cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantification of HDL Particle Concentration by Calibrated Ion Mobility Analysis

BACKGROUND: It is critical to develop new metrics to determine whether HDL is cardioprotective in humans. One promising approach is HDL particle concentration (HDL-P), the size and concentration of HDL in plasma. However, the 2 methods currently used to determine HDL-P yield concentrations that differ >5-fold. We therefore developed and validated an improved approach to quantify HDL-P, termed calibrated ion mobility analysis (calibrated IMA). METHODS: HDL was isolated from plasma by ultracentrifugation, introduced into the gas phase with electrospray ionization, separated by size, and quantified by particle counting. We used a calibration curve constructed with purified proteins to correct for the ionization efficiency of HDL particles. RESULTS: The concentrations of gold nanoparticles and reconstituted HDLs measured by calibrated IMA were indistinguishable from concentrations determined by orthogonal methods. In plasma of control (n = 40) and cerebrovascular disease (n = 40) participants, 3 subspecies of HDL were reproducibility measured, with an estimated total HDL-P of 13.4 (2.4) μmol/L. HDL-C accounted for 48% of the variance in HDL-P. HDL-P was significantly lower in participants with cerebrovascular disease ( P = 0.002), and this difference remained significant after adjustment for HDL cholesterol concentrations ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Calibrated IMA accurately determined the concentration of gold nanoparticles and synthetic HDL, strongly suggesting that the method could accurately quantify HDL particle concentration. The estimated stoichiometry of apolipoprotein A-I determined by calibrated IMA was 3–4 per HDL particle, in agreement with current structural models. Furthermore, HDL-P was associated with cardiovascular disease status in a clinical population independently of HDL cholesterol.
Effect of imperfect phase and timing synchronization on the error rate performance of PSK modulations

A great deal of attention has been devoted in the recent literature to the study of the symbol error rate (SER) and bit error rate (BER) performance of phase shift keyed (PSK) constellations due to their high spectral efficiency and constant envelope nature. It is well known that an error in phase or timing synchronization affects the probability of correct decisions at the receiver. This problem becomes much more significant as data rates increase and the corresponding symbol durations decrease. We look into this problem and analyze the exact SER and BER performance of uniform and hierarchical PSK constellations under imperfect phase or timing synchronization over additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels. These expressions are in the form of a weighted sum of Pawula functions and are solely dependent on the constellation size, M, the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), the phase/timing error, and, for the case of hierarchical constellations, a priority vector which controls the relative message importance. Because of their purely exponential dependence on the CNR, these expressions can easily be generalized to fading conditions with and without diversity reception. In addition, due to their generic nature, these new expressions readily allow numerical evaluation for various cases of practical interest.
Developing detection and monitoring strategies for Planococcus minor (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

ABSTRACT A pheromone-based system to locate and monitor Planococcus minor (Maskell), a pest of over 250 plants including citrus, grape, and cacao, was tested. The difficulty in distinguishing P. minor from the citrus mealybug, P. citri, makes finding and evaluating the impact of the pest challenging. Studies conducted in Puerto Rico determined that synthetic P. minor pheromone lures preaged 120 d in the field caught similar number of males as lures not aged (fresh). Molecular analysis of trapped mealybug males using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase-1, the internal transcriber space two locus, and 28S-D2 gene showed the pheromone traps to be species specific. Traps baited with P. minor pheromone were used to monitor the pest in south Florida and to locate potential infestations. P. minor males were found at all locations studied in South Florida and were present in low numbers (1.03 ± 0.69 mean ± SE/trap/14 d). Over 14,000 terminals, fruit, and flowers were visually inspected over a 6 mo period of peak tra...
Ultrafast fetal MRI and prenatal diagnosis

Improvements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology continue to provide faster scan times and higher resolution increasing the applications for fetal imaging. MRI is an adjunct to good prenatal ultrasound scan (US). It provides significant additional information that improves diagnostic accuracy in evaluation of the fetal brain, spine, neck, chest, abdomen, and urinary tract. MRI provides important anatomic information that helps in planning delivery and surgical procedures.
Single-molecule detection: applications to ultrasensitive biochemical analysis

Recent developments in laser-based detection of fluorescent molecules have made possible the implementation of very sensitive techniques for biochemical analysis. We present and discuss our experiments on the applications of our recently developed technique of single-molecule detection to the analysis of molecules of biological interest. These newly developed methods are capable of detecting and identifying biomolecules at the single-molecule level of sensitivity. In one case, identification is based on measuring fluorescence brightness from single molecules. In another, molecules are classified by determining their electrophoretic velocities.
Transmission-line metamaterial design of an embedded-recessed line source

A transmission-line metamaterial design of a material-embedded line source radiating inside a ground recess is presented. The media embedding the recessed line source is designed such that the embedded current creates the same radiation pattern as a line source over a flat conducting ground plane. A numerical example based on circuit simulations is shown to validate the effectiveness of the embedded design at the design frequency.
Optical Study of GaN Doped with Mn Grown by Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy

The optical properties of Mn-doped GaN were investigated. The films were grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy using tricarbonyl (methylcyclopentadienyl) manganese as the dopant source. Two characteristic bands were observed in the absorption spectra of Mn-doped epilayers. The low energy band had a threshold at 1.4 ± 0.05 eV with a maximum at 1.5 ± 0.02 eV, with a full width half maximum of 245 ± 10 meV at 296 K. A second higher energy band was observed as a shoulder to the band edge absorption with a threshold energy of 2.06 eV at room temperature. Using photoluminescence spectroscopy, a new broad band was observed in the infrared spectra of GaN:Mn at 1.27 ± 0.02 eV with a full width half maximum of 0.26 ± 0.01 eV at 20K. From analysis of optical absorption and emission spectra Mn forms a deep acceptor level with optical transitions at 1.4 and 2.06 eV. The deep level nature of Mn indicates that it is a potential dopant for semi-insulating GaN.
On a unified framework for the evaluation of distributed quorum attainment protocols

Quorum attainment protocols are an important part of many mutual exclusion algorithms. Assessing the performance of such protocols in terms of number of messages, as is usually done, may be less significant than being able to compute the delay in attaining the quorum. Some protocols achieve higher reliability at the expense of increased message cost or delay. A unified analytical model which takes into account the network delay and its effect on the time needed to obtain a quorum is presented. A combined performability metric, which takes into account both availability and delay, is defined, and expressions to calculate its value are derived for two different reliable quorum attainment protocols: D. Agrawal and A. El Abbadi's (1991) and Majority Consensus algorithms (R.H. Thomas, 1979). Expressions for the primary site approach are also given as upper bound on performability and lower bound on delay. A parallel version of the Agrawal and El Abbadi protocol is introduced and evaluated. This new algorithm is shown to exhibit lower delay at the expense of a negligible increase in the number of messages exchanged. Numerical results derived from the model are discussed. >
Antimicrobial activities of Ipomoea batatas (L.) leaf

The antimicrobial activity of artificially grown sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] leaves was investigated against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria: Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Three different cultivars, 'Simon 1', 'Kyushu 117' and 'Elegant Summer', were used. The sweetpotato leaves were grown under different temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C) and artificial shading (O, 40 and 80%) conditions. There were some cultivar differences however, the lyophilized leaf powder (100 mg) from all the cultivars in the Trypto Soya Broth cultivation medium (10 ml) strongly suppressed the growth of all the bacteria studied. However, the antibacterial extract of the leaves had no effect on the growth of 5 types of bifidobacteria useful for human health. The main components of the antibacterial extract were polysaccharides (30%) and protein (70%). In the polysaccharide fraction, the relative quantities of natural sugars were xylose > galactose > arabinose > glucose > rhamnose > mannose > fucose. These results suggest that the antibacterial component may be a pectin-like material. Thus, the practical use of sweetpotato leaves to prevent the growth of food-poisoning bacteria is very promising.
Results after laparoscopic fundoplication: does age matter?

Antireflux fundoplications are undertaken with hesitation in older patients because of presumed higher morbidity and poorer outcomes. This study was undertaken to determine if symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) could be safely abrogated in a high-risk/reward population of older patients. One hundred eight patients more than 70 years of age (range, 70-90 years) underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications undertaken between 1992 and 2005 and were compared with 108 concurrent patients less than 60 years of age (range, 18-59 years) to determine relative outcomes. Before and after fundoplication, patients scored the severity of reflux and dysphagia on a Likert Scale (0 = minor, 10 = severe). Before fundoplication, older patients had lower reflux scores (P < 0.01), but not lower dysphagia scores or DeMeester scores. One patient (86 years old) died from myocardial infarction; otherwise, complications occurred infrequently, inconsequentially, and regardless of age. At similar durations of follow-up, reflux and dysphagia scores significantly improved (P < 0.01) for older and younger patients. After fundoplication, older patients had lower dysphagia scores (P < 0.01) and lower reflux scores (P < 0.01). At the most recent follow-up, 82 per cent of older patients rated their relief of symptoms as good or excellent. Similarly, 81 per cent of the younger patients reported good or excellent results. Ninety-one per cent of patients 70 years of age or more versus 85 per cent of patients less than 60 years would undergo laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication again, if necessary. With fundoplication, symptoms of GERD improve for older and younger patients, with less symptomatic dysphagia and reflux in older patients after fundoplication. Laparoscopic fundoplication safely ameliorates symptoms of GERD in elderly patients with symptomatic outcomes superior to those seen in younger patients.
Using In situ Capacitance Measurements to Monitor the Stability of Thermal Interface Materials in Complex PCB Assemblies

