cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of capecitabine to prevent acute renal allograft rejection in dog erythrocyte antigen-mismatched mongrel dogs.

Objective— To assess efficacy and toxicity of a capecitabine (CAP)-based regimen for preventing rejection of renal allografts in dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA)-mismatched mongrel dogs. Study Design— Prospective, pilot study. Animals— Eight healthy, unrelated, DEA mismatched, adult mongrel dogs. Methods— All dogs received CAP, starting at 50 mg/m2 PO b.i.d. 4 days preoperatively, increasing to 200 mg/m2 PO b.i.d. by the day of surgery. All dogs received cyclosporine-A (CsA) and prednisolone starting 2 days preoperatively. Standard heterotopic renal transplantation with native nephrectomy was performed. After 90 days, surviving dogs were euthanatized and histopathologic examination was performed. Results— Two of 8 dogs developed acute neurotoxicity leading to death or euthanasia within 5 days of surgery. For the 6 remaining dogs, there were no statistically significant changes in complete blood count or serum biochemical values. No opportunistic infections developed during the study period. Five of 6 dogs had no to minimal evidence of graft rejection. Two of 6 dogs developed superficial and pigmentary keratitis. Significant histopathologic findings in all dogs included mild lymphoplasmacytic gastroenteritis, steroid hepatopathy, and corneal epithelial thinning. One dog had moderate interstitial nephritis and pyelitis. Conclusions— In this experimental model, a CAP–CsA–prednisolone immunosuppressive regimen was effective in preventing rejection of allografts in DEA-mismatched dogs. Severe, unpredictable neurotoxicity and variable ocular toxicity significantly limit clinical applications at this time. Clinical Relevance— A CAP–CsA–prednisolone protocol is an effective, oral immunosuppressive regimen for prevention of allograft rejection in DEA-mismatched mongrel dogs. For clinical application, identification of patients susceptible to toxic side effects would be necessary.
Can a Single Property Be Both Dispositional and Categorical? The “Partial Consideration Strategy”, Partially Considered

One controversial position in the debate over dispositional and categorical properties maintains that our concepts of these properties are the result of partially considering unitary properties that are both dispositional and categorical. As one of its defenders (Heil 2005, p. 351) admits, this position is typically met with “incredulous stares”. In this paper, I examine whether such a reaction is warranted. This thesis about properties is an instance of what I call “the Partial Consideration Strategy”—i.e., the strategy of claiming that what were formerly thought of as distinct entities are actually a unified entity, partially considered. By evaluating its use in other debates, I uncover a multi-layered prima facie case against the use of the Partial Consideration Strategy in the dispositional/categorical properties debate. In closing, I describe how the Partial Consideration Strategy can be reworked in a way that would allow it to sidestep this prima facie case.
Actin filaments in yeast are unstable in the absence of capping protein or fimbrin.

Many actin-binding proteins affect filament assembly in vitro and localize with actin in vivo, but how their molecular actions contribute to filament assembly in vivo is not understood well. We report here that capping protein (CP) and fimbrin are both important for actin filament assembly in vivo in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, based on finding decreased actin filament assembly in CP and fimbrin mutants. We have also identified mutations in actin that enhance the CP phenotype and find that those mutants also have decreased actin filament assembly in vivo. In vitro, actin purified from some of these mutants is defective in polymerization or binding fimbrin. These findings support the conclusion that CP acts to stabilize actin filaments in vivo. This conclusion is particularly remarkable because it is the opposite of the conclusion drawn from recent studies in Dictyostelium (Hug, C., P.Y. Jay, I. Reddy, J.G. McNally, P.C. Bridgman, E.L. Elson, and J.A. Cooper. 1995. Cell. 81:591-600). In addition, we find that the unpolymerized pool of actin in yeast is very small relative to that found in higher cells, which suggests that actin filament assembly is less dynamic in yeast than higher cells.
Allan Birnbaum's conception of statistical evidence

Allan Birnbaum died in London in the early summer of 1976. He was 53. Although he was by training and profession a statistician, his intellectual interests were more philosophical than mathematical. During the past fifteen years most of his efforts were devoted to the foundations of statistics. His paper on the Neyman-Pearson Theory (Birnbaum [41]) is only the latest, though now unfortunately the last, of several papers developing a point of view that Birnbaum thought to represent both the theory and practice of the majority of reflective theoretical statisticians. In the following pages I will outline the development of Birnbaum's views on statistical inference. I hope this will help those unfamiliar with the earlier papers better to understand this last paper and also provide additional motivation for looking at the earlier papers as well. Birnbaum was unusual among statisticians in that he actively sought intellectual contact with philosophers as well as with methodologists in various sciences. Thus several of his papers, especially the later ones, were written so as to require relatively little technical expertise in statistics. They must be read very carefully, however, for they are written in a style that is sometimes complex and usually understates the signifi cance of the point being made. The style is an accurate reflection of the man.
High Tibial Osteotomy for the Treatment of Unicompartmental Arthritis of the Knee

