cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altered frequency characteristics of sympathetic nerve activity after sustained elevation in arterial pressure

We tested the hypothesis that sustained elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP) alters the frequency-domain characteristics of efferent sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) after the return of MAP t...
Spatial and temporal distribution of induced resistance to greenbug (Homoptera: Aphididae) herbivory in preconditioned resistant and susceptible near isogenic plants of wheat

Interactions between biotype E greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum (Rodani), and two near isogenic lines of the greenbug resistance gene Gb3 of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., were examined for 62 d after infestation. By comparing aphid performance and host responses on control and greenbug-preconditioned plants, we demonstrated that systemic resistance to greenbug herbivory was inducible in the resistant genotype with varying intensities and effectiveness in different parts of the plants. Preconditioning of susceptible plants resulted in modification of within-plant aphid distribution and reduction of cumulative greenbug densities, but it showed no effect on reducing greenbug feeding damage to host plant. Preconditioning of resistant plants altered greenbug population dynamics by reducing the size and buffering the fluctuation of the aphid population. Preconditioning in the first (oldest) leaf of the resistant plant had no phenotypically detectable effect in the stem and induced susceptibility locally in the first leaf within the first 2 d after infestation. The preconditioning-induced resistance reduced greenbug density, delayed aphid density peaks and extended the life of younger leaves in resistant plants. Expression of induced resistance was spatially and temporally dynamic within the plant, which occurred more rapidly, was longer in duration, and stronger in intensity in younger leaves. Host resistance gene-mediated induced resistance was effective in lowering greenbug performance and reducing damage from greenbug herbivory in host plants. Results from this study supported the optimal defense theory regarding within-plant defense allocation.
Modeling of a Conventional Mid-Size Car with CVT Using ALPHA and Comparable Powertrain Technologies

The Advanced Light-Duty Powertrain and Hybrid Analysis (ALPHA) tool was created by EPA to evaluate the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of Light-Duty (LD) vehicles [1]. ALPHA is a physicsbased, forward-looking, full vehicle computer simulation capable of analyzing various vehicle types combined with different powertrain technologies. The software tool is a MATLAB/Simulink based desktop application. The ALPHA model has been updated from the previous version to include more realistic vehicle behavior and now includes internal auditing of all energy flows in the model [2]. As a result of the model refinements and in preparation for the mid-term evaluation (MTE) of the 2022-2025 LD GHG emissions standards, the model is being revalidated with newly acquired vehicle data. In the effort to model the current and future US Light-Duty fleet there are times when complete and exact engine and powertrain component data are unavailable and must be approximated using components with comparable levels of performance and technology. This paper presents the testing and ALPHA modeling of a CVT-equipped 2013 Nissan Altima 2.5S using comparable powertrain technology inputs. A brief overview of recent improvements in CVT performance and efficiency is provided. ALPHA’s CVT shift strategy, ALPHAshiftCVT, is introduced and its performance is compared with data from the Altima. Fuel economy and carbon emissions results over a wide range of drive cycles were within 5% of measured values and the city/highway weighted combined fuel economy and carbon emissions were within approximately 1% of measured values, providing confidence in the proxy powertrain approach.
Electrical Stimulation Mapping of Language Cortex

Three techniques for electrical stimulation mapping of language cortex in the human brain are discussed: how they are done, the advantages and disadvantages of each and both the general and specific results of using these techniques in connection with epilepsy surgery.
Tuberculosis in solid organ transplant candidates and recipients: current and future challenges.

Purpose of reviewTuberculosis (TB) infection in solid organ transplant recipients poses unique diagnostic and treatment challenges. Recent guidelines for prevention of donor-derived TB and updates on TB diagnostics and treatment in the transplant setting are reviewed as follows.Recent findingsPreven
Two-Beam Laser Recrystallization of Silicon on an Insulating Substrate

Laser recrystallization of silicon on an insulating substrate has been carried out by irradiating polysilicon with both an Ar + laser operating on all lines in the visible and a CO 2 laser operating at 10.6 microns. These experiments were carried out over a variety of laser power densities and substrate temperatures. The use of the two lasers allowed for independent spatial control of temperature in both the polysilicon and the SiO 2 layers and helped to reduce the strain at the polysilicon - SiO 2 interface. We report the successful recrystallization of polysilicon films without substrate heating for two different silicon-on-insulator structures.
Political Commitments and the Case Act