A thermal solution for an array of voltage transformer modules which are cooled by a large area, common aluminum heat spreader for a high end server was evaluated using an in situ, capacitive bond line thermal measurement technique. The method measures the capacitance of a non-electrically conducting thermal interface material (TIM) between the electronic module and heat spreader to quantify the TIM bond line effective thickness during assembly and operation. The thermal resistance of the TIM has the same geometric dependence as the inverse of capacitance, therefore, the capacitive technique also provided a monitor of the thermal performance of the interface. This technique was applied to measure the bond line in real time during the assembly of the heat spreader to an array of 37 modules mounted on a printed circuit board. The results showed that the target bond lines were not achieved by application of a constant force alone on the heat spreader, and guided an improved assembly process. The mechanical m...
Wild blueberry consumption affects aortic vascular function in the obese Zucker rat

This study evaluates the effect of wild blueberry (WB) consumption on the biomechanical properties of the aorta in the obese Zucker rat (OZR), a model of the metabolic syndrome. Thirty-six OZRs and...
The Influence of Different Xanthophyll-Containing Feedstuffs on Pigmentation of Broilers Reared in Open and Windowless Houses

Abstract In two experiments, yellow corn, corn gluten meal, alfalfa, or combinations of these pigment-containing feedstuffs were incorporated into finisher diets and fed from 29 to 56 days to broilers housed in either open or windowless houses. Dominant wavelength (DWL), excitation purity, luminosity of shanks, and blood xanthophyll levels at 56 days were determined. Xanthophyll consumption was also calculated. Xanthophyll consumption and blood xanthophyll levels within treatments were inversely related. Shank pigmentation values indicated that feeding xanthophyll supplements containing zeaxanthin, such as yellow corn or corn gluten meal, provided higher DWL; corn gluten meal produced the most acceptable values. Inferior pigmentation was observed in shanks from broilers reared in windowless houses, but pigmentation was improved when corn gluten meal was fed as the source of xanthophyll. It was concluded that the relative higher ratio of zeaxanthin to lutein present in corn gluten meal was responsible for the pigmentation improvement of broilers reared in windowless houses when this feedstuff was fed.
Study on Isolation and Identification of Enterobacter Sakazakii of Milk Powder of Infant Formula

Objective To study the methods of isolation and identification of Enterobacter sakazakii(E.sakazakii) from commercial available milk powders of infant formula.Method E.sakazakii, was isolated from infant milk powder samples of 32 portions, and was identified by routine bacterial culture, ordinary PCR and real-time PCR respectively.Results Two strains of E.sakazakii were isolated and identified from the milk powders of infant formula of 32 portions, and the positive rates were 6.25%. The isolation and identification results of the three identification methods were consistent.Conclusion The results indicated that the multiple identification methods could increase the detection credibility of E.sakazakii.
Superinduction of serotonin N-acetyltransferase and supersensitivity of adenyl cyclase to catecholamines in denervated pineal gland.

Norepinephrine or isoproterenol injected into rats increases serotonin N -acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) activity many fold in the pineal gland. One or two days after denervation by bilateral ganglionectomy, norepinephrine produced a 5-10-fold higher increase in N -acetyltransferase activity than in intact pineals. When low doses of isoproterenol are injected, N -acetyltransferase activity in denervated pineals increases much more than in intact pineals, while high doses result in similar increases in N -acetyltransferase activity in intact and denervated pineals. Intact pineals cultured in the presence of norepinephrine show maximal increases in N -acetyltransferase activity at about 10 µM, whereas maximal increases are observed in denervated pineals at 20 nM norepinephrine. Isoproterenol (0.1-1 µM) causes a maximal increase in enzyme activity in intact pineals, whereas 4 nM isoproterenol increases N -acetyltransferase activity to the maximal level in denervated pineals. The concentration of catecholamines in culture required for the maximal increase in N -acetyltransferase activity differs by almost 100-fold for norepinephrine and by 20-fold for isoproterenol between intact did denervated pineals. Maximal enzyme activity, however, is the same in both intact and denervated pineals. The elevation of adenosine cyclic 39,59-monophosphate levels in denervated pineals greatly exceeds that in intact pineals when submaximal doses of either norepinephrine or isoproterenol are injected into rats. When pineals are cultured in the presence of dibutyryladenosine cyclic 39,59-monophosphate, there is no difference in the increase of N -acetyltransferase activity between intact and denervated pineals. These results indicate that denervation induces rapid supersensitivity in the postsynaptic beta adrenergic receptor site on the pineal cell to catecholamines, which in turn enhances the elevation of adenosine cyclic 39,59-monophosphate and results in the superinduction of N -acetyltransferase in the pineal gland.
The U.S. Model of Environmental Impact Assessment

Along with the invention of the future, as something we can know and do better about, and the invention of the public, as distinct from the electorate, the invention of the environment as an object of generalized social concern distinguishes the intellectual history of the 1960s. These three converge in the analytical and institutional system of environmental impact assessment (EIA), a major social innovation of the 1970s usually thought to have originated in the United States. Futurism enters in the prediction of future environments and environmental problems, and the conditions which will likely result from a proposed environmental modification. The public (or publics) enter as active participants in the formulation of environmental issues and the expression of environmental concerns. EIA is a rational means of systematically relating these conditions and concerns in a process of collective decision and action. This chapter reviews why EIA was introduced, when it is undertaken, and whether it is achieving its objectives.
MICROMACHINED FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT FOR WAFER LEVEL PACKAGING

Wafer Level Packaging (WLP) of microelectronic circuitry, in which critical package elements are formed on the silicon wafer prior to dicing, has several advantages over conventional packaging techniques, such as one-step testability of multiple chips on a silicon wafer prior to dicing, and the possibility of high input-output (I/O) density. One of the critical elements of WLP is the interconnect. Freely movable interconnects, which act like springs when thermally and mechanically loaded, can be used to relieve thermal and bonding-generated stresses, potentially resulting in improved testablility and reliability in WLP. In this work, flexible freestanding and no-underfill inteconnects were fabricated in a CMOS-compatible surface micromachining technology directly on a silicon wafer. The compliance of these interconnects up to 50 microns in the direction normal to the wafer was measured. Deflections and thermal expansions under mechanical-thermal stress were also simulated using finite element methods. Good agreement was achieved between the measured compliance and that predicted by the finite element analysis.
Fungal Colonization of Corn Grown in Nebraska in Relation to Year, Genotype and Growing Conditions 1.

Kernels of several corn hybrids, grown in test plots and harvested in 1990 and 1991, were assayed for internal fungal infection on DGl8 and CZID agars. Acremonium spp. And Fusarium spp. were the predominant fungi isolated from the kernels. Fusarium moniliforme was the Fusarium spp. most frequently detected (nearly 80% of isolates), followed by Fusarium proliferatum (c.a. 15% of isolates). Fusarium subglutinans , Fusarium gaminearum and other Fusarium spp. showed very low frequencies of isolation. Corn harvested in 1990 and analyzed after 1-year storage showed higher infection by Fusarium spp. than corn collected in 1991. The incidence of Acremonium spp. and Fusarium spp. differed significantly (p<0.01) among corn hybrids, and consistently higher kernel colonization by Fusarium spp. occurred in corn hybrids planted in dry-land plots.
All role transitions are not experienced equally: Associations among self-change, emotional reactions, and self-concept clarity

AbstractIndividuals experience numerous transitions across various roles during their lives. These role transitions can be disruptive to the way individuals view their identity, and thus their well-being; however, role transitions do not affect all individuals equally. Therefore, in the current work, we focused on two factors which may influence self-concept clarity and explain differential experiences following role transitions. We tested the relationship between the amount of self-change and positive emotions in reaction to a role transition predicting self-concept clarity, including both role entries (e.g. parenthood/new relationships, Studies 1–4) and role exits (e.g. divorce/job loss, Studies 3 and 4). Across several studies and all role transitions, we found that among individuals who experienced low levels of positive emotions after a role transition, greater self-change predicted reduced self-concept clarity. Among individuals who experienced higher levels of positive emotionality, this associatio...
Topicality of identification of free fatty acids pattern in biologic substrates in the diagnosis of gastroenterological diseases

У статті розглянуто роль вільних жирних кислот у патогенезі метаболічних і гастроентерологічних захворювань. Обґрунтовано доцільність використання методу газової хроматографії для визначення жирнокислотного складу біологічних рідин (сироватка крові, сеча, кал тощо). Показано, що вільні жирні кислоти беруть участь у формуванні структурних компонентів клітин, енергетичному гомеостазі й виконують роль сигнальних молекул або їх попередників, тому порушення регуляції метаболізму жирних кислот може призвести до системного порушення дії інсуліну, а також обміну глюкози в жировій тканині, м’язах і печінці. При різних патологічних станах відбувається збільшення окремих фракцій ліпідного спектра, що відмічається раніше, ніж зміна активності ферментів чи діагностичних маркерів білкового походження. Так, коротколанцюгові жирні кислоти можуть бути використані для встановлення синдрому надлишкового бактеріального росту в кишечнику. Зростання фракції поліненасичених жирних кислот може активізувати процеси запалення, імунні реакції, гіперкоагуляцію крові, підвищувати активність процесів перекисного окиснення ліпідів. Також маркерами запальних процесів можуть бути арахідонова (С20:4), додеканоїнова (С12:0) і лінолева (С18:3) вільні жирні кислоти. Окрім збільшення вмісту жирних кислот у біологічних рідинах, має значення їх дефіцит, що неможливо визначити за допомогою стандартних лабораторних методів. Доведеним фактом є те, що дефіцит ессенціальних жирних кислот може бути однією з причин формування метаболічного синдрому, неалкогольної жирової хвороби печінки та інших захворювань, пов’язаних з обміном речовин. Отже, хроматографія на сьогодні є єдиним методом, що дозволяє визначити жирнокислотний склад. Перевагою методу газової хроматографії є швидкість виконання і висока чутливість методу, завдяки чому можливо виявити найменші концентрації сполук у дослідному зразку (до 10 –12 моль). Упровадження цього методу в клінічну практику лікарів-гастроентерологів дозволить діагностувати захворювання на ранньому етапі розвитку й допоможе вибирати правильний метод лікування.
Tea in Promotion of Human Health

Because of its special aroma, taste and low cost, next to water, tea has been the most common beverage consumed by humans. Tea leaves are primarily manufactured as black, green, or oolong, with black tea representing approximately 80% of tea products consumed worldwide. Even though health beneficial effects of tea are known for centuries, the concept of "use of tea for promotion of human health and prevention and cure of diseases" has become a subject of research interest in recent years. The health promoting effects of tea are attributed to the polyphenolic antioxidants present therein. Diseases for which tea drinkers appear to have lower risk are simple infections like bacterial - and viral-infectivity to chronic debalating diseases that include cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. Initial studies suggested that green tea possess human health promoting effects. In recent years the research efforts have also been expanded to black tea. From the research conducted in recent years around the world, it is becoming clear that both black and green teas have very similar beneficial attributes in lowering the risk of many human diseases. The strongest evidence gathered so far is for two most dreaded diseases: cancer and heart disease. For cancer prevention the evidence is so overwhelming that the Chemoprevention Branch of the National Cancer Institute, United States of America has initiated a plan for developing tea compounds as cancer chemopreventive drugs in human trials. The outcome of these and many other investigator initiated trials is eagerly awaited. Thus, modern medical research is confirming the ancient wisdom that therapy of many diseases may reside in an inexpensive beverage in a "teapot".
Catalytic Allylic Oxidation of Cyclic Enamides and 3,4-Dihydro-2H-Pyrans by TBHP

Allylic oxidation of heteroatom substituted cyclic alkenes by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (70% TBHP in water) using catalytic dirhodium caprolactamate [Rh2(cap)4] forms enone products with a variety of 2-substituted cyclic enamides and 3,4-dihyro-2H-pyrans. These reactions occur under mild reaction conditions, are operationally convenient to execute, and are effective for product formation with as low as 0.25 mol% catalyst loading. With heteroatom stabilization of the intermediate allylic free radical two sites for oxidative product formation are possible, and the selectivity of the oxidative process varies with the heteroatom when R = H. Cyclic enamides produce 4-piperidones in good yields when R = alkyl or aryl, but oxidation of 2H-pyrans also gives alkyl cleavage products. Alternative catalysts for TBHP oxidations show comparable selectivities but give lower product yields.
Prior Mental Disorders and Lifetime Suicidal Behaviors Among US Army Soldiers in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS).

We report on associations of retrospectively reported temporally prior mental disorders and Army career characteristics with subsequent first onset of suicidal behaviors in a large, representative sample of US Army soldiers who participated in the Consolidated All-Army Survey of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (N = 29,982). Results reveal that among men and women, all self-reported lifetime disorders measured (some assessed with screening scales) are associated with subsequent onset of suicide ideation. Among men, three disorders characterized by agitation and impulsiveness (intermittent explosive disorder, panic disorder, and substance disorders) predict the transition from suicide ideation to attempt. For both men and women, being in the Regular Army (vs. National Guard or Army Reserve) predicts suicide attempts in the total sample. For men, a history of deployment and junior rank are predictors of suicide attempts after adjusting for preenlistment disorders but not accounting for pre- and postenlistment disorders, suggesting that postenlistment disorders account for some of the increased suicide risk among these career characteristics. Overall, these results highlight associations between mental disorders and suicidal behaviors, but underscore limitations predicting which people with ideation attempt suicide.
Sulvanite (Cu3VS4) nanocrystals for printable thin film photovoltaics

Abstract Copper Vanadium Sulfide (Cu3VS4), also known as sulvanite, has recently emerged as a suitable absorber material for thin film photovoltaics. The synthesis of Cu3VS4 nanocrystals via a rapid solvothermal route is reported for the first time. The phase purity of the Cu3VS4 nanocrystals has been confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while the nanoparticle size, of about 10 nm, was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Successful ligand exchange with sulfide, an inorganic ligand, demonstrated that the nanoparticles are amenable to surface modifications, key element in solution processing. Further annealing of as-synthesized nanocrystals under a sulfur/argon atmosphere at 600 °C, rendered highly crystalline Cu3VS4 powders exhibiting an impurity that could be potentially mitigated by annealing temperature optimization. Thus, Cu3VS4, formed solely from Earth-abundant elements, could provide an inexpensive, reliable approach to fabricating solution processed thin film photovoltaic absorbers.
Detection of eardrum abnormalities using ensemble deep learning approaches

