cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The production of hydroxyl radical by bleomycin and iron (ii).

Bleomycin 1s a glycopeptidlc antlblotlc used for the treatment of cancer [l] . In vitro, a major effect of bleomycm 1s the mtroduction of strand breaks into DNA [2,3]. Efficient breakage of DNA by bleomycm requues the presence of reducing agents, such as 2-mercaptoethanol, dltiothreitol, ascorbate, or hydrogen peroxlde [3,4]. Although reducing agents alone are injurious to DNA [5,6], the combination ofbleomycin and a reducing agent is far more effective m degrading DNA than 1s either bleomycin or reducmg agent alone [7,8] Limted damage to DNA may be observed with tigh concentrations of bleomycm alone [8,9]. Since bleomycin binds to DNA 111 the absence of added reducmg agents [lo] , the role of the latter compounds has recently been studied in detail. It has been established that Fe(I1) can substitute for the reducmg agents to effectively degrade DNA [ 111. Bleomycm and Fe(H) together were far more efficient m cleaving DNA than either species alone. This result has been venfied [ 121. It was suggested [ 121, but no convmcing evidence was provided, that hydroxyl radical may be responsible for bleomycininduced damage to DNA. Fe(II1) cannot replace Fe(H) m the degradation of DNA by bleomycm m the absence of reducmg agent, but III the presence of reducing agent, either Fe(I1) or FE(II1) greatly stimulates DNA degradation by bleomycin [ 1 l] . Metal chelators and other metal ions mhiblt DNA degradation [ 131. Superoxide radical (0,~) stimulates DNA degradation by bleomycm [13,14]. These observations have led to the proposal of the followmg model for the action of bleomycin
Design of Novel Mixer and Applicator for Two-Component Surgical Adhesives

Current mixer and applicator devices on the market are not able to properly and efficiently mix two-component surgical adhesives in small volumes necessary to achieve economic viability. Furthermore, in these devices a significant amount of adhesive is wasted during the application process, as material within the dead space of the mixing chamber must be discarded. We have designed and demonstrated a new active mixer and applicator system capable of rapidly and efficiently mixing two components of an adhesive and applying it to the surgical site. Recently, Messersmith et al. have developed a tissue adhesive inspired by the mussel byssus and have shown that it is effective as a surgical sealant, and is especially suited for wet environments such as in fetal surgery. Like some other tissue sealants, this one requires that two components of differing viscosities be thoroughly mixed within a specified and short time period. Through a combination of compression and shear testing, we demonstrated that our device could effectively mix the adhesive developed by Messersmith et al. and improve its shear strength to significantly higher values than what has been reported for vortex mixing. Overall, our mixer and applicator system not only has potential applications in mixing and applying various adhesives in multiple surgical fields but also makes this particular adhesive viable for clinical use.
Convexity of error probability in binary scalar detection

This paper obtains results on the convexity of error probability in the detection of binary-valued scalar signals corrupted by additive noise. It is shown that the error probability of the maximum likelihood receiver is a convex function of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when the noise has a unimodal, differentiable probability density function. This result has some interesting implications on the optimum strategies of the transmitter and the jammer, as well as the optimal use of multiple channels. >
Synthesis and characterization of ionic charged water soluble arginine-based poly(ester amide)

A family of water soluble and positively charged l-arginine based poly(ester amide)s (Arg-PEAs) was synthesized and characterized. These biodegradable polymers consist of three nontoxic building blocks: l-arginine, diols, and dicarboxylic acids. The Arg-PEAs were prepared by solution polycondensation reaction of tetra-p-toluenesulfonic acids salts of bis-(l-arginine) α, ω-alkylene diesters and di-p-nitrophenyl esters of dicarboxylic acids. Optimal conditions of the monomers and polymers synthesis were investigated, and the monomers and Arg-PEAs were chemically characterized. Arg-PEAs were found to have good solubility in water and many other polar solvents. Structure–function relationship of the Arg-PEAs revealed that changing the number of methylene groups in the diol or/and diacid segment could finely tune the hydrophobic and cationic properties of the Arg-PEAs. MTT assay showed that all the prepared Arg-PEAs were non-toxic to the cell lines even at very large doses. Arg-PEAs with double bond functionality could be photo-crosslinked with polyethylene glycol diacrylate to form cationic hybrid hydrogels.
Commentary on Early Identification and Intervention for Students With Mathematics Difficulties

_ This article highlights key findings from the small body of research on mathematics difficulties (MD) relevant to early identification and early intervention. The research demonstrates that (a) for many children, mathematics difficulties are not stable over time; (b) the presence of reading difficulties seems related to slower progress in many aspects of mathematics; (c) almost all students with MD demonstrate problems with accurate and automatic retrieval of basic arithmetic combinations, such as 6 + 3. The following measures appear to be valid and reliable indicators of potential MD in kindergartners: (a) magnitude comparison (i.e., knowing which digit in a pair is larger), (b) sophistication of counting strategies, (c) fluent identification of numbers, and (d) working memory (as evidenced by reverse digit span). These are discussed in terms of the components of number sense. Implications for early intervention strategies are explored.
Influence of an AFM Tip on Interfacial Melting on Ice

Abstract Strong capillary forces between a tip in an atomic force microscope and a solid surface covered with a thin layer liquid film makes it possible to detect and study the interfacial melting phenomenon. We discuss the general characteristics of force-distance curves measured on a solid surface which undergoes interfacial melting. We estimate the thermal disturbance of interfacial melting from the laser beam reflection system which is utilized by many atomic force microscopes.
Stigmatization of obesity in medieval times: Asia and Europe.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the stigmatization of obesity in medieval times in Asia and in Europe. DESIGN: Literature review. RESULTS: Obesity was stigmatized in medieval Japan in part, at least, because it was viewed as the karmic consequence of a moral failing in a Buddhist context. The stigma in Europe was based on the Christian deadly sin of gluttony. CONCLUSION: Stigmatization of obesity is not new. It was foreshadowed centuries ago by attitudes deriving from then extant theories of the origins of obesity.
PROKARYOTIC DNA IN NUCLEOID STRUCTURE

Recent studies of the structure of the bacterial nucleoid are reviewed. In the past 4 to 5 years results of electron microscopic and physical-chemical investigations of the isolated bacterial nucleoids have greatly advanced our understanding of this comparatively simple chromosome. Evidence for both long-range and short-range conformational organization of the packaged DNA has emerged, and preliminary characterization of the molecular interactions organizing this structure has been accomplished.
ARCHITECTURAL UNCERTAINTY AND SELECTION OF SUPPLIERS FOR CUSTOMIZED PROJECTS

This paper examines how contractors select and organize designers and manufacturers for customized products. Relative to standardized products, such as cars, customized products span two or more subcomponents whose architectural integration can be difficult to specify ex ante. The integration problems exacerbate when individual subcomponents are perplexed with individual technological uncertainty that varies according to specific preferences for functionality of subcomponents. Empirical findings show that when architectural uncertainty is high, contractors prefer to solve architectural problems in the manufacturing stage. Conversely, under low architectural uncertainty, design becomes a preferred way of dealing with integration of subcomponents.
Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Applied to the Reynolds-Averaged Navier--Stokes Equations

Despite continuous advances in computational power, the scope of highdelity computational uid dynamic results remains limited for applications requiring numerous repetitions. Examples of such applications include parametric studies and design iterations. This limited scope is particularly evident in computational aeroelasticity, for which the costs associated with unsteadiness of the ow and temporal variation of the mesh for higherdelity uid models can be a burden computationally. Through reduced-order modeling, the governing partial di erential equations of motion are reduced to ordinary di erential equations through temporal{spatial separation. Reduced-order models have become an increasingly popular method in uid and solid mechanics. For uid mechanics, proper orthogonal decomposition can be used to develop a reduced-order model wherein the optimal set of spatial basis functions is computed from the ow snapshots collected from a full-order model, permitting subsequent simulations to determine the time-dependent coe cients that weight the basis functions. In this paper, proper orthogonal decomposition is discussed and applied to the Reynolds-averaged Navier{Stokes equations, and results are shown for ow through a channel. The results from subsonic and transonic ow regimes are presented and the full-order model is compared with reduced-order models using basis functions generated through proper orthogonal decomposition of the full-order model and through interpolation.
The Impact of Pistachio Consumption on Blood Lipid Profile: A Literature Review

Studies showed that nut consumption is associated with a reduced risk in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity and an improvement in the modifiable CVD risk factors. Our objective wa...
Scaled Aerodynamic Wind Turbine Design for Wake Similarity

A new wind turbine blade has been designed for the National Rotor Testbed (NRT) project and for future experiments at the Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) facility with a specific focus on scaled wakes. This paper shows how to aerodynamically design new blades that can produce a wake that has similitude to utility scale blades despite the difference in size and location in the atmospheric boundary layer. The process of designing the blade is shown with a focus on which aspects of the design maintain similarity. The overall aerodynamic design philosophy ensures that the NRT blade has the same dimensionless circulation distribution as a full-scale blade so that the wake is created by the same shed vorticity. Next, the NRT blade design is presented along with its performance due to the winds at SWiFT. The design requirements determined by the SWiFT experimental test campaign are shown to be met.
A new fungus which attacks mosquitoes and related Diptera.

spore mass have a brown coloration, the capillitial tips are short, and the spores are of approximately the same size, 11-13 t/ in diam in T. macbridei and 10-12 p in T. synsporum. There are, however, numerous differences between the taxa. Trichia macbridei has sporangia 0.5-1.0 mm in diam and the peridium is purplish brown to dark ochraceous. The capillitium has three or four spiral bands and the spores are free. In T. synsporum the sporangia are 1.0-2.0 mm in diam and the peridium is light brown or tan. The capillitium has only two spiral bands and, most importantly, the spores are clustered.
Fast and Reliable Screening of N-2 Contingencies

System Operators in many countries are required to maintain contingency plans for critical N-2 contingencies. Huge number of possible N-2 contingencies makes their direct assessment computationally prohibitive forcing the operators to rely on engineering judgement or uncontrollable heuristics. We present a novel algorithm for identification of critical N-2 contingencies that result in line overloads in post-contingency equilibrium. High computational efficiency of the algorithm is achieved via effective certification of safety for the majority of contingencies. Unlike many common heuristics, the algorithm is guaranteed to have zero missing rate in DC approximation models. Performance of the algorithm is validated by simulation of several IEEE case scenarios which demonstrate 30 – 1000 fold acceleration of contingency selection process in comparison with naive brute-force approach. Various possible applications of the approach in the problems of security assessment, transmission topology control and planning are discussed in the end of the manuscript.
Study on the threshold dose of infection by challenging mice with Cryptosporidium in different immune status

Objective To calculate ID5 of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice and give evidence for shaping water standard of Cryptosporidium parvum. Methods The immunosuppressed animal model was established by DEX,inoculating different dose of C.parvum and calculating 5% infective dose(ID5). Results Spleen weight index,thymus weight index,serum IgG and IgM of immunosuppressed mice was significantly(P0.05) lower than that of immunocompetent mice.The ID5 was calculated using the method of described line regression.In immunosupressed mice group,the ID5 was 4 oocysts,while in immunocompetent mice group,ID5 was 12 oocysts. Conclusion In the status of inmmunosuppression,the mice have high sensitivity to C.parvum,and these results should be considered in case of shaping the standard of drinking water.
Interactive Composition of Compiler Optimizations

Conventional compilers provide limited external control over the optimizations they automatically apply to attain high performance. Consequently, these optimizations have become increasingly ineffective due to the difficulty of understanding the higher-level semantics of the user applications. This paper presents a framework that provides interactive fine-grained control of compiler optimizations to external users as part of an integrated program development environment. Through a source-level optimization specification language and a Graphical User Interface GUI, users can interactively select regions within their source code as targets of optimization and then explicitly compose and configure how each optimization should be applied to maximize performance. The optimization specifications can then be downloaded and fed into a backend transformation engine, which empirically tunes the optimization configurations on varying architectures. When used to optimize a collection of matrix and stencil kernels, our framework was able to attain 1.84X/3.83X speedup on average compared with using icc/gcc alone.
What can be done about acute renal failure

Acute renal failure (ARF) complicates the clinical course of as many as 5% of all hospitalized patients with the critically ill and injured disproportionably at risk. Considerable effort has been expended to develop techniques to prevent ARF or to facilitate its resolution. However, to date, studies have failed to demonstrate that drugs can prevent onset or deterioration of renal function in the critically ill, and some studies have even suggested harm. Recent data suggest that NAC can reduce the incidence of ARF secondary to radio-contrast agents and improved techniques for RRT and, perhaps, new drugs aimed at improving cellular repair, will improve outcome from ARF in the future.
Bank lending to small business in India: Analyzing productivity and efficiency

Abstract This study extends the literature of the performance of small and medium size industries (SME) by empirically estimating the efficiency of bank loans to the SME sector of India using data from 1979 to 2013. We use a production function methodology, specifically estimating a non-homogeneous production function which, unlike other specifications, provides time varying econometric estimates of productivity, this helps to detect the impact of policy changes on efficiency overtime. The theoretical rationale for this approach is the “money as an input in the production function” argument. The results have important policy implications regarding capital allocation and risk management since bank loans are the main source of financing SME. The results indicate increasing productivity (output elasticity) of bank credit from 0.76 to 1.23; the productivity of labor is negative, but increases from −1.57 to −0.628. The sector's efficiency improved from returns to scale of −0.89 to 0.607 mainly due to the increasing productivity of bank credit. The decrease in the number of “sick” units with large outstanding debt apparently contributes to this improvement. Current problems facing the banking sector could increase borrowing cost, decrease credit availability and thus the productivity of SME. Policies to improve the skills of workers and to reduce the number of sick units are important for improving efficiency.
Continuity and Discontinuity in Character Education

In this chapter the authors report on their revisiting seven public schools that were deemed exemplary on four indicators of character education in 1999. The purpose of the follow-up was to identify characteristics of effective character education that remain stable or that improved over time and those that did not after implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. The study’s specific conclusions were about the stability and change of character education implementation in exemplary schools and included the following: 1. Of the nine schools considered for site visits, and the seven schools that composed the final sample, in only one was the principal who originated the 1999 application still the instructional leader 5 years later. 2. Generally, character education programs in schools with stable leadership maintained and improved existing character education programs while schools with high leadership turnover tended towards more disconnected programs. 3. No one program defines character education at schools with strong programs, but all schools with strong programs implemented them deeply and improved them over time. 4. A good principal can add depth and meaning to a school’s program, but doing so takes time. 5. A good school program can structure the environment for a new principal. The curriculum can flow as improvements are suggested that can be supported by teachers and parents. 6. Mentorship is important to program continuity and stability.
Tactical Technical Communication

A decade ago, I was struck by the realization that almost all of the scholarship in our field focuses on the technical communication that happens within organizations, or that is produced by organi...
Multi-agent System for Detecting False Data Injection Attacks Against the Power Grid

A class of cyber-attacks called False Data Injection attacks that target measurement data used for state estimation in the power grid are currently under study by the research community. These attacks modify sensor readings obtained from meters with the aim of misleading the control center into taking ill-advised response action. It has been shown that an attacker with knowledge of the network topology can craft an attack that bypasses existing bad data detection schemes (largely based on residual generation) employed in the power grid. We propose a multi-agent system for detecting false data injection attacks against state estimation. The multi-agent system is composed of software implemented agents created for each substation. The agents facilitate the exchange of information including measurement data and state variables among substations. We demonstrate that the information exchanged among substations, even untrusted, enables agents cooperatively detect disparities between local state variables at the substation and global state variables computed by the state estimator. We show that a false data injection attack that passes bad data detection for the entire system does not pass bad data detection for each agent.
Leveraging Housing Vouchers to Address Health Disparities

The authors reflects on the likely limited effectiveness of the Accountable Health Community model if there is insufficient services to meet needs health care providers identify. They comment on the need for changes in housing policy to allow poor families to live in low-poverty neighborhoods that promote health and talks about the Housing Choice Voucher Program. They mention source of income discrimination in housing and how the Fair Housing Act of 1968 didn't specifically prohibit it.
Dynamics of harmonically excited, reacting bluff body wakes near the global hydrodynamic stability boundary

This paper describes linear and nonlinear interactions between forced axial acoustic oscillations and the global mode of the reacting wake. This work is motivated by the problem of combustion instabilities, where acoustic oscillations associated with natural combustor modes excite hydrodynamic instabilities of the flow that, in turn, induce heat release oscillations. Wake flows with density stratification can be globally stable or unstable at high Reynolds numbers, and so the density change across the flame has significant influence on the natural flame and flow dynamics. Measurements were obtained in a facility in which flame density ratio, lip velocity and forcing frequency are independently varied using 5 kHz particle image velocimetry and Mie scattering measurements. By varying the density ratio, the hydrodynamic global mode growth rate can be systematically varied. In addition, measurements and analyses were performed where the forcing frequency is varied relative to the global mode frequency. While axial forcing excites a varicose response of the shear layers, the sinuous mode is the most rapidly growing. As expected, forcing at a frequency near the wake’s global mode frequency leads to rapid growth in vortical disturbance amplitude, and the symmetric vortices quickly stagger as they convect downstream leading to a large scale, sinuous flapping of the wake and flame. A linear, local stability analysis, together with a nonlinear analysis, help elucidate the physics that govern the vortex staggering. The study concludes with an analysis of the heat release dynamics. Significantly, the study shows that the heat release exhibits quite different sensitivities than the fluid dynamics; e.g. axial forcing of the flow near its global mode frequency leads to a reduction in heat release oscillations. This is true even though this forcing frequency maximizes the local degree of vortically induced flame flapping. Thus, the results of this study show some phenomena that contradict conventional notions, namely that conditions which align the frequency of a hydrodynamic global mode with that of an acoustic mode may lead to diminished forced heat release oscillations in bluff body combustors.
Engineering solar cells based on correlative X-ray microscopy

In situ and operando measurement techniques combined with nanoscale resolution have proven invaluable in multiple fields of study. We argue that evaluating device performance as well as material behavior by correlative X-ray microscopy with <100 nm resolution can radically change the approach for optimizing absorbers, interfaces and full devices in solar cell research. In this article, we thoroughly discuss the measurement technique of X-ray beam induced current and point out fundamental differences between measurements of wafer-based silicon and thin-film solar cells. Based on reports of the last years, we showcase the potential that X-ray microscopy measurements have in combination with in situ and operando approaches throughout the solar cell lifecycle: from the growth of individual layers to the performance under operating conditions and degradation mechanisms. Enabled by new developments in synchrotron beamlines, the combination of high spatial resolution with high brilliance and a safe working distance allows for the insertion of measurement equipment that can pave the way for a new class of experiments. Applied to photovoltaics research, we highlight today’s opportunities and challenges in the field of nanoscale X-ray microscopy, and give an outlook on future developments.
Advertising Gay and Lesbian-Themed Films to Mainstream and Niche Audiences: Variations in Portrayal of Intimacy and Stereotypes

ABSTRACTResearch of gay and lesbian content in advertising materials remains limited. Because most products are not inherently gay or lesbian in nature, this content analysis examined advertisements for gay- and lesbian-themed films from 1980 to 2013. The analysis explored whether there were variations in the portrayal of gay and lesbian content in advertisements depending on the distribution width and date of release. The study therefore explored whether marketing materials differed when films were advertised to mainstream audiences compared to niche audiences. Findings suggested that films marketed to mainstream audiences had advertisements that less frequently portrayed same-sex intimacy. Findings also showed that portrayals of gays and lesbians have generally not changed over time, suggesting that advertisements differ more based on the market segment being reached than the date an advertisement was made. This study fills a gap in the growing area of literature involving gay and lesbian content in adv...
P369 Acute poisoning with carbamazepine in children – a prospective multicentre study

Background and aims Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a drug structurally similar to tricyclic antidepressants, primarily used in the treatment of epilepsy, but also for other neuropsychiatric disorders. The major mechanism of action is voltage-gated sodium channels. In addition, in toxic doses CBZ exerts anticholinergic effects and antagonises the adenosine receptors, which explains the proconvulsant activity seen with acute poisoning. In this study the authors have planned to analyse a group of paediatric patients (age 0–18 years) admitted in the hospital for acute poisoning with CBZ. Methods We collected data prospectively in 4 antitoxic reference centres – Bucharest, Iasi, Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca, for a period of 11 months (February 2016-January 2017), in order to describe the demographic, circumstantial, clinical and paraclinical features in acute poisoning with CBZ. 26 cases of acute poisoning corresponded to inclusion criteria. Cases of mixed poisoning with CBZ and other drugs and/or ethanol were excluded. Results We noticed a peak of incidence in the age group 11–18 years (77%), all these cases being intentional exposures. There was a higher frequency of females (69%) and an equal distribution between the rural and urban environment. We applied in all cases the Poisoning Severity Score. According to this scale the severity was mild in 5 cases, moderate in 14 cases and severe in 7 cases. The main clinical features found in the study were: vomiting (20 cases), coma (16 cases), seizures (7 cases), tachycardia (11 cases) and arterial hypotension (6 cases). The electrocardiographic record displayed persistent bradycardia in 3 cases, intraventricular conduction disturbances in 4 cases and QT interval prolongation in 3 cases. Blood tests showed metabolic acidosis in 10 cases, rhabdomyolysis in 5 cases, and mild elevation in serum hepatic enzymes in 3 cases. Decontamination by gastric lavage was possible in 17 cases, while sodium bicarbonate was used as antidote in 15 cases. The mean duration of hospitalisation was 4.23 days (2–15 days). 15 cases were admitted in ICU in the first 24–48 hours of hospitalisation. Only 4 cases required ventilatory support less than 12 hours. Conclusions Carbamazepine poisoning may cause various gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological effects in children. Although in our study no fatality was reported, a significant number of patients required intensive care medicine and prolonged hospitalisation.
Planning and Coordinating an Exhibit of Photomicrographic Art by Science Faculty and Students in an Academic Library

In 2015, the J. Murrey Atkins Library recruited faculty, staff, alumni, and students to submit digital images of photomicrographic art, which were printed and placed on exhibit in the library’s mai...
The correlation of controlled attenuation parameter results with ultrasound-identified steatosis in real-world clinical practice.

Background/Purpose Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a method for measuring steatosis based on FibroScan. Despite observer dependency, ultrasound (US) robustly diagnoses moderate and severe steatosis. Here, we aimed to evaluate the correlation of CAP with US-identified steatosis in real-world clinical practice. Methods CAP and US were performed for 1554 chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. CAP was performed by two technicians, and US was performed by 30 hepatologists. The performance of the CAP as compared with the US results was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results 532 (34.2%) of the patients had hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 723 (46.5%) of the patients had hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and the rest were patients with metabolic risk factors. CAP values were significantly correlated with the steatosis grades identified by US for all the patients (ρ = 0.497, P Conclusion CAP values were well correlated with the steatosis grades assessed by US in real-world clinical practice.
Demography of the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) in a changing Arctic

The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is a candidate to be listed as an endangered species under United States law, in part, because of climate change-related concerns. While the population was known to be declining in the 1980s and 1990s, its recent status has not been determined. We developed Bayesian models of walrus population dynamics to assess the population by synthesizing information on population sizes, age structures, reproductive rates, and harvests for 1974–2015. Candidate models allowed for temporal variation in some or all vital rates, as well as density dependence or density independence in reproduction and calf survival. All selected models indicated that the population underwent a multidecade decline, which began moderating in the 1990s, and that annual reproductive rate and natural calf survival rates rose over time in a density-dependent manner. However, selected models were equivocal regarding whether the natural juvenile survival rate was constant or decreasing over time. Depending on whether juvenile survival decreased after 1998, the population growth rate either increased during 1999–2015 or stabilized at a lesser level of decline than seen in the 1980s. The probability that the population was still declining in 2015 ranged from 45% to 87%.
Enhanced skeletal muscle regrowth and remodelling in massaged and contralateral non-massaged hindlimb.

Massage, in the form of cyclic compressive loading (CCL), is associated with multiple health benefits, but its potential anabolic effect on atrophied muscle has not been investigated. We hypothesized that the mechanical activity associated with CCL induces an anabolic effect in skeletal muscle undergoing regrowth after a period of atrophy. Fisher/Brown Norway rats at 10 months of age were hind limb unloaded for a period of 2 weeks. The rats were then allowed reambulation with CCL applied at a 4.5 N load at 0.5 Hz frequency for 30 min every other day for 4 bouts during a regrowth period of 8 days. Muscle fibre cross sectional area was enhanced by 18% with massage during regrowth compared to reloading alone, and this was accompanied by elevated myofibrillar and cytosolic protein as well as DNA synthesis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation indicated that CCL increased mechanical stimulation, while a higher number of Pax7+ cells likely explains the elevated DNA synthesis. Surprisingly, the contralateral non-massaged limb exhibited a comparable 17% higher muscle fibre size compared to reloading alone, and myofibrillar protein synthesis, but not DNA synthesis, was also elevated. We conclude that massage in the form of CCL induces an anabolic response in muscles regrowing after an atrophy-inducing event. We suggest that massage can be used as an intervention to aid in the regrowth of muscle lost during immobilization. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Profiles of Problem Behavior in Children With Varying Language Ability

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between language behavior in students with or at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders. School-age students in K-4 grades (N = 300, 7...
Women in Policing and the Response to Rape: Representative Bureaucracy and Organizational Change:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the theory of representative bureaucracy. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data, covering a period from 1997 to 2013, suggest that a greater number of women in the policing workforce is related to higher reporting rates for rape incidents and higher clearance rates for rape cases. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the relationship between female representation and women-centered outcomes is moderated by the presence of a union and mediated by resources for victims and community policing. Looking ahead, more research is needed to identify how female representation in policing influences organizational processes and outcomes for citizens.
Does Faith Matter? Client Transformation in Parenting, Housing, and Addiction Recovery Programs

Having surveyed the contours of service provision in three different locales across the United States, we next turn to questions of change and transformation. These issues are at the heart of current debates over social service provision. Regardless of the particular policy domain in which social service agencies are situated or the type of provider in question, these organizations inhabit a political world in which results and performance are the paramount criteria by which their activities are evaluated. And, in the wake of welfare reform, performance is typically gauged in terms of the numbers of lives changed and the measurable scope of community transformation. Yet, despite the virtues of statistical measurement, a myopic focus on numbers leaves the social processes responsible for client and community change unexamined.
Recurrence and pseudorecurrence after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: predictors and patient-focused outcomes

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) is gaining popularity as an option to repair abdominal wall hernias. Bulging after repair remains common after this technique. This study evaluates the incidence and factors associated with bulging after LVHR. Between 2000 and 2010, 201 patients underwent LVHR at two affiliated institutions. Patients who developed recurrence or pseudorecurrence (seroma or eventration) were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analyses to identify predictors of these complications. Of the 201 patients who underwent LVHR, 40 (19.9%) patients developed a seroma, 63 (31.3%) patients had radiographically proven eventration, and 25 (12.4%) patients had a hernia recurrence. On multivariate analysis, seromas were associated with number of prior ventral hernia repairs, surgical site infections, and prostate disease. Mesh eventration was associated with hernia size and surgical technique. Tissue eventration was associated with primary hernias and surgical technique. Hernia recurrence was associated with incisional hernias and mesh type used. Recurrence and pseudorecurrence are important complications after LVHR. Large hernia size, infections, and surgical technique are important clinical factors that affect outcomes after LVHR.
An Improved ANN–BPN to Radial Distribution System Load Flow

This paper shows an application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to determine the bus voltages and phase angles of a radial distribution system, without executing the load flow algorithm, for any given load. The performance of the conventional load flow methods such as Newtoh—Raphson load flow, Fast decoupled load flow is found to be very poor under critical conditions, such as high R/X ratio, heavily loading condition, etc. To overcome the limitations of these regularly used methods a simple and reliable ladder iterative technique is used for solving the power balance equations of radial distribution system (RDS). The proposed method makes use of a multilayer feed forward ANN with error back propagation learning algorithm for calculation of bus voltages and its angles. A sample IEEE 33-bus is extensively tested with the proposed ANN-based approach indicating its viability for RDS load flow assessment and results are presented.
The influence of posttreatment mutual help group participation on the friendship networks of substance abuse patients.

The effect of 12-step mutual help groups (e.g., Narcotics Anonymous) on members' friendship networks has received little attention. This 1-year longitudinal study examined such effects in a sample of 2,337 male substance abuse inpatients, 57.7% of whom became significantly involved in 12-step activities (e.g., reading program literature, attending meetings) after treatment. An a priori model of the interplay of 12-step involvement and friendship networks was tested using structural equation modeling, and found to have excellent fit to the data. Twelve-step group involvement after treatment predicted better general friendship characteristics (e.g., number of close friends) and substance abuse-specific friendship characteristics (e.g., proportion of friends who abstain from drugs and alcohol) at follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of how mutual help group involvement benefits patients and how the self-help group evaluation paradigm should be broadened.
Are College Rankings an Indicator of Quality Education? Comparing Barron’s and TEDS-M

Although students at more selective schools generally demonstrate greater academic performance, it is unclear whether the gains from attending an elite postsecondary institution are due to the quality of educational services provided, or merely from peer and/or selection effects. Employing data drawn from the US-TEDS study, we assess the relationship between college selectivity and the mathematics learning of future teachers controlling for previous SAT scores using two different models. In an institution-level analysis, gains in student knowledge are measured by the difference between standardized SAT scores and standardized mathematical content knowledge (MCK) scores. In a multi-level model institutional and student-level data are used to examine the effects of selectivity on MCK scores, including measures of course-taking and prior achievement. In both analyses we find that college selectivity has little relationship with added mathematical knowledge.
Oversampled Analog-to-Digital Converters

Oversampled Analog-to-Digital conversion has been demonstrated to be an effective technique for high resolution analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion that is tolerant of process imperfections. The design of analog modulators for oversampled analog-to-digital converters can be divided into two main categories, the multistage or cascaded modulator (MASH) and the single loop modulators. This paper gives an overview of the oversampled Analog-to-Digital modulator architectures and their tradeoffs. The design and analysis of a stable N-th order single loop modulator and of multistage modulator topologies is covered. A comparative analysis of these two dominant architectures is also presented, followed by a brief look at the future directions of oversampled converters.
Occurrence of putative virulence-related genes, aatA, aggR and aaiC, of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) among adults with travelers' diarrhea acquired in Guatemala and Mexico

Abstract Enteroaggregative E. coli strains are important causes of diarrhea worldwide and are the second most important bacterial cause of travelers' diarrhea (TD). Pathogenicity of EAEC is not completely understood. We investigated the occurrence of putative virulence related genes (VRG), aatA, aggR and aaiC, in a nested case-control study of a cohort of US travelers >18 years of age, visited either Guatemala or Mexico. Fecal samples were collected between 2008 and 2012 from patients with TD from whom a HEp-2 cell adherent EAEC strain was identified (Cases) and from healthy subjects in the same locale without diarrhea from whom enteric pathogens were not isolated (Controls). Thirty-one subjects with acquired TD at destination was compared with 32 healthy controls. aaiC was the most expressed virulence related gene in 21 (67.7%) cases vs. 2 (6.3%) controls, (P
Race and outcomes of lower extremity revascularization for critical limb ischemia

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown poor outcomes following infra-inguinal bypass in African-American patients compared with Caucasians. The aim of this study was to investigate the racial disparity in a cohort of patients who underwent infra-inguinal bypass surgery at our institute. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of all patients who underwent infra-inguinal bypass performed with autogenous vein grafts for symptomatic peripheral artery disease from 2007–2014 at a single tertiary care institution. Univariate (Chi-square test and Student's t-test) and multivariable analyses (logistic and Cox regression) were used to evaluate the association between race and the outcomes of mortality, primary and primary-assisted patency, and limb loss following infra-inguinal bypass. RESULTS: The study included 412 autogenous bypass grafts, of which 312 (76%) were performed in Caucasians and 100 (24%) in African-Americans. African-American patients had significantly higher comorbidities including diabetes (74% vs. 57%, P = 0.002) and chronic kidney disease on dialysis (22% vs. 10%, P = 0.002) as compared with Caucasians. The majority of patients in both groups underwent bypass for critical limb ischemia (88% vs. 87%, P = 0.71). Mean follow-up time was 1.8 ± 1.8 years. The rates of major amputation were not significantly different between two groups (17% vs. 10%, P = 0.07). Moreover, no significant differences in primary and primary assisted were seen between African-Americans and Caucasians (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 [0.56–1.44], P = 0.66 and 1.21 [0.72–2.03], P = 0.46), respectively. Hyperlipidemia was shown to be significantly associated with primary-assisted patency, while diabetes was a significant risk factor for limb loss [HR (95% CI): 2.73 (1.26–5.93), P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this study, there were no significant differences in bypass patency and limb salvage between African-Americans and Caucasians following infra-inguinal bypass over 5-year follow-up. These findings suggest that the outcomes of infra-inguinal bypass can be optimized in African-American patients with the use of autogenous vein conduits and comprehensive medical management including the control of diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
Contemporary management of hepatoblastoma.

Purpose of reviewHepatoblastoma is the most common primary pediatric liver malignancy. The goal of treatment in hepatoblastoma is complete surgical resection. Recently published multinational collaborative studies are better defining risk factors for disease recurrence and guide optimal treatment st
The transcriptome of the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus): A resource for studying the evolution and development of vertebrates

Purpose The veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is an emerging model system for studying functional morphology and evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). Chameleons possess body plans that are highly adapted to an arboreal life style, featuring laterally compressed bodies, split hands/ft for grasping, a projectile tongue, turreted independently moving eyes, and a prehensile tail. Despite being one of the most phenotypically divergent clades of tetrapods, genomic resources for chameleons are severely lacking. Methods To address this lack of resources, we used RNAseq to generate 288 million raw Illumina sequence reads from four adult tissues (male and female eyes and gonads) and whole embryos at three distinct developmental stages. We used these data to assemble a largely complete de novo transcriptome consisting of only 82 952 transcripts. In addition, a majority of assembled transcripts (67%) were successfully annotated. Results We then demonstrated the utility of these data in the context of studying visual system evolution by examining the content of veiled chameleon opsin genes to show that chameleons possess all five ancestral tetrapod opsins. Conclusion We present this de novo, annotated, multi-tissue transcriptome assembly for the Veiled Chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, as a resource to address a range of evolutionary and developmental questions. The associated raw reads and final annotated transcriptome assembly are freely available for use on NCBI and Figshare, respectively.
Subversive Seas: Anticolonial Networks across the Twentieth-Century Dutch Empire

This revealing portrait of the Dutch Empire repositions our understanding of modern empires from the terrestrial to the oceanic. It highlights the importance of shipping, port cities, and maritime culture to the political struggles of the 1920s and 30s. Port cities such as Jeddah, Shanghai, and Batavia were hotbeds for the spread of nationalism, communism, pan-Islamism, and pan-Asianism, and became important centers of opposition to Dutch imperialism through the circulation of passengers, laborers, and religious pilgrims. In response to growing maritime threats, the Dutch government and shipping companies attempted to secure oceanic spaces and maintain hegemony abroad through a web of control. Techniques included maritime policing networks, close collaboration with British and French surveillance entities ashore, and maintaining segregation on ships, which was meant to 'teach' those on board their position within imperial hierarchies. This innovative study exposes how anti-colonialism was shaped not only within the terrestrial confines of metropole and colony, but across the transoceanic spaces in between.
Referral of African American Children for Evaluation of Emotional or Behavioral Concerns

Research indicates that high numbers of African American children receive special education services. To address the overrepresentation of African Americans in special education, this study examined the source of referral and the behaviors that precipitate the referral of African Americans for evaluation due to behavioral or emotional concerns. School psychologists responded to survey questions related to source of referral and reasons for referral when behavioral or emotional assessment was indicated. Results suggest that teachers are the primary source of referral; parents, administrators, and others initiate the process as well. Reasons for referral range from academic concerns to more specific behavioral concerns, particularly those related to aggression. Implications for proactive intervention to address problems leading to referral are discussed.