The President routinely enters into international agreements with foreign states that circumvent the Treaty Clause. Congress responded to this lack of interbranch coordination in the 1970s by passing the Case Act, which requires moderate levels of congressional notice and participation when concluding international agreements. In the subsequent half century, the United States has come to rely upon a new form of international agreements that create nonlegally binding expectations and norms. The United States is well positioned to enter into these agreements, known as political commitments, because it can coerce behavior from a foreign state for breach of an agreement through political or financial penalties rather than pursuing legal remedies. Additionally, the Executive can negotiate and conclude these commitments with neither the House nor the Senate’s participation or knowledge because there is no legal requirement in effect that obligates the Executive to inform the Congress of these commitments.Political commitments are nothing new, but State Department officials report unprecedented reliance upon them in recent years. This paper offers a modest correction to the path of sole executive domain: political commitments of significant moral or political weight should be reported to Congress under the Case Act. The Case Act requires no modification to achieve these goals because the language and history of the Act already encompass political commitments. Knowledge of the Executive’s international agreement making can provide an opportunity for Congress to act in any number of ways, effectively providing a minor check on current presidential authority to act unilaterally in the realm of foreign affairs.
Immunity and strategy to recombinant adeno-associated virus vector

Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) have been demonstrated as a significant promising viral vector for human gene therapy based on its high safety and good targeting activity in preclinical tests and clinical trials,and there are 71 clinical trials have dong or been doing. Part of them have gain an excellent success in the mant with Hemophilia,retinal disease,Parkinson's disease,cystic fibrosis,cancer et al. With the success in clinical trials,people process a series extensive and deeply research with the immunity induced by rAAV and the responding strategy respond to. In this review we systematically analyze the immunity caused by capsid and transgene product. Apart from this,some strategies,partly based on our work,to eliminate the immunity caused by capsid such as change the capsid,administration route,and eliminate the expression of endo-capsid are reviewed as well.
Regulation of the Internet by the Anti-monopoly Law

Although Internet is a virtual world, there exist many monopoly problems. Anti-monopoly law should be cautious to interfere. It should take account of the characteristics of the industry while identifying relevant market. When regulating various monopoly activities, it should focus on tackling serious monopoly problems such as local access, access software, domain names and so on. Besides, we should pay more attention to monopoly problems in e-commerce world and try to create a good environment.
Subnuclear trafficking of steroid receptors

Cellular responses to steroid hormones are mediated by intracellular receptor proteins whose transcriptional regulatory activity is uncovered upon ligand binding and activation. Thus, steroid hormones utilize a streamlined signal transduction system in which a single protein, the steroid receptor, functions to both recognize the hormonal signal and transduce that information to effect changes in specific gene activity. In many cases, these receptors first encounter their activating ligand in the cytoplasm and are then faced with the task of translocating to the nucleus and locating a limited number of target sites. Since unique sets of responsive genes are regulated by steroid hormones in different cell types, steroid receptor proteins must have the ability to select alternative genomic sites. In light of the rapid, selective effects of steroid hormones on the activity of primary response genes, it seems likely that mechanisms must exist to insure efficient intracellular trafficking of steroid receptors. In this review, we highlight recent progress that has been made in our understanding of steroid receptor trafficking within the nucleus.
Well placement optimization using imperialist competitive algorithm

Abstract An efficient and optimized field development plan is a crucial and primary aspect in maximizing well productivities, improving the recovery factors of oil and gas fields, and thus, increasing profitability most effectively. In this paper, we apply a metaheuristics algorithm known as the Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) to determine optimal well location for maximum well productivity. The ICA is an evolutionary algorithm that mimics socio-political imperialist competition. This algorithm uses an initial population that consists of colonies and imperialists that are assigned to several empires. The empires then compete with each other, which cause the weak empires to collapse and the powerful empires to dominate and overtake their colonies. We compared the ICA performance with that of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) as well as the genetic algorithm (GA) in the following four optimization scenarios: 1) a vertical well in a channeled reservoir, 2) a horizontal well in a channeled reservoir, 3) placement of multiple vertical wells, and 4) placement of multiple horizontal wells. In all four scenarios, the ICA achieved a better solution than the PSO and GA in a fixed number of simulation runs. In addition, we conducted sensitivity analyses for three important parameters (revolution ratio, assimilation coefficient, and assimilation angle), and the results of these analyses showed that the recommended ICA default parameters generally led to acceptable performances in our examples. However, to obtain optimum performance, we recommend tuning the three main ICA parameters for specific optimization problems.
Penile prosthesis for impotence: case report.

