cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zinc supplements and serum lipids in young adult white males

A 12-wk double-blind study was conducted to determine the effect of oral zinc supplementation upon serum total cholesterol, lipoprotein-cholesterol fractions, and serum triglycerides in white males. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups and consumed either a placebo tablet (n = 9), 50 mg Zn/d (n = 13), or 75 mg Zn/d (n = 9) as Zn gluconate. Serum total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides were not affected by Zn supplements. However, serum high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels in subjects assigned to the 75 mg Zn/d group were significantly lower at weeks 6 and 12 than those for the placebo group and lower at weeks 6, 8, and 12 than at baseline; subjects assigned to the 50 mg Zn/d group had lower serum HDL-cholesterol levels at week 12 than did the placebo group and lower at week 12 than at base line.
Muskingum optimisation used for evaluation of regionalised stormwater detention: Muskingum optimisation to evaluate stormwater detention

Strategies for flood mitigation are compared within an urbanising watershed. An approach for modelling and evaluating placement of detention in a developing watershed is presented. Effect of regionalised detention upon required detention volume is compared with localised detention. The study compares the effect of detention basins placed within the completely urbanised watershed by generating models of both the overall watershed and detailed sub-basins. For planning within a developing watershed, this requires modelling the ultimate developed condition, with and without detention. From a watershed having 114 sub-basins, detailed models of five selected sub-basins are generated, representing the ultimate urbanised condition with and without local detention. Hydrologic Engineering Center – Hydrologic Modeling System optimisation is used to estimate parameters of Muskingum routing reaches resembling the effects of localised detention. Next, using Muskingum routing to replicate those effects in other sub-basins, detained hydrographs are generated for the other sub-basins throughout the watershed. Thus, a model of the entire watershed with localised detention is generated. The original watershed model is modified yet again, with detention applied only at selected regional sites. Regional basins are designed to reduce peak flow to values comparable with that achieved by localised detention. Regional versus localised detentions are evaluated by comparison of total required detention volume.
Defining quality diabetes care in the new health system.

The new model of diabetes care needs to be one that identifies all patients early in the course of their disease, has systems in place to monitor for incident complications, and employs a multidisciplinary team of professionals to provide patients with preventive, coordinated, and evidence-based care. Patients will be active consumers in this new system, increasingly engaged in their own care, and increasingly choosing providers based on quality and accessibility. As the consummate third party to this arrangement, public and private payers should have no other choice but to reward providers for offering consistent and high-quality care, which all patients morally deserve.
Cognitive Radio Based Wireless Sensor Network architecture for smart grid utility

A multi layered approach is proposed to provide energy and spectrum efficient designs of Cognitive Radio Based Wireless Sensor Networks (CR-WSN) at the smart grid utility. CR-WSNs consume higher power and involve complex design procedure. Since smart grid wireless applications being used currently are meant to save power, we model the CR-WSN based home area networks by keeping minimum power consumption as the key criteria. We present an efficient design methodology spanning across multiple layers. We propose some key modifications of RPL (Routing protocol for low power and lossy networks) to suit our requirements. This provides us reliable and low-latency routing support for large-scale cognitive smart grid networks. Our RPL implementation handles finer aspects of the network such as asymmetry, device capacity handling which is performed through selective routing where battery powered devices are spared from spectrum sensing operation and minimum number of routes passes through it.
INSTITUTIONAL OBSTACLES TO RN UNIONIZATION: HOW “VOTE NO” THINKING IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE NURSING PROFESSION

The essay examines private sector unionization in the U.S., arguing that elections for representation frequently are unfairly unbalanced against supporters of union representation. Given that hospital administrators typically harbor an antiunion bias, with few exceptions, representation elections are permeated with employer propaganda to ensure their institutions remain nonunion. Passage of the Employee Free Choice Act would significantly improve the capacity of nurses to organize unions of their choice through card check rules, while reducing the hospital management “vote-no” campaigns that are highly unfavorable toward labor organizing. Unionization is a means to significantly improve conditions for nurses, who are the principle “guardians of the sick.”
The effect of different pine hosts on the sampling of Rhizopogon spore banks in five Eastern Sierra Nevada forests.

