cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Central chemosensitivity is augmented during 2 h of thermoneutral head-out water immersion in healthy men and women.

New Findings What is the central question of the study? Is central chemosensitivity blunted during thermoneutral head out water immersion in healthy humans? What is the main finding and its importance? Central chemosensitivity is augmented during thermoneutral head out water immersion in healthy men and women. Thus, we suggest that the central chemoreceptors do not contribute CO2 retention during head out water immersion. Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO2) retention occurs during water immersion. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that central chemosensitivity to hypercapnia is blunted during two hours of thermoneutral head out water immersion (HOWI) in healthy young adults. Twenty-six participants (age: 22 ± 2 years, BMI: 24 ± 3 kg/m2, 14 women) participated in two experimental visits: a HOWI visit (HOWI) and a dry time-control visit (Control). Central chemosensitivity was assessed via a rebreathing test at baseline, 10 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, and post HOWI and Control. End tidal CO2 tension (PETCO2), minute ventilation, blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded continuously. PETCO2 increased from baseline throughout HOWI (peak increase at 120 minutes: 2 ± 2 mmHg; p < 0.001) and the change in PETCO2 was greater throughout HOWI than Control (p < 0.001). The change in minute and alveolar ventilation was not different across time (p ≥ 0.173) or between conditions (p ≥ 0.052). Central chemosensitivity was greater than baseline throughout HOWI (peak increase: 0.74 ± 1.01 L/min/mmHg at 120 minutes; p < 0.001) and the change in central chemosensitivity was greater throughout HOWI than Control (p ≤ 0.006). We also divided the cohort into tertiles based on baseline central chemosensitivity (i.e., Low, Intermediate, and High) and compared Low vs. High during HOWI. Low demonstrated an increase in PETCO2 starting at 10 minutes (2 ± 3 mmHg; p < 0.001), whereas High didn't exhibit an increase in PETCO2 until 60 minutes (2 ± 2 mmHg; p = 0.018). These data indicate that CO2 retention occurs throughout HOWI despite augmented central chemosensitivity and that having a high baseline central chemosensitivity might delay the onset of CO2 retention. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Hydrogen retention in lithium and lithium oxide films

Abstract Pure lithium (Li) surfaces are difficult to maintain in fusion devices due to rapid oxide formation, therefore, parameterizing and understanding the mechanisms of hydrogen (H, D) retention in lithium oxide (Li2O) in addition to pure Li is crucial for Li plasma-facing material applications. To compare H retention in Li and Li2O films, measurements were made as a function of surface temperature (90–520 K) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions using temperature programmed desorption (TPD). In both cases, the total retention dropped with surface temperature, from 95% at 90 K to 35% at 520 K Li2O films retained H in similar amounts as pure Li. Molecular Dynamics (MD) modeling was used to elucidate the mechanisms of H retention, and results were consistent with experiments in terms of both retention fraction and the drop of retention with temperature.
The Novelty of Inhalable Medications: Interest, Use, and Impact of Inhalant Medications in Low-Resource Settings.

Introduction: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) claims more than 100,000 maternal lives annually worldwide, most of them in low-resource settings. To address morbidity and mortality from PPH, the global health community is exploring novel drug formulations, such as inhalable medicine, to improve treatment availability and use, especially in community settings with limited access to skilled birth attendants. A major limitation in the ability to prevent or treat PPH in resource-limited settings is that the most effective medications for prevention and treatment are injectables, which require administration by skilled birth attendants. Methodology: We conducted formative research, including online surveys and in-person interviews, with a range of providers across a variety of health-care settings in Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, and Nigeria, to better understand the standard of care for mothers and newborns in low-resource settings, including care practices related to PPH. Results: It is estimated that up to 40% of PPH deaths could be averted if an inhalable prevention and treatment were available. However, survey and interview respondents noted a desire for more intravenous and oral medicinal formulations over inhalable formulations. Discussion/Conclusion: Lack of knowledge and use of inhalable medicines among these health workers illuminates key challenges to introducing novel formulations in low-resource settings.
A Mobile Social Bar Table Based on a Retired Security Robot

The design of a social robot that serves refreshments to party guests is presented. The robot has the physical form of a bar table on wheels. It has a simple three-state behavior: if it detects drinks and refreshments on its tabletop then it wanders the room in search of people by means of a simple phonotaxis approach. If the drinks and refreshments have been removed then it returns to a designated corner of the room for reloading. The robot serves as an interesting research platform for human-robot interaction. The design is based on a retired security robot that was popular in the 1990s. Its omnidirectional synchro-drive base serves the current design well as it can easily maneuver around people. The entire design and implementation occurred over approximately two months. The design process, implementation and preliminary test results are presented.
Intermediate-term results of cryopreserved allograft and xenograft valved ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits

The use of fresh aortic homograft valves in the reconstruction of ventricle to pulmonary artery connections in many forms of congenital heart disease was introduced by Ross and Somerville in 1966 (12). Subsequently, a large amount of experience has accumulated on the use of glutaraldehyde-preserved heterograft porcine valves mounted in a woven dacron tube (3, 9, 11). The intermediate-term results of heterograft valved conduits have been disappointing (2, 4, 10), and improved results have now been reported with the use of fresh, antibiotic sterilised homograft aortic valves in ventricle-pulmonary artery pathways (5, 6, 8). Little information is currently available on the use of cryopreserved aortic valve homografts in ventricular-pulmonary artery connections (9).
The Mortality and Morbidity Conference

The Mortality and Morbidity Conference (M & M) is certainly the most important hour of the week for residents and their teachers. Here is the last bastion of medical intellect, competition, showmanship, and debate..And, the most important component in the M & M is the absolutely perfect presentation, which requires extensive preparation.
DDDAS: The Way Forward

This book sought to capture the highlights of DDDAS over the last two decades, with an emphasis on the key areas of development including: theory, modeling, and examples. DDDAS seeks to leverage high-dimensional models to provide data that augments real time estimation, analysis, and control. Many examples were presented that highlight recent approaches, developments, and use of the DDDAS concept towards advancing science through data understanding, analysis, and discovery. The future would further develop these DDDAS concepts towards a better understanding of scientific principles, engineering systems design, and multi-domains applications. DDDAS will leverage and influence such areas as machine learning analytics, multi-domain autonomy, and contextual awareness.
EVALUATING FOOD BY SENSORY METHODS

Sensory evaluation is an essential component of a food research project or product development. The Sensory Division of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT, 1981b) defines sensory evaluation as “A scientific discipline used to evoke, measure, analyze, and interpret reactions to those characteristics of foods and materials as they are perceived by the senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.” Sensory evaluation tests may be used in product development, research, quality control, and shelf-life studies. In each of these applications, sensory evaluation data may be used as the basis for decision-making. Several factors must be controlled in conducting a sensory evaluation test to minimize experimental error in the data. Sensory tests may be divided into three groups based on the type of information that they provide. The three types are discrimination, descriptive, and affective. The selection of the appropriate test should be based on clearly defined objectives for the project.
Comparison of physical and mental functioning among moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients on biologic versus oral therapy

With the extensive variety of available treatments for psoriasis, it is paramount that clinicians understand the differences between therapies. A critical literature gap exists regarding the effects of different systemic therapies on physical and mental functioning in the US psoriasis population. We sought to compare the impact of biologic versus oral therapy on measures of physical and mental functioning among US adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. We performed a nationwide, cross-sectional study of 2,431,282 (weighted) (183 non-weighted) US adults with psoriasis on biologic or oral therapy using the 2003–2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Physical and mental functioning were measured with the Short Form-12 version 2 (SF-12v2) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS), respectively. The mean PCS score among patients on biologic therapy was significantly higher than that of patients on oral therapy (46.25 [95% CI 43.91–48.59] versus 42.39 [95% CI 41.05–43.73]; P < 0.01). The mean MCS score among patients on biologic therapy was also significantly higher than that of patients on oral therapy (52.46 [95% CI 50.51–54.41] versus 50.19 [95% CI 49.00–51.38]; P < 0.05). Based on adjusted multiple linear regression, biologic therapy was associated with a significantly greater increase in measures of physical functioning (P < 0.05) and mental functioning (P < 0.001) as compared to oral therapy. In conclusion, clinicians need to account for physical and mental health when making treatment decisions. Biologic therapy is associated with significantly greater increases in measures of physical and mental functioning when compared to oral therapy in the US adult psoriasis population.
Marijuana as a Substitute for Prescription Medications: A Qualitative Study

Background: Over the past few decades in the United States, marijuana for medical purposes has become increasingly prevalent. Initial qualitative and epidemiological research suggests that marijuan...
Sensitivity enhancement of ninhydrin-treated latent fingerprints by enzymes and metal salts

Lyophilized Sigma Type III trypsin has been applied to latent prints two weeks to two months old. This trypsin preparation eliminates the background problems that had been encountered with old prints in a previous study. Zinc chloride treatment of latent prints previously exposed to ninhydrin enhances their detectability upon laser examination. However, it has been reported that the zinc chloride reaction occasionally fails to occur. Accordingly, we have investigated the optimization of this reaction. We find that high humidity and elevated temperature, particularly the former, are needed. Cadmium nitrate, although it produces weaker fluorescence than zinc chloride, may at times be useful. Reaction conditions are much the same as those for zinc chloride.
Predictors of Cytoreductive Nephrectomy for Metastatic Kidney Cancer in SEER and Metropolitan Detroit Databases

Patients without cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) are inadequately represented in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) clinical trials. The characteristics that impact the decision of CN were explored in the SEER database. Data on primary, regional, or distant (metastatic) stage kidney cancer over the period 2000-2013 were extracted from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER-18) database. A sub-analysis of Metropolitan Detroit cases, to evaluate the influence of comorbidities, was conducted. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios, and Cox model was used to calculate hazard ratios; 37% of 21,052 metastatic RCC cases had CN performed. CN demonstrated significant survival advantage (HR = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30-0.33). Comorbidity data were available on 76% of distant RCC cases from the Detroit SEER database. Neither hypertension, diabetes mellitus nor the number of comorbidities (0, 1 or 2) had a statistically significant impact on the likelihood of CN. Majority of patients (63%) with distant-stage RCC do not undergo CN and have a median overall survival (OS) of 3 months as compared to a median OS of 18 months for patients who have undergone CN. Patient demographics and tumor characteristics make a significant impact on the incidence of CN. The impact of comorbidities (number and type) was modest and not statistically significant. The optimal management of patients with synchronous primary and metastatic RCC needs to be prospectively evaluated in the setting of contemporary systemic therapy.
Parents’ Occupations and Students’ Success in STEM Fields: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

There is a well-established body of literature regarding how formal aspects of school impact high school students’ interest, achievement, and persistence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. However, less is known regarding the influence of informal factors (e.g., parents, social groups) on these STEM outcomes. This study helps address this gap by synthesizing interdisciplinary, international research on the role of parents’ professionalism and parents’ STEM occupation on a variety of STEM-related outcomes. Resulting evidence indicated a positive relationship between parents’ professionalism—a measure of job status such that professional occupations are defined as requiring high-level literacy and numeracy skills that are typically gained as a result of postsecondary education—and high school students’ success and persistence in STEM fields. With respect to parents employed in STEM occupations and high school students’ success and persistence in STEM fields, there was also an observed connection. Female and minority students tended to see more wide-ranging benefits from having a professional or STEM parent than did male and white students respectively. This study helps to draw insights into the role of parents’ occupation in influencing STEM achievement and participation.
Induced Vehicle Travel in the Environmental Review Process

If we expand roadway capacity, more drivers will come, or so economic theory suggests and a substantial body of empirical research now shows. Despite strong evidence, the “induced travel” effect is...
Suicide Risk in Emerging Adulthood: Associations with Screen Time over 10 years

Suicide rates have increased over the past decade, and screen media (and social media in particular) are often blamed for this marked increase. However, there is little longitudinal research on this topic. The current study examined the link between various types of screen media use over a 10-year period (from adolescence to emerging adulthood) to suicide risk in emerging adulthood. Participants included 500 adolescents (51% female) who were first surveyed in 2009, when they were an average of 13.82 years old (range 12-15 years). For girls, a high level of social media or television use in early adolescence followed by a marked increase over time was most predictive of suicide risk in emerging adulthood. Additionally, video game use that increased over time was also associated with a higher risk for developing suicide risk for girls. A passive sensing measurement was also included at the final wave of data collection to obtain a more accurate and complete picture of phone use in particular. The use of entertainment apps was risky for girls while reading apps were risky for boys. Additionally, video game use (for boys) was associated with suicide risk when cyberbullying was also high. Identifying nonnormative patterns of media during adolescence may be instructive in terms of suicide prevention efforts.
Electrolytes and pH of Mammary Gland Secretions Assessments to Detect Impending Parturition and Associations With Placental and Neonate Features in Donkeys.