Abstract Encouraged with the results of the implantation of acrylic in the laboratory animal and the serendipity of acrylic as a substitute for the male urethra, we surgically implanted an acrylic penile prosthesis that was designed in 1949 in a patient suffering from organic impotency.
The Emperor as Dominus Mundi

From the perspective of some supporters of papal power, the emperor was an official or a functionary of the papacy, the secular ruler to whom God had entrusted the physical protection of the papacy through the imperial coronation, the Imperator vicarius papae. There was another view of the emperor’s status, however, that of the Roman legal tradition. With the revival of Roman law in the twelfth century, emperors and their officials came to possess a legal theory that justified imperial power in terms that did not recognize any papal role in the selection of the emperor.3
Abstract 4400: Hematopoietic age at onset of breast cancer dictates disease aggressiveness and progression

Aging is strongly associated with increased risk of developing breast cancer. Young age at diagnosis is typically associated with more aggressive disease, while breast cancer is generally more indolent in older women. Among the different breast cancer subtypes, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for ∼15% of invasive breast cancer cases and TNBC patients have a poor prognosis due to lack of targeted therapies and limited sensitivity to chemotherapy. Emerging studies indicate that older women with TNBC have a better outcome than younger women for reasons that are unclear. Nevertheless, older patients tend to suffer co-morbidities associated with chemotherapy and often forego treatment, resulting in disease recurrence and a poor outcome for these patients. Treatment of TNBC therefore presents age-specific challenges. Here, we investigated how age affects the composition and function of pro-tumorigenic bone marrow cells using TNBC models that enable us to interrogate the impact of bone marrow derived cells on both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. Consistent with clinical observations, we found that disease progression was significantly more aggressive in young mice relative to aged mice. We identified age- and tumor-dependent molecular and functional changes to bone marrow derived hematopoietic cells that impact TNBC progression. A specific population of Sca1+/cKit- bone marrow cells that expresses CSF1R and secretes the growth factor granulin to support stromal activation and robust tumor growth in young mice, fails to promote tumor outgrowth in aged mice, resulting in maintenance of disease indolence. Importantly, bone marrow cells from young mice are sufficient to activate a tumor-supportive microenvironment and rescue tumor progression in aged mice. The results presented here indicate that hematopoietic age is an important determinant of TNBC aggressiveness and provide rationale for investigating age-stratified therapies designed to prevent activation of tumor-promoting bone marrow cells. Citation Format: Jaclyn Sceneay, Timothy Marsh, Irene Wong, Yuanbo Qin, Andreas Sjodin, Bjorn Nilsson, Sheila A. Stewart, Sandra S. McAllister. Hematopoietic age at onset of breast cancer dictates disease aggressiveness and progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4400.
Dynamic Evaluation of the CMAQv5.0 Modeling System: Assessing the Model’s Ability to Simulate Ozone Changes Due to NOx Emission Reductions

Regional air quality models are frequently used for regulatory applications to predict changes in air quality due to changes in emissions or changes in meteorology. Dynamic model evaluation is thus an important step in establishing credibility in the model predicted pollutant response. Beginning in 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency required substantial reductions in NOx emissions from power plants in the eastern U.S. which resulted in a decrease in ozone concentrations at monitoring sites in this region. This observable change in air quality has been used previously as a case study for dynamic evaluation of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. Evaluation studies of previous CMAQ versions have shown that the model predicted decrease in ozone from 2002 to 2005 is less than the observed ozone change in this region. In this study, summertime simulations of 2002 and 2005 were conducted using the CMAQ version 5.0 modeling system released in 2012 that included several model updates aimed at improving the model predicted response, including updates to important model inputs. “Cross” simulations were conducted to separate the modeled impact of the emissions changes on ozone concentrations from the changes attributable to differences in meteorology across these years. Results show the change in the upper end of the ozone distribution explained by emission reductions is similar in magnitude to the change in ozone due to changes in meteorology across these years. Overall, the observed ozone decrease in the eastern U.S. continues to be underestimated by the model at both urban and rural monitoring sites.
Defect-induced magnetism in two-dimensional NbSe 2

Abstract The energetics and magnetism of perfect and vacancy-containing two-dimensional NbSe2 monolayers is investigated by first-principle calculations. It has been found the single Se vacancy has the lowest formation energy. Perfect NbSe2 monolayers, as well as monolayers containing single-selenium and double-selenium vacancies, are nonmagnetic metallic. However, Nb vacancies create a magnetic moment of 1.5 μB per vacancy. The moment is highly localized, confined nearly exclusively on the Se atoms adjacent to the vacancy, and mainly originates from the Se 4p electrons. The moment distribution indicates strongly anisotropic exchange bonds between vacancy moments.
The many faces of pulmonary aspergillosis: Imaging findings with pathologic correlation

Abstract Introduction Pulmonary Aspergillus infection can manifest as a variety of forms depending on the patients underlying immune status, the load of the organisms and the underlying condition of the lungs. Discussion Hypersensitivity pneumonitis and allergic bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) are typically seen in patients with hyper-immune status (asthma, atopy and hyper-eosinophilia). Aspergilloma or mycetoma is seen in patients with preexisting lung damage and cavities commonly from prior TB or sarcoidosis. In patients with immunosuppression, Aspergillus infection can present as semi-invasive or invasive (angioinvasive and airway invasive) aspergillosis. Conclusion In this article we correlate the radiologic findings of the various pulmonary manifestations of Aspergillus infection with their pathologic features to better understand the disease process and better comprehend the associated imaging patterns.
Vertical GaN Junction Barrier Schottky Diodes

Vertical GaN junction barrier Schottky (JBS) diodes are demonstrated. The JBS p-type grid was formed by Mg-implantation into a 10 μm thick unintentionally doped GaN homoepitaxial drift layer, grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Then, symmetrical multi-cycle rapid thermal annealing (SMRTA) repaired implantation damage and activated the Mg ions. This process includes deposition of an AlN capping layer, annealing in a nitrogen overpressure, and rapid heating and cooling pulsed annealing. In addition, PiN diodes and Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) were fabricated on the same substrate for comparison. The JBS diode demonstrates forward conduction characteristics dominated by the Schottky barrier (turn-on voltage ~0.5 V), and reverse breakdown voltage comparable to the PiN diode (−610 V).
Military and civilian collaboration: The power of numbers

The purpose of this study was to compare the number and types of extremity injuries treated at civilian trauma centers (CIV CENs) versus military treatment facilities (MTFs) participating in the Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC) and to investigate the potential benefits of a clinical research network that includes both civilian trauma centers and MTFs. Two analyses were performed. First, registry data collected on all surgically treated fractures at four core MTFs and 21 CIV CENs over one year were compared. Second, actual numbers and distribution of patients by type of injury enrolled in three METRC studies were compared. While MTFs demonstrated higher percentages of severe injuries including open fractures, traumatic amputations, vascular injuries, contamination, and injuries with bone, muscle, and skin loss when compared to CIV CENS, the CIV CENs treated a substantially higher number and, more importantly, enrolled patients in almost all categories. Comparison of service members to civilians was challenged by several differences between the two patient populations including mechanism of injury, the medical care environment, and confounding factors such as age, social setting and co-morbidities. Despite these limitations, in times without active military conflict, clinical trials will likely rely on civilian trauma centers for patient enrollment; only when numbers are pooled across a large number of centers can requisite sample sizes be met. These data demonstrate the benefits of maintaining a military-civilian partnership to address the major gaps in research defined by the Military.
Cardiac transplantation in children and adolescents with long QT syndrome.

Background Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a potentially lethal, yet highly treatable, cardiac channelopathy. Cardiac transplantation has been reported anecdotally for patients with severe LQTS refractory to standard therapies. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for cardiac transplantation in children evaluated and treated in an LQTS specialty center. Methods This was a retrospective review of 349 children with LQTS (mean age at diagnosis, 8.0 ± 5.7 years; mean corrected QT interval, 469 ± 51 ms; long QT syndrome type 1 [LQT1] in 46%, LQT2 in 31%, and LQT3 in 9%) evaluated from 2000 to 2013. A subset analysis was performed on patients referred for cardiac transplantation. Results Only 3 patients (0.9%; all LQT3; 2 female) underwent cardiac transplantation at ages 4, 11, and 17 years. Overall, 90 of 349 (26%) were symptomatic (exhibited LQTS-associated cardiac events) before LQTS diagnosis, including those who ultimately underwent transplant. Age at sentinel event was associated with transplantation (3 of 26 [12%] with an event at Conclusion Cardiac transplantation is seldom necessary for the management of LQTS. However, patients with LQT3 and in utero/neonatal expressivity are at higher risk of treatment failure and refractory ventricular arrhythmias with standard therapy, and cardiac transplantation should be considered for this malignant subset of LQTS.
Biochemical isolation of myonuclei employed to define changes to the myonuclear proteome that occur with aging

Summary Skeletal muscle aging is accompanied by loss of muscle mass and strength. Examining changes in myonuclear proteins with age would provide insight into molecular processes which regulate these profound changes in muscle physiology. However, muscle tissue is highly adapted for contraction and thus comprised largely of contractile proteins making the nuclear proteins difficult to identify from whole muscle samples. By developing a method to purify myonuclei from whole skeletal muscle, we were able to collect myonuclei for analysis by flow cytometry, biochemistry, and mass spectrometry. Nuclear purification dramatically increased the number and intensity of nuclear proteins detected by mass spectrometry compared to whole tissue. We exploited this increased proteomic depth to investigate age-related changes to the myonuclear proteome. Nuclear levels of 54 of 779 identified proteins (7%) changed significantly with age; these proteins were primarily involved in chromatin maintenance and RNA processing. To determine whether the changes we detected were specific to myonuclei or were common to nuclei of excitatory tissues, we compared aging in myonuclei to aging in brain nuclei. Although several of the same processes were affected by aging in both brain and muscle nuclei, the specific proteins involved in these alterations differed between the two tissues. Isolating myonuclei allowed a deeper view into the myonuclear proteome than previously possible facilitating identification of novel age-related changes in skeletal muscle. Our technique will enable future studies into a heretofore underrepresented compartment of skeletal muscle.
A Simple Nonlinear Observer for Estimating Parameters in Dynamic Systems

