cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Renal Outcomes in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure Treated With Sacubitril-Valsartan or Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor/Angiotensin Receptor Blocker

Abstract Objective To assess 4 adverse renal outcomes in a heterogeneous cohort of patients with systolic heart failure (HF) who were prescribed sacubitril-valsartan vs angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEi/ARB). Patients and Methods The OptumLabs Database Warehouse, which contains linked administrative claims and laboratory results, was used to identify patients with systolic HF who were prescribed sacubitril-valsartan or ACEi/ARB between July 1, 2015, and September 30, 2019. One-to-one propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance baseline variables. Cox proportional hazards modeling was performed to compare renal outcomes in both medication groups, including 30% or more decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), doubling of serum creatinine, acute kidney injury (AKI), and kidney failure (eGFR Results A total of 4667 matched pairs receiving sacubitril-valsartan or ACEi/ARB were included; the mean follow-up period was 7.8±7.8 months. The mean age was 69.4±11 years; 35% were female, 19% black, and 15% Hispanic. The cumulative risk at 1 year was 6% for 30% or more decline in eGFR, 2% for doubling of serum creatinine, 3% for AKI, and 2% to 3% for kidney failure. Furthermore, no significant differences in risk were observed with sacubitril-valsartan compared with ACEi/ARB for a 30% or more decline in eGFR (hazard ratio [HR], 0.96; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.10), doubling of serum creatinine (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.27); AKI (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.03), and kidney failure (HR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.08). Conclusion Among patients with systolic HF, the risk of adverse renal outcomes was similar between patients prescribed sacubitril-valsartan and those prescribed ACEi/ARB.
Analysis of Time-Resolved Plasma Jet Emissions That Drive Methylene Blue Dye Decomposition

Plasma-based water purification uses energetic electrons to induce chemical reactions that break down harmful contaminants into benign components. The chemical reactions needed to decompose organic chemicals and bacteria in water are driven by the production of the hydroxyl radical, OH. In this article, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet was used to produce OH and decompose methylene blue (MB) dye in water samples. The behavior of the plasma and the emission of excited OH* near the plasma–liquid interface were analyzed. Nanosecond-resolved measurements near the plasma–water interface were obtained using ICCD imaging and emissions spectroscopy synchronized to the pulsed dc power that drives plasma formation in the plasma jet. The plasma was observed to form along the front of ionization waves as “bullets” that locally produce reactive species. When the bullet hits the water surface, it rebounds and creates a secondary excitation of species at the water surface. The bouncing phenomenon increases the plasma interactions above the water surface and increases OH* excitation up to 192%. However, this increase in excitation and emission does not necessarily mean increased total OH. Higher discharge frequencies produced more OH* emission but did not change the rate of MB dye removal. Higher voltages do increase dye removal rate but with decreasing effectiveness. The results indicate that in steady state, most of the water in the gas channel has been dissociated to form OH, and each bullet merely re-excites the ground state OH (X) into OH* (A) state. A minimum operational frequency of 1 kHz was thus found to provide the best efficiency while maintaining OH production.
Dynamic Tiered Assortment Optimization

Due to the sheer number of available choices, online retailers frequently use tiered assortment to present their products. In this case, groups of products are arranged across multiple pages or sections, and a customer clicks on "next'' or "load more'' to access them sequentially. Despite the prevalence of such assortments in practice, this topic has not received much attention in the existing literature. In this work, we focus on a sequential choice model which characterizes customers' behavior when product recommendations are presented in tiers. We analyze different variants of tiered assortments by imposing "no-duplication'' and/or capacity constraints, and establish the hardness result on the computation of the optimal solution. For the offline version with known customers' preferences, we characterize the properties of the optimal tiered assortment and propose an algorithm that improves the computational efficiency compared to an existing benchmark. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to study the online version of the tiered assortment optimization problem. In particular, we consider both non-contextual and contextual settings and quantify their respective regret bound. Lastly, we perform numerical experiments to demonstrate the efficacy our proposed algorithms.
Aerogel by Cabot Corporation: Versatile Properties for Many Applications

Cabot Corporation manufactures a hydrophobic aerogel in granular form sold worldwide. This contribution outlines the history of the company, the basic Cabot process, and several but not exhaustive applications in the field of architectural daylighting, building insulation, oil and gas pipelines, LNG and cryogenic applications, outdoor gear and apparel, coatings and specialty chemicals, and personal care. Four different products are described and their properties are discussed.
Recommendations for working with interpreters

With the steady increase of non-English-speaking immigrants such as Hispanics in the U.S. over the last 15 years, the need for interpreters in medical settings has grown. However, health care practitioners such as occupational therapists and physical therapists receive minimal training in working with interpreters. This paper provides the reader with recommendations for working with interpreters and for when an interpreter is not available. In addition, a case example illustrating common problems that may arise when working with an interpreter and some solutions are discussed. Further, the simultaneous and consecutive methods of interpreting are compared; and the difference between interpreters and translators is discussed.
A longitudinal examination of the impact of quality perception gap on brand performance in the US Automotive Industry

A quality perception gap, defined as the difference between perceived and objective quality, indicates either consumers’ overappreciation or underappreciation of product or brand quality and can have critical effects on performance. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of a quality perception gap on brand performance and its moderating role in the relationship between marketing-mix signals and performance. Analyses based on a longitudinal dataset from the US automotive industry reveal that the relationship between the quality perception gap and brand performance has an inverted U-shape. Findings also demonstrate that, except for advertising, the impact of marketing signals on performance is higher when the quality of a brand is perceived as higher than its actual quality. Finally, over an 18-year period, the average gap between perceived and objective quality demonstrates a decreasing trend, indicating that the nature of demand in the automotive industry has become more utilitarian.
Researching Second Language Classrooms

Contents: Preface. Classroom Research. Researching Teachers and Learners. Researching Classroom Discourse. Writing Research Reports.
Evolving Real-Time Local Agent Control for Large-Scale Multi-agent Systems

Control for agents situated in multi-agent systems is a complex problem. This is particularly true in hard, open, dynamic environments where resource, privacy, bandwidth, and computational limitations impose restrictions on the type of information that agents may share and the control problem solving options available to agents. The MQ or motivational quantities framework addresses these issues by evaluating candidate tasks based on the agent's organizational context and by framing control as a local agent optimization problem that approximates the global problem through the use of state and preference.
Multivariate Analysis, Overview

The article contains a survey of statistical methods based on the multivariate normal distribution. These include the estimators of the mean vector and covariance matrix and their distributions, hypothesis tests for the mean vector, the multivariate generalization of the analysis of variance and the general linear model, classification and discriminant functions, inferences about covariance matrices, principal components analysis, and factor analysis. Keywords: multivariate normal population; Hotelling T2; multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA); multivariate general liner model; discriminant analysis; principal components; factor analysis
The Stratified Cox Procedure

We begin with an example of the use of the stratified Cox procedure for a single predictor that does not satisfy the PH assumption. We then describe the general approach for fitting a stratified Cox model, including the form of the (partial) likelihood function used to estimate model parameters.
A Comparison of Product Placements in Movies and Television Programs

Product placement has expanded as a promotional tactic, aided by technological innovations which present new openings for, and challenges to, branded messages via television. Product placements in ...
Design and performance of UHF and L-band oscillators using thin-film resonators on semiconductor substrates

The authors report on the use of sputter-deposited, thin-film, aluminum nitride resonators as the feedback element in hybrid single-mode, combline, and voltage-controlled UHF and L-band oscillators. The resonators have also been cointegrated on the same substrate with 2-GHz BJTs (bipolar junction transistors). Design techniques and suggestions for novel architectures using this technology are presented. >
An 8-bit, 1.8 V, 20 MSample/s analog-to-digital converter using low gain opamps

This paper describes the design of a pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Using a minimalist approach to circuit design, combined with novel double-sampling and digital error correction techniques, a high-speed, low-voltage ADC is realized that achieves 8 bit resolution at 20 Ms/s. Implemented in 0.25 /spl mu/m CMOS with an area of 0.36 mm/sup 2/, it dissipates 18 mW at 1.8 V.
Alloxan stimulates p-aminohippurate uptake in renal basal-lateral membranous vesicles

In renal basal-lateral membranous vesicles, the probenecid-sensitive p-aminohippurate uptake was stimulated by alloxan. This stimulation of uptake was observed only after a lag period of 15 seconds, and it reached a maximal value after one minute. Stimulation was increased by 1 mM to 5 mM alloxan in a linear fashion. The effect was maximal and constant between 5 mM and 20 mM alloxan. Alloxan affected neither the glucose space of the vesicle nor the rate of transport or diffusion of glutamate, another organic anion. The mechanism of stimulation by alloxan was not clear. Its effect was blocked by the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide and weakly mimicked by H2O2, an oxidizing reagent. However, ninhydrin, a structural analogue of alloxan which reacts with sulfhydryl groups, and glucose, a neutral structural analogue of alloxan, failed to stimulate probenecid-sensitive uptake.
Understanding barriers to information access and disclosure for HIV+ women