Knee axial deformities associated with medial or lateral compartment osteoarthritis can be reliably addressed with high tibial osteotomies. Different surgical techniques can be successfully used for achieving the correction. Whatever the technique used, accurate patient selection and precise surgical procedure are critical to the success of the operation. The authors believe that proximal tibial osteotomy is a valuable procedure to achieve pain relief and to restore knee function in selected patients. Localized knee osteoarthritis of the highly motivated, older, active patient can also be included in the extended indications of the high tibial osteotomy.
Comparison of Class B Scavenger Receptors, CD36 and Scavenger Receptor BI (SR-BI), Shows That Both Receptors Mediate High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesteryl Ester Selective Uptake but SR-BI Exhibits a Unique Enhancement of Cholesteryl Ester Uptake

Scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) mediates the selective uptake of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesteryl ester (CE), a process by which HDL CE is taken into the cell without internalization and degradation of the HDL particle. The biochemical mechanism by which SR-BI mediates the selective uptake of HDL CE is poorly understood. Given that CE transfer will occur to some extent from HDL to protein-free synthetic membranes, one hypothesis is that the role of SR-BI is primarily to tether HDL close to the cell surface to facilitate CE transfer from the particle to the plasma membrane. In the present study, this hypothesis was tested by comparing the selective uptake of HDL CE mediated by mouse SR-BI (mSR-BI) with that mediated by rat CD36 (rCD36), a closely related class B scavenger receptor. Both mSR-BI and rCD36 bind HDL with high affinity, and both receptors mediate HDL CE selective uptake. However, SR-BI mediates selective uptake of HDL CE with a 7-fold greater efficiency than rCD36. HDL CE selective uptake mediated by rCD36 is dependent on HDL binding to the receptor, since a mutation that blocks HDL binding also blocks HDL CE selective uptake. These data lead us to hypothesize that one component of HDL CE selective uptake is the tethering of HDL particles to the cell surface. To explore the molecular domains responsible for the greater efficiency of selective uptake by mSR-BI, we compared binding and selective uptake among mSR-BI, scavenger receptor BII, and various chimeric receptors formed from mSR-BI and rCD36. The results show that the extracellular domain of mSR-BI is essential for efficient HDL CE uptake, but the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail also has a major influence on the selective uptake process.
Concanavalin A-induced receptor redistribution on Biomphalaria glabrata hemocytes: characterization of capping and patching responses.

Abstract Exposure of rounded, glass-adherent hemocytes from a Schistosoma mansoni-susceptible (PR albino) and S. mansoni-refractory (10-R2) stock of snails, Biomphalaria glabrata, to fluoresceinlabeled concanavalin A induces a redistribution of surface membrane Con A receptors. Receptor redistribution (patching and capping) on hemocytes from both snail stocks can be characterized as (1) rapid, with maximum cap formation occurring within 15 min of lectin treatment at 22°C, (2) sodium azide sensitive, but only at relatively high inhibitor concentrations (100–200 m m −N3 for capping and 200 m m −N3 for patching inhibition), (3) pronase sensitive (partial), but trypsin resistant, and (4) generally unaffected by exposure of snails to S. mansoni miracidia 60 or 180 min prior to extraction of hemolymph (hemocyte) samples for Con A testing. Although differences in the time course of receptor redistribution are exhibited between PR albino and 10-R2 snail hemocytes, the results of experiments involving sodium azide, proteolytic enzymes, and schistosome exposure strongly suggest that Con A-binding determinants and their associated membrane components on rounded hemocytes are very similar in both susceptible and refractory Biomphalaria stocks. It is concluded that if schistosome recognition in refractory 10-R2 snails is mediated through specific hemocyte membrane components, those components associated with Con A reactivity probably are not directly involved in the recognition process.
Turbulent diapycnal mixing in the northwestern Pacific

Nearly vertical mixing in the oceans across surfaces of constant density (isopycnals), known as diapycnal mixing, transports heat, modifies water masses, and maintains stratification. This mixing needs to be included in models of large-scale ocean circulation and climate models, but it is not fully understood. Some studies have suggested that wind is a key source of energy for diapycnal mixing in the deep ocean, but observational and modeling studies have been contradictory. To learn more, Jing et al. used data from recent hydrographic studies to study turbulent diapycnal mixing in the subtropical northwestern Pacific Ocean, a region that encompasses a range of ocean conditions, including both flat and rough seafloor. They examined spatial and seasonal variations as well as the role of eddies. They found that enhanced mixing occurred over rougher seafloor. Over flatter seafloor the researchers found that mixing is probably stirred by wind near the surface, with eddies playing an important role in enhancing mixing at greater depths. In the upper 600 meters of the ocean, the wind and diapycnal mixing varied seasonally, with stronger winds and mixing in winter and weaker winds and mixing in summer. This is different from the midlatitude northwestern Pacific, where seasonality of diapycnal mixing can be found at 1500-meter depth. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, doi:10.1029/2011JC007142, 2011)
The role of combination antihypertensive therapy and the progression of renal disease hypertension: looking toward the next millennium.

