cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A shift in the infant mortality rate in Durham county, North Carolina

Summary A shift has taken place in recent years in the infant mortality rate in Durham County, N. C. After a steady fall from 1924 to 1932, a rise has taken place from 1932 to 1935. An analysis shows that the rate for the negro population has continued to fall and that a sharp increase in the rate for white infants accounts for the rise in total rate. Further analysis shows this rise is chiefly due to an increase in the death rate of white infants in the first ten days of life. Lack of adequate prenatal care for white mothers is suggested as an explanation for this change.
Patterns in large numerical data

For time series data, the interest is in "vertical" patterns, not "horizontal" associations; in other words, the focus is on patterns of a large (long) numerical sequence (of vectors or numbers). This paper is theoretical; all data has no noise. It searches for several important mathematical concepts in data mining, such as pattern and prediction and the notion of large. It proposes that data is large if the complexity of data is more than the complexity of the pattern, and reconfirms the previous proposal that a pattern's complexity should be smaller than data complexity.
Synaptic Properties of Connections between the Primary and Secondary Auditory Cortices in Mice

Little is known regarding the synaptic properties of corticocortical connections from one cortical area to another. To expand on this knowledge, we assessed the synaptic properties of excitatory projections from the primary to secondary auditory cortex and vice versa. We identified 2 types of postsynaptic responses. The first class of responses have larger initial excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), exhibit paired-pulse depression, are limited to ionotropic glutamate receptor activation, and have larger synaptic terminals; the second has smaller initial EPSPs, paired-pulse facilitation, metabotropic glutamate receptor activation, and smaller synaptic terminals. These responses are similar to the driver and modulator properties previously identified for thalamic and thalamocortical circuitry, suggesting that the same classification may extend to corticocortical inputs and have an implication for the functional organization of corticocortical circuits.
Supervised learning in a single layer Dynamic Synapses Neural Network

The main focus of this paper is to introduce a new supervised learning algorithm for spiking neural networks. The learning algorithm minimizes the overall differences between spike times of target and test spike trains by utilizing a new quantitative similarity measure which has been defined in this work. The actual membrane potential of a post-synaptic neuron is adjusted at the time of spikes based on what has been measured from similarity measure in order to generate the desired membrane potential. Finally, by utilizing gradient descent algorithm, the parameters of the spiking neural network are tuned to generate the desired output membrane potential. The proposed algorithm was applied to tune the facilitation, depression, and synaptic weight constants of the Dynamic Synapses Neural Network - DSNN - for the aim of input-output functional mapping. The simulation results show that the system identification task converges to the global optimum. The rate-to-time coding simulation performs with more than 75 percent accuracy. The performance of both system identification and rate-to-time coding is due to adaptation of short and long term synaptic parameters which cannot be accomplished if only synaptic weight is adapted.
Low Dielectric Constant Polymers For On-Chip Interlevel Dielectrics With Copper Metallization

Low dielectric constant insulators offer the potential of improved interconnection delay and conductor packing density in advanced ICs, both with current metallization schemes and with future technologies such as copper. While polymer materials are very promising in such applications, significant issues must be addressed before oxide-based materials are replaced in mainstream applications. This invited paper reviews the directions of our program, which has emphasized the use of vapor deposited polymers compatible with uniform deposition over large diameter wafers and copper metallization. Therefore, emphasis is placed on polymer material characteristics compatible with inlaid metal (ie. Dual Damascene) patterning.
Organic Anion Transporter 6 (Slc22a20) Specificity and Sertoli Cell-Specific Expression Provide New Insight on Potential Endogenous Roles

Organic anion transporter 6 (Oat6; Slc22a20), a member of the OAT family, was demonstrated previously to mediate the transport of organic anions (Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 291:F314–F321, 2006). In the present study, we sought to further delineate the function of murine Oat6 (mOat6) by analyzing the effect of select organic anions on mOat6-mediated transport by using a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line stably expressing mOat6 (CHO-mOat6). When examined, kinetic analysis demonstrated that the mechanism of inhibition of mOat6 and mOat3 was competitive. Homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, 2,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate, hippurate, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) each significantly reduced mOat6 activity with inhibitory constant (Ki) values of 3.0 ± 0.5, 48.9 ± 10.3, 61.4 ± 7.1, 59.9 ± 4.9, and 38.8 ± 3.1 μM, respectively. Comparison to Ki values determined for mOat3 (67.8 ± 7.2, 134.5 ± 27.0, 346.7 ± 97.9, 79.3 ± 4.0, and 3.8 ± 1.1 μM, respectively) revealed that there are significant differences in compound affinity between each transporter. Fluoroquinolone antimicrobials and reduced folates were without effect on mOat6-mediated uptake. Investigation of testicular cell type-specific expression of mOat6 by laser capture microdissection and quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed significant mRNA expression in Sertoli cells, but not in Leydig cells or spermatids. Overall, these data should aid further refinements to the interpretation and modeling of the in vivo disposition of OAT substrates. Specifically, expression in Sertoli cells suggests Oat6 may be an important determinant of blood-testis barrier function, with Oat6-mediated transport of estrone sulfate and DHEAS possibly representing a critical step in the maintenance of testicular steroidogenesis.
Application of neural control to economic growth problems

The evolution of the freight transportation market is a complex phenomenon that can be described by means of suitable dynamic models. This model depends on a set of control variables (i.e., the percentage of carbon tax on the fuel cost, the operational cost coverages, and growth rates of the various transportation modes, such as railway, roadway, and waterway) that can be chosen in such a way as to minimize a given cost function (e.g., carbon emissions, public and private costs, fuel consumption, etc.). The problem has been addressed by searching for a feedback control law that can be approximated by means of the combination of both dynamic programming and neural networks. Simulation results with the afore-mentioned model are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
CO2, climate, and statistical inference: A note on asking the right questions

This paper argues that the delay required for resolution of uncertainty in the technical information for policy making depends on how the relevant policy issues are posed. The relationship between carbon dioxide and global mean temperature is used to illustrate the argument in terms of the testing of specific hypotheses. 9 references.
Self-Assembly Based on Chromium/Copper Bilayers

In this paper, we detail a strategy to self-assemble microstructures using chromium/copper (Cr/Cu) bilayers. Self-assembly was primarily driven by the intrinsic residual stresses of Cr within these films; in addition, the degree of bending could be controlled by changing the Cu film thickness and by introducing a third layer with either a flexible polymer or a rigid metal. We correlate the observed curvature of patterned self-assembled microstructures with those predicted by a published multilayer model. In the model, measured stress values (measured on the unpatterned films using a substrate curvature method) were utilized. We also investigated the role of two different sacrificial layers: 1) silicon and 2) water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol. Finally, a Taguchi design of experiments was performed to investigate the importance of the different layers in contributing to the stress-thickness product (the critical parameter that controls the curvature of the self-assembled microstructures) of the multilayers. This paper facilitates a deeper understanding of multilayer thin-film-based self-assembly and provides a framework to assemble complex microstructures, including tetherless self-actuating devices.
Prospective Staging Evaluation of Patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas: Demonstration of a High Frequency of Extracutaneous Dissemination

A prospective pretreatment staging evaluation was done on 49 consecutive patients with mycosis fungoides or the Sezary syndrome to study patterns of disease spread and prognostic factors. Routine staging procedures included complete blood count, blood chemistries, chest roentgenogram, lymphangiogram, radionuclide scans, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, liver biopsy, and lymph node biopsy. Special evaluations included cytogenetic analysis, electron microscopy, and T-cell cytology. Extracutaneous lymphoma was documented by light microscopy in 51% of patients and by the three special procedures in 88%. Extracutaneous lymphoma was most frequent in blood and lymph nodes; 18% of patients had visceral involvement. Patients with generalized erythroderma had a higher frequency of extracutaneous disease than did patients with cutaneous plaques and tumors by both light microscopy and special studies. Survival was directly related to the type of skin involvement and the presence or absence of extracutaneous disease. Systemic dissemination of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is frequent, generally asymptomatic, and develops early via the circulation. These findings may explain why cutaneous therapies are associated with a high frequency of relapse.
Instructions and processing of right vs. wrong items in multiple-item recognition learning

Recognition of individual items after one, two, or four study trials on paired right (R) and wrong (W) items was contrasted for subjects expecting a standard paired R-W item test and subjects expecting an individual item test. Expecting to be tested on individual items resulted in less disparity between R and W items in terms of their recognizability as prior study, or old, items and in more false recognitions of W items as having functioned as prior R items. Informing subjects about the precise nature of their individual item test presumably diminishes the distinction between R and W items as nominally relevant and irrelevant sources of informational input, respectively.
Morphing structures of the Dionaea muscipula Ellis during the trap opening and closing

The Venus flytrap is a marvelous plant that has intrigued scientists since the times of Charles Darwin. This carnivorous plant is capable of very fast movements to catch a prey. We found that the maximal speed of the trap closing in the Dionaea muscipula Ellis is about 130 000 times faster than the maximal speed of the trap opening. The mechanism and kinetics of this movement was debated for a long time. Here, the most recent Hydroelastic Curvature Model is applied to the analysis of this movement during closing and opening of the trap with or without a prey. Equations describing the trap movement were derived and verified with experimental data. Chloroform and ether, both anesthetic agents, induce action potentials and close the trap without the mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs. We tested this by dropping 10 μL of ether on the midrib inside the trap without touching any of the mechanosensitive trigger hairs. The trap closed slowly in 10 s. This is at least 20 times slower than the closing of the trap mechanically or electrically. The similar effect can be induced by placing 10 μL of chloroform on the midrib inside the trap, however, the lobes closing time in this case is as fast as closing after mechanical stimulation of the trigger hairs.
Two accurate sequence, structure, and phylogenetic template-based RNA alignment systems

The analysis of RNA sequences, once a small niche field for a small collection of scientists whose primary emphasis was the structure and function of a few RNA molecules, has grown most significantly with the realizations that 1) RNA is implicated in many more functions within the cell, and 2) the analysis of ribosomal RNA sequences is revealing more about the microbial ecology within all biological and environmental systems. The accurate and rapid alignment of these RNA sequences is essential to decipher the maximum amount of information from this data. Two computer systems that utilize the Gutell lab's RNA Comparative Analysis Database (rCAD) were developed to align sequences to an existing template alignment available at the Gutell lab's Comparative RNA Web (CRW) Site. Multiple dimensions of cross-indexed information are contained within the relational database - rCAD, including sequence alignments, the NCBI phylogenetic tree, and comparative secondary structure information for each aligned sequence. The first program, CRWAlign-1 creates a phylogenetic-based sequence profile for each column in the alignment. The second program, CRWAlign-2 creates a profile based on phylogenetic, secondary structure, and sequence information. Both programs utilize their profiles to align new sequences into the template alignment. The accuracies of the two CRWAlign programs were compared with the best template-based rRNA alignment programs and the best de-novo alignment programs. We have compared our programs with a total of eight alternative alignment methods on different sets of 16S rRNA alignments with sequence percent identities ranging from 50% to 100%. Both CRWAlign programs were superior to these other programs in accuracy and speed. Both CRWAlign programs can be used to align the very extensive amount of RNA sequencing that is generated due to the rapid next-generation sequencing technology. This latter technology is augmenting the new paradigm that RNA is intimately implicated in a significant number of functions within the cell. In addition, the use of bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing in the identification of the microbiome in many different environmental systems creates a need for rapid and highly accurate alignment of bacterial 16S rRNA sequences.
Cluster-Randomized Trial of Personalized Site Performance Feedback in Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure

Background—There is significant variation in the delivery of evidence-based care for patients with heart failure (HF), but there is limited evidence defining the best methods to improve the quality of care. Methods and Results—We performed a cluster-randomized trial of personalized site performance feedback at 147 hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure quality improvement program from October 2009 to March 2011. The intervention provided sites with specific data on their heart failure achievement and quality measures in addition to the usual Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure tools. The primary outcome for our trial was improvement in site composite quality of care score. Overall, 73 hospitals (n=33 886 patients) received the intervention, whereas 74 hospitals (n=37 943 patients) did not. One year after the intervention, both the intervention and control arms had a similar mean change in percentage points in their composite quality score (absolute change, +0.31 [SE, 1.51] ...
Improved Geometric Conditions for Non-Blowup of the 3D Incompressible Euler Equation

This is a follow-up of our recent article Deng et al. (2004 Deng, J.,Hou, T. Y., Yu, X. (2004). ). In Deng et al. (2004), we derive some local geometric conditions on vortex filaments which can prevent finite time blowup of the 3D incompressible Euler equation. In this article, we derive improved geometric conditions which can be applied to the scenario when velocity blows up at the same time as vorticity and the rate of blowup of velocity is proportional to the square root of vorticity. This scenario is in some sense the worst possible blow-up scenario for velocity field due to Kelvin's circulation theorem. The improved conditions can be checked by numerical computations. This provides a sharper local geometric constraint on the finite time blowup of the 3D incompressible Euler equation.
The Impact of Pediatric Asthma Education on Morbidity: Assessing the Evidence

We reviewed the literature evaluating pediatric asthma education interventions to assess their impact on morbidity (school absences and health care utilization). Thirteen studies were analyzed, most of which reported favorable outcomes. Of the ten studies reporting on school absences, only seven used tests of statistical significance when reporting on postintervention reductions, and of those, only two found a significant decrease in absenteeism. Similarly, among the studies reporting on utilization, not all used tests of statistical significance when reporting on postintervention decreases in physician visits, ER visits, and hospitalization. Only four of the ten studies used adequate sample sizes to detect a 20 percent reduction in school absences, and stratification of the sample by severity of asthma suggests that some programs do reduce health care utilization among those children with more severe disease. We conclude that the effectiveness of asthma educational programs on reducing school absences and health care utilization may be small. These programs are best directed toward children with moderate or severe disease. Finally, it is important for pediatricians, children with asthma, and their families to have realistic expectations about what these programs may accomplish.
Managing Planning and Production Moral Hazard

ABSTRACT: We characterize the optimal policy to induce a manager to assess the merits of a potential investment project, decide whether to implement the project, and enhance the performance of the project if it is implemented. We find that the initial planning moral hazard problem often is more constraining than the subsequent production moral hazard problem. To mitigate the planning moral hazard problem, under-investment is optimally induced when the project is initially thought to be profitable, whereas over-investment is induced when the project is initially thought to be unprofitable.
Analysis of energy conservation standards for Singapore office buildings

Abstract The authors have evaluated existing energy conservation standards for office buildings in Singapore and recommend changes in the present lighting and OTTV (overall thermal transfer value) standards. The analysis shows that significant energy savings can be effected by the use of daylighting and several other measures that reduce cooling loads. It was found that some other measures (e.g. ceiling and wall insulation and double-glazed windows) have little impact on energy use.
Protease inhibitors vindicated

1997 was a positive year for HIV therapy. New and more potent treatments that became available in 1996 gave tangible results in 1997. Drug combinations, particularly those containing protease inhibitors, can suppress HIV replication to undetectable concentrations in the plasma. This suppression can delay or prevent the selection of drugresistant mutations and thus prolong efficacy. Moreover, such an effect has clinical benefits: the addition of a proteasc inhibitor to a two-drug regimen reduced mortality by 60% (Hammer). Central to developments in 1997 has been the availability of highly sensitive assays for plasma HIV RNA (Mellors). These local tests for HIV can routinely detect 500 copies/mL (Gulick). Several drug regimens are able to suppress HIV to the non-detectable range of a test of this sensitivity. Typically, potent regimens include two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and either a protease inhibitor or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase agent. Another approach of similar potency is to use two protease inhibitors simultaneously with or without other drugs. Intensive treatment that adequately controls replication remains effective in most patients if they continue to risk it. Data suggest that such benefit becomes even more apparent when treatment suppresses the viral load below 20/mL (Raboud). HIV replication is associated with frequent mutations that are not corrected by error-checking mechanisms. Replication in the presence of an anti-retroviral drug will lead to the selection of mutations that allow a higher replication rate over the previous wild-type virus and failure of treatment. These mutations can be detected with genotypic and phenotypic assays; both are becoming more available to the clinician. Unfortunately, resistance is difficult to predict, detect, and manage. The rate of mutation selection by drugs varies, as do the specific phenotypic consequences of a given mutation. Some drugs require multiple resistance mutations before efficacy is affected whereas with others one or two changes are sufficient. Resistance mutations interact in complex ways. Some are synergistic and lead to broad cross-resistance whereas others can reinstate sensitivity to a drug to which the virus previously had been resistant. We do not yet understand how to use resistance testing in clinical management, but preventing resistance requires intense anti-retroviral combination therapy, typically including the use of a protease inhibitor. One dark cloud on the horizon of HIV therapy is human behaviour. It is difficult to adhere to anti-retroviral treatment regimens. Many pills have to be taken at awkward times that interfere with normal eating patterns. So many patients find it impossible to comply with such a regimen for the rest of their lives and as a result multiple drug resistance develops (Deeks). Though after these virological "failures" many patients remain clinically stable, this will
Storytelling and the Therapeutic Process for Children with Learning Disabilities

Psychotherapists who work with children and adolescents with learning disabilities are often required to modify their intervention techniques according to the particular learning problems of their patients. The dynamic, interrelated links between cognitive and emotional functioning must always be considered when treatment strategies are planned and implemented. This article describes a therapeutic storytelling technique called Creative Characters that has been found to be very helpful with learning disabled children and adolescents. The process of creating stories that represent key features of the child's world offers a vehicle through which to strengthen both cognitive and emotional functioning, including the reinforcement of self-esteem. Case examples are provided to illustrate the Creative Characters technique.
Childhood factors and war zone stress in chronic PTSD

This study assessed the predictive validity of combat factors and selected premilitary variables (i.e., childhood physical abuse, substance abuse in the family of origin, or being raised in a nonadaptive or noncohesive family) on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) group membership. In addition, it assessed the correlation of combat exposure and selected premilitary variables with the severity of PTSD symptomology. Ninety-three male Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD were compared to 82 male Vietnam combat veterans without the disorder. The results of two hierarchical logit analyses identified combat exposure as the best predictor of PTSD group membership. However, physical punishment was also found to significantly predict group membership when entered first in the analyses. Furthermore, multiple regression analyses conducted with the PTSD group alone found that both combat exposure and physical abuse predicted greater PTSD symptomology. These findings suggest that childhood physical abuse as well as military trauma should be addressed in the assessment and treatment of chronic PTSD patients.
Bacterial magnetic particles (BMPs)-PEI as a novel and efficient non-viral gene delivery system.

Background Non-viral methods of gene delivery, especially using polyethylenimine (PEI), have been widely used in gene therapy or DNA vaccination. However, the PEI system has its own drawbacks, which limits its applications. Methods We have developed a novel non-viral delivery system based on PEI coated on the surface of bacterial magnetic nanoparticles (BMPs). The ability of BMPs-PEI complexes to bind DNA was determined by retardation of plasmid DNA in agarose gel electrophoresis. The transfection efficiency of BMPs-PEI/DNA complexes into eukaryotic cells was determined by flow cytometric analysis. The MTT assay was invited to investigate the cytotoxicity of BMPs-PEI/DNA complexes. The expression efficiency in vivo of BMPs-PEI bound to the plasmid pCMVβ encoding β-galactosidase was evaluated intramuscularly inoculated into mice. The immune responses of in vivo delivery of BMPs-PEI bound plasmid pcD-VP1 were determined by MTT assay for T cell proliferation and ELISA for detecting total IgG antibodies. Results BMPs-PEI complexes could bind DNA and provide protection from DNase degradation. The transfection efficiency of BMPs-PEI/DNA complexes was higher than that in PEI/DNA complexes. Interestingly, in contrast to PEI, the BMPs-PEI complex was less cytotoxic to cells in vitro. We further demonstrated that the BMPs-PEI system can deliver an exogenous gene to animals and allow it to be expressed in vivo. Such expression resulted in higher levels of humoral and cellular immune responses against the target antigen compared to controls. Conclusions We have developed a novel BMPs-PEI gene delivery system with a high transfection efficiency and low toxicity, which presents an attractive strategy for gene therapy and DNA vaccination. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fractals in Surface Science: Scattering and Thermodynamics of Adsorbed Films

One of the reasons why fractals have received so much interest in the past few years is that they enable one to tackle a notoriously difficult problem in a spectacularly successful way. The problem is the characterization and understanding of strongly disordered systems. Strongly disordered means that disorder exists over many length scales. Indeed, numerous systems of outstanding interest are neither crystalline nor homogeneously (weakly) [10.1] disordered, so that classic concepts like unit cells, Voronoi cells, dislocations, surface steps, etc. are not applicable. The systems we have in mind are porous solids, rough catalyst surfaces, colloidal aggregates, and polymers, to name just a few. Often they are referred to as systems with complex geometry. To fix the ideas for the time being, one may think of them in terms of critical phenomena (percolation clusters, random walks...).
The War on the Rule of Law

Each year, the Journal of the National Security Forum asks a set of ten questions to various authors and observers and publishes their views on some or all of the questions. I have chosen to address several, but not all, of the questions for this forum because I want to talk about the role of lawyers and national security. I believe that the policies of the U.S. Government following 9/11 were shaped by panic, that several of those policies constituted an attempt to repudiate centuries of developing legal principles, and that the principles so repudiated represented both hu an values and pragmatic realities in the face of serious threats to national security. In short, I believe that the Bush Administration, acting through various lawyers, mounted not so much a “War on Terror” as an assault on the Rule of Law, and in the process added fuel to the recruiting efforts of the jihadists. Rather than making us safer, they increased the threat to our national security.
Facile Fabrication and Integration of Patterned Nanostructured Titania into Microsystems: Effect of Parent Ti Microstructure on Kinetics of Reaction

One promising route to integrate nanostructured titania (NST) into nano/micro electrical mechanical systems (N/MEMS) devices is by reacting Ti films with aqueous hydrogen peroxide (aq. H2O2) solution. However, little is known about the reaction kinetics between aq. H2O2 and Ti thin films. Here, the effect of Ti microstructure and film thickness on kinetics of reaction was investigated. For films less than 50 nm thick, the kinetics is interface-reaction controlled. For thicker films, the reaction is controlled by diffusion through a hydrated titania gel layer. Activation energies of these kinetics were extracted. Pore size of NST is affected by thickness of parent Ti films. Depending on thickness of parent Ti films, NST with average pore sizes ranging from 15 nm to 150 nm was formed. The ability to form integrated porous NST features with controllable pore sizes may have implications on the development of devices for drug delivery and macromolecular separation.
A Flexible Vanadium Oxide Thermistor Array for Localized Temperature Field Measurements in Brain

A prototype neural probe designed for chronic measurements and recordings of localized temperature field in brain has been fabricated and tested. An array of through-film vanadium oxide thermistors has been deposited onto glass and flexible 20- $\mu \text{m}$ polyimide substrates. High resistivity vanadium oxide was deposited using bias target ion-beam deposition. Functioning sensors were 10 $\mu \text{m} \times 10~\mu \text{m} \times 85$ -nm thick. Tested samples on glass showed a mean thermistor temperature coefficient of resistance of −4.060 ± 0.004%/°C and nominal resistance $R_{0}$ of 1.3 $\text{M}\Omega $ .
Mind the Gender Gap: An Experiment on the Influence of Self-Efficacy on Political Interest

In a healthy democracy, one would expect to see roughly equal levels of political participation among men and women. Yet—aside from voting—women are significantly less politically engaged than men at both the mass and elite levels (Atkeson 2003; Bennett and Bennett 1989; Burns, Schlozman, and Verba 2001; Lawless and Fox 2010; Verba, Burns, and Schlozman 1997). The political engagement gender gap suggests that some form of “adverse selection” is at play in the system (Mansbridge 1999, 632). This takes many forms: women have traditionally had less access to resources, more burdensome family obligations, and fewer relevant role models. However, emerging research demonstrates that even when accounting for many of these factors, women remain less engaged with politics than similarly situated men. This suggests that changing these structural factors is not enough to close the gender gap in political engagement—we must address the “gendered psyche” that prevents many women from fully participating in civic life (Lawless and Fox 2010, 12).
Protocol versus Nonprotocol Dosing of Vancomycin in Neonates: A Single Center Evaluation of Steady State Trough Levels.

Objective This study aims to assess the need for modification of the current vancomycin dosing protocol at a single institution by conducting a comparison of dosing per protocol versus off protocol and the resulting first troughs in neonates. Secondary outcomes include comparison of time to first therapeutic steady-state trough, dose at first therapeutic steady-state trough, and success of the consult-to-pharmacy service. Study Design This single center retrospective chart review analyzed patients at a level-IIIb neonatal intensive care unit who received vancomycin and had at least one appropriately drawn trough level documented from 2013 to 2014. Effectiveness of each dosing strategy was evaluated by assessing troughs. Results Approximately 30% of first vancomycin trough levels obtained are within the desired range of 15 to 20 µg/mL and patients achieve therapeutic steady-state trough levels after 3.6 days, regardless of the initial dosing strategy. The current protocol reflects the therapeutic steady state dosing only 22% of the time. The vancomycin consult-to-pharmacy service improves the achievement of goal trough ranges. Conclusion An assessment of doses that achieved a goal vancomycin trough of 15 to 20 µg/mL revealed that a dose of 12.5 mg/kg at the same intervals and age ranges specified in the current protocol would enable the achievement of this higher goal trough.
Long-range ordering of highly charged self-assembled nanofilaments.

Charged nanoscale filaments are well-known in natural systems such as filamentous viruses and the cellular cytoskeleton. The unique properties of these structures have inspired the design of self-assembled nanofibers for applications in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and catalysis, among others. We report here on an amphiphile of completely different chemistry based on azobenzene and a quaternary ammonium bromide headgroup that self-assembles into highly charged nanofibers in water and orders into two-dimensional crystals. Interestingly small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) shows that these fibers of 5.6 nm cross-sectional diameter order into crystalline arrays with remarkably large interfiber spacings of up to 130 nm. Solution concentration and temperature can be adjusted to control the interfiber spacings, and addition of salt destroyed the crystal packing indicating the electrostatic repulsions are necessary for the observed ordering. Our findings here demonstrate the universal nature of this phen...
Mapping International Health onto Domestic Health: A Pentadic Cartography of Kathleen Sibelius’s Global Health Strategy

Pentadic cartography is a useful way to examine the motivational vocabularies of discourses and to provide alternative vocabularies for negotiating rhetorical terrains. Pentadic cartographers have used Kenneth Burke’s principles to examine and critique the motivational vocabularies of texts as their vocabularies compete against one another. This article expands the application of pentadic cartography by exploring maps as “overlays” or when two pentadic vocabularies do not necessarily compete but can complement one another. This study examines two potential competing mappings present in former Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius’s (2012) speech outlining a new global health strategy, as well as an overlay map that negotiates domestic and global health. Each mapping is assessed for its abilities to open and to close the universe of discourse. The possibility of overlays as a supplement to pentadic cartography is outlined.
Environmental issues: the role of institutions and firm strategy

The world’s environmental crises are becoming more apparent with advances in scientific research and technology. The issues are now more salient than ever, but just having the information that problems exist is not sufficient. We, as a society, must commit to addressing these issues immediately, before natural resources dry up, the planet’s climate is changed, and the world’s population multiplies exponentially, just to name a few environmental imperatives. This paper will examine the role of institutions and firms in environmental issues and give examples of how firms are capitalising on country specific advantages (CSAs) and firm specific advantages (FSAs) for both environmental sustainability and increased competitiveness. Ultimately, the paper is a call to action for all environmental stakeholders to be a part of the solution towards global sustainability.
Suspected acute meperidine toxicity in a dog.

Abstract Observations A 22‐month‐old male neutered Coton De Tulear dog was presented for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy under general anesthesia. The anesthetic plan included premedication with intramuscular meperidine (4 mg kg −1 ) but meperidine was inadvertently administered at ten‐fold this dose. Within 5 minutes, the dog was unresponsive to external stimulation, and by 10 minutes post‐injection developed generalized signs of central nervous system (CNS) excitement. Initial therapy included inspired oxygen supplementation, and single intravenous (IV) doses of diazepam (0.68 mg kg −1 ) and naloxone (0.03 mg kg −1 ) to no effect. A second dose of diazepam (0.46 mg kg −1 , IV) abolished most of the signs of CNS excitement. General anesthesia was induced and the endoscopy performed. Time to extubation was initially prolonged, but administering naloxone (final dose 0.1 mg kg −1 , IV) to effect enabled extubation. After naloxone, the dog became agitated, noise sensitive, and had leg and trunk muscle twitches. Diazepam (0.30 mg kg −1 , IV) abolished these signs and the dog became heavily sedated and laterally recumbent. Naloxone administration was continued as a constant rate infusion (0.02 mg kg −1 hour −1 , IV) until approximately 280 minutes post‐meperidine injection, at which time the dog suddenly sat up. Occasional twitches of the leg and trunk muscles were observed during the night. The dog was discharged the next day appearing clinically normal. Conclusions Given that the CNS excitatory effects of normeperidine are not a μ opioid receptor effect, the use of naloxone should be considered carefully when normeperidine excitotoxicity is suspected. Benzodiazepines may be beneficial in ameliorating clinical signs of normeperidine excitotoxicity.
The Conundrum of Kamaiya Ex–Bonded Laborers, Local Leaders, and the Construction of Claims and Profit in a Nepalese Squatter Settlement

The following article seeks to explain how the relocation of former bonded laborers (kamaiya) into a preexisting Nepalese squatter settlement confounded conventional approaches used by local leaders in profiting from the controlled distribution of unregistered government land. I argue that while liberated bonded laborer populations provide an exceptional moral high ground from which to defend the use of land in the absence of legal tenure, the basis for their claims is not easily co-opted and therefore creates liability for leaders. I suggest that this liability is related to the content and lack of equivocation in ex–bonded laborer claims. The difficulties of constructing and utilizing claims to land associated with kamaiya are also linked to the complicated history of caste and ethnic relations informing the relationship between former bonded laborers and the higher castes that have historically dominated many regions of Nepal and comprise much of the squatter settlement leadership. Simultaneously provi...
Anatomy of the Leg

The leg connects the knee and ankle. The anatomical structure of the leg consists of the bony framework of tibia and the fibula, enveloped by muscles and fascia that are divided into compartments. The posterior leg contains the superficial and deep compartments of the leg. The arteries that supply the posterior leg arise from the popliteal artery, which bifurcates just below the popliteal fossa. The numerous nerve branches that supply the leg muscles all originate from the sciatic nerve. Though most of the focus will be specifically on the posterior leg, relevant anatomical relationships and connections will be incorporated to give a comprehensive understanding of the anatomy.
Mental Health Nursing

CALL FOR MANUSCRIPTSSpecial issue of Issues in Mental Health Nursing on the topic ofADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFESPANManuscripts are being sought on current issues in addictions and m...
Tragicomedy, Melodrama, and Genre in Early Sound Films: The Case of Two “Sad Clown” Musicals

This interdisciplinary study applies the theatrical theories of stage genres to examples of the early sound cinema, the 1930 Hollywood musicals Puttin’ on the Ritz (starring Harry Richman, and with songs by Irving Berlin) and Free and Easy (starring Buster Keaton). The discussion focuses on the phenomenon of the sad clown as a symbol of tragicomedy. Springing from Rick Altman’s delineation of the “sad clown” sub-subgenre of the show musical subgenre, outlined in The American Film Musical, this article shows that, in these seminal movie musicals, naive melodrama and “gag” comedy coexist with the tonalities, structures, philosophy, and images of the sophisticated genre of tragicomedy, including by incorporating the grotesque into the mise en scene of their musical production numbers.
Resistive switching random access memory — Materials, device, interconnects, and scaling considerations

In this paper, we review recent progresses on metal oxide resistive switching memory (RRAM). RRAM device design is explored from different aspects including oxide/electrode materials, uniformity issues, and scaling down to single-digit-nm regime. We studied the stochastic nature of resistive switching in metal oxide RRAM and revealed the physics behind switching parameter variations in HfOx-based RRAM using a 2D analytical solver. In a forward-looking analysis into the sub-10 nm regime, we investigated the impact of wordline/bitline metal wire scaling on the read/write performance, energy consumption in the cross-point memory array architecture.
Preliminary investigation of imaging properties for sub-millimeter square pinholes

Recently, a square-pinhole collimator has been proposed for SPECT imaging since it can tile the projection onto the detector efficiently and the fields of view (FOVs) in transverse and axial directions become separable. In this work, we have conducted sensitivity and FOV experiments for eighteen fabricated platinum/iridium(Pt/Ir) inserts with sub-millimeter square-apertures. A sinqθ fit to the experimental sensitivity has been performed for these inserts. The mean (standard deviation) of fitted sensitivity exponents (q) and effective diameters (d) are 10.7 (1.3) and 0.35 mm (0.02 mm), which are close to the values obtained from the simulated sensitivity data generated using the geometric parameters of the designed inserts. From projections of the FOV on the detector, we have measured the acceptance angles in the transverse and axial directions. The measured mean (standard deviation) of transverse and axial half-acceptances are 17.33° (0.21°) and 15.03°(0.23°), which are in good agreement with the designed values (17.13° and 14.93°). These results show that the physical properties of the fabricated inserts with sub-millimeter aperture size match our design well.
Introduction: Recent insights into the urinary concentrating mechanism: from cDNA cloning to modeling renal function

Hediger, Matthias, and Mark A. Knepper. Introduction: Recent insights into the urinary concentrating mechanism: from cDNA cloning to modeling renal function. Am. J. Physiol. 275 ( Renal Physiol. 44): F317, 1998.—In the past few years, considerable progress has been made in cloning key proteins
Synergistic effects of processing and nanofiber reinforcement on the mechanical and ferroelectric performance of geopolymer matrix composites

Abstract This study involved the evaluation of mechanical and ferroelectric properties of a new class of nanofiller infused inorganic polymer (geopolymer, GP). To evaluate the mechanical performance, compressive strength and fracture resistance of neat and nanofillers infused GP were studied at various treatment temperatures. It was found that, addition of 5 vol% alumina nanofiber (ANF), increased compressive strength and modulus by over 30% and 60%, respectively, while it increased fracture toughness ( K IC ) by over 60% compared to the baseline specimens. Simultaneously, ferroelectric properties were investigated at various treatment temperatures (250 °C, 650 °C and 870 °C). Remarkably, higher ferroelectric hysteresis was observed with the GP treated at 870 °C and remnant polarization increased with the addition of alumina nanofiber. Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed that neat materials are composed of particles embedded into the poly-condensed matrix, where particle nature existed until the treatment temperature reached above 870 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis suggests that, baseline geopolymer started becoming crystalline while the particle nature gradually disappeared with heating at or beyond 870 °C. The bonding between the polymer and alumina nanofiber tends to be stronger with increasing treatment temperature. The increase in K IC with the addition of 2 vol% and 5 vol% alumina nanofibers (ANF) is due to homogeneous dispersion of high interfacial strength nanofillers, which essentially create strong crack bridging and crack deflection effect. The increase in ferroelectric hysteresis is potentially due to the formation of hierarchical order and domain reorientation of the materials.
A scheduled-asynchronous distributed optimization algorithm for the optimal power flow problem

Optimal power flow (OPF) problems are non-convex and large-scale optimization problems. Finding an optimal solution for the OPF problem in real time is challenging and important in various applications. Recent studies show that a wide class of OPF problems have an exact semidefinite programming (SDP) convex relaxation. However, only few works have considered distributed algorithms to solve these. In this paper, we propose a scheduled-asynchronous algorithm with this objective. The proposed algorithm follows an ADMM-like iteration for every edge in the electrical network and is asynchronous in the sense that the agents do not simultaneously update their local variables, but only do so when they have received fresh information from all of their neighbors. In addition, if the electrical network topology is bipartite, the proposed algorithm has a convergence rate of O(1/n), where n is the iteration per agent. The asynchronous property and fast convergence rate make the proposed algorithm suitable for the OPF problem. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is scalable with the number of buses and robust to network effects including delays and packet drops.
Participation in a US community-based cardiovascular health study: investigating nonrandom selection effects related to employment, perceived stress, work-related stress, and family caregiving.

Abstract Purpose Participation in health studies may be inversely associated with employment and stress. We investigated whether employment, perceived stress, work-related stress, and family caregiving were related to participation in a longitudinal US community-based health study of black and white men and women aged ≥45 years. Methods Prevalence ratios and confidence intervals were estimated for completion of the second stage (S2) of a two-stage enrollment process by employment (status, type), and stress (perceived stress, work-related stress, caregiving), adjusting for age, sex, race, region, income, and education. Eligibility and consent for a follow-up occupational survey were similarly evaluated. Results Wage- but not self-employed participants were less likely than the unemployed to complete S2. Among the employed, S2 completion did not vary by stress; however, family caregivers with a short time burden of care ( Conclusions Limited evidence of selection bias was seen by employment and stress within a large US community-based cohort, but findings suggest the need for enrollment procedures to consider possible barriers to participation among wage-employed individuals.