ICTD researchers have employed several technology interventions to help combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in developing regions. These interventions address medication compliance, decision-making support for health care workers, and awareness campaigns. A majority of these interventions focus on dissemination of information on HIV prevention, testing and treatment. Our research surfaces the situated knowledge of HIV positive women to examine how heterosexual married couples in Chennai (India) manage knowledge of an HIV-positive status, illustrating why dissemination models often fail to lead to safer health practices. Timely disclosure to sexual partners is critical for preventing transmission and ensuring effective treatment. However, voluntary disclosure between married couples can take up to eight years. Patients often valued maintenance of social connections over longer life spans and health. We describe these sites of dissonance and articulate the conflicting needs and conditions that determine concealment of HIV status. We discuss how socio-cultural factors such as gender structures in intimate relationships determine access, understanding and use of information critical to prevention of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We ask how the ICTD prioritization of efficiency, standardization and measurement neglect the affective and relational experiences that determine the spread of the largest global health crisis. Finally, we provide a set of design considerations and provocations for ICTD researchers to begin addressing the underlying socio-cultural factors that could ensure greater use of beneficial health information by individuals at risk.
Child and adolescent psychotherapy research: Introduction to the special section

The investigation of psychotherapy, whether referring to quantitative or qualitative process, process outcome, or outcome studies, has been predominantly focused on adults. This adultocentric bias ...
Tracking movements of lipids and Thy1 molecules in the plasmalemma of living fibroblasts by fluorescence video microscopy with nanometer scale precision.

The lateral diffusion of 100 nm fluorescent latex microspheres (FS) bound to either N-biotinylphosphatidyl-ethanolamine or the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked protein Thy1 were monitored in the plasmalemma of primary rat fibroblasts by single particle tracking of FS centroids from digital fluorescence micrographs. A silicon intensified target camera was found to be superior to slow scan cooled CCD and intensified interline transfer CCD cameras for monitoring lateral diffusion of rapidly moving FS with nanometer level precision. To estimate the maximum tracking precision, a 4 sec-sequence comprising 120 images of FS fixed to a cover glass was obtained. The mean distance of the centroids from the origin was 7.5 ± 0.4 nm, and no centroids were beyond 16 nm from the origin. The SIT camera was then used to track FS attached to lipids and Thy1 molecules on the surface of fibroblasts. The lateral diffusion of lipid-bound FS was unconstrained, and the ensemble averaged diffusion coefficient was 0.80 × 10−9 cm2/sec. Thy1-bound FS existed in two mobility populations, both of which demonstrated constrained mobility. The rapidly moving population, comprising 61% of the total, had an ensemble diffusion coefficient of 6.1 × 10−10 cm2/sec, and appeared to be restricted to domains with a mean length of about 700 nm. The slowly moving population, comprising about 39% of the total, had a diffusion coefficient of 5.7 × 10−12 cm2/sec. These results demonstrate that nanovid can be extended to the realm of fluorescence microscopy and support previous studies indicating that while the lateral mobilities of at least some lipids are not constrained to small domains by barriers to lateral diffusion in the fibroblast plasmalemma, a peripheral membrane protein which is bound only by a lipid anchor can be prevented from diffusing freely.
The Afghan Model in Northern Iraq

Abstract In Operation ‘Iraqi Freedom’, as the Coalition's heavy forces fought in the South, in the North a handful of special operations forces, working with Kurdish rebels, clashed with the Iraqi army along the Green Line. In operations reminiscent of those used a year earlier to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan, the lightly armed and heavily outnumbered Coalition forces called in air strikes to defeat Iraq's regular and Republican Guard army divisions. This article tells the story of these operations and discusses some of their implications for future US military policy. The success of the Afghan model in Iraq goes a long way toward demonstrating the efficacy of new air-heavy tactics and shows the strategic value of using light indigenous allies to replace heavy US land forces in both conventional combat and occupation operations.
Open-quiz solution: Case report 603

A GCRG of the femur in a 57-year-old man was described. He had undergone local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy for T-cell lymphoma of the jaw and scalp diagnosed 4 weeks previously. Since radiologically the lesion suggested an aggressive process, malignant lymphoma was the most probable preoperative diagnosis. In the differential diagnosis giant cell tumor, brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism, benign fibrous histiocytoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma were discussed in further detail. This histologically documented case of GCRG of the femur without any underlying process appears to be the first case reported in a long bone. It is unclear if the reparative process was primary or represented a reaction of the host bone to lymphoma which had completely responded to chemotherapy.
Presynaptic elements on artificial surfaces. A model for the study of development and regeneration of synapses.