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine (i) the usefulness of serial assessment of mammary gland electrolytes concentrations and correspondent pH to detect impending parturition in jennies; and (ii2) the associations between mammary gland secretions, and gestation length, foal sex, maternal, placental, and foal birth weights. Multiparous jennies (n = 37) were monitored daily from 350 to 355 days of gestation until parturition. The pH of mammary gland secretions was assessed daily with a hand-held device. Aliquots of mammary secretions were frozen daily and then retrospectively assessed for electrolyte concentrations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+) with an automated analyzer from five days until the last sampling pre-partum. Mammary gland electrolytes and pH were analyzed with mix-models. The gestational length, newborn, maternal, and fetal membranes weights were analyzed with t-test grouped by foal's sex. Associations across all variables were assessed with Pearson's coefficient of correlation. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) were evaluated for pH (≤ 6.4), Ca2+ (>10 mmol/L), and a combination of both. Each jenny had pH profiles assessed visually and classified as fast pH drop (1), slow pH drop (2), and alkaline pH (3) as previously described for horses. The overall gestation length was 374 ± 8.7 days, ranging from 357 to 390 days. There were no differences for gestation lengths for jennies delivering colts (374 ± 2.1 range 357–385 days), versus the ones delivering fillies (373 ± 2.3 range 358–390 days) (P > .05). Of all the foals, there were 61.8% colts and 38.2% fillies. The ratio of foal birthweight with the dam's bodyweight was 9.7%, and the ratio with fetal membranes was 11%. The majority of parturitions happened during the night (91.9%). There was a significant reduction in Na+ and an increase in Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ concentrations leading to foaling. The pH showed a 90% sensitivity for foaling within 24 hours, whereas the specificity was 70%, and the PPV and NPV values were 40% and 97%. Of interest, Ca2+ (>10 mmol/l) displayed a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 85%, whereas the PPV and NPV were 72% and 84%. In the present study, jennies exhibited profiles 1 to 3 as previously described for mares. Herein, 65% of the jennies displayed profile 2 and foaled with a mean acidic pH of 6.4 ± 0.02. Conversely, 32% of the jennies showed a fast reduction in the pH of mammary secretion (profile 1) from day -1 (7.3 ± 0.2) to the day of foaling with an average pH of 6.6 ± 0.08. One jenny foaled with high and alkaline pH (i.e., 7.5). There were weak and negative correlations between pH and Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ (P
Sensing the melting transition of semicrystalline polymers via a novel fluorescence technique

Abstract The melting point (Tm) is an important parameter that dictates the physical properties and thereby applications of semicrystalline thermoplastics. Conventional melting transition characterization techniques, e.g., differential scanning calorimetry, ellipsometry, optical microscopy, and X-ray based methods, probe Tm by monitoring temperature (T)-dependent thermal properties, morphologies, and microstructures. Although these techniques have been well developed, they tend to have their own limitations, e.g., X-ray based techniques require X-ray beams and most previous techniques can only measure spatially averaged properties throughout a film cross section or an entire bulk sample. Here, we have developed a new, simple, and versatile fluorescence technique for probing the melting transitions of semicrystalline thermoplastics. With this approach, fluorescent probes are incorporated into a semicrystalline polymer, either by physical doping or covalent labeling, and their T-dependent fluorescence intensity data exhibit a stepwise decrease nearby Tm because of the reduced restriction of intramolecular motion when crystals start to melt. Interestingly, the first derivative of the obtained T-dependent fluorescence intensity data can reveal more details of the underlying melting transition, e.g., the onset and endset of the melting transition as well as the peak melting temperature. The melting point values determined by fluorescence agree well with those characterized by conventional differential scanning calorimetry, confirming the validity of our fluorescence technique for probing melting transitions. In addition, this fluorescence technique can be applied with various types of fluorescent probes (e.g., fluorophores exhibiting either aggregation-induced emission or aggregation-caused quenching effects) and generalized to many semicrystalline thermoplastics (e.g., poly( l -lactic acid), poly(caprolactone), and poly(ethylene oxide)), while maintaining excellent sensitivity to melting transitions. Overall, our fluorescence technique represents an easy and contact-free melting point characterization approach that may allow for novel location-specific Tm investigations within heterogeneous polymeric systems (e.g., multilayer films, blends, and composites). Such a novel fluorescence technique can expand the toolbox for Tm determination and potentially lead to unprecedented insights into the design principles for semicrystalline thermoplastics.
Religious and spiritual beliefs and attitudes towards addiction and addiction treatment: A scoping review

Abstract Introduction Throughout history, ideas about addiction have been informed and influenced by religious belief and practice. Even continuing into the present, religion and spirituality are often thought to impact attitudes towards addiction and its treatment, particularly given the use of religion and spirituality in various well-known treatments such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Although research has flourished with regards to the role that addiction and spirituality might play in vulnerability to addiction or the treatment of addiction, there has been comparatively less research examining how religion might impact attitudes toward addiction more broadly. Method The present work sought to examine the current state of empirical literature evaluating the relationships between religion and attitudes toward addiction and addiction treatment. In service of the above aim, a scoping review was conducted. Results This summary of peer-reviewed, quantitative studies (n = 36) found that higher religiosity is related to more belief in the disease model of addiction in providers, negative attitudes towards addiction, and a stronger support for spiritually-based treatments. However, results varied based on the measures used and many relationships tested were not significant. There also appeared to be differences in the interaction between religion and spirituality and other variables, such as the respondent’s sex or whether the individual was a student or provider, in terms of attitudes. Conclusions Further research is needed to fully understand the nuances in the relationship between these variables, including more clear operationalization and standardized measurement. Until such research is conducted, no cohesive conclusions can be drawn, and clinical implications remain unclear.
Data Complexity in Clustering Analysis of Gene Microarray Expression Profiles

