cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interstitial cystitis, chronic nonbacterial prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men: a common and frequently identical clinical entity.

ABSTRACTPurpose: In this ongoing review we characterize interstitial cystitis in men, identifying multiple clinical factors in the diagnosis and treatment of men with interstitial cystitis.Materials and Methods: An ongoing and retrospective chart review of 92 men with interstitial cystitis within our large single specialty practice was performed. Presenting complaints, duration of symptoms, epidemiology, and clinical and physical findings were reviewed.Results: All patients met National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria for the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. Of the patients 83% were white and 17% were American Indians of Cherokee descent. Average patient age at diagnosis was 51 years and average duration of symptoms was 8.8 years. The most commonly reported initial complaints were mild suprapubic discomfort, which rapidly progressed in an average of 21/2 years to severe suprapubic discomfort, severe dysuria and severe urinary frequency. Sexual dysfunction occurred in 6...
Globalization and Higher Education Policy Reform

Documenting and analyzing higher education policy reform trends is difficult to accomplish for any one country, let alone to accomplish on a global level within the limits of a single chapter. I recognize that higher education trends are context-specific and often are tied to the swinging pendulum of political change. Some trends, however, are so significant that they span political boundaries, permeate diverse cultures, and influence both market-leading and market-laggard higher education institutions (HEIs). In this chapter, I outline a number of global higher education trends in the comparative, international, and development education literature. Several case study examples are provided from multiple geographic regions, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Pathophysiology of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a common clinical entity that follows a variable course ranging from mild abdominal pain to multisystem organ failure and death. There are numerous known causes of acute pancreatitis, all of which are thought to precipitate the disease by causing acinar cell injury. Although acinar injury may be a common trigger for pancreatitis, the mechanisms linking causal entities to induction of cellular injury remain unclear. Similar to the variability of clinical presentation, the pattern of pancreatic pathology following injury can manifest in many ways including: simple edema, necrosis, pseudocysts, and abscesses.
Transdiagnostic Motivational Enhancement Therapy to Reduce Treatment Attrition: Use in Emerging Adults☆

Improving outcomes of youth with mental health (MH) needs as they transition into adulthood is of critical public health significance. Effective psychotherapy MH treatment is available, but can be effective only if the emerging adult (EA) attends long enough to benefit. Unfortunately, completion of psychotherapy among EAs is lower than for more mature adults (Edlund et al., 2002; Olfson, Marcus, Druss, & Pincus, 2002). To target the high attrition of EAs in MH treatment, investigators adapted a developmentally appropriate brief intervention aimed at reducing treatment attrition (TA) in psychotherapy and conducted a feasibility study of implementation. The intervention employs motivational interviewing strategies aimed at engaging and retaining EAs in outpatient MH treatment. Motivational enhancement therapy for treatment attrition, or MET-TA, takes only a few sessions at the outset of treatment as an adjunct to usual treatment. Importantly, it can be used for TA with psychotherapy for any MH condition; in other words, it is transdiagnostic. This article presents the first description of MET-TA, along with a case example that demonstrates important characteristics of the approach, and then briefly describes implementation feasibility based on a small pilot randomized controlled trial.
Electronic Analog Computers for Laminar Flow Problems

Simple technique is presented for use of electronic analog computer to determine velocity distributions in both steady and unsteady uniform laminar flow problems; 3 specific examples are given, and comparison of computer solutions with theoretical solutions indicates satisfactory accuracy of technique.
RECUPERATING THE LM2500 GAS TURBINE

The LM2500 Gas Turbine is a reliable simple cycle gas turbine that has been in US Navy service for more than 15 years. For a simple cycle gas turbine its design point fuel efficiency is quite good, approximately 0.400 (lb/hp-hr) at 26,250 BHP under US Navy rating conditions. Off design it is not quite as efficient, although its efficiency does not start to degrade significantly until operation below 10,000 BHP is reached. Operational experience with the LM2500 gas turbine in the US Navy has shown that at least 90% of its operational life will be spent at horsepowers that are less than 10,000. Therefore, in an effort to increase the range and the ability to remain on station of LM2500 powered US Navy ships, methods to improve the LM2500’s low power fuel efficiency were investigated. One area that had been discounted in the past was recuperating the LM2500. On the surface recuperating the LM2500 does not appear to provide much. The primary reason for this is that the design point compressor discharge temperature is within 200 degrees F of the gas turbine exhaust temperature. But off-design the situation changes, particularly if variable area turbine nozzles (VATNs) are introduced to maintain cycle temperatures. This paper will discuss the initial concept design process that was performed by the gas turbine division in the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the activity that is responsible for ship design in the US Navy. This will include the initial assumptions and the gas turbine cycle modeling that was undertaken to determine the potential benefits of recuperating the LM2500. Based on the success of these preliminary efforts, General Electric Company was then tasked to help perform additional cycle analysis. GE, working together with NAVSEA, proceeded to determine the optimum configuration of a Recuperated LM2500 (or LM2500-R). The guiding philosophy behind this effort is “maximum gain with minimal change.” The direction of this effort was to provide a cost effective, retrofitable package, in a reasonable amount of time, to upgrade the LM2500 for improved low power fuel efficiency.Copyright © 1993 by ASME
A peak shift resulting from a chained reinforcement schedule