Recently a model has been developed to study the synapse formation in which the components of a synapse can be isolated and examined independently. The observation of neurites forming presynaptic elements on polylysine-coated surfaces is a model for which the formation of presynaptic elements can be studied independently of a cellular postsynaptic element. Studies with neurons from both cell cultures and the intact cerebellum have shown that beads coated with poly-basic proteins can serve as a “postsynaptic element.” With use of this system, observation have shown that the presynaptic element can form quickly, within 3 h, and contain many of the characteristics of a mature presynaptic element, such as synaptic vesicle antigens. Additional studies have shown that astrocytes appear to be involved in the loss or removal of the presynaptic elements on beads. Thus, synaptogenesis may involve the development of inappropriate synaptic contacts, which are eliminated by astrocytes. The lack of regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) also may involve the astrocyte’s ability to remove immature and/or inappropriate presynaptic elements and growth cones as they attempt to cross the lesion site.
Atrial tachycardia initiating atrial fibrillation successfully ablated in the non-coronary cusp of the aorta

A 60-year-old woman was referred for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia (AT) also had been clinically documented. During the electrophysiological study, the clinical AT was induced by burst atrial pacing during isoproterenol infusion and exhibited negative P waves in the inferior leads, positive P waves in leads I, aVL, and aVR, and biphasic P waves in lead V1. The AT repeatedly and spontaneously accelerated to initiate AF by causing fibrillatory conduction in the atria. Successful catheter ablation of the AT was achieved in the non-coronary cusp of the aorta (NCC) where the local atrio-ventricular electrogram amplitude ratio was >1 during both the AT and sinus rhythm. The tailored approach targeting the NCC AT alone without left atrial ablation completely eliminated the AF. In catheter ablation of AF in a patient with a co-existing clinical AT, it may be recommended to examine the clinical AT first. If the clinical AT initiates the AF and local atrial activations in the His bundle region precede the P wave onset during AT, mapping in the NCC should be considered prior to left atrial catheterization.
Phosphorylation of ORF1p is required for L1 retrotransposition

Although members of the L1 (LINE-1) clade of non-LTR retrotransposons can be deleterious, the L1 clade has remained active in most mammals for ∼100 million years and generated almost 40% of the human genome. The details of L1–host interaction are largely unknown, however. Here we report that L1 activity requires phosphorylation of the protein encoded by the L1 ORF1 (ORF1p). Critical phospho-acceptor residues (two serines and two threonines) reside in four conserved proline-directed protein kinase (PDPK) target sites. The PDPK family includes mitogen-activated protein kinases and cyclin-dependent kinases. Mutation of any PDPK phospho-acceptor inhibits L1 retrotransposition. The phosphomimetic aspartic acid can restore activity at the two serine sites, but not at either threonine site, where it is strongly inhibitory. ORF1p also contains conserved PDPK docking sites, which promote specific interaction of PDPKs with their targets. As expected, mutations in these sites also inhibit L1 activity. PDPK mutations in ORF1p that inactivate L1 have no significant effect on the ability of ORF1p to anneal RNA in vitro, an important biochemical property of the protein. We show that phosphorylated PDPK sites in ORF1p are required for an interaction with the peptidyl prolyl isomerase 1 (Pin1), a critical component of PDPK-mediated regulation. Pin1 acts via isomerization of proline side chains at phosphorylated PDPK motifs, thereby affecting substrate conformation and activity. Our demonstration that L1 activity is dependent on and integrated with cellular phosphorylation regulatory cascades significantly increases our understanding of interactions between L1 and its host.
Factors Affecting the Probability of Being Acquired: Evidence for the United States