Abstract The importance of the level to which blood pressure is reduced becomes increasingly important when one considers preservation of renal function. It is clear that three major subsets of patients emerge as requiring levels of blood pressure control of
Rag mutations reveal robust alternative end joining

Mammalian cells repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) through either homologous recombination or non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). V(D)J recombination, a cut-and-paste mechanism for generating diversity in antigen receptors, relies on NHEJ for repairing DSBs introduced by the Rag1-Rag2 protein complex. Animals lacking any of the seven known NHEJ factors are therefore immunodeficient. Nevertheless, DSB repair is not eliminated entirely in these animals: evidence of a third mechanism, 'alternative NHEJ', appears in the form of extremely rare V(D)J junctions and a higher rate of chromosomal translocations. The paucity of these V(D)J events has suggested that alternative NHEJ contributes little to a cell's overall repair capacity, being operative only (and inefficiently) when classical NHEJ fails. Here we find that removing certain portions of murine Rag proteins reveals robust alternative NHEJ activity in NHEJ-deficient cells and some alternative joining activity even in wild-type cells. We propose a two-tier model in which the Rag proteins collaborate with NHEJ factors to preserve genomic integrity during V(D)J recombination.
Measuring the performance of Critical Access Hospitals in Missouri using data envelopment analysis.

Purpose: Rural hospitals are critical for access to health care, and for their contributions to local economies. However, many rural hospitals, especially critical access hospitals (CAHs) need to strive for more efficiency for continued viability. Routinely evaluating their performance, and providing feedback to management and policy makers, is therefore important. Method: Three measures of relative efficiency are estimated for CAHs in Missouri using an Input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis with a variable returns to scale assumption and compared with the efficiency of other rural hospitals in Missouri using Banker's F-test. Using 30-day readmission rate as a measure of quality, CAHs are evaluated against efficiency-quality dimensions. Findings: CAHs in Missouri had a slight decline in average technical efficiency, but they had a slight gain in average cost efficiency in 2009 compared to 2006. More than half of the CAHs were neither economically nor technically efficient in both years. The relative efficiency of other rural hospitals was statistically higher than that of CAHs in Missouri. Conclusions: This study validates the finding of relative inefficiency of CAHs compared to other hospitals paid under the Prospective Payment System at a state level (Missouri). However, with considerable variation in socioeconomic as well as health care access indicators across states, a relative efficiency frontier may not be the only relevant indicator of value for the evaluation of the performance of CAHs. Access to health care and the impact on the local economy provided by these CAHs to the community are also critical indicators for more comprehensive performance evaluation.
MyoVibe: vibration based wearable muscle activation detection in high mobility exercises

Skeletal muscles are activated to generate the force needed for movement in most high motion sports and exercises. However, incorrect skeletal muscle activation during these sports and exercises, can lead to sub-optimal performance and injury. Existing techniques are susceptible to motion artifacts, particularly when used in high motion sports (e.g. jumping, cycling, etc.). They require limited body movement, or experts to manually interpret results, making them unsuitable in sports scenarios. This paper presents MyoVibe, a wearable system for determining muscle activation in high motion exercise scenarios. MyoVibe senses muscle vibration signals obtained from a wearable network of accelerometers to determine muscle activation. By modeling the characteristics of muscles and high motion noise using extreme value analysis, MyoVibe can reduce noise due to high mobility exercises. Our system can predict muscle activation with greater than 97% accuracy in isometric low motion exercise cases, up to 90% accuracy in high motion exercises.
Patients with heart failure, and their partners, value being seen and supported together

Commentary on : Liljeroos M, Agren S, Jaarsma T, et al. Perceived caring needs in patient-partner dyads affected by heart failure: a qualitative study. J Clin Nurs 2014;23:2928–38.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] HF can be thought of as a ‘dyadic condition’—it affects both the patient and their caregiver. Until recently relatively little was known about the ‘second person’ affected by HF—the caregiver, or of their involvement in HF care. This may be a function of improved guideline directed care, which decreases symptoms and increases function for a longer time … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJ%2BClin%2BNurs%26rft.volume%253D23%26rft.spage%253D2928%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1111%252Fjocn.12588%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24698101%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1111/jocn.12588&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=24698101&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F18%2F3%2F77.atom
CASE STUDY OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO THE LOW-LEVEL JET

Abstract The relationship between the low-level jet and thunderstorm activity in the south-central United States is examined through mesoanalysis of surface data from Weather Bureau and NSSP stations. Separate squall systems moved through Kansas and Oklahoma during the night; the systems in Kansas persisted while those in Oklahoma died out. The most likely explanation for this is the synoptic-scale vertical velocities in the vicinity of the low-level jet.
Kullback-Leibler boosting

In this paper, we develop a general classification framework called Kullback-Leibler Boosting, or KLBoosting. KLBoosting has following properties. First, classification is based on the sum of histogram divergences along corresponding global and discriminating linear features. Second, these linear features, called KL features, are iteratively learnt by maximizing the projected Kullback-Leibler divergence in a boosting manner. Third, the coefficients to combine the histogram divergences are learnt by minimizing the recognition error once a new feature is added to the classifier. This contrasts conventional AdaBoost where the coefficients are empirically set. Because of these properties, KLBoosting classifier generalizes very well. Moreover, to apply KLBoosting to high-dimensional image space, we propose a data-driven Kullback-Leibler Analysis (KLA) approach to find KL features for image objects (e.g., face patches). Promising experimental results on face detection demonstrate the effectiveness of KLBoosting.
First Report of Geosmithia morbida on English Walnut and its Paradox Rootstock in California.

Geosmithia morbida, the causal agent of thousand cankers disease (TCD), is vectored by the walnut twig beetle (WTB), Pityophthorus juglandis, causing decline in eastern black walnut, Juglans nigra (4), and canker development on many Juglans species (5). In the summer of 2012, a survey for TCD incidence in English walnut, J. regia, in orchards in California identified many trees with WTB activity and characteristic TCD symptoms. Both the J. regia scion and its Paradox hybrid rootstock (J. hindsii× J. regia) were affected. In some cases, trees exhibited bleeding on the bark surface from WTB entrance holes. Removal of the outer bark revealed cankers in the phloem around the WTB galleries. Two samples were taken from scions and three samples were collected from rootstocks of trees in orchards in northern California. Pieces (~3 to 4 mm2) of symptomatic tissue were placed in acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA), and the plates were incubated for 4 to 5 days at 30°C. Samples exhibiting fungal growth similar in ...
Emitter‐Coupled Logic

The sections in this article are 1 Historical Overview 2 Emitter-Coupled Pair 3 Performance 4 Functional Units 5 Functional Verification Algorithm 6 Future Directions
Migration and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells is stimulated by different regions of the mechano-growth factor prohormone

Stem cell function is thought to be tightly regulated by growth factor concentration in the confines of the microenvironmental niche. Therefore, the response of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was studied in culture with mechano-growth factor (MGF), an isoform of IGF-1 known to be expressed in the heart following injury. Chemotactic migration of hMSCs increased in response to a peptide analog corresponding to the E-domain region of the MGF prohormone, which was greater than the IGF-1 polypeptide after 20 h of culture. Compared to control without growth factor, migration was significantly less with a scrambled peptide (p=0.025) or a peptide harboring a serine to alanine substitution near the carboxy end (p=0.002). The IGF-1 polypeptide increased proliferation of small (5-9 μm) but not large (>13 μm) hMSCs, whereas the E-domain peptide (MGF-E) had no effect on proliferation. Thus, there are complex biological responses of hMSCs to the prehormone of IGF with respect to migration and proliferation. Since neonatal myocytes but not hMSCs express MGF when strained cyclically at 20%, overloading of the heart may trigger immigration of stem cells. It seems possible that regions of the IGF prohormone may act differentially, or in a combinatorial manner, to benefit cardiac tissue recovery after injury.
TRANSIENT BRADYCARDIA ASSOCIATED WITH EXTRADURAL BLOOD PATCH AFTER INADVERTENT DURAL PUNCTURE IN PARTURIENTS

SUMMARY We have studied prospectively 10 ASA I or II postpartum patients after inadvertent dural puncture during labour. An extradural blood patch (autologous blood 15 ml) was performed within 18 h of delivery, with continuous EEG, upper facial EMG (Datex: Anesthesia and Brain Activity Monitor), pulse oximetry and heart rate measurement before, during and for 30 min after extradural injection. Non-invasive arterial pressure measurements (Dinamap) were recorded at 5-min intervals. After extradural blood patch, a statistically significant(Student's t test, P
Equity and Efficiency in Evaluation of Public Programs

I. Specification of an objective function, 497. — II. Ranking a set of feasible programs, 499. — Conclusion, 501.
Micromachined Piezoresistive Accelerometers Based on an Asymmetrically Gapped Cantilever

This paper reports the development of piezoresistive accelerometers based on an asymmetrically gapped cantilever which is composed of a bottom mechanical layer and a top piezoresistive layer separated by a gap. The asymmetrically gapped cantilever helps to increase the sensitivity and enables the majority of mechanical energy to be effectively used to strain the piezoresistive layer. An analytic model of the asymmetrically gapped cantilever was developed and verified using finite-element simulation. Design optimization was discussed based on the analytical model. A figure of merit was defined as the product of the signal-to-noise ratio and resonant frequency. It was demonstrated that the energy efficiency is a critical criterion of design optimization. The prototypes of the piezoresistive accelerometer were successfully fabricated using deep reactive-ion etching from both the front and back sides of silicon-on-insulator wafers. The fabricated devices were preliminarily characterized. A sensitivity of 0.36 mV/V/g and a fundamental resonant frequency of 4060 Hz were obtained. The noise of the fabricated device was also measured and analyzed.
Nanoscale heterostructures comprised of silicon nanowires and gold nanoparticles encapsulated in graphitic shells for DNA immobilization

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) immobilization on nanoscale architectures is critical for developing bio-compatible devices and clinical diagnoses. In this study, silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were combined with gold nanoparticles encapsulated in graphitic shells (GNPs). The resulting SiNWs-GNPs heterostructures were plasma oxidized to create carboxylic (-COOH) functionality on the surface of the graphitic carbon shell. These heterostructures and their surface chemistries were studied using electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopy. The –COOH terminated graphitic shells in heterostructures were covalently linked with DNA. The DNA molecules on these heterostructures were detected by linking with fluorescent streptavidin and observed under a fluorescence microscope. Such inorganic heterostructure-biomolecule assemblies can be very useful in the development of biomolecule analysis and detection devices.
Autocorrelation technique for determining the average level spacing of the intermediate subthreshold structure in the fission cross section of 235U and 239Pu

Abstract The interpretation given to the correlogram of the 235U and 239Pu fission cross sections is questioned as to its validity to estimate the average level displacement in the Strutinsky well, appearing in the fission barrier for highly deformed nuclei.
Scaling of Size and Dimorphism in Primates II: Macroevolution

Previous researchers found positive scaling of body size and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in primates, known as Rensch's rule. The pattern is present in Haplorhini, but absent in Strepsirhini. I found that positive evolutionary correlations between size and SSD drive positive scaling relationships within Haplorhini as a whole and Platyrrhini, Cercopithecinae, Colobinae, and Hominoidea individually at the generic level and higher, but that evolutionary correlations within genera in these clades are often nonsignificant or negative. I suggest that positive evolutionary correlations result from greater change in male than in female size, usually because of sexual selection acting on polygynous populations. I suggest that negative evolutionary correlations result from greater change in female size, owing to either natural selection or, in Callitrichidae, sexual selection acting on polyandrous populations. The high incidence of negative evolutionary correlations within Haplorhini suggests a relatively large influence of natural selection on SSD, at least with regard to differences in SSD between congeners. I propose two possible explanations for the difference in intrageneric and supergeneric evolutionary patterns: 1) natural selection is a relatively weak force for modifying SSD and has a noticeable effect only when one compares related species experiencing similar levels of sexual selection, and 2) natural selection is a relatively strong force for modifying SSD but is less likely than sexual selection to affect higher level taxonomic comparisons noticeably because of the cumulative effect over time of marginal differences in mortality rates of these two types of selection. I discuss types of data required to test these explanations and implications for reconstructing fossil behavior.
The ups and downs of knowledge infrastructures in science: implications for data management

The promise of technology-enabled, data-intensive scholarship is predicated upon access to knowledge infrastructures that are not yet in place. Scientific data management requires expertise in the scientific domain and in organizing and retrieving complex research objects. The Knowledge Infrastructures project compares data management activities of four large, distributed, multidisciplinary scientific endeavors as they ramp their activities up or down; two are big science and two are small science. Research questions address digital library solutions, knowledge infrastructure concerns, issues specific to individual domains, and common problems across domains. Findings are based on interviews (n=113 to date), ethnography, and other analyses of these four cases, studied since 2002. Based on initial comparisons, we conclude that the roles of digital libraries in scientific data management often depend upon the scale of data, the scientific goals, and the temporal scale of the research projects being supported. Digital libraries serve immediate data management purposes in some projects and long-term stewardship in others. In small science projects, data management tools are selected, designed, and used by the same individuals. In the multi-decade time scale of some big science research, data management technologies, policies, and practices are designed for anticipated future uses and users. The need for library, archival, and digital library expertise is apparent throughout all four of these cases. Managing research data is a knowledge infrastructure problem beyond the scope of individual researchers or projects. The real challenges lie in designing digital libraries to assist in the capture, management, interpretation, use, reuse, and stewardship of research data.
At the Time of Learning: The Encoding Process