The increasing application of microarray technology is generating large amounts of high dimensional gene expression data. Genes participating in the same biological process tend to have similar expression patterns, and clustering is one of the most useful and efficient methods for identifying these patterns. Due to the complexity of microarray profiles, there are some limitations in directly applying traditional clustering techniques to the microarray data. Recently, researchers have proposed clustering algorithms custom tailored to overcome their limitations for microarray analysis. In this chapter, we first introduce the microarray technique. Next, we review seven representative clustering algorithms: K-means, quality-based clustering, hierarchical agglomerative clustering, self-organizing neural network-based clustering, graph-theory-based clustering, model-based clustering, and subspace clustering. All these algorithms have shown their applicability to the microarray profiles.We also survey several criteria for evaluating clustering results. Biology plays an important role in the evaluation of clustering results. We discuss possible research directions to equip clustering techniques with underlying biological interpretations for better microarray profile analysis.
Teaching Gender Issues in Asian American Psychology: A Pedagogical Framework

This article presents a set of pedagogical approaches and suggested topics and materials for teaching gender issues in Asian American psychology. The experiences of contemporary Asian American women and men must be understood with an appreciation for the larger social, political, and historical contexts in which they live. Thus, several topics designed to “set the stage” for exploration of gender issues are presented. Central issues in teaching gender-related topics within Asian American psychology are discussed under the categories of gender roles, gender stereotypes, and gender differences. Instructors are encouraged to use multimedia resources and interdisciplinary approaches to promote critical thinking about the complex interactions of ethnicity, gender, and the larger sociocultural forces that shape Asian American women and men's psychological experiences.
Developing a Blended Learning of the Introduction to American Politics Course

[enter Abstract Body]This paper explains why how a blended learning version of Introduction to American Politics course was developed, approved, and introduced into the curriculum at the University of Illinois at Chicago by the authors. The rationales for the course included both expanding student access at a time of increasing enrollments and decreasing faculty size, and pedagogical improvements that could be introduced using the technology available to us online. All the major elements of the course are online and are designed to work together to produce an enhanced pedagogical platform for the course. The approval process was challenging and offers lessons concerning typical objections to blended learning and how they can be overcome. The course was first taught in the Spring semester of 2009, and then again with 230 students in Fall of 2009, after having been piloted for several semesters as a web-enhanced course. Our experiences as professor and teaching assistant, and student reaction to date along with test results, suggest that this is a successful experiment with blended learning. Both access and pedagogy have been improved, and it is now possible for us to offer a better Introduction to American Government course to a larger number of students, even in a time of declining resources.
Personal computer based design packages for electrical distribution systems

The advantages of PC-based design packages are apparent through the improved accuracy in design and analysis of electrical distribution systems by using common database files that reduce the possibility of mistakes incurred by erroneous and repetitive transmissions and transcriptions of information. Methods have also been developed that allow engineering workstations and computer-aided design/computer-aided engineering (CAD/CAE) systems to merge data developed by engineers on their desktop PCs. Data such as cable schedules or motor and load lists is portable as output from popular spreadsheet and database programs to larger format engineering drawings via FORTRAN-based data-merging programs. The authors discuss the philosophy of how these design packages are developed, what personnel resources are required for development and implementation, and how various software programs are applied. >
The use of waveguide simulators to measure the resonant frequency of Ku-band microstrip arrays

This paper describes the use of waveguide simulators for measuring the reflection coefficient of infinite arrays of free-standing microstrip elements illuminated by a plane wave. Waveguide simulators have long been used to measure the active impedance of phased array elements in a mutual coupling environment. We have extended the technique in order to measure the resonant frequency of arrays of free-standing microstrip elements. Using these measurements along with validated MoM codes, we are able to indirectly determine the dielectric constant of our antenna substrate material.
Electromagnetic Scattering by Thin Inhomogeneous Circular Cylinders

The general problem of electromagnetic wave scattering by thin inhomogeneous circular cylinders is completely formulated. An integral equation for the induced axial current distribution is derived and solved for an incident plane wave of arbitrary direction of propagation. A knowledge of this induced current allows the determination of the scattered fields as well as the scattering cross section. For convenience the conductivity is only considered to vary axially. Numerical results are presented for the induced axial current and scattering cross section. An important application of this work is in missile vulnerability studies. To this end numerical results are presented for a missile having an ionized exhaust trail. The conductivity of the exhaust trail is considered to taper exponentially along its axis.
Susceptibility of lipopolysaccharide mutants to the bactericidal action of human neutrophil lysosomal fractions

Acetate extracts of purified human neutrophil granules (a mixed population containing specific and azurophil granules) were dialyzed against phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.0) and tested for bactericidal activity against smooth parent and rough mutant, gram-negative bacteria. Rough (Re) mutants of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Salmonella minnesota were exquisitely more sensitive to extracts of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules than were their smooth (S) parents. The mean lethal dose (LD(50)) for the parent strains was 25 to 50 mug of granule protein per ml. As much as 500 mug of extract per ml failed to kill 100% of the S parents. The LD(50) for the rough mutants was 1.5 to 2.0 mug of the same granule extract per ml; 100% killing occurred with 5 to 10 mug of lysosomal protein per ml. Conditions affecting the growth of the bacteria greatly affected their sensitivity to the granule extracts. Granule extract killed bacteria grown with aeration to log phase 10 to 15 times more efficiently than the same bacteria grown to stationary phase under static conditions. The bactericidal incubation mixture also influenced results, in that greater killing occurred with tryptone than with phosphate or N-2-hydroxyethyl piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid-buffered saline. Bactericidal activity depended on lysosomal protein concentration, time, and temperature. Boiled lysosomal fractions failed to kill the S parents but retained 20 to 50% of their ability to kill the Re mutants. Parents (smooth) were killed more efficiently at pH 5 to 6, whereas their Re mutants were killed more efficiently at pH 7 to 8.
From linked data to relevant data - time is the essence

The Semantic Web initiative puts emphasis not primarily on putting data on the Web, but rather on creating links in a way that both humans and machines can explore the Web of data. When such users access the Web, they leave a trail as Web servers maintain a history of requests. Web usage mining approaches have been studied since the beginning of the Web given the log's huge potential for purposes such as resource annotation, personalization, forecasting etc. However, the impact of any such efforts has not really gone beyond generating statistics detailing who, when, and how Web pages maintained by a Web server were visited.
The Likelihood of Hospital Readmission Among Patients With Hospital-Onset Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections

OBJECTIVE To determine whether central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) increase the likelihood of readmission. DESIGN Retrospective matched cohort study for the years 2008–2009. SETTING Acute care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Medicare recipients. CLABSI and readmission status were determined by linking National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medical Provider and Analysis Review in 8 states. Frequency matching was used on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure code category and intensive care unit status. METHODS We compared the rate of readmission among patients with and without CLABSI during an index hospitalization. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to assess rate of readmission (the first hospitalization within 30 days after index discharge). Multivariate models included the following covariates: race, sex, length of index hospitalization stay, central line procedure code, Gagne comorbidity score, and individual chronic conditions. RESULTS Of the 8,097 patients, 2,260 were readmitted within 30 days (27.9%). The rate of first readmission was 7.1 events/person-year for CLABSI patients and 4.3 events/person-year for non-CLABSI patients (P<.001). The final model revealed a small but significant increase in the rate of 30-day readmissions for patients with a CLABSI compared with similar non-CLABSI patients. In the first readmission for CLABSI patients, we also observed an increase in diagnostic categories consistent with CLABSI, including septicemia and complications of a device. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis found a statistically significant association between CLABSI status and readmission, suggesting that CLABSI may have adverse health impact that extends beyond hospital discharge. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015;36(8):886–892
Electronic modification of external current for an artificially segmented giant axon of the lobster

Membrane current and potential functions were obtained during impulse propagation in normal Ringer's solution at many artificially created nodes along a lobster giant axon. Membrane total current and membrane capacitive current at each node were evaluated simultaneously by a simple lumped-parameter model. The method was applicable during local modification of excitability where the node-to-node propagation was not uniform. In contrast to the voltage-clamp method, the present feedback arrangement involves negative-conductor shunts which reduced the longitudinal driving current, resulting in more uniform conditions within a nodal region.
Dopamine receptor-coupled modulation of the K+-depolarized overflow of 3H-acetylcholine from rat striatal slices: Alteration after chronic haloperidol and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine pretreatment