In this study, we proposed an approach to report the condition of the eardrum as “normal” or “abnormal” by ensembling two different deep learning architectures. In the first network (Network 1), we applied transfer learning to the Inception V3 network by using 409 labeled samples. As a second network (Network 2), we designed a convolutional neural network to take advantage of auto-encoders by using additional 673 unlabeled eardrum samples. The individual classification accuracies of the Network 1 and Network 2 were calculated as 84.4%(± 12.1%) and 82.6% (± 11.3%), respectively. Only 32% of the errors of the two networks were the same, making it possible to combine two approaches to achieve better classification accuracy. The proposed ensemble method allows us to achieve robust classification because it has high accuracy (84.4%) with the lowest standard deviation (± 10.3%).
Case Study III: CFC-Based Byzantine Attack Detection

Most of the existing defense schemes against the Byzantine attack discussed in Chap. 3 either assume that the underlying spectrum states at different timeslots are independent or they only focus on the measurements collected in a single timeslot. Nonetheless, for many practical scenarios, the activities of the PUs and the induced spectrum states often follow a Markov process, and hence the spectrum sensing behaviors of the SUs may be better characterized by the HMM. Under this modeling, a novel HMM-based Byzantine attack detection technique can be developed to enforce the robustness of collaborative spectrum sensing. To illustrate this, the HMM-based spectrum sensing behavioral model is presented first, and based on which, the sought-after multi-HMM inference algorithm is introduced. Then, the overall HMM-based Byzantine attack detection scheme is demonstrated along with some numerical results to corroborate its effectiveness.
Support for Lesbian and Gay Rights: How and Why the South Differs from the Rest of the Country

The South provides far fewer legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans than does the rest of the country. Because state gay rights policies strongly reflect public opinion, trends in and the causes of Southerners' stronger opposition to homosexuality and gay rights are key to the future of lesbian and gay rights in the region. Using data for over 200,000 respondents to over 150 surveys, we assess the width, stability, and roots of Southern differences in beliefs about whether homosexual sex should be legal, schools should employ lesbian and gay teachers, same-sex marriage should be legal, and homosexual relations are "not wrong at all." We find strong and stable regional divergences that owe much to Southerners' greater religiosity, conervatism, and Republican party identification and their higher probabilities of being evangelical Protestants and African Americans. Migration patterns seem to maintain rather than to narrow or widen regional differences on gay rights.
Sobolev Spaces and Their Basic Properties

This chapter is concerned with the fundamental properties of Sobolev spaces including the Sobolev inequality and its associated imbedding theorems. The basic Sobolev inequality is proved in two ways, one of which employs the co-area formula (Section 2.7) to obtain the best constant in the inequality. This method relates the Sobolev inequality to the isoperimetric inequality.
Association of functional and structural social support with medication adherence among individuals treated for coronary heart disease risk factors: Findings from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

Background Functional social support has a stronger association with medical treatment adherence than structural social support in several populations and disease conditions. Using a contemporary U.S. population of adults treated with medications for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, the association between social support and medication adherence was examined. Methods We included 17,113 black and white men and women with CHD or CHD risk factors aged ≥45 years recruited 2003-2007 from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Participants reported their perceived social support (structural social support: being partnered, number of close friends, number of close relatives, and number of other adults in household; functional social support: having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability; combination of structural and functional social support: number of close friends or relatives seen at least monthly). Medication adherence was assessed using a 4-item scale. Multi-variable adjusted Poisson regression models were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) for the association between social support and medication adherence. Results Prevalence of medication adherence was 68.9%. Participants who saw >10 close friends or relatives at least monthly had higher prevalence of medication adherence (PR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.11) than those who saw ≤3 per month. Having a caregiver in case of sickness or disability, being partnered, number of close friends, number of close relatives, and number of other adults in household were not associated with medication adherence after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions Seeing multiple friends and relatives was associated with better medication adherence among individuals with CHD risk factors. Increasing social support with combined structural and functional components may help support medication adherence.
Alcohol, Drug Use, and Psychopathology in the General Population

This chapter is a review of what we know, or don’t know, about the prevalence of alcohol and drug use and abuse, and the relationship of psychopathology to these patterns. Our focus will be on studies of the general population, leaving the discussion of clinical populations to other chapters. Our current state of knowledge will be discussed within the context of definitional and methodologic difficulties encountered in studies of nonclinical populations.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms on antisecretory therapy: acid, non-acid, or no GERD

A clinically important subset of patients with erosive esophagitis will not attain adequate symptom relief and healing on once-a-day proton pump inhibitor therapy. This is especially true in patients with frequent and nocturnal heartburn and in those with Los Angeles Grades C and D erosive esophagitis. The approach to evaluation and management of cases of refractory or difficult gastroesophageal reflux disease is the subject of this state-of-the-art review.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Projects in Plant Pathology

All faculties who have teaching responsibilities should endeavour to teach effectively. Some elements of effective teaching include conveying information to students in an organised manner, engaging students in the learning process, and sharing a sense of enthusiasm for the material being covered. However, it takes work to become an excellent teacher. Those who make the effort to become informed about teaching practices by attending seminars and workshops, or by reading articles on the teaching process, can be called scholarly teachers. Faculty members who endeavour to investigate the effectiveness of their teaching practices using accepted research methods and then make the results of those investigations public are practitioners of the scholarship of teaching and learning. In this chapter we will provide some history and justification for the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) movement. We will describe three examples of SoTL projects that we have conducted in our undergraduate course, ‘Plants, Pathogens, and People’, and we will provide our opinion on why we think it is important for plant pathology teachers to become involved in the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Effects of storage conditions on two platelet agonists for whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry in dogs

Background Whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry (Multiplate-) can be performed with different agonists to evaluate platelet function. Although the manufacturer recommends disposal of stored reagents after 1 month at -20°C or 24 hours at 4°C, reagent integrity after reconstitution under different storage conditions is unknown. If reagent integrity is stable for longer periods, assay costs could decrease dramatically. Objectives This study aimed to determine the stability of reconstituted arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) platelet agonists stored at -20°C and -80°C for up to 6 months. Methods Aliquots of reconstituted AA and ADP were stored at -20°C and -80°C each month for a total of 6 months. Six healthy staff-owned dogs were enrolled in the study. A physical examination, CBC, diagnostic panel, urinalysis, and baseline platelet aggregometry assessment was performed on all of the dogs. Platelet aggregometry was performed using fresh and stored aliquots of AA and ADP reagents on the same day. The area under the curve (AUC) was recorded from each platelet aggregometry analysis. Repeated measures (RM) analysis (one-way ANOVA) was performed and subsequent time points (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months) were compared with fresh AUC results. Results All dogs were clinically healthy, and all diagnostic tests were normal. There were no differences in AUC obtained from fresh samples at any time point or either temperature for AA or ADP. Conclusions Whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry reagents, AA and ADP, were stable for up to 6 months when stored at -20°C or -80°C, obviating the need to discard viable reagents, and decreasing assay costs.
Counting down Elvis: his 100 finest songs: by Mark DuffettLanham, Maryland, Rowman and Littlefield, 2018, 293 pp., $39.95 (hardcover), ISBN: 978-1-44224-804-5

Elvis Presley has been dead since 1977. Yet he continues to attract the attention of biographers, film critics, music journalists, celebrity tabloid writers, and die-hard Elvis fans. Auburn Univers...
A luminescent oxygen-sensing hydrogel for open wounds (Conference Presentation)

Of the reported ~20,000 skin disease related deaths in 2013, 30% were attributed to cutaneous infections, ulcers, wounds, and burns. Wound healing is currently visually assessed by physicians and commonly requires multiple clinical visits for frequent dressing changes. These are often painful and can further compromise tissue health along with increasing infection risks. Clinical workflows for skin wounds often include oxygenation assessment to help guide the course of treatment. However, the low oxygen perfusion intrinsic to these conditions renders standard-of-care blood oxygen saturation tools inaccurate. Transcutaneous oxygen measurements can overcome this issue, albeit with further complications such as time-consuming bedside calibrations and potentially painful application/removal of electrodes. We present a ‘SMART’ bandage approach that features clinically-validated oxygen sensing molecules embedded within a hydrogel for direct open wound oxygenation measurements. The hydrogel incorporates a phosphorescent red-emitting oxygen-sensing metalloporphyrin covalently attached to a green fluorescent reference dye. As phosphorescence is quenched via collisional energy exchange with molecular oxygen, phosphorescence intensity and lifetime can be used to quantify oxygenation. The emission is bright enough to be visualized by the naked eye, and its intensity was found to increase 10x in oxygen deprived environments (0 mmHg pO2) compared to room air (160 mmHg pO2). Additionally, the hydrogel is capable of swelling up to 400% of its original size in wound exudate while maintaining skin adhesion properties. Along with minimizing the time and materials required for re-dressing, this novel wound dressing has potential for mediating drug delivery and reducing unnecessary patient discomfort.
Broadband Detection of Two-Photon Absorption by Intracavity Dye Laser Spectroscopy

Traditionally, two-photon transitions have been observed by excitation spectroscopy. However, since these techniques exploit single photon fluorescence to signal the two-photon absorption, they are not especially general. In the work reported here, direct observation of a two-photon transition, in absorption, has been achieved using intracavity dye laser spectroscopy (IDLS). By placing Na inside the cavity of a broad-band probe laser and injecting a second pump photon from a narrowed dye laser, the Na 3S 2S1/2 → 5S 2S1/2 two-photon transition was observed. The wavelength of this absorption varied with the changing wavelength of the pump laser such that the sum of the energy of the induced absorption feature and of the pump photon was always equal to that of the 3S → 5S transition. Although the pump laser wavelength was chosen so as to resonantly enhance the two-photon cross-section, the two-photon absorption feature was observed even with detunings as large as 40 cm-1. Since the probe laser bandwidth is typically > 10 nm, and since a high-resolution spectrum can be recorded in a single, sub-microsecond flash, this technique may be uniquely suited to the study of two-photon absorption in molecules, and perhaps even in transient species.
Detection of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers of Antimalarial Drug Resistance Directly from Whole Blood

Monitoring of antimalarial resistance is important to prevent its further spread, but the available options for assessing resistance are less than ideal for field settings. Although molecular detection is perhaps the most efficient method, it is also the most complex because it requires DNA extraction and PCR instrumentation. To develop a more deployable approach, we designed new probes, which, when used in combination with an inhibitor-tolerant Taq polymerase, enable single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping directly from whole blood. The probes feature two strategic design elements: locked nucleic acids to enhance specificity and the reporter dyes Cy5 and TEX615, which have less optical overlap with the blood absorbance spectra than other commonly used dyes. Probe performance was validated on a traditional laboratory-based instrument and then further tested on a field-deployable Adaptive PCR instrument to develop a point-of-care platform appropriate for use in malaria settings. The probes discriminated between wild-type Plasmodium falciparum and the chloroquine-resistant CRT PF3D7_0709000:c.227A>C (p.Lys76Thr) mutant in the presence of 2% blood. Additionally, in allelic discrimination plots with the new probes, samples clustered more closely to their respective axes compared with samples using minor groove binder probes with 6-FAM and VIC reporter dyes. Our strategy greatly simplifies single-nucleotide polymorphism detection and provides a more accessible alternative for antimalarial resistance surveillance in the field.
Evidence of an Epigenetics System in Archaea.

Changes in the phenotype of a cell or organism that are heritable but do not involve changes in DNA sequence are referred to as epigenetic. They occur primarily through the gain or loss of chemical...
Perceptions of non-STEM discipline teachers on coding as a teaching and learning tool: what are the possibilities?

AbstractResearch explored the change in perspectives of K–12 non-STEM discipline teachers regarding coding as an instructional tool. Whether, and to what extent, participants (n = 35) are willing t...
Testing Traditional Machismo and the Gender Role Strain Theory With Mexican Migrant Farmworkers

The current study examines the moderating role of traditional machismo on mental health outcomes. We hypothesized that machismo would enhance the effects of stressors that are incongruent with trad...
Bioenergetic Evolution Explains Prevalence of Low Nephron Number at Birth: Risk Factor for CKD

There is greater than tenfold variation in nephron number of the human kidney at birth. Although low nephron number is a recognized risk factor for CKD, its determinants are poorly understood. Evolutionary medicine represents a new discipline that seeks evolutionary explanations for disease, broadening perspectives on research and public health initiatives. Evolution of the kidney, an organ rich in mitochondria, has been driven by natural selection for reproductive fitness constrained by energy availability. Over the past 2 million years, rapid growth of an energy-demanding brain in Homo sapiens enabled hominid adaptation to environmental extremes through selection for mutations in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA epigenetically regulated by allocation of energy to developing organs. Maternal undernutrition or hypoxia results in intrauterine growth restriction or preterm birth, resulting in low birth weight and low nephron number. Regulated through placental transfer, environmental oxygen and nutrients signal nephron progenitor cells to reprogram metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. These processes are modulated by counterbalancing anabolic and catabolic metabolic pathways that evolved from prokaryote homologs and by hypoxia-driven and autophagy pathways that evolved in eukaryotes. Regulation of nephron differentiation by histone modifications and DNA methyltransferases provide epigenetic control of nephron number in response to energy available to the fetus. Developmental plasticity of nephrogenesis represents an evolved life history strategy that prioritizes energy to early brain growth with adequate kidney function through reproductive years, the trade-off being increasing prevalence of CKD delayed until later adulthood. The research implications of this evolutionary analysis are to identify regulatory pathways of energy allocation directing nephrogenesis while accounting for the different life history strategies of animal models such as the mouse. The clinical implications are to optimize nutrition and minimize hypoxic/toxic stressors in childbearing women and children in early postnatal development.
Correction to: Social media data archives in an API-driven world

In the original publication of the article, the last name of the second author has been misspelled as “Kreisberg” and ORCID ID of the authors were not provided.
Overview of High Yield Geriatrics Assessment for Clinic and Hospital

Geriatric assessment is a comprehensive, multifaceted, and interdisciplinary evaluation of medical, socioeconomic, environmental, and functional concerns unique to older adults; it can be focused or broadened according to the needs of the patient and the concerns of clinical providers. Herein, the authors present a high-yield framework that can be used to assess older adult patients across a variety of settings.