cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liquid Retention and Interfacial Area in Variably Saturated Porous Media: Upscaling from Single Pore to Sample Scale Model

A new model for liquid configuration in angular pore space considering both capillary and adsorptive contributions was proposed as an alternative to the conventional bundle of capillaries representation. In this study we develop a statistical framework for upscaling pore-scale processes to represent a sample-scale response of variably saturated porous medium. The representation of pore size distribution by the gamma distribution enables derivation of closed-form expressions for sample-scale liquid retention and liquid-vapor interfacial area. The statistical framework calculates the expected values of liquid configuration as a function of pore geometry and chemical potential considerations. Media properties are used to estimate upscaling parameters by matching model predictions with measured retention data subject to specific surface area constraint. Additionally, a method for estimating liquid-solid adsorption behavior for the medium is proposed. Model predictions compare favorably with measured retention data, yielding a similar close fit as obtained with the van Genuchten parametric model. Liquid-vapor interfacial area as a function of chemical potential is readily calculated using the estimated retention parameters. Model calculations of liquid-vapor interfacial area for sand show reasonable agreement with measurements obtained with surface-active tracers. The contribution of liquid films dominates the total liquid-vapor interfacial area and often surpasses the capillary contribution (curved menisci) by several orders of magnitude. This illustrates potential limitations in using cylindrical pore network modeling of interfacial area for multiphase flow predictions. The detailed picture of liquid vapor interfaces provides a sound basis for unsaturated hydraulic conductivity calculations in the sample cross section (i.e., neglecting network effects) and offers insights into microbial habitats and related exchange processes in partially saturated porous media.
Image interpretation using contextual feedback

We present a methodology for scene analysis using contextual feedback and demonstrate the approach in a simple example. In our approach, we combine bottom-up and top-down decision making into a systematic mechanism. From feedback of high-level descriptions, the system iteratively arrives at improved identification. The implementation uses OINNs (optimal interpolative neural networks) to determine plausibility and enforce constraints in label assignments. The proposed method can be extended for the analysis of more complex scenes.
Hormonal control of bone collagen synthesis in vitro: effects of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin.

The effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on bone collagen synthesis were assessed in organ cultures of fetal rat calvaria by measuring the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagenase-digestible (CDP) and non-collagen protein (NCP) using purified bacterial collagenase. 1) PTH decreased the incorporation of labeled proline into CDP at concentrations similar to those which stimulate bone resorption in vitro. 2) This effect was observed in bones treated for 6 h, but not for 3 h; it was maximal at 24 h and was maintained for 96 h. Bones treated with PTH for 48 h and transferred to control media for 48 h showed recovery of CDP labeling to control values. 3) the effect was specific for bone collagen. There was little alteration in the incorporation of proline into NCP, and incorporation into collagen was not inhibited. 4) The effect could be ascribed to decreased collagen synthesis and not to changes in amino acid uptake, precursor pool size, or degradation of newly synthesized CDP. In 3 hour experiments, PTH did increase the labeling of CDP and NCP, but only at tracer concentration of proline in the medium, compatible with an early stimulation of amino acid uptake. 5) Similar inhibition was observed with purified bovine (1-84) PTH and synthetic bovine PTH (1-34) as well as with crude homologous PTH obtained from rat parathyroid gland culture fluid. Human (hCT) and salmon (sCT) calcitonin did not inhibit the effect of PTH on the labeling of CDP nor did they stimulate CDP labeling directly at concentrations which inhibited bone resorption. Dibutyryl cyclic-3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (D3cAMP) inhibited labeling of CDP at concentrations of .03 to .3 mM, thus mimicking the action of PTH. However, in this system DBcAMP inhibited 45Ca release, thus mimicking CT. We conclude that the direct effect of PTH on bone collagen synthesis is a slow reversible inhibition, not opposed by CT. This effect may be mediated by cAMP formation in bone cells.
Glucocorticoid Enhances Transforming Growth Factor-β Effects on Extracellular Matrix Protein Expression in Human Placental Mesenchymal Cells

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins synthesized by human placental mesenchymal cells (PMCs) provide structural support for the villus. Aberrant expression of ECM proteins by PMCs has been associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). To provide insight into the mechanisms of ECM protein regulation in the stroma of the placental villus, in the current study, we examined the interaction of glucocorticoid (GC) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) in the modulation of ECM proteins in cultures of PMCs isolated from human term placentas. Initial results obtained by ELISA showed that combined treatment with dexamethasone (DEX) and TGFbeta enhanced oncofetal fibronectin (FFN) protein levels in serum-free culture medium severalfold in a dose-dependent manner. Northern blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses revealed a similar enhancement in levels of FN mRNA in cells treated with TGFbeta and DEX. Real-time PCR results also revealed that DEX and TGFbeta enhanced collagen (Col) I and Col IV expression, but did not affect levels of Col III or laminin, indicative of selective stimulation of ECM proteins. Hypoxic treatment moderately enhanced FFN levels in control cells but not in those treated with DEX and TGFbeta. In contrast with the results obtained with PMCs, we noted that DEX treatment suppressed FFN levels in untreated and TGFbeta-treated cytotrophoblasts, suggesting that GC and TGFbeta modulate FFN expression in placenta in a cell-type-specific manner. We conclude that GC and TGFbeta are key regulators of ECM protein synthesis in PMCs, suggesting a role in modulating placental architecture in uncomplicated pregnancies and those associated with aberrant ECM protein expression.
Interpreting interim deviations from cost projections for publicly supported energy technologies

AbstractWidespread public funding of nascent energy technologies, com-bined with recent increases in the costs of those that have been mostheavily supported, has raised the stakes of a policy dilemma: shouldpolicy makers sustain these programs anticipating that recent cost in-creases are temporary disturbances or should they eliminate them toavoid risking billions of dollars of public funds on technological deadends? This paper uses experience curves for photovoltaics (PV) andwind to (1) estimate the range of possible policy outcomes and (2) in-troduce new ways of assessing near term cost dynamics. For both tech-nology cases, the costs of the subsidies required to reach cost targetsare highly sensitive to the choice of the historical time series used. Thevariation in the discounted social cost of subsidies exceeds an order ofmagnitude. Vigilance is required to avoid the very expensive outcomescontained within these distributions of social costs. Two measures ofthe signi cance of recent deviations are introduced. Both indicate thatwind costs are within the expected range of prior forecasts but thatPV costs are not. The magnitude of the public funds involved in theseprograms heightens the need for better analytical tools with which tomonitor and evaluate cost dynamics.
The Boston Connects Program: Promoting Learning and Healthy Development

The Boston Connects Program is a school-community-university partnership in which school counselors play a pivotal role in coordinating a comprehensive system of preventive services and student supports. The program is designed to promote healthy academic, social-emotional, and physical development for all children; reduce barriers to academic learning; and enhance the health-promoting and growth-fostering characteristics of the urban elementary school environment (Walsh, Barrett, & DePaul, 2007). Consistent with the ASCA National Model® (American School Counselor Association, 2005), the Boston Connects approach is programmatic, collaborative, preventive, and data-driven, and it supports the development of all children. This article describes the role of the school counselor in coordinating a comprehensive array of strengths-based supportive and developmental interventions and provides evidence to support the benefits of this approach.
Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation

[first paragraph of article] Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is one of the most exciting recent developments in the treatment of structural heart disease and has evolved as an attractive alternative to surgery in patients with dysfunctional right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduits. Although surgical pulmonary valve replacement is associated with low morbidity and mortality rates, there are many instances when operative risks are high or surgery is prohibitive. Patients requiring RVOT reconstruction require multiple sternotomies and cardiac surgical procedures throughout their lives due to the limited lifespan of such conduits (10 years). Patient management strategies have, therefore, been based on delaying surgical intervention for as long as possible, in order to minimize the number of surgical procedures. However, this approach carries the risk of delaying surgery beyond a point of irreversible right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. A balance between the deleterious effects of RVOT dysfunction and the need to minimize the total number of lifetime surgeries for a given patient is a clinically challenging task prompting the need to develop minimally invasive valve therapies. Since the introduction of PPVI in 2000, the learning curve with this technology lead to significant improvements in both valve design and procedural approach, with several clinical trials demonstrating the safety and efficacy in restoring valvular competence with excellent short to medium term outcomes; transforming this technique from its early pioneering nature into routine clinical care at specialized centers. Evolving data from these studies have shown beneficial effects of PPVI in right ventricular volume reduction, left ventricular filling properties, exercise capacity and electrical remodeling. This review discusses the evolution, indications, and technical aspects of PPVI using the Melody and Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve as non-surgical treatment options for dysfunctional RVOT/pulmonary trunk.
Do PCL-R Scores from State or Defense Experts Best Predict Future Misconduct Among Civilly Committed Sex Offenders?

In a recent study of sex offender civil commitment proceedings, Murrie et al. (Psychol Public Policy Law 15:19–53, 2009) found that state-retained experts consistently assigned higher PCL-R total scores than defense-retained experts for the same offenders (Cohen’s d > .83). This finding raises an important question about the validity of these discrepant scores: Which type of score, state or defense evaluator, provides the most useful information about risk? We examined the ability of PCL-R total scores from state and defense evaluators to predict future misconduct among civilly committed sex offenders (N = 38). For comparison, we also examined predictive validity when two state experts evaluated the same offender (N = 32). Agreement between evaluators was low for cases with opposing experts (ICCA,1 = .43 to .52) and for cases with two state experts (ICCA,1 = .40). Nevertheless, scores from state and defense experts demonstrated similar levels of predictive validity (AUC values in the .70 range), although scores from different types of state evaluators (corrections-contracted vs. prosecution-retained) did not. The finding of mean differences between opposing evaluator scores, but similar levels of predictive validity, suggests that scores from opposing experts in SVP cases may need to be interpreted differently depending on who assigned them. Findings have important implications for understanding how rater disagreement may relate to predictive validity.
Considerations for the use of low-cost substrates for MM-wave packaging

CMOS technology has enabled the design and fabrication of millimeter-wave integrated circuits at a reasonably low cost. If integrated with a low-cost packaging substrate, high volume fabrication can lead to affordable consumer products. Coplanar waveguide attenuation has been studied on substrates with varying dielectric and metal properties. Challenges, advantages and design considerations are presented that result from using FR-4 substrates to improve the cost of millimeter-wave packages.
The Role of Tropical Cyclones in the Formation of Tropical Upper-Tropospheric Troughs

Abstract Tropical upper-tropospheric troughs (TUTTs), also known as midoceanic troughs, are elongated troughs that appear in summer monthly averaged maps of the upper-tropospheric flow over the oceans. The transient part of these climatological features is composed of TUTT cells and their origin is the subject of this study. TUTT cells often occur to the east of tropical cyclones. A nonlinear shallow water model on the sphere was used in a simplified study of the interactions between tropical cyclones and the circumpolar vortex. Based on the results of these simulations and keeping in mind their limitations, it is proposed that dispersion of short Rossby wave energy is a possible mechanism to explain the formation of TUTT cells to the east of tropical cyclones. The model simulations suggest that two types of TUTT cells may form to the east of tropical cyclones. When embedded in cyclonic or weak anticyclonic shear, the trough to the east of the tropical cyclone may broaden, resulting in the formation of an...
Trends in Dengue Cases Imported into the United States from Pan America 2001–2012

The objective of this study was to improve risk assessments of travel on dengue (DEN) virus (DENV) distribution. We investigated the exposure risk of US citizens traveling to DEN-endemic Pan American countries. The number of DEN cases reported in 51 Pan American countries from 2001 to 2012 was compared to the population of the same countries. The number of US travelers visiting the Pan American countries was categorized by region, and travel-related DEN infections were analyzed. US residents visiting the Dominican Republic exhibited the highest traveler-related DEN incidence. Brazil showed the most DEN cases in its residents (>1 million reported cases in 2010). The number of DEN cases continues to rise as does international travel and the geographic range of potential DENV vectors. DENV risk assessments may be improved by analyzing the possible routes of entry. Underreporting remains an issue for calculating DENV transmission risk by country and region.
Direct-To-Consumer Advertising: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs is allowed currently only in the United States and New Zealand. Promotional spending on DTCA has grown from $2.5 billion in 2000 to $4.5 billion in 2009. DTCA has been an issue of intense debate since the early years of its existence (Hoek, Gendall, and Feetham 2001; Royne and Myers 2008; Pol and Bakker 2010). Therefore, DTCA is undoubtedly an important topic that deserves researchers’ sincere attention (Farris and Wilkie 2005; Gellad and Lyles 2007). The research on DTCA has grown in a fragmented manner across several disciplines such as marketing, communication, public health, pharmacy, economics, medicine, and so on. There has been little to no effort to bring together these diverse bodies of literature and identify critical research trends and themes that would bring a holistic understanding to this intriguing body of research and show the way to future researchers to explore further in this area. Research on DTCA has been described as lacking in empirical content, rigorous methodology, comprehensive model building, and cause-effect studies. This study aims to review studies on DTCA with the aim of exploring the past and current trends in research, offering a comprehensive and inclusive definition of DTCA, identifying key themes on DTCA research, and providing potential agenda for future research.
Sera and salivary matrix metalloproteinases are elevated in patients with vesiculoerosive disease: a pilot study.

Background Oral vesiculoerosive (VE) diseases, such as lichen planus and mucous membrane pemphigoid, are immune-mediated pathoses. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are elevated in oral lesional biopsy specimens of patients with VE disease. However, the systemic levels and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in this patient population are poorly understood. We performed a pilot study to determine whether the levels and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are elevated in the sera and saliva of patients with VE disease. Study Design We recruited patients with VE disease (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 19). We collected sera and saliva and performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to measure MMP levels. We used gelatin zymography and Biotrak assays to determine enzyme activity. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. Results There was no difference in the activity of either MMP in the sera or saliva of patients with VE disease compared with controls. Significantly, MMP-2 levels were elevated in the sera of patients with VE disease ( P P = .003). Conclusions MMP-2 is elevated in the sera of patients with VE disease, and MMP-9 is increased in their saliva. Therefore, these enzymes may be potential markers of disease or therapeutic targets.
User adaptive transcoding for video teleconferencing

The human visual system (HVS) cannot perceive spatial frequency components in an image that are above a certain limit, the value of which is affected by factors such as the viewing distance. This has been exploited to improve the video coding efficiency by first filtering out redundant frequency components and then doing conventional video encoding. To facilitate the deployment of this scheme, we propose to implement it in a network entity such as a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU). Specifically, by analyzing the video sent from a client, the MCU infers that client's viewing conditions, which are then used to adapt the encoding of the video destined to that client. The scheme is implemented in a real-world video teleconferencing system. Experimental results show that our approach can result in significant savings in bandwidth without affecting subjective video quality.
Arboreal Ecology of Plethodontidae: A Review

Lungless salamanders in the family Plethodontidae are widely distributed and the most diverse lineage of caudates. Plethodontids occupy forested and freshwater habitats, where they can achieve remarkable abundance and biomass. The majority of tropical plethodontids are arboreal. Though generally considered ground dwelling, a large proportion of temperate species have been observed climbing shrubs, trees, and herbaceous vegetation. Approximately 45% of terrestrial and semi-aquatic (not including permanently aquatic) plethodontid species are known to obligately or facultatively climb vegetation; yet, with the exception of tropical plethodontids, the importance of arboreal habits is generally underappreciated. The potential benefits of arboreality vary based on life history and geography but may include improved olfaction, increased foraging potential, shelter and nesting, and predator avoidance. Constraints on arboreality include increased water loss rates and morphological limitations. Recognition of arbor...
Prediction of stall and post-stall in two- and three-dimensional flows

An efficient and accurate calculation method for the prediction of stall and post-stall of twoand three-dimensional high lift configurations is presented. The method is based on the interactive solution of the inviscid flow and boundary layer equations. The efficiency and robustness of the method have been improved by linearizing the turbulent terms in the boundary layer equations. Also, a model for surface roughness has been incorporated. The method is applied to the calculation of lift and drag coefficients about twoand threedimensional configurations up to stall and poststall conditions. Results show that the method predicts correctly the effects of Reynolds number and surface roughness on airfoil stall. For three-dimensional flows, the Reynolds number effects are also predicted. The paper shows the importance of an accurate calculation of wake flows for the prediction of the stall of three-element wings. In both twoand threedimensional flows, the effects of Mach number are captured, provided the flow remains well below sonic conditions. In the contrary, a compressible inviscid flow method should be used in lieu of the panel method used here with compressibility corrections. required combination of accuracy and robustness is for the prediction of stall and post-stall of high lift configurations. The necessity of obtaining multiple solutions in a fast paced design environment further enhances the challenges facing the CFD community. In fact, even when the current growth rates in computer power are extrapolated, the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of three-dimensional high lift configurations is several decades away. Therefore, alternatives which meet both accuracy and efficiency requirements must be developed for use in aircraft high lift design.
Epithelial polarity and differentiation in polycystic kidney disease

SUMMARY Renal cysts are central pathological features in a number of human congenital and acquired diseases, and produce significant morbidity and mortality. This review describes our laboratory’s efforts to identify specific alterations in epithelial cell polarity and differentiation associated with renal tubular cyst formation and progressive enlargement. Studies in a murine model of human autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, the C57BL/6J cpk/cpk (CPK) mouse have demonstrated quantitative (increased activity) and qualitative (apical membrane distribution) alterations in Na + ,K + -adenosine triphosphatase activity that mediate tubular cyst formation. Proximal tubular cyst formation in CPK kidneys is characterized by increased activity of a basolateral Na + ,K + -ATPase, which drives organic anion secretion and consequent tubular fluid secretion. In contrast, collecting tubule cyst formation is characterized by increased apical membrane Na + ,K + -ATPase expression, which may be a marker of the relatively undifferentiated phenotype of cyst lining cells. If such apically expressed enzyme is active, it may have pathogenic import in collecting tubule cyst formation and enlargement by mediating net basal to apical vectorial solute and fluid transport.
Acoustic testing of the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator

The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator has been shown to be effective for flow control. Much remains unanswered, however, as to how the actuator couples momentum into air. A better understanding of the coupling mechanism is crucial to determining the performance limitation of the actuator and the breadth of applications to which it can be applied. The small physical volume and transient nature of the actuator plasma make it difficult to make direct measurements. In previous work we have investigated the plasma actuator’s optical emission signature extensively. In this work, we measure and analyze the acoustic emissions, both directional characteristics and waveform, from an actuator in an attempt to shed light on the coupling process. Two sets of measurements were made, each using a different apparatus. Both sets of tests reveal that the actuator adds a larger amount of momentum into the air during the negative-going half of the AC voltage cycle and a smaller amount on the other half of the cycle. It was observed that the acoustic pattern produced is a radiation pattern characteristic of a coherentlydriven system. The results suggest that compressibility effects may play a role in the momentum coupling.
Influence of Large Static Deformation on the Dynamic Properties of Polymers Part II. Influence of Carbon Black Loading

Abstract The influence of carbon black loading on the dynamic properties of statically deformed elastomers has been investigated. The energy loss per cycle was found to increase according to the square of the strain amplification factor as expressed by the Guth-Gold-Einstein equation. The dynamic complex modulus |E*| is approximately equal to the static modulus obtained from the slope of the static stress-strain curve. The influence of carbon black loading on E* can, therefore, be predicted from its influence on the static stress-strain curve which was found to be governed by the first power of the strain amplification factor. The tangent of the loss angle can thus be predicted from |E*| and the energy loss per cycle. It does not only depend upon the dynamic viscosity of the material; it also depends upon the shape of the stress-strain curve as well.
SEASONAL VARIATION IN SEXUAL SELECTION IN THE MOTTLED SCULPIN

Seasonal variation in sexual and natural selection in male mottled sculpins (Cottus bairdi) can be evaluated by calculating selection differentials, which measure the magnitude of phenotypic change resulting from selection, and by calculating indices of the opportunity for selection, which indicate the potential for phenotypic selection in a given interval. Selection dif- ferentials are high at the beginning of the breeding season and, decline throughout the breeding season. The magnitude and direction of selection differentials depend on when spawning occurs and are independent of the size or age of the females that spawn. Annual selection differentials due to differences in mating success (female choice) are nearly constant between years. Annual selection differentials associated with hatching success are variable. Opportunities for selection (I = fitness variance/(mean fitness)2) show clear seasonal patterns. They are highest at the beginning and at the end of the spawning season. However, this variation is dependent on the mean used to calculate I, and hence variation in I values does not indicate a significant change in the variance of male fitness.
Comparison of the time-to-indexing in PubMed between biomedical journals according to impact factor, discipline, and focus

Abstract Background Practicing evidence-based medicine requires health care professionals to efficiently retrieve relevant and current literature. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the time interval between PubMed entry and indexing with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) between biomedical journals with varying impact factors, focus areas, and health care discipline representation. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of articles entered into PubMed database between January 1 and December 31, 2012. The primary endpoint was the number of days between PubMed entry and indexing with MeSH terms. Results A total of 7906 articles were reviewed across 18 journals. In the first comparison, the time-to-indexing was 177 ± 100 days, 111 ± 69 days, and 23 ± 40 days for articles published in journals with impact factors of 2.0–2.5, 4.5–6.5, and >25, respectively ( P ≤ 0.001). In the second comparison, the time-to-indexing was 111 ± 69 days for general medicine versus 170 ± 74 days for specialty journals ( P ≤ 0.001). In the third comparison, the overall time-to-indexing was 177 ± 100 days, 234 ± 107 days, and 163 ± 58 days for medicine, nursing, and pharmacy journals, respectively ( P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Study results identified a significant delay between entry of articles into the PubMed database and time-to-indexing with MeSH terms across journals of varying impact factor, discipline, and focus. Results suggest that there may be factors that influence the priority by which articles are indexed with MeSH terms. Future research should focus on determining those journal characteristics and any impact of this delay on clinical practice.
A study on the relationship between mental health status and medication adherence in tuberculosis patients

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of depression,anxiety and suicide behavior in patients suffering from tuberculosis in Hangzhou and to explore their relationship with medication adherence. Methods Demographic characteristics,self-rating anxiety scale( SAS),the center for epidemiological studies-depression( CESD),social support rating scale( SSRS),suicide behavior information and the morisky medication adherence scale( MMAS) were investigated in 973 tuberculosis patients who were selected by systematic random sampling. Results The means of SAS and CESD were 39. 71 ± 8. 30 and 14. 16 ± 10. 77 respectively,which were both higher than the norms( P 0. 01). Totally 102( 10. 48%) patients had anxiety and 333( 34. 22%) were depressed. Out of 973 patients,60( 6. 17%) reported suicide ideation after tuberculosis diagnosis. The prevalence of non-adherence was 20. 55%,which was defined with MMAS score above one and more. The non-adherence group had higher anxiety,depression and suicide ideation prevalence than the adherence group( 15. 50% vs. 9. 18%,46. 50% vs. 30. 66%,11. 00% vs. 4. 92% respectively,P 0. 01). The mean score of SSRS,subjective support,objective support and utilization of support in the non-adherence group were 30. 71 ± 5. 15,4. 61 ± 2. 07,19. 74 ± 4. 55 and 6. 34 ± 1. 93 respectively,which were 34. 06 ± 7. 39,6. 62 ± 2. 27,20. 67 ± 5. 27 and 6. 77 ± 2. 23 in the adherence group respectively. SSRS and its three dimension scores were significantly lower in the non-adherence group than that in the adherence group( P 0. 01). Conclusion These findings show a quite serious situation of psychological problems of tuberculosis patients in Hangzhou and suggest psychological intervention should be included in adherence intervention.
Clinical analysis of 60 cases of oldness openness head injury

Objective To analyse the characteristic of oldness openness brain damage, discuss relationship of early handling and prognosis.Methods The treatment results of 60 cases were analysed retrospectively. Results After the operation,28 cases recovered11 recovered incompletely,21 died.Conclusion Relying on image inspection,early diagnosis,unimpeded respiratorg tract,establishment of infusion route and preventing bleeding and epilepsy are the key to increase the cure rate.
Male Representation in Randomized Clinical Trials of Mindfulness-Based Therapies

Mindfulness-based treatments for health issues and psychological disorders have increased in popularity and use. A large amount of empirical evidence indicates that these treatments are effective. However, it is possible that these scientific investigations of mindfulness-based treatments have not been conducted with representative samples. In particular, it seems like most participants in these studies are female. In order to explore this, we conducted a systematic review and examined the sample demographics of 117 articles that investigated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy via randomized controlled trials. Male participants accounted for less than 29% of the 9820 total participants. These findings suggest that the evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based treatments is based on non-representative samples, and future research should work to correct this.
Remittances channels and the physical growth of Honduran children

AbstractEnsuring the availability of food and other resources for young children is important for sustaining physical growth. We examine the role of remittances and its associated implications in determining heights and weights of 4459 children aged 0–5 years in Honduras in 2004. To address the endogeneity problem with household remittance receipt, we take advantage of the timing of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 to construct instrumental variables that are exogenously related to migration decisions made before children included in the later survey were conceived. We find that children are significantly taller and heavier for their age and gender in households receiving remittances. Further investigation of household spending indicates significant changes in food purchases and dietary diversity. Households receiving remittances are more likely to include fish, fruits, and meats in their diets. Additional findings also indicate that households receiving remittances spend absolutely more on food, health care, educ...
Role of IRE1α/XBP-1 in cystic fibrosis airway inflammation

Cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary disease is characterized by chronic airway infection and inflammation. The infectious and inflamed CF airway environment impacts on the innate defense of airway epithelia and airway macrophages. The CF airway milieu induces an adaptation in these cells characterized by increased basal inflammation and a robust inflammatory response to inflammatory mediators. Recent studies have indicated that these responses depend on activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). This review discusses the contribution of airway epithelia and airway macrophages to CF airway inflammatory responses and specifically highlights the functional importance of the UPR pathway mediated by IRE1/XBP-1 in these processes. These findings suggest that targeting the IRE1/XBP-1 UPR pathway may be a therapeutic strategy for CF airway disease.
Perinatal Choline Supplementation Reduces Amyloidosis and Increases Choline Acetyltransferase Expression in the Hippocampus of the APPswePS1dE9 Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice

Prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major goal of biomedical sciences. In previous studies we showed that high intake of the essential nutrient, choline, during gestation prevented age-related memory decline in a rat model. In this study we investigated the effects of a similar treatment on AD-related phenotypes in a mouse model of AD. We crossed wild type (WT) female mice with hemizygous APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP.PS1) AD model male mice and maintained the pregnant and lactating dams on a control AIN76A diet containing 1.1 g/kg of choline or a choline-supplemented (5 g/kg) diet. After weaning all offspring consumed the control diet. As compared to APP.PS1 mice reared on the control diet, the hippocampus of the perinatally choline-supplemented APP.PS1 mice exhibited: 1) altered levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolites–specifically elevated amounts of β-C-terminal fragment (β-CTF) and reduced levels of solubilized amyloid Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides; 2) reduced number and total area of amyloid plaques; 3) preserved levels of choline acetyltransferase protein (CHAT) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) and 4) absence of astrogliosis. The data suggest that dietary supplementation of choline during fetal development and early postnatal life may constitute a preventive strategy for AD.
RH-temperature phase diagrams of hydrate forming deliquescent crystalline ingredients

Several common deliquescent crystalline food ingredients (including glucose and citric acid) are capable of forming crystal hydrate structures. The propensity of such crystals to hydrate/dehydrate or deliquesce is dependent on the environmental temperature and relative humidity (RH). As an anhydrous crystal converts to a crystal hydrate, water molecules internalize into the crystal structure resulting in different physical properties. Deliquescence is a solid-to-solution phase transformation. RH-temperature phase diagrams of the food ingredients alpha-d-glucose and citric acid, along with sodium sulfate, were produced using established and newly developed methods. Each phase diagram included hydrate and anhydrate deliquescence boundaries, the anhydrate-hydrate phase boundary, and the peritectic temperature (above which the hydrate was no longer stable). This is the first report of RH-temperature phase diagrams of glucose and citric acid, information which is beneficial for selecting storage and processing conditions to promote or avoid hydrate formation or loss and/or deliquescence.
Photoacoustic simulation study of chirp excitation response from different size absorbers

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a hybrid imaging modality that integrates the strength of optical and ultrasound imaging. Nanosecond (ns) pulsed lasers used in current PA imaging systems are expensive, bulky and they often waste energy. We propose and evaluate, through simulations, the use of a continuous wave (CW) laser whose amplitude is linear frequency modulated (chirp) for PA imaging. The chirp signal provides signal-to-side-lobe ratio (SSR) improvement potential and full control over PA signal frequencies excited in the sample. The PA signal spectrum is a function of absorber size and the time frequencies present in the chirp. A mismatch between the input chirp spectrum and the output PA signal spectrum can affect the compressed pulse that is recovered from cross-correlating the two. We have quantitatively characterized this effect. The k-wave Matlab tool box was used to simulate PA signals in three dimensions for absorbers ranging in size from 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, in response to laser excitation amplitude that is linearly swept from 0.5 MHz to 4 MHz. This sweep frequency range was chosen based on the spectrum analysis of a PA signal generated from ex-vivo human prostate tissue samples. In comparison, the energy wastage by a ns laser pulse was also estimated. For the chirp methodology, the compressed pulse peak amplitude, pulse width and side lobe structure parameters were extracted for different size absorbers. While the SSR increased 6 fold with absorber size, the pulse width decreased by 25%.
Decoding directional genetic dependencies through orthogonal CRISPR/Cas screens

Genetic interaction studies are a powerful approach to identify functional interactions between genes. This approach can reveal networks of regulatory hubs and connect uncharacterised genes to well-studied pathways. However, this approach has previously been limited to simple gene inactivation studies. Here, we present an orthogonal CRISPR/Cas-mediated genetic interaction approach that allows the systematic activation of one gene while simultaneously knocking out a second gene in the same cell. We have developed this concept into a quantitative and scalable combinatorial screening platform that allows the parallel interrogation of hundreds of thousands of genetic interactions. We demonstrate that the established platformworks robustly to uncover genetic interactions in human cancer cells and to interpret the direction of the flow of genetic information.
Meteorological factors associated with abundance of airborne fungal spores over natural vegetation

Abstract The abundance of airborne fungal spores in agricultural and urban settings increases with greater air temperature, relative humidity, or precipitation. The same meteorological factors that affect temporal patterns in spore abundance in managed environments also vary spatially across natural habitats in association with differences in vegetation structure. Here we investigated how temporal and spatial variation in aerial spore abundance is affected by abiotic (weather) and biotic (vegetation) factors as a foundation for predicting how fungi may respond to changes in weather and land-use patterns. We measured the phenology of airborne fungal spores across a mosaic of naturally occurring vegetation types at different time scales to describe (1) how spore abundance changes over time, (2) which local meteorological variables are good predictors for airborne spore density, and (3) whether spore abundance differs across vegetation types. Using an air volumetric vacuum sampler, we collected spore samples at 3-h intervals over a 120-h period in a mixed-evergreen forest and coastal prairie to measure diurnal, nocturnal, and total airborne spore abundance across vegetation types. Spore samples were also collected at weekly and monthly intervals in mixed-evergreen forest, redwood forest, and maritime chaparral vegetation types from 12 field sites across two years. We found greater airborne spore densities during the wetter winter months compared to the drier summer months. Mean total spore abundance in the mixed-evergreen forest was twice than in the coastal prairie, but there were no significant differences in total airborne spore abundance among mixed-evergreen forest, redwood forest, and maritime chaparral vegetation types. Weekly and monthly peaks in airborne spore abundance corresponded with rain events and peaks in soil moisture. Overall, temporal patterns in meteorological factors were much more important in determining airborne fungal spore abundance than the vegetation type. This suggests that overall patterns of fungal spore dynamics may be predictable across heterogeneous landscapes based on local weather patterns.
Reliability/Defect Severity

This chapter deals with the reliability of micro-electronic components and semiconductors de-vices, how it is affected by defects, and how to develop the proper reliability testing and modeling leading to its improvement.
EBI2 contributes to the induction of thymic central tolerance in mice by promoting rapid motility of medullary thymocytes