Ten pigeons were given VI 2-min single-stimulus training and then were switched to a chain VI hmin VI 1-min schedule. For half of the Ss, the original training stimulus became the stimulus closest to primary reinforcement (S1) and a new stimulus became the stimulus farthest from primary reinforcement (S2). For the other Ss, the training stimulus became S2 and the new stimulus became S2. After 51/2h of training on the chained schedule, a generalization test in extinction revealed peak shifts away from S2 beyond S1 in both groups.
The Committee Function: An Influence Equation *

In legislative systems a bill is commonly considered and reported by an appropriate committee before it is considered (with a simple majority required for passage) on the floor of the house. Since motions on the floor (amendments et al.) frequently relate to bills, when speaking of a motion it is often apposite to refer to the relevant committee. With respect to a given motion and its relevant committee, the extent of committee agreement on the floor is obviously consequential. There exists a substantial volume of folklore on this point, particularly related to the special case of committee unanimity,' but for precision and generality, a mathematical relationship between the relevant committee's divisions on the floor and a motion's probability of passing (or not passing) is preferable. The purpose of this note is to present such a mathematical model. A first approximation, a linear function in one variable is easily extracted from the data in Table 1: If P = probability of passing = f (x) where x = proportion of relevant committee voting yea, then f(x) = 0 when 0 < x < 0.2 and f(x) = 1 when 0.8 < x < 1 are obvious albeit incomplete conjectures; a straight line extrapolation for the remainder of the curve yields f(x) = 5x/3 1/3 when 0.2 < x < 0.8. This function yields the theoretical values given in the fourth column of Table 1. The function f(x) is a respectable approximation, as a comparison of the third and fourth columns of Table 1 nicely shows. However, although continuous, that function is not a smooth function-specifically, the function f(x) lacks tangents at the points f(0.2) = 0 and f(0.8) = 1. Mathematically speaking, a function with de-
The American Board of Veterinary Toxicology

The American Board of Veterianry Toxicology was established to further the educational and scientific progress in this specialty of veterinary medicine, and to encourage education, training, and research in veterinary toxicology. The board was also established to maintain the highest possible standards of training and experience for specialists who would qualify in veterinary toxicology--and as a result to provide recognition for such qualified specialists by suitable certification and by other means. The American Board of Veterinary Toxicology was established as a speciality by the American Veterinary Medical Association and received provisional approval in 1967. Subsequently, the board has received full approval of the Committee on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association and is a fully recognized speciality of veterinary medicine.
The Supreme Court of Canada and the Right to Bargain Collectively in Canada and Beyond

In June 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada expressly overruled twenty years of jurisprudence that interpreted the freedom of association as excluding collective bargaining. This about face by the Supreme Court was unexpected. What gave rise to this remarkable decision and what does it portend for the role of the courts in labour relations in Canada and beyond? The recent successes before courts have led some observers to suggest that it may now be a propitious time for a co-ordinated and proactive litigation strategy to vindicate labour's collective rights. This article offers some preliminary answers to these broader questions and issues by focussing on the Supreme Court's decision in the Health Services and Support case.
Dried distillers grains with solubles as a multifunctional filler in low density wood particleboards

Abstract In recent years, corn has been widely used to produce ethanol. Roughly for every 25.4 kg of corn processed, 8.16 kg of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and 11 l of ethanol are produced. The amount of DDGS produced is steadily increasing since 1990 with 35 million metric tonnes produced in 2012. DDGS has been investigated for its use as a functional filler in low density wood particleboards bonded with 10 wt.% (wt.%) Melamine Urea Formaldehyde and 10 wt.% AW-50 paraffin wax emulsion for water resistance. Both the concentration of the DDGS filler – 5, 10, and 15 wt.% – and the particle size of the filler – 125, 300, and 500 μm – has been considered in this experiment. It was presumed that the additional protein and fats in the lignocellulosic DDGS would increase the mechanical strength and the water resistance of the particleboards. Chemical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, transform infrared spectroscopy, and 13C NMR were used to analyze the DDGS filler. The analysis showed that the chemical composition of DDGS was not altered by micronization. A variety of mechanical tests were performed following ASTM D1037 including flexural, internal bond, screw withdrawal, and water absorption. The results show that at concentrations of 5 wt.% DDGS with particles of 500 μm produced superior properties compared to the control panel from the water absorption, flexural, and internal bond tests. The screw withdrawal test produced equivalent properties to the control. This work demonstrates that DDGS can be used as multifunctional filler in particleboards.
Durability of measured mitral annuloplasty Seventeen-year study