Within the merger literature, most attention has been paid to the demand side of the market for corporate acquisitions and the effects of mergers. Relatively less attention has been paid to the acquired firm and the factors influencing the probability of acquisition. The most important studies have been done for the United Kingdom (Singh (I97i and I975) and Kuehn (I975)). This paper presents evidence, consistent with the studies done for the United Kingdom, on the factors affecting the probability of acquisition for American firms. The work by Singh and Kuehn is based on the Marris (i 964) growth maximising model. As applied to acquisitions this model suggests the relative likelihood of firms with certain characteristics being acquired. The managerial objective function is maximised subject to a security constraint expressed in terms of the valuation ratio. This is defined as the ratio of the stock market value of a firm's equity to the book value of its net assets. In the Marris framework, managers obtain security (protection from takeover) by maintaining the valuation ratio at or above some minimum level consistent with managerial security. When the valuation ratio falls too low, the firm becomes a candidate for acquisition. In the strong form of Marris' security constraint there is a level of the valuation ratio above which security from takeover is assured and below which takeover is a certainty. The weak form of the constraint says only that the probability of being acquired varies inversely with the valuation ratio. Kuehn (I 9 75) and Singh (I 97 I) use different methodologies to test the Marris hypothesis. Singh used discriminant analysis (with ten potential individual discriminators') to test whether the valuation ratio (alone or in concert with other variables) is a good discriminator between acquired and non-acquired firms.2 He finds that several of the variables have average values for acquired firms which are statistically different from those of non-acquired firms, but the degree of overlap between the two groups is too great for any variable to be a good discriminator. 'The results indicate that in the cases of most of the... discriminators 40 % or more of the firms would be expected to be misclassified (vs. 50 % on random allocation), if any of them was used for classifying firms into taken-
An Examination of the Coordination Chemistry of L2Pt(1,2-DITHIOLENES) Using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI–MS) has been utilized in the characterization of two series of platinum dithiolene complexes, (COD)Pt(dt) 1, (COD)–Pt(edt) 2, (COD)Pt(dmid) 3, (COD)Pt(mnt) 4, (COD)Pt(eddo) 5, (COD)Pt(dddt) 6 and (Ph3P)2Pt(dt) 7, (Ph3P)2Pt(edt) 8, (Ph3P)2Pt(dmid) 9, (Ph3P)2Pt(dmit) 10, (Ph3P)2Pt(mnt) 11 (where COD = 1,5–cyclooctadiene, dt = ethane–1,2–dithiolate, edt = ethylene–1,2–dithiolate, dmid = 1,3–dithiole–2–oxo–4,5–dithiolate, dmit = 1,3–dithiole–2–thione–4,5–dithiolate, mnt = maleonitrile–1,2–dithiolate, eddo = 4–(ethylene–1′,2′–dithiolate)–1,3-dithiole–2–one, and dddt = 5,6–dihydro–1,4–dithiin–2,3–dithiolate). The series that contains triphenylphosphine is labile toward the loss of HPPh3 +. In addition, an orthometallated species involving the platinum and triphenylphosphine is identified. A dimer is identified for 2, which is shown to be a product of the experiment and not present in the parent material. In addition, a 1:1 adduct with NH4...
Note About Possible Bias Resulting When Under-Statisticized Studies are Excluded from Meta-Analyses

computing statistics from their data, researchers will need to consider this aspect. A simple illustration of how that can sometimes be done readily is presented. A robust correlation coefficient easily computable from published data is shown to indicate a sizable relationship that is contrary to the main conclusion of a meta-analysis. Authors of original research should be aware that their studies will tend to be excluded from meta-analyses if their results are not presented in a statistical form amenable to that type of analysis. These authors should consider that sometimes data can be reconfigured readily to produce such statistics. Authors of meta-analyses should consider that exclusion of "under-statisticized" reports can bias their results (e.g., see the "file drawer" problem, Hedges & Olkin, 1985), and that such reconfiguration may be possible with published data. The following simple example illustrates such a reconfiguration and provides information about its robustness. It also illustrates that the maximum effect possible for a given data set may be constrained greatly by the differential shapes of the two score distributions.
Brief Report: Structure of Personal Narratives of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Young adults with High Functioning Autism and a matched comparison group told personal narratives using a standard conversational procedure. Longest narratives were determined (i.e., number of propositions included) and scored using an analysis that looks at the organization of a narrative around a highpoint. The group with Autism Spectrum Disorder produced narratives with significantly poorer HP macrostructure and introduced proportionately fewer propositions with conjunctions. Such impairments in the ability to make sense of personal experiences both reflect and contribute to difficulty in social-emotional functioning.
Empathy and Drug Use Behaviors among African-American Adolescents.

The current study proposed that empathy may indirectly play a protective role for adolescents in drug use behaviors and that this relationship will be mediated by self-regulatory strategies found in drug refusal efficacy. We predict that empathy will be linked to prosocial behavior and aggression, though we do not believe that they will mediate the relationship between empathy and drug use. The sample included 498 African-American adolescents in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The results of structural equation modeling provided support for our hypotheses. Empathy was significantly and positively associated with drug refusal efficacy and prosocial behavior. Empathy was negatively associated with aggression. Drug refusal efficacy was negatively related to past 30-day drug use, providing evidence for the fully mediating role of drug refusal self-efficacy on empathy and past 30-day drug use. Consistent with our predictions, aggression and prosocial behavior were not significantly associated with past 30-day drug use. These findings may be useful in the context of programming efforts for drug prevention.
Electromigration study for multi-scale power/ground vias in TSV-based 3D ICs

Electromigration (EM) in power distribution network (PDN) is a major reliability issue in 3D ICs. While the EM issues of local vias and through-silicon-vias (TSV) have been studied separately, the interplay of TSVs and conventional local vias in 3D ICs has not been well investigated. This co-design is necessary when the die-to-die vertical power delivery is done using both TSVs and local interconnects. In this work, we model EM for PDN of 3D ICs with a focus on multi-scale via structure, i.e., TSVs and local vias used together for vertical power delivery. We study the impact of structure, material, and pre-existing void conditions on EM-related lifetime of our multi-scale via structures. Experimental results demonstrate that our EM modeling can effectively capture the EM reliability of the entire multi-scale via in 3D PDN, which can be hard to achieve by the traditional EM analysis based on the individual local via or TSV.
Development of immobilized membrane-based affinity columns for use in the online characterization of membrane bound proteins and for targeted affinity isolations

Membranes obtained from cell lines that express or do not express a target membrane bound protein have been immobilized on a silica-based liquid chromatographic support or on the surface of an activated glass capillary. The resulting chromatographic columns have been placed in liquid chromatographic systems and used to characterize the target proteins and to identify small molecules that bind to the target. Membranes containing ligand gated ion channels, G-protein coupled receptors and drug transporters have been prepared and characterized. If a marker ligand has been identified for the target protein, frontal or zonal displacement chromatographic techniques can be used to determine binding affinities (K(d) values) and non-linear chromatography can be used to assess the association (k(on)) and dissociation (k(off)) rate constants and the thermodynamics of the binding process. Membrane-based affinity columns have been created using membranes from a cell line that does not express the target protein (control) and the same cell line that expresses the target protein (experimental) after genomic transfection. The resulting columns can be placed in a parallel chromatography system and the differential retention between the control and experimental columns can be used to identify small molecules and protein that bind to the target protein. These applications will be illustrated using columns created using cellular membranes containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the drug transporter P-glycoprotein.
Magnesium in chronic kidney disease: unanswered questions.

Background: Magnesium ion is critical for life and is integrally involved in cellular function and a key component of normal bone mineral. In health, the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and bone are responsible for maintaining serum magnesium concentrations in the normal range and magnesium balance. Most clinical disorders involving magnesium, other than chronic kidney disease (CKD), result in hypomagnesemia, either from gastrointestinal or kidney losses. CKD and particularly end-stage kidney disease is the only clinical condition where sustained hypermagnesemia may occur and net magnesium balance may be positive. Methods: This review will focus on normal magnesium homeostasis and review the literature in CKD with a particular focus on end-stage kidney disease and the potential role of magnesium as a phosphate binder and in cardiovascular and bone health. Results: A number of small to medium-size interventional trials have shown that magnesium-based compounds can serve as effective phosphate binders. Observational studies suggest that higher serum magnesium concentrations in dialysis patients may improve survival and may slow the progression of vascular calcification. While a few small prospective trials support these findings, no large or long-term studies are available. Conclusions: Magnesium balance remains poorly understood in patients with end-stage kidney disease. While observational and small randomized trials suggest that exogenous administration may be useful as a phosphate binder and may have protective cardiovascular effects in terms of both arrhythmias and vascular calcification, large randomized trials are needed to test these hypotheses.
Integrating Finite Element Analysis and Computer Aided Design Into Materials Engineering and Undergraduate Research Projects: Active and Engaged Students

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) have been integrated into our Introductory Materials Engineering course and certain undergraduate independent research experiences at Western Washington University. The key idea underlying these modifications to the curriculum is to increase active student interest and involvement in their own learning. Active learning does indeed promote the way students construct their own understanding of materials engineering design solutions. Since a diverse group of students learn in many different ways, delivering curriculum in multiple ways increases the probability of improving student learning. During the past four years, several strategies have been implemented in our Introduction to Materials Engineering course to transform it from a traditional lecture-centric class to an active, “learner-centered” environment. Case studies, problem based learning (PBL), concept questions, stringed musical instrument design, and active, in-class demonstrations have all been integrated into the course during this transformation. Recent additions to this new course strategy have been the integration of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) illustrations and animations as in-class dynamic demonstrations and applications. In this course, the students must master the ability to use fundamental materials properties such as: tensile strength, yield strength, modulus of elasticity, Poisson’s ratio, flexural strength, hardness, fatigue limit/life, and creep life, so they can correctly select a material for a simple design case given multiple engineering constraints. Since so much of this course is design and applications based, FEA makes an ideal compliment to the other active and conceptual strategies. This paper, then, describes the new FEA and CAD additions and strategies to the course. In addition, the changes in the Introduction to Materials Engineering course have generated a great deal of student interest in completing independent research projects investigating materials for stringed musical instruments and numerous research projects have been completed. The most impressive of these, the design and production of a carbon fiber composite violin using all computer-based tools and an independent research project on guitar design are described. Finally, the paper provides an initial assessment analysis that shows students improving on classical test problem scores, having an enhanced ability to complete a more complex final design problem, and demonstrating increased interest in engineering design.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Temporal Patterns in Work-Related Fatalities Among Foreign-Born Workers in the US, 1992–2007

In the United States, approximately 20% of all workers who died on the job in 2007 were foreign-born. The objective of this study was to describe trends in occupational fatalities among foreign-born workers. An analysis of fatal injuries among foreign-born workers in the US occurring from 1992 through 2007 was conducted using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Individual characteristics, employment characteristics, injury events and industry employment were summarized and evaluated for trends. Both the number and proportion of foreign-born workers who died from a traumatic work-related injury increased substantially over the time period studied. The proportion who were men, aged 25–44 years, Hispanic, non self-employed, employed by business establishments with 10 or fewer employees, working at private residences and working in Construction and Services consistently increased throughout the time period. While some trends among foreign-born decedents are improving, others are worsening. More comprehensive research efforts are needed to address the occupational injury and safety issues among foreign-born workers, with a focus on Hispanics.
Should African Americans with hypertension be treated differently than non-African Americans?