Maturing thymocytes enter the thymic medulla, where they encounter numerous self-antigens presented by antigen presenting cells (APCs). Those thymocytes that are strongly self-reactive undergo either negative selection or diversion into the regulatory T cell lineage. Although the majority of the proteome is expressed in the medulla, many self-antigens are expressed by only a minor fraction of medullary APCs; thus, thymocytes must efficiently enter the medulla and scan APCs to ensure central tolerance. Chemokine receptors promote lymphocyte migration, organization within tissues, and interactions with APCs in lymphoid organs. The chemokine receptor EBI2 governs localization of T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) during immune responses in secondary lymphoid organs. However, the role of EBI2 in thymocyte development has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that EBI2 is expressed by murine CD4+ single positive (CD4SP) thymocytes and thymic DCs. EBI2 deficiency altered the TCR repertoire, but did not grossly impact thymocyte cellularity or subset distribution. EBI2 deficiency also impaired negative selection of OT-II TCR transgenic thymocytes responding to an endogenous self-antigen. Two-photon imaging revealed that EBI2 deficiency resulted in reduced migration and impaired medullary accumulation of CD4SP thymocytes. These data identify a role for EBI2 in promoting efficient thymic central tolerance. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Incremental validity of estimated cannabis grams as a predictor of problems and cannabinoid biomarkers: Evidence from a clinical trial.

Abstract Background Quantifying cannabis use is complex due to a lack of a standardized packaging system that contains specified amounts of constituents. A laboratory procedure has been developed for estimating physical quantity of cannabis use by utilizing a surrogate substance to represent cannabis, and weighing the amount of the surrogate to determine typical use in grams. Method This secondary analysis utilized data from a multi-site, randomized, controlled pharmacological trial for adult cannabis use disorder (N = 300), sponsored by the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, to test the incremental validity of this procedure. In conjunction with the Timeline Followback, this physical scale-based procedure was used to determine whether average grams per cannabis administration predicted urine cannabinoid levels (11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and problems due to use, after accounting for self-reported number of days used (in the past 30 days) and number of administrations per day in a 12-week clinical trial for cannabis use disorder. Results Likelihood ratio tests suggest that model fit was significantly improved when grams per administration and relevant interactions were included in the model predicting urine cannabinoid level (X2 = 98.3; p Conclusions This study provides support for the use of a scale-based method for quantifying cannabis use in grams. This methodology may be useful when precise quantification is necessary (e.g., measuring reduction in use in a clinical trial).
PALLIATIVE CARE CONSULTATION REDUCES 30-DAY READMISSION RATES FOR HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE: A SINGLE-CENTER EXPERIENCE

Despite national recognition of the need for palliative care consultation (PCC) for patients with heart failure (HF), referral rates for hospitalized patients remain disappointing. PCC has shown promise in improving clinical outcomes for patients. We present our own single center experience. This
Involvement of adenosine monophosphate activated kinase in interleukin-6 regulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme in the bovine zona fasciculata and zona reticularis.

Abstract In bovine adrenal zona fasciculata (ZF) and NCI-H295R cells, interleukin-6 (IL-6) increases cortisol release, increases expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) (increases steroidogenic proteins), and decreases the expression of adrenal hypoplasia congenita-like protein (DAX-1) (inhibits steroidogenic proteins). In contrast, IL-6 decreases bovine adrenal zona reticularis (ZR) androgen release, StAR, P450scc, and SF-1 expression, and increases DAX-1 expression. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) activated kinase (AMPK) regulates steroidogenesis, but its role in IL-6 regulation of adrenal steroidogenesis is unknown. In the present study, an AMPK activator (AICAR) increased (P
Peers as Behavior Change Agents for Withdrawn Classmates

In recent years, social withdrawal in preschool children has become recognized as a handicapping condition that inhibits the acquisition of interaction skills as well as various language and cognitive abilities (Har-tup, 1978). Indeed, a comparison of the social repertoire of normally developing children under 24 months of age with the behavior patterns of isolate youngsters suggests that social withdrawal represents one of the most profound forms of developmental delay or deviance.
Introduction and Historical Overview

Throughout history, diverse cultures have recognized the influence of reinforcing and punishing consequences on behavior. Indeed, the systematic application of consequences for behavior has been institutionalized in various cultural practices such as education, child rearing, military training, government and law enforcement, religion, and other practices common to most cultures. For example, consider the widespread use of incentives to develop specific kinds of military behavior. In ancient Greece and Rome during the first century A.D., gladiators received special prizes ranging from wreaths and crowns to money and property for their victorious performance (Grant, 1967). During the same period, charioteers in Rome received freedom from their enslaved status and financial rewards for repeated victory in their duels (Carcopino, 1940). Similarly, ancient Chinese soldiers received colored peacock feathers that could be worn as an honorary symbol of their bravery during battle (Doolittle, 1865). Aztec soldiers in the fifteenth century received titles of distinction and the honor of having stone statues made of them for their triumphant military performance (Duran, 1964). Finally, plains Indians of America in the nineteenth century received attention and approval from their peers for skillful behavior in battle or during a hunt. Meritorious deeds earned the privilege of relating the experiences in public (Eggan, Gilbert, McAllister, Nash, Opler, Provinse, & Tax, 1937). In most contemporary societies, bravery in military performance continues to be rewarded with medals, badges, promotions, and similar incentives.