cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physician practices related to use of BMI-for-age and counseling for childhood obesity prevention: A cross-sectional study

Background Screening for obesity and providing appropriate obesity-related counseling in the clinical setting are important strategies to prevent and control childhood obesity. The purpose of this study is to document pediatricians (PEDs) and general practitioners (GPs) with pediatric patients use of BMI-for-age to screen for obesity, confidence in explaining BMI, access to referral clinics, and characteristics associated with screening and counseling to children and their caregivers.
Evidence of Hypothalamic Control of the Pituitary Release of Thyrotrophin.

SummaryBilateral, symmetrical, electrolytic lesions in the hypothalamus between the suprachiasmatic and caudal ventromedian nuclei prevented the goitrogenic response of the rat to thiouracil feeding. The iodide-concentrating capacity of the thyroid, however, increased to approximately the same extent as that of intact rats similarly treated. It appears that hypothalamic lesions of this type impair the secretion of thyrotrophin by the pituitary. It is not known whether this interference with thyrotrophin secretion is qualitative or quantitative, nor whether hypothalamic control is exerted by neural or hormonal mechanisms. The available evidence points to the secretion of a hypothalamic hormone, however.
Vital Records for Quality Improvement

The birth certificate and death certificate are important sources of population-based data for assessing the extent of risk and the quality of perinatal outcome. The birth certificate contains the hospital of birth and many items, such as birth weight and race, that can serve as important risk adjusters for neonatal mortality. To assess mortality a second vital record, the death certificate, must be linked to the birth certificate. If the analysis is to be stratified by level of neonatal care or other hospital characteristics, a third file providing these details must also be utilized. The exact vital record formats, recording protocols, and quality control efforts are determined by and differ across each state. Even with these differences, the quality and completeness of vital records and their linkage are reasonable for population-based analyses. Although the most important vital outcome from a neonatologist's perspective is neonatal mortality, vital records can also be used to assess fetal, perinatal, postneonatal, and infant mortality. The analytic paradigm that is used in quality analysis performed on data derived from the vital record states that observed outcome is a function of risk, chance, and care. Risk is a characteristic or condition such as low birth weight or low 1-minute Apgar score that elevates the probability of an adverse outcome but is beyond the control of the agent responsible for the outcome. Using risk matrices or regression analysis one determines the expected mortality for a specific institution's case-mix. This expectation is usually based on the statewide analysis of infants with a similar risk profile. A standardized mortality ratio is calculated by dividing observed by expected mortality. A hospital with a high observed mortality (12 deaths per 1000) and an even higher expected mortality based on the risk characteristics of its neonates (24 per 1000) would have a standardized mortality ratio of 0.5. Once the effects of chance have been accounted for by statistical testing this finding could indicate that mortality in this hospital is 50% lower then expected. Although initially intended for legal and broad-based public health purposes, vital records represent an important source of data to inform perinatal quality improvement activities. The optimal usefulness of information derived from vital records requires that clinicians take an active role in assuring that data entry is complete and accurately reflects risk status, clinical factors, and outcomes. However, even a superb database will be of limited usefulness unless it is linked to an initiative that actively involves clinicians committed to quality improvement.
Experience with a new epimyocardial pacing lead in children.

A new permanent epimyocardial Medtronic 4951 “stab-in” or “fishhook” pacing electrode was implanted in 16 children. Identical technique, with particular attention to the direction of the coronary circulation, was utilized to implant the leads. There were 10 atrial implantations (5 active, 5 redundant) and 18 ventricular implantations (15 active, 3 redundant). Pacing modes were VVI (12), VDD (1), DVI (2), and DDD (1). Experience with the lead covers 280 patient months (3 days to 21.8 months, mean 14 months). Patients were allowed monthly via telephonic transmission. With the exception of the single patient who expired three days after implantation, each patient has returned for follow-up analysis including chronic threshold determinations using the programming capabilities of the pulse generators. Only one lead required more than the minimum obtainable voltage output from the pulse generator to effect capture. No other lead required more than 5.0 volts at 0.5 ms pulse width. There have been no lead fractures or dislodgements. In this evaluation the Medtronic 4951 lead performed well in both atrium and ventricle in a group of children with diverse cardiac pathology. The small diameter of the lead and the low profile of the electrode are advantageous for use in pediatric patients.
CDK7 Inhibition Suppresses Super-Enhancer-Linked Oncogenic Transcription in MYCN-Driven Cancer

The MYC oncoproteins are thought to stimulate tumor cell growth and proliferation through amplification of gene transcription, a mechanism that has thwarted most efforts to inhibit MYC function as potential cancer therapy. Using a covalent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) to disrupt the transcription of amplified MYCN in neuroblastoma cells, we demonstrate downregulation of the oncoprotein with consequent massive suppression of MYCN-driven global transcriptional amplification. This response translated to significant tumor regression in a mouse model of high-risk neuroblastoma, without the introduction of systemic toxicity. The striking treatment selectivity of MYCN-overexpressing cells correlated with preferential downregulation of super-enhancer-associated genes, including MYCN and other known oncogenic drivers in neuroblastoma. These results indicate that CDK7 inhibition, by selectively targeting the mechanisms that promote global transcriptional amplification in tumor cells, may be useful therapy for cancers that are driven by MYC family oncoproteins.
Optimizing Patterns of Land Use to Reduce Peak Runoff Flow and Nonpoint Source Pollution with an Integrated Hydrological and Land- Use Model

Abstract The goal of this study is to develop and apply a methodology for delineating optimal land-use patterns that minimize peak runoff flow at watershed outlets by coupling a hydrological model and a land-use model. Under the assumption supported in prior research that nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is positively correlated with surface runoff volume, the model then yields land-use patterns that minimize nonpoint source pollution. A hydrological simulation model is developed with a modified and spatially explicit Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number method to analyze the geographical impacts of land uses. An optimization algorithm is integrated with the simulation model to evaluate different land-use patterns and their response to rainfall runoff events, and to search for optimal land-use patterns. This approach, applied to the southwestern basin of Lake Erie, Old Woman Creek Watershed (Ohio), yields optimal land-use patterns that reduce the peak runoff rate by 15%–20% under 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10...
Synthesis and evaluation of thiazole carboxamides as vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) antagonists.

Abstract A thiazole derivative, 2-(2,6-dichlorobenzyl)-N-(4-isopropylphenyl) thiazole-4-carboxamide (1), was identified as a TRPV1 antagonist. We synthesized various thiazole analogs and evaluated them for their ability to block capsaicin- or acid-induced calcium influx in TRPV1-expressing CHO cells. The IC50 values of the most potent antagonists were ca. 0.050 μM in these assays.
Financial Conflicts of Interest, Disclosure, and Academic Discipline:

Peer assessments of researchers' financial conflicts of interest (FCOIs) are crucial to effective FCOI management. We sought to determine how academics perceive FCOI disclosure and whether their perceptions vary depending on discipline and educational backgrounds. Participants (faculty and staff members from a multi-disciplinary academic medical center) responded to a questionnaire involving 10 hypothetical scenarios in which researchers either disclosed or failed to disclose a financial conflict (between-participants manipulation). Participants viewed disclosure as important and believed that researchers' objectivity would be affected by undisclosed FCOIs. In contrast to non-physicians, physicians showed greater recognition that the existence of an FCOI does not depend on its disclosure. This suggests that physicians are relatively well informed about FCOIs, which is likely attributable to more education about them.
Resistance of Salmonella typhimurium to tetracyclines.

SummaryCultures of Salmonella typhimurium isolated from man and animals prior to 1948 and cultures of the same serotype isolated from man and fowls after Jan. 1956 were compared for resistance to several antibiotic substances. Significant results were obtained only with tetracyclines. Whereas none of the 200 older cultures examined was resistant to tetracyclines, 9% of cultures recently isolated from fowls and 5% of cultures recently isolated from man were resistant to the substances. Attention is called to the possible relationship of these findings to the inclusion of tetracyclines in poultry feeds.
Histological effects of procedural and environmental factors on isolated rat heart preparations.

SummaryHistological evaluation of isolated rat heart preparations has shown that: Incubated isolated right ventricular strips and atria undergo observable degeneration after relatively short periods of time and at temperatures of 27° or higher. The degree of degeneration is a function of: (a) duration of incubation; (b) incubation temperature: and (c) thickness of the soaked preparation. Cardiac degeneration is not prevented by penicillin, streptomycin, polymyxin, chlorte-tracycline, 9-alpha-fluorohydrocortisone, or ouabain in the doses employed. The perfused whole heart is superior to the incubated isolated tissue preparation. The perfused heart shows few signs of degeneration at 37° for prolonged periods.
Selling Prevention: Using a Business Framework to Analyze the State of Prevention and Overcome Obstacles to Expanding Substance Abuse Prevention

Substance abuse prevention programs can be a tough sell to schools, but by employing common business frameworks, the field can more easily understand the state of the field and identify possible methods of expanding school-based substance abuse prevention. An analysis of the state of the substance abuse prevention field finds that the field often fails to consider the consumer when making strategic business decisions. Consumer-driven approaches such as the development and adoption of a standardized measure for effectiveness of in-school substance abuse prevention programs may expand the use and impact of substance abuse prevention. The field should extensively examine the current state of substance abuse prevention, through business tools such as the SWOT and Five C’s Analysis, before ultimately developing a strategy. The prevention field can learn from business practices.
A NEW THERMODYNAMIC CALCULATION FORMULA FOR ACTIVITY OF COMPONENT IN BINARY SYSTEM

A new formula for calculating the activities of the components in any binary system has been proposed based on Miedema's model for calculating the formation heat of binary alloys.The formula can be used in both solid and liquid solutions. This method has been used to calculate the activities in the binary system taken from 75 elements. The results show that this method is feasible and agrees very well with the experimental data for most systems. The ratio of the same sign of either the positive deviation or the negative deviation to solution reaches 87.5 %.
Optical Considerations in Digital Imaging

The topic of optics and its effect in ultimate rendered image quality has largely been underemphasized for medical imaging systems. In actuality, adequate attention to optical issues is essential in ensuring that image quality is optimal. Generally, optical issues can be divided into two broad categories: optical interface optimization and lighting optimization. Although these issues deal with disparate aspects of optical physics, they are covered within a single article because they both apply to the common goal of generating superior medical images.
Current Status of Cytomegalovirus Vaccines: 2016

A vaccine against the debilitating effects of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major public health priority. Vaccines against CMV may also improve the outcome of solid organ and haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. In spite of the long-recognised morbidity caused by CMV infection, progress towards a licenced vaccine has been slow, owing to uncertainties about the key immunological correlates of protective immunity and the optimal vaccine expression approaches to employ. Driven by the encouraging (albeit suboptimal) benefit conferred by a recombinant CMV glycoprotein B (gB) vaccine against CMV infection and disease in recent clinical trials, there is currently increased interest in designing and evaluating a number of candidate vaccines in both preclinical models and controlled trials. Several new CMV vaccine candidates are currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. Major challenges must be met before a vaccine can be licenced. Chief among these challenges are: (1) the need to define the optimal constituents of CMV vaccines; (2) the need to define the metrics of protection that would be required for licensure of a vaccine for congenital CMV infection and (3) the necessity of solving the challenge of designing successful vaccines against reinfection. Key Concepts Congenital infection with CMV is the most common congenital viral infection and is responsible for a wide range of birth defects, including sensorineural hearing loss, mental retardation and developmental delay. Primary infection with CMV during pregnancy confers the greatest risk of foetal transmission, but recurrent infections are also common, and these infections can also lead to transmission of CMV with attendant disabilities. Immunity to CMV is complex, and involves both cellular and humoral immune responses. CMV encodes immune evasion genes that complicate the development of protective immunity, help promote reinfection and create challenges for vaccine design. A vaccine for congenital CMV is a major public health priority, but no licenced vaccines exist. Key targets of the humoral immune response to CMV and the cellular immune response include envelope glycoproteins, particularly gB and the PC proteins, and the pp65 and IE1 proteins, respectively. Several clinical trials of both live, attenuated CMV vaccines and subunit vaccines based on recombinant and/or vectored expression of specific immunogens have been conducted. Modest protection against CMV infection has been demonstrated by a recombinant, adjuvanted gB protein subunit vaccine, although the magnitude and duration of protection were suboptimal. Greater public awareness of congenital CMV is required to help drive efforts to develop and licence a protective vaccine. Keywords: cytomegalovirus vaccines; glycoprotein B; pp65; congenital cytomegalovirus infection; pentameric complex
Learning and Representation

Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence implies that brains compute representations of aspects of the experienced world. For example, they compute the animal's position in the world by integrating its velocity with respect to time. Other examples are the learning of the solar ephemeris, the construction of a cognitive map, and episodic memory in food caching. Representations require a symbolic read–write memory that carries information extracted from experience forward in time in a computationally accessible form. The analogy between the architecture of computer memory and the genetic architecture suggests the sort of memory structure to be looked for in the nervous system.
Identity behind the Iron Curtain: Recent advances in identity research in changing contexts

AbstractThe present article introduces the special issue on identity in the former Soviet bloc countries. We begin by discussing identity as a developmental task, as well as the social-contextual forces that direct and constrain the ways in which individual people construct their identities. We then articulate some specific challenges inherent in identity development within contexts characterized by social change – primarily the fact that the available identity alternatives, and the ways in which individuals are expected to go about choosing from among these alternatives, are likely changing rapidly. We frame Erikson’s original work as having been grounded in times of rapid social change in the post-World War II United States, and describe the direct relevance of Erikson’s work for the study of more contemporary instances of sociopolitical change. We then introduce and summarize the articles included in the special issue.
Antidepressants for Treating Depression in Adults with End-stage Kidney Disease with Dialysis.

The number of adults receiving dialysis for end stage kidney disease (ESKD) is increasing worldwide. In the United Kingdom, 900 per million patients were receiving dialysis in 2013, with an expecte...
Smart DAS upholes for simultaneous land near-surface characterization and subsurface imaging

Abstract A novel integrated land seismic imaging system that uses distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) in a grid of shallow upholes is proposed. This system allows simultaneous land near-surface characterization and subsurface imaging in a cost-efficient manner. Using this fiber-optic system, uphole velocity surveys can be acquired at any time with a single shot, since all depth levels are recorded simultaneously. Dense grids of smart DAS upholes accurately characterize long-wavelength statics and reduce uncertainty in exploration for low-relief structures. In addition, connecting multiple upholes with a single fiber enables efficient acquisition of seismic surveys with buried vertical arrays, which can provide superior images of the deeper subsurface than surface seismic, but with improved accuracy, since they bypass most of the near-surface complexities. The smart DAS upholes can deliver on-demand surveys that simultaneously characterize the near surface and perform deep reflection imaging of oil and gas ...
Outcome-based grants-in-aid to local school districts: how to apply them and analyze their impacts on fiscal and outcome equity

This paper investigates whether an outcome-based school aid formula could improve fiscal and outcome equity significantly more than a typical aid formula would. When outcome-based formula is applied to foundation aid, fiscal and outcome equity deteriorates compared to Ohio's recent aid formula. However, when it is applied to power-equalizing aid, the latter improves fiscal and outcome equity more significantly than both foundation aid and Ohio's recent aid formula do. This paper further shows how to apply them to real-world cases. The lessons from this paper can be easily applied to similar grant systems with standardized test scores.
Iodate and nitrate transformation by Agrobacterium/Rhizobium related strain DVZ35 isolated from contaminated Hanford groundwater

Nitrate and radioiodine (129I) contamination is widespread in groundwater underneath the Central Plateau of the Hanford Site. 129I, a byproduct of nuclear fission, is of concern due to a 15.7 million year half-life, and toxicity. The Hanford 200 West Area contains plumes covering 4.3 km2 with average 129I concentrations of 3.5 pCi/L. Iodate accounts for 70.6% of the iodine present and organo-iodine and iodide make up 25.8% and 3.6%, respectively. Nitrate plumes encompassing the 129I plumes have a surface area of 16 km2 averaging 130 mg/L. A nitrate and iodate reducing bacterium closely related to Agrobacterium, strain DVZ35, was isolated from sediment incubated in a 129I plume. Iodate removal efficiency was 36.3% in transition cultures, and 47.8% in anaerobic cultures. Nitrate (10 mM) was also reduced in the microcosm. When nitrate was spiked into the microcosms, iodate removal efficiency was 84.0% and 69.2% in transition and anaerobic cultures, respectively. Iodate reduction was lacking when nitrate was absent from the growth medium. These data indicate there is simultaneous reduction of nitrate and iodate by DVZ35, and iodate is reduced to iodide. Results provide the scientific basis for combined nitrogen and iodine cycling throughout the Hanford Site.
BLAU SYNDROME: AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF HYPERCALCEMIA IN A CHILD

Objective: To report a case of symptomatic vitamin D-mediated hypercalcemia in a girl with Blau syndrome, a rare granulomatous inflammatory disease occurring in early childhood. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, imaging, and genetic findings are presented along with response to therapy. Results: A 5-year-old girl with a history of surgically treated Graves disease presented with a serum calcium of 13.5 mg/dL (reference range is 9.6 to 10.6 mg/dL), phosphorus of 5.3 mg/dL (reference range is 3.7 to 5.4 mg/dL), parathyroid hormone of 6 pg/mL (reference range is 15 to 65 pg/mL), and an inappropriate 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 of 64 pg/mL (reference range is 24 to 86 pg/mL). Her hypercalcemia was accompanied by painless, boggy joint effusions and hypertension. Additional testing revealed an elevated angiotensin-converting enzyme concentration and negative fungal and tuberculosis tests. Genetic testing revealed a mutation in the NOD2 gene, confirming the diagnosis of Blau syndrome. Hypercalcemia resolved with treat...
Insulin dependent and independent normalization of blood glucose levels reduces the enhanced rewarding effects of nicotine in a rodent model of diabetes.

