a subgroup of RSD patients. This hypothesis is based on a selected series of 11 patients who underwent specific neglect testing. The etiology of neglect in RSD is not clear, but we hypothesize that changes within central nervous system (CNS) structures may occur following persistent abnormal activation of the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems, which then may result in a neglect-like syndrome. Further study is needed to verify our clinical observations and test this hypothesis.
Generation and characterization of mice transgenic for human IL-18-binding protein isoform a.

Abstract Interleukin (IL)-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a natural inhibitor of the pleiotropic cytokine IL-18. To study the role of IL-18BP in modulating inflammatory responses in vivo, mice transgenic for human IL-18BP isoform a (IL-18BP-Tg) were generated. The transgene was expressed at high levels in each organ examined. High levels of bioactive human IL-18BPa were detectable in the circulation of IL-18BP-Tg mice, which were viable, fertile, and had no tissue or organ abnormality. The high levels of IL-18BP in the transgenic mice were able to completely neutralize the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-inducing activity of exogenously administered IL-18. Following administration of endotoxin, with or without prior sensitization with heat-inactivated Propionibacterium acnes, IL-18BP-Tg mice produced significantly lower serum levels of IFN-gamma and macrophage-inflammatory protein-2 compared with nontransgenic littermates. Significantly reduced production of IFN-gamma in response to endotoxin was also observed in cultures of IL-18BP-Tg splenocytes. Finally, IL-18BP-Tg mice were completely protected in a model of hepatotoxicity induced by administration of concanavalin A. These results indicate that high endogenous levels of IL-18BP in trangenic mice effectively neutralize IL-18 and are protective in response to different inflammatory stimuli.
APPROXIMATING A FUNCTION CONTINUOUS OFF A CLOSED SET BY ONE CONTINUOUS OFF A POLYHEDRON

Let P be a finite simplicial complex (i.e., a finite collection of simplices that fit together nicely) with underlying space (union of simplices in P) j P j . Let Q be a subcomplex of P. Let a � 0. Then there exists K < 1 , depending only on a and Q, with the following property. Let Sj P j be closed and supposeis a continuous map of j P j n S into some topological space F ("n "
X-ray and Neutron Scattering Study of the Formation of Core-Shell-Type Polyoxometalates.

A typical type of core–shell polyoxometalates can be obtained through the Keggin-type polyoxometalate-templated growth of a layer of spherical shell structure of {Mo72Fe30}. Small-angle X-ray scattering is used to study the structural features and stability of the core–shell structures in aqueous solutions. Time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering is applied to monitor the synthetic reactions, and a three-stage formation mechanism is proposed to describe the synthesis of the core–shell polyoxometalates based on the monitoring results. New protocols have been developed by fitting the X-ray data with custom physical models, which provide more convincing, objective, and completed data interpretation. Quasi-elastic and inelastic neutron scattering are used to probe the dynamics of water molecules in the core–shell structures, and two different types of water molecules, the confined and structured water, are observed. These water molecules play an important role in bridging core and shell structures and stab...
The shock of being united and symphiliosis. Another lesson from plants

A common view is that an accidental increase in ploidy contributes to the evolution of neoplastic cells primarily by decreasing the fidelity of mitosis with extra chromosomes and centrosomes. This view implies that how neoplastic cells become polyploid is irrelevant, as it has been widely assumed. If this assumption is correct, then the oncogenic contribution of the pathways to polyploidy and thus their potential as targets for cancer prevention is determined by their incidence in the body. A lesson from plant evolution, in which an accidental increase in ploidy has a prevalent role, suggests that this assumption needs to be reconsidered.
Brand Loyalty Revisited: A Commentary