This report describes the technique and results of measured mitral annuloplasty performed in 196 patients having isolated mitral valve disease during the 17 years between January, 1961, and January, 1978. These patients represent 35% of all of those operated upon for isolated mitral valve disease during this period. Ages ranged from 3 to 70 years. Annuloplasty was performed in 115 patients and both commissurotomy and annuloplasty in another 81 patients. The operative mortality rate was 4.5% and the late mortality rate 8.7%. There were six arterial embolic episodes during the 17 years. Reoperation was required in 8% with another repair of the valve being possible in one third of them. This study suggests that measured repair of mitral regurgitation resulted in lower operative mortality, late mortality, and incidence of embolization when contrasted with mitral valve replacement. This operation appears to be the preferred procedure for certain subsets of patients (1) who require operation during infancy or childhood, including during active carditis; (2) who require operation during the childbearing age; and (3) in whom anticoagulation poses a severe threat to life or quality of life.
Solution of Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous Linear Equations

Although we are concerned primarily with equations (differential and difference) of first and second order, the analysis of these equations applies equally to equations of higher order. The methods for dealing with these equations is in fact best elucidated by considering the nth order equations and then giving the results for the first and second order equations as specific examples. We first present the analysis for differential equations and then follow with the analysis for difference equations .
An Imaging System for C. elegans Behavior

Many experiments in C. elegans neurobiology and development benefit from automated imaging of worm behavior. Here we describe procedures for building a flexible and inexpensive imaging system using standard optical and mechanical components.
SU-F-T-426: Measurement of Dose Enhancement Due to Backscatter From Modern Dental Materials

Purpose: High-density materials used in dental restoration can cause significant localized dose enhancement due to electron backscatter in head-and-neck radiotherapy, increasing the risk of mucositis. The materials used in prosthetic dentistry have evolved in the last decades from metal alloys to ceramics. We aim to determine the dose enhancement caused by backscatter from currently-used dental materials. Methods: Measurements were performed for three different dental materials: lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), and gold alloy. Small thin squares (2×2×0.15 cm3) of the material were fabricated, and placed into a phantom composed of tissue-equivalent material. The phantom was irradiated with a single 6 MV photon field. A thin-window parallel-plate ion chamber was used to measure the dose at varying distances from the proximal interface between the material and the plastic. Results: The dose enhancement at the interface between the high-density and tissue-equivalent materials, relative to a homogeneous phantom, was 54% for the gold alloy, 31% for ZrO2, and 9% for Li2Si2O5. This enhancement decreased rapidly with distance from the interface, falling to 11%, 5%, and 0.5%, respectively, 2 mm from the interface. Comparisons with the modeling of this effect in treatment planning systems are performed. Conclusion: While dose enhancement due to dental restoration is smaller with ceramic materials than with metal alloys, it can still be significant. A spacer of about 2–3 mm would be effective in reducing this enhancement, even for metal alloys.
Some Future Directions for Work-Family Research in a Global World

Since 2005 the International Center for Work and Family (ICWF) has hosted a biennial conference that has brought together work and family scholars from across the globe. These conferences have produced a wellspring of ideas and nurtured the development of many productive research collaborations. The papers represented in this volume help demonstrate the diversity of ideas that have been fertilized through these conferences. Collectively they make an important contribution to the work-family literature.
Electrophysiology Study: Indications and Interpretations

The electrophysiology study is central to the field of cardiac electrophysiology. This chapter begins by describing maneuvers performed in a basic electrophysiology study. Indications for an electrophysiology study are then discussed. They include (1) evaluation of syncope, (2) diagnosis of an arrhythmia, (3) evaluation of patients with Wolff–Parkinson–White, and (4) risk stratification of sudden cardiac death. The role of EP studies in non-ischemic cardiomyopathies is also addressed.
Association of bone marrow plasma cell infiltration pre-auto transplant with adverse outcomes in multiple myeloma.

8102 Background: Auto-stem cell transplantation (SCT) has become the standard of care for eligible patients (pts) with multiple myeloma (MM). However, the impact of bone marrow (BM) plasma cell (PC...
Parallel implementation of bisection for the calculation of eigenvalues of tridiagonal symmetric matrices.

Kuck and Sameh [9], Huang [8], and Wallach [10] have investigated parallel implementations of Givens' bisection algorithm [4, 5]. On a MIMD (multiple instruction stream — multiple data stream) machine one could apply parallelism on any or all of three levels: within each Sturm sequence calculation, within each individual bisection, or on the outer level assigning intervals to be searched. We show that allocating bisections to individual processors on the outer level is more effective than having processors share the work of a bisection when the number of processors is smaller than the number of eigenvalues to be found.
Structural basis for ligand regulation of the fatty acid-binding protein 5, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (FABP5-PPARβ/δ) signaling pathway.

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are a widely expressed group of calycins that play a well established role in solubilizing cellular fatty acids. Recent studies, however, have recast FABPs as active participants in vital lipid-signaling pathways. FABP5, like its family members, displays a promiscuous ligand binding profile, capable of interacting with numerous long chain fatty acids of varying degrees of saturation. Certain “activating” fatty acids induce the protein's cytoplasmic to nuclear translocation, stimulating PPARβ/δ transactivation; however, the rules that govern this process remain unknown. Using a range of structural and biochemical techniques, we show that both linoleic and arachidonic acid elicit FABP5's translocation by permitting allosteric communication between the ligand-sensing β2 loop and a tertiary nuclear localization signal within the α-helical cap of the protein. Furthermore, we show that more saturated, nonactivating fatty acids inhibit nuclear localization signal formation by destabilizing this activation loop, thus implicating FABP5 specifically in cis-bonded, polyunsaturated fatty acid signaling.
Strategic Framework—Build Your Brand

I was flying home from Madrid to Newark on British Air in the summer of 2000. I had just spent a week reviewing the financial books, records, and projections of Telefonica, S.A. a Spanish multinational broadband and telecommunications provider. I was writing up some notes as I was formulating my opinion on whether Telcordia Technologies should acquire the company.
Path Planning of Free Floating Prismatic-Jointed Manipulators

Reaching a desired position with a specific orientationin space by a robot, mounted on a freely floating base, is an importantpath planning and control problem. Research in this area has mainlyconcentrated on the use of revolute-jointed serial manipulators. It iswell known that the dynamic equations of such manipulators are quitecomplex. In this paper, we propose the use of a 6-link fully prismatic-jointedrobot to achieve a desired position and orientation in space instead of arevolute-jointed robot. The use of pure prismatic-jointed robots forsuch a purpose is counter intuitive. On earth, such a structure is unableto provide a desired orientation to the end-effector. However, it can beshown that in space, arbitrary end-effector orientations are possible.Due to the relative simplicity of kinematics, dynamics and workspace ofprismatic-jointed robots compared to revolute-jointed robots, their useresults in significant computational advantages in path planning andcontrol. Also, in this paper, we adopt an unconventional motion planning methodthat avoids inversion of the Jacobian matrix and results in singularityfree paths for the end-effector. In this method, the joint trajectoriesare considered to be modal sums of basis functions of time. Within this framework, constraints on jointangles and joint rates can be imposed. The results are demonstratedwith an example of a 6-link fully prismatic-jointed robot.
Academic Governance: Disciplines and Policy

1. Governing Academia 2. Research policy 3. Disciplinary cultures 4. Individual inclinations 5. Examining academic governance 6. Academic collaboration 7. Discussion networks 8. Research assessment systems 9. From academic work to research outputs 10. Academic governance
Rational Versus Sociological Reductionism: Imre Lakatos and the Edinburgh School

The publication of Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions initiated a new era in history, philosophy, and sociology of science. Its influence on history of science, though pervasive, has been indirect. The model of scientific development expounded in Structure has never been fully applied (not even by Kuhn himself) for elucidating a past scientific episode.1 On the other hand, by indicating that the very content of scientific knowledge is amenable to sociological analysis, it had a significant effect on sociology of science and thus indirectly on history of science. Given the well-known and profound transformation that Kuhn’s work effected in our philosophical understanding of the nature of scientific knowledge and its considerable effect on sociology of science, its indirect influence on history of science should not be underestimated. Two recent historiographical research programs, Imre Lakatos’s Methodology of Scientific Research Programs and the ‘strong program in the sociology of science’ associated with a group of sociologists in the University of Edinburgh, emerged in an attempt to respond to or develop certain aspects of The Structure. Their aim was to reconstruct past scientific episodes either, as in Lakatos’s case, in the light of a philosophical theory of scientific rationality, or, as in the strong program’s, in the light of a sociological theory of scientific practice. Since both programs were considerably influenced by Kuhn and, as I will argue below, were reductionist in that they aimed at reducing historical explanation to a rational or sociological core, it is instructive to make a comparative evaluation of them.
Lessons from Ten Years of TEAC's Accrediting Activity.

Founded in 199 , the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) designed a system that balances three sources of evidence in a single accreditation system: (a) that the program’s graduates are qualified, competent, and caring beginning teachers; (b) that the program faculty investigates the factors that improve program quality; and (c) that theprogramhas the capacity for continuousprogramimprovement. One aspect of the third factor is whether that program is offered by a regionally accredited institution andwhether the institution is committed to the program (Murray, 2005).1 In other words, TEAC asks that programs make systematic inquiries into what their graduates know and can do and uses the evidence that they obtain to assess and improve the effectiveness of the program. TEAC’s system was recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation in 2001 and subsequently by the U.S. Department of Education in 2003 and2005. TheCouncil has 200 institutionalmembers and has accredited 100 teacher education programs in over 15 states. TEAC’s assumption is that the evidence that the program actually
Learned Templates for Minutiae Extraction

Generally, image quality has a significant effect on gray-level features. Structural features, such as Core and Delta (Figure 1.5), can only be used to classify fingerprints into four or five classes. The most commonly used features in fingerprint recognition are minutiae (Figure 1.5). This representation reduces fingerprint recognition problem to a point matching problem. The key problem with this representation is that there is no reliable minutiae-based feature extraction algorithm. Figure 2.1 shows a block diagram of a minutiae-based feature extraction procedure, which is widely used in most fingerprint recognition systems.
On the real part of ultraflat sequences of unimodular polynomials: Consequences implied by the resolution of the phase problem

Let P n (z)=∑ k=0 n a k,n z k ℂ[z] be a sequence of unimodular polynomials (|a k,n |=1 for all k, n) which is ultraflat in the sense of Kahane, i.e., We prove the following conjecture of Queffelec and Saffari, see (1.30) in [QS2]. If q(0,∞) and (P n ) is an ultraflat sequence of unimodular polynomials P n of degree n, then for f n (t):=Re(P n (e it )) we have and where Γ denotes the usual gamma function, and the ∼ symbol means that the ratio of the left and right hand sides converges to 1 as . To this end we use results from [Er1] where we studied the structure of ultraflat polynomials and proved several conjectures of Queffelec and Saffari.
Venous Access in the Management of Malignant Lymphoma

There have been rapid advances in the therapy of children with cancer. The use of tunnelled right atrial catheters has simplified the management of these cancers. Placement techniques, choice of device, management, and complications are outlined. Emphasis is also placed on the timing of insertion and the absolute neutrophil count.
Analysis of Influence Factors on Power Delivery Capability and Efficiency in Capacitive-Coupled WPT

this paper analyzes the impact factors on power delivery capability and efficiency in switch-inductor-inductor-diode (SLLD) capacitive-coupled wireless power transfer (C-WPT). A new varying resonant frequency (VRF) control is introduced to improve output voltage level and power delivery over the performance of a traditional fixed resonant frequency (FRF) control. Also, it is proven that using high dielectric material as insulation material for the capacitive coupling can provide high power delivery and efficiency over a wide range of distance in C- WPT applications. These results were verified by simulation studies and experimental tests on a hardware testbed.
In Keeping with Family Tradition: American Second-Wave Feminists and the Social Construction of Political Legacies

Through an interpretive lens that borrows from feminist postmodernist perspectives on identity and cognitive sociology, the manuscript utilizes in-depth interview data from 33 women active in the American second-wave feminist movement to explore how aging feminist activists construct their current political identities in relation to the meanings they give to the perceived progressive political identities and actions of their elders. In particular, this study examines the discursive strategies that respondents engage as they link their own feminist consciousness directly or indirectly to feminist, or otherwise progressive, parents and grandparents. Findings reveal three distinct political legacy narratives, namely 1) explicit transmission origin stories; 2) bridge narratives; and 3) paradox plots that add to both the social movement literature on the symbolic dimensions of recruitment, sustainability, and spillover, as well as cognitive sociological literature on the cultural transmission of political capital, in general, and to our understanding of American second-wave activists, more specifically.
Ultrasound in hip pain - What else to look for

When investigating hip pain it is important to have a symptomatic approach. Infants are generally not able to be specific about where their pain is originating from and they are unreliable historians. Signs of hip pathology include not weight bearing, walking with a limp and reduced joint movement. The most common cause of hip pain is transient synovitis which may occur following viral infection, allergic reaction or trauma, but is usually of unknown aetiology. Other pathologies to consider are haemarthrosis, septic arthritis, Perthes disease, slipped capital femoral epiphysis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Ultrasound scanning of the hip is best achieved from the anterior approach to assess the synovial capsule. Comparison views are very useful. In the event that the hip joint is normal it is important to remember that there are many other causes of hip symptoms and that any pathological process that involves one of the muscles that control the hip joint may present with signs and /or symptoms suggestive of hip joint disease. Possible pathologies include myositis, bleed, abscess tumour and avulsion. In the absence of primary hip or surrounding muscle pathology the examination should be extended to look for other disease processes which may explain the signs because of their secondary effects on muscles. Such pathologies include appendicitis, pelvic pathology, pyelonephritis, discitis, osteomyelitis, lymphadenopathy or tumour. In the toddler age group two additional diagnoses should be considered, a lower limb fracture and neuroblastoma with secondary involvement of the hip joint. In summary, remember that not all hip pain or hip symptoms relate to the joint itself. All of these can be diagnosed at the time of a hip ultrasound if a symptomatic approach is used, thereby expediting diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
ASM-Clust: classifying functionally diverse protein families using alignment score matrices

Rapid advances in sequencing technology have resulted in the availability of genomes from organisms across the tree of life. Accurately interpreting the function of proteins in these genomes is a major challenge, as annotation transfer based on homology frequently results in misannotation and error propagation. This challenge is especially pressing for organisms whose genomes are directly obtained from environmental samples, as interpretation of their physiology and ecology is often based solely on the genome sequence. For complex protein (super)families containing a large number of sequences, classification can be used to determine whether annotation transfer is appropriate, or whether experimental evidence for function is lacking. Here we present a novel computational approach for de novo classification of large protein (super)families, based on clustering an alignment score matrix obtained by aligning all sequences in the family to a small subset of the data. We evaluate our approach on the enolase family in the Structure Function Linkage Database.
Effect of Manufacturing Variables and Raw Materials on the Composition-Equivalent PLGA Microspheres for 1-Month Controlled Release of Leuprolide

The 1-month Lupron Depot (LD) is a 75/25 acid-capped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microsphere product encapsulating water-soluble leuprolide acetate with no generic products available in the U.S. Composition-equivalent PLGA microsphere formulations to the LD as a function of raw material and manufacturing variables were developed by using the solvent evaporation encapsulation method. The following variables were adjusted: polymer supplier/polymerization type, gelatin supplier/bloom number, polymer concentration, first homogenization speed and time, volume of primary water phase, second homogenization time, volume of secondary water phase, and stirring rate. The loading and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of leuprolide and gelatin were determined to identify a large number of composition-equivalent formulations within a ±10% specification of the LD. Key physical-chemical properties of the formulations (e.g., morphology, particle size distribution, glass transition temperature (Tg), residual moisture and solvent, and porosity) were characterized to determine the effect of manufacturing variables on the product attributes. The EE of gelatin across all formulations prepared (101 ± 1%) was observed to be much higher than the EE of leuprolide (57 ± 1%). Judicious adjustment of polymer concentration, second homogenization time, and volume of second water phase was key to achieving high EE of leuprolide, although EE higher than 70% was not easily achievable owing to the difficulty of emulsifying highly viscous primary emulsion into homogeneous small droplets that could prevent peptide loss during the second homogenization under the conditions and equipment used. The in vitro release kinetics of the formulations was highly similar to the LD in a zero-order manner after ∼20% initial burst release, indicating a critical role of the composition on peptide release in this formulation. The characterization of composition-equivalent formulations described here could be useful for further development of generic leuprolide PLGA microspheres and for guiding decisions on the influence of process variables on product physicochemical attributes and release performance.
Knowledge evaluation instruments for dementia caregiver education programs: A scoping review.

With the increase in our older adult population, there is a need for dementia training for informal and formal dementia caregivers. The objective of this scoping study is to assess dementia knowledge instruments utilized in educational programs and interventions intended for formal and informal dementia caregivers. Scoping review methodology was used to search PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Web of Science with tailored database search terms. The search yielded 8101 results, with 35 studies meeting inclusion. Studies were conducted in eight countries, had varying study designs (randomized controlled trials [RCTs] = 9, non-RCTs = 6, one-group study design = 20) and utilized previously published (19) and author developed (16) instruments. Furthermore, the studies were internationally diverse, conducted in the United States (n = 18), Australia (n = 7), UK (n = 3), China (n = 2), Canada (n = 2), Taiwan (n = 1), Brazil (n = 1) and multi-country (n = 1). Only two studies focused on minority populations. While author-developed instruments may be more relevant and timesaving, studies should strive to validate instruments or use previously published instruments to help standardize findings across studies and understand better the effects of educational programs on caregiver knowledge. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 397-413.
Childhood Origins of Adult Lung Disease as Opportunities for Prevention

Prenatal and childhood exposures have been shown to impact lung development, lung function trajectory, and incidence and prevalence of respiratory disease. Early life may serve as a window of susceptibility to such exposures, with the potential to influence lifelong respiratory health. Risk factors encountered in early life with potentially durable impact on lung health include prematurity, respiratory viral illness, allergen sensitization and exposure, tobacco use and exposure, indoor and outdoor pollution, diet, and obesity. These exposures vary in the extent to which they are modifiable, and interventions aimed at reducing harmful exposures range from individual-level behavior modification to policy initiatives implemented to promote population health. For many exposures, including tobacco-related exposures, multilevel interventions are needed. Future research is needed to provide insight as to early-life interventions to promote optimal lung growth and prevent development of chronic respiratory disease. Clinicians should play an active role, assisting individual patients in avoiding known detrimental exposures including maternal smoking during pregnancy and initiation of active smoking. Clinicians can be empowered by evidence to support policies promoting reduction of population-level risk factors, such as restriction on electronic cigarette sales and legislation to uphold air quality standards, to encourage attainment of maximal lung function and reduce risk of chronic lung disease.
Metrics and Methods for Evaluating Learning Outcomes and Learner Interactions in Robotics-Enabled STEM Education

This paper attempts to develop the metrics and methods for evaluating the learning outcomes and interactions of learners with robotic devices in robotics-enabled STEM education. For the learning outcomes, a survey was conducted with 20 middle school math and science teachers who received training on how to design, develop and implement roboticsenabled STEM lessons. Each teacher had also experience of implementing robot-enabled STEM lessons in actual classroom environment. The participating teachers responded the survey based on their training, classroom experience and observations, and self-brainstorming. The survey responses were then analyzed and the appropriate and comprehensive assessment metrics and methods for the learning outcomes of students were determined. The results showed that the expected learning outcomes were related not only to the educational gains, but also to the improvements in the behavioral, social, scientific, cognitive and intellectual aptitudes of students (learners). Validation and generalization procedures of the developed assessment metrics and methods were discussed. For the learner interactions, investigations were made when selected engineering students were learning fundamental mechanical engineering concepts using a specially designed robotic platform. Based on survey and observations, a set of criteria as well as their assessment methods were proposed that can be used to evaluate appropriate interactions between learners and learning tools (robotics devices) while learners learn with the learning tools. The proposed evaluation schemes can significantly justify the benefits and advantages of robot-enabled STEM education, benchmark the outcomes, ensure appropriate interactions between learners and learning devices, help improve preparations of instructors and teaching institutions, motivate education decision-makers to confer on robot-enabled STEM education and curricula development, and thus can promote the overall robot-enabled STEM education practices in K-16 education.
Strategies for Using a Spatial Method to Promote Active Learning of Probability Concepts

We developed and tested strategies for using spatial representations to help students understand core probability concepts, including the multiplication rule for computing a joint probability from ...
Generalized Technique for Radiation Pattern Modeling of Multibeam Conformal Patch Array Antennas

This paper introduces a novel technique for rapid design and analysis of a class of multibeam conformal patch array antennas. The construction of the two 9-GHz circular conformal arrays is briefly discussed. A new radiator modelling technique is presented and applied for precision prediction of the total radiated field in the H-plane, and comparisons between the cavity model [1], the newly proposed model, and measurements are discussed.
Association Between Radiological and Patient-Reported Outcomes

Abstract Restoration of the main radiographic distal radial parameters has long been a focus of treatment in closed versus open management of distal radial fractures. Commonly used radiographic predictors for assessing adequate anatomic restoration include radial inclination, sagittal tilt (dorsal and volar), radial shortening, as well as intraarticular incongruity. In review of the literature, radial height and articular incongruity have the most significant effect on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). In particular, radial height less than 5–6 mm and articular incongruity > 2 mm is predictive of worse PROMs. Radial inclination and sagittal tilt, while important to restore do not impact PROMs as significantly.
Tocilizumab is safe and tolerable and reduces C-reactive protein concentrations in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of ALS patients

Introduction/aims We tested safety, tolerability, and target engagement of tocilizumab in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods Twenty-two participants, whose peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression profile reflected high messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of inflammatory markers, were randomized 2:1 to 3 tocilizumab or placebo treatments (weeks 0, 4, and 8; 8 mg/kg intravenous). Participants were followed every 4 weeks in a double-blind fashion for 16 weeks and assessed for safety, tolerability, plasma inflammatory markers, and clinical measures. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected at baseline and after the third treatment. Participants were genotyped for Asp358 Ala polymorphism of the IL6R gene. Results Baseline characteristics, safety, and tolerability were similar between treatment groups. One serious adverse event was reported in the placebo group; no deaths occurred. Mean plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) level decreased by 88% in the tocilizumab group and increased by 4% in the placebo group (-3.0-fold relative change, P Discussion Tocilizumab treatment was safe and well tolerated. PBMC gene expression profile was inadequate as a predictive or pharmacodynamic biomarker. Treatment reduced CRP levels in plasma and CSF, with CSF effects potentially dependent on IL6R Asp358 Ala genotype. IL-6 trans-signaling may mediate a distinct central nervous system response in individuals inheriting the IL6R C allele. These results warrant further study in ALS patients where IL6R genotype and CRP levels may be useful enrichment biomarkers. Classification of evidence This study provides Class I evidence that tocilizumab therapy is safe and well tolerated in ALS patients with high mRNA expression of inflammatory markers. Clinical trial registration Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02469896). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Purification, properties, and a possible mechanism for pyridoxal kinase from bovine brain.

Abstract Pyridoxal kinase catalyzes the formation of pyridoxal phosphate, a coenzyme required for many metabolic reactions. A 2000-fold purification of the enzyme from bovine brain has been achieved by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 9.5 and 7.5 indicates that the final product is 70 to 75% homogeneous. From sedimentation equilibrium analysis, the highly purified preparation appears to be monodisperse, and a molecular weight estimate of 80,000 has been made. A sharp pH optimum at pH 6.0 has been observed. Of the divalent metal ions studied, Zn+2 is the most effective in catalyzing the formation of pyridoxal phosphate from ATP and pyridoxal; the order of activation is Zn+2 g Co+2 g Mn+2 g Mg+2 g Fe+2. The stability constants for ZnHATP- and ZnATP-2 have been obtained at 0.3 ionic strength and 25° in the absence of Na+ or K+ by the pH titration method. The values are 1050 m-1 for ZnHATP- and 195,000 m-1 for ZnATP-2. An initial velocity study using pyridoxal as the variable substrate and ZnATP-2 as the fixed substrate gave a family of lines intersecting to the left of the vertical axis. Such an intersecting pattern is compatible with a sequential mechanism in which both pyridoxal and ZnATP-2 must add to the enzyme before pyridoxal phosphate or ADP is released.
Strong pathwise solutions of the stochastic Navier-Stokes system

We consider the stochastic Navier-Stokes equations forced by a multiplicative white noise on a bounded domain in space dimensions two and three. We establish the local existence and uniqueness of strong or pathwise solutions when the initial data takes values in $H^1$. In the two-dimensional case, we show that these solutions exist for all time. The proof is based on finite-dimensional approximations, decomposition into high and low modes and pairwise comparison techniques.
Experimental design: statistical considerations and analysis

In this chapter, information on how field experiments in invertebrate pathology are designed and the data collected, analyzed, and interpreted is presented. The approach will be to present this information in a step-by-step fashion that, hopefully, will emphasize the logical framework for designing and analyzing experiments. The practical and statistical issues that need to be considered along the way and the rationale and assumptions behind different designs or procedures will be given, rather than the nuts-andbolts of specific types of analysis.
Numerical Study of a Scramjet Engine Flowfield

A computer program has been developed to analyze the turbulent reacting flow field in a two-dimensional scramjet engine configuration. The program numerically solves the full two-dimensional Navier-Stokes and species equations in the engine inlet and combustor, allowing consideration of flow separation and possible inlet-combustor interactions. The current work represents an intermediate step towards development of a three-dimensional program to analyze actual scramjet engine flow fields. Results from the current program are presented that predict the flow field for two inlet-combustor configurations, and comparisons of the program with experiment are given to allow assessment of the modeling that is employed.
Evolução ponderal na gravidez, preditores e consequências: Estudo retrospetivo

Objectives: To assess weight gain in pregnancy and to test the associations between weight gain in pregnancy and the mode of delivery, parity, obstetric complications and birth weight of the newborn. Study design: Historical cohort study. Setting: Vagos Health Center, ACES Baixo Vouga II, Portugal. Participants: Pregnant women followed in the health center. Methods: The study sample was composed of women who were pregnant between 2003 and 2010. The variables studied were age, parity, body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, type of delivery, obstetric complications and the birth weight of the newborn. For statistical analysis we used the Chi-Square Test, ANOVA and Least Significant Difference. Results: We studied 495 women with a mean age of 27 years. At the beginning of pregnancy 35% had a BMI >= 25 and 46% had excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Women with excessive weight gain in pregnancy had a higher mean pre-pregnancy BMI than women with adequate weight gain or weight gain lower than recommended (p >= 0,001). The children of mothers with excessive weight gain had significantly higher birth weights than other newborns (p = 0.024). There was no association between weight gain and the type of delivery, obstetric complications or parity. Conclusions: About one third of women were overweight or obese at the beginning of pregnancy. Most women had excessive weight gain for their BMI. Women with a higher pre-pregnancy BMI were more likely to have excessive weight gain in pregnancy and heavier babies. Studies are required to validate recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy for the Portuguese population.