African Americans have a higher burden of hypertension, more severe blood pressure (BP) elevations, more concurrent risk-enhancing co-morbidities (e.g., diabetes), sub-clinical vascular injury at lower non-hypertensive BP levels, lower BP control rates, and significantly greater risk for adverse pressure-related clinical complications (e.g., stroke, heart failure) than whites. Randomized prospective data from hypertension endpoint trials show a virtually identical percentage reduction in CVD risk for a given magnitude of BP lowering, irrespective of the presence or absence of pre-treatment CVD across a broad range of BP down to pre-treatment BP levels of 110/70 mm Hg. These data, mostly emanating from white populations, do not necessarily inform practitioners as to the level below which BP should be lowered in those with established, long-standing hypertension; however, these data do provide support for initiating hypertension treatment at lower than conventional BP thresholds. A Mendelian randomized study examining the impact of life-long lower SBP levels showed that lifelong exposure to 10 mm Hg lower SBP was associated with an 82 % lesser rate of SBP rise per decade and a 58 % lower CHD risk that was much greater than the 22 % reduction in CHD reported for the same magnitude of SBP reduction in clinical trials. Arguably, it is the hypertension treatment paradigm that merits reexamination. Earlier hypertension treatment in all populations prior to the onset of significant pressure-related target organ injury might conceivably prevent, or at least significantly attenuate, the well documented age-related rise in BP seen in most Western societies. In addition, this treatment paradigm might also reduce the significant residual CVD risk observed under the current recommended approach to hypertension treatment. This new approach to therapy would likely have substantial clinical and public health benefits in the high-risk, under-treated African American population that suffers outsized devastating consequences from inadequate control of BP.
The Relationship Between Body Weight Loss During an Induced Molt and Postmolt Egg Production, Egg Weight, and Shell Quality in Caged Layers ,,

Two trials were conducted to determine the relationship between percent body weight loss (% BWL) during an induced molt and postmolt performance. The molt was induced by fasting and photoperiod manipulation. Four groups with 24, 27, 31, or 35% BWL (Trial 1) or 20, 25, 30, or 35% BWL (Trial 2) were utilized in each trial. Performance was evaluated on the basis of 24 weeks of egg production and determinations of egg weight (EW), specific gravity (SG), and shell weight (SW) conducted during Weeks 8 (Trial 2 only), 18, and 24 following the removal of feed. The 27 and 31% BWL groups of Trial 1 and the 30 and 35% BWL groups of Trial 2 produced significantly more eggs per hen housed than the remaining treatments in their respective trial. Differences in SG and SW at the end of the trial were most pronounced in Trial 1 where the 27 and 21% BWL groups exhibited significantly greater SG and SW at Week 24 than did the 24 or 35% BWL groups. No significant differences occurred for SG at Week 24 of Trial 2, but the 35% BWL group exhibited significantly improved SW when compared to the 25% BWL group with the remaining groups intermediate. The EW was greatest for the 31% BWL and least for the 35% BWL group at 24 weeks in Trial 1 but did not differ in Trial 2. It was concluded that a body weight loss of approximately 27 to 31% produced optimum postmolt performance.
Functionalization of corroles: the nitration reaction.

The reaction of meso-triarylcorroles with AgNO2 proceeds with concomitant metalation and peripheral substitution to give the corresponding nitro-substituted silver(III) corrole complex. The substitution is highly regioselective, giving only the corresponding 3-nitro derivative, among the different possible isomers. The results obtained indicate that the reaction intermediate is the π-cation radical of the complex, which is then attacked by nitrite ion. This was proven by the reaction of the copper corrole complexes with NaNO2: in this case, the nitration reaction proceeded without the addition of an oxidant, because of the π-cation radical character of the copper complex. The reaction is also successful in the case of 2,3,17,18-tetraethyl-8,12-diacetoxymethyl-7,13-dimethylcorrole (AMCorH3), with the formation of the meso-substituted silver corrole derivative (NO2)3AMCorAg (fully characterized by X-ray crystallography), the first of its kind to be reported. Two of the corroles are characterized by cyclic ...
Experiences of modernity in the greenhouse : A cultural analysis of a physicist "trio" supporting the backlash against global warming