Abstract The effect of dopamine on the K + -depolarized overflow of 3 H-acetylcholine from rat striatal slices was investigated to determine whether drug-induced changes in neuronal sensitivity to dopamine might be manifested in changes in striatal cholinergic activity. Dopamine was found to produce a dose-dependent inhibition of the K + -evoked release of 3 H-Ach. This inhibition could be blocked by prior exposure of the slices to haloperidol, a dopamine receptor blocker. Dopamine receptors localized on striatal cholinergic axon terminals and possibly postsynaptic dopamine receptors on cholinergic perikarya and dendrites may mediate the DA inhibition of 3 H-Ach release induced by high K + . Chronic pretreatment with haloperidol followed by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine resulted in a significant shift to the left in the dose-dependent inhibition of K + -stimulated overflow of 3 H-Ach by dopamine. This shift to the left in the dose-response curve may be the result of an increase in the number of striatal dopamine receptors produced by chronic dopamine receptor blockade and inhibition of dopamine synthesis.
Attitudes About and Practices of Health Promotion and Prevention Among Primary Care Providers

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's emphasis on health promotion and prevention activities required an examination of the current practices of primary care providers in these areas. A total of 196 primary care providers completed a survey to assess current health promotion and prevention attitudes, practices, and barriers. Results of this study showed that family physicians in Pennsylvania recognize the importance of and their role in providing health promotion and prevention and offer advice in key behavioral and disease prevention areas. Results from the study suggest that their ability to provide these services is hindered by a lack of time and the heavy workload. Although most family physicians provided advice to patients in several health promotion and prevention areas, few participants reported that they referred patients to other health professionals. Finally, when it comes to preventive services, participants ranked blood pressure screening, tobacco use screening, and tobacco use cessation interventions as the most important services. Effective implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will require necessary resources and support of primary care providers to help patients achieve healthier lives.
Biosecurity in Shrimp Farming: Pathogen Exclusion through Use of SPF Stock and Routine Surveillance

Biosecurity, as it is being applied to shrimp aquaculture, may be defined as the practice of exclusion of specific pathogens from cultured aquatic stocks in brood stock facilities, hatcheries, and farms, or from entire regions or countries for the purpose of disease prevention. To make a biosecurity program a functional concept in shrimp aquaculture, the relevant risks should be identified and the appropriate biosecurity measures put into practice to mitigate those risks. Examples of biosecurity measures put into place for this purpose may include such basics as site selection when the intent is to locate a new shrimp culture facility in an area where certain diseases are not enzootic. Standard facilitylfarm operating procedures can be adapted to minimize the risks of disease introduction and spread within a facility through such concepts as pretreatment of all source water, and reduced or “zero” water exchange. Stocking shrimp culture facilities with domesticated shrimp stocks that are free of specific diseases (“Specific Pathogen Free” or SPF) and or with stocks resistant to specific disease agents (SPR) is perhaps the most important single component of a biosecurity program. The example set by the development of domesticated SPF stocks of Litopenaeus vannamei has helped to make biosecure shrimp culture feasible. The development of these and other SPF stocks, and the diagnostic methods to develop and monitor them for specific diseases and disease causing agents, have been milestones in the development of the international shrimp farming industry in recent years, and it has contributed to the species rivaliig Penaeus monodon as the dominant farmed shrimp species. The regular monitoring (surveillance) of shrimp stocks in biosecure culture facilities is a necessary component of a biosecurity plan, as is having in place a contingency plan for disease containment and eradication should a breach occur in the physical and managerial components of a biosecure facility and a targeted disease occur.
Functional equations in the theory of dynamic programming, XVIII: a problem connected with the value of information

Abstract A functional equation of novel type arises in a dynamic programming treatment of information and communication. Under reasonable assumptions it is shown that a known solution is the only solution.
Perspectives on Membership in a State Counseling Association

This Q-Methodology study offers a practical understanding of members’ perspectives when joining or renewing state counseling association membership. Four statistically significant views of state association members were suggested by the data and include members valuing active commitment, the latest information, establishment as a professional, and building a community of professionals.
Capzb2 protein expression in the brains of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease

The silencing of actin capping protein s2, Capzb2, by RNAi in developing cultured neurons results in short, dystrophic neurites reminiscent of cytoskeletal changes seen in diverse neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Huntington’s disease (HD). Actin and tubulin are two major cytoskeletal proteins indispensable for normal neurite development and regenerative responses to injury and neurodegenerative stimuli. We have previously shown that Capzb2 binds tubulin and, in the presence of microtubule-associated protein tau, affects microtubule polymerization necessary for neurite outgrowth and normal growth cone morphology. Accordingly, Capzb2 silencing in hippocampal neurons results in short neurites with abnormal growth cones. Decreased neurite length is found in both AD and HD. In the first step towards uncovering the possible role of Capzb2 in these diseases, we studied Capzb2 protein expression in the postmortem brains of AD and HD patients. To determine whether disease-specific changes in Capzb2 protein accompany the progression of neurodegeneration, we performed Western Blot analysis of prefrontal cortices (PFC) and hippocampi (HPC) in AD patients and of PFC and heads of caudate nuclei (HCN) in HD patients. Our results show disease- and areaspecific dynamics in the levels of Capzb2 protein expression in the progressive stages of AD and HD.
Isolation in design reuse

Software composition relies heavily on the ability to reuse software within the context of a complex target system. When components are built or sourced from third party suppliers, some form of design material is reused that embodies a variety of artifacts that differ in both granularity and abstraction. The more concrete the design material, particularly if it is in the form of a fully realized reusable component, the more likely it has evolved from a distinct supplier development path that will cause interoperability problems in the composite design. Unfortunately, recognizing integration problems occurs late in a typical design process, often disrupting the process of choosing alternative components. We express the design reuse process using a concept map whose nodes represent sources of design material. Guidance for consolidating and analyzing reuse alternatives is shown via design moves between concepts culminating in the choice of components for the target system. We use isolation as the determinant for interoperability assessment. Leveraging a biological analogy, we define distinct integration levels where isolating mechanisms occur to add assessment clarity. This is illustrated with an example showing conflicts between reusable components from different suppliers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Many hats: intratrial and reward level-dependent BOLD activity in the striatum and premotor cortex.

Human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, as well as lesion, drug, and single-cell recording studies in animals, suggest that the striatum plays a key role in associating sensory ...
Origin of vein structures in the slope deposits of modern accretionary prisms

Vein structures that have been described from the slope apron sediments of modern accretionary prisms represent brittle failure caused by an effective tensile stress. The effective stress arises from abnormal pore-water pressure acting in opposition to the compressional stresses on the sediment. Thus, even though σ 3 (the minimum stress) may be compressional, if the pore water pressure is of greater magnitude than σ 3 , the resultant effective stress will be tensional, and failure (opening of the veins) will occur in the σ 1 –σ 2 plane. As the veins open, the pore water can escape into the veins and eventually out of the sediment along more permeable (coarser) beds. The initial movement of pore water into the veins may entrain finer grains from the host rock near the vein walls, resulting in the observed finer grained vein filling. Then, as the veins close as pore water escapes, the elongate and platy grains may be rotated into near parallelism with the vein walls. The tributaries that are observed at the ends of some veins may be a result of continued dewatering after the veins have closed, as the pore water is forced to diffuse back into the sediment after being concentrated into an efficient flow by the parallel preferred orientation of the platy mineral grains in the vein.
Intramolecular reorientations and the effects of thermal history and hydrogen bonding in four closely related organic molecular solids

Abstract We have measured proton spin—lattice relaxation rates at 30 MHz from 77 to 330 K in para-di- t -butylbenzene, 2,5-di- t -butylphenol, 2,6-di- t -butylphenol, 3,5-di- t -butylphenol and modifications of the latter two in which the hydroxyl proton has been replaced with a deuteron.The observed maxima in the relaxation rates are interpreted in terms of the reorientations of the t -butyl groups and their constituent methyl groups. The observed relaxation rate depends, to some degree, on the thermal history of the samples and in the phenols this is attributed, in part, to the formation of dimeric and polymeric forms via intermolecular hydrogen bonding forming OH... O bridges. Infrared spectra are run with the three phenols in both the dilute liquid and solid state and the results interpreted in terms of hydrogen bonding. Nuclear spin relaxation due to the flip-flop of the hydroxyl proton is observed in 2,6-di- t -butylphenol but not in 3,5-di- t -butylphenol as expected on the basis of the IR spectra.
An Observation of Frontal Wave Development on a Shelf-Slope/Warm Core Ring Front Near the Shelf Break South of New England

Abstract Small-scale waves have been observed near 40°N, 68°30′W in specially enhanced satellite imagery of a strong temperature front formed in May 1979, between the shelf/slope-water front and warm core ring 79-B. Thew frontal waves had a wavelength of 23±4 km, an eastward propagation speed of 32 ± 4 km day−1, and a growth rate (e-folding time) of 17.5 h (12–19 h). These satellite data plus current-velocity and hydro-graphical data gathered from the Nantucket Shoals Flux Experiment (NSFE79) allow comparison of the observed growth rate with theoretical predictions based on the assumption of a Margules front and the instability model of Orlanski (1968). This comparison suggests that the observed frontal waves were due primarily to horizontal-shear instability and derived their energy from the mean flow structure across the front in the presence of ring 79-B.
Household Horror: Domestic Masculinity in Poe's The Black Cat

(2009). Household Horror: Domestic Masculinity in Poe's The Black Cat. The Explicator: Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 96-99.