cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Annual, Interannual, and Intraseasonal Variability of Tropical Tropopause Transition Layer Cirrus

Cloud fields based on the first three years of data from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) mission are used to investigate the relationship between cirrus within the tropical tropopause transition layer (TTL) and the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO), the annual cycle, and El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The TTL cirrus signature observed in association with the MJO resembles convectively induced, mixed Kelvin-RossbywavesolutionsabovethePacificwarmpoolregion.Thissignatureiscenteredtotheeastofthe peak convection and propagates eastward more rapidly than the convection; it exhibits a pronounced east- ward tilt with height, suggestive of downward phase propagation and upward energy dispersion. A cirrus maximumisobservedoverequatorialAfricaandSouthAmericawhentheenhancedMJO-relatedconvection enters the western Pacific. Tropical-mean TTL cirrus is modulatedby the MJO, with more than twice as much TTL cirrus fractional coverage equatorward of 108 latitude when the enhanced convection enters the Pacific than a few weeks earlier, when the convection is over the Indian Ocean. The annual cycle in cirrus clouds around the base of the TTL is equatorially asymmetric, with more cirrus observed in the summer hemisphere. Higher in the TTL, the annual cycle in cirrus clouds is more equatorially symmetric, with a maximum in the boreal winter throughout most of the tropics. The ENSO signature in TTL cirrus is marked by a zonal shift of the peak cloudiness toward the central Pacific during El Nino and toward the Maritime Continent during La Nina.
Long-term precipitation and late-stage valley network formation: Landform simulations of Parana Basin, Mars

[1] We use a computer landform evolution model to show that Noachian-Hesperian-aged, late-stage valley network formation required numerous and repeated moderate flood events rather than one or a few continuous, multiyear, deluge-style flows. We introduce a technique that generates an estimated “initial conditions” digital elevation model (DEM) of the Parana Valles drainage catchment (PDC) prior to valley network incision. We then explored how variations in three classes of environmental parameters related to fluvial processes, and surface material properties evolve the initial conditions DEM. Specifically, we parameterized discharge scaling, evaporation from ponded water, and the effects of an indurated surface crust. Each simulation run produced a model output DEM that was qualitatively and statistically compared to the actual surface DEM. Simulations with an arid to semiarid climate, moderate evaporation rates, and an indurated surface crust provide the best match to the actual surface. Simulated valley network formation requires periods of fluvial activity that last a minimum of 103–104 years under constant deluge-style conditions. However, craters within the PDC in deluge-style simulations overflow and generate exit breaches that cut through all crater walls. Longer simulations (105–106 years) that modeled repeated, episodic flows with interim evaporation avoid universal crater breaching. The paucity of crater rim exit breaches in the PDC and the southern highlands in general implies both that the precipitation was not continuous and that formation conditions were inconsistent with a few short-lived extreme climate excursions such as might be induced by large-scale impacts or other cataclysmic events.
A new approach of creating Au‐Sn solder bumps from electroplating

A homogeneous melting eutectic Au/Sn solder bump for laser chip application has been developed. The under-bump metallization consists of a Ni wetting layer, a plating seed layer of Pt/Au/Ti multi-layer scheme. The solder is electroplated as a sequence of Ni, Au and Sn layers. The bump can be exposed to multi-step reflow cycles. The reflow of the solder as plated starts with a phase forming process in the solid state which results in an eutectic-like phase and the near eutectic dand z phases. The dand z phases dissolve during the liquid state stage of the reflow at temperatures between 300 and 350 °C. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Statistical Projection Completion in X-ray CT Using Consistency Conditions

Projection data incompleteness arises in many situations relevant to X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging. We propose a penalized maximum likelihood statistical sinogram restoration approach that incorporates the Helgason-Ludwig (HL) consistency conditions to accommodate projection data incompleteness. Image reconstruction is performed by the filtered-backprojection (FBP) in a second step. In our problem formulation, the objective function consists of the log-likelihood of the X-ray CT data and a penalty term; the HL condition poses a linear constraint on the restored sinogram and can be implemented efficiently via fast Fourier transform (FFT) and inverse FFT. We derive an iterative algorithm that increases the objective function monotonically. The proposed algorithm is applied to both computer simulated data and real patient data. We study different factors in the problem formulation that affect the properties of the final FBP reconstructed images, including the data truncation level, the amount of prior knowledge on the object support, as well as different approximations of the statistical distribution of the available projection data. We also compare its performance with an analytical truncation artifacts reduction method. The proposed method greatly improves both the accuracy and the precision of the reconstructed images within the scan field-of-view, and to a certain extent recovers the truncated peripheral region of the object. The proposed method may also be applied in areas such as limited angle tomography, metal artifacts reduction, and sparse sampling imaging.
Evaluation of the C. DIFFICILE TOXIN A/B IITM, C. DIFF CHEK-60TM, and PREMIER TOXIN A&BTM with the cytotoxin assay for the detection of Clostridium difficile GDH antigen and toxins A and B in feces

Background: C difficile causes about 25% of the cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and most cases of pseudomembranous colitis. Rapid assays have been developed to detect the toxins A and B and the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase which is produced in high levels by all strains of the organism. Because this enzyme is present in both toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of the organism, the assay can not confirm the presence of toxigenic organisms in a sample. However, the absence of this enzyme in a sample should be a good marker for the absence of the organism, making it a suitable screening assay to identify negative specimens. Methods: We compared two commercial EIA assays for detecting toxins A and B, and an EIA assay for detecting the GDH enzyme with our in-house cytotoxin assay as the ‘‘gold standard.’’ All commercial assays were performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. span.jajahWrapper {font-size:1em; color:#B11196; text-decoration:underline;} a.jajahLink { color:#000000; text-decoration:none;} span.jajahInLink:hover {background-color:#B11196;} Results: Fecal samples (N = 236) submitted for C. difficile cytotoxin assay were included in this study. The C. DIFF CHEK-60TM, detected all 10 of the cytotoxin positive specimens and was positive for 28 specimens where cytotoxin was not detected by any of the toxin assays. The C. DIFFICILE TOXIN A/B IITM detected all 10 of the cytotoxin positive specimens and gave no false-positive results. The PREMIER TOXIN AB color:#B11196; text-decoration:underline;} a.jajahLink { color:#000000; text-decoration:none;} span.jajahInLink:hover {background-color:#B11196;} Conclusion: The GDH assay detected 100% of the cytotoxin positive specimens making it a useful assay for screening specimens for detecting C difficile. This would allow for the rapid reporting of the negative specimens that made up 84% of the specimens examined in this study. GDH positive assays should then be tested with an assay specific for the toxins. span.jajahWrapper {fontsize:1em; color:#B11196; text-decoration:underline;} a.jajahLink { color:#000000; text-decoration:none;} span.jajahInLink:hover {background-color:#B11196;}.
A high‐sigma model of pulsar wind nebulae

Pulsars and central engines of long gamma-ray bursts – collapsars – may produce highly magnetized (Poynting-flux-dominated) outflows expanding in dense surroundings (interstellar medium or stellar material). For certain injection conditions, the magnetic flux of the wind cannot be accommodated within the cavity. In this case, ideal (non-dissipative) magnetohydrodynamics models, similar to the Kennel & Coroniti model of the Crab nebula, break down (the so-called ‘sigma problem’). This is typically taken to imply that the wind should become particle-dominated on scales much smaller than the size of the cavity. The wind is then slowed down by a fluid-type (low magnetization) reverse shock. Recent Fermi results, indicating that the synchrotron spectrum of the Crab nebula extends well beyond the upper limit of the most efficient radiation-reaction-limited acceleration, contradict the presence of a low-sigma reverse shock. We propose an alternative possibility, that in nearly aligned pulsars the excessive magnetic flux is destroyed in a reconnection-like process in two regions: near the rotational axis and near the equator. We construct an example of such a highly magnetized wind having two distinct reconnection regions and suggest that these reconnection sites are observed as tori and jets in pulsar wind nebulae. The model reproduces, qualitatively, the observed morphology of the Crab nebula. In parts of the nebula dissipation occurs in a relativistically moving wind, alleviating requirements on the acceleration rate.
Crystallization and crystal-packing studies of Chlorella virus deoxyuridine triphosphatase

The 141-amino-acid deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) from the algal Chlorella virus IL-3A and its Glu81Ser/Thr84Arg-mutant derivative Mu-22 were crystallized using the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method at 298 K with polyethylene glycol as the precipitant. An apo IL-3A dUTPase with an amino-terminal T7 epitope tag and a carboxy-terminal histidine tag yielded cubic P213 crystals with unit-cell parameter a = 106.65 A. In the presence of dUDP, the enzyme produced thin stacked orthorhombic P222 crystals with unit-cell parameters a = 81.0, b = 96.2, c = 132.8 A. T7-histidine-tagged Mu-22 dUTPase formed thin stacked rectangular crystals. Amino-terminal histidine-tagged dUTPases did not crystallize but formed aggregates. Glycyl-seryl-tagged dUTPases yielded cubic P213 IL-3A crystals with unit-cell parameter a = 105.68 A and hexagonal P63 Mu-22 crystals with unit-cell parameters a = 132.07, c = 53.45 A, γ = 120°. Owing to the Thr84Arg mutation, Mu-22 dUTPase had different monomer-to-monomer interactions to those of IL-3A dUTPase.
Small RNA Inheritance in Hybrids and Allopolyploids

Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and trans-acting siRNAs (tasiRNAs), control gene expression and epigenetic regulation. Although the physiological and developmental roles of miRNAs and siRNAs have been extensively studied, their roles in morphological diversity among closely related species and in interspecific hybrids and allopolyploids are poorly understood. Here, we discussed recent findings of small RNA regulation with an emphasis on hybrids, interspecific hybrids, and allopolyploids. Divergence between siRNAs and inheritance of these siRNAs through maternal or paternal genome during gametogenesis may exert trans-acting effects on transposable elements and on genes that are important to genomic stability and phenotypic variation. Moreover, expression changes in miRNAs and tasiRNAs between related species or parents may play a role in target gene regulation that is important to growth and development in hybrids and allopolyploids. Inheritance of small RNAs through maternal or paternal genome in interspecific hybrids and allopolyploids are reminiscent of parent-of-origin effects of small RNA regulation on offspring in heterozygous organisms including humans.
Generation-Recombination-Trapping at Interface Traps In Compact MOS Transistor Modeling

Operation lifetime of logic MOS transistors, endurance of memory MOS transistors, trapping noise in analog and RF MOS transistors, and standby power dissipation in all of these transistors, have their common origin in electron-hole GRT (generation-recombination-trapping) at SiO 2/Si interface traps. Inclusion of GRT in MOS transistor model can be made using the surface-potential approach adopted by the next (second) generation compact model. This paper describes the theoretical analysis of the GRT currents in the long-wide-channel MOS transistor model to serve as the baseline for compact modeling
Direct manipulation video navigation in 3D

Direct Manipulation Video Navigation (DMVN) systems allow a user to navigate a video by dragging an object along its motion trajectory. These systems have been shown effective for space-centric video browsing. Their performance, however, is often limited by temporal ambiguities in a video with complex motion, such as recurring motion, self-intersecting motion, and pauses. The ambiguities come from reducing the 3D spatial-temporal motion (x, y, t) to the 2D spatial motion (x, y) in visualizing the motion and dragging the object. In this paper, we present a 3D DMVN system that maps the spatial-temporal motion (x, y, t) to 3D space (x, y, z) by mapping time t to depth z, visualizes the motion and video frame in 3D, and allows to navigate the video by spatial-temporally manipulating the object in 3D. We show that since our 3D DMVN system preserves all the motion information, it resolves the temporal ambiguities and supports intuitive navigation on challenging videos with complex motion.
Path Control: The Transport Network of SNA

A primary virtue of a communications system is transparency of the transport network to the person using the system. The layered structure of SNA provides for the separation of the transport network, called path control, from higher level functions involving the end users of the network. This paper describes the structure of the path control layer of SNA, focusing on connectivity, routing, and flow control. The end user's view of these architectural concepts is presented, as well as a discussion of the underlying formats and protocols.
RELATION BETWEEN BATALIN-VILKOVISKY AND FIRST-QUANTIZED- STYLE BRST

We show that first-quantized-style Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin operators, such as those which occur in string field theory, are just those of the Batalin-Vilkovisky method, up to some minor modifications. Thus, string field theory can be quantized directly, without fields additional to the original one.
Iron-Deficient Mice Fail to Develop Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Determinations of the effects of iron status on the immune system are complicated by the fact that microorganisms and immune cells both utilize iron. To determine the role of iron in immune function, we utilized a model [experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)] in which a strong antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell response develops in the absence of infection. EAE is an autoimmune disease frequently used as a model for the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). EAE was induced in B10.PL mice fed low iron (1 mg/kg), normal iron (10 mg/kg) or high iron (160 mg/kg) diets that were replete in all other nutrients. Liver iron measurements verified iron status, i.e., low iron mice had 1.9 micro mol/g tissue, normal iron mice, 3.27 micro mol/g tissue and high iron mice, 5.35 micro mol/g tissue. EAE symptoms were most severe in normal iron mice, and EAE did not develop in low iron mice. The incidence of EAE was 71% in normal iron mice, 62% in iron-overloaded mice and 0% in iron-deficient mice. Two of seven mice in the normal iron group developed severe EAE and were euthanized. None of the iron-overloaded mice developed severe EAE. Other measures of EAE severity were similar in the normal and iron-overloaded mice. The data suggest that iron deficiency provides protection from the development of EAE and that iron excess with its potential contribution to free radical formation was not an important factor. The mechanism of EAE inhibition in iron-deficient mice likely involves the delivery and metabolism of iron for optimal CD4+ T-cell development.
Bending Analysis of Anisotropic Plates

The bending analysis of anisotropic plates is considered by the application of the method of lines. In this analysis the governing partial differential equations are replaced by a system of first-order differential equations and then solved by the multisegment numerical integration method. Results obtained from this analysis compare very well with those obtained by the energy and Fourier series methods.
Efficient Temperature-Dependent Green’s Functions Methods for Realistic Systems: Compact Grids for Orthogonal Polynomial Transforms

The Matsubara Green's function that is used to describe temperature-dependent behavior is expressed on a numerical grid. While such a grid usually has a couple of hundred points for low-energy model systems, for realistic systems with large basis sets the size of an accurate grid can be tens of thousands of points, constituting a severe computational and memory bottleneck. In this paper, we determine efficient imaginary time grids for the temperature-dependent Matsubara Green's function formalism that can be used for calculations on realistic systems. We show that, because of the use of an orthogonal polynomial transform, we can restrict the imaginary time grid to a few hundred points and reach micro-Hartree accuracy in the electronic energy evaluation. Moreover, we show that only a limited number of orthogonal polynomial expansion coefficients are necessary to preserve accuracy when working with a dual representation of the Green's function or self-energy and transforming between the imaginary time and frequency domain.
Analysis of Indentation-Derived Power-Law Creep Response

The use of instrumented indentation to characterize power-law creep is studied by computational modeling. Systematic finite element analyses were conducted to examine how indentation creep tests can be employed to retrieve the steady-state creep parameters pertaining to regular uniaxial loading. The constant indentation load hold and constant indentation-strain-rate methods were considered, first using tin (Sn)-based materials as a model system. The simulated indentation-strain rate-creep stress relations were compared against the uniaxial counterparts serving as model input. It was found that the constant indentation-strain-rate method can help establish steady-state creep, and leads to a more uniform behavior than the constant-load hold method. An expanded parametric analysis was then performed using the constant indentation-strain-rate method, taking into account a wide range of possible power-law creep parameters. The indentation technique was found to give rise to accurate stress exponents, and a certain trend for the ratio between indentation strain rate and uniaxial strain rate was identified. A contour-map representation of the findings serves as practical guidance for determining the uniaxial power-law creep response based on the indentation technique.
Role(s) of IL-2 inducible T cell kinase and Bruton's tyrosine kinase in mast cell response to lipopolysaccharide

Mast cells play critical roles during immune responses to the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that can lead to fatal septic hypothermia [1], [2], [3]. IL-2 inducible T cell kinase (ITK) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) are non-receptor tyrosine kinases that act downstream of numerous receptors, and have been shown to modulate mast cell responses downstream of FceRIα [4], however, their roles in regulating mast cell responses to endotoxic stimuli were unclear. We found that the absence of ITK and BTK alters the mast cell response to LPS, and leads to enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production by mast cells and more severe LPS-induced hypothermia in mice [5]. Here, we detail our investigation using microarray analysis to study the transcriptomic profiles of mast cell responses to LPS, and the roles of ITK and/or BTK expression in this process. Mouse whole genome array data of WT, Itk (-/-) , Btk (-/-) , and Itk (-/-) Btk (-/-) bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) stimulated by PBS (control) or LPS for 1 h were used in our latest research article [5] and is available in the Gene Expression Omnibus under accession number GSE64287.
Computing for Scientists and Engineers: A Workbook of Analysis, Numerics, and Applications

Introduction to Applicable Mathematics and Computing A Review of Complex Variables Power Series and Their Applications Numerical Derivatives and Integrals Fitting Curves Through Data Least-Squares Analysis of Data Introduction to Differential Equations Second-Order Differential Equations Discrete Fourier Transforms and Fourier Series Fourier Integral Transforms Epilogue Appendix Indexes.
A Note on the Economic Performance of Territories

Research faces the challenge of harmonizing entrepreneurship research and the role of entrepreneurship and innovations as engines of territorial performance.
Prediction of paired-associate latencies after the last error by an all-or-none learning model

An all-or-none learning model is presented which makes predictions for response latencies in paired-associate learning. The predicted latencies decrease on trials following the last error of a criterion run and accurately describe the latency data of an experiment by Peterson (1965).
Effect of Temperature on Activity of Choline-Esterase.

SummaryThe activity-temperature relationship for choline-esterace in horse serum was investigated and a narrow optimum at 40° was observed. The decreased activity above 40° is believed to result from two factors, a slowing of the reaction independent of enzyme destruction, and destruction itself, first found to occur at 50°. The course of the reaction was not appreciably affected by a change in temperature from 25 to 40°. Temperature coefficients and constants for the action of this enzyme were calculated.The author wishes to thank Mr. Sidney Morett for technical aid in this investigation.
A Hands-On Introduction to the Internet of Things (Abstract Only)

The Internet of Things (IoT), considered by many to be the next big revolution in computing, refers to the trend to include networking and computing in a wide range of devices, such as watches, appliances, health monitors, toys, etc. Including IoT applications early in the curriculum may serve multiple pedagogical purposes, such as demonstrating social relevance, (e.g., health monitoring applications) and motivating other CS topics (e.g. distributed systems, networking, OOP, event driven programming, computer organization, and databases). This workshop will introduce participants to basic terms and technologies behind IoT. Participants will then work through a hands-on, classroom-ready exercise to build a complete IoT solution. The embedded portion of this solution, based on the popular Arduino platform (hardware provided), will be targeted at students who have completed CS1. The completion of a mobile app that interacts with the embedded devices will require CS2 skills.Participants should have an interest in IoT or be interested in engaging assignments for both introductory and upper level students. Participants are asked to bring a laptop computer and a recent mobile device, with appropriate software tools installed. Links to these tools, as well as a list of compatible mobile devices, will be provided. Most Android and iOS devices made within the last three years are suitable.
Globalization from the Bottom Up: Irvine, California, and the Birth of Suburban Cosmopolitanism

Using the city of Irvine, California, as its case study, this article connects modern globalization to the rise of a post-industrial knowledge economy, demonstrating how immigration and transnational capital flows have worked to transform metropolitan America, particularly in western states like California. In the Irvine context, Asian immigration and Asian corporate investment were particularly important in transforming the city9s institutional and commercial life. Yet Irvine9s Asians were not the only important transformative agents. The community9s white residents were just as instrumental, facilitating and generally embracing the changes the Asian newcomers brought. The article thus demonstrates that the contemporary era of globalization has been directed and given its meaning at a localized, grass-roots level as much as it has been by national and international elites.
Which Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma Do Not Need Aggressive Therapy

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a heterogeneous disease, and it has been well-established over the last decade that a subset of patients can have indolent presentation. It is therefore important to adopt a risk-stratified approach in order to minimize unnecessary toxicities while maximizing survival and quality of life in selected MCL patients. This review provides an up-to-date assessment of clinical and pathologic entities associated with indolent disease course and delineates available biomarkers with predictive significance. Initial treatment decisions should be guided by risk assessment to discern patients who might do well with deferred therapy, from those who would require treatment with non-aggressive first-line regimens.
Applicability of Patterns to Architecting Complex Systems

The existence of patterns is almost universal. The human mind seems to perceive patterns without conscious thought---we notice individual's personal habits because they form patterns. Patterns are also used in a number of engineering disciplines---software engineering, requirements engineering and mechanical engineering, to name a few. However, the value and use of patterns in architecting and engineering complex systems has had very limited exploration. The purpose of this research is to focus on understanding the motivations for using patterns in architecting and engineering complex systems, to understand whether patterns for this purpose have unique requirements. Emphasis is on the documentation of architectural patterns for enhanced utility and reuse. Other topics explored in this thesis include a pattern framework as a step towards a taxonomy of system patterns to facilitate pattern management and pattern repositories. With the goal of developing the notion and utility of patterns to the systems engineering community, this research develops a framework for their documentation, classification, and management which should allow their use and reuse, and their evolution and improvement. By capturing intrinsic systems engineering knowledge and expertise, patterns would also allow the application of this knowledge by less experienced architects and systems engineers. The systems engineering community now has a vehicle to build a maturing source of patterns that can be leveraged for enhanced engineering effectiveness and efficiency.
Familial Hypophosphatemia and Related Disorders

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a detailed overview of the prototype hypophosphatemic disease, XLH. Novel and established clinical features of XLH are reviewed. Key elements central to the pathophysiology of XLH and its related disorders are discussed, including the putative function of the mutated endopeptidase PHEX. The biochemistry of FGF-23 is reviewed with respect to its role in the related disorder, autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR). Clinical features of related disorders including ADHR, hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH), and tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) are compared to those observed in XLH. XLH is one of the most common bone diseases seen in children, with available therapies that only partially address the long-term morbidity of the condition. These suboptimal therapeutic approaches require frequent biochemical monitoring, and the panoply of chronic features that complicate the condition persist throughout life. XLH is characterized by renal phosphate wasting leading to hypophosphatemia and low or normal concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH) 2 D), an inappropriate response to hypophosphatemia. In children, the disorder first becomes apparent with the development of rickets, skeletal deformities, short stature, and dental abscesses. In adults, manifestations of XLH include osteomalacia, degenerative joint disease, enthesopathy, bone and joint pain, and continued dental disease.
Controlling gene expression by DNA mechanics: emerging insights and challenges

Transcription initiation is a major control point for the precise regulation of gene expression. Our knowledge of this process has been mainly derived from protein-centric studies wherein cis-regulatory DNA sequences play a passive role, mainly in arranging the protein machinery to coalesce at the transcription start sites of genes in a spatial and temporal-specific manner. However, this is a highly dynamic process in which molecular motors such as RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), helicases, and other transcription factors, alter the level of mechanical force in DNA, rather than simply a set of static DNA–protein interactions. The double helix is a fiber that responds to flexural and torsional stress, which if accumulated, can affect promoter output as well as change DNA and chromatin structure. The relationship between DNA mechanics and the control of early transcription initiation events has been under-investigated. Genomic techniques to display topological stress and conformational variation in DNA across the mammalian genome provide an exciting new insight on the role of DNA mechanics in the early stages of the transcription cycle. Without understanding how torsional and flexural stresses are generated, transmitted, and dissipated, no model of transcription will be complete and accurate.
Learning how to do esophagectomies

Open esophagectomy is a complex operation with a high risk of complications. Studies have shown peri-operative mortality rates of 11.3% with limited improvement over time at high-volume centers (1). Despite ample investigation into the outcomes of this procedure, literature regarding the proficiency of surgeons performing open esophagectomy is scarce.
Intoxicated, Homeless, And In Need Of A Place To Land

A patient with alcoholism cycles in and out of the emergency department as his providers grapple with an outdated system of care.
Albumin conformational change and aggregation induced by nanostructured apatites

Biomaterials with nanostructured surfaces influence cellular response in a significantly different, and often beneficial, manner compared to materials with coarser features. Hydroxyapatite [HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] and strontium-apatite [Sr10(PO4)6(OH)2] microspheres that present nanotopographies similar to biological apatites were incubated in albumin solutions, at physiological conditions (40 mg ml−1; 37 °C), for up to 72 h. Electronic and vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopies revealed spectral signatures characteristic of stacked β-sheet regions in higher ordered structures (e.g., fibrils). The presence of stacked β-sheets was further evidenced by thioflavin T staining. The sequestration of interfacial Ca atoms by pyrophosphate ions (P2O74−), prior to albumin adsorption, prevented stacked β-sheet formation on hydroxyapatite. These results suggest that the charge and/or spatial arrangement of Ca atoms direct stacked β-sheet formation during bovine serum albumin adsorption. Stacked β-sheet spectral f...
Traffic-Related Pollutants: Exposure and Health Effects Among Hispanic Children.

We examined traffic-related pollution (TRP) exposure and respiratory health effects in Hispanic white (HW) children, both compared with non-Hispanic white (NHW) children and according to genetically determined Native American (NA) ancestry. The sample included over 5,000 children from the Children’s Health Study in California, followed during 1993–2014. HW children were 1.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24, 1.73) times more likely to live close ( 50% NA ancestry were >40% more likely to live close to a freeway or to a major nonfreeway road, compared with those with ≤50% NA ancestry. The association of TRP with ever having been diagnosed by a doctor as having asthma differed between HW and NHW children (P 50% NA ancestry. Within this subgroup, those close to a major nonfreeway road were 2.16 (95% CI: 1.26, 3.69) times more likely to have ever reported asthma compared with those living further away. This paper provides evidence that HW children in southern California, especially those with greater NA ancestry, are more exposed to TRP and are potentially at greater risk for TRP-related respiratory health effects.
Naproxen sodium in the treatment of migraine.

Naproxen sodium, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis and platelet aggregation, was studied for efficacy in migraine prophylaxis in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. On naproxen treatment, 52% of the patients had no severe headaches whereas 19% had no severe headaches during placebo. Naproxen sodium was much better than placebo when patients' diaries were reviewed for severity of attacks, nausea, vomiting, activity reduction, duration of headache, and decreased use of therapeutic medication. Naproxen sodium can be recommended as a drug of first choice for migraine prevention.
Reproductive Management of Captive Parrots

Studies of the behavior of Amazon parrots throughout a reproductive trial indicate that activities such as food gathering, which may occupy large fractions of the activity budget of wild parrots, occupy little time in captivity. This may be one factor contributing to the large percentage of time during which Amazon parrots are generally inactive in typical captive conditions. The extent of inactivity in captive Amazons creates an open time niche wherein enrichment devices might play a role in improving their well being. Studies of the reproductive endocrinology and the behavior of parrots suggest that hand rearing may impair adult fertility and nest box use. Hand rearing may also cause adult Cockatiels to lay eggs on cage floors rather than in nest boxes. However, the use of nest boxes with oversized nest entrances can be very effective in alleviating chronic floor laying in Cockatiels. Another egg-laying problem in Cockatiels, unwanted egg laying, can be prevented by the use of long-acting formulations of the superactive GnRH agonist, leuprolide acetate, which presumably [figure: see text] acts in birds, as in mammals, by down-regulating pituitary GnRH receptors. Manipulations to limit the increases in prolactin normally seen during incubation in poultry can significantly increase egg production. As clutch size in Cockatiels may also be limited by rising prolactin levels, such manipulations may be effective in stimulating egg production in parrots. An alternative approach for increasing flock egg production is to place foster eggs in nests of Cockatiel pairs that are slow to lay. This technique stimulates males to increase their nest-oriented behavior and, subsequently, may stimulate egg laying in some females that might not otherwise have laid eggs. The parental phases of reproduction in Amazon parrots are often a time of heightened aggressiveness towards humans, but low levels of serum testosterone in males during that time suggest that this particular interspecies aggressiveness may not be dependent on elevated testosterone levels. Occasional human handling during the nestling stage may produce a degree of tameness comparable with hand-reared chicks, yet not impair adult reproductive performance. Such handling may also alter the immune status of captive parrots, and possibly reduce the serum corticosterone response to handling. If so, occasional human handling during the nestling stage could improve the adaptation of parrots to captivity.
A Mm-wave ultra-long-range energy-autonomous printed RFID-enabled van-atta wireless sensor: At the crossroads of 5G and IoT

In this paper the authors report the first 5G-compatible implementation of a long-range, energy-autonomous, mm-wave RFID sensor for IoT applications. The system topology is first described, before the design and performance characterization of its constituting components, including an inkjet-printed carbon-nanotube(CNT)-based ammonia sensor, are presented. Then, the entire printed mm-wave backscatter-modulation device is tested, demonstrating a monostatic cross-polarized radar cross-section of −29dBsm, with only a 10 dB variation within the −50° to 50° interrogation angular range. The wireless ammonia sensing capabilities of the system are then demonstrated, before its detection at an ultra-long-range of 80 m is reported.
Protein degradation in human disease.

Intracellular degradation of proteins constitutes a vital regulatory switch in a variety of central cellular processes. Additionally, it provides an essential mechanism in protein turnover for amino acid regeneration. Several mechanisms of protein degradation are known, but the majority of regulatory proteins are degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This pathway has thus been implicated in the control of apoptosis, cell cycle progression, immune response, development, transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, and receptor down-regulation. The complex nature of this, and other proteolysis mechanisms, and their critical roles in cellular processes underlies the existence of many aberrations related to several pathogenic diseases, both acquired and inherited. In this chapter, two major mechanisms of protein degradation, the ubiquitin proteasome system and the lysosome, will be discussed in relation to diseases resulting from mutations in a particular step of the pathways, and from mutations in proteins that induce their stabilization or degradation (summarized in Table 1).
Characterization of fluoride inhibition in photosystem II lacking extrinsic PsbP and PsbQ subunits.

Photosynthetic oxygen evolution occurs through the oxidation of water at a catalytic Mn4CaO5 cluster in photosystem II and is promoted by chloride, which binds at two sites near the Mn4CaO5 cluster. Fluoride is a competitive inhibitor of chloride activation, but study of its effects is complicated by the possibility that it may form an insoluble CaF2 complex. In this study, the effects of fluoride were studied using PSII lacking the PsbP and PsbQ subunits, which help to regulate the requirements for the inorganic cofactors Ca2+ and Cl-. In this preparation, which allows easy exchange of ions, it was found that F- does not directly remove Ca2+ even when catalytic turnovers take place, suggesting that fluoride is not able to access the inner coordination sphere of Ca2+. By monitoring the loss in O2 evolution activity, the dissociation constant of F- was estimated to be about 1 mM in intact PSII, consistent with previous studies, and about 77 mM in PSII lacking the extrinsic subunits. The significantly higher value for PSII lacking PsbP and PsbQ is consistent with results for other ions. The effects of F- on electron transfer to Tyr Z was also studied and found to show similar trends in PSII with and without the two extrinsic subunits, but with a more pronounced effect in PSII lacking the extrinsic subunits. These results indicate that in PSII lacking PsbP and PsbQ, fluoride does not directly interact with or remove Ca2+ and inhibits O2 evolution in a manner comparable to PSII with the extrinsic subunits intact.
Decoding: It’s not all about the letters

Purpose Reading requires the ability to decode and comprehend. Impairments in working memory (WM) are often implicated in students who are poor decoders. It is unclear whether this is a domain-spec...
Electric Power Supply Alternatives

Yesterday someone said—and I am going to paraphrase—that after the policy makers are finished deciding what has to be done, then it is left to another group of people to decide how to do it, and I guess I represent that end of the equation here today.
Is Globalization Revitalizing Indigenous and Minority Languages in Chile

By the end of the 19th century, Chile had become immersed in the global economy, which gradually impacted language studies in the country. French, English and German were gradually integrated into the high school curriculum. Conversely, Indigenous languages, such as Aymara and Mapudungun were not included into the national curriculum until the creation of an intercultural bilingual education (IBE) program in 1993. In this study, I examine the intersection of globalization and language policies in Chile with specific emphasis on their impact on Chile’s Indigenous languages. I centered my investigation on answers to the following questions: (a) has globalization helped revitalize native and immigrant minority languages, and cultural diversity in Chile? (b) is globalization helping Indigenous languages achieve the prestige they have been denied for over six centuries? and (c) is current bilingual education implementation promoting equality of education, economic, and social opportunities for Indigenous and other minority language speakers? This study is based on a review of the literature and on an ethnographic analysis of data extracted from blogs and online commentaries.
High switching ratio variable-temperature solid-state thermal switch based on thermoelectric effects

Abstract The switching ratio, the ratio between the thermal conductance in its off and on states, of a thermal switch is a critical design parameter of such a device. Here, we propose Peltier modules as a type of all-solid-state thermal switch that can operate over a wide temperature range and with an adjustable switching ratio. Calculations show that the switching ratio depends only on thermoelectric figure of merit and temperature bounds. A Peltier couple is constructed from Bi2Te3-based material and characterized by its thermal conductance and response time in the open condition and under an optimal activation current. The switching ratio diverges at small temperature differences with record-high measured values, an order of magnitude larger than achieved by other solid-state devices near room temperature. Materials with a high figure of merit could produce even larger switching ratios over higher temperature differences.
Provider–Patient Communication and Involvement in Physical Activity Programs Among Patients Receiving Physical Therapy Services: A Qualitative Study:

Objectives: To describe how physical therapy providers and their patients interact and communicate about physical activity (PA), and explore the barriers and facilitators to patient involvement in PA programs. Method: We conducted 39 direct observations of patient visits with physical therapy providers and 30 telephone interviews with physical therapists (PTs). We conducted a thematic analysis of observation field notes and interview transcripts. Results: PTs and patients engaged in several behaviors to build rapport, discussed PA type and frequency, and exchanged advice and information about PA. Barriers to patient participation in PA programs included low instrumental support, physical limitations, lack of motivation and confidence, and lack of knowledge about available programs. Facilitators included emotional support from friends, peers, and family, and encouragement and information-sharing from providers. Discussion: PTs play an important role in improving older adult PA and could be instrumental in reducing barriers to PA participation.
Revisiting the Issue of Influential Sources in the Integration of Psychology and Theology: Are We There Yet?:

Building upon the work of Grimm et al. (2012), maturational trends in the most influential books and articles within the integration literature were identified across the time periods of 1985–1994,...
Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: New Wine in Old Wineskins?:

Artificial intelligence applications are becoming common in every segment of American life; higher education will not be immune. Attempts to fit artificial intelligence into the existing syllabus o...
Optical mapping of electromechanics in intact organs.

Optical mapping has become a widely used and important method in cardiac electrophysiology. The method typically uses voltage-sensitive fluorescent dyes and high-speed cameras to image propagation ...
Lead Integrity Alert Triggered by T-wave Oversensing

T-wave oversensing (TWOS) is a relatively common occurrence in pacemakers and defibrillators that can lead to pauses and inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks. We present a case of TWOS that triggered the Lead Integrity Alert (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) without evidence of actual lead failure.
How to Manage Hypertension in People With Diabetes

Hypertension is a common condition that is often seen in patients with diabetes. Both diseases increase the risk of morbidity and mortality from CV events and kidney disease progression. Factors that influence blood pressure (BP) control in diabetes include the persons' genetic background for hypertension and kidney disease, level of obesity and insulin resistance, the magnitude of preexisting kidney disease, and lifestyle factors, such as level of sodium and potassium intake, sleep quality and exercise effort all of which can affect levels of sympathetic nerve activity and contribute to increased BP variability. Lifestyle intervention is a key component to the effective management of diabetes and hypertension and can markedly reduce event rates of both heart and kidney outcomes. The approach to pharmacologic treatment of BP in diabetes is crucial since certain classes of agents for both BP and diabetes confer significant benefits to reduce cardiorenal outcomes.
Photobiomodulation therapy in age-related macular degeneration

Purpose of review To review the available data supporting the use of photobiomodulation therapy (PBT) in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Recent findings PBT might be used in treating nonexudative AMD. Limited evidence suggests that exudative AMD may also benefit from PBT. Summary The optimal device would deliver doses of 60 J/cm2 or more with a multiwavelength composition through the pupil over short treatment intervals. Safe upper limits have not been established. More studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of PBT in treating exudative and nonexudative AMD.
Does Disassociation with a Majority Religion Influence Community Desirability? Evidence from Rural Utah:

This study examines how disassociation with a majority religion influences subjective perception of community desirability in rural communities. Current community literature shows that religious af...
The use of the discourse markers yaʕni and ʔinnu: ‘I mean’ in Syrian Arabic

Abstract Using quantitative, traditional variationist sociolinguistic methods, this study examines the social and linguistic distribution of the interchangeable Syrian Arabic discourse markers yaʕni and ʔinnu: ‘I mean’ in the speech of 72 speakers from the village Oyoun Al-Wadi in Syria. Children and adult data are compared. Age and gender among four groups of children and gender among adults are examined to see if there is a change in progress towards the use of the innovative form ʔinnu:. Children show a reverse pattern, generally using more ʔinnu: than adults. Women use more ʔinnu: than men, and boys use more ʔinnu: than girls. The gender disparity emerged as statistically significant among adults but not among children. While the difference between the older and younger generation indicates a shift towards higher use of ʔinnu:, the undulating pattern among the four age groups indicate age-grading and the conflicting gender differences rules out a change in progress. Regardless of gender, the linguistic distribution favors ʔinnu: in medial position and yaʕni in initial position, although yaʕni shows more variability in its syntactic position, proposing that higher association with specific pragmatic functions leads to higher occurrence in specific syntactic positions through interdependence between the syntactic and pragmatic.