cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3525 DO GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX INDUCED CHANGES IN THE SQUAMOUS MUCOSA HAVE A POSITIVE ASSOCIATION WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE INTESTINAL METAPLASIA OF BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS?

There appears to be a close pathophysiological relationship between Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux. In patients with GERD, pathologists often describe tissue changes of the squamous mucosa that are acknowledged as being induced by gastroesophageal reflux. PURPOSE We tested the hypothesis that histopathological reflux induced changes in squamous mucosa have a positive correlation with the presence of goblet cells or intestinal metaplasia without goblet cells in patients with endoscopic features of Barrett's esophagus. METHODS Systematic histopathological review by a single experienced gastrointestinal histopathologist (D.N.L.) of biopsy sample collections from 160 patients (143 Caucasian, median age 52 y [range 26-89], 82 males) with the endoscopical feature of gastric mucosa proximal to the gastric folds. The histopathologist specifically assessed the presence of i) goblet cells in columnar lined mucosa, ii) inflammatory infiltration in the glandular mucosa, and iii) reflux induced changes in squamous mucosa. These are Intraepithelial Eosinophils in squamous epithelium, Basal Cell Hyperplasia if basal cell layer thicker than 15% of the epithelium s thickness, Papillae & Rete Elongation if Papilla/Epithelium ratio over 2/3. For the statistical analysis we categorized the sample collections in three groups: (A) intestinal metaplasia with goblet cells, (B) intestinal metaplasia without goblet cells, and (C) no intestinal metaplasia. RESULTS The three groups (A) n=67, (B) n=36, and (C) n=57 had equally frequent inflammatory infiltration - interpreted as acute for (A) in 21%, (B) in 25%, (C) in 23% (p = 0.89); and - interpreted as chronic for (A) 22%, (B) 28%, and (C) 26% (p = 0.80). Intraepithelial Eosinophils were found in group (A) 18%, in (B) 6%, and in (C) 19% (p = 0.16). Basal Cell Hyperplasia was found in group (A) 21%, in (B) 3%, and in (C) 19% (p = 0.04). Papillae & Rete Elongation was found in group (A) 23%, in (B) 33%, and in (C) 40% (p = 0.16). CONCLUSION Gastroesophageal reflux induced changes in squamous mucosa occur at similar frequencies in patients with intestinal metaplasia containing goblet cells, intestinal metaplasia without goblet cells, and in those without intestinal metaplasia. Thus, although Barrett's esophagus is assumed to occur as a result of gastroesophageal reflux, histopathological features of reflux in squamous mucosa correspond poorly with the presence of intestinal metaplasia.
Microsurgical Transplantation of Nonvascularized Segments of the Fallopian Tube in the Rabbit

Microsurgical nonvascularized transplantation of a 1-cm segment of fallopian tube was performed using the rabbit as a model. Autograft experiments showed survival of a 1-cm tubal segment for as long as 10 months postoperatively. Allografts survived equally as well, and one rabbit became pregnant.
Cross-hole tracer experiment reveals rapid fluid flow and low effective porosity in the upper oceanic crust

Abstract Numerous field, laboratory, and modeling studies have explored the flows of fluid, heat, and solutes during seafloor hydrothermal circulation, but it has been challenging to determine transport rates and flow directions within natural systems. Here we present results from the first cross-hole tracer experiment in the upper oceanic crust, using four subseafloor borehole observatories equipped with autonomous samplers to track the transport of a dissolved tracer (sulfur hexafluoride, SF6) injected into a ridge-flank hydrothermal system. During the first three years after tracer injection, SF6 was transported both north and south through the basaltic aquifer. The observed tracer transport rate of ∼2–3 m/day is orders of magnitude greater than bulk rates of flow inferred from thermal and chemical observations and calculated with coupled fluid-heat flow simulations. Taken together, these results suggest that the effective porosity of the upper volcanic crust through which much tracer was transported is
Electronic Strategies to Improve Chinese Reading Skills

This chapter introduces a series of studies carried out with intermediate learners of Chinese regarding the reading of authentic e-materials with hyperlinked dictionaries. The study results indicate that it is practical to let intermediate students read authentic e-materials when aided by hyperlinked dictionaries, which can improve reading comprehension and vocabulary retention. Guided by the findings from these studies, good practices on how to use authentic e-materials and hyperlinked dictionaries to improve reading skills for intermediate students are introduced. It is recommended that in order to achieve optimal results when using technology, instructors need to employ systematic strategies to support and guide students in the reading process.
Trochleoplasty as a Solitary Treatment for Recurrent Patellar Dislocation Results in Good Clinical Outcome in Adolescents

Background:The essential static patellar stabilizer is a normal-shaped trochlear groove. A dysplastic groove destabilizes the patella. Trochleoplasty approaches this underlying condition and reshapes the trochlea. However, studies have reported on trochleoplasty for revision cases or as accompanied by other interventions. The effect of trochleoplasty alone remains unexplained.Purpose:To introduce trochleoplasty as a stand-alone treatment for recurrent patellar dislocation and to compare its pre- to postoperative functional and clinical variables.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A trochleoplasty was performed in 50 knees (27 right) in 44 patients (30 females; mean ± SD age, 15.6 ± 2.0 years). The indication for surgery was recurrent patellar dislocation not responding to nonoperative treatment (>6 months), with types B through D dysplasia and closed or closing physes in adolescents aged 10 to 20 years. Assessment included J-sign and apprehension test, Kujala and Lysholm scores, patien...
Name Dropping and Product Mentions: Branding in Popular Music Lyrics

ABSTRACTProduct placement provides a unique advantage over traditional advertising as it can be integrated into program content through a symbiotic relationship. A content analysis of the Billboard year-end top 20 songs for Rap, Country, R&B/Hip-Hop, Adult Contemporary, Rock, and Pop over five years (2009–2013) was conducted to determine the use of celebrities, product placement, and nonbranded product mentions in song lyrics. Results found male artists used celebrity mentions and product placement more than females, Rap contained the most mentions (73% of songs), clothing and shoes was the most prevalent product category, musicians were the most common type of celebrity mentioned, and nonbranded product mentions were in 54.5% of songs. The paper concludes by discussing practical implications of utilizing branded, nonbranded, and celebrity mentions in song lyrics.
Rotationally-Resolved Depletion Spectroscopy of Ultracold KRb Molecules

We report on the use of depletion spectroscopy to detect ultracold ground-state KRb molecules with rotational resolution. Binding energies of these molecules and possible intermediate rovibrational levels for Raman transfer are also explored.
Fast Versus Slow Progressors of Infarct Growth in Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke: Clinical and Research Implications

Approximately 40% of acute ischemic strokes are caused by proximal intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO) and are associated with the worst clinical outcomes.1 Early reperfusion with IV tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) and intra-arterial thrombectomy leads to reduced final infarct volumes, lower disability rates, and improved cognitive function after anterior circulation LVO.2–6 However, most stroke patients with LVO remain untreated because they present beyond the conventional time windows for acute reperfusion therapies.7,8 Therefore, a growing paradigm has been to transition to a therapeutic window that is tailored to each patient’s individual pathophysiology or brain tissue window rather than a standardized time window.9,10 The principle of pathophysiology-based reperfusion therapy is built on the fundamental concept of a dynamic interrelation between the ischemic core (tissue that is already infarcted) and the ischemic penumbra (physiologically impaired but potentially salvageable tissue).11–13 After arterial occlusion, there can be temporal growth of the ischemic core into the penumbral area that is modulated by collateral blood flow, the key element setting the pace of the ischemic process.14 Infarct growth is thought to progress at different speeds across individuals because patients with occlusion of the proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) or internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus present with widely variable stroke volumes independently of time after symptom onset.15–18 We refer to patients with LVO who experience rapid infarct growth as fast progressors. These patients have failing collaterals and a large ischemic core despite presenting early within 6 hours of stroke onset. Conversely, a significant number of patients maintain a small ischemic core and significant salvageable tissue beyond 6 hours and up to several days after persistent LVO.17,19 The latter patients are slow progressors because they maintain good collaterals and …
Empirical Studies of Public Response to Tornado and Hurricane Warnings in the United States

Three studies (Hanson, Vitek, and Hanson, 1979; Glass et al., 1980; Hodler, 1982), and to a lesser degree a fourth (Taylor, Zurcher, and Key, 1970), provide most of the survey data documenting public response to tornado warnings.
MVDC grounding and common mode current control

The U.S. Navy is exploring the use of power electronics based Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) power distribution systems to affordably provide power to advanced mission systems. The design of equipment and the system grounding scheme should be designed to limit common mode (CM) currents through the ship's hull. This paper presents a CM model of an MVDC power distribution system and makes recommendations for the design of rotating machines, power electronics, grounding systems, and MVDC bus interfaces to limit CM currents.
Current fluctuations of interacting active Brownian particles

We derive the distribution of particle currents for a system of interacting active Brownian particles in the long-time limit using large deviation theory and a weighted many-body expansion. We find the distribution is non-Gaussian, except in the limit of passive particles. The non-Gaussian fluctuations can be understood from the effective potential the particles experience when conditioned on a given current. This potential suppresses fluctuations of the particles orientations and surrounding density, aligning particles and reducing their effective drag. From the distribution of currents, we compute the diffusion coefficient, which is in excellent agreement with molecular dynamics simulations over a range of self-propulsion velocities and densities. We show that mass transport is Fickian in that the diffusion constant determines the response of a small density gradient, and that nonlinear responses are similarly computable from the density dependence of the current distribution.
Teachers’ Perceptions on Integration of Information Communication Technology in Teaching and learning in Secondary Schools in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

The purpose of the study was to establish teachers’ perception on integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in secondary schools in Uasin Gishu County. The study was guided by the Minimalism theory. The study utilized ex post facto research design. The target population included all private and public secondary schools in Uasin Gishu County and all teachers in private and public secondary schools in the county. Stratified and simple random sampling procedures were to select the respondents for the study. The study utilized questionnaire and observation schedules for data collection. The study concluded that most of teachers in public and private secondary schools in Uasin Gishu County had favorable perceptions of availability of ICT infrastructure in their school, The study further concluded that both private and public secondary teachers in Uasin Gishu County had favorable perceptions of availability of plans for ICT integration in teaching in their school and that there is a significant relationship between public and private secondary teachers mean perception scores on ICT integration in Uasin Gishu County. the study recommended that the county Government of Uasin Gishu should provide ICT infrastructure in both private and public secondary schools and The principals and school managers in Uasin Gishu County should develop ICT integration plans at the school level which should inform the process of integrating the same in classroom teaching and learning.
Intractable Cancer Pain in Children

Intractable pain cannot be relieved using conventional treatment; by not responding to therapies beyond conventional practice, it is refractory. Intractable childhood cancer pain is most likely to occur in children with spinal cord compression or solid tumor metastatic to spinal nerve roots, nerve plexus, or large peripheral nerve. The management of intractable pain often requires highdose opioid therapy, the use of adjuvant agents, regional anesthesia, or neurolytic procedures. The management of refractory pain may require therapy, which compromises consciousness.
Behavioral Weight Loss Interventions to Prevent Obesity-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.

Importance More than 35% of men and 40% of women in the United States are obese. Obesity is associated with health problems such as increased risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, various types of cancer, gallstones, and disability. Obesity is also associated with an increased risk for death, particularly among adults younger than 65 years. Objective To update the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) 2012 recommendation on screening for obesity in adults. Evidence Review The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on interventions (behavioral and pharmacotherapy) for weight loss or weight loss maintenance that can be provided in or referred from a primary care setting. Surgical weight loss interventions and nonsurgical weight loss devices (eg, gastric balloons) are considered to be outside the scope of the primary care setting. Findings The USPSTF found adequate evidence that intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions in adults with obesity can lead to clinically significant improvements in weight status and reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes among adults with obesity and elevated plasma glucose levels; these interventions are of moderate benefit. The USPSTF found adequate evidence that behavior-based weight loss maintenance interventions are of moderate benefit. The USPSTF found adequate evidence that the harms of intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions (including weight loss maintenance interventions) in adults with obesity are small to none. Therefore, the USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that offering or referring adults with obesity to intensive behavioral interventions or behavior-based weight loss maintenance interventions has a moderate net benefit. Conclusions and Recommendation The USPSTF recommends that clinicians offer or refer adults with a body mass index of 30 or higher to intensive, multicomponent behavioral interventions. (B recommendation)
My Increasing Disillusionment with the Planning, Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation of Large Dams, Especially as Illustrated by The World Bank—The Largest and Most Influential Financier of Large Dams

Starting in the mid-1960s I believe that I have had longer experience with the World Bank than any other human ecologist or anthropologist/sociologist. I was familiar with the World Bank as a financier of Kariba and Kainji in the 1950s and 1960s. Thereafter I had no direct contact with the Bank until, as a replacement for Philip Gulliver, the Bank recruited me on a part-time basis as their first consultant anthropologist/sociologist in order to join John C. de Wilde’s study of African Agricultural Development during 1964–1968.
Media Censures: The Hutchins Commission on the Press, the New York Intellectuals on Mass Culture

Around the middle of the 20th century, two groups of American intellectuals turned their attention to the mass media. The scholars on the Commission on Freedom of the Press, chaired by University of Chicago president Robert Maynard Hutchins, assessed the American news media. Dwight Macdonald and his fellow New York intellectuals assessed the American entertainment media and other forms of mass culture. On the whole, both groups were appalled. Hutchins et al. and Macdonald et al. inhabited different worlds—the intellectual establishment and the intellectual antiestablishment—yet the two groups developed parallel critiques. Comparing them reveals important aspects of the role of midcentury intellectuals, particularly their attitudes toward mass media and mass society, officialdom and power. It also raises provocative questions about the forces that shape research agendas.
Genomic scans reveal multiple mito‐nuclear incompatibilities in population crosses of the copepod Tigriopus californicus

The evolution of intrinsic postzygotic isolation can be explained by the accumulation of Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities (DMI). Asymmetries in the levels of hybrid inviability and hybrid sterility are commonly observed between reciprocal crosses, a pattern that can result from the involvement of uniparentally inherited factors. The mitochondrial genome is one such factor that appears to participate in DMI in some crosses but the frequency of its involvement versus biparentally inherited factors is unclear. Here we assess the relative importance of incompatibilities between nuclear factors (nuclear-nuclear) versus those between mitochondrial and nuclear factors (mito-nuclear) in a species that lacks sex chromosomes. We used a Pool-seq approach to survey three crosses among genetically divergent populations of the copepod, Tigriopus californicus, for regions of the genome that are affected by hybrid inviability. Results from reciprocal crosses suggest that mito-nuclear incompatibilities are more common than nuclear-nuclear incompatibilities overall. These results suggest that in the presence of very high levels of nucleotide divergence between mtDNA haplotypes, mito-nuclear incompatibilities can be important for the evolution of intrinsic postzygotic isolation. This is particularly interesting considering this species lacks sex chromosomes, which have been shown to harbor a particularly high number of nuclear-nuclear DMI in several other species.
Multi-Robot Enhanced MANET Routing with Situation Aware Online Reinforcement Learning

This paper studies the problem of real-time routing in a multi-autonomous robot enhanced network under uncertain and complex environment. Emerging network protocols, such as opportunistic mobile network routing protocols, engaged social network in communication network that can increase the interoperability by using social mobility and opportunistic carry and forward routing algorithms. However, the uncertainty of social mobility and complexity of harsh environment would seriously affect the effectiveness and practicality of those emerging network protocols. This paper presents a SaRE-MANET (Situation-aware Robot Enhanced Mobile Ad-hoc Network) routing protocol that adopt the online reinforcement learning technique to supervise the mobility of multi-robots as well as handle the practical uncertainty and complexity of harsh environment. Firstly, a set of mission oriented metrics has been introduced to describe the interrelation between network quality and multi-robots’ mobility. Then, a distributed multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithm has been proposed. SaRE-MANET routing protocol as well as the mobility of multi-robots are optimized online by using the practical mission oriented metrics. The effectiveness of the proposed design has been demonstrated through both computer-aid simulation and experiments.
Mothers' homeownership and children's economic success 20 years later among a sample of US citizens.

Abstract Familial economic hardship, an adverse childhood experience (ACE) that increases children's risk for exposure to additional ACEs, can derail optimal child development. A compelling area with potential for reducing economic hardship and promoting healthy child development is housing. In the US, the largest contributor to family wealth is homeownership, which may contribute to a family's ability to provide their children opportunities to do better than previous generations. The objective of the current study was to examine the influence of homeownership on children's economic outcomes in adulthood. This study used data from two surveys conducted in the US, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the NLSY79 Young Adult survey, to examine the association between mothers' homeownership in 1994 and children's economic outcomes 20 years later. Adults whose mothers owned homes in 1994 were over 1.5 times more likely to own homes, attained higher education, and were moderately less likely to receive public assistance in 2014 compared to adults whose mothers did not own homes. This paper highlights the potential of homeownership to break the intergenerational continuity of poverty. Programs that help families purchase affordable housing hold promise in helping ensure children reach their full potential and improving economic outcomes in future generations.
Neurocognitive Phenotyping of HIV in the Era of Antiretroviral Therapy

This paper examines the theoretical and empirical basis for neurocognitive phenotyping of HIV. The pattern of neurocognitive symptoms associated with HIV has traditionally been referred to as a “subcortical” phenotype. Recent concern has been raised that the neurocognitive phenotype in the post-ART era has changed to reflect the addition of cortical features, suggestive of synergistic age-related neurodegeneration. Empirical evidence reviewed in this paper suggests that, when present, HIV-related neurocognitive impairment in the post-ART era remains subcortical in nature, regardless of advanced age or treatment status. Persistent neurocognitive impairment among virally suppressed individuals may reflect a combination of HIV disease factors, pre-existing risk factors, and/or emergent health comorbidities such as subcortical ischemic vascular disease in older people living with HIV. An entrenchment of the subcortical neurocognitive phenotype of HIV appears to be unfolding in the post-ART era. Whether new neurocognitive subtypes of HIV exist in the current era requires additional research utilizing harmonized test protocols and advanced computational methods capable of deep phenotyping. Recommendations from other neurological disorders are provided.
Low‐Value Prostate Cancer Screening Among Older Men Within the Veterans Health Administration

Background/objectives Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening can be of low value in older adults. Our objective was to quantify the prevalence and variation of low-value PSA screening across the Veterans Health Administration (VA), which has instituted programs to reduce low-value care. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting VA administrative data, 2014 to 2015. Participants National random sample (N = 214 480) of male veterans, aged 75 years or older. Measurements We defined PSA screening in men aged 75 years or older without a history of prostate cancer as low value, per established definitions in Medicare. We calculated screening rates overall and by VA Medical Center (VAMC), adjusting for patient and VAMC-level factors. We characterized variation across VAMCs using the adjusted median odds ratio (OR) and compared the adjusted OR of screening between VAMCs in different deciles of low-value screening rates. In separate sensitivity analyses, we assessed screening in veterans at greatest risk of 1-year mortality and among veterans after excluding those who underwent prostatectomy, had a prior PSA elevation, or had a clinical indication for testing. Results Overall, 37 867 (17.7%) of veterans underwent low-value PSA screening (VAMC range = 3.3%-38.2%). The adjusted median OR was 1.88, meaning the median odds of screening would increase by 88% were a veteran to transfer his care to a VAMC with higher screening rates. Veterans at VAMCs in the top decile had an adjusted OR of 12.9 (95% confidence interval = 11.0-15.2) compared to those veterans in the lowest decile. Among veterans with the greatest mortality risk (n = 23 377), 3496 (15.0%) underwent screening (VAMC range = 1.7%-46.3%). After excluding veterans with a prior prostatectomy, PSA elevation, or a potential clinical indication, 31 556 (14.7%) underwent screening (VAMC range = 2.0%-49.9%). Conclusions In a national cohort of older veterans, more than one in six received low-value PSA screening, with greater than 10-fold variation across VAMCs and high rates of screening among those with the greatest mortality risk. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1922-1927, 2019.
Attitudes about classroom group work: How are they impacted by students’ past experiences and major?

Students at two universities were surveyed in order to determine if past experiences with classroom group work impacted attitudes about this pedagogical technique. Questions related to equitable di...
Analytical determination of radioactive strontium and cesium by Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) has been evaluated for the detection of the radioactive isotopes of Sr and Cs. The commercial instrument (i.e., a Thermo Scientific Triton) was investigated for the analysis of isotopic ratios of 89Sr/90Sr and 135Cs/137Cs in the presence of atomic isobars (89Y and 90Zr for 89,90Sr analysis and 135,137Ba for 135,137Cs analysis). The decontamination achievable instrumentally was examined by isotopic ratio measurements of 89Y/88Sr and 90Zr/88Sr for Sr and 135Ba/133Cs and 137Ba/133Cs for Cs. The decontamination found was at or above 2.0E+8 for 90Zr from 88Sr, while the Y demonstrated a temperature dependence as it sublimed from the filament but remained better than ≈ 5E+7. The decontamination of Ba from Cs did not show any temperature dependence and remained above 5E+6 and 8E+6 for 135Ba and 137Ba from 133Cs, respectively. Two standard fusion procedures one with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) plus sodium peroxide (Na2O2) flux, and the second used lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) plus lithium metaborate (LiBO2) flux were evaluated for preparation of sample matrices prior to performing chemical separations. Ammonium molybdophosphate-polyacrylonitrile (AMP-PAN) and Sr-spec resin were used to isolate the Cs and Sr, respectively from a prepared background matrix (i.e., Montana Soil). A graded approach, increasing in stable background isotopes, was performed to monitor the chemical and instrumental response. The radioisotopes of Sr and Cs were produced by thermal neutron irradiation of a highly enriched uranium foil. Even though the irradiated sample was not a certified standard it does provide accurate expectation values via the published cumulative fission yield nuclear data in the Evaluated Nuclear Data Files (ENDF) [ 1 ]. The intra-element isotopic ratio results presented in this work for 89Sr/90Sr and 135Cs/137Cs agree with the published data at 1σ. Furthermore, the uncertainty of the isotopic ratio measurements with TIMS was a factor of 5–10 improved compared to these published values.
Combining semiconductor-based sequencing with amplicon-based cancer gene panels: A rapid next-gen approach to clinical cancer genotyping.

10591 Background: Bringing next-gen sequencing into clinical (CLIA-licensed) laboratories is an important step in the advancement of personalized cancer care. We have validated a new sequencing app...
Fissures, folds, and scrolls: The ontogenetic basis for complexity of the nasal cavity in a fruit bat (Rousettus leschenaultii).

Mammalian nasal capsule development has been described in only a few cross-sectional age series, rendering it difficult to infer developmental mechanisms that influence adult morphology. Here we examined a sample of Leschenault's rousette fruit bats (Rousettus leschenaultii) ranging in age from embryonic to adult (n=13). We examined serially sectioned coronal histological specimens, and used micro computed tomography scans to visualize morphology in two older specimens. We found that the development of the nasal capsule in Rousettus proceeds similarly to many previously described mammals, following a general theme in which the central (i.e., septal) region matures into capsular cartilage before peripheral regions, and rostral parts of the septum and paries nasi mature before caudal parts. The ossification of turbinals also generally follows a rostral to caudal pattern. Our results suggest discrete mechanisms for increasing complexity of the nasal capsule, some of which are restricted to the late embryonic and early fetal timeframe, including fissuration and mesenchymal proliferation. During fetal and early postnatal ontogeny, appositional and interstitial chondral growth of cartilage modifies the capsular template. Postnatally, appositional bone growth and pneumatization render greater complexity to individual structures and spaces. Future studies that focus on the relative contribution of each mechanism during development may draw critical inferences how nasal morphology is reflective of, or deviates from the original fetal template. A comparison of other chiropterans to nasal development in Rousettus could reveal phylogenetic patterns (whether ancestral or derived) or the developmental basis for specializations relating to respiration, olfaction, or laryngeal echolocation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Using a Warm Hand-Off Approach to Enroll African American Caregivers in a Multi-Site Clinical Trial: The Handshake Protocol:

"Testing Tele-Savvy" was a three-arm randomized controlled trial that recruited participants from four National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Alzheimer's Disease Centers with Emory University serving as the coordinating center. The enrollment process involved each center providing a list of eligible caregivers to the coordinating center to consent. Initially, the site proposed to recruit primarily African American caregivers generated a significant amount of referrals to the coordinating center, but a gap occurred in translating them into enrolled participants. To increase the enrollment rate, a "Handshake Protocol" was established, which included a warm handoff approach. During preset phone calls each week, the research site coordinator introduced potential participants to a culturally congruent co-investigator from the coordinating center who then completed the consent process. Within the first month of implementation, the team was 97% effective in meeting its goals. This protocol is an example of a successful, innovative approach to enrolling minority participants in multi-site clinical trials.
Current Trends in Genetics and Neonatal Care.

Background Genetic and genomic health applications are rapidly changing. A clear and updated description of these applications for the neonatal population is needed to guide current nursing practice. Purpose To provide scientific evidence and guidance on the current genetic and genomic applications pertinent to neonatal care. Methods A search of CINAHL and PubMed was conducted using the search terms "newborn/neonatal" and "genetics," "genomics," "newborn screening," "pharmacogenomics," "ethical," and "legal." Google searches were also conducted to synthesize professional guidelines, position statements, and current genetic practices. Findings/results Components of the newborn genetic assessment, including details on the newborn physical examination, family history, and laboratory tests pertinent to the newborn, are reported. The history and process of newborn screening are described, in addition to the impact of advancements, such as whole exome and genome sequencing, on newborn screening. Pharmacogenomics, a genomic application that is currently utilized primarily in the research context for neonates, is described and future implications stated. Finally, the specific ethical and legal implications for these genetic and genomic applications are detailed, along with genetic/genomic resources for nurses. Implications for practice Providing nurses with the most up-to-date evidence on genetic and genomic applications ensures their involvement and contributions to quality neonatal care. Implications for research Ongoing genetic/genomic research is needed to understand the implications of genetic/genomic applications on the neonatal population and how these new applications will change neonatal care.
How the Sampling Rate Impacts Wordlength Selection for FIR Filter Implementations

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle provides a well-known constraint on time-frequency analysis. In FIR digital filtering, the concept is normally tangentially addressed through the FIR design via windowing methods, where the normal filtering constraints (passband ripple, stopband rejection, and the width of the transition region) all conspire, with the appropriate window function, to determine an appropriate filter length. However, there is a second implication of the Uncertainty Principle that also ties the wordlength of the FIR digital filter implementation to the (normalizing) sampling frequency, f s . As the sampling frequency f s increases, the quality of the digital filter must correspondingly increase, because the passband band-width decreases. It is well known in classical FIR window designs that this necessitates a longer filter. But, it also necessitates a more precise amplitude representation. We develop this unstudied problem both theoretically and physically in this paper. We give a basic result that can be used to predict, and thus to compensate, for this problem. We find that for fixed point implementations of even low sample rate audio systems, the impact is significant.
A Flexible and Compact Hardware Architecture for the SIMON Block Cipher

SIMON is a recent, light-weight block cipher developed by NSA. Previous work on SIMON shows that it is a very promising alternative of AES for resource-constrained platforms. While SIMON offers a range of block sizes and key lengths, a straightforward implementation would select fixed values in order to achieve a compact design. In contrast, we propose a flexible hardware architecture on FPGAs that still preserves the compactness of SIMON. The proposed implementation can execute all configurations of SIMON, and thus provides a versatile architecture that enables adaptive security using a variable key-size. Moreover, it also reduces the inefficiency of encrypting slightly longer messages by supporting a variable block-size. The implementation results show that the proposed architecture occupies 90 and 32 slices on Spartan-3 and Spartan-6 FPGAs, respectively. To our best knowledge, these area results are smaller than other block ciphers of similar security level. Furthermore, we also quantify the cost of flexibility and show the trade-off between the security level, throughput and area.
Abstract 13374: Enhancing Myocardial Repair with CardioChimeras

Transplantation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after infarction support modest improvements in cardiac function, however there are currently no reports substantiating a single stem cell type supporting both direct and indirect mechanisms of repair. Therefore, we created a CardioChimera (CC), a progenitor cell formed by fusion between CPCs and MSCs, resulting in a unique progeny superior to either individual precursor. CardioChimeras are mono-nucleated, have unique growth kinetics and do not display increases in cell death relative to parental CPCs and MSCs. CCs have increased cellular size unrelated to cell cycle arrest and/or senescence based on mRNA analysis of p16 and p53. As proof of principle, CCs co-cultured with serum starved cardiomyocytes blunted myocyte cell death (2-fold) relative to parent cells and increased myocyte size not observed with co-culture of CPCs alone. CCs enhance myocyte growth similar to parent MSCs owing to an increased propensity to secret...
Synchrony in Networks of Neuronal Oscillators

We review numerous recent results in which geometric singular perturbation methods have been used to analyze the population rhythms of neuronal networks. The neurons are modeled as relaxation oscillators and the coupling between neurons is modeled in a way that is motivated by properties of chemical synapses. The results give conditions for when excitatory or inhibitory synaptic coupling leads to either synchronized or desynchronized rhythms. Applications to models for sleep rhythms, image segmentation and wave propagation in inhibitory networks are also discussed.
Effective methods for preparation and characterization of HNO‐adducts of heme proteins

Driven by the documented effectiveness of cryoradiolysis coupled with resonance Raman spectroscopy for the preparation and structural characterization of unstable peroxo and hydroperoxo intermediates of catalytic and oxidative enzymes, similar strategies have now been applied to prepare and study the still relatively unexplored chemistry of nitrosyl hydride (HNO) adducts of heme proteins and their derivatives. Previously, such HNO derivatives of heme proteins were prepared by chemical addition of reducing agents or by direct addition of an HNO donor. Here, for the first time, we report effective cryoradiolytic preparation of Fe–N(H)O species of myoglobin and their structural characterization by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Our results are in excellent agreement with those previously reported for chemically prepared derivatives and with computational results. Furthermore, the present study provides new data for the deuterated analogue; i.e. bearing a nitrosyl deuteride (DNO) fragment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Static Global Scheduling for Optimal Computer Vision and Image Processing Operations on Distributed-Memory Multiprocessor

In this paper, we develop a static global scheduling scheme for mapping computer vision and image processing (CVIP) operations on distributed-memory multiprocessors. Unlike most current parallel image processing research which focuses on parallelizing individual processing algorithms on a particular parallel architecture, our scheduler is for optimizing processor assignment and data partition for an entire image processing pipeline. The scheduler operates on task graphs specified by conventional visual languages such as Khoros and Explorer. A task graph is assumed to be a linear chain of operations with any number of nested loops. The task chain is first decomposed into simpler subchains; each a linear sequence of tasks without loops. The communication and computation costs of the component tasks in the subchains are determined by a taxonomy of CVIP operations. Data redistribution overheads in between tasks can also be tabulated in advance for many popular data partitioning schemes. The scheduler then employs a shortest path algorithm to optimize the parallel time, taking into consideration possible variation in the task and resource parameters (such as the image size and number of processors used), and both the intra-operation and the inter-operation computation and communication times. In this paper, we present the scheduling scheme, and provide analyses and experimental results to verify our approach.
Bacteriophages in Industry

Traditionally, bacteriophages (phages) have been regarded as a nuisance in industrial processes that rely on bacterial fermentation. In particular, the dairy industry has struggled with phage-induced fermentation failure in the production of fermented food products. Phages attack the bacteria and slow or stop the fermentation process, resulting in reduced product quality and considerable financial loss. Significant effort has been dedicated by the dairy industry to combating phage infection. However, phage research has provided the molecular insight and tools required to exploit biological systems. This ability has provided the platform for the current expansion in biotechnology-based industries. Keywords: bacteriophage; biotechnology; recombinant DNA; fermentation; resistance mechanisms
Odd Couples: Friendships at the Intersection of Gender and Sexual Orientation. Anna Muraco

Friendships are significantly understudied in comparison to sexual relationships, and Anna Muraco seeks to address whether men and women can maintain friendships without the socially created expect...
Technical failures in tubal ring sterilization: Incidence, perceived reasons, outcome, and risk factors

Abstract Six centers participated in comparative studies of female sterilization conducted by the International Fertility Research Program. The incidence of technical failures (or failed attempts) was compared between patients sterilized with the tubal ring and those sterilized with other tubal occlusion techniques. The tubal ring was associated with a higher failure rate than electrocoagulation, the Rocket clip, or the modified Pomeroy technique. Of 1,035 tubal ring sterilizations, there were 38 technical failures. Reasons given by the operators for the failures, by frequency of occurrence, were surgical complications, conditions preexisting in the patients, and problems with the instruments. Most of these failures were remediated by changing to other techniques. In two patients, the procedure was completed by changing the approach from laparoscopy to laparotomy. In five others, sterilization was not completed. Case-control analysis was performed and three risk factors were delineated: obesity, prior use of an intrauterine contraceptive device and previous abdominal operations.
Subacute Granulomatous (de Quervain) Thyroiditis Grayscale and Color Doppler Sonographic Characteristics

Objectives To describe the sonographic characteristics of subacute granulomatous (De Quervain) thyroiditis. Methods We retrospectively identified all patients at our institution during the last 11 years who had thyroid sonography with findings suggestive of subacute granulomatous thyroiditis. We then reviewed clinical data and laboratory results to establish the clinical diagnosis. A final diagnosis of subacute granulomatous thyroiditis was made on the basis of clinical symptoms, suppressed thyrotropin, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and/or reduced or absent radionuclide uptake while hyperthyroid. Results Our study population consisted of 35 patients. Twenty-seven patients (79.4%) met clinical criteria for subacute thyroiditis. Symptoms included neck pain in 26 of 27 patients with subacute thyroiditis. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate ranged from 22 to 101 mm/h. In 21 cases (77.8%), sonography revealed focal, poorly defined, nonovoid areas of decreased echogenicity. Findings were bilateral in 16 patients and unilateral in 5. In the remaining 6, the gland or an entire lobe was diffusely heterogeneous. Color Doppler interrogation was performed in 20 patients. Flow was decreased to the sonographically abnormal areas in 19 (95%) and slightly increased in 1 patient. In all 9 patients who underwent radionuclide scanning, focal defects or large areas of decreased or absent uptake were found during the time of suppressed thyrotropin. Enlarged lymph nodes were noted in 16 patients (59.3%). Conclusions The positive predictive value of sonography for diagnosing subacute granulomatous thyroiditis is 79.4%. The most common sonographic appearance is poorly defined regions of decreased echogenicity with decreased vascularity in the affected areas.
Cloning the wild mouflon

In 2001, a collaboration between Edinburgh scientists and a research team in Teramo, Italy, made the first surviving clone of an endangered mammal: a wild sheep species called the mouflon, indigenous to the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia, Corsica and Cyprus. Amidst fierce debates on the ethics of cloning, this application of biotechnology to wildlife conservation appeared relatively felicitous. Will cloning techniques bring redemption for the immanent loss of genetic resources? How would this alter the very nature and culture of biodiversity protection? On an island of notorious shepherds, wilderness and wildlife are increasingly valued over the objects of traditional pastoral work. Set against the background of ongoing tensions over the creation of a new national park in Sardinia, the story of the cloned mouflon signified the power of new science to redefine the politics of biodiversity, undermining the cultural authority of shepherd towns over human-animal relations.
Frontal lobes and the microgenesis of action

Abstract An action is organized over evolutionary levels, leading from rostral brainstem and basal ganglia, through mesial frontal limbic cortex, to “integration” neocortex on the convexity to motor cortex. The action begins with a base or nodal rhythmic structure elaborating respiratory patterns and postural attitudes. This leads through midline and proximal motor systems to the fine, lateralized and/or asymmetric movements of the distal extremities and oral musculature. There is a stratified system of kinetic or oscillatory levels, serially entrained, which retrace the pattern of phyletic growth. Symptoms of frontal lobe damage are disruptions at successive moments in this unfolding structure. Perseveration, inertia and impulsivity, along with focal impairments of mutism, agrammatism, the apraxias and motor aphasias, with misarticulation and “phonetic disintegration,” reflect stages in the action structure revealed by pathology. Each action structure is an evanescent hierarchic module. The processing leads in one direction, from depth to surface, such that movements are sustained by a continual replacement of one structure by the next as it rises from below.
Effect of an electric field on the limits of liquid stability

Abstract When electric fields are applied to metastable liquids, the energy barrier for nucleation of the vapor phase will increase. Reported observations of field-induced nucleation should not be used to infer stability limits of bulk liquids.
The i.r. spectrum of solid hypofluorous acid, HOF☆

Abstract The i.r. spectra of solid films of hypofluorous acid, HOF, have been measured at −195°C between 300 and 4000 cm −1 . The spectra of the isotopic species DOF and H 18 OF have also been measured. Bands corresponding to internal vibration modes are observed at 3370, 3285, 1397 and 885 cm −1 for HOF; at 2490, 2445, 1037 and 887 cm −1 for DOF; and at 3370, 3285, 1390 and 858 cm −1 for H 18 OF. In addition, intermolecular bands are observed at 628 and 448 cm −1 for HOF; at 575, 467 and 340 cm −1 for HOF/DOF mixtures; and at 630 and 449 cm −1 for H 18 OF. The samples deposited at liquid N 2 temperature initially show rather broad internal mode bands and no discernible intermolecular bands, but upon standing or slight warming the internal bands sharpen and the intermolecular bands appear. The spectra are interpreted in terms of a simple cyclic dimer. However, alternative structures involving infinite planar zig-zag chains cannot be ruled out in the absence of crystallographic data.