Abstract An algorithm for estimating constant parameters in a dynamic system is presented. The algorithm, based on a nonlinear, reduced-order observer, is a generalization of a recently-developed method for estimating the coefficient of friction in a dynamic system. If the dynamics of the system are linear in the parameters to be estimated, the error in estimation of these parameters satisfies a linear, time-varying homogeneous differential equation. By choice of a function in the nonlinear observer, it may be possible to achieve asymptotic stability of the estimation error. Several example applications are presented.
A longitudinal investigation of parental social-economic status (SES) and young students’ learning of English as a foreign language

Abstract Despite the growing tendency worldwide to lower the starting age of English education, our knowledge of how young students learn English over time remains limited. Particularly limited is our knowledge of how parental socio-economic status (SES) influences their children's English learning. This study investigated the role of parental SES in Chinese middle school students' English learning over time. The participants were 189 middle school students and their parents who were drawn from two distinct socioeconomic areas. Students were followed for three years from the seventh to ninth grade (ranging in age from 12 to 15). Each year, students took the Cambridge ESOL tests and filled out surveys concerning their English learning and motivation. Their parents also filled out extensive surveys regarding family background, resources, and parenting styles and beliefs. We found significant relationships between SES and parents' attitudes towards the role of English, parenting styles, Chinese books available at home, parental involvement in children's English learning, and parental beliefs and expectations toward their children's English learning ability. We also found that SES, parenting styles (autonomous style rather than controlled style), and parental beliefs and expectations were positively associated with students' English performance.
Variability in the Raman Spectrum of Unpolished Growth and Fracture Surfaces of Pyrite Due to Laser Heating and Crystal Orientation.

Two probable causes of variability in the Raman spectrum of unpolished pyrite are well recognized, in principle, but not always in practice, namely: (1) downshifting of band positions due to laser heating; and (2) variations in the ratios of band intensities due to crystallographic orientation of the sample with respect to the laser's dominant polarization plane. The aims of this paper are to determine whether these variations can be used to acquire additional information about pyrites. Here, using laser Raman microprobe analysis of natural, unpolished pyrite samples, we investigate the magnitude of downshifting of band positions associated with laser heating of different sizes of pyrite grains. We demonstrate that the magnitude of this effect can be large (up to ∼10 cm-1), negatively proportional to grain size, of greater magnitude than the effect typically attributable to natural intersample differences in trace element (TE) solid solution, and of similar magnitude among bands. Through Raman analysis of naturally occurring faces on pyrite samples at various angles of rotation, we also demonstrate that the three most common faces on pyrite can be distinguished by the ratio of the intensities of the dominant bands. We conclude that for unpolished samples, laser Raman microprobe analysis is most effective as a means of identifying pyrite, and the presence of solid solution therein, when laser power is low enough to avoid substantial heating. Once pyrite has been identified, higher laser powers can be used to produce spectra whose ratios of band intensities indicate the face or crystallographic plane being irradiated.
Parity Mixing in F 19

The parity-nonconserving asymmetry of the 110-keV de-excitation radiation emitted by a polarized ensemble of $^{19}\mathrm{F}$ nuclei in the first excited state is found to be $\ensuremath{\delta}=\ensuremath{-}(1.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.9)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$.
Generic system-level modeling and optimization for beyond CMOS device applications

In this work, a fast, generic system-level design and optimization methodology is presented for futuristic devices. This work evaluates GaN Heterojunction TFET, WTe 2 Two-dimensional heterojunction interlayer TFET (ThinTFET), and WTe 2 Transition Metal Dichalcogenide TFET (TMD TFET) in terms of performance and energy-delay product (EDP). This study investigates the impact of device-level performance on the system-level performance and power dissipation. The system-level methodology uses a generic model that utilizes a stochastic wire distribution to estimate system performance. An optimum supply voltage and gate count to achieve maximum throughput is examined for each of the devices using an empirical CPI model under different power budget constraints. Based on this study, the optimal design of each beyond-CMOS device technology is demonstrated to improve EDP. Results in this work delineate an optimal EDP for a given range of power budgets, and provides insightful trends on key design parameters as well as optimal performance and power metrics based on the fast system-level optimization at the early design stage.
The Lottery Cases and Ithaca Trust

It is this author’s contention that Ithaca Trust holds that when valuation must be computed by actuarial methods, all facts, except for those necessary to use the tables, must be ignored. This requirement is so despite the fact that an actual facts-and-circumstances analysis would likely produce a more realistic result.
Political and Economic Challenges to Creating a Sustainable Agriculture

There are many barriers that stand in the way of established conventional farmers who want to adopt sustainable techniques, and young people who want to become sustainable farmers. For established farmers, barriers include: Concerns about transition costs Termination of government subsidies Lack of tariffs that protect production Lack of knowledge about sustainable techniques Need to break ties with conventional farmers Loss of investment in conventional equipment Need to increase labor force Family is risk-averse
Automatic children's reading tutor on hand-held devices.