Summary • Our primary goal was to determine whether detection of Rhizopogon internal transcribed spacer (ITS) groups is affected by the pine species used in seedling bioassays. Our secondary goal was to investigate composition of Rhizopogon spore banks in the Eastern Sierra Nevada of California, a previously unsampled region. • We used seedlings of Pinus contorta, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus lambertiana, and Pinus muricata as bioassay plants and identified the Rhizopogon retrieved by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis. • We found that each of the pine species retrieved all of the abundant Rhizopogon ITS groups, but there were significant differences among pines in the richness of Rhizopogon ITS groups recovered. Pinus muricata recovered all ITS groups found in this study and was significantly better than P. lambertiana. Rhizopogon communities from the five sampled sites contained six to eight ITS groups per site, with two unique sequence groups and a higher abundance of the Rhizopogon ellenae and Rhizopogon arctostaphyli groups than at previously sampled sites. • These results show high cross-receptivity between Rhizopogon and pine species, and regional patterns in spore bank composition.
Hormesis: Once Marginalized, Evidence Now Supports Hormesis as the Most Fundamental Dose Response

The biomedical community made a fundamental error on the nature of the dose-response relationship early in the 20th century and has perpetuated this error to the present. The error was the byproduct of the conflict between homeopathy and traditional medicine. To deny support to homeopathy, leaders of the biomedical community rejected the hormetic biphasic dose-response model, the proposed explanatory principle of homeopathy. The threshold dose-response model was adopted as an alternative model, quickly becoming central to toxicology/pharmacology and their numerous applications. Despite its near-universal acceptance, no attempt was made to validate the ability of the threshold model to accurately predict responses in the below-threshold zone at the time of acceptance and throughout the 20th century. In contrast, the hormetic biphasic dose-response model became marginalized and was excluded from the mainstream of pharmacological/toxicological teaching and practice, textbook development, professional society journal publications, annual meeting presentations, grant funding, and use in government risk assessment. Over the last decade there has been a resurgence of interest in hormesis due to findings indicating that hormetic responses are common, reproducible, and generalizable, as well as independent of biological model, endpoint, and chemical class/physical stressor. Large-scale studies have indicated that the threshold model fails to accurately predict responses below the threshold, whereas the hormetic dose-response model performs very well. These findings indicate that the biomedical community made an error on the nature of the dose-response relationship, compromising the accuracy of toxicological and risk assessment practices, including environmental exposure standards, and impeding drug discovery/development and drug safety studies.
Characteristic energy losses of injected low energy electrons in ionic solids

Abstract Characteristic energy losses of 0–18 V electrons have been measured for thin films of alkali and alkaline earth fluorides as well as NaBr, RbBr and RbCl. In addition to losses in the optical region there are also several losses at lower energy for each system, some of which may be due to triplet exciton states. Results for the fluorides, in particular, can be correlated with each other and with optical data.
Cortical EEG stimulant effects in the rabbit of acetaldehyde-biogenic amine reaction products.

SummaryIt is concluded that reaction products obtained by acetaldehyde treatment of certain biologically active amines manifest cerebrocortical EEG stimulant activity significantly greater than the parent compounds. We postulate that such products may indeed be formed endogenously, perhaps especially in pathologic conditions, to the extent of producing enhanced CNS stimulation. This further supports the hypothesis that prolonged CNS hyperstimulation induced by biochemical errors, may be etiological in some schizophrenic states.
Internal carotid artery aneurysm repair requiring skull base resection: a case study.

Abstract A 51-year-old man with a history of hypertension and smoking with an internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm was a referral from an outside hospital. He had a history remarkable for headaches for 6 months refractory to conventional therapy, but no stroke, transient ischemic attack, seizure activity, or neck pain. Arteriogram revealed a right ICA aneurysm at the level of the skull base with no accessible cervical ICA distal to the aneurysm. The petrous and intracranial ICA were normal. A team approach to repair was undertaken with a skull base resection and ICA exposure by head and neck surgeons and vascular reconstruction with vein graft from common carotid to petrous portion of ICA by vascular surgeons. A small right parietal infarction was noted in the postoperative period and became a focus of seizure activity. Anti-seizure medication was successful and transient upper-extremity weakness cleared. Transient dysfunction of cranial nerves VII and IX developed. The complex nature of the operation required expertise from different surgical specialties, and the postoperative complication mandated medical specialty and extensive inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies. ICA aneurysms of the skull base are uncommon. Historic treatment involved either ligation with a high risk of stroke or bypass to intracranial artery because direct repair was difficult. With a skilled team approach, direct repair as described is effective. This article focuses on the complexity of the surgical procedure, perioperative care, outcome of surgical intervention, and a multidisciplinary approach to the care of the patient undergoing ICA aneurysm repair requiring skull base resection.
Analysis of vitamin E metabolites including carboxychromanols and sulfated derivatives using LC/MS/MS.