Abstract This paper identifies cultural and historical dimensions that structure US climate science politics. It explores why a key subset of scientists—the physicist founders and leaders of the influential George C. Marshall Institute—chose to lend their scientific authority to this movement which continues to powerfully shape US climate policy. The paper suggests that these physicists joined the environmental backlash to stem changing tides in science and society, and to defend their preferred understandings of science, modernity, and of themselves as a physicist elite—understandings challenged by on-going transformations encapsulated by the widespread concern about human-induced climate change.
An Analysis of Twitter Conversations at Academic Conferences

Academic conference organizers encourage tweeting during presentations to promote access and engagement. In this paper, I provide a methodological framework for analyzing Twitter conversations during academic conferences. An analysis of tweets archived during the 2014 Conference on College Composition and Communication is included as an example. Tweets using the #4C14 hashtag (N=12,522) were analyzed to determine 1) when people tweet during conferences, 2) what sessions they tweet about most, 3) how often participants tweet during sessions, and 4) what people tweet about at conferences during times of high Twitter activity. Results suggest conference attendees tweet most frequently during the middle of each day during the conference, presentations related to technology yield high Twitter activity, and retweeting particular sessions extended presentations far beyond the designated time blocks of each conference panel. These results provide valuable information for conference organizers and experience architects interested in promoting participatory digital spaces during academic conferences.
Evaluation of environmental hazards following the use of synthetic grit containing mestranol for pigeon control.

Laboratory raised hybrid mice, representing the Order Rodentia, Drosophila melanogaster, representing the Class Insecta, and soil analyses were used in experiments to determine the effect of mestranol in coated grit on the environment when applied in a controlled baiting program for pigeons. Mice do not have an aversion to pellets containing coated synthetic grit, but will not voluntarily eat the grit. Etherized mice were force-fed particles of grit to determine rate of grit travel through the digestive system. All mice had excreted grit by 8 hr after treatment. Reproductivity of adults eating pigeon food pellets containing grit, and their F1, did not differ from control mice. Drosophila melanogaster will utilize the pigeon pellets containing grit with no resultant deviation from normal reproductivity. Mestranol in synthetic grit was subjected to greenhouse conditions on natural potting soil to determine whether leaching occurred. Soil washings through 24 hr after treatment analyzed by gas chromatography yielded no detectable (<0.1 μg) mestranol in the soil. Mestranol (2.54 mg) in solution on 317.4 cm2 of both natural and sterile soil was detected at less than the 0.1 μg level 3 hr after treatment. At 6 hr, mestranol was detected (<0.1 μg) in sterile soil but not in natural soil, indicating that mestranol is readily degraded by soil microorganisms and plants. This supports previous reports that the half-life of mestranol is less than 6 hr in a biological system. Mestranol in the form used for pigeon population control has no effect on representative organisms of components of the pigeons' feeding habitat.
Nonlinear control of mechatronic systems with permanent-magnet DC motors

Abstract The current trends in development and deployment of advanced electromechanical systems have facilitated the unified activities in the analysis and design of state-of-the-art motion devices, electric motors, power electronics, and digital controllers. This paper attacks the motion control problem (stabilization, tracking, and disturbance attenuation) for mechatronic systems which include permanent-magnet DC motors, power circuity, and motion controllers. By using an explicit representation of nonlinear dynamics of motors and switching converters, we approach and solve analysis and control problems to ensure a spectrum of performance objectives imposed on advanced mechatronic systems. The maximum allowable magnitude of the applied armature voltage is rated, the currents are limited, and there exist the lower and upper limits of the duty ratio of converters. To approach design tradeoffs and analyze performance (accuracy, settling time, overshoot, stability margins, and other quantities), the imposed constraints, model nonlinearities, and parameter variations are thoroughly studied in this paper. Our goal is to attain the specified characteristics and avoid deficiencies associated with linear formulation. To solve these problems, an innovative controller is synthesized to ensure performance improvements, robust tracking, and disturbance rejection. One cannot neglect constraints, and a bounded control law is designed to improve performance and guarantee robust stability. The offered approach uses a complete nonlinear mechatronic system dynamics with parameter variations, and this avenue allows one to avoid the conservative results associated with linear concept when mechatronic system dynamics is mapped by a linear constant-coefficient differential equation. To illustrate the reported framework and to validate the controller, analytical and experimental results are presented and discussed. In particular, comprehensive analysis and design with experimental verification are performed for an electric drive. A nonlinear bounded controller is designed, implemented, and experimentally tested.
Conspiracy or cock‐up? Pearl Harbor revisited

Henry C. Clausen and Bruce Lee, Pearl Harbor: Final Judgment (New York: Crown Books, 1992). Pp.485. $25.00.