This paper presents an Automatic Reading Tutoring (ART) system using state-of-the-art speech recognition technologies aimed to improve children’s oral reading ability. The features of this system include a compact and robust language model designed for detecting disfluencies in children’s speech, lowfootprint implementation, and built-in microphone array. Our system is targeting on hand-held devices to provide better accessibility, flexibility, and freedom for children’s reading practice. The focus of this paper is on the current system’s architecture, which has achieved real-time performance on two hand-held, small-form-factor devices (UMPC and Motion Tablet), with the same detection rate and false alarm rate as on desktop PCs. We also report the latest effort on a prototype system running on a PDA (Windows Mobile 6).
Extrapyramidal motor signs in older adults with HIV disease: frequency, 1-year course, and associations with activities of daily living and quality of life

Age and HIV disease have additive effects on neural systems that support motor functioning. The current study examined the combined impact of aging and HIV on extrapyramidal motor functions, which were hypothesized to influence on activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life (QoL). Participants included 336 adults classified by HIV serostatus and age. A research nurse administered the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and participants completed the modified Lawton & Brody ADL and the Short Form Survey Instrument (SF-36) questionnaires as part of a larger neuropsychological research battery. A convenience subset of 172 participants completed a 14-month follow-up evaluation. At baseline, only older age was associated with mild extrapyramidal signs; however, at 14-month follow-up, independent adverse effects of both HIV status and age group were observed on a 3-level UPDRS change variable. Among older HIV+ adults, the presence of mild UPDRS motor signs was independently associated with basic and instrumental ADL dependence, as well as lower physical (ps < .05), but not mental QoL. In the modern treatment era, older HIV+ adults show higher frequency of mild extrapyramidal signs as compared to younger individuals (but not older HIV− persons) and are at higher risk of incident extrapyramidal signs relative to HIV− persons (but not younger HIV+ persons). When present in older HIV+ adults, extrapyramidal signs are of mild severity but nevertheless increase the risk of daily functioning problems and lower health-related physical QoL.
Review of Stephen Everson, Ed., Ethics, Companions to Ancient Thought (Cambridge University Press, 1998)

I review this fine collection of articles on ancient ethics ranging from the Presocratics to Sextus Empiricus. Eight of the nine chapters are published here for the first time. Contributors include Charles H. Kahn on “Pre-Platonic Ethics,” C. C. W. Taylor on “Platonic Ethics,” Stephen Everson on “Aristotle on Nature and Value,” John McDowell on “Some Issues in Aristotle’s Moral Psychology,” David Sedley on “The Inferential Foundations of Epicurean Ethics,” T. H. Irwin on “Socratic Paradox and Stoic Theory,” Julia Annas on “Doing Without Objective Values: Ancient and Modern Strategies,” and Susan Sauve Meyer on “Moral Responsibility: Aristotle and After.” There is also an introductory essay by the editor, Stephen Everson. I summarize and then critique each chapter in this rather lengthy review.
PL11.1 Global health legacies, sustainable development goals, and implications for sexual & reproductive health

In exploring the historical origins of global health – conceived as interventions in the health of other populations – this presentation identifies key themes that shape our thinking and action, including those related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offers a paradigm shift from the past. Using examples related to inequity, climate change, and migrant populations, the presentation examines the connections to and implications for SRH, identifying new opportunities and imperatives for action. Despite massive increases in the scale and complexity of global health efforts, the rationale and approaches for intervention have changed little, creating a legacy of: 1. Primacy of science. Advances in science in low resource settings have saved millions of lives around the world, yet has privileged biomedical and technological applications to addressing one health problem at a time, but with significant opportunity cost to building local capabilities and institutions 2. Short-termism. Interventions are designed in crisis or as simple ‘quick wins’, to the detriment of long-term, sustainable approaches that address coherent sets of issues facing populations or health systems 3. Neglect of underlying social, structural and commercial determinants of the health of populations The SDGs shift the focus towards tackling inter-dependent and often intractable problems that are both local and global, and demand a change in the approaches to global health and SRH interventions. Simply placing Universal Health Coverage as the center-piece of the SDGs is inadequate. Instead, emphasis is needed on greater participation by those most affected, and promoting coherence and integration beyond SRH programs or the health sector. Practical approaches would address linkages with economic opportunity, gender discrimination, education, water & sanitation, food security, environment and resource management, public safety, conflict management, disaster preparedness and other areas of development. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Evaluating data to guide care delivery: Quality improvement methods and implementation science

Abstract Within healthcare systems, quality improvement (QI) methodologies and implementation science (IS) techniques are used to identify optimal processes to improve care delivery. Nurses remain at the forefront of care delivery, and must understand the basic components of QI and IS in order to advocate for improved efficiencies, address challenges to evidence-based practice utilization, and monitor incremental changes to positively impact benchmarks and patient outcomes.
Effect of Vitamin D and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Kidney Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes that can lead to end-stage kidney disease and is associated with high cardiovascular risk. Few treatments are available to prevent CKD in type 2 diabetes. Objective To test whether supplementation with vitamin D3or omega-3 fatty acids prevents development or progression of CKD in type 2 diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants Randomized clinical trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design conducted among 1312 adults with type 2 diabetes recruited between November 2011 and March 2014 from all 50 US states as an ancillary study to the Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL), coordinated by a single center in Massachusetts. Follow-up was completed in December 2017. Interventions Participants were randomized to receive vitamin D3(2000 IU/d) and omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid; 1 g/d) (n = 370), vitamin D3and placebo (n = 333), placebo and omega-3 fatty acids (n = 289), or 2 placebos (n = 320) for 5 years. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was change in glomerular filtration rate estimated from serum creatinine and cystatin C (eGFR) from baseline to year 5. Results Among 1312 participants randomized (mean age, 67.6 years; 46% women; 31% of racial or ethnic minority), 934 (71%) completed the study. Baseline mean eGFR was 85.8 (SD, 22.1) mL/min/1.73 m2. Mean change in eGFR from baseline to year 5 was −12.3 (95% CI, −13.4 to −11.2) mL/min/1.73 m2with vitamin D3vs −13.1 (95% CI, −14.2 to −11.9) mL/min/1.73 m2with placebo (difference, 0.9 [95% CI, −0.7 to 2.5] mL/min/1.73 m2). Mean change in eGFR was −12.2 (95% CI, −13.3 to −11.1) mL/min/1.73 m2with omega-3 fatty acids vs −13.1 (95% CI, −14.2 to −12.0) mL/min/1.73 m2with placebo (difference, 0.9 [95% CI, −0.7 to 2.6] mL/min/1.73 m2). There was no significant interaction between the 2 interventions. Kidney stones occurred among 58 participants (n = 32 receiving vitamin D3and n = 26 receiving placebo) and gastrointestinal bleeding among 45 (n = 28 receiving omega-3 fatty acids and n = 17 receiving placebo). Conclusions and Relevance Among adults with type 2 diabetes, supplementation with vitamin D3or omega-3 fatty acids, compared with placebo, resulted in no significant difference in change in eGFR at 5 years. The findings do not support the use of vitamin D or omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for preserving kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT01684722
54 Choline alters the pattern of DNA methylation and lipid content of pre-implantation bovine embryos

Choline is a methyl donor for DNA methylation and a precursor for phosphatidylcholine, which is the major phospholipid of cell membranes. Early embryonic development involves processes of DNA demethylation and remethylation as well as synthesis of new cell membranes. Addition of choline chloride (ChCl) to culture medium of embryos produced in vitro increased birthweight of Brahman calves after embryo transfer. The objective was to determine whether the addition of ChCl to culture medium alters the pattern of DNA methylation and lipid content of pre-implantation embryos produced in vitro. Embryos were incubated after fertilisation in BBH7 culture medium containing 0.0, 0.004, 1.3, or 1.8 mM ChCl (adjusted with NaCl to maintain isotonicity). Concentrations were chosen to approximate free choline (0.004 mM) and total choline (1.30 mM) in plasma of cows at week 1 postpartum and concentration of total choline in plasma of cows fed rumen-protected choline (1.8 mM). Cleavage and blastocyst rate (n = 8 replicates) were evaluated at Days 3 and 7.5 post-insemination, respectively. Embryos ≥8 cells (range 8 to 24 cells; stages near embryonic genome activation) and expanded blastocysts were harvested at Day 3.75 (n = 232) and 7.5 (n = 204) to estimate global DNA methylation by immunostaining for 5-methyl-cytosine. Methylation of DNA was estimated by calculating the ratio of fluorescence for 5-methyl-cytosine to that of propidium iodide (DNA). Another group of expanded blastocysts was harvested (n = 99) to estimate lipid content using Nile Red. Embryo development was analysed by GLIMMIX procedure and fluorescence data by GLM procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). The proportion of zygotes that cleaved after fertilisation (77.5 ± 2.3, 78.1 ± 2.3, 74.5 ± 2.4, and 80.1 ± 2.2% for 0.0, 0.004, 1.3, and 1.8 mM ChCl; P = 0.2736) and cleaved embryos that became blastocysts (37.8 ± 4.4, 41.5 ± 4.6, 42.8 ± 4.6, and 39.6 ± 4.4%; P = 0.5764) was similar between treatments. The DNA methylation at both days was affected by treatment (P < 0.001). At Day 3.75, 1.3 mM choline reduced methylation and there were no effects of other concentrations (1.13a ± 0.03, 1.04a ± 0.03, 0.92b ± 0.03, and 1.13a ± 0.04; means with different superscripts differ at P < 0.05). For blastocysts, in contrast, DNA methylation was increased for embryos treated with 1.3 and 1.8 mM choline (0.98a ± 0.04, 1.04ab ± 0.03, 1.25c ± 0.03, and 1.11b ± 0.03). Lipid content in blastocysts was also affected by treatment (P = 0.0139). In particular, lipid content was higher for embryos treated with 1.3 and 1.8 mM choline (409.1a ± 54.3, 542.3ab ± 62.3, 651.3b ± 54.3, and 583.9b ± 55.0). In conclusion, addition of ChCl to culture medium altered DNA methylation in bovine pre-implantation embryos produced in vitro in a manner dependent on developmental stage and choline concentration. Likewise, ChCl increased lipid content in the resultant blastocysts. Support was provided by the Red Larson Endowment.
Comprehensive Low Power Adiabatic Circuit Design with Resonant Power Clocking

In this paper, the first comprehensive methodology is presented for design of low power adiabatic circuits inclusive of the adiabatic core design and the power-clock generation. Prior works have focused on either designing adiabatic cores or the power clock generation circuit, only. These non-comprehensive views can misrepresent the performance savings and fail to address the opportunities at integration. In this work, a comprehensive solution is presented that also features a unique innovation for the power clock generation circuit in step-charged circuits designed with rotary traveling wave oscillators (RTWO) and adiabatic frequency dividers. In experimentation, SPICE based simulations are performed at 416 MHz and 330 MHz in the 90 nm technology node and compared to CMOS based implementations, as well as other known power-clock generation techniques. A 32-bit CMOS adder consumes 3.5× more power when compared to the proposed 32-bit ECRL adder operating at a frequency of 416 MHz. Furthermore, 1000 32-bit CMOS adders in parallel consumes 3.4× more power when compared to 1000 32-bit ECRL adders in parallel designed with the proposed architecture at a frequency of 416 MHz.
Utility of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in the Emergency Department

Abstract Background Emergency physicians are frequently required to identify and triage patients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a possible cause that must be considered. Its prognosis depends on prompt recognition and treatment, and progression of the disease can lead to permanent vision loss and considerable morbidity. Point-of-care ultrasound can rapidly identify elevated ICP. Measurements of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and optic disc elevation (ODE) can act as surrogates for ICP. Case Series We describe five cases in which ultrasound was used to identify increased ICP and aid clinical decision-making. In several of the cases, ultrasound was used to confirm a suspicion for IIH and initiate therapy while awaiting the results of a more time-consuming and technically challenging test, such as lumbar puncture or optical coherence tomography. One of the patients was pregnant, and sonographic evidence of elevated ICP helped avoid exposing the patient to unnecessary radiation. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Ultrasound is a quick and versatile tool for screening patients with neurologic symptoms, and when integrated into the proper clinical context, can reduce the use of more invasive tests. It can be particularly useful in patients with pathology that may not show abnormalities on computed tomography scan or in whom lumbar puncture is technically difficult, making patients at risk for IIH well-suited to examination by ultrasound. We use a cutoff of 5 mm for ONSD and 0.6 mm for ODE, though there are no universally agreed on cutoff values.
Racial Disparities in Adult Cochlear Implantation

ObjectiveTo compare rates of cochlear implant referral and cochlear implantation across different races and to compare audiometric profiles of these patients.Study DesignRetrospective study.Setting...
Medium Voltage Shore-to-Ship Connection System Enabled by Series Connected 3.3 kV SiC MOSFETs

Increasing concern about the environmental impact of ships has made Shore-to-Ship (STS) power an attractive solution for ship owners and port authorities worldwide in reducing emissions at ports. Existing shore-to-ship solutions for 0.1 MVA to 5 MVA applications employ silicon (Si) IGBT based static frequency converters. Recent developments in high voltage silicon carbide (SiC) devices have facilitated improvement in efficiency and power density of medium voltage (MV) converters in various applications. This paper proposes an MV STS system enabled by series connection of three 3.3 kV SiC MOSFETs, which shows the potential for improved power density and efficiency compared to existing Si IGBT based solutions. A 100 kVA 3-phase two-level voltage source converter (VSC) with series connected 3.3 kV SiC MOSFETs is designed and demonstrated. Experimental results for the series connected 3.3kV SiC MOSFET based converter is shown at 6 kV dc link voltage to validate the design and operation of such a system. Successful demonstration of a MV converter system enabled by series connection of high voltage SiC MOSFETs can open up opportunities to replace conventional Si IGBT based converters with SiC MOSFET based converters in applications interfacing with medium voltage grid.