cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anharmonic force constants of N2O from matrix infrared spectra

Abstract Infrared spectra of 14N216O, 15N216O, 14N15N16O, 15N14N16O and 14N218O have been measured with the molecule isolated in a solid N2 matrix. The wavenumbers of the observed fundamentals, overtones and combinations have been used to determine the force constants in an anharmonic force field which included cubic and quartic force constants. The force constants determined from the matrix data have been compared with the corresponding ones determined from the gas-phase spectra including rotational constants. It is concluded that the effect of the matrix cage may be represented by small (a few per cent) perturbations on the intramolecular force constants determined from the isolated molecule in the gas phase.
Enriching Teaching and Learning in a Teacher Education Course through a Field Experience Choice Assignment in Service-Learning

With a purpose of enriching teaching and learning in her classroom, an early childhood education professor implements a service learning option into an introductory curriculum course with 25 students (preservice teachers) enrolled. The study, using both qualitative and quantitative means, measures the attainment of course objectives in students; and compares their ratings statements and coded narrative reflections. Results indicate that the eight students engaged in service learning in their field experience did as well as the 17 students not engaged in service learning on their pre- and post-test analysis, and in their final grades. The student reflections revealed that students participating in service-learning experienced richer learning experiences than those participating in the traditional assignment. Additionally, the service-learning participants indicate a greater sense of civic responsibility, and ability to lead their P-5 students to a greater awareness of their civic responsibility. Recommendations include implementing service-learning with all preservice teachers enrolled in this course, developing appropriate strategies for assessment of effects of service-learning, and conducting further studies on servicelearning in teacher education programs.
Uncertainty reduction for active image clustering via a hybrid global-local uncertainty model

We propose a novel combined global/local model for active semi-supervised spectral clustering based on the principle of uncertainty reduction. We iteratively compute the derivative of the eigenvectors produced by spectral decomposition with respect to each item/image, and combine this with local label entropy provided by the current clustering results in order to estimate the uncertainty reduction potential of each item in the dataset. We then generate pairwise queries with respect to the best candidate item and retrieve the needed constraints from the user. We evaluate our method using three different image datasets--faces, leaves and dogs, and consistently demonstrate performance superior to the current state-of-the-art.
Sinonasal Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumor: A Rare and Misinterpreted Entity.

Objectives Oncogenic osteomalacia is a paraneoplastic syndrome in which the tumor secretes a peptide-like hormone, fibroblast growth factor, resulting in urinary loss of phosphates. Methods We present the case of a 50-year-old woman with a benign phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT) involving the ethmoid sinus with obstruction of the ostiomeatal complex causing unilateral nasal airway obstruction. Results The tumor was initially thought to be an esthesioneuroblastoma based on primary pathology interpretation and on clinical and radiographic appearance. However, a benign PMT was later confirmed by further testing. Conclusion The tumor was removed entirely by the endoscopic transnasal approach, leading to a full resolution of symptoms.
Bedside Ultrasonography for Diagnosis of Septic Shock

To the Editor Drs Seymour and Rosengart,1 in their review of septic shock, noted the lack of “rigorous RCTs [randomized clinical trials] of focused cardiac ultrasonography affecting patient-centered outcomes in septic shock.” The authors cited a 2010 consensus document by the American Society of Echocardiography and the American College of Emergency Physicians as justification for the recommendation that “focused ultrasonography may assist in early shock diagnosis and alert clinicians to underlying physiologic disturbance.
Issue Suppression and the Crisis of the American Party System: The Cost of Two-Party Duopoly

Paradoxically, the American party system is both highly polarized and unable to confront issues of vital importance. This paper examines the limitation of debate, and in some cases the complete absence of debate, on four major issues in the 2012 election: economic policy, climate change, international security, and -- paradoxically, given the strength of racial voting in that election -- race. The inability of the two-party system to provide choices on such issues is a serious restriction on popular sovereignty, and one indication that the system is in crisis. This revision of an earlier paper, which did not consider race as an issue, was presented at the 2013 annual conference of the New England Political Science Association, Portland ME, April 25-27, 2013.
Surviving Terrorism, International and Personal

The author, a sociologist, presents a hypothesis in this article that there are parallels between the violence that is inflicted by a tyrant within a family and the violence that terrorists inflict on the larger community. After comparing and contrasting the two types of violence, the author mentions some existing support groups (such as Parents of Murdered Children) and states a need for special support to be offered to all survivors of violence.
Response of German Cockroaches to Spray Constituents

Laboratory studies with physiologically resistant and susceptible Blattella genmanica (L.) showed that many of the constituents in sprays used for cockroach control exhibited significant repellency to both strains of cockroaches when the cockroaches were exposed to treated white pine panels for 24 hr at 1, 7, and 21 days after the panels were treated. The data indicated that the presence of certain spray constituents may result in ineffective control in the field because of avoidance of treated areas by cockroaches. Most of the constituents tested were repellent to the susceptible strain for longer periods, which fact indicated that the repellent stimuli released innate behavioral patterns. Tests for evaluating the repellency of selected spray constituents on panels previously exposed to cockroaches for 24 hr indicated that some factor associated with this exposure decreased the repellent effects of the constituents. When technical chlordane was combined with the constituents, longer durations of repellency for Atlox 1045-A®, MGK® Repellent 11 (1,5a,6,9,9a,9b-hexahydro-4a (4 H )-dibenzofurancarboxaldehyde), MGK® Repellent 326 (dipropyl pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate), methyl isobutyl ketone, methylene chloride, and Pyrocide 175® (20% pyrethrins) occurred in the resistant strain tests. The susceptible-strain data were not analyzed because of high mortality of the cockroaches. Constituent repellency to both strains was greater when formulated with chlordane (cockroach exposure factor excluded) than when tested alone. The duration of repellency of Atlox 1045-A, Triton X-155®, MGK Repellent 11, MGK Repellent 326, MGK® Tropital, piperonyl butoxide, and Pyrocide 175 was increased by addition of chlordane to the formulation. Thus, the presence of chlordane compounded the problem of repellency in spray formulations.
Blood Alcohol and Its Relation to Intoxication in Man.

SummaryIn general, intoxication is not noticeable in the human until the blood alcohol concentration is greater than 0.2% from 0.31 to 0.4% there is marked intoxication; alcoholic stupor is definite between 0.41 and 0.5% above 0.5% coma or death may result.
National Park Service needs proactive strategy.

The recent decision by the National Park Service (NPS) to consider augmenting the beleaguered wolf population on Michigan's Isle Royale, and by doing so influence national policy, is a step in the right direction (“Are Isle Royale's wolves chasing extinction?,” C. Mlot, News Focus, 24 May, p. [
Metabolite Regulation of Nuclear Localization of Carbohydrate Response Element-binding Protein (ChREBP). Role of AMP as an Allosteric Inhibitor

The carbohydrate-response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a glucose-responsive transcription factor that plays an essential role in converting excess carbohydrate to fat storage in the liver. In response to glucose levels, ChREBP is regulated by nuclear/cytosol trafficking via interaction with 14-3-3 proteins, CRM-1 (exportin-1 or XPO-1), or importins. Nuclear localization of ChREBP was rapidly inhibited when incubated in branched-chain α-ketoacids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide. Here, we discovered that protein-free extracts of high fat-fed livers contained, in addition to ketone bodies, a new metabolite, identified as AMP, which specifically activates the interaction between ChREBP and 14-3-3. The crystal structure showed that AMP binds directly to the N terminus of ChREBP-α2 helix. Our results suggest that AMP inhibits the nuclear localization of ChREBP through an allosteric activation of ChREBP/14-3-3 interactions and not by activation of AMPK. AMP and ketone bodies together can therefore inhibit lipogenesis by restricting localization of ChREBP to the cytoplasm during periods of ketosis.
Human Error and the International Space Station: Challenges and Triumphs in Science Operations

Any system with a human component is inherently risky. Studies in human factors and psychology have repeatedly shown that human operators will inevitably make errors, regardless of how well they are trained. Onboard the International Space Station (ISS) where crew time is arguably the most valuable resource, errors by the crew or ground operators can be costly to critical science objectives. Operations experts at the ISS Payload Operations Integration Center (POIC), located at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have learned that from payload concept development through execution, there are countless opportunities to introduce errors that can potentially result in costly losses of crew time and science. To effectively address this challenge, we must approach the design, testing, and operation processes with two specific goals in mind. First, a systematic approach to error and human centered design methodology should be implemented to minimize opportunities for user error. Second, we must assume that human errors will be made and enable rapid identification and recoverability when they occur. While a systematic approach and human centered development process can go a long way toward eliminating error, the complete exclusion of operator error is not a reasonable expectation. The ISS environment in particular poses challenging conditions, especially for flight controllers and astronauts. Operating a scientific laboratory 250 miles above the Earth is a complicated and dangerous task with high stakes and a steep learning curve. While human error is a reality that may never be fully eliminated, smart implementation of carefully chosen tools and techniques can go a long way toward minimizing risk and increasing the efficiency of NASA's space science operations.
Current concepts in pancreatic imaging.

Plain films and barium studies of the gastrointestinal tract are usually not sufficient for diagnosis of pancreatic disease but need to be supplemented by some of the newer imaging modalities, which include selective pancreatic angiography, ultrasonography, and computerized tomography (CT). Nuclear medicine studies, endoscopic retrograde cannulation of the pancreas, and thin needle percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTHC) have a more limited role in diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. Ultrasonography, CT scanning, and PTHC are also used in percutaneous transabdominal biopsy of the pancreas and the more recent transductal core biopsy.
Anger Regulation and Social Acceptance in Early Adolescence: Associations With Gender and Ethnicity

Anger regulation among adolescents is important to investigate given theoretical and empirical support for its critical association with peer relationships. This study examined two aspects of anger...
Urinary kallikrein and systemic prostacyclin synthesis during sodium chloride infusion in normal man.

1. An intravenous infusion of 3 litres of sodium chloride solution (saline: 150 mmol/l) was given over 1 h to normal subjects. 2. During and immediately after the infusion, renal plasma flow increased in the majority of subjects, but the rise was not statistically significant. Significant increases in urine flow, sodium excretion, urinary kallikrein excretion and urinary excretion of dinor-6-keto prostaglandin (PG) F 1α , a measure of systemic PGI 2 synthesis, were noted. Plasma renin activity and plasma protein concentration were significantly lowered by the infusion. 3. At 2 h after the end of the infusion, although urine flow fell significantly, sodium excretion had not decreased. The reduction in plasma renin activity and plasma proteins persisted, and excretion of kallikrein and the PGI 2 metabolite returned to control values. 4. Overall, urinary kallikrein excretion correlated significantly with urine flow and with sodium excretion. Peak kallikrein excretion occurred in the second 30 min of the infusion, and preceded maximal urine flow and sodium excretion. 5. The results suggest that increased systemic synthesis of PGI 2 occurs in response to an acute infusion of sodium chloride, and may be an adaptive response of the vasculature to volume expansion. They support a role for the renal kallikrein-kinin system in the early diuretic and natriuretic response to saline infusion; the reduction in plasma renin activity and plasma protein concentration may be involved in both the early response and the persistent natriuresis 2 h after the infusion.
Trends in cardiac surgery: Five-year study of a defined population

The total number and types of cardiac operations performed on residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1973 through 1977 were studied through the use of the medical-records linkage system at the Mayo Clinic. During this time, 213 patients underwent 216 operations. The rates of cardiac operations per 10,000 population increased from 4.1 in 1973 to 5.9 in 1977. Operations other than for coronary artery bypass showed no significant trends over time, and the average rate was 2.5 per year. The incidence of coronary artery bypass operations increased from 1.5 in 1973 to 4.0 in 1977. On the basis of the rates for open-heart operations and under conditions similar to those in this community, a population of approximately 380,000 persons less than 15 years of age would be required to ensure 75 cases requiring open-heart operations per year, and a population of approximately 230,000 persons more than 14 years of age would provide 200 adult open-heart cases per year. Thus total populations of approximately 1,380,000 and 310,000 of all ages would be required to meet these minimum standards for pediatric and adult open-heart operations.
Interface Energetics and Charge Carrier Density Amplification by Sn-Doping in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructure

Tailoring the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the n-type (TiO2)0/(LaO)+1 interface between the polar LaAlO3 (LAO) and nonpolar SrTiO3 (STO) insulators can potentially provide desired functionalities for next-generation low-dimensional nanoelectronic devices. Here, we propose a new approach to tune the electronic and magnetic properties in the n-type LAO/STO heterostructure (HS) system via electron doping. In this work, we modeled four types of layer doped LAO/STO HS systems with Sn dopants at different cation sites and studied their electronic structures and interface energetics by using first-principles electronic structure calculations. We identified the thermodynamic stability conditions for each of the four proposed doped configurations with respect to the undoped LAO/STO interface. We further found that the Sn-doped LAO/STO HS system with Sn at Al site (Sn@Al) is energetically most favorable with respect to decohesion, thereby strengthening the interface, while the doped HS system with Sn at L...
Acquired Coagulation Disorders

Hemostasis is a complex, regulated sequence of interactions involving platelets, the blood vessel endothelium, and coagulation factors. Primary hemostasis involves platelet activation and culminates in the formation of the platelet plug. Secondary hemostasis follows with the activation of the coagulation cascade on the surface of platelets, leading to the formation of a stable fibrin clot. Under physiologic conditions, an equilibrium exists between the formation of a clot and its degradation. Abnormal bleeding can occur when the normal equilibrium no longer exists and can result from disorders of the coagulation system, platelets, or blood vessels. Disorders of the coagulation system can be acquired or hereditary, the former resulting from nutritional deficiencies, systemic diseases, formation of factor inhibitors, and drugs. This chapter addresses the most common and clinically relevant acquired coagulation disorders including vitamin K deficiency, liver dysfunction, factor deficiencies, and inhibitors. We also discuss the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, which is primarily a prothrombotic state and rarely causes bleeding.
Spiritual Care With Sick Children and Young People: A Handbook for Chaplains, Paediatric Health Professionals, Arts Therapists, and Youth Workers (Paperback). Nash, Paul, Darby, Kathryn, and Nash, Sally.

The authors have provided the first substantial contribution to pediatric health care in fifteen years, and it’s possible to speculate that the value extends well beyond the realm of pediatrics. Ma...
The Local Union and the Workers: Mobilising Discontent

Working-class support is the goal of any trade-union movement, but nowhere is such support more crucial than in France. Given the relative lack of institutionalised relationships between labour and management, organised labour’s power depends to a large extent on its ability to represent and speak for the mass of workers. This ability depends, in turn, on the union’s capacity to mobilise workers. As Alfred Grosser has pointed out: ‘The power [of unions] to mobilise supporters constitutes an essential criterion of their representativeness: many strikes and demonstrations are undertaken solely to exhibit the influence and therefore the representativeness of the group that organises them.’1
Statically Charged Electret Polymers as Solid, Nonvolatile Gates Encapsulating and Tuning Polymer Thermoelectric Parameters

We report the first example of a free-standing charged electret gate associated with a thermoelectric material. Hydrophilic polymers, the commercially available fluorocarbon polymer Novec and a cross-linked polystyrene, were charged before and after deposition of the prototypical thiophene semiconducting polymer poly(bisdodecylquaterthiophene) (PQT12), respectively. Conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were measured. The charging modulated both parameters with the expected inverse dependences on charging-induced static voltage. A tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ)-doped sample and the polystyrene sample displayed Seebeck coefficients close to predictions of a general model recently proposed for polymer thermoelectrics. The freestanding gate is a possible approach to modulating polymer thermoelectrics without disrupting intermolecular packing or applying gate voltages during operation.
Optical Bench Testing of IOLs

Optical bench testing of intraocular lenses (IOLs) enables visualization and quantification of through-focus retinal image quality. Combining adaptive optics with optical bench testing allows for the induction of corneal aberrations in a pseudophakic model eye. The adaptive optics bench system described in this study consisted of a model eye, artificial pupil, wavefront sensor deformable mirror, and an image-capturing device. This study measured the through-focus retinal image quality of 3 presbyopia-correcting IOLs and a monofocal control IOL with 3.0- and 5.0-mm pupils under various corneal aberration conditions. Uncorrected corneal astigmatism and higher order aberrations in pseudophakic eyes significantly affected through-focus image quality. Diffractive multifocal IOLs were especially vulnerable to degradations in image quality due to corneal aberrations.
Impact of xerostomia and dysphagia on health-related quality of life for head and neck cancer patients

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Over the last two decades there have been dramatic intensifications in the treatment of head and neck cancer with altered fractionation or concurrent chemotherapy, both of which have been shown to improve survival at the cost of increased toxicity. Specifically, xerostomia and dysphagia negatively impact health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), and incorporation of modern radiotherapy techniques including intensity-modulated radiotherapy and volumetric arc radiotherapy have been designed to mitigate toxicity and impaired HR-QOL.Areas covered: We review the measurement of toxicity and HR-QOL, the impact of xerostomia and dysphagia on HR-QOL, and methods of preserving HR-QOL after head and neck radiotherapy. We also discuss the implications on HR-QOL of de-intensification trials for favorable-risk human papilloma virus related oropharyngeal cancer as well as a randomized trial comparing photon and proton therapy for oropharygeal cancer patients. The role of salivary stem cells and thei...
M2 macrophages do not fly into a “RAGE”

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key elements in orchestrating host responses inside tumor stroma. This population may undergo a polarized activation process, thus rendering a heterogeneous spectrum of phenotypes, where the classically activated type 1 macrophages (M1) and the alternative activated type 2 macrophages (M2) represent two extreme phenotypes. In this commentary, based on very recent research findings, we intend to highlight how complex could be the crosstalk among all components of tumor stroma, where the coexistence of non-natural partners may even skew the canonical responses that we can expect.
The neural basis of perceived intensity in natural and artificial touch

Electrical stimulation of sensory nerves is a powerful tool for studying neural coding because it can activate neural populations in ways that natural stimulation cannot. Electrical stimulation of the nerve has also been used to restore sensation to patients who have suffered the loss of a limb. We have used long-term implanted electrical interfaces to elucidate the neural basis of perceived intensity in the sense of touch. To this end, we assessed the sensory correlates of neural firing rate and neuronal population recruitment independently by varying two parameters of nerve stimulation: pulse frequency and pulse width. Specifically, two amputees, chronically implanted with peripheral nerve electrodes, performed each of three psychophysical tasks-intensity discrimination, magnitude scaling, and intensity matching-in response to electrical stimulation of their somatosensory nerves. We found that stimulation pulse width and pulse frequency had systematic, cooperative effects on perceived tactile intensity and that the artificial tactile sensations could be reliably matched to skin indentations on the intact limb. We identified a quantity we termed the activation charge rate (ACR), derived from stimulation parameters, that predicted the magnitude of artificial tactile percepts across all testing conditions. On the basis of principles of nerve fiber recruitment, the ACR represents the total population spike count in the activated neural population. Our findings support the hypothesis that population spike count drives the magnitude of tactile percepts and indicate that sensory magnitude can be manipulated systematically by varying a single stimulation quantity.
Physicians' Perspectives and Practice Patterns Toward Opportunistic Salpingectomy in High- and Low-Risk Women.

Background: Opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy (OBS) has been proposed as an ovarian cancer risk-reducing strategy. Methods: A survey was emailed to 300 members of the American College of Obstet...
Something to Behold: The Distinct Spiritual Values of Art and Sport

Sports and the arts are alike, for their audiences, in their relative detachment from ordinary utilitarian concerns. Viewers’ lives remain essentially unchanged at the conclusion of the match or the drama. Yet the ubiquitous interest in sports and the arts, historically and globally, along with the intensity of passion that each can rouse, raise natural questions about the benefit of engagement with these artificial realms. This paper explores the respective values of sports and the arts for the viewer. After briefly registering some of the oft-remarked similarities in the appeal of each, the paper posits a more fundamental common dimension: the way in which both sports and the arts offer spiritual values by offering the material manifestation of important abstract ideas. It proceeds to outline the quite distinct ways in which sports and the arts do this. First, it identifies four respects in which artworks seem to offer a more philosophical “take” on life, effectively presenting a fundamental worldview. It then observes three important respects in which sports provide messages that the arts cannot. The paper’s overall aim is not to anoint either realm as definitively superior, but to better appreciate the exact rewards that each of them can offer to a flourishing human life.
Managing congestion in supply chains via dynamic freight routing: An application in the biomass supply chain

Abstract This paper manages congestion in the supply chain via dynamic freight routing and using multi-modal facilities in different time periods of a year. The proposed mixed integer non-linear program (MINLP) model captures the trade-offs that exists between investment, transportation, and congestion management decisions. A linear approximation of the proposed MINLP model is then solved using a hybrid Benders-based rolling horizon algorithm. The performance of the algorithm is tested on a case study that uses data from the Southeast USA biomass supply chain network. Extensive numerical experiments provide managerial insights to manage congestion from the biomass supply chain network.
Jump-Filtration Consistent Nonlinear Expectations with Lp Domains

Given p ∈ (1,2), the wellposedness of backward stochastic differential equations with jumps (BSDEJs) in Lp sense gives rise to a general (conditional) nonlinear expectation with Lp domain that is consistent with the filtration generated by a Brownian motion and a Poisson random measure (jump filtration). Under certain domination condition, such a nonlinear expectation preserves many basic (martingale) properties of the classic linear expectations and thus can be represented by the Lp solutions of BSDEJs with a deterministic generator that is independent of y and Lipschitz in (z,u).
Adult Learning, Transformative Education, and Indigenous Epistemology.

This chapter describes an innovative program that weaves together adult learning, transformative education, and indigenous epistemology in order to prepare Alaskan rural indigenous social service providers to better serve their communities.
Reproducing Gender and Race Inequality in the Blawgosphere

The use of the Internet and other digital media to disseminate scholarship has great potential for expanding the range of voices in legal scholarship. Legal blogging, in particular, with its shorter, more informal form, seems ideal for encouraging commentary from a diverse group of scholars. This Essay tests this idea by exploring the role of blogging in legal scholarship and the benefits to those scholars who regularly contribute to influential blogs. The Essay also examines the level of participation of women and scholars of color on the most visible academic legal blogs. After noting the predominance of white male scholars as regular contributors on these blogs, the authors analyze the relative lack of diversity in this emerging form of scholarship. They find that the limited participation of female and scholars of color in the upper echelons of the legal blogosphere may be traced to patterns in traditional legal scholarship as well as factors unique to the blogosphere. Finally, the Essay offers suggestions for reversing these trends and creating a more inclusive blogosphere and enriching its potential for lively, informed scholarship.
Chemokine independent T cell migration

Our current understanding of T cell migration is focused on chemokine-mediated integrin activation, which dictates that chemokines provide critical directional signals to guide T cell migration to target tissues within the body. Emerging evidence, however, supports that activated T cells can migrate to certain vascularized tissues, despite chemokine receptor deficiency or with the inhibition of chemokine receptors. This suggests the presence of a chemokine-independent mechanism through which T cells can activate integrins, induce adhesion and subsequent cell migration. We found with OT-I T cell receptor transgenic mice that integrin LFA-1 mediated migration of naive T cells was strictly dependent on chemokine stimulation. In contrast, activated CD8 + T cells migrated in the absence of chemokines both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, activated CD8 + T cells migrate in the presence of the chemokine inhibitors pertussis toxin and Gallein (a Gβγ inhibitor), further supporting chemokine-independent T cell migration. Using mass spectrometry, we discovered three cytoskeletal molecules, non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MyH9), αII-spectrin, and βII-spectrin, associate with LFA-1 in T cells. Western blot analysis of mouse T cells revealed expression levels of MyH9 and αII-spectrin remained stable after T cell activation, but surprisingly, βII-spectrin expression was dramatically down-regulated during CD8 + T cell activation. Over-expression of βII-spectrin in activated CD8 + T cells abolished chemokine-independent migration on integrin ligand ICAM-1. Therefore, we hypothesize that βII-spectrin provides a mechanical link between LFA-1 and the cytoskeleton to regulate T cell migration without chemokine stimulation.
Association of lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 cardiovascular health metrics

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. There is a strong association between COPD and cardiovascular (CV) disease; however, the relation between COPD and CV health factors is not well defined. We examined the relation between lung function and CV health factors defined by American Heart Association's (AHA) Life's Simple 7 (LS7). Methods We studied 6352 adults aged ≥20 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2012. Analysis of variance was used to compare mean FEV1% of predicted across levels of each LS7 metric and population attributable risk was calculated based on COPD prevalence. We also conducted linear regression and logistic regression analyses to determine the association between lung function, COPD and LS7 score. Results Overall 19.9% of subjects were defined as having COPD. Subjects in the highest categories of the LS7 metrics had the highest mean values of FEV1% of predicted (p Conclusions LS7 score is associated with lung function as well as the odds of COPD that is largely explained by age. Studies are needed to show if promotion of CV health will preserve healthy lung function.
Genomic Relationships and GBLUP

The resemblance between individuals in a population has been traditionally estimated from pedigrees. High-throughput genotyping technology has enabled the use of large numbers of DNA markers to estimate the amount of genome shared by individuals. Genetic similarity estimates based on genetic markers are more precise than those based on pedigree information. Using the genomic relationships derived from markers for prediction of genetic merit of individuals has gained considerable attention in animal and plant breeding in recent years. In this chapter, we introduce the concept and provide some examples.
Is real depreciation and expansionary fiscal policy effective? The case of Serbia

Applying the IS-MP-IA model to study the impacts of exchange rate movements, expansionary fiscal policy and other relevant variables in Serbia, we find that real appreciation of the dinar, a higher government deficit-to-GDP ratio, a lower real lending rate in the euro area, a lower lagged real oil price, a higher Germany’s real GDP and a lower expected inflation rate would promote economic growth.
Get Thee to the Ethics Clinic

“He who studies medicine without books sails an uncharted course, but he who studies medicine without patients does not go to sea at all.” William Osler“I taught medical students on the wards.” Osl...
The V-to-Y Advancement Flap for Distal Nasal Reconstruction: Our Experience With 39 Patients

Background and objective The V-to-Y advancement flap, also known as the island pedicle flap, is a single-stage repair option that can be used for defects on the distal nose. We report our experience using this flap for nasal defects following Mohs micrographic surgery, as well as describe optimal patient selection and flap design. Materials and methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patient charts and operative photographs of nasal V-to-Y advancement flaps performed over 6 years at the Universtiy of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Charts were reviewed for age, sex, tumour type and location, defect size, anticoagulation, immunosuppression, postoperative complications, revisions, and outcomes. Results Thirty-nine patients with defects ranging from 0.7 to 1.7 cm in size (median of 1 cm) were included. Most defects involved the inferior, paramedian nose, and after accounting for 7 postrepair interventions on 6 (15%) patients, 38 (97%) patients were noted to have good to excellent cosmetic outcomes while 1 patient experienced a persistent trapdoor effect. Conclusion The V-to-Y advancement flap is an excellent single-stage option that can reliably provide good to excellent cosmetic results when used to repair small- to medium-size sized defects on the distal half of the nose.
Histoplasma Urinary Antigen Testing Obviates the Need for Coincident Serum Antigen Testing.

Objectives Serum and urine antigen (SAg, UAg) detection are common tests for Histoplasma capsulatum. UAg detection is more widely used and reportedly has a higher sensitivity. We investigated whether SAg detection contributes meaningfully to the initial evaluation of patients with suspected histoplasmosis. Methods We reviewed 20,285 UAg and 1,426 SAg tests ordered from 1997 to 2016 and analyzed paired UAg and SAg tests completed on the same patient within 1 week. We determined the positivity rate for each test. Results Of 601 paired specimens, 542 were concurrent negatives and 48 were concurrent positives (98% agreement). Medical records were available for eight of 11 pairs with discrepant results. UAg was falsely positive in six instances, truly positive once, and falsely negative once. Conclusions These findings support using a single antigen detection test, rather than both UAg and SAg, as an initial screen for suspected histoplasmosis. This aligns with the current practice of most physicians.
Electrospun Polymeric Nanofibers in Food Packaging

Abstract The application of nanotechnology can improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials by reducing their particle size and increasing their contact surface area and reactivity. One of the most active areas of nanoscience research and development is food packaging. The use of nanostructured materials, such as nanofibers in food packaging can potentiate their functional characteristics. The development of polymeric nanofibers that are capable of improving the barrier and antimicrobial properties of materials is promising. These nanostructures may also be employed in nanosensor development for the detection and monitoring of food conditions during transport and storage. The aim of the chapter is to discuss the application and acquisition of polymeric nanofibers for food packaging development through the electrospining technique.
Linking Traditional and Non-Traditional Security in Bilateral Free Trade Agreements: The US Approach

Although many commentators bemoan the politicization of trade negotiations over market opening, such efforts have always been used, at least in part, as instruments to promote state goals. This chapter focuses specifically on US efforts to link both traditional and non-traditional security issues to trade in their negotiation of bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs). Such accords have become increasingly common in the wake of the moribund Doha Development Round (DDA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). With other countries pursuing such accords, particularly in Asia, understanding how countries engage in issue linkages to trade is particularly timely.
Work sampling in a one-person library

Dans les bibliotheques ou le personnel est reduit a une seul personne ou des personnes a mi-temps pour un temps complet, quelle est la repartition entre les activites techniques pouvant relever d'un personnel technique et les activites de nature professionnelle ou bibliotheconomique. Cette question releve de l'optimisation des ressources humaines. Une methode par observation directe sur un echantillon a ete conduite a l'initiative de cette bibliotheque et une analyse des types d'activites a ete faite. La conclusion porte sur la necessite de ne pas devaloriser la profession
In Search of Optimal Weights for U.S. Men and Women

An “optimal” body weight has to be optimal for a particular purpose, otherwise the concept has little meaning. Although one can visualize situations in which substantially larger fat stores (and hence increased weight) would be biologically beneficial, this discussion will be limited to consideration of surveys of adiposity status in relation to morbidity and mortality outcomes in members of the U.S. population who were ostensibly healthy at study inception. The term “adiposity” is used here in recognition of the fact that weight for height is only one of an array of physical attributes related to adiposity that have been (and continue to be) used as indices of adiposity in epidemiological studies. Such attributes include body mass index (BMI), skinfold thicknesses measured at various sites, total body fat content (adjusted for stature), percent fat, pattern of regional fat distribution as inferred from such indices as the waist-hip circumference ratio (WHR), and visceral fat content in relation subcutaneous or total body fat content (Vanltallie & Lew, 1992 and 1993; Sjostrom, 1993).
Vagal Nerve Stimulation: Indications for Revision in Adult Refractory Epilepsy.

Objective The goal of this study was to assess the indications of revision for vagal nerve stimulation at a single institution in an adult population with drug-resistant epilepsy. Methods This was a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database who underwent vagal nerve stimulator implantation for drug-resistant epilepsy during 1992–2017. Patients receiving vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) implants were monitored throughout their perioperative and postoperative course and were classified according to type of seizure at the time of diagnosis and indications for VNS revision. In addition, response to dysfunctional VNS devices or adverse effects were noted. Results Most patients receiving VNS implants were given a diagnosis of complex partial seizures (CPSs) before implantation (95.1%). Other epileptic conditions identified requiring implantation included generalized seizures, generalized-atonic seizures, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, CPS or generalized seizures, and tuberous sclerosis (with generalized characteristics). High lead impedance was the most common indication for revision (5.6%), whereas device ineffectiveness leading to continued seizures was the most common indication for removal (2.3%). Infection, lead fracture, and dual- to single-pin lead battery changes occurred at an incidence of 1.9%, requiring either implant removal or revision. Other events that occurred, albeit rarely, included skin extrusion (0.5%), postoperative hematoma (0.5%), and implant rejection (0.5%) necessitating removal. Conclusions VNS implantation in adults was shown to be a well-tolerated procedure. In addition, indications for revision or removal of the VNS device was low in this population with lead fracture rates lower than the incidence reported in pediatric population literature.
SystemC Coding Guideline for Faster Out-of-order Parallel Discrete Event Simulation

IEEE SystemC is one of the most popular standards for system level design. With the Recoding Infrastructure for SystemC (RISC), a SystemC model can be executed at segment level in parallel. Although the parallel simulation is generally faster than its sequential counterpart, any data conflict among segments reduces the simulation speed significantly. In this paper, we propose for RISC users a coding guideline that increases the granularity of segments, so that the level of parallelism in the design increases and higher simulation speed becomes possible. Our experimental results show that a maximum speedup of over 6.0x is achieved on an 8-core processor, which is 1.7 times faster than parallel simulation without the coding guideline.
Using Gene Regulation In Human Brain To Move Genome-Wide Association Study Discoveries Forward For Nicotine Dependence

Abstract Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable mortality worldwide. The likelihood of quitting smoking is reduced by nicotine dependence (ND), a heritable trait with a complex genetic architecture. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) era has been successful for ND, bringing about several important discoveries of specific common variants in nicotine acetylcholine receptor genes (CHRNA5-A3-B4, CHRNB3-A6, and CHRNA4) and other loci. Follow-up of these GWAS findings has shown that the genetics underlying ND involves multiple genes and variants exerting effects on gene regulation across different brain tissues. GWAS-identified variants associated with ND in or near CHRNA5 were found to include a missense variant that alters function of the CHRNA5 protein (rs16969968) and other variants that tag quantitative trait loci (QTL) altering CHRNA5 methylation (rs11636753) and expression (rs680244 and rs880395) in prefrontal cortex. As another example of neurobiology uncovered through GWAS discovery, CHRNA4 was found to harbor a ND-associated splice site acceptor variant (rs2273500) that correlates with CHRNA4 expression in intralobular white matter. To identify additional loci, our latest and the largest ever GWAS of ND involved combining results for 19 million 1000 Genomes-imputed variants tested for association with mild/moderate/severe ND across 15 independent studies: total N=38,602 smokers (28,677 Europeans/European Americans and 9,925 African Americans). This GWAS yielded a novel association in the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT3B) gene. No DNMT3B variants have been reported before for any addiction phenotype. For our top variant rs910083, its C allele was found to associate with increased ND risk across both ancestries: P=3.7E-8, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.06 (1.04–1.07) for severe vs. mild ND. The association was independently confirmed in the UK Biobank (N=48,931) using heavy vs. never smoking as a proxy phenotype (P=3.6E-4). Moreover, rs910083 was identified as a methylation QTL variant associated with DNMT3B methylation in fetal brain (P=2.3E-26) and an expression QTL variant associated with DNMT3B RNA expression in adult cerebellum of two independent studies (P ranging from 2.1E-7 to 8.8E-5). This finding offers a new direction to better understand genetic regulatory variants that contribute to ND, as the cerebellum is an often-overlooked tissue for addiction. Current studies are focused on moving beyond sequential analyses of different ‘omics (GWAS → methylation → expression), by using concurrent integration of GWAS, methylation, and expression as an anchor for discovery. Increasingly larger sample sizes will likely enable more GWAS discoveries, but equally important is the utilization of gene regulatory information in human brain to gain insight into the consequences of common genetic perturbations that influence risk of developing ND.
Clinical Application of the Coronary Artery Calcium Score and Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe, and CACS is an important tool to readily identify individuals at high risk of events to initiate early lifesaving preventive interventions. The assessment of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis by CACS has been shown to be a robust predictor of both near- and long-term clinical ASCVD events and provides information that outperforms traditional risk factor-based assessments. Current guidelines focus on the consideration of CACS in intermediate-risk patients to inform clinical decision making for initiation of preventive therapies. Knowledge of the subclinical disease can improve adherence to preventive medications and lifestyle interventions.
Transpacific intercoloniality: rethinking the globality of Philippine literature in Spanish

ABSTRACTIn 1964, Mexico and the Philippines commemorated the fourth centenary of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Andres de Urdaneta’s 1564 expedition from New Spain to the Philippines. Celebrations, wh...
Participation of African Americans in clinical trials supporting FDA approval of cancer drugs.

e18135Background: African Americans comprise 12% of the total United States population. Lifetime probability of developing cancer in African Americans is 37.55%. The 5-year relative survival rate i...
EFFICIENT METHOD TO IMPROVE HUMAN BRAIN SENSOR ACTIVITIES USING PROPOSED NEUROHEADSET DEVICE EMBEDDED WITH SENSORS: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the human brain sensor activities related prior researches towards the needs of an efficient method to improve the human brain sensor activities. Human brain activities mainly measured by brain signal acquired from the brain sensor electrodes positioned on several parts of the brain cortex. Although previous researches investigated human brain activities in various aspects, the improvement of the human brain sensor activities is still unsolved. In today’s world, it is very crucial need for improving the sensor activities of the human brain using that human brain improved signal externally. This research demonstrated a comprehensive critical analysis of human brain activities related prior researches to claim for an efficient method integrated with proposed neuroheadset device. This research presented a comprehensive review in various aspects like previous methods, existing frameworks analysis and existing results analysis with the discussion to establish an efficient method for acquiring human brain signal, improving the acquired signal and developing the sensor activities of the human brain using that human brain improved signal. Demonstrated critical review has expected for constituting an efficient method to improve the performance of maneuverability, visualization, subliminal activities and so forth on human brain activities.