Abstract The rewarding effects of nicotine have been previously shown to be enhanced in rodent models of diabetes. It is presently unclear whether the enhanced nicotine reward observed in the diabetes models are mediated via an insulin or glucose mechanism. This study examined whether the enhanced rewarding effects of nicotine observed in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats are insulin-mediated. Male and female rats were treated with STZ and the rewarding effects of nicotine (0.2 mg/kg) were measured using the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure. Some STZ-treated animals received insulin supplementation via subcutaneous pellets immediately after STZ administration, while other rats received daily injections of dapagliflozin (10 mg/kg), a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor. Both male and female STZ-treated rats displayed hyperglycemia, and their blood glucose levels (BGLs) were normalized to control levels following insulin supplementation or dapagliflozin administration. STZ-treated male rats displayed higher nicotine CPP relative to vehicle-treated controls. This effect was abolished in rats that received insulin supplementation or dapagliflozin administration. STZ-treated female rats displayed reduced levels of nicotine CPP as compared to male rats, regardless of treatment condition. These results suggest that glucose plays a major role in modulating the rewarding effects of nicotine in male rats treated with STZ.
Modeling the influence of social ties and transportation choice on access to oral healthcare for older adults

The current U.S. demographic shift toward an older population and the importance of intervening before conditions become severe warrant a concerted effort to ease the burden of access to healthcare for older adults. With regard to oral healthcare, more integrated services for older adults are needed to effectively serve their complex medical and dental needs. Using an agent-based simulation model, this paper examines the influence of social ties and transportation mode choices on opportunities for older adults to participate in community-based preventive screening events and access needed oral healthcare. This approach accounts for the heterogeneity of behavior that arises for a population exhibiting diversity in terms of social factors, including socioeconomic means and social support. In the context of older adults living in urban environments, the availability of different transportation modes ought to be taken into consideration. To explore alternative scenarios for the accessibility of preventive screening events offered at senior centers in northern Manhattan, an agent-based model (ABM) was created with a geographic information system (GIS) to simulate the influence of social ties and transportation choices on older adults seeking preventive screening services and oral healthcare. Results of simulation experiments indicate preferences for public transportation and inequities in accessibility that may be mitigated with social support. This simulation model offers a way to explore social support as an important factor in making transportation mode choices that mediate oral healthcare accessibility and thus oral health outcomes for older adults.
Beowulf's sorhfullne sið with Breca

The story of Beowulf's youthful adventure with Breca has featured prominently in critical discussions of the poem, usually in the context of one of two arguments. The episode is used either as evidence about the character of Unferð – is he a trusted advisor of Hroðgar or a court jester? – or with a view to proving that the two men were rowing boats rather than swimming, a detail which alters our view of Beowulf's character and, once again, Unferð's. These emphases are, of course, entirely justified; Beowulf is clearly the protagonist of the poem and Unferð's motives and attitudes are crucial to understanding not only the confrontation between him and Beowulf, but the nature of the Danish court and Beowulf's own character. The virtually complete neglect of Breca himself has been an understandable side-effect of these emphases. The reconsideration of Breca's role offered here begins by attempting to answer a simple question: why does Unferð call their adventure sorhfullne? In a text as tightly woven as Beowulf, tugging on any given thread seems to affect the interlacing of other parts of the pattern, and consideration of that question leads to a number of interpretive consequences.
Formal Solutions for Some Classes of Stochastic Linear Pursuit-Evasion Games

In this section we will assume that both players make perfect measurement of the state of the game. We will consider a multistage differential game formed by discretizing equation (4.2.1). By dividing the stochastic differential game into N short games, we can then apply the work of Ho, Bryson, and Baron [89] to approximate the optimal controls for each of these games.
Grammatical Evolution Strategies for Bioinformatics and Systems Genomics

Evolutionary computing methods are an attractive option for modeling complex biological and biomedical systems because they are inherently parallel, they conduct stochastic search through large solution spaces, they capitalize on the modularity of solutions, they have flexible solution representations, they can utilize expert knowledge, they can consider multiple fitness criteria, and they are inspired by how evolution optimizes fitness through natural selection. Grammatical evolution (GE) is a promising example of evolutionary computing because it generates solutions to a problem using a generative grammar. We review here several detailed examples of GE from the bioinformatics and systems genomics literature and end with some ideas about the challenges and opportunities for integrating GE into biological and biomedical discovery.
The "thoracic endovascular aortic repair-first" strategy for acute type A dissection with mesenteric malperfusion: Initial results compared with conventional algorithms.

Abstract Objective Acute type A dissection with mesenteric malperfusion is a rare but lethal variant of aortic dissection. This study examines outcomes from various treatment algorithms. Methods A review from 2003 to 2017 of the Emory Aortic Database identified 34 patients who presented with acute type A dissection with mesenteric malperfusion. Outcomes from 4 different treatment strategies were analyzed: ascending aortic/arch replacement followed by laparotomy (n = 13), axillary-bifemoral artery bypass followed by ascending/arch replacement (n = 3); ascending/arch and concomitant antegrade thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) (n = 5), and TEVAR followed by delayed ascending/arch replacement (TEVAR-1st) (n = 13). Results The mean age of all patients was 53 ± 13 years and was equivalent among the groups. The incidence of concomitant renal and ileofemoral malperfusion was 52% and 41%, and the initial serum lactate level was 4.3 ± 2.1 mmol/L. Overall mortality was 55.8%. In the ascending aortic/arch replacement followed by laparotomy group, 77% of patients had postoperative bowel necrosis or intractable acidosis and the mortality was 69.2%. All patients in the axillary-bifemoral artery bypass followed by ascending/arch replacement group survived, but 66% required postoperative dialysis. In the ascending/arch and concomitant antegrade/TEVAR group, the mortality was 80% secondary to persistent postoperative bowel necrosis or intractable acidosis. Three patients in the TEVAR-1st group died before aortic replacement. In the 10 patients who underwent TEVAR followed by delayed aortic replacement, the mortality was 30%. There were no cases of postoperative bowel necrosis or intractable acidosis in the TEVAR-1st group. Conclusions The TEVAR-1st strategy delays central aortic replacement until end-organ ischemia has resolved. This novel paradigm serves as a bridge to decision, and may improve survival compared with conventional treatment strategies in acute type A dissection with mesenteric malperfusion.
Making sense of body-worn cameras in a police organization: a technological frames analysis

This case study of a small police agency in the United States uses semi-structured interviews, a patrol officer survey, and observations, to examine the technological frames of managers and users f...
REAL-TIME MACHINE VISION SYSTEMS

Recent developments in machine vision systems, solid state cameras, and image processing are reviewed. Both hardware and software systems are currently available for performing real-time recognitio...
Cardiorespiratory Responses to Strenuous Exercise in Physically Trained and Untrained Normal Men

Abstract Twenty-eight normal men were tested for exercise tolerance by walking on a treadmill at 5 mph and 18 percent grade to evaluate cardiorespiratory performance. Since 12 out of 14 untrained sedentary normals were unable to continue this exertion for 3 min., and 14 others in varying degrees of training could continue for 10 min., this test usually differentiated subjects with an athletic background from untrained normals, but failed to differentiate between the athletes. Forty-eight additional normal men, who were selected for their athletic training experience, had a preliminary walk for 3 min. at 5 mph and 18 percent grade, and then ran at 6.5 mph and 25 percent grade to the limits of their physical endurance to estimate maximal work capacity. This maximal test showed greater variance for endurance than either maximal oxygen consumption, ventilation or heart rate. It is concluded that this procedure provides an expeditious method for measuring short term maximal work loads in normal, even physicall...
CSIG-19. CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION LEADS TO NF-kB DEPENDENT UPREGULATION OF c-MET AND MGMT IN GLIOBLASTOMA AND RESISTANCE TO TEMOZOLOMIDE IN VIVO

INTRODUCTION Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the betaherpesvirinae subfamily widespread in human populations has been reported to be detectable in glioblastoma (GBM). We have recently shown that CMV latent infection promotes GBM growth in a mouse model. The mechanisms involved are not well-defined and treatment responses have not been evaluated.
Metrics for Use in Quantifying Power System Resilience with Water-Energy Nexus Considerations: Mathematical Formulation and Case Study

The electric power system and the water distribution systems (WDS) have several interdependencies which have been recognized and which comprise what is informally referred to as the water-energy nexus. The need to adequately model and study these two systems and their interactions is becoming critically important due to the likelihood of load increases in both systems or due to unforeseen events. From previous studies, it is known that the power system is quite resilient under normal operating conditions as well as under small disturbances due to robust design and planning procedures. However, long-term droughts or wide spread power outages can have a severe effect and are part of a set of high impact, low probability events which need to be studied, understood and if possible, quantified. This paper presents novel performance metrics to aid in assessing the resilience of the power system when subjected to such rare, extreme conditions. The metrics proposed here are based on quantities that are relevant to the power system exclusively as well as on parameters pertaining to its operation in conjunction with the water distribution system. The resilience measures of performance are calculated using appropriate metrics which can be obtained from long-term, time-domain simulations.
Ignition delay time and laminar flame speed measurements of mixtures containing diisopropyl-methylphosphonate (DIMP)

Abstract Diisopropyl-methylphosphonate (DIMP) is a common surrogate of Sarin for which a detailed kinetics mechanism was developed in 2002 (Glaude et al.— [12]). In the present paper, ignition delay times and laminar flame speeds of DIMP-based mixtures were studied around atmospheric pressure for the first time. Methane and hydrogen were used as baseline fuels, and mixtures of these fuels were doped with DIMP. The DIMP was added at 10% mol. of the fuel concentration for the shock-tube experiments (three equivalence ratios (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) were investigated with methane). A stoichiometric DIMP/O2 mixture was also studied. For the laminar flame speed experiments, an equivalence ratio sweep was performed, and DIMP was added at 0.1% vol. of the total mixture, although DIMP was added to up to 0.5% vol. for the maximum flame speed condition with H2. Results showed that adding DIMP promotes the ignition of methane but also largely inhibits its laminar flame speed. A decrease in the flame speed with DIMP addition was observed with H2 as well, and the maximum flame speed was found to decrease linearly with the amount of DIMP added. The new results with DIMP were compared to data obtained recently for other Sarin surrogates. The influence of the structure of these surrogates on combustion properties was discussed. The kinetics model for DIMP does not capture the peculiar OH* profiles observed in the shock tube for the DIMP/O2 mixture, and the ignition delay times for the H2-DIMP mixture were very poorly predicted. On the other hand, ignition delay times for the CH4-DIMP mixture were predicted with good-to-fair agreement for most cases. A chemical analysis showed that a sub-mechanism for iso-propanol needs to be added to the mechanism. An updated detailed kinetics model, with a state-of-the-art hydrocarbon chemistry (including iso-propanol chemistry) and updates in the phosphorous chemistry and thermodynamic database was tested. This updated mechanism provides predictions that are less accurate than the original model in most cases, indicating a strong need to revisit the reactions describing the thermal decomposition of DIMP.
Racial disparities in clinician responses to patient emotions.

Abstract Objective In a previous study of patients newly enrolled in HIV care, we observed that clinicians were less likely to address emotional issues expressed by African-American patients compared to whites. We sought to verify and expand these findings in a larger group of patients established in HIV care. Methods We used VR-CoDES to analyze transcripts from 342 audio-recorded medical visits in the United States. We used random intercept multilevel logistic regression to assess associations between patient and clinician characteristics and patterns of emotional talk. Results African-American patients were less likely than others to spontaneously express emotions (OR 0.50; 95 % CI 0.29−0.85). Clinicians, who were predominantly white, were more likely to respond to emotional expressions by African-American patients explicitly (OR 1.56; 95 % CI 1.11–2.20) but less likely to offer neutral/passive responses that provide space for emotional conversation (OR 0.56; 95 % CI 0.37−0.84) and more likely to block discussion of the emotional issue (OR 2.20; 95 % CI 1.05–4.63). Emotional talk did not vary by patient age or gender. Conclusion These results confirm our prior findings, demonstrating less open emotional communication between African-American patients and their providers. Practice Implications Addressing racial differences in communicating about emotions may reduce disparities in patient-clinician relationships.
Analysis of Dual-Inductor Hybrid Converters for Extreme Conversion Ratios

This article presents a dual-inductor hybrid (DIH) converter that is capable of efficient nonisolated dc–dc conversions with extremely large voltage conversion ratios. The converter topology combines a switched-capacitor network and two interleaved inductors, which supports simple duty-cycle control for output regulation. In order to achieve complete soft charging for all flying capacitors, a method to optimally size the capacitors has been proposed and verified. Detailed analysis of the two inductor currents revealing a new and simple method to modulate them and its impacts on output regulation and efficiency are also provided and demonstrated in experiments. Employing the converter topology and design methods, a DIH converter prototype is implemented and measured for a wide range of operating voltages, providing a 1–2-V output from a 48-V input and a 1–5-V output from a 150-V input with output currents up to 20 A. The converter achieves 94.3% peak efficiency at 48 V-to-2 V/7 A conversion and 93.7% at 150 V-to-5 V/18 A conversion.
If Jadis Ran the N.I.C.E.: Philosophy of Leadership

A philosophy of leadership is an action-logic that undergirds leadership actions. This action-logic includes values, beliefs, and claims. Some of these elements are uncritical and assumed and can form an embedded philosophy of leadership. Leaders will be well-served to examine and develop their own philosophy of leadership critically in order to act with consistency and to develop follower trust. In order to analyze one’s philosophy of leadership, it is helpful to ask questions of being (ontology), value (axiology), and knowledge (epistemology). Lewis’ critique of Weston’s philosophy of life through Ransom shows the value of engaging Lewis’ fiction to develop philosophy of leadership.
A Tunable Neural Network based Decision Feed-back Equalizer model for High-speed Link Simulation

This paper presents a model combining a feedforward neural network (FNN) with a recurrent neural network (RNN) to model Decision Feed-back Equalizer (DFE). By using the FNN as the mapping between the tap values and the dynamic behavior of the DFE, a complete model of the DFE can be constructed for channel simulation. The paper shows a 2-tap DFE example in which excellent agreement between the model generated by the proposed method and transient simulation can be observed.
OSTEOIMMUNOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: CROSS-TALK BETWEEN MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS AND IMMUNE CELLS

Bone fractures are one of the most common orthopedic cases, yet strategies to resolve excessive inflammation and non-unions still lack satisfactory treatment methods owing to the complex fracture m...
Addressing Transactional Distance Through Teaching Presence Strategies in Online Journalism and Mass Communication Courses

This multiple case study of four journalism and mass communication programs examines teaching presence as a mechanism for mitigating transactional distance in online learning environments. This stu...
Evaluation of heat mitigation and adaptation behaviors in NYC during COVID-19

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Rising temperatures threaten the safety of at-risk populations in cities. The threat of COVID-19 introduced new risks. METHODS: In May 2020, New York City (NYC) initiated the Ge...
Ligand-Induced Conformational Change Propagates NEMO-Mediated NF-kB Signaling

Protein-protein interaction sites, or PPIs, are typically large and flat, and are often considered undruggable. This is because they do not fit the classic criterion of having a substantial pocket ...
The Dugdale Model for Compact Specimen

Plastic zone size and crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) equations were developed. Boundary collocation analyses were used to analyze the compact specimen subjected to various loading conditions (pin loads, concentrated forces, and uniform pressure acting on the crack surface). Stress intensity factor and crack surface displacement equations for some of these loadings were developed and used to obtain the Dugdale model. The results from the equations for plastic zone size and CTOD agreed well with numerical values calculated by Terada for crack length to width ratios greater than 0.4.
Managerial vote ownership and shareholder wealth

Abstract We examine employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) announcements to study the effects of an increase in managerial voting rights without a proportional increase in the ownership of cash flow claims. Our finding that when managers initially control few votes firm value increases with the fraction of shares contributed to the ESOP supports the view that managerial vote control serves shareholder interests. Conversely, the decrease in firm value with larger contributions to the ESOP when managers initially control many votes reflects a divergence of incentives that increases the agency problems between managers and outside shareholders.
Ferumoxtran-10 MR lymphography for target definition and follow-up in a patient undergoing image-guided, dose-escalated radiotherapy of lymph nodes upon PSA relapse.

Evaluation of the lymph node situation in patients with prostate cancer is essential for effective radiotherapy. Using magnet resonance imaging (MRI) of the lymph nodes with ferumoxtran-10 (MR lymphography), it is possible to detect lymph node metastasis. We present our initial experience with ferumoxtran-10 MR lymphography as the basis for image-guided, doseescalated lymph node radiotherapy and for early follow-up after radiotherapy. A patient with suspicion for lymph node metastasis after radical prostatectomy was examined with MR lymphography with the lymph node-specific contrast media ferumoxtran-10. Radiotherapy was performed as intensity-modulