cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex-dependent Relationship Between Wrist Deviation and Scaphoid Kinematics

Several methods of describing patterns of carpal kinematics from radiographs have emerged due to their potential use in developing personalized treatments for wrist pathologies. Such radiography-derived metrics have been used to infer associations between patterns of scaphoid kinematics and other clinically relevant factors such as sex, but the simultaneous effects of sex and wrist position on scaphoid kinematic metrics has yet to be considered. We sought to investigate the relationship between wrist position in the coronal plane and radiographic measurements of the scaphoid for each sex independently, then identify sex-specific differences in scaphoid measurements and calculated metrics. We retrospectively identified 38 subjects with posteroanterior radial and ulnar deviation radiographs. Radiographic scaphoid measurements were collected and used to calculate five scaphoid kinematic metrics per participant. We used Pearson correlation coefficients to explore the relationships between the degrees of wrist deviation in the coronal plane and radiographic scaphoid measurements for men and women independently. We used the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare values between sexes. The correlations between degrees of coronal wrist deviation and radiographic measurements of scaphoid inclination were significant only for men. Men also had significantly greater values for all radiographic scaphoid measurements. Our study demonstrated sex-specific differences in the relationship between the degrees of radial and ulnar wrist deviation and scaphoid positioning. These results show the importance of stratifying by sex in studies of carpal kinematics, such as scaphoid kinematics, and that investigation of strategies to restore normal carpal function should incorporate sex as a biological variable.
Environmental gradients and complexity in coastal landscape response to sea level rise

Abstract Relative sea-level rise (SLR) raises geomorphic base levels, displaces salt water and tidal or backwater effects inland, and changes the hydrology of aquatic and upland environments. On an all-other-things-being equal basis, we can predict some transitions associated with SLR. However, in real coastal landscapes, all other things are not equal. Factors other than sea-level influence geomorphic, hydrological, and ecological processes and controls, environmental interactions often complicate or obscure process-response relationships, and local disturbances may interrupt or overprint them. In this study relationships among coastal environments in North Carolina, USA were investigated as they respond to changes in multiple environmental gradients driven by relative sea level rise, to determine the extent to which the spatial complexity of landscape response can be explained by environmental gradients. Spatial adjacency graphs reflecting observed patterns of contiguity were derived empirically, and five key environmental gradients related to relative sea-level were identified (elevation, hydroperiod, salinity, vegetation, and process regime). The spectral radius of the spatial adjacency graph indicates a complex system that on the landscape level cannot be described or modeled based on linear gradients or successional relationships. Yet, spectral graph theory measures show that the complexity of the system can be fully explained, in the aggregate, by the five identified gradients, despite some redundancy of information therein. This indicates that coastal responses to SLR should be assessed based on multiscalar, nested environmental gradients rather than a single advancing front of change or linear sequence.
Cell Interactions and Morphogenetic Motions Pattern the Zebrafish Nervous System

Publisher Summary Construction of a fate map requires a means of labeling a cell (or distinct group of cells) in a defined region of the embryo, cataloging the labeled region, identifying the progeny of the labeled cell(s) over time, and scoring the final phenotypes and positions of the progeny. The zebrafish embryo offers advantages over most other vertebrate systems for each of these steps: It can be cultured in a simple medium of pond water at near room temperature, making it much easier to culture than avian or mouse embryos; its size and transparency are ideal for light microscopy, avoiding the limitations imposed by the highly scattering yolk inclusions in amphibian embryos. The gastrula fate map has motivated many other fate mapping efforts, provided a major resource for cell transplantation experiments, and served as an important tool in the experimental analysis of mutant phenotypes. This chapter reviews some of the aspects of the various zebrafish fate maps, and touches on some of the test experiments that motivated this study.
Improving Effective Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Application in Soft Tissue Wrist Injury

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for soft-tissue wrist injury may be overprescribed, contributing to ineffective health care resource use. We aimed to discern predictive factors that may improve MRI9s application in soft-tissue wrist injury. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of adults who underwent MRIs for possible soft-tissue wrist injury between June 2009 and June 2014. Clinical data and treatment recommendations before and after MRI were analyzed. If the MRI-directed treatment recommendation was different from before MRI, the MRI was noted to have influenced the patient9s treatment (Impact MRI). Results: Among 140 MRI scans, 39 (28%) impacted treatment recommendation. Twenty-six Impact MRIs were ordered by hand surgeons, whereas 13 were ordered by referring physicians (P = .001). More Impact MRIs were found when an MRI was ordered for patients younger than 36 years (P = .01), within 6 weeks of symptom onset (P = .03), to question a specific anatomic injury (P = .0001), or by a board-certified hand surgeon (P = .001). Adjusting for other covariates, these 4 clinical factors were identified as independent predictive factors to Impact MRIs. Conclusions: MRIs for soft-tissue wrist injuries may more likely change management when the patient is younger, ordered within 6 weeks of symptom onset, and prescribed with a specific differential diagnosis. Referral to a hand surgeon should be considered before wrist MRI for the following patients: history of hand surgery/trauma, older than 36 years likely due to confounding chronic wrist changes, symptomatic for more than 6 weeks, and without clear differential diagnoses for the symptoms.
Understanding Home-Based Treatment Fidelity Assessment and Promotion: Implications for School Psychologists

Children experiencing behavioral challenges often receive interventions and supports across a variety of settings (e.g., home, school). Treatment fidelity data are critical to intervention decision-making, yet there has been more research related to assessing treatment fidelity in school settings than in home environments. Understanding the extent to which interventions are implemented at home, and the quality of such interventions, is important when monitoring wraparound supports delivered by comprehensive teams. Below, we describe ways in which treatment fidelity may be assessed and present results from a survey administered to a sample of behavioral consultants (N = 314) working in home settings to support children. Questions were based on a survey administered to school psychologists by Cochrane and Laux (2008) and addressed consultants’ treatment fidelity assessment and promotion practices in homes. Findings indicated that consultants (a) assess treatment fidelity with varying frequency, (b) most often use direct observation, and (c) deliver many treatment fidelity promotion strategies when monitoring individuals providing direct support to children in the home. Based on the results, we include recommendations for school psychologists who support teams implementing wraparound supports, particularly to address students exhibiting skill deficits manifested in behavioral challenges.
Why It Can Happen in America… or Anywhere Else

Shortly after the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States in November 2016, Timothy Snyder sat down and wrote On Tyranny. Snyder is Levin Professor of History at Yale and the hig...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission Risk in Analytical Treatment Interruption Studies: Relational Factors and Moral Responsibility

Analytical treatment interruption (ATI) is becoming common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cure-related research, but its use is controversial. ATI raises concerns about risks of HIV transmission to sexual partners of study participants. Researchers may have difficulty addressing these risks, given that study participants' private behavior is implicated, the partners are not enrolled in the research, and behavioral HIV risk mitigation strategies usually fall outside the study objectives. This analysis argues that researchers should assume some responsibility for partners' risks, based on the importance of partner relationships for the study participants themselves, and out of concern for the partners' welfare. Adding this responsibility is reasonable since the risk is created in part by research procedures, and since concern for third parties is often part of professional standards for healthcare providers. Study participants and their partners also bear some responsibility. Specific recommendations for measures to address risk are discussed.
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Replacement in the Fungal Keratitis Pathogen Fusarium solani var. petroliphilum

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a site-threatening infection of the cornea associated with ocular trauma and contact lens wear. Members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are predominant agents of FK worldwide, but genes that support their corneal virulence are poorly understood. As a means to bolster genetic analysis in FSSC pathogens, we sought to employ a CRISPR/Cas9 system in an FK isolate identified as Fusarium petroliphilum. Briefly, this approach involves the introduction of two components into fungal protoplasts: (1) A purified Cas9 protein complexed with guide RNAs that will direct the ribonuclease to cut on either side of the gene of interest, and (2) a “repair template” comprised of a hygromycin resistance cassette flanked by 40 bp of homology outside of the Cas9 cuts. In this way, Cas9-induced double strand breaks should potentiate double homologous replacement of the repair template at the desired locus. We targeted a putative ura3 ortholog since its deletion would result in an easily discernable uracil auxotrophy. Indeed, 10% of hygromycin-resistant transformants displayed the auxotrophic phenotype, all of which harbored the expected ura3 gene deletion. By contrast, none of the transformants from the repair template control (i.e., no Cas9) displayed the auxotrophic phenotype, indicating that Cas9 cutting was indeed required to promote homologous integration. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the in vitro Cas9 system is an easy and efficient approach for reverse genetics in FSSC organisms, including clinical isolates, which should enhance virulence research in these important but understudied ocular pathogens.
The potential role of necroptosis in inflammaging and aging

An age-associated increase in chronic, low-grade sterile inflammation termed “inflammaging” is a characteristic feature of mammalian aging that shows a strong association with occurrence of various age-associated diseases. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for inflammaging and its causal role in aging and age-related diseases are not well understood. Age-associated accumulation of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) is an important trigger in inflammation and has been proposed as a potential driver of inflammaging. DAMPs can initiate an inflammatory response by binding to the cell surface receptors on innate immune cells. Programmed necrosis, termed necroptosis, is one of the pathways that can release DAMPs, and cell death due to necroptosis is known to induce inflammation. Necroptosis-mediated inflammation plays an important role in a variety of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and atherosclerosis. Recently, it was reported that markers of necroptosis increase with age in mice and that dietary restriction, which retards aging and increases lifespan, reduces necroptosis and inflammation. Genetic manipulations that increase lifespan (Ames Dwarf mice) and reduce lifespan (Sod1−/− mice) are associated with reduced and increased necroptosis and inflammation, respectively. While necroptosis evolved to protect cells/tissues from invading pathogens, e.g., viruses, we propose that the age-related increase in oxidative stress, mTOR signaling, and cell senescence results in cells/tissues in old animals being more prone to undergo necroptosis thereby releasing DAMPs, which contribute to the chronic inflammation observed with age. Approach to decrease DAMPs release by reducing/blocking necroptosis is a potentially new approach to reduce inflammaging, retard aging, and improve healthspan.
Dataset of plant composition change over seven years at the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, Oregon, USA

Abstract The data and analyses presented here were collected at the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve (ZPP), northeastern Oregon. Vegetation composition was measured within 124 (1-ha) plots using the line point intercept method [1,2]. These data include vascular plant species abundance matrices at two different time periods, seven years apart (2008/2009 & 2015/2016); boxplots of species abundance (cover and frequency) change over time; Non-parametric Multiplicative Regression (NPMR) estimated abundance of Ventenata dubia, an invading non-native annual grass, in geographic and ordination (Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling ordination; NMS) space over time.
Association of Occupational Burnout and Nursing Errors With Patient Safety: A Systemic Review

During the daily nursing practice, dangerous situations might appear that, if not recognized and treated early, can lead to fatigue and professional burnout, causing detrimental consequences for the patient's safety and the adequacy of the healthcare quality of the provider. This article aims to synthesize existing research investigating the association between burnout in healthcare professionals with the safety of patient care in the last decade. The authors herein examined specific nurse surveys that involve burnout assessment and association with clinical errors throughout nurse provided care. Results from this search indicate that patient safety culture must be cultivated towards nursing errors and burnout reduction. The prompt recognition of burnout signs is the critical parameter for nursing errors prevention and patient safety, in the long term. Nursing error management is oriented towards investigation of the burnout symptoms and exists as an integral and essential issue for nursing administration to ensure excellent and qualitative patient care.
Cutaneous body image: A window into the adolescent experience of dermatologic disease

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Cutaneous body image (CBI) is a self-reported measure of an individual's satisfaction with their hair, skin, and nails using a psychometric survey described and validated in adult dermatology patient populations. As the CBI's clinical utility for pediatric dermatology patients has not yet been examined, we assessed the relationship between CBI scores, demographic, and clinical parameters among adolescents. METHODS Retrospective cohort of 293 patients ages 13-18 seen at the UCSF pediatric dermatology clinic from June 2017 to February 2019. An 11-question CBI survey was administered as part of routine clinical care, querying patient satisfaction with their skin, hair, and nails on a 10-point Likert-type scale, and experience with embarrassment, bullying, and mental health care. RESULTS Satisfaction with overall skin, skin of face, and hair significantly varied by patient age (P < .05), decreasing among subjects ages 13-16, and comparatively higher among patients ages 17-18. Mean total CBI scores did not significantly vary by sex, ethnicity, diagnosis, or new versus established patients. Mean total CBI scores were significantly higher among patients who did not report embarrassment (27.5) than among those who did (20.5) (P < .01), and among patients who had not experienced bullying (25.7) than among those who had (22.0) (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Objective CBI scores among adolescents correlate with reported negative experiences of skin disease (embarrassment and bullying) and with age. The CBI provides insight into the psychosocial impact of skin disease among adolescents, validates the patient's subjective perspective of their disease, and informs patient-centered discussions and management in the pediatric dermatology clinic setting.
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a disorder that involves the late distal tubules and collecting ducts, which are unresponsive to endogenous vasopressin, resulting in an inability to concentrate urine. This clinically manifests as polydipsia and polyuria in patients. Collecting duct cells express aquaporin-2 (AQP2) channels on their luminal surface that are key in regulating body water balance. The peptide hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP), released by the posterior pituitary, operates these channels through activation of the type 2 vasopressin receptor (AVPR2). Dysfunction or dysregulation of either the AQP2 channels or the receptor AVPR2 results in NDI. NDI may be congenital or acquired secondary to other conditions, including drugs. In this chapter, we discuss a case of a child with congenital NDI initially thought to have central DI and briefly review the literature.
Structural equation modeling: Uses and issues.

Publisher Summary Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a flexible analytic tool that can combine regression, correlation, and factor analyses simultaneously to address important issues in the social sciences, biological sciences, and humanities. This chapter provides an overview of some of the possible uses of this technique, and discusses some of the important assumptions and necessary conditions for using SEM and for interpreting the results. Its strengths include simultaneous assessment of various types of relations among variables and the ability to rigorously examine and compare similarities among and differences between two or more groups of study participants. However, one of its major limitations is the ease with which researchers can misinterpret their results when anxious to “prove” the validity of a model or to attempt to assess causality in the relation between two or among more variables when the research design does not allow for such conclusions. Furthermore, there is still much to be learned about SEM, including appropriate uses of various fit indices and the interpretation of odd or impossible parameter estimates.
International Institutions, World Trade Rules, and GMOs

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the role played by international institutionsin the controversies related to the genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their future contributions. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is involved in at least two aspects of the use of GMOs in the food chain. One of these is restrictions on national import regulations for GMOs embodied in the GATT, the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement), and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement). The second aspect is the operation of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), governing the patenting of biotechnical processes and certain resultant products. In addition, the provision of a mechanism for the settlement of trade disputes through the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (the Dispute Settlement Understanding, or DSU) makes the rules of the WTO more important. With the growing internationalization of the food industry, trade conflicts over food regulatory issues have become more common. Most of these conflicts arise from differences in food trade regulations imposed for the ostensible reason of protecting plant, animal, or human health from disease or other affliction as a result of trade. Currently the EU and the developing countries favor environmental agreements such as the Biosafety Protocol taking precedence over the WTO in areas such as the control of GM imports. The US and many other exporters are however against this, as it would essentially weaken the SPS Agreement.
Reference models and data repositories

In transforming any large scale, complex, global supply network, a key challenge is knowledge management. There are many stakeholders, spread across a number of enterprise functions, whose decisions directly or indirectly impact the success of the transformation. Typically, each stakeholder has important, often tacit knowledge that in contemporary practice is difficult or impossible to share effectively with other stakeholders, yet can be critical to the success of the transformation. The intended "to be" state maybe defined abstractly, but the full intent may not be explicitly understood by all stakeholders. The lack of a complete coherent shared understanding of the to-be state can have major repercussions in transformation decision making. The challenge for global enterprises is to capture as much of the critical tacit or implicit knowledge as is practical, so it can be vetted, shared, re-used, and leveraged. This chapter introduces a methodology and a set of tools that can be used to effect some aspects of knowledge capture, sharing and re-use in the context of enterprise transformation, and illustrates their use with two examples.
A Framework for Intelligent Backtracking in Logic Programs

This paper presents a scheme for intelligent backtracking in Horn-clause logic programs. The scheme is simple and yet effective for backtracking within a clause. We also present a framework for using extra analysis to make within-clause-backtracking even more intelligent and also to perform across-the-clause backtracking intelligently. The primary strength of our scheme over other schemes is that it incurs very small overhead and yet can eliminate a lot of redundant backtracking. Our backtracking scheme can also be used when AND-parallelism is exploited in logic programs (i.e., when multiple literals of a clause are executed simultaneously).
The Neglected Lessons of the NAFTA Environmental Regime

NAFTA and its side agreements created an environmental regime within the context of a trade agreement. While the regime has failed to resolve environmental objections to increased economic integration, its failure in that respect should not obscure its relative success as a path-breaking attempt to promote sustainable development throughout the continent, particularly in Mexico. Although even in this light its achievements may appear minor, its provisions on technical cooperation, financial assistance, public participation, and independent monitoring provide a basis upon which later efforts to promote sustainable development could build.Unfortunately, the United States has ignored the lessons of the NAFTA environmental regime. The United States has required its trading partners to accept environmental provisions as a condition to entering into each of the twelve free trade agreements it has negotiated since NAFTA, but instead of improving on the original template, the post-NAFTA agreements do just the opposite. They copy elements from the NAFTA regime that have proven ineffective and they fail to include, much less strengthen, more promising provisions. As a result, the later agreements are weaker than the NAFTA environmental regime, and they are far weaker than they could have been had its lessons been taken into account.This article is part of a symposium issue on labor and environmental protections in U.S. free trade agreements.
Fair scheduling and buffer management in Internet routers

Input buffered switch architecture has become attractive for implementing high performance routers, and expanding use of the Internet sees an increasing need for quality of service. It is challenging to provide a scheduling technique that is both highly efficient and fair in resource allocation. We first introduce an iterative fair scheduling (iFS) scheme for input buffered switches that supports fair bandwidth distribution among the flows and achieves asymptotically 100% throughput. The iFS is evaluated both under synthetic workload and with Web traces from the Internet. Compared to the commonly used synthetic input, our simulation results reveal significant difference in performance when real network traffic is employed. We then consider fair scheduling under various buffer management mechanisms and analyze their impact on the fairness in bandwidth allocation. Our studies indicate that early packet discard in anticipation of congestion is necessary and per-flow based buffering is effective for protecting benign users from being adversely affected by misbehaved traffic. Buffer allocation according to bandwidth reservation is especially helpful when the input traffic is highly bursty.
Use of Walleye Stocking, Antimycin Treatments, and Catch-and-Release Angling Regulations to Increase Growth and Length of Stunted Bluegill Populations in Michigan Lakes

Abstract Three techniques for increasing the growth and length characteristics of populations of stunted bluegills Lepomis macrochirus were evaluated in 12 southern Michigan lakes. The techniques tested, either singly or in combination, were (1) treatment with the selective toxicant antimycin to directly reduce the densities of small bluegills; (2) stocking large fingerling walleyes Stizostedion vitreum to indirectly reduce the densities of small bluegills through predation; and (3) catch-and-release fishing regulations to protect predators and large bluegills. Three years of pretreatment and 6–10 years of posttreatment data were collected on bluegill growth, size structure, and recruitment. Compared with reference lakes, catches of 7.0–7.9-in bluegills in trap nets and average bluegill growth increased in all but two treatment lakes. Bluegill characteristics in both of the two antimycin-only lakes increased within 1 year, but the increases tended to be short-lived. Bluegill characteristics in all three w...
Optimizing blood pressure in neurological emergencies.

Excessive hypertension can challenge the brain’s capacity to autoregulate cerebral blood flow, and can aggravate increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral edema. Hypotension may worsen ischemic damage in marginally perfused tissue, and in some cases can trigger cerebral vasodilation and ICP plateau waves. There is a lack of high-quality data regarding optimal BP management in these conditions.
EFFECTS OF LOW TEMPERATURE STORAGE OF TOMATO FRUITS ON ACID‐SOLUBLE NUCLEOTIDES

ATP and UTP contents of mature, green tomato fruits stored at 1°C increased over a period of about 2 wk and then declined. Transfer of chilled fruits to 20°C accelerated the above noted changes. Marked increases in ADP content and rapid declines in ATP, UTP and UDPG levels occurred when chilled fruits were transferred to 20°C. During normal ripening the adenosine nucleotide concentrations increased while the ATP/ADP, ATP/AMP and “energy charge” ratios steadily declined.
Supercharged blood coagulation.

In this issue of Blood, Undas and colleagues show that patients with AMI are able to mount an enhanced blood clotting response in the peripheral microvasculature.
Remarks on the probability the determinant of an n × n -matrix over a finite field vanishes

Abstract The probability of the title is evaluated and related to an expression involving theta functions.
An integrated model-based approach for real-time on-line diagnosis of complex systems

Abstract Model-based diagnostic programs have been shown to be useful in isolating unpredictable faults in various types of systems. Due to the complex nature of many of these systems, models used by these programs to represent monitored systems have traditionally imposed restrictions on domain representations. These restrictions can make it difficult (and often impossible) to model a domain whose behavior is global in nature. By global, is meant behavior that affects system variables in parts of the system not directly related to the component in question. Analog electrical circuits and hydraulic circuits are only a few examples of such global systems. Accurate modelling of the behavior of these global systems is very often essential for obtaining a correct diagnosis. In complex systems such as those typically found in the electrical power-distribution domain, global behavior can be observed when voltages and currents throughout an entire system are affected by local load fluctuations, transient disturbances, faults, or circuit re-configurations, even when these are in remote parts of the circuit. Traditional models used in diagnosis have not been able to easily reflect these global interactions, and as a result, monitoring and diagnostic capabilities of model-based systems dependent upon such models are significantly degraded. This paper presents an implementation that can correctly simulate power systems and other such complex systems by overcoming the problem of representing global behavior while preserving the diagnostic abilities of structure–function models in model-based reasoning methodologies. This paper describes the integration of robust models , within the conventional device-centered models. These robust models are mathematically accurate system models, normally used in quantitative simulation for the purpose of system analysis. If used within the conventional device-centered models, they can provide the functionality needed in a structure–function model-based diagnostic paradigm, and therefore eliminate the problem of representing global behaviors in diagnosis. This paper further describes a conflict-oriented diagnostic technique used in conjunction with robust models to obtain real-time on-line FDIR (Fault Diagnosis, Isolation, and Recovery).
The influence of a head graft on regeneration of the isolated postpharyngeal body section of Dugesia tigrina

The influence on regeneration of a reversed head graft attached to the posterior end of the isolated postpharyngeal section of Dugesia tigrina was studied following removal of the graft after varying periods of time. After section-graft association for as long as three days, the predominant effect of the graft was inhibitive: regeneration of the head was blocked first, position or reconstruction of the pharynx next, and elongation of the body arrested last. This appears to indicate the sequence of determinations of these structures and the times when they occur in normal morphallaxis of the isolated postpharyngeal section. Four days of section-graft association appeared sufficient for the grafts' own inductions to occur in the section. Longer associations resulted in gradual, and ultimately complete reversal of polarity of the postpharyngeal section.
Characterization and performance comparison of digital V 2 -type constant on-time control for buck converters

This paper characterizes two digital V2 control schemes using for the buck converters with small-ESR capacitors based on the presented small-signal models. Due to the sampling effects of the analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), the digital V2 control system performances are not as good as the analog ones, even using the inductor current sensing feedback. The major issue is that in order to stabilize and to make the system well-damped, large external ramps or large current sensing gains are required. However, with such large ramp compensations, some benefits of the V2 control architecture, including the fast transients and the easily compensation, will be vanished. In this paper, a hybrid-ramp compensation concept is presented to improve the system performance. Both small-signal modeling analyses and simulation verifications are given. And the load transient experimental results with different ramp compensations are also shown in this paper.
TCR Signaling Emerges from the Sum of Many Parts

“How does T cell receptor signaling begin?” Answering this question requires an understanding of how the parts of the molecular machinery that mediates this process fit and work together. Ultimately this molecular architecture must (i) trigger the relay of information from the TCR-pMHC interface to the signaling substrates of the CD3 molecules and (ii) bring the kinases that modify these substrates in close proximity to interact, initiate, and sustain signaling. In this contribution we will discuss advances of the last decade that have increased our understanding of the complex machinery and interactions that underlie this type of signaling.
On the Performance of Popular Unit-Root Tests Against Various Nonlinear Dynamic Models: A Simulation Study

There is a widespread perception that standard unit-root tests have poor discriminatory power when they are applied to time series with nonlinear dynamics. Via Monte Carlo simulations this study re-examines the finite sample properties of selected univariate tests for unit-root and stationarity under a broad class of nonlinear dynamic models. Our simulation experiments produce a couple of interesting findings. First, performance of tests is driven by the degree of underlying persistence rather than the nonlinear dynamics per se. Tests under study exhibit reasonable performance for nonlinear models with mild persistence, while the accuracy of inference deteriorates substantially when the models are highly persistent regardless of the linearity. Second, when it comes to deciding which one to identify first between linearity and stationarity, our results suggest to conduct linearity test first to enhance the reliability of test inference.
Using Statistical Procedures to Identify Differentially Functioning Test Items

This module is intended to prepare the reader to use statistical proce­ dures to detect differentially functioning test items. 7b provide back­ ground, differential item functioning (DIF) is distinguished from item and test bias, and the importance of DIF screening within the overall test development process is discussed. The Mantel-Haenszel statistic, logistic regression, SIBTES'r, the Standardization procedure, and various IRT-based approaches are presented. For each of these proce­ dures, the theoretical framework is presented, the relative strengths and weaknesses of the method are highlighted, and guidance is pro­ vided for interpretation of the resulting statistical indices. Numerous technical decisions are required in order for the practitioner to appro­ priately implement these procedures. These decisions are discussed in some detail, as are the policy decisions necessary to implement an op­ erational DIF detection program. The module also includes an anno­ tated bibliography and a self-test.
An Integrated Elliptical Reflector for High Efficiency 90° Turn of Waveguide with Arbitrary Width

A novel on-chip 90o turn based on elliptical reflector is proposed. Our simulation demonstrates that it can achieve high transmission efficiency for larger range of waveguide widths than conventional mirror turn or circular waveguide bend.
Growth and Electrochemical Properties of Single-Crystalline V2O5 Nanorod Arrays

Growth and electrochemical properties of single-crystalline vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanorod arrays were investigated. Vanadium pentoxide nanorod arrays were grown by electrochemical deposition, surface condensation induced by a pH change and sol electrophoretic deposition. Uniformly sized vanadium oxide nanorods with a length of about 10 µm and diameters of 100 or 200 nm were grown over a large area with near-unidirectional alignment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs and electron diffraction patterns of V2O5 nanorods clearly show the single-crystalline nature of nanorods fabricated via all three growth routes with a growth direction of [010]. The growth mechanisms of single-crystal V2O5 nanorods have been discussed. Electrochemical analysis revealed that nanorod array electrodes possess significantly improved storage capacity and charge/discharge rate with approximately 5 times higher applicable current density than those of sol-gel derived films. Furthermore, for a given current density, the nanorod array electrode can intercalate up to 3.5 times higher concentration of Li+ intercalation. The relationships between electrochemical property, nano- and microstructure, and growth mechanisms have been discussed.
Improved peri-operative outcomes with epidural analgesia in patients undergoing a pancreatectomy: a nationwide analysis

Background In spite of limited evidence demonstrating a benefit, epidural analgesia (EA) is often used for patients undergoing a pancreatectomy. In the present study, the impact of epidural analgesia on post-operative outcomes after a pancreatectomy is examined.
Age- and pathology-dependent alterations in the efficacy of phenylephrine- and 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contractions in isolated rat Aorta

Male Fischer 344 rats were made diabetic for 8–9 weeks by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Steady-state contractile responses elicited by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and phenylephrine (PE) activation of the 5-HT2- and α1-adrenergic receptors, respectively, were studied in aortic rings from diabetic, age-matched control and 24-month-old (senescent) F-344 rats. Concentration-response curves (CRCs) for PE and 5-HT were analyzed by the Black and Leff operational model of pharmacological agonism to determine efficacy (τ) and slope factor values. Efficacy estimates obtained with the operational model were compared to two commonly used model-independent estimates of agonist efficacy; (1) Stephenson's efficacy estimate (e), and (2) the estimation of agonist receptor reserves. The estimated τ for PE in aortic rings from age-matched control animals (12.38) was significantly reduced by both experimental diabetes (4.52) and senescence (7.12), and these findings were in agreement with results obtained using the model-independent efficacy estimates. However, with respect to 5-HT-induced contractions, the estimated τ in age-matched control animals (2.46) was also significantly reduced by both diabetes (1.58) and senescence (1.69), but these alterations were not detected by the model-independent efficacy estimates. In all cases, a decrease in operational efficacy,τ, was associated with a decrease in the asymptote of the PE or 5-HT CRC expressed as the agonist maximal effect (Emax)/tissue maximal effect (Tmax) and/or alterations in the fractional occupancy/response relationship. In addition, τ was sensitive to small changes in agonist efficacy that occurred in the absence of any apparent alterations in the occupancy/response relationship. As such, these studies extend our previous observations in rat aorta to highlight the advantages of using the Black and Leff efficacy estimate, τ, rather than other commonly used model-independent estimates of agonist efficacy. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Human Cytochrome P450 1A1 Structure and Utility in Understanding Drug and Xenobiotic Metabolism

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 is an extrahepatic monooxygenase involved in the metabolism of endogenous substrates and drugs, as well as the activation of certain toxins and environmental pollutants. CYP1A1 is particularly well known for its ability to biotransform polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzo[a]pyrene in tobacco smoke, into carcinogens. CYP1A1 possesses functional similarities and differences with human CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 enzymes, but the structural basis for this has been unclear. We determined a 2.6 A structure of human CYP1A1 with the inhibitor α-naphthoflavone. α-Naphthoflavone binds within an enclosed active site, with the planar benzochromen-4-one core packed flat against the I helix that composes one wall of the active site, and the 2-phenyl substituent oriented toward the catalytic heme iron. Comparisons with previously determined structures of the related cytochrome P450 1A2 and 1B1 enzymes reveal distinct features among the active sites that may underlie the functional variability of these enzymes. Finally, docking studies probed the ability of CYP1A structures to assist in understanding their known in vitro interactions with several typical substrates and inhibitors.
Aetiology and Treatment of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

The clinical triad of fever, movement disorder, and altered mentation known as NMS represents an infrequent yet highly lethal side effect of neuroleptic therapy. Although awareness and recognition are on the rise, underdiagnosis of the disorder may represent a neglected clinical problem of major proportions considering the number of patients treated with neuroleptics. The recognition of problems such as NMS and tardive dyskinesia point out the need for investigation of low-dose efficacy and neuroleptic serum levels. The idea that neuroleptics are free of severe side effects has created a clinical fallacy that high doses of high potency neuroleptics should be administered to acutely psychotic patients and that low doses of neuroleptics may be used for various diagnostic entities. The emphasis on NMS and its 20% mortality rate should point out that neuroleptics should only be used when clinically indicated to treat psychosis and should be given in the lowest possible dose that achieves antipsychotic effects. Although treatment strategies are still being formulated, aggressive medical care and specific drug therapies exist to reverse the symptoms of this syndrome. With proper education, psychiatrists and other specialists can recognize and treat NMS effectively and thus prevent its malignant outcome.
Computational Comparison of Shock Wave Propagation in Explosive Blast and Shock Tube Experiments

In this study, detonation of TNT was simulated using an FE code and the resulting mechanical behavior of air, in which the explosion took place, was studied as a function of distance. Incident and reflected pressure and impulse profiles were compared with published data. In addition, an FE model of a shock tube setup at Temple University was developed using equations of state for Helium and air as the driver and driven fluids. The characteristics of the shock wave developed from explosive blast and shock tube were compared. It was shown that merely the two variables commonly used in the literature to compare the results from a shock tube to that of blast, i.e., peak incident pressure and positive duration, could not thoroughly include all the characteristics of the shock wave. Other parameters such as reflected pressure and impulse, which includes the velocity of the particles in addition to the pressure, are also needed to describe the shock wave.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
NCA F-18 fluoroarylketones: Useful bifunctional radiopharmaceutical intermediates

Abstract A systematic study of parameters critical to the reproducible and high yield production of [ 18 F]fluoroarylketones via the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction (S n Ar) by NCA [ 18 F]F − using enolizable substrates was undertaken. This rational approach involved investigation of the following parameters: substrate, substrate concentration, base, base concentration, and microwave irradiation time. Using this approach, optimal conditions for the production of 4-[ 18 F]fluoroacetophenone (4-[ 18 F]FAP) were found, as reproducible yields approaching 80% (corrected) were realized; however these or other conditions were not applicable for the production of the positional isomer 2-[ 18 F]fluoroacetophenone. They were however found to be applicable with the preparation of 4-[ 18 F]fluoropropiophenone (4-[ 18 F]FPP). To explore the potential use of the bifunctional nature of [ 18 F]FAP, the productions of 1-bromo-4′-[ 18 F]fluoroacetophenone ([ 18F FAPBr), 1-(4′-[ 18 F]fluorophenyl) ethanol, and methyl 4-[ 18 F]fluorophenyl acetate were investigated. Optimization of the bromination of [ 18 F]FAP using a variety of reaction conditions was also investigated. Using the optimized reaction conditions, the desired monobrominated product was reproducibly obtained in radiochemical yields in excess of 80% (corrected). The latter two derivatives, 1-(4′-[ 18 F]fluorophenyl) ethanol and methyl 4-[ 18 F]fluorophenyl acetate were obtained in high yield and in rapid reaction times with no required optimization.
Sexual Psychodynamics of Aging: Urologic Perspectives†

The urologist is often the first clinician to whom an impotent male patient is sent. To establish an accurate composite diagnosis, the urologist must be familiar with the many emotional and organic factors influencing sexual function. Research being carried on at various centers involves efforts toward better differentiation, or linkage, of psychogenic and organic impotence. The author has previously reported acceptable rates of successful therapy of psychogenic impotency in men. The technique consists essentially of attentive listening and emotional support. Treatment usually can be accomplished within three sessions at weekly intervals–a much shorter time than that involved in other current methods. Psychogenic impotency may be treated primarily by the urologist, or he may refer the patient to an appropriate consultant. Not all patients require or will respond to the same therapeutic approach.
Coagulation and adulteration - building on science and policy lessons from 1905

In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt called for a law to ensure the safety of the drug and food supply. Dr. Jerry Avorn writes that we forgot the Progressive Era lesson that, if left unchecked, human nature often favors a quick buck over a pure product. Dr. Janet Woodcock discusses the contaminated heparin from China and the legal and financial changes required for the Food and Drug Administration to function in a global economy. Dr. Woodcock is director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA.