cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of empirical mode decomposition for quantifying multi-decadal variations and acceleration in sea level records

Abstract. The ability of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to extract multi-decadal variability from sea level records is tested using three simulations: one based on a series of purely sinusoidal modes, one based on scaled climate indices of El Nino and the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), and the final one including a single month with an extreme sea level event. All simulations include random noise of similar variance to high-frequency variability in the San Francisco tide gauge record. The intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) computed using EMD were compared to the prescribed oscillations. In all cases, the longest-period modes are significantly distorted, with incorrect amplitudes and phases. This affects the estimated acceleration computed from the longest periodic IMF. In these simulations, the acceleration was underestimated in the case with purely sinusoidal modes, and overestimated by nearly 100% in the case with prescribed climate modes. Additionally, in all cases, extra low-frequency modes uncorrelated with the prescribed variability are found. These experiments suggest that using EMD to identify multi-decadal variability and accelerations in sea level records should be used with caution.
Direct Observation of a Defect-Mediated Viscoelastic Transition in a Hydrogel of Lipid Membranes and Polymer Lipids

We present the first direct imaging of a new hydrogel of lipid membranes containing polymer lipids. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy shows unambiguously that the hydrogel’s surprisingly large viscoelasticity is explained by a novel defect topology of interconnections between defects. The defects are spherulites with high membrane curvatures which are either isotropic or cylinderlike. A lower concentration of dislocation-type defects was also observed. The interconnections between the defects distinguish the hydrogel from simple “onion” phases of multilamellar vesicles with a smaller viscoelasticity. [S0031-9007(97)03388-7]
Prostheses for Hernia Repair

The use of mesh implants to repair or reinforce abdominal wall defects has become increasingly common in the past half century. There are about 375,000 inguinal hernia defects and 45,000 incisional hernias repaired with mesh in the United States per year. Two million procedures are performed annually in the United States requiring an abdominal incision; 2 to 11% of these patients later develop an incisional hernia eligible for repair with mesh (1). The reason for the increased use of mesh is because primary (suture, without mesh) repair of abdominal wall hernias has a significant recurrence rate that can be as high as 52% (2). Mesh repair has been shown to reduce recurrence rates in a well-controlled trial (3). Mesh is used to decrease the tension placed on tissues and sutures, which, in turn, is thought to decrease the incidence of recurrence.
DC electric field effects during measurements of monopolar charge density and net space charge density near HVDC power lines

The influence of a DC electric field on the measurement of monopolar charge densities using an aspirator-type ion counter and the measurement of net space-charge density using a Faraday cage or filter is examined. Optimum configurations which minimize the effect of the electrical field are identified for each type of instrumentation. It is shown that the influence of a DC electric field on measurement of monopolar space-charge densities with an ion counter can be made negligible when the measurements are performed in the ground plane and oriented vertically or horizontally above the ground plane with an attractive potential applied to the ion counter housing. Measurements of net space-charge density with a Faraday cage appear to be significantly influenced by a large field except when the space charge is predominantly monopolar or when composed of large ions (aerosols) with small mobilities. The optimum configuration for the filter is an above-ground horizontal orientation with the filter housing at ambient space potential. >
Methylamine clearance by haemodialysis is low

Background. Dialysis adequacy is currently judged by measures of urea clearance. However, urea is relatively non-toxic and has properties distinct from large classes of other retained solutes. In particular, intracellularly sequestered solutes are likely to behave differently than urea. Methods. We studied an example of this class, the aliphatic amine monomethylamine (MMA), in stable haemodialysis outpatients (n = 10) using an HPLC-based assay. Results. Mean MMA levels pre-dialysis in end-stage renal disease subjects were 76 ± 15 μg/L compared to 32 ± 4 μg/L in normal subjects (n = 10) (P < 0.001). Mean urea reduction was 62% while the reduction ratio for MMA was 43% (P < 0.01). MMA levels rebounded in the 1 hour post-dialytic period to 85% of baseline, whereas urea levels rebounded only to 47% of baseline. MMA had a much larger calculated volume of distribution compared to urea, consistent with intracellular sequestration. Measures of intra-red blood cell (RBC) MMA concentrations confirmed greater levels in RBCs than in plasma with a ratio of 4.9:1. Because of the intracellular sequestration of MMA, we calculated its clearance using that amount removed from whole blood. Clearances for urea averaged 222 ± 41 ml/min and for MMA 121 ± 14 ml/min, while plasma clearance for creatinine was 162 ± 20 ml/min (P < 0.01, for all differences). Using in vitro dialysis, in the absence of RBCs, solute clearance rates were similar: 333 ± 6, 313 ± 8 and 326 ± 4 ml/min for urea, creatinine and MMA, respectively. These findings suggest that the lower MMA clearance relative to creatinine in vivo is a result of MMA movement into RBCs within the dialyser blood path diminishing its removal by dialysis. Conclusion. In conclusion, we find that, in conventional haemodialysis, MMA is not cleared as efficiently as urea or creatinine and raise the possibility that RBCs may limit its dialysis not merely by failing to discharge it, but by further sequestering it as blood passes through the dialyser.
The effect of high sugar intake on the esterification of dihydroxyacetone phosphate by rat liver microsomes

Rat liver microsomes were used as an enzyme source to study dietary-induced changes in the rate of dihydroxyacetone phosphate esterification. Rats were fed (1) 75% glucose or fructose diets for various time intervals, or (2) fed a fructose diet for six days and then a chow diet. Both the glucose and fructose diets produced a 2–3-fold increase in total and neutral glycerolipid formation from dihydroxyacetone phosphate measured in the presence of ATP, palmitate, CoA, and NADH. The increased rate of dihydroxyacetone phosphate esterification and a simultaneous rise in serum triglyceride level in rats fed fructose was rapidly reversed when chow was substituted for the fructose. The results indicate that an increased rate of dihydroxyacetone phosphate esterification may contribute to the acceleration of endogenous glycerolipid biosynthesis noted under these dietary conditions.
Synthesis of Saturated Heterocycles via Metal-Catalyzed Alkene Diamination, Aminoalkoxylation, or Dialkoxylation Reactions

The development of metal-catalyzed additions of nitrogen and oxygen moieties across alkenes to form saturated nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles is described herein. This chapter covers the most recent advances in osmium and palladium-catalyzed alkene oxidation and amination reactions and also summarizes the emerging areas of copper, iron, and gold-catalyzed alkene oxidations and aminations. In most examples, moderate to excellent levels of diastereoselectivity, either by stereospecific addition across the alkene or substrate-directed diastereocontrol, have been achieved. This enables the synthesis of nitrogen and oxygen-containing heterocycles with predictable control of stereogenic centers. In a few cases, asymmetric catalysis has been achieved, allowing for the synthesis of chiral nitrogen and oxygen-containing heterocycles from achiral substrates. In many of these oxidation reactions, use of pre-oxidized substrates or stoichiometric amounts of added oxidants are required to achieve the catalytic cycles, which frequently involve higher oxidation states of the metal catalysts.
Bulk Ring-Opening Transesterification Polymerization of the Renewable δ-Decalactone Using an Organocatalyst

The bulk ring-opening polymerization of renewable δ-decalactone using 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene was carried out at temperatures between 7 and 110 °C. The equilibrium monomer concentration for reactions within this temperature range was used to determine the polymerization thermodynamic parameters (ΔHp = −17.1 ± 0.6 kJ mol–1, ΔSp = −54 ± 2 J mol–1 K–1) for δ-decalactone. The polymerization kinetics were established and high molar mass poly(δ-decalactone) was prepared with a glass transition temperature of −51 °C. Poly(δ-decalactone) samples with controlled molar mass and narrow molar mass distributions were realized by controlling the monomer conversion and initiator concentration. A high molar mass poly(lactide)-poly(δ-decalactone)-poly(lactide) triblock copolymer with a low polydispersity index was prepared by simple sequential addition of monomers. The product triblock exhibited two distinct glass transitions temperatures consistent with microphase segregation.
Ultrasound training during ATLS: an early start for surgical interns.

Objectives : Determine if : (1) surgical interns could learn essential ultrasound principles of the focused assessment for the sonographic examination of the trauma patient (FAST) during Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), and (2) swine are adequate models for learning the FAST. Design : Lecture, videotape, pre/posttests, and practical examination. Methodology : Day 1 : Survey, pretest, lecture, and videotape. Day 2 : Three swine, used in ATLS, had diagnostic peritoneal lavage catheters reinserted to infuse fluid and produce positive ultrasound examinations. Two fresh swine were negatives; however, all five swine were draped similarly to disguise interventions. Interns were tested individually by surgeon-sonographers to determine whether the ultrasound image was positive or negative. Posttests were completed while surgeons performed postmortem examinations on two swine. Statistics : Paired Student's t test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Results : Survey (5 min) : 48% had exposure to ultrasound. Relationship of test scores showed no significant difference (p = 0.46 to 0.91) between interns with and without ultrasound experience. Tests (30 min) : Mean pre- and posttests scores = 65.6 and 90.8, respectively (p < 0.001). Practical examination (140 min) : Mean score = 89.6. Postmortem examinations : Left hepatic lobe partially obscured the spleen. Conclusions : (1) Surgical interns can learn essential ultrasound principles of the FAST during ATLS (2) Swine are feasible models for learning the FAST.
Advanced Placement Program in Biology

The Advanced Placement Program, which may be classified as both acceleration and enrichment, was initiated in 1952 as the School and College Study of Admission with Advanced Standing. This study was based on the conviction that: 1. students of high ability can and should undertake more intensive and difficult work than they are at present required to take in the later years of high school, and that 2. at least a significant number of secondary schools is likely to be able and willing to make curricular revisions providing enriched courses for such students. In the Fall of 1953, seven pilot secondary schools, The Bronx High School of Science among them, introduced the Program by establishing college-level courses in certain major subject matter areas for selected groups of very able students. Since this modest beginning, there has been a continuous increase in the number of schools and students participating in the Program. By 1958, 356 secondary schools were offering collegelevel courses to 3,800 students who entered 300 different colleges in the Fall of that year. Secondary schools all over the country have evidenced so much interest in the Advanced Placement Program that a description of the experiences with the college-level courses in biology seems in order. These experiences, it is hoped, may be of help to schools interested in setting up similar courses. At the Bronx High School of Science, the Advanced Placement Course in biology is open to about twenty students selected from the senior class. The course meets for seven periods a week; two double laboratory periods and three single recitation periods. Three additional periods are set aside for student conferences, supplementary laboratory or recitation work, special lectures, seminars, and examinations. Students are selected for the course from a list of eligible aspirants provided by the Guidance and Program Committee of the school. The teacher interviews all the candidates and makes the final selection on the basis of the following criteria: 1. intellectual and emotional maturity 2. demonstrated superior scholastic ability 3. genuine interest in biology and 4. recommendation of the former teachers and guidance counselor of the individual student.
Evaluation of the Risk of Nitrofurantoin Lung Injury and Its Efficacy in Diminished Kidney Function in Older Adults in a Large Integrated Healthcare System: A Matched Cohort Study

Objectives To determine the risk to older adults of lung injury associated with treatment of cystitis using nitrofurantoin and the risk of treatment failure in the presence of diminished creatinine clearance (CrCl). Design Retrospective, matched cohort. Setting Integrated healthcare system. Participants Individuals aged 65 and older with a diagnosis of cystitis between 2007 and 2012 who were given nitrofurantoin (N = 13,421) were matched 1:3 on age, sex, race and ethnicity, and prescription date with individuals who were given other antibiotics for cystitis. Measurements Conditional logistic regression determined the association between nitrofurantoin and lung injury in the matched cohort. In participants exposed to nitrofurantoin, chronic treatment was compared with acute treatment using multivariable logistic regression. Treatment failure was compared in three CrCl groups. Results Nitrofurantoin exposure was not statistically significantly associated with lung injury (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.80–1.00), but chronic nitrofurantoin therapy was associated with greater risk of lung injury than acute exposure (aRR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.04, 2.24). Treatment failure rates did not differ according to CrCl. Conclusion This large, retrospective, matched-cohort study conducted in older adults supports the 2012 American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults recommendations against the use nitrofurantoin for long-term suppressive treatment of cystitis but not the recommendation against its use in poor renal function because of the risk of treatment failure.
Stroke: Taking stock--patient selection for acute stroke therapy.

To maximize the benefits of thrombolytic therapy at the population level, identifying which stroke patients are most likely to respond positively to this treatment is vital. The EPITHET Investigators propose specific diffusion-weighted and perfusion-weighted MRI lesion volume criteria that could be used for patient selection.
Role of the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex in plasma membrane Ca2+ transport: a comparison of results obtained with platelets and human erythroleukemia cells

Several studies have suggested that the glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex, which serves as the platelet fibrinogen receptor, also plays a role in the regulation of Ca2+ influx across the platelet plasma membrane. To examine this possibility further, we have compared Ca2+ transport in platelets and human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells, a megakaryoblastic cell line which synthesizes GP IIb-IIIa complexes that appear to be identical to those found on platelets. As with platelets, the results show the presence in unstimulated HEL cells of a rapidly exchangeable cytosolic Ca2+ pool that is in equilibrium with an intracellular sequestered Ca2+ pool and with extracellular Ca2+. Allowing for differences in cell size, the rate constants for Ca2+ exchange in HEL cells were similar to those in platelets. As in platelets, thrombin caused an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ that was due partly to enhanced Ca2+ influx and partly to the mobilization of internal Ca2+ stores. Incubation of the HEL cells with EDTA at 37 degrees C irreversibly altered the GP IIb-IIIa complex as evidenced by decreased binding of a complex-specific monoclonal antibody. In platelets this was accompanied by a 40% decrease in the rate of Ca2+ influx. However, in HEL cells there was neither a diminution in Ca2+ influx nor a reduction in the magnitude of the increase in cytosolic Ca2+ caused by thrombin. These results show that the parameters of Ca2+ distribution and movement are similar in HEL cells and platelets and that in HEL cells, as in platelets, the GP IIb-IIIa complex can be altered by removing Ca2+. However, unlike platelets, dissociation of the HEL cell IIb-IIIa complex has no discernible effect on plasma membrane Ca2+ transport. This suggests that earlier observations in platelets correlating changes in the rate of Ca2+ influx with changes in the number of intact IIb-IIIa complexes reflect an indirect, rather than a direct, role of these proteins in Ca2+ transport.
Sustained Benefit of 6-Month Topiramate Treatment for Migraine

The effects of discontinuing topiramate after a treatment period of 6 months in 818 patients with migraine, enrolled from 88 clinics in 21 countries in Europe, the UK and Turkey, are reported from University Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
Acquired Neurologic Mutism

The behavioral features of four children with acquired neurologic mutism are reported from the Department of Neurology, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Rotterdam; and Department of Medical Psychology, Ziekenhuis Walcheren, Vlissingen, The Netherlands.
Obesity, Sleep, and Pulmonary Disease in Children

The prevalence and severity of overweight in children and adolescent is dramatically increasing worldwide. For example, the overall 2007 prevalence of overweight and obesity in children in the United States ranged from 20 to 35 % among the various states (Fig. 8.1; [1]). The increase in both the prevalence of obesity and its severity in children has also spurred a parallel increase in the prevalence of obesity-associated morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, systemic hypertension, atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver/steatohepatitis, depression, and decreased quality of life, all of which used to be rare pediatric conditions even as recently as a decade ago. These short- and long-term morbid consequences of obesity, and more particularly the clustering of respiratory, metabolic, and cardiovascular risk factors in the context of obesity, further stress the importance of increasing the public awareness to this problem, and prioritization of the overweight child and adolescent as a major public health concern and as an emergency.
Literature Review of Student Characteristics and Performance in an Accounting Course.

ABSTRACTThis article explores the current literature on student characteristics and performance in an accounting course. When planning to teach or design a course, student characteristics play a role as part of the “situational factors” (Fink, 2003). Research has widely shown that college graduation rates are associated with student characteristics (e.g., Astin & Oseguera, 2005; Gold & Albert, 2006). This article focuses on student characteristics and performance in an accounting course. The following factors are discussed: math, English, gender, age, and prior accounting course. These factors are chosen, as they are often available from course enrollment data. The literature shows that some characteristics (math, prior accounting course) have a positive relationship with performance in an accounting course, while other characteristics (English, age, gender) have a mixed effect on performance.
On super edge-magic total labeling of forests consisting of stars and subdivided stars

A super edge-magic total labeling of a graph $G$ of order $p$ and size $q$ is a~bijection $\lambda:V(G)\cup E(G)\rightarrow \{1, 2, \dots , p+q\}$, where the vertices are labeled with the numbers $1, 2,\dots, p$ and there exists a constant $t$ such that $f(x)+f(xy)+f(y)=t$, for every edge $xy\in E(G)$.\\ In this paper, we study the existence of super edge-magic total labeling of forests with two components consisting of stars and subdivided stars. These results add further support to the conjecture proposed by Figueroa-Centeno \emph {et al.} in 2005.
25 Reflections on Accounting Research

ABSTRACT: In this essay, I reflect on my roughly 25 years in accounting research by discussing 25 topics related to (1) the journal review process, (2) specific types of accounting research, and (3) the research process. I hope that these observations will prompt additional thought and discussion, help accounting doctoral students and faculty to publish their research, and potentially challenge some readers.
Tracking microphysical variations in emissions from Karymsky volcano using MISR multi-angle imagery, and implications for volcano geologic interpretation

Space-based, operational instruments are in unique positions to monitor volcanic activity globally, especially in remote locations or where suborbital observing conditions are hazardous. The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) provides hyper-stereo imagery, from which the altitude and microphysical properties of suspended atmospheric aerosols can be derived. These capabilities are applied to plumes emitted at Karymsky volcano from 2000 to 2017. Plumes from Karymsky were predominantly emitted to an altitude of 2–4 km, with occasional events exceeding 6 km. MISR plume observations were most common when volcanic surface manifestations were high, such as lava flows identified by satellite-based thermal anomaly detection. The plumes contained large, strongly absorbing particles indicative of ash-rich eruptions. Differences between the retrievals for Karymsky volcano's ash-rich plumes and the sulfur-rich plumes from the 2014–2015 eruption of Barðarbunga (Iceland) highlight the ability of MISR to distinguish particle types from such events. Plumes emitted at Karymsky prior to 2010 contain the sulfate proxy. After 2011, plumes contain similar particle components, but with varying fractions of absorption linked to timing within respective eruption phases. From the 1.1 km spatial-resolution retrievals within 30–220 km plumes, particle fallout, physical aggregation, and chemical evolution are indicated by the particle property variations observed downwind. In addition, changes in plume properties retrieved from the remote-sensing observations over time are interpreted in terms of activity cycles within the volcano itself, corroborated to the extent possible with suborbital data.
The High-Resolution Return-Beam Vidicon with Electrical Input

The 4½-in. return-beam vidicon (RBV) can be operated in either a slow-scan, single-frame readout mode or a fast-scan, multiple-frame readout mode. The fast-scan readout mode provides a high-quality, flickerless readout for display to a human observer in a manner similar to that employed in commercial television. This mode can be enhanced by selective electronic magnification of the information by underscanning the target. Typical display monitor parameters would include 2000 × 2000 tv line resolution. With 3:1 electronic magnification, an equivalent of 6000 × 6000 tv lines would be displayed.
Constitutional Limits on State Regulatory and Protectionist Policies

My theme throughout is this: Although the Supreme Court's sometimes timid review of state regulatory legislation may be explained by its continued allergic reaction to economic due process review, that timidity is often unwarranted because the Constitution does embody several principles that protect the free market from some forms of state intervention.
Engineering Scaffold Mechanical and Mass Transport Properties

Biomaterial scaffolds must provide the 4Fs for regenerative medicine: Form, Fixation, Formation, and Function. Form is the ability to provide shape and volume matching within a given anatomic defect. Fixation is the ability to fix the scaffold to surrounding tissues. Function and Formation require that the scaffold can provide temporary function (typically mechanical) within the defect while simultaneously promoting tissue formation. These last two requirements are significantly dependent on the effective mechanical, mass transport, and specific surface area properties provided by the scaffold. These effective properties are in turn determined by the arrangement of scaffold material and pores in three-dimensional (3D) space. This chapter reviews integrated design and fabrication methods for arranging scaffold material and pores in 3D space to achieve desired effective mechanical and mass transport properties, and, in addition, discusses how these effective properties affect tissue regeneration. It is proposed that advances in clinical scaffold applications and regulatory approval must be achieved through integration of scaffold design, fabrication, and experimentation through a concept denoted as iterative scaffold engineering.
Should we expand the TORCH complex? A description of clinical and diagnostic aspects of selected old and new agents

Physicians faced with a newborn infant with signs and symptoms of perinatal infection must consider a multitude of diseases, and may need to embark on a complex differential diagnosis. As stated by Alford in 1967, "neonatal diagnoses of infections acquired in utero, natally and postnatally, are inherently difficult." Twenty years later, this statement is still true. In this review, the diagnostic problems encountered in the evaluation of a suspected perinatal infection have been discussed, as have the complexities of the evaluation process for the original four TORCH agents, as well as for three additional agents. From our point of view, the usefulness of the TORCH acronym has been to focus attention on perinatal infections. Its main drawback has been the resultant overuse of TORCH titers ignoring the complexity of the diagnostic process. Ideally, the TORCH concept serves two functions. It continues to remind us of the multiplicity of pathogens that can cause perinatal infection, and it underscores the need for thorough diagnostic evaluation for these challenging infections. We believe that this is an appropriate expansion of the TORCH complex, and we anticipate that this expanded TORCH complex will continue to grow.
The intertwining – Damisch, Bois, and October’s rethinking of painting

While most of Hubert Damisch’s major books have been made available in English since the publication of Yve-Alain Bois’ review essay ‘Painting as model’, it nonetheless remains a shame that Fenetre Jaune Cadmium (Damisch 1984) – the subject of Bois’ review – has not been translated. Although best known as a specialist in Renaissance art, the essays of Fenetre show how Damisch’s distinct art-theoretical project emerges from his early writings on modernist and post-war painting, phenomenology and structuralism. This paper argues that Damisch’s writings and Bois’ essay serves as a crux for the October journal. October was at the forefront of the critique against painting during the early 1980s, but the publication of ‘Painting as model’ suggests a sea change in the journal. I shall examine how Damisch’s entwining of phenomenology and structuralism, as a model for October that helped it revise its understanding of painting and for rethinking the relationship between art history and art criticism.
Biochemical design features of the pancreatic islet cell glucose-sensory system.

Our understanding of the biochemical basis of fuelstat function of the pancreatic islet cells is still fragmentary in contrast to the comprehensiveness of our knowledge about the morphology and physiology of pancreatic islets. The present account addresses several fundamental issues of β-cell biochemistry, namely the manner in which these cells keep track of the blood glucose level and how those blood glucose measurements might be coupled to insulin secretion. Expressed in the jargon of the field the presentation will deal with the pancreatic β-cell glucose-sensor-device and with the problem of stimulus-secretion-coupling.
Thermodynamics of Fatigue: Degradation-Entropy Generation Methodology for System and Process Characterization and Failure Analysis

Formulated is a new instantaneous fatigue model and predictor based on ab initio irreversible thermodynamics. The method combines the first and second laws of thermodynamics with the Helmholtz free energy, then applies the result to the degradation-entropy generation theorem to relate a desired fatigue measure-stress, strain, cycles or time to failure-to the loads, materials and environmental conditions (including temperature and heat) via the irreversible entropies generated by the dissipative processes that degrade the fatigued material. The formulations are then verified with fatigue data from the literature, for a steel shaft under bending and torsion. A near 100% agreement between the fatigue model and measurements is achieved. The model also introduces new material and design parameters to characterize fatigue.
The role of the xmd dog in the assessment of myoblast transfer therapy.

The success of myoblast transfer therapy can be assessed in a variety of ways. However, from the point of view of the utilization of experimental models in the development of this form of therapy, the methods used to determine its success depend on the particular biological questions that are being addressed.
Reconstitution of phosphate-linked antiport from Streptococcus,lactis

Abstract Membrane protein solubilized by octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside in the presence of dispersed phospholipid was incubated with bath-sonicated liposomes and additional detergent. The proteoliposomes formed on dilution showed transport and exchange properties consistent with a reconstitution of phosphate: sugar 6-phosphate antiport. Thus, phosphate self-exchange was found only when protein from induced cells was used; this exchange was blocked by a sugar 6-phosphate, not by a sugar 1-phosphate; and proteoliposomes supported an accumulation of 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate with no added source of energy. Solubilization and reconstitution of protein was most effective when performed in the presence of gram-positive phospholipids.
Strengthening Vicarious Resilience in Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Narrative Approach to Couples Therapy:

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is correlated with numerous adverse effects, both intrapersonal and interpersonal. Couples where one or more partners is a CSA survivor often report problems in social/...
Relacja między kryminologią a prawem karnym –przydatność wyników badań kryminologicznych dla prawa karnego

With a view of providing an unsurpassed opportunity to college students, who are mostly from Louisiana, in gaining a comprehensive understanding of Global Climate Change issues, we completed the first Nepal Field Experience Pilot Study Abroad from May 21-June 8, 2019. A total of fifteen students from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, and one graduate student from University of Arizona, Arizona, USA, participated in the program. Students examined and documented the effects of climate change impacts on agriculture, water resources, wildlife, local communities, forest resources, and other ecological and environmental settings of the country. They identified various climate change mitigation and adaptation measures that had been implemented and noted gaps between policy measures and ground realities. Research topics selected by the students included the following: climate change impacts on wildlife, water pollution, structural geology of Nepal, changing rainfall patterns and adaptation, climate change and agricultural production, geology of Kathmandu valley, air quality of Kathmandu valley, changing hydrology of glaciated landscape, climate change and geohazards, emerging diseases and pests on agricultural crops, climate change adaptation by local communities, green infrastructure and climate-smart technologies, climate change impact on drinking water sources, the roadside geology, and emerging diseases, parasites and zoonotics. Each student completed their individual research project, synthesized the results, and presented to local stakeholders in conference organized by a nonprofit nongovernmental organization, Asta-Ja Rsearch and Development Center (Asta-Ja RDC), Kathmandu, Nepal. Findings of the study reveal that Nepal is experiencing huge impacts of climate change in multiple fronts including atmospheric conditions and snowfall, temperature rise, occurrence of droughts and flooding, changes on monsoon pattern, emerging diseases and pests on crops and livestock, and declining drinking water sources. Environmental pollution, especially the air and water pollution and waste management, was very serious affecting public health, aesthetics, and even the tourism of the country. In order to reverse environmental degradation and enhance climate change adaptation, immediate implementation of effective, comprehensive, coordinated, and well-thought-out climate change adaptation and environmental initiatives are necessary. Nepal Field Experience was a lifetime learning experience for the students.
Redesigning an Undergraduate Nutrition Course through Active Learning and Team-Based Projects Enhances Student Performance.

Team-based active learning has been associated with enhanced communication and critical thinking skills, and improved clinical competency in other allied-health disciplines, but little is known about this pedagogical technique in nutrition. This study compared content retention and perceptions of a team-based, active learning course redesign intervention in an undergraduate nutrition class pre- (n = 32) and post- (n = 43) intervention. Assessment scores improved overall (69% to 75%; P < 0.01) and within 3 content domains: dietary guidelines (75% to 84%; P = 0.03), the exchange system (38% to 49%; P < 0.01), and dietary assessment (59% to 73%; P < 0.01). Thus, incorporation of team-based active learning was effective in improving content knowledge in undergraduate nutrition students as assessed by performance on exam questions overall and in some but not all content domains. Nonsignificant changes in student evaluations suggest that this is an acceptable, noninferior strategy to facilitate learning in undergraduate courses.
Improving Safe Sleep Compliance in a Pediatric Inpatient Unit and Newborn Nursery Using Quality Improvement Methodology from the American Academy of Pediatrics Education and Safe Sleep Environment (EASE) Project

Background: In the United States, approximately 3,500 babies under one year of age die from sleep related complications. Enforcing safe sleep practices (sleeping alone, on their back, in a crib or bassinette) in the hospital setting increases adherence to this practice after discharge. However, a majority of health care providers do not promote safe sleep guidelines. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the Education and Safe Sleep Environment (EASE) project to improve infant safe sleep environments in the hospital and to increase parental education about safe sleep. Objective: …
Testing for baseline differences in clinical trials

Reporting statistical tests for baseline measures of clinical trials does not make sense since the statistical significance is dependent on sample size, as a large trial can find significance in the same difference that a small trial did not find to be statistically significant. We use 3 published trials using the same baseline measures to provide the relationship between trial sample size and p value. For trial 1 sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, p=0.01, 10.4±3.4 vs. 9.6±3.2, difference=0.8; p=0.007 for vasopressors, 83.0% vs. 72.6%. Trial 2 has SOFA score 11±3 vs. 12±3, difference=1, p=0.42. Trial 3 has vasopressors 73% vs. 83%, p=0.21. Based on trial 2, supine group has a mean of 12 and an SD of 3 for SOFA score, while prone group has a mean of 11 and an SD of 3 for SOFA score. The p values are 0.29850, 0.09877, 0.01940, 0.00094, 0.00005, and <0.00001 when n (per arm) is 20, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400, respectively. Based on trial 3 information, the vasopressors percentages are 73.0% in the supine group vs. 83.0% in the prone group. The p values are 0.4452, 0.2274, 0.0878, 0.0158, 0.0031, and 0.0006 when n (per arm) is 20, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400, respectively. Small trials provide larger p values than big trials for the same baseline differences. We cannot define the imbalance in baseline measures only based on these p values. There is no statistical basis for advocating the baseline difference tests
Nutritional-Landscape Models Link Habitat Use to Condition of Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

In heterogeneous landscapes, large herbivores employ plastic behavioral strategies to buffer themselves against negative effects of environmental variation on fitness. Yet, the mechanisms by which individual responses to such variation scale up to influence population performance remain uncertain. Analyses of space-use behaviors exemplify this knowledge gap, because such behaviors are often assumed, but rarely demonstrated, to have direct fitness consequences. We combined fine-scale data on forage biomass and quality with movement data and measures of somatic energy reserves to determine whether variation in use (the quantity of resource units, e.g., pixels on a landscape, that receive some level of investment by an animal during a specific sampling period) or selection (use of a resource unit relative to its availability to the animal during the same sampling period) of the nutritional landscape predicted early winter body condition of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). At the population level, mule deer exhibited stronger selection for high forage biomass at the landscape scale than at the home-range scale, and during summer than during spring. Use of the nutritional landscape varied among individual deer and had important consequences for early winter condition (an important determinant of survival and reproduction in capital-breeding ungulates). Females that consistently used vegetation communities that provided high biomass of preferred forage plants throughout spring and summer entered winter in better condition than females that used those vegetation communities less frequently. In contrast, selection (i.e., use relative to availability) of the nutritional landscape by individual deer was not significantly related to early winter condition at either the landscape or home-range scales. Our results highlight the value of using mechanistic, nutritional approaches to understand the potential fitness consequences of individual variation in behavior. In addition, our study suggests that patterns of forage use by ungulates may sometimes correlate more strongly with fitness than patterns of forage selection, which are scale-dependent and more vulnerable to biases stemming from the need to accurately quantify availability.
Effects of Active Outdoor Play on Preschool Children’s on-Task Classroom Behavior

Physical activity—including outdoor motor play—has been associated with learning and brain-related functions and abilities in elementary school children and adolescence. Few studies have been conducted on the relationships between active play and these cognitive processes in preschool aged children. Several investigations have revealed that adult-directed physical activity can enhance preschoolers’ performance on measures of executive functions, such as inhibitory control or attention. In the present investigation we sought to determine if naturalistic playground play would have a similar effect to adult-guided exercise on a classroom indicator of young children’s cognitive control—on-task behavior during a whole group learning experience. The on-task behavior of 21 three-, four-, and five-year-olds was compared under two conditions—one in which children played outdoors immediately prior to the experience and one in which they did not. Too, the relationship between the level of physical activity on the playground of children and their on-task behavior directly following it was examined. Findings indicate that outdoor play prior to learning resulted in greater on-task behavior for boys and children of low socioeconomic status. Level of activity in play prior to a learning time was positively related to on-task behavior. Implications for scheduling of outdoor play and the role of teachers’ in facilitating more active motor play are discussed. Future research on a larger, more diverse sample of children is recommended.
Effect of oxidation on the thermal expansion of a refractory multicomponent alloy

We employ first-principles calculations to examine the role of oxidation on the thermal expansion behaviour of a refractory multicomponent alloy. Our results reveal that the linear expansion and th...
Forecasting betas with random forests

It is common to estimate equity betas for private firms or non-traded assets through a comparable company analysis, and we test if the Random Forest algorithm can provide superior forecasts. In out...
Novel GLDC Compound Heterozygous Variant Leading to Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia: Case Report and Literature Review.

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a lethal autosomal recessive disease resulting from alterations in glycine metabolism, commonly caused by mutations in glycine decarboxylase (GLDC). The symptoms of NKH usually manifest in the neonatal period, and can be categorized into severe NKH and attenuated NKH based on the clinical outcome. To date, only a few NKH cases have been reported in China. We here report a case of a neonate with severe NKH carrying a novel compound heterozygous variant in GLDC. The patient was a 68-hour-old girl who had progressive lethargy, no crying, and poor sucking ability from birth, and was therefore transferred to our department. On admission, the patient was supported by intubation and ventilation and presented with profound coma. Metabolic investigation indicated a markedly increased glycine concentration both in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Symptomatic treatments were administered, but the patient’s condition did not improve substantially. Whole-exome sequencing identified compound heterozygous mutations (c.1261G>C, p.G421R and c.450 C>G, p.N150K) in GLDC, which were inherited from the mother and the father, respectively. The patient was hospitalized for eight days in our department and died two days after discharge. We further summarize the clinical features, genetic characteristics, administered treatment, and prognosis of previously reported Chinese NKH patients for context. Our results highlight that due to the non-specific clinical phenotypes of NKH and difficulty in obtaining CSF samples, genetic testing is a crucial tool, not only for a diagnosis but also for predicting the clinical outcome and can potentially help to determine the optimal therapeutic strategy.
Development of microwave metamaterial-inspired sensors with multiple-band reactivity for mercury contamination detection

Alternative contactless metamaterial-inspired microwave sensors, composed of a multi-band omnidirectional bowtie antenna and metamaterials, are developed to detect and identify mercury, one of the ...
An algorithm for charge-integration, pulse-shape discrimination and estimation of neutron/photon misclassification in organic scintillators

Abstract Organic scintillators are frequently used for measurements that require sensitivity to both photons and fast neutrons because of their pulse shape discrimination capabilities. In these measurement scenarios, particle identification is commonly handled using the charge-integration pulse shape discrimination method. This method works particularly well for high-energy depositions, but is prone to misclassification for relatively low-energy depositions. A novel algorithm has been developed for automatically performing charge-integration pulse shape discrimination in a consistent and repeatable manner. The algorithm is able to estimate the photon and neutron misclassification corresponding to the calculated discrimination parameters, and is capable of doing so using only the information measured by a single organic scintillator. This paper describes the algorithm and assesses its performance by comparing algorithm-estimated misclassification to values computed via a more traditional time-of-flight estimation. A single data set was processed using four different low-energy thresholds: 40, 60, 90, and 120 keVee. Overall, the results compared well between the two methods; in most cases, the algorithm-estimated values fell within the uncertainties of the TOF-estimated values.
Neuron Orientations: A Computer Application

Does rearing kittens in highly structured visual environments result in differences of physical configuration in individual neurons which correlate with other observed changes in neural characteristics [such as the orientation of their visual fields (Hubel and Wiesel, 1962)]? This question is under investigation, with the physical parameter in question being the “orientation” of the dendritic field of the neuron. In this chapter, computer-based techniques are outlined for acquisition and representation of relevant data, and for describing “orientation” quantitatively.
Optimizing Your Employment Benefits

Our discussion on how to protect your wealth concludes with this chapter on how best to take advantage of benefits offered by your employer. Unlike the humorous television commercial, benefits offered by your employer do not come from France (“French benefits”) but rather are commonly referred to as fringe benefits. The nature and amount of fringe benefits you receive from your workplace depends on your employer, its current and future cash flow, and its attitude toward providing (usually) tax-free benefits to its employees. Typically, employers offer fringe benefits not only for competitive reasons, but also because they receive an income-tax deduction for doing so, which thereby assists them with the management of their future cash flow.
Single Physical Education Departments and Equality for Women

(1973). Single Physical Education Departments and Equality for Women. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 62-63.
Electron tomographic methods for studying the chemical synapse.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the use of electron tomography (ET) to study the chemical synapse. It discusses the different types of chemical synapses and their properties as well as the biological questions that are addressable using ET. It also discusses the methods for culturing neurons on a variety of substrates suitable for ET and the development of novel tools that combine electrophysiological methods with ET methods for studying active synapses. The ultimate goal of such studies is to identify and ascertain the organization of membranes and supramolecular complexes in a resting synapse or in a synapse after treatment with well-defined stimulation protocols. Many of the relevant molecular complexes are of sufficient mass and their appearance causes clear contrast in conventional electron microscopy (EM). These include important assemblies such as the SNARE complex, NSF, and NMDA-PSD-95, and the bassoon and piccolo complexes that order synaptic vesicles, polysomes, Ca 2+ -release channels, microtubules, and associated transport vesicles. The study of several systems, such as the neuromuscular junction and ribbon synapses following stimulation, has been achieved and important insights have been gained; such studies cannot currently be performed with primary cultured hippocampus neurons.