Jacoby's defense of his original article "Brand Loyalty Vs. Repeat Purchasing Behavior" [7] and his critique of Tarpey's commentary, "A Brand Loyalty Concept: A Comment" [19] amounts to little more than a brief in behalf of Jacoby and Kyner's "improved" definition of brand loyalty. Unfortunately, Jacoby's comments on Tarpey's comments do little to clarify or remedy the problems associated with the task of developing a valid and useful conceptual definition of brand loyalty. This article attempts to do two things: (1) to demonstrate that Jacoby and Kyner's conceptual definition of brand loyalty is really an operational definition and (2) to point out some of the specific errors in Jacoby's commentary. The major shortcoming of Jacoby and Kyner's original study, "Brand Loyalty Vs. Repeat Purchase Behavior" is that they do not deliver what is promised. They promise a "conceptual definition" [7, p. 1] of brand loyalty, but what they give us is just another operational definition. Jacoby and Kyner are critical of operational definitions as "being quite arbitrary and providing nothing more than a surface understanding" [7, p. 1]. A conceptual definition, they say, is more concerned with reasons for behavior, it specifies what must be measured, not how [7, p. 2]. With this in mind, it will be useful to review Jacoby and Kyner's "conceptual definition" of brand loyalty. It consists of six necessary and collectively sufficient conditions. It is their sixth condition which theoretically and technically distinguishes it from other definitions of brand loyalty found in the literature. It states that brand loyalty "is a function of a psychological (decision-making, evaluative) process" [7, p. 2]. The reader is now informed about what is to be measured, namely the "decision-making evaluative process" [7, pp. 2-3]. Phase III of their experiment attempts to do this. It tests the hypothesis implied in condition number six. It states that "loyalty would be manifested only (italics added) by those subjects who had made prior [brand] selections under conditions where (1) more
Prevalence and Factors of Behaviors of Addiction Tendency among High School Students

[Objective]To investigate the current status of addiction tendency behaviors among the high school students in Tianjin so as to adopt targeted intervening measures.[Methods]An anonymous questionnaires surveys was conducted on 1 878 high school students in Hebei District of Tianjin City by using stratified cluster sampling method.[Results]The prevalence of smoking,drinking,playing electronic games and long-time being on the internet in male students was higher than that of female(P0.05),but the prevalence of watching TV for a long time in female students was higher than that of male students(P0.05).Among vocational high schools,high school and key high school,the prevalence of smoking,watching TV,playing electronic games and long-time being on the internet was different significantly(P0.05),with the highest prevalence in vocational high schools.The prevalence of smoking,drinking,playing electronic games and long-time being on the internet was different significantly between the students with different academic levels(P0.05).And it had the tendency of decreasing with the exaltation of academic(P0.05).The smoking was impacted most greatly by gender among behaviors of addiction tendency.And watching TV,playing electronic games and long-time being on the internet were impacted most greatly by the type of schools.[Conclusion]The effects of smoking,drinking and long-time being on internet on adolescents can not be ignored.The community should build harmonious and healthy environment for them.
Robustness of Filter-Based Feature Ranking: A Case Study

The filter model of feature selection has been well studied. In previous studies, classification performance has traditionally been proposed as a way to evaluate filter solutions. In this study, a new method of comparing feature ranking techniques is presented providing a straightforward approach for quantifying individual filters’ robustness to class noise. Six commonly-used filters, plus one which is rarely used, are investigated regarding their ability to retain, in the presence of class noise, strong classification performance. Three classifiers and one classification performance metric are considered. The experimental results of this study show that Gain Ratio, one of the well known and widely used filters, is very sensitive to class noise. ReliefF offers the best results with both the NB and kNN learners while Signal-to-noise, though not as widely used in the literature as the others, outperforms all the filters with the SVM learner.
Improvements to the Practical Usability of the “Crystalline Sponge” Method for Organic Structure Determination

A microwell droplet approach provided high-quality samples in ≥90% yield of the “crystalline sponge”, which was exhibited previously as a revolutionary organic structure determination method. The new protocol, from crystal growth to guest soaking, was conducted in 1–7 days (depending on the guest) and was robust toward user errors, marking improvements over existing protocols. Unit cell determination was used as a practical crystal screening metric. These advances improve the practicality of the crystalline sponge technique for characterizing unknown organic molecules.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall of Faces

Media review of the "Virtual Wall of Faces", an extension of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.
A Semantic Kernel for Predicate Argument Classification

Automatically deriving semantic structures from text is a challenging task for machine learning. The flat feature representations, usually used in learning models, can only partially describe structured data. This makes difficult the processing of the semantic information that is embedded into parse-trees. In this paper a new kernel for automatic classification of predicate arguments has been designed and experimented. It is based on subparse-trees annotated with predicate argument information from PropBank corpus. This kernel, exploiting the convolution properties of the parse-tree kernel, enables us to learn which syntactic structures can be associated with the arguments defined in PropBank. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) using such a kernel classify arguments with a better accuracy than SVMs based on linear kernel.
Legacies in Switchgrass Resistance to and Recovery from Drought Suggest That Good Years Can Sustain Plants Through Bad Years

