cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HurryDate: Mate preferences in action

To investigate the choices that people make in dating partners, we analyzed data provided by HurryDate, a commercial dating service aimed at adult singles living in major metropolitan areas. Here, we report data from 10,526 participants in HurryDate sessions, in which roughly 25 men and 25 women interacted with each other for three minutes and subsequently indicated which of the people they met they would be interested in having contact with in the future. We had general survey information collected by HurryDate for all the participants and additional survey information for 2,650 participants. Our main findings are that (1) HurryDate interactions are driven primarily by generally agreed-upon mate values and less by niche-based or assortative patterns, (2) the agreed-upon mate values for both men and women derive almost exclusively from physically observable attributes like attractiveness, BMI, height, and age and are not substantially related to harder-to-observe attributes such as education, religion, sociosexuality, having children, or desiring future children, and (3) small positive assortative trends arise in the areas of race and height. Our results provide rare behavioral evidence regarding people’s preferences in dating partners.
Transient ionizing radiation effects in devices and circuits

A review and summary of over 40 years of research and development in the investigation of transient ionizing radiation effects in devices and circuits is presented. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of circuit effects to physical mechanisms at the transistor and diode level.
Novel algorithms for shared segment protection

The major challenges in designing survivable schemes are how to allocate a minimal amount of spare resources (e.g., bandwidth) using fast (e.g., polynomial-time) algorithms, and, in case a failure occurs, to be able to recover quickly from it. All existing approaches invariably make tradeoffs. We propose novel shared segment protection algorithms which make little or no compromise . We develop an elegant integer linear programming (ILP) model to determine an optimal set of segments to protect a given active path. Although the ILP approach is useful for a medium-size network, it is too time consuming for large networks. Accordingly, we also design a fast heuristic algorithm based on dynamic programming to obtain a near-optimal set of segments. Although the heuristic algorithm has a polynomial time complexity, it can achieve a bandwidth efficiency as high as some best-performing shared path protection schemes and, at the same time, much faster recovery than these shared path protection schemes. The proposed scheme is also applicable to a wide range of networking technologies, including Internet Protocol and wavelength-division multiplexing networks under the generalized multiprotocol label switched framework.
Linking above‐ and belowground responses to global change at community and ecosystem scales

Cryptic belowground organisms are difficult to observe and their responses to global changes are not well understood. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that interactions among above- and belowground communities may mediate ecosystem responses to global change. We used grassland mesocosms to manipulate the abundance of one important group of soil organisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and to study community and ecosystem responses to CO2 and N enrichment. After two growing seasons, biomass responses of plant communities were recorded, and soil community responses were measured using microscopy, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and community-level physiological profiles (CLPP). Ecosystem responses were examined by measuring net primary production (NPP), evapotranspiration, total soil organic matter (SOM), and extractable mineral N. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the causal relationships among treatments and response variables. We found that while CO2 and N tended to directly impact ecosystem functions (evapotranspiration and NPP, respectively), AM fungi indirectly impacted ecosystem functions by strongly influencing the composition of plant and soil communities. For example, the presence of AM fungi had a strong influence on other root and soil fungi and soil bacteria. We found that the mycotrophic status of the dominant plant species in the mesocosms determined whethermore » the presence of AM fungi increased or decreased NPP. Mycotrophic grasses dominated the mesocosm communities during the first growing season, and thus, the mycorrhizal treatments had the highest NPP. In contrast, non-mycotrophic forbs were dominant during the second growing season and thus, the mycorrhizal treatments had the lowest NPP. The composition of the plant community strongly influenced soil N; and the composition of the soil organisms strongly influenced SOM accumulation in the mesocosms. These results show how linkages between above- and belowground communities can determine ecosystem responses to global change.« less
Consolidation in food retailing and dairy

Discusses the restructuring of the food production, processing and retailing sectors in the USA. Describes different methods of vertical and horizontal integration that have occurred. Goes on to discuss the consolidation of business in retailing in particular. Refers to the relationships that are being formed between the supermarket chains, for example Wal‐Mart and Kroger, and dominant food‐chain clusters. Considers whether or not smaller retail chains and wholesalers should feel threatened by this consolidation. Takes the dairy sector in the USA as a case study in the restructuring of the retailing and processing sectors.
A multi-regional small-signal model derived from the charge-based large-signal bipolar transistor model

A multiregional small-signal model is derived from a charge-based large-signal bipolar transistor model, which has been upgraded to include emitter crowding, sidewall injection, and other multidimensional effects. This multiregional model is verified and the effect of this three-region analysis of the parameter extraction for the small-signal transistor model over a range of (low to high) injection conditions is demonstrated. >
Simultaneous detection and frequency estimation of sinusoidal signals

A novel Bayesian approach to detection-estimation of complex sinusoids and their frequencies is proposed. Based on Bayesian predictive densities, an objective function is derived whose minimization yields the optimal number of sinusoids and the estimates of their frequencies. This function is similar in form to the well known minimum description length (MDL) principle and Akaike's information criteria (ALC) in the sense that it also consists of data and penalty terms. The minimization of the data term provides the frequency estimates, and the overall minimization yields the detected number of sinusoids. The simulation results show excellent performance. >
Ovarian cancer classification based on mass spectrometry analysis of sera.

In our previous study [1], we have compared the performance of a number of widely used discrimination methods for classifying ovarian cancer using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry data on serum samples obtained from Reflectron mode. Our results demonstrate good performance with a random forest classifier. In this follow-up study, to improve the molecular classification power of the MALDI platform for ovarian cancer disease, we expanded the mass range of the MS data by adding data acquired in Linear mode and evaluated the resultant decrease in classification error. A general statistical framework is proposed to obtain unbiased classification error estimates and to analyze the effects of sample size and number of selected m/z features on classification errors. We also emphasize the importance of combining biological knowledge and statistical analysis to obtain both biologically and statistically sound results. Our study shows improvement in classification accuracy upon expanding the mass range of the analysis. In order to obtain the best classification accuracies possible, we found that a relatively large training sample size is needed to obviate the sample variations. For the ovarian MS dataset that is the focus of the current study, our results show that approximately 20–40 m/z features are needed to achieve the best classification accuracy from MALDI-MS analysis of sera. Supplementary information can be found at http://bioinformatics.med.yale.edu/proteomics/BioSupp2.html.
The paradox of international talent: alternative forms of international assignments

In the area of international human resource management, academic research has emphasized the need to focus on alternative types of international assignments outside expatriate assignments including short-term, frequent flyer, and commuter assignments (Collings, Scullion and Morley 2007, Mayrhofer, Hartmann, Michelitsch-Riedl and Kollinger 2004). This paper discusses international recruitment and selection practices, the role adjustments plays, and even gender and marital status, and illustrates how the dynamics have changed with the increasing prevalence of alternative international assignments. Although global talent management trends have evolved in practice, international human resource management theorizing has not kept pace (Brewster, Mayrhofer and Morley 2004). Given the need for research in the area of alternative assignments, we believe this paper will have important theoretical and practical implications for multinational enterprises.
Literature-derived bioaccumulation models for earthworms: Development and validation

Estimation of contaminant concentrations in earthworms is a critical component in many ecological risk assessments. Without site-specific data, literature-derived uptake factors or models are frequently used. Although considerable research has been conducted on contaminant transfer from soil to earthworms, most studies focus on only a single location. External validation of transfer models has not been performed. We developed a database of soil and tissue concentrations for nine inorganic and two organic chemicals. Only studies that presented total concentrations in depurated earthworms were included. Uptake factors and simple and multiple regression models of natural-log-transformed concentrations of each analyte in soil and earthworms were developed using data from 26 studies. These models were then applied to data from six additional studies. Estimated and observed earthworm concentrations were compared using nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Relative accuracy and quality of different estimation methods were evaluated by calculating the proportional deviation ([measured - estimate]/measured) of the estimate from the measured value. With the exception of Cr, significant, single-variable (e.g., soil concentration) regression models were fit for each analyte. Inclusion of soil Ca improved model fits for Cd and Pb. Soil pH only marginally improved model fits. The best general estimates of chemical concentrations in earthworms were generated by simple In-In regression models for As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Zn, and polychlorinated biphenyls. No method accurately estimated Cr or Ni in earthworms. Although multiple regression models including pH generated better estimates for a few analytes, in general, the predictive utility gained by incorporating environmental variables was marginal.
Results of an Observer Study with an Intelligent Mammographic Workstation for CAD

We have investigated the usefulness of an intelligent search workstation for computer-aided diagnosis as an aid to radiologists in the classification of lesions in mammography. Upon presentation of an unknown mammographic case, the workstation shows the computer output in terms of (a) computer-estimated likelihoods of malignancy, (b) images of lesions with known diagnoses from an on-line lesion atlas, and (c) graphics illustrating the characteristics of the unknown lesion relative to characteristics of lesions in the known reference atlas. These images are retrieved automatically from a similarity search of lesions in the known mammographic atlas. In an observer study, five radiologists interpreted 100 cases (that were unknown both to the computer and to the human observer) before and after presentation of the computer output. On average, the radiologists’ improved in terms of Az value (area under the ROC curve) from 0.86 to 0.90 with a p-value <0.02, in the task of distinguishing between malignant and benign mammographic mass lesion cases.
Effect of duration of infusion of stress-like concentrations of cortisol on follicular development and the preovulatory surge of LH in sheep.

Abstract Stress-like levels of cortisol suppress follicular growth and development and block or delay the preovulatory surge of LH when cortisol is continuously administered during the late luteal and early follicular phases of the ovine oestrous cycle. We postulated that cortisol infusion of shorter duration would have a similar effect. To test this hypothesis the oestrous cycles of mature ewes were synchronized using progestin-treated vaginal pessaries. Ewes were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Animals received cortisol (0.1 mg/kg/h; n=8) or vehicle alone (n=8) beginning 5 days before, and continuing for 5 days after, pessary removal (PR). Additional groups received cortisol only during the 5 days period before (n=7), or the 5 days period after (n=8), PR. Continuous delivery of cortisol established stable serum concentrations of cortisol of 72.0±2.5 ng/ml within 6 h of initiation of infusion. Serum concentrations of oestradiol increased progressively during the period after PR in control animals receiving vehicle alone and the preovulatory surge of LH was evident in all control animals (eight of eight) 55.5±5.0 h after PR. In contrast, follicular development and the preovulatory surge of LH were evident during the period of cortisol infusion in only one of eight animals receiving stress-like levels of cortisol over the entire 10-day infusion period. Similarly, neither follicular development nor surge-like secretion of LH were evident during the infusion period in animals (zero of eight) receiving cortisol during the 5-day period after PR. This cortisol-dependent suppression of ovarian activity in sheep receiving stress-like levels of cortisol during the 5 days after PR was temporary and follicular development, the ovulatory surge of LH, and subsequent luteal function were evident in six of eight ewes after cessation of cortisol delivery. Similarly, follicular development and the preovulatory surge of LH were noted within 5 days after PR in four of seven ewes receiving cortisol only during the 5-day period prior to PR. Collectively, these data indicate that stress-like levels of cortisol reduce fertility of sheep by suppressing follicular development and the preovulatory surge of LH. Additionally, cortisol delivery during the follicular phase has a more profound suppressive effect on follicular development than cortisol administration during the luteal phase.
Cattle Grazing, Forest Loss, and Fuel Loading in a Dry Forest Ecosystem at Pu'u Wa'aWa'a Ranch, Hawai'i1

We used aerial photographs to measure long-term loss of forest cover in dry to mesic forests at Pu'u Wa'aWa'a on the island of Hawai'i. The aerial extent of dense forest decreased 62 percent between 1954 and 1994, and the area covered by grassland increased by 237 percent. We then used field data and modeling to evaluate the consequences of removing cattle to the composition, biomass, and flammability of the grass community. Field studies of exclosures demonstrated that grazing reduced biomass of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) from 770 to 229 g/m2, and canopy height from 26.8 to 6.1 cm. Grazed kikuyu was unable to carry fast-spreading or intense fires (maximum flame length 70 cm, covering 1.4 ha after one hour), while ungrazed kikuyu could carry catastrophic fires (flame lengths 3.0 m, covering >75 ha after one hour). In addition, removing cattle from drier areas allowed the spread of fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), which created a higher risk of fire due to its architecture and low fuel moistures.
Immunotherapy compliance: comparison of subcutaneous versus sublingual immunotherapy

Background Patient compliance is critical for successful allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Previous studies suggest that AIT compliance is worse outside of controlled clinical trials, with reported subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) noncompliance at 11% to 50% and 3% to 25%, respectively. Methods A retrospective review of 384 AIT patients at a single, tertiary care otolaryngic allergy practice evaluated SCIT and SLIT compliance, based on treatment stage. SCIT compliance was defined as the number of 2-week breaks per year or in compliance with their defined schedule: excellent = 2 or fewer; good = 3 to 4; fair = 5 to 6; and poor = 7 or more. Compliance with SLIT was defined as the number of days vials were refilled within the defined expiration date: excellent = 10 days or fewer; good = 11 to 15 days, fair = 16 to 20 days; and poor = 25 or more days. Fisher exact and chi square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Seventy-four SCIT and 200 SLIT patients had data appropriate for analysis. Compliance rates were excellent (62%) or good (22%) in 62 SCIT patients and excellent (31%) or good (35%) in 131 SLIT patients. Comparing excellent compliance rates, SCIT patients had a higher rate of excellent compliance at all stages of treatment compared to SLIT patients (p 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study showed higher rates of patient adherence to treatment protocols among SCIT patients. There was no decrease in SCIT compliance rates across treatment stages.
Cavity optomechanics — A tutorial introduction

“The development and applications of sensors operating near or at their fundamental quantum limit”
Demand-provisioned linux containers for private network access

System Administrators often need to have remote access to restricted networks that are separated for security reasons. The most common solution to this problem is to use a virtual private network (VPN) between the system administrator's client host to the restricted network. This solution exposes the restricted network directly to a potentially compromised client host. To avoid this direct network connection, an alternate solution is to configure an intermediate server, often called a bastion host, which serves as an explicit man-in-the-middle between untrusted and trusted networks. The bridge between networks is often established using secure shell (SSH). This solution reduces risk by implementing a central point of monitoring and ingress to the trusted network. Unfortunately, this also changes the bastion server's threat surface. Compromises to the intermediate server can result in the capture of authentication data (potentially from multiple users and for both the bastion itself or for assets on the private network) and can be a launch point for subsequent attacks.
Suicide notes in Monroe County: a 23 year look (1950-1972).

Suicide has occurred since the beginning of recorded history [1,2]. Many recent studies in the psychiatric literature deal with descriptive variables, including both the sociological and psychological factors operating at the time of the suicide [3,4].
Atom optics simulator of lattice transport phenomena

We experimentally investigate a scheme for studying lattice transport phenomena, based on the controlled momentum-space dynamics of ultracold atomic matter waves. In the effective tight-binding models that can be simulated, we demonstrate that this technique allows for a local and time-dependent control over all system parameters, and additionally allows for single-site resolved detection of atomic populations. We demonstrate full control over site-to-site off-diagonal tunneling elements (amplitude and phase) and diagonal site energies, through the observation of continuous-time quantum walks, Bloch oscillations, and negative tunneling. These capabilities open up new prospects in the experimental study of disordered and topological systems.
The indeterminacy of race: The dilemma of difference in medicine and health care

How can researchers use race, as they do now, to conduct health-care studies when its very definition is in question? The belief that race is a social construct without “biological authenticity” though widely shared across disciplines in social science is not subscribed to by traditional science. Yet with an interdisciplinary approach, the two horns of the social construct/genetics dilemma of race are not mutually exclusive. We can use traditional science to provide a rigorous framework and use a social-science approach so that “invisible” factors are used to adjust the design of studies on an as-needed basis. One approach is to first observe health-care outcomes and then categorize the outcomes, thus removing genetic differences as racial proxies from the design of the study. From the outcomes, we can then determine if there is a pattern of conceivable racial categories. If needed, we can apply dynamic notions of race to acknowledge bias without prejudice. We can use them constructively to improve outcomes and reduce racial disparities. Another approach is nearly identical but considers race not at all: While analyzing outcomes, we can determine if there are biological differences significant enough to identify classifications of humans. That is, we look for genetic patterns in the outcomes and classify only those patterns. There is no attempt to link those patterns to race.
Electron-capture decay of Po 206

The energies and intensities of 77 $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transitions assigned to the electron-capture decay of $^{206}\mathrm{Po}$ have been measured. Multipolarities of transitions were determined from internal conversion coefficients calculated from our relative $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray intensities and the relative conversion electron intensities of Fujika, Kanbe, and Hisatake. $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray singles, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence, and previous conversion electron measurements were used to construct a more complete decay scheme for $^{206}\mathrm{Po}$. Data obtained from in-beam reaction studies, $^{210}\mathrm{At}$ $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay studies, and the present electron-capture decay scheme were used to identify states in $^{206}\mathrm{Bi}$ of a one proton particle-three neutron hole character. In addition a qualitative discussion of the level structure of $^{206}\mathrm{Bi}$ generated from (zero-order) couplings of $1{h}_{\frac{9}{2}}$ and $2{f}_{\frac{7}{2}}$ protons with the low-lying states of $^{205}\mathrm{Pb}$ is given, and this is compared with reasonable success to the experimental spectrum. The dominant electron-capture decay rates are explained in terms of an allowed single-particle mechanism.RADIOACTIVITY $^{206}\mathrm{Po}$ [from $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}(p,4n)$]; measured ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, ${I}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coin; deduced EC branching, $log\mathrm{ft}$ $^{206}\mathrm{Bi}$ deduced levels, $J$, $\ensuremath{\pi}$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ multipolarity. Ge(Li) detectors, Ge(Li)-Ge(Li) coin.
Deployment and Implementation of Domain-based Management System In Enterprise Intranet

This paper expounded the role of domain-based management system in modern enterprise intranet management.Through detailing the processes of model designing,group policy configuring,client adding to domain and etc,this paper demonstrated the characteristics and advantages of domain-based management system in modern enterprise intranet,also provided beneficial experiences for similar domain-based management system implementation and deployment.
Themed issue on selected papers SEG2015: part II

This themed issue of Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment ‘SEG-2015-Part I’,presents papers selected from abstracts submitted to the Symposium on Energy Geotechnics (SEG-2015) held in Barcelona, Spain, between June 2nd and 4th, 2015. The Symposium venue was the Civil Engineering School of the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya in Barcelona
Pretranslational regulation of two cardiac glucose transporters in rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia

To investigate the mechanism by which cardiac glucose utilization increases during hypoxia and increased work load, we studied the effect of 2 and 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia on the expression of two subtypes of the facilitative D-glucose transporter, the GLUT-4 or "insulin-regulatable" isoform and the GLUT-1 isoform thought to mediate basal transport. Rats lose weight when exposed to hypobaric hypoxia, so fasting controls were used in the 2-day studies and pair-fed controls in the 14-day experiments. Hypobaric hypoxia (PO2 69 mmHg) resulted in right ventricular (RV), but not left ventricular (LV), hypertrophy. RV and LV GLUT-1 mRNA levels increased 2- to 3-fold after 2 days and 1.5- to 2-fold after 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia compared with both fasted rats and normal controls. RV GLUT-1 protein increased approximately 3-fold and LV GLUT-1 protein increased 1.5-fold after 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia vs. both pair-fed and normal controls. RV GLUT-4 mRNA decreased to 26% and RV GLUT-4 protein decreased to 54% of normal control levels as a result of 2 days of hypobaric hypoxia. RV GLUT-4 mRNA decreased to 64% of normal control levels with no change in RV GLUT-4 protein as a result of 2 days of fasting. We conclude that hypobaric hypoxia increases cardiac GLUT-1 expression at the pretranslational level in both ventricles. The greater increase in GLUT-1 protein on the right suggests an additive effect of pressure overload. GLUT-4 expression is reduced early in the development of RV hypertrophy.
The effect of fascioliasis on susceptibility of cattle to Salmonella dublin.

SUMMARY Fascioliasis, induced by oral administration of 1000 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica increased the susceptibility of cattle to Salmonella dublin given intravenously 13 weeks later.
Primary gastric lymphoma

The records of 50 patients with localized primary gastric lymphoma were reviewed and clinical and prognostic factors characterized. Pathologic material was reclassified according to Rappaport's, Lukes-Collins, and Lennert's Kiel classifications. Factors with the greatest prognostic significance included initial stage as determined by surgery and pathology, absolute tumor size, degree of penetration through the stomach wall, and histologic grade of the lymphoma. After surgical resection for cure, the overall 5-year disease-free survival was 47%. For stage I disease, this was 78% vs 29% for stage II (P=0.006). Patients with lymphomas less than 5 cm in diameter had 58% 5-year disease-free survival vs 32% for those with tumors greater than 10 cm (P=0.06). Full-thickness penetration decreased 5-year survival from 75% to 38% (P=0.06). Patients with histologically low-grade lymphomas had a better prognosis than those with high-grade lymphomas. The most significant correlation of histology to survival was seen with the Kiel classification with a 5-year survival of 39% for centroblastic polymorphous lymphoma vs 66% for LP immunocytoma. When lymphoma recurred it developed outside the abdomen in a majority of patients. The addition of abdominal radiation therapy to surgical resection made no significant impact on survival for either stage I or II disease.
Communication of laboratory data and diagnostic test results to hospitalized patients: a study of preferences and recall.

Objective To assess patients' preferences with respect to different methods of receiving test results while they were hospitalized and to determine whether the different modes of communication of the test results were associated with better recall. Methods Five discrete test results were shared with adult inpatients on general medicine service (blood pressure, white blood cell count, hematocrit, creatinine, and chest X-ray). The information was delivered by a physician in one of three ways: 1) verbally, 2) explained with a print out of the results, or 3) described while showing results on a computer monitor (electronic). The same physician returned within 3 hours to assess recall and satisfaction with the way patients received their results. Results All the patients (100%) receiving their results in written format were satisfied with the mode of communication as compared to electronic format (86%) or verbally (79%) (P=0.02). Fifty percent of patients in the computer format group could recall four or more test results at the follow-up, as compared to 43% in printed group and 24% who were informed of their results verbally (P=0.35). Conclusion Patients most appreciated receiving test results in written form while in the hospital, and this delivery method was as good as any other method with respect to recall.
Albuminuria Is Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction and Elevated Plasma Endothelin-1 in Sickle Cell Anemia.

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of albuminuria in SCD remains incompletely understood. We evaluated the association of albuminuria with measures of endothelial function, and explored associations of both albuminuria and measures of endothelial function with selected biological variables (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], endothelin-1 [ET-1], soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 [sFLT-1], soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [soluble VCAM-1] and plasma hemoglobin). METHODS Spot urine measurements for albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) and 24-hour urine protein were obtained. Endothelial function was assessed using brachial artery ultrasound with measurements of flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NTMD) and hyperemic velocity. RESULTS Twenty three subjects with varying degrees of albuminuria were evaluated. UACR was significantly correlated with FMD (ρ = -0.45, p = 0.031). In univariate analysis, UACR was correlated with VEGF (ρ = -0.49; 95% CI: -0.75 --0.1, p = 0.015), plasma hemoglobin (ρ = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.11-0.75, p = 0.013) and ET-1 (ρ = 0.40; 95% CI: -0.03-0.69, p = 0.06). Multivariable analysis showed significant associations of ET-1 (estimate: 455.1 [SE: 198.3], p = 0.02), VEGF (estimate: -1.1 [SE: 0.53], p = 0.04) and sFLT-1 (estimate: -1.14 [SE: 0.49], p = 0.02) with UACR. Only ET-1 (estimate: -8.03 [SE: 3.87], p = 0.04) was significantly associated with FMD in multivariable analyses. Finally, UACR was correlated with both 24-hour urine protein (ρ = 0.90, p < 0.0001) and urine aliquots for albumin-creatinine ratio obtained from the 24-hour urine collection (ρ = 0.97, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION This study provides more definitive evidence for the association of albuminuria with endothelial dysfunction in SCD. Elevated circulating levels of ET-1 may contribute to SCD-related glomerulopathy by mediating endothelial dysfunction.
Advances in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

OBJECTIVE. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has rapidly emerged as an important new imaging tool that reduces the masking effect of overlapping fibroglandular tissue, thereby improving breast cancer detection. This article will review key features of DBT including technique, clinical implementation, and benign and malignant imaging findings. We will also present the benefits of DBT in screening, diagnostic workup, and image-guided biopsy. CONCLUSION. Tomosynthesis improves interpretive performance and will likely replace conventional 2D mammography in clinical practice.
Opening the terahertz window

This paper describes recent research and development focused on creating practical terahertz sources and detectors for scientific, military and commercial applications. Emphasis is placed on the use of nonlinear diodes based on compound semiconductor materials and a brief comparison of their performance with that of other competing technologies.
Potentiating the Adverse Effects of Zolpidem in a Patient with Alcohol Dependence and SSRI use

C l i n M e d International Library Citation: Chopra N, Rayapati A, Patel A (2015) Potentiating the Adverse Effects of Zolpidem in a Patient with Alcohol Dependence and SSRI use. Clin Med Rev Case Rep 2:044 Received: June 19, 2015: Accepted: July 26, 2015: Published: July 29, 2015 Copyright: © 2015 Chopra N. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Potentiating the Adverse Effects of Zolpidem in a Patient with Alcohol Dependence and SSRI use
Democracy, Markets, and the Legal Order: Notes on the Nature of Politics in a Radically Liberal Society *

On the extreme wing of libertarian ideology are the individualist anarchists, who wish to dispense with government altogether. The quasi-legitimate functions now performed by government, such as the administration of justice, can, the anarchists claim, be provided in the marketplace. George H. Smith
0472 A global perspective on coal-fired power plants and cardiovascular diseases

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD)accounts for 31% of all global deaths. Some CVD mortalities can be attributed to environmental factors such as particulate matters(PMs). Coal fired power plant is one of the major contributors of PM. However, the short-term effect of coal fired power plant on cardiovascular disease is not well studied. In this study, we investigate an association between coal capacity and CVD mortality from a global perspective. Method Age and Sex-adjusted CVD mortalities of 111 countries were followed from 1998 to 2012.Coal capacity was defined as total capacity of coal fired power plants in a given country in a given year, from Utility Data Institute World Electric Power Plants(UDI WEPP)Database while CVD mortality were obtained from WHO mortality data. We applied mix model and adjusted other risk factors for analysis. Results The average coal capacity around the world is increasing globally, but coal percentage used has been fairly constant(8555.18 MW(15.99%) in 1998–2002,12071.11 MW(16.71%)in 2003–2007 and 16394.05 MW(16.58%) in 2008–2012. One log coal capacity (unit: log MW) was associated with an increase in CVD mortality by 22.98(p=0.076) to 55.74(p Conclusion The result of the current study indicated that after adjusting for commonly known risk factors of cardiovascular disease, coal fired power plants emission is correlated with country specific short term cardiovascular mortality.
STEP in the Context of Product Data Management

The ISO STEP suite of standards is quite vast and covers many domains. One such domain of interest is Product Data Management (PDM), which deals with product metadata and related business objects along with several engineering and business processes. The schemas that deal with PDM are spread over several Application Protocols of STEP, and have been collected together informally as STEP PDM Schema. In recent times, other standards development organizations, such as the Object Management Group (OMG), have taken up the task of developing standardized services that involve PDM information models and related processes. These services exploit the fast growing web services over the Internet. These services are also built upon the STEP standards, among other things. This chapter describes the PDM domain covered by STEP and how it is influencing other standards such as the OMG PLM Services.
On minimizing the maximum sensor movement to construct a horizontal barrier

Barrier coverage is an important application of sensor networks to prevent intruders from crossing the protected region. In this paper, we study the problem of building a strong horizontal barrier with mobile sensors while minimizing the maximum sensor moving distance. An efficient binary-search based scheme is proposed to optimize the barrier location and sensors' final positions along the barrier. Performance and efficiency of our scheme are evaluated using simulation results.
Development of Microemulsion Based Nabumetone Transdermal Delivery for Treatment of Arthritis.

Background Nabumetone is biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class II drug, widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The most frequently reported adverse reactions for the drug involve disturbance in gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, dyspepsia and abdominal pain. Microemulgel has advantages of microemulsion for improving solubility for hydrophobic drug. Patent literature had shown that the work for drug has been carried on spray chilling, enteric coated tablet, and topical formulation which gave an idea for present research work for the development of transdermal delivery. Objective The objective of the present research work was to optimize transdermal microemulgel delivery for Nabumetone for the treatment of arthritis. Methods Oil, surfactant and co-surfactant were selected based on solubility study of the drug. Gelling agents used were Carbopol 934 and HPMC K100M. Optimization was carried out using 32 factorial design. Characterization and evaluation were carried out for microemulsion and microemulsion based gel. Results Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) study of the microemulsion revealed globules of 50-200 nm size. Zeta potential -9.50 mV indicated good stability of microemulsion. Globule size measured by dynamic light scattering (zetasizer) was 160nm. Design expert gave optimized batch as F7 which contain 0.2% w/w drug, 4.3% w/w liquid paraffin, 0.71% w/w tween 80, 0.35% w/w propylene glycol, 0.124% w/w Carbopol 934, 0.187% w/w HPMC K100M and 11.68% w/w water. In-vitro diffusion study for F7 batch showed 99.16±2.10 % drug release through egg membrane and 99.15±2.73% drug release in ex-vivo study. Conclusion Nabumetone microemulgel exhibiting good in-vitro and ex-vivo controlled drug release was optimized.
Positive Expectancies for the Future as Potential Protective Factors of Suicide Risk in Adults: Does Optimism and Hope Predict Suicidal Behaviors in Primary Care Patients?

The present study sought to examine optimism and hope as predictors of suicidal behaviors (viz., suicide ideation and suicide attempt) in a sample of 179 adult primary care patients. Furthermore, we aimed to determine if the combination of hope and optimism would account for additional variance in the prediction model for suicidal behaviors among this population. In this cross-sectional study, participants completed measures of hope (viz., agency and pathways), optimism, and suicidal behaviors, as well as a series of demographics questions. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the aforementioned hypotheses. Results indicated that hope and optimism were both significant and unique predictors of suicidal behaviors among adult primary care patients. However, the hope-by-optimism interaction terms were not found to be significant. Some implications of the present findings are discussed.
Art Education Avatars in Action

Emerging 3D Virtual World (VW) technology offers great opportunities for 21st century art education. Such virtual worlds are visualized and built by their residents. In these 3D visual communities, multiple users at different locations can communicate, collaborate, and share with one another through a character representation –an avatar – in real time. Depending on its purposes, a VW could be a virtual environment for gaming, social networking, learning, business, commercials, recruiting, and entertaining, or the VW can also feature an integration of a combination of purposes. Among current 3D VWs, Second Life (SL) is the most popular and highly recommended as one of the best 3D virtual learning environments (VLEs) for teaching and learning (Chodos, Stroulia, & Naeimi, 2009; Herold, 2009) due to its hyper-real 3D visual images, unique immersive power, and intensive interaction (Lu, 2008), as well as its potential for collaborating, networking, and learning (Thompson & Garetty, 2009).
Thymidine kinase activity in cardiac muscle during embryonic and postnatal development

Cytoplasmic thymidine kinase from cardiac muscle of the rat has been characterized. It has a pH optimum of 9.0 and a Km value for thymidine of 1.6μm. The sedimentation coefficient of this enzyme in sucrose gradients is 4.5S, which represents a molecular weight of approx. 69000. Thymidine kinase prepared from cardiac muscle of foetal, neonatal and adult rats is inhibited by dTTP and dTDP; there is neither inhibition nor stimulation by dTMP, dCTP, dATP, dGTP or cyclic AMP. The activity of thymidine kinase in differentiating cardiac muscle of foetal and neonatal rats declines progressively with development, reaching adult values of almost zero by the fifteenth to seventeenth day of postnatal development. This represents a 70-fold decrease in enzyme activity from 3 days before birth to 17 days after birth. The loss of thymidine kinase activity in differentiating cardiac muscle correlates temporally with the cessation of DNA biosynthesis and the loss of cytoplasmic DNA polymerase activity in this tissue.
How Viruses Elicit Interferon Production

Studies of IFN gene regulation in virus-infected cells have contributed significant information to our overall understanding of transcriptional control mechanisms in vertebrate cells. Enhanceosome theory was largely established by the analysis of IFNβ gene expression, and similarly important concepts for differential regulation of closely related genes will likely emerge from future studies of the IFNα locus. This system has also contributed to the understanding of mammalian signaling systems, with the identification of a variety of pathways that impact on gene induction through novel mechanisms. Signal transduction dependent on the action of RNA helicases and on ubiquitin-directed transcription factor phosphorylation are just some of the novel concepts emerging from the study of IFN gene induction.
Converting Scores to Ratings

Abstract Ratings are words or phrases intended to characterize each of a site's functions, services, or health relative to other sites in a region, or relative to some other reference condition. Although numeric scores are potentially a more sensitive representation of the status of a site's functions, services, or health, ratings are appealing to many citizens who relate much better to simple words than to numerics. Some RAMs provide both scores and ratings. This chapter describes two ways scores can be converted to ratings.
VARIATIONS IN VOLUME OF MILK DELIVERED BY A STANDARD 0.01 ML LOOP

Summary Milk smears were prepared and the weights of milk delivered were determined following use of the syringe and use of the 0.01 ml loop. Large and significant increases in the volume of milk d...
Dermoid Inclusion Cyst Following Percutaneous Needle Fasciotomy: A Novel Complication

We present the case of a fit and well 62-year-old male with Dupuytren's disease in the right hand who underwent percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) for a moderate flexion contracture of the right little finger. 18 months later he developed a pain-free soft tissue swelling at the distal previous needling site. A fasciectomy procedure identified a cyst within the pre-tendinous cord, which was confirmed as a dermoid inclusion cyst on histological analysis. Dermoid inclusion cysts may occur in the hands at the site of penetrating trauma but we are unaware of any report of an inclusion cyst at the site of PNF surgery. We present this unique case of a dermoid inclusion cyst following percutaneous needle fasciotomy as a novel complication.
LGBTQIA+ youth as multicultural educators

Multicultural education generally takes place as culturally competent adults prepare other adults to work with a variety of student youth. In this paper, we present an alternative that disrupts the...
The Increasing Burden of Psychiatric Emergencies: A Call to Action.

* Abbreviation: ED — : emergency department Kalb et al1’s article “Trends in Psychiatric Emergency Department Visits Among Youth and Young Adults in the US” is a crucial national perspective on the increasing burden of pediatric and young adult psychiatric emergencies, which has continued to rise above and beyond previous numbers reported in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.2,3 A national perspective is vital because most emergency care for children in this country occurs in emergency departments (EDs) with small pediatric volumes and limited pediatric resources.4 Kalb et al1’s work contributes additional information that adolescents and young adults, especially from multiracial populations or people of color, account for the most significant increase. With suicide as the second leading cause of death for youth in the age group of 10 to 19 years, EDs are a critical link to screening, risk identification, and care. Lack of access to mental health services, and the role of EDs as de facto mental health crisis settings, has led to the 2.5-fold increase in suicidal chief complaints. Compounding this is a significant increase in the proportion … Address correspondence to Thomas H. Chun, MD, MPH, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Claverick 246, 593 Eddy St, Providence, RI 02903. E-mail: thomas_chun{at}brown.edu
Captopril treatment during development alleviates mechanically induced aortic remodeling in newborn elastin knockout mice.

Deposition of elastin and collagen in the aorta correlates with increases in blood pressure and flow during development, suggesting that the aorta adjusts its mechanical properties in response to hemodynamic stresses. Elastin knockout (Eln−/−) mice have high blood pressure and pathological remodeling of the aorta and die soon after birth. We hypothesized that decreasing blood pressure in Eln−/− mice during development may reduce hemodynamic stresses and alleviate pathological remodeling of the aorta. We treated Eln+/+ and Eln−/− mice with the anti-hypertensive medication captopril throughout embryonic development and then evaluated left ventricular (LV) pressure and aortic remodeling at birth. We found that captopril treatment decreased Eln−/− LV pressure to values near Eln+/+ mice and alleviated the wall thickening and changes in mechanical behavior observed in untreated Eln−/− aorta. The changes in thickness and mechanical behavior in captopril-treated Eln−/− aorta were not due to alterations in measured elastin or collagen amounts, but may have been caused by alterations in smooth muscle cell (SMC) properties. We used a constitutive model to understand how changes in stress contributions of each wall component could explain the observed changes in composite mechanical behavior. Our modeling results show that alterations in the collagen natural configuration and SMC properties in the absence of elastin may explain untreated Eln−/− aortic behavior and that partial rescue of the SMC properties may account for captopril-treated Eln−/− aortic behavior.