How can there be doing without learning? This was the riddle we posed in Chap. 1. How is it that a student can give every major, outward indication of learning in the moment without – as we later realize – really retaining the material? How, for example, can students be listening and attending without assimilating to any significant degree what they’re attending to? How can students successfully complete assignments and tasks designed to teach certain concepts without actually learning from their work? In other words, how can students so clearly seem to be learning at the time, but without the new information being later accessible to memory and without it being able to serve as the foundation for learning in the future?
Flow Control and Thermal System Design for Wet Cell in the Scanning Electron Microscope

This paper describes a novel device, a wet cell, used for observation in the wet environment inside the scanning electron microscope (SEM). A Wet cell is composed of three counterparts, which are flow control system, thermal system and Wet cell body. The flow system provides continuous buffer liquid to wet cell and maintains cells living at the vacuum environment. It can control different flowrates and switch to different fluidics. Additionally, the thermal system can control the temperature inside the wet cell and maintain at 37 °C. It also offers preheating thermal module to lower the fluctuated of wet cell inside temperature. The wet cell body contains a silicon nitride film based observation window and provides a wet environment for observation between vacuum and anti-vacuum status. In this paper, we introduce the structure and experimental data of flow control and thermal system in Wet cell to let SEM easily provide lots of live imaging information such as dynamics of nano-materials and biological samples in the liquid state.
Plasma chlorpromazine concentrations in children with behavioral disorders and mental illness

Plasma chlorpromazine (CPZ) levels were studied in children 8 to 15 yr of age who were receiving CPZ for mental disorders. The results showed that children need larger doses of CPZ than adults to attain comparable plasma concentrations. The apparent therapeutic plasma concentration in children (40 to 80 ng/ml) is lower than that reported for adults (50 to 300 ng/ml). In the children studied, the plasma concentrations declined despite maintained dosage, possibly because of autoinduction of CPZ metabolism. Doses of 6 to all mg/kg body weight, and even as much as 850 mg/day, were tolerated without significant side effects when administered in divided doses 3 or 4 times a day, while doses of less than 6 mg/kg/day frequently failed to produce the desired plasma CPZ levels.
Skototaxis in three species of flat bugs (Heteroptera: Aradidae)

Adults of three species of Aradidae, Neuroctenus simplex (Uhler), Mezira granulata (Say), and Mezira sayi Kormilev, were tested to determine if they orient towards dark objects. All three species showed a positive response to dark objects. No major differences between skototactic responses of males and females were detected. Skototaxis is probably important in aradid dispersal and habitat selection.
An Enterobryus (Eccrinales) in a Common Greenhouse Milliped

An undescribed species of Enterobryus has been found growing within the hindgut of Oxidus gracilis (Koch),2 a cosmopolitan synanthropic milliped commonly inhabiting soil in greenhouse benches. A study was made of a collection of 0. gracilis that was supplied to me by Dr. Arthur A. Johnson who obtained them from an infested nursery in Cook County, Illinois. Previously I had attempted to find fungus infection in the same species of milliped in greenhouses on the Urbana campus of the University of Illinois, but without success. About 80% of the Cook County population that was dissected contained at least some thalli of the Enterobryus. The hosts were dissected according to the method I have published (Lichtwardt, 1954), and the fungus material was mounted on slides in lactophenol containing cotton blue.
Movement of corn rootworm beetles, Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae), at cornfield boundaries in relation to sex, reproductive status, and crop phenology

Canopy and bidirectional Malaise traps were used to estimate the flight activity of northern corn rootworms, Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence, and western corn rootworms, D. virgifera virgifera LeConte, above the plant canopy and at the lateral boundaries of cornfields. Capture of beetles in both types of traps was greatest during pre- and post-flowering intervals, particularly for northern corn rootworms, indicating increased flight activity in response to changes in habitat quality. Based on comparison of ratios of northern/western corn rootworms in the field with those ratios in traps, northern corn rootworm beetles were generally more active at field boundaries than western corn rootworm. There were marked differences in flight activity between males and females and between reproductively immature and mature females of both species. In general, Malaise traps captured a greater number of males and canopy traps a greater number of females in relation to their abundances in source fields. In comparison with source field populations, a greater number of western, but not northern, corn rootworm females captured in canopy traps had immature ovaries, suggesting that vertical movement may represent the initiation of migratory flight. Bidirectional trap results suggest that northern corn rootworm females move from cornfields when silks and pollen become unavailable and later return to fields for oviposition. Comparison of field data with computer simulations for both species suggested that there was substantial emigration from the early-planted field and that most of the beetles in the late-planted field were immigrants. Seasonal trends in flight activity tend to reflect these patterns; however, data from bidirectional Malaise traps-failed to provide strong evidence of greater emigration over immigration in the early-planted field or an opposite trend in the late-planted field. Overall, flight activity measured in passive traps at field boundaries may be a poor index of site-specific patterns of beetle movement, especially for western corn rootworms.
Judicial Power in the Civil Rights State: an Empirical Investigation

This paper examines the role courts and agencies play in enforcing civil rights statutes. It argues (1) that since the early 1960s the federal judiciary has developed an array of potent remedial powers; and (2) that contrary to the conventional wisdom, agencies often rely on courts to enforce their rules rather than the other way around. The paper provides a detailed examination of the partnership that has developed between civil rights agencies and the federal courts under both Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Spontaneous Compartment Syndrome of the Thigh in the Absence of Trauma

Abstract Background Compartment syndrome occurs when an increase in pressure results in vascular and functional impairment of the underlying nerve and muscles. Thigh compartment syndrome (TCS) is uncommon, but clinical suspicion warrants emergent surgical consultation and fasciotomy. Case Report We present a 42-year-old man evaluated for right lateral thigh pain, without a history of trauma, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), previous surgery, or intravenous drug use. He was febrile, tachycardic, with a mild leukocytosis, an elevated C-reactive protein level, and an elevated creatinine kinase level. Radiographs showed no abnormality and right lower extremity duplex ultrasound showed no DVT. A computed tomography scan of the right lower extremity was concerning for compartment syndrome. Surgical consultation was obtained, and the patient was taken to the operating room for fasciotomy. He was diagnosed with compartment syndrome intraoperatively. The patient was discharged on hospital day 10. Why Should an Emergency Physician be Aware of This? TCS is exceedingly rare, especially in the absence of underlying traumatic and nontraumatic etiologies. The diagnosis is challenging because more elastic fascia with larger space in the thigh allows for accommodation of acute increases in pressure. Consequently, there may not be the expected acute rise in compartment pressures; increased compartment pressure may only be a late sign, when underlying neurovascular damage has already occurred. TCS is complicated by high morbidity and mortality. Emergent surgical consultation should be obtained when there is a high clinical suspicion for TCS, and limb-saving fasciotomy should not be delayed. This case shows the importance of a high level of suspicion for TCS in patients with no identifiable etiology and no historical risk factors for development of compartment syndrome, because TCS may not present with classic symptoms.
Woolhandler and Himmelstein Respond.

The authors discuss the current state of medical care and policy in the U.S. They mention attempts to repeal the U.S. Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA), the challenges to scientific based research and policies, and the need for policies to ease the disparity between the rich and the poor.
Networking in the Early Twenty-First Century

The concept of networking is challenging to define. The online Urban Dictionary describes it as “A yuppie euphemism for kissing ass in order to get a job or obtain a raise or promotion. Regardless of your skills, intelligence, or education, if you are not good at networking you will always earn minimum wage and live in a trailer park.” And it I think it is true that there is definitely a negative connotation to the concept, as if you are an “operator” and trying to maneuver things to your advantage perhaps to the disadvantage of others. But that is not and should not be the case. In fact, when I talk of networking, what you are doing is not selfish, but rather you are helping to improve the environment and possibilities for all people involved: the whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Networking, in my mind, means creating new collaborations for study, new opportunities for discovery, for bringing younger colleagues in the collective and at the same time tapping off the multitude of resources available to more senior individuals. When I speak of networking, I mean taking the steps necessary to initiate and invigorate meaningful connections between people to help advance biomedical science.
Charged particle energy loss radiography for homeland security applications

We discuss an innovative low-dose approach for detecting shielded strategic nuclear materials (SNM) based on measuring the energy-loss of energetic protons penetrating an object.
Endoscopic decompression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel yields similar outcomes but a lower complication rate than open decompression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Importance Cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common peripheral nerve compression syndrome in the USA. There is controversy in the literature regarding the best surgical option. Objective The purpose of this investigation was to perform a systematic review to determine if there is a difference in clinical outcomes or complications between open and endoscopic cubital tunnel release in patients with compression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel. Evidence review A systematic review was registered with PROSPERO and performed using PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, SCOPUS and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for level I–IV therapeutic comparative studies of open versus endoscopic cubital tunnel decompression in adult human patients. The levels of evidence were then assigned based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Study methodological quality was analysed using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score. Only the outcome measurements that 3 or more studies used were included in our data synthesis. Postoperative patient satisfaction, Bishop score, recurrence and complication rates were compared between the endoscopic and open groups using the χ 2 test using p Findings Six articles (507 patients, mean age of 48.2 years, with 28.8 months average follow-up) were analysed. 76.1% of patients were satisfied in the endoscopic group, and 73.8% were satisfied in the open group (p=0.7023). 87.4% of endoscopic patients and 81.2% of open patients had a Bishop score of excellent or good (p=0.236). The endoscopic group had a recurrence rate of 1.1%, and the open group had a 3.5% recurrence rate (p=0.0872). There were significantly fewer complications in the endoscopic group (7.9%) compared to the open group (12.9%) (p Conclusions and relevance Equivalent clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and recurrence rates were observed between open and endoscopic techniques. However, a significantly lower complication rate was observed with the endoscopic technique. Level of evidence Level IV, systematic review of level I–IV studies.
Cadaver dissection videos as an effective lab instruction tool for medical and other graduate level health professional students

Human anatomy laboratory remains to be one of the most challenging courses in medical school. Students are required to perform high quality dissections, even though most of them do not have previou...
Enhancing Students’ Motivation with Autonomy-Supportive Classrooms

Motivation is one of the most important factors that influences how students will approach learning. This chapter introduces the importance of autonomy-supportive classrooms, and why it is important to promote students’ autonomy in learning. First, we describe how students can be motivated to learn from the viewpoint of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the factors that may support students’ motivation in learning. Second, we present five practical guidelines on how to promote student-centered teaching practices that support student’s autonomy: (a) communication of teacher’s expectations and acknowledgement of student’s feelings; (b) provision of more choices and removal of controlling events for learning; (c) student’s active participation; (d) positive and informational feedback, and (e) structured guidance. Finally, the factors negatively contribute to insufficiency of teacher’s autonomy are also examined.
Performance of a Random Glucose Case-Finding Strategy to Detect Undiagnosed Diabetes

Introduction Random glucose Methods In 2015, cross-sectional data from non-fasting adults without diagnosed diabetes or prediabetes (N=7,161) in the 2007–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed. Random glucose and survey data were used to assemble the random glucose, American Diabetes Association (ADA), and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) screening strategies and predict diabetes using hemoglobin A1c criteria. Results Using random glucose ≥100 mg/dL to select individuals for diabetes testing was 81.6% (95% CI=74.9%, 88.4%) sensitive, 78% (95% CI=76.6%, 79.5%) specific and had an area under the receiver operating curve (AROC) of 0.80 (95% CI=0.78, 0.83) to detect undiagnosed diabetes. Overall performance of ADA (AROC=0.59, 95% CI=0.58, 0.60), 2008 USPSTF (AROC=0.62, 95% CI=0.59, 0.65), and 2015 USPSTF (AROC=0.64, 95% CI=0.61, 0.67) guidelines was similar. The random glucose strategy correctly identified one case of undiagnosed diabetes for every 14 people screened, which was more efficient than ADA (number needed to screen, 35), 2008 USPSTF (44), and 2015 USPSTF (32) guidelines. Conclusions Using random glucose ≥100 mg/dL to identify individuals in need of diabetes screening is highly sensitive and specific, performing better than current screening guidelines. Case-finding strategies informed by random glucose data may improve diabetes detection. Further evaluation of this strategy’s effectiveness in real-world clinical practice is needed.
A novel tuned liquid wall damper for multi-hazard mitigation

A structural system consists of gravity and lateral load resisting components. Structural walls in the gravity system are typically designed to resist vertical loads only, and are assumed to be inactive to mitigate lateral loads. In this paper, we propose a novel multifunctional wall system, which is embedded with multiple-capillaries containing free-flowing fluids and can act as both a load carrying member and a Tuned Liquid Wall Damper (TLWD). Functioning similarly to a Tuned Liquid Column Damper (TLCD), the damping force of the proposed wall system is provided by the head loss of the fluid between each capillary. An analytical model is derived first to describe the dynamic behavior of the TLWD. The accuracy of the analytical model is verified using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The model is further used to compute the reduced response of an assumed primary structure attached with a TLWD to demonstrate the damping capability. Results show that TLWDs can effectively dissipate energy while occupying much less space in buildings compared to TLCDs.
An Empirical Analysis of the Effects of the Dodd-Frank Act on Determinants of Credit Ratings

We study the effects of the Dodd-Frank Act (“Dodd-Frank”) on determinants of credit ratings. We predict that the increase in regulatory oversight and litigation risk prompted by Dodd-Frank, as well as requirements for improved disclosures and governance, motivated credit rating agencies (CRAs) to increase the reliance on firm-specific, quantitative fundamental information in determining ratings. We find that the power of firm fundamentals in explaining credit ratings increases significantly after Dodd-Frank. We also show that the association between ratings and certain firm-specific fundamentals is stronger in the post-Dodd-Frank than in the pre-Dodd-Frank period. Furthermore, we find that the greater reliance on firm fundamentals at least partially drives the improvement in credit ratings’ ability to predict future defaults. Collectively, our evidence suggests that Dodd-Frank incentivizes CRAs to use more quantitative information in making rating decisions, which improves credit rating quality.
Diuretic Treatment in Heart Failure

This review discusses current pharmacologic principles of diuretic therapy, integrates data from recent research, and suggests evidence-based approaches to diuretic treatment in patients with heart failure.
The Scope and Effect of Purdah

In public law, the term “purdah” is used to describe the period before an election in which ministers, civil servants, councillors and other officials in the public bodies for which elections are t...