The warm-season perennial switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a candidate bioenergy crop. To be successful, switchgrass production must be maintained on low-quality landscapes with minimal inputs while facing future climates that are expected to be more extreme and more variable. We propose that antecedent rainfall constrains how plants respond to drought, as well as subsequently recover from drought. To test this idea, we examined how six switchgrass genotypes responded to a 1-year severe drought and then recovered under normal rainfall in the following year. These plants had previously grown for 3 years under a range of dry to wet rainfall levels in a shallow-soil common garden with no fertilizer. Plants previously exposed to drought produced less biomass, and basal area after the severe drought was relieved compared to previously well-watered plants. In addition, there were legacy effects caused by plant size: plants that were larger pre-drought were more likely to survive the severe drought, and plants that were larger during the severe drought recovered more biomass, basal area, and tillers post-drought. Although genotypes differed somewhat in their responses, the size constraint was consistent across genotypes. These findings suggest that we can establish more drought-resilient switchgrass stands by, for example, planning for initial irrigation or planting during a wet year to allow plants to grow larger prior to experiencing drought. Additional studies are needed to understand whether these rainfall and size legacies persist or are transient.
HYPERTENSIVE RESPONSE TO EXERCISE IN PATIENTS WITH REPAIRED COARCTATION OF AORTA

Determine prevalence of hypertensive response to exercise (HRE) and its association with cardiovascular adverse events (CAE) in patients (pt) with repaired coarctation of aorta (rCOA). Retrospective review of adult pt with rCOA who had cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) at Mayo Clinic, 1994-2014
Ocular and Adnexal Lymphoma: Biopsy Techniques

Correct biopsy technique is critical in the diagnosis and management of ocular and adnexal lymphoma. The decision of what tissue to biopsy should take into account the ease of access to tissue, potential damage to surrounding vital structures, and risk for vision loss. Specific techniques will be reviewed in this chapter for various clinical scenarios including anterior segment, vitreous, subretinal, choroidal, and orbital biopsy.
Predictors of Outcome From Critical Illness. Shock and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

This article discusses the use of prognostic indicators for shock as useful monitors in the management of critically ill patients and the pathophysiologic mechanisms that make these indicators important predictors of outcome. Factors that influence the success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are also examined, specifically the usefulness of monitoring end-tidal carbon dioxide tension for assessing the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The importance of prognostic indicators as monitors to evaluate and guide clinical management is discussed and demonstrated.
Psychosurgery and Brain Stimulation: The Legislative Experience in Oregon in 1973

This conference deals with the use of surgical and electrical techniques in the treatment of difficult disease states for which no fully satisfactory solutions are known. Historically, such problems have engendered experimental approaches to provide answers to such problems with the full recognition by physicians and patients that failure and dangerous consequences could follow. It is necessary that we focus on such problems having to do with brain dysfunction. In dealing with brain dysfunction, we find ourselves in a clinical area that extends far beyond the confines of the hospital or the technical rehabilitation of an impaired nervous system. When efforts are made to control or alter brain dysfunction, particularly when behavioral management is the goal, we enter a controversial area in which techniques, goals and attitudes of physicians are increasingly questioned.
From a QUAC Stick to a Compositional Assessment of Man’s Nutritional Status

Let us begin with a brief, selective bibliographic review. The recommendations for the anthropometric appraisal of nutritional status, formulated by the enlarged Committee on Nutrition1 Anthropometry, of the (U.S.) National Research Council, were published in 1956 in Human Biology1 and as an introduction to a volume entitled Body Measurements and the Evaluation of Nutritional Status.2
Calcium-Inhibited Adenylyl Cyclase (AC6) Controls Endothelial Cell Barrier Function

For many years, investigators have recognized that inflammatory mediators increase cytosolic calcium in endothelial cells, which triggers intercellular gap formation and increased permeability. However, this calcium-mediated increase in permeability occurs only when cAMP levels are not also increased. Indeed, a rise in cAMP prevents inflammatory mediators from increasing permeability, and it even reverses tissue edema that has already been initiated. Studies examining the crosstalk between cytosolic calcium and cAMP reveal an inverse relationship, where increased cytosolic calcium decreases cAMP. Endothelial cell expression of a type 6 (calcium-inhibited) adenylyl cyclase is responsible for this action, so that calcium entry across the cell membrane decreases cAMP synthesis. Eliminating calcium inhibition of cAMP prevents inflammatory mediators from increasing endothelial cell permeability, indicating that crosstalk between these intracellular messengers is necessary for the endothelium to change its shape.