Tocopherols and tocotrienols are metabolized via hydroxylation and oxidation of their hydrophobic side chain to generate 13′-hydroxychromanols (13′-OHs) and various carboxychromanols, which can be further metabolized by conjugation including sulfation. Recent studies indicate that long-chain carboxychromanols, especially 13′-carboxychromanol (13′-COOH), appear to be more bioactive than tocopherols in anti-inflammatory and anticancer actions. To understand the potential contribution of metabolites to vitamin E-mediated effects, an accurate assay is needed to evaluate bioavailability of these metabolites. Here we describe an LC/MS/MS assay for quantifying vitamin E metabolites using negative polarity ESI. This assay includes a reliable sample extraction procedure with efficacy of ≥ 89% and interday/intraday variation of 3–11% for major metabolites. To ensure accurate quantification, short-chain, long-chain, and sulfated carboxychromanols are included as external/internal standards. Using this assay, we observed that sulfated carboxychromanols are the primary metabolites in the plasma of rodents fed with γ-tocopherol or δ-tocopherol. Although plasma levels of 13′-COOHs and 13′-OHs are low, high concentrations of these compounds are found in feces. Our study demonstrates an LC/MS/MS assay for quantitation of sulfated and unconjugated vitamin E metabolites, and this assay will be useful for evaluating the role of these metabolites in vivo.
Francis, C. 2008. A Guide to the Mammals of South-East Asia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, and Oxford, United Kingdom, 392 pp. ISBN 978-0-691-13551-9, price (hardbound), $55.00.

C. Francis. 2008. A Guide to the Mammals of South-East Asia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, and Oxford, United Kingdom, 392pp. ISBN ISBN 978-0-691-13551-9, price (hardbound), $55.00. The timing could not be better for the release of this guide. It complements the recent publication of A Guide to the Mammals of China . Together with the earlier work, A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo (Payne and Francis 1985), these 3 guides provide a comprehensive examination of Southeast Asian mammals. Countries represented in this book are Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore. Although Sumatra and Java are not included in this book, they are illustrated in A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Southeast Asia (Francis 2007). The 30 years Charles Francis spent in the field in Southeast Asia are evidenced by the complete and thoughtful nature of this guide. He stresses in the preface that this is a secondary source and should be used accordingly. Descriptions are included for approximately 470 species of land mammals, 28 species of cetaceans known or suspected of occurring in Southeast Asian waters, and the dugong …
Compacted Clays: A Symposium: Structure and Strength Characteristics

The influence of soil structure on shrinkage, swelling, swell-pressures, stress-deformation characteristics, undrained strength, pore-water pressures and effective strength characteristics is descr...
Multifrequency Approaches in Characterization of Materials With Single-Pass Kelvin Force Microscopy

This article presents an implementation of high-resolution imaging in Kelvin force microscopy (KFM) using the multi-frequency approach in the intermittent contact mode. The basic function of atomic force microscopy – high resolution imaging of surface topography is usually performed in the resonant oscillatory modes: amplitude modulation or frequency modulation. When a conducting probe is applied in the AFM-related electric modes it senses also the electrostatic tip-sample forces. Simultaneous and separate detection of the mechanical and electrostatic forces can be realized by using the probe response at different resonant and non-resonant frequencies. In KFM, a nullification of the electrostatic force is applied for detection of a local surface potential. The described experimental set-up and procedures help us to reveal the surface potential variations with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. The examples of KFM studies of metals, semiconductors and molecular systems with dipole moments demonstrate how this technique can be applied for advanced and quantitative characterization of heterogeneous systems.© 2010 ASME
Note on the blood-pressure changes following reduction of the renal arterial circulation

Of the various workers who have studied the effects of reduction of kidney substance, only Passler and Heineke record systematic blood-pressure observations. They were able to make direct measurements in the femoral on five dogs before and after operation, and reported a rise in pressure in all, the smallest increase being 15 mm., the greatest 29 mm., and the average 21.5 mm. These figures are based on the comparison of single readings before operation with one or more after operation, and are open to the objections I have previously urged. Because of the small number of reported observations in this field, I hope to be pardoned for presenting my still very incomplete studies at this time, in order that I may demonstrate one of the animals now living with reduced kidney substance and hypertension.I have made blood-pressure readings, by the rough method previously described, on twenty-three dogs, over a period of fifteen months. As a guide to normal readings in the dog I have figures from twelve dogs that ...
Explanation of Structural Cerebral Asymmetries

The exploration of structural cerebral asymmetries of potential functional significance from the lateralisation of language abilities has attracted considerable attention over the past 15 years. The following presentation examines three separate reports (McShane, 1983; McShane et al, 1984; McShane and Willenbring, 1984) which present data indicating a) that certain frontal and occipital skull distance measurements using computed tomography differentiate Caucasian, Asian, Black and American Indian populations; b) that cerebral morphologic asymmetries on CT scan vary as a function of ethnic origin, and c) history of alcohol use significantly and consistently varies with patterns of cerebral asymmetries, obscuring ethnic differences in these patterns. The relationships between neurocranial form, cerebral asymmetries, ethnicity and history of alcohol use are explored. These neuroanatomical results are examined in relation to patterns of neuropsychological functioning reported in other research literature. The possibilities for relating anatomical and functional differences between various ethnic groups is explored in terms of ongoing and anticipated research.
Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 prodrug on glycemia control in non-diabetic mice

AIM: To study the effects of proglucagon-like peptide-1,a long-acting prodrug glucagon-like peptide-1,on regulations of blood glucose levels and insulin secretion in non-diabetic mice.METHODS: Pro-GLP-1 was administered via sc route.Blood glucose levels were measured using a blood glucose meter.Plasma insulin concentrations were determined by ELISA.RESULTS: In C57BL/6 mice,native GLP-1 and Pro-GLP-1 decreased blood glucose,but Pro-GLP-1 had a more evident action.A single injection of Pro-GLP-1 dose-dependently reduced higher glucose following glucose load at least 3 h,and it had no effect on normal blood glucose.Moreover, it dose-dependently stimulated insulin secretion and significantly improved glucose tolerance after glucose challenge.CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that Pro-GLP-1 facilitates a dose-dependently significant and prolonged glucose-lowering effect.
Point-to-Point Multi-Stage Circuit Switching

In this chapter, we shall deal with the problem of providing point-to-point interconnection between terminals with the same bit-rate such as telephony.
Using multi-theory model to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption among college students.

Background: Consumption of large portion sizes is contributing to overweight and obesity.College students are a vulnerable group in this regard. The purpose of this study was to use multi-theory model (MTM) to predict initiation and sustenance of small portion size consumption in college students. Methods: A total of 135 students at a large Southern US University completed a 35-item valid (face, content, and construct) and reliable (internally consistent) survey electronically in a cross-sectional design. The main outcome measures were intention to start eating small portion sizes and continuing to eat small portion sizes. Only those students who ate large portion sizes during the past 24 hours were included. Results: Step wise multiple regression showed that initiation of small portion size consumption was explained by participatory dialogue (advantages outweighing disadvantages), behavioral confidence, age, and gender (adjusted R2 = 0.37, P < 0.001). Males were less likely to initiate small portion size consumption than females (β = -0.185, 95% CI = -0.71– -0.11). Regarding sustenance, emotional transformation, changes in social environment, and race were the significant predictors (adjusted R2 = 0.20, P < 0.001). Whites were less likely to sustain small portion size change than other races (β = -0.269, 95% CI = -0.97 – -0.26). Conclusion: Based on this study’s findings, MTM appears to be a robust theoretical framework for predicting small portion size consumption behavior change. Interventions in this regard need to be designed.
Tools for Model Building and Optimization into Near-Atomic Resolution Electron Cryo-Microscopy Density Maps

Electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM) has advanced dramatically to become a viable tool for high-resolution structural biology research. The ultimate outcome of a cryoEM study is an atomic model of a macromolecule or its complex with interacting partners. This chapter describes a variety of algorithms and software to build a de novo model based on the cryoEM 3D density map, to optimize the model with the best stereochemistry restraints and finally to validate the model with proper protocols. The full process of atomic structure determination from a cryoEM map is described. The tools outlined in this chapter should prove extremely valuable in revealing atomic interactions guided by cryoEM data.
Terroryzm, feminizm, siostry i bliźnięta: budowanie relacji w obliczu ataków na World Trade Center

The essay is an attempt at answering to the “urgent need to complicate the relationship between feminism and violence,” by way of an interpretation of Margarethe von Trotta’s Marianne and Juliane ( Die bleierne Zeit ). Taking a Freudian slip – the substitution of a panelist in a discussion about 9/11 of the word “terrorism” for “feminism” – as her point of departure, the author looks at what might in fact connect these figures. She opposes the cultural essentialisation of violence, and in her analyses makes productive the power of ambivalence and of “back-stretched relations” to “move beyond a notion of America that depends upon either absolute sameness or absolute difference,” beyond the logic of “us” versus “them.”
All Politics Is Local? County Sheriffs and Localized Policies of Immigration Enforcement:

Immigration enforcement and policy making has increasingly devolved to the local level in the United States. American sheriffs present a unique opportunity to evaluate decisions made about immigration policies in the local context. In dealing with immigration concerns in their counties, sheriffs act both within the confines of federal and state mandates and as local policymakers. However, little research comprehensively assesses the role sheriffs play in immigration policy making. Using data from an original, national survey of more than five hundred elected sheriffs in the United States, we provide a broad account of sheriffs’ roles in immigration enforcement and policy making. Our research demonstrates that sheriffs’ ideology and personal characteristics shape their personal attitudes about immigrants. In turn, these attitudes play a key role in influencing local enforcement decisions. Sheriffs’ immigration attitudes relate strongest to checks of the immigration status of witnesses and victims and those...
Algorithms and matching lower bounds for approximately-convex optimization

In recent years, a rapidly increasing number of applications in practice requires optimizing non-convex objectives, like training neural networks, learning graphical models, maximum likelihood estimation. Though simple heuristics such as gradient descent with very few modifications tend to work well, theoretical understanding is very weak. We consider possibly the most natural class of non-convex functions where one could hope to obtain provable guarantees: functions that are "approximately convex", i.e. functions f : ℝd → ℝ for which there exists a convex function f such that for all x, |f (x) - f(x)| ≤ Δ for a fixed value Δ. We then want to minimize f, i.e. output a point x such that f(x) ≤ minx f(x) + e. It is quite natural to conjecture that for fixed e, the problem gets harder for larger Δ, however, the exact dependency of e and Δ is not known. In this paper, we significantly improve the known lower bound on Δ as a function of e and an algorithm matching this lower bound for a natural class of convex bodies. More precisely, we identify a function T : ℝ+ - ℝ+ such that when Δ = O(T(e)), we can give an algorithm that outputs a point x such that f (x) ≤ minx f (x) + e within time poly (d, 1/e). On the other hand, when Δ = Ω(T(e)), we also prove an information theoretic lower bound that any algorithm that outputs such a x must use super polynomial number of evaluations of f.
An Integrated Solar Database (ISD) with Extended Spatiotemporal Querying Capabilities

Over the last decade, the volume of solar big data have increased immensely. However, the availability and standardization of solar data resources has not received much attention primarily due to the scattered structure among different data providers, lack of consensus on data formats and querying capabilities on metadata. Moreover, there is limited access to the derived solar data such as image parameters extracted either from solar images or tracked solar events. In this paper, we introduce the Integrated Solar Database (ISD), which aims to integrate the heterogeneous solar data sources. In ISD, we store solar event metadata, tracked and interpolated solar events, compressed solar images, and texture parameters extracted from high resolution solar images. ISD offers a rich variety of spatiotemporal and aggregate queries served via a web Application Program Interface (API) and visualized through a web interface.
Genetic Analysis of the Roles of Yeast ARS Binding Factor I

Yeast autonomously replicating sequences (ARSs) were originally identified as segments of DNA that permitted autonomous replication of colinear DNA as plasmids in yeast (Struhl et al., 1979). Direct evidence that ARSs function as origins of replication on plasmids, and more important, that a subset of ARSs function as origins of replication in the chromosome, comes from 2-D gel analysis of replication intermediates (Brewer and Fangman, 1987; Huberman et al., 1987, 1988). ARS1, the ARS with which we have been working for many years, is an active origin within the chromosome. Sequence comparisons between the 20 or so different ARSs that have been identified and the effect of mutations on plasmid stability have revealed two underlying similarities: A high A/T content compared to chromosomal DNA and the presence of a conserved core consensus sequence: 5’ (A/T)TTTA(T/C)(A/G)TTT(A/T(T/C/G) 3’ (see Campbell and Newlon, 1991 for review). Point mutations, small deletions and small substitutions abolish ARS function. Many ARSs contain multiple close matches to this sequence, though spacing and orientation varies. The core consensus sequence is a potential initiator protein binding site. DNase I footprinting patterns of the chromosomal copy of ARS1 showed that the core might be protected from digestion (Lohr and Torchia, 1988).
Bright lines or blurred lines? Universal background checks and the NRA slippery slope argument

ABSTRACTThis essay analyzes and evaluates the slippery slope argument (SSA) as presented by the National Rifle Association. The work of argument scholars and informal logicians, particularly of Douglas Walton, provides the central interpretive and evaluative vocabularies enabling the most complete understanding of this argument. Evaluation of the argument is enabled both by the SSA critical vocabulary, as well by a dialogic approach that considers the NRA's SSA within the larger context of President Obama's public discourses on the issue. Analysis of the argument generates insights that enrich the theoretical foundations of SSA scholarship, and potentially contribute to a more reasonable public debate about gun rights and gun control.
Implicative simultaneous satisfiability and applications

This paper proposes an efficient algorithm for the systematic learning of implications. This is done as part of a new search and restart strategy in the SAT solver. We evaluate the new algorithm within a number of applications, including BMC and induction with invariant strengthening for equivalence checking. We provide extensive experimental evidence attesting to a speedup of one and often two orders of magnitude with our algorithm, on a representative set of industrial and publicly available test suites, as compared to a basic version of invariant strengthening. Moreover, we show that the new invariant strengthening algorithm alone performs better than induction and interpolation, and that the absolutely best result is achieved when it is combined with interpolation. In addition, we experimentally demonstrate the superiority of an application of our new algorithm to BMC.
Cycling of oxyanion-forming trace elements in groundwaters from a freshwater deltaic marsh

Abstract Pore waters and surface waters were collected from a freshwater system in southeastern Louisiana to investigate the geochemical cycling of oxyanion-forming trace elements (i.e., Mo, W, As, V). A small bayou (Bayou Fortier) receives input from a connecting lake (Lac des Allemands) and groundwater input at the head approximately 5 km directly south of the Mississippi River. Marsh groundwaters exchange with bayou surface water but are otherwise relatively isolated from outside hydrologic forcings, such as tides, storms, and effects from local navigation canals. Rather, redox processes in the marsh groundwaters appear to drive changes in trace element concentrations. Elevated dissolved S(-II) concentrations in marsh groundwaters suggest greater reducing conditions in the late fall and winter as compared to the spring and late summer. The data suggest that reducing conditions in marsh groundwaters initiate the dissolution of Fe(III)/Mn(IV) oxide/hydroxide minerals, which releases adsorbed and/or co-precipitated trace elements into solution. Once in solution, the fate of these elements is determined by complexation with aqueous species and precipitation with iron sulfide minerals. The trace elements remain soluble in the presence of Fe(III)- and SO42-- reducing conditions, suggesting that either kinetic limitations or complexation with aqueous ligands obfuscates the correlation between V and Mo sequestration in sediments with reducing or euxinic conditions.
Tensions and Challenges in Enacting Critical Literacy Pedagogy

This chapter depicts the tensions and challenges that we faced in the process of enacting critical literacy pedagogy in the classroom. It uncovers the tacit assumptions underlying the different dispositions and perspectives of classroom community members. This chapter also describes the contextual and institutional constraints in actualizing critical literacy pedagogy. The challenges include structuralistic binarism and cultural essentialism perceived by students, students’ perceived notion of “critical” as too confrontational and too political, and time and institutional constraints faced by both teachers and students in and out of the classroom. Further, I discuss my balancing act as a critical pedagogue and facilitator in the teacher education classroom. Disrupting students’ beliefs, assumptions, and knowledge is uncomfortable for the teacher when she values a sense of community and care within the classroom. However, the making of third space inevitably involves continuing modifications to subject positions, both of teachers and students. It is evident that identity formation is not analogous to harmony and consent; rather, such process is often painful, conflicted, and acrimonious. Without careful background work and critical dialogue, student learning can only result in interpretations that fit into their previously learned frameworks.
An Event Detection Framework for Virtual Observation System: Anomaly Identification for an ACME Land Simulation

Based on previous work on in-situ data transfer infrastructure and compiler-based software analysis, we have designed a virtual observation system for real time computer simulations. This paper presents an event detection framework for a virtual observation system. By using signal processing and detection approaches to the memory-based data streams, this framework can be reconfigured to capture high-frequency events and low-frequency events. These approaches used in the framework can dramatically reduce the data transfer needed for in-situ data analysis (between distributed computing nodes or between the CPU/GPU nodes). In the paper, we also use a terrestrial ecosystem system simulation within the Earth System Model to demonstrate the practical values of this effort.
The Enigma of Fragmentation in Early Human Embryos: Possible Causes and Clinical Relevance

Blastomere fragmentation is one of the most enigmatic aspects of early human embryogenesis. Within cohorts of embryos maintained under identical conditions, including those cultured in the same dish, fragmentation affects none, some or all embryos during the early cleavage stages. The importance of fragmentation in clinical IVF is related to several questions: First, is this phenomenon indicative of reduced competence or a premorbid condition that argues against transfer to the patient or cryopreservation for future attempts at pregnancy? Second, is fragmentation a normal process in early human development or an in vitro artifact, perhaps associated with suboptimal culture media and conditions, which have yet to be identified? Three, what is the cellular or molecular basis of fragmentation, and do different patterns and extents of fragmentation have a common or different etiology. Virtually all empirically based systems currently used to assess performance in vitro and select human embryos for transfer include some form of fragmentation characterization. For some schemes, the degree of fragmentation is a subjective estimate based on the relative size of the fragment population observed by light microscopy (slight-to- extensive, e.g. Puissant et al, 1987; Giorgetto et al, 1995; Hoover et al, 1995). Depending upon protocols used in clinical IVF laboratories, numerical (e.g., 1-to-4) or letter grades (e.g., A-to-D) may be assigned to represent the apparent degree of fragmentation, which is often determined at a single inspection during cleavage.
Genetic Mosaics and Chimeras: Implications in Biotechnology

Genetic mosaics are plants which are composed of tissues of two or more genotypes. They should not be confused with plant hybrids, which possess only one genotype; a genotype which is the product of recombination following fertilization. Mosaics can arise spontaneously or can be induced with chemical or physical mutagens. In mutagenized plants most of the mutant sectors arise outside the shoot apex (i.e., “extra-apical mosaicism”, described by Bergann 1967).
Lignotuber Development in Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is famous for its powers of survival. On the evolutionary time scale, the genus can be traced back at least to the middle Jurassic, while species that are similar to G. biloba date back to the Cretaceous. On the human time scale, the longevity of individual trees is equally impressive, particularly in Asia where ancient specimens, often approaching or exceeding a thousand years in age, can be seen growing in the vicinity of Buddhist or Taoist temples. In modern times, the ginkgo tree has been widely planted in many cities, where it flourishes in the midst of extreme air pollution and extensive pavement.
Experimental and model estimates of the contributions from biogenic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes to secondary organic aerosol in the southeastern United States

Abstract. Atmospheric organic aerosol (OA) has important impacts on climate and human health but its sources remain poorly understood. Biogenic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are important precursors of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), but the amounts and pathways of SOA generation from these precursors are not well constrained by observations. We propose that the less-oxidized oxygenated organic aerosol (LO-OOA) factor resolved from positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis on aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) data can be used as a surrogate for fresh SOA from monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the southeastern US. This hypothesis is supported by multiple lines of evidence, including lab-in-the-field perturbation experiments, extensive ambient ground-level measurements, and state-of-the-art modeling. We performed lab-in-the-field experiments in which the ambient air is perturbed by the injection of selected monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, and the subsequent SOA formation is investigated. PMF analysis on the perturbation experiments provides an objective link between LO-OOA and fresh SOA from monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes as well as insights into the sources of other OA factors. Further, we use an upgraded atmospheric model and show that modeled SOA concentrations from monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes could reproduce both the magnitude and diurnal variation of LO-OOA at multiple sites in the southeastern US, building confidence in our hypothesis. We estimate the annual average concentration of SOA from monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the southeastern US to be roughly 2 µ g m −3 .
Pharmaceutical use according to participation in worksite wellness screening and health campaigns.

Abstract This study evaluated whether participation in worksite wellness screening and health campaigns influences the number and cost (USD) of pharmacy medication claims. Analyses are based on 2531 workers employed all four academic years in a large school district in the western United States, 2010–11 through 2013–14. Mean and ratio comparisons were adjusted by age, sex, year, and baseline health. Approximately 84.2% of employees participated in wellness screening and 60.1% completed one or more health campaigns. Those completing wellness screening were 1.09 (95% CI 1.06–1.13) times more likely to file a claim. Mean total cost remained near $934 (SD = $3695) over the academic years, positively associated with years of wellness screening, suggesting increased awareness of the need for medication through screening. Women were 1.02 (95% CI 1.00–1.05) times more likely than men to participate in wellness screening and had greater total pharmacy cost ($990.6 [SD = $4023.7] vs. $777.9 [SD = $2580.5], p = 0.0104). Women were 1.38 (95% CI 1.32–1.44) times more likely to complete a health campaign. Mean number of pharmacy claims was lower (9.8 vs. 10.6, p = 0.0069) in those completing at least one health campaign, suggesting greater health orientation in women. Those completing at least one health campaign were 0.96 (95% CI 0.92–0.99) times as likely to have a total cost of medication above the median, 0.94 (95% CI 0.88–1.01) as likely to have a total cost of medication above the 75th percentile, and 0.84 (0.75–0.96) times as likely to have a total cost above the 90th percentile.
Benzodiazepines vs barbiturates for alcohol withdrawal: Analysis of 3 different treatment protocols.

Abstract Introduction Alcohol withdrawal treatment varies widely. Benzodiazepines are the standard of care, with rapid onset and long durations of action. Recent drug shortages involving IV benzodiazepines have required incorporation of alternative agents into treatment protocols. Phenobarbital has similar pharmacokinetics to select benzodiazepines frequently used for alcohol withdrawal. The objective of this study is to describe the effectiveness and safety of our institutional protocols during three time periods utilizing benzodiazepines and barbiturates for the acute treatment of alcohol withdrawal in the emergency department. Methods Adult patients presenting to the ED for acute alcohol withdrawal from April 1st, 2016 to January 31st, 2018 were reviewed. Patients who received at least one dose of treatment were included. Treatments were based on availability of medication and given protocol at time of presentation. The primary outcome was the rate of ICU admission. Results 300 patient encounters were included. Overall baseline characteristics were equal across groups, except for age. There was no difference in rate of ICU admission from the ED between groups (D:8, L&P:11, P:13 patients, p = 0.99). Rate of mechanical ventilation was no different across all groups (D:1, L&P:3, P:3 patients, p = 0.55). Conclusion During benzodiazepine shortages, phenobarbital is a safe and effective treatment alternative for alcohol withdrawal. Incorporating phenobarbital into a benzodiazepine based protocol or as sole agent led to similar rates of ICU admission, length of stay, and need for mechanical ventilation in patients treated for alcohol withdrawal in the emergency department.
In vivo gene therapy as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1 percent of the population above the age of 60. While relatively rare genetic forms exist (Mouradian, 2002), its cause in the vast majority of sporadic cases remains to be established. The cardinal features of PD (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and rigidity) result from a loss of striatal dopamine secondary to degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN). Motor dysfunction worsens and additional incapacitating features such as dementia and depression can appear as the disease progresses (see Chapter 3). After decades of research, levodopa remains the most potent antiparkinsonian treatment. However, virtually all patients will ultimately suffer from disabling dyskinesia and wearing-off effects, making the use of levodopa as well as dopaminergic agonists, problematic. It is essential that novel therapeutic strategies be designed to provide potent long-term benefit without disabling side effects for these patients. Gene delivery systems are ideal for delivering therapeutic molecules to specific regions of the CNS. Via gene therapy, a piece or pieces of DNA placed into a carrying vector encoding for a substance of interest can be introduced into cells. Gene therapy can be applied ex vivo (genetically modifying cells in culture and then grafting those cells) or in vivo (genetically modifying host cells). In vivo gene therapy is when a vector carrying a gene of interest is introduced directly into the brain and not through a cell mediator. The vectors most commonly used are viral-derived such as adenovirus (AV), adenoassociated virus (AAV), lentivirus (LV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). An ideal vector should have (1) high concentration, allowing many cells to be infected, (2) easy and reproducible production, (3) the ability to integrate in a site specific location in the host chromosome, or to be successfully maintained as a stable episome, and (4) lack of components that could elicit an immune response. Such vectors are currently available (Bensadoun et al.,
Psychosocial Issues in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

We are at a critical juncture in breast cancer care, where treatment decisions are complex, conflicted, and often challenged by the consumer. Never before in the history of medicine has there been such vocal demands for a working partnership between provider and patient or such intense outcries for more information about risks and benefits regarding cancer therapies or prevention programs.
Antimicrobial Agent Triclosan Suppresses Mast Cell Signaling via Phospholipase D Inhibition

Humans are exposed to the antimicrobial agent triclosan (TCS) through use of TCS-containing products. Exposed tissues contain mast cells, which are involved in numerous biological functions and diseases by secreting various chemical mediators through a process termed degranulation. We previously demonstrated that TCS inhibits both Ca2+ influx into antigen-stimulated mast cells and subsequent degranulation. To determine the mechanism linking the TCS cytosolic Ca2+ depression to inhibited degranulation, we investigated the effects of TCS on crucial signaling enzymes activated downstream of the Ca2+ rise: protein kinase C (PKC; activated by Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species [ROS]) and phospholipase D (PLD). We found that TCS strongly inhibits PLD activity within 15 minutes post-antigen, a key mechanism of TCS mast cell inhibition. In addition, experiments using fluorescent constructs and confocal microscopy indicate that TCS delays antigen-induced translocations of PKCβII, PKCδ and PKC substrate myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase. Surprisingly, TCS does not inhibit PKC activity or overall ability to translocate, and TCS actually increases PKC activity by 45 minutes post-antigen; these results are explained by the timing of both TCS inhibition of cytosolic Ca2+ (~15+ minutes post-antigen) and TCS stimulation of ROS (~45 minutes post-antigen). These findings demonstrate that it is incorrect to assume that all Ca2+ -dependent processes will be synchronously inhibited when cytosolic Ca2+ is inhibited by a toxicant or drug. The results offer molecular predictions of the effects of TCS on other mammalian cell types, which share these crucial signal transduction elements and provide biochemical information that may underlie recent epidemiological findings implicating TCS in human health problems.
A High Frequency Power Transformer for isolated bidirectional DC-DC Converter used for MVDC Collection System in Wind Farmser

In this article, a novel structure of High Frequency Power Transformer (HFPT) is proposed to be used in modular, isolated and bi-directional DC-DC converter in wind farm MVDC collection system. Tunable leakage inductance, high power density, MV level isolation between the windings, modular and scalable structure and effective thermal management are the features of the proposed HFPT structure. The laminar structure of the proposed HFPT makes it practical for cascaded architectures where multiple low voltage (LV) converters are connected to obtain medium voltage (MV) levels which is used in collection grids in wind farms. Capacitive coupling between the windings are minimized using the split winding configuration. Rectangular litz wire is considered for windings to obtain high efficiency at high switching frequency. Nanocrystalline based magnetic core is considered for core material and an Epoxy resin as an insulation layer between the winding and the core. An analytical thermal model is developed for the proposed architecture and analytical design results are provided.
A NOVEL SIMULATION CURRICULUM IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR FELLOW PERFORMANCE WITH CARDIAC IMPLANTABLE DEVICE REPROGRAMING IN THE PERIOPERATIVE PERIOD

Perioperative reprogramming of cardiac implantable electronic devices is a high risk procedure resulting in programing mistakes resulting from lack of experience with multiple different complex programmers. Many cardiovascular fellows participate in a city-wide “boot camp” which has received
Comparing Interpretations of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale With 4-, 5-, and 101-Point Scales:

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was administered with a 1–4, 1–5, or 0–100 scale to 819 participants, to compare score interpretations across the different versions. A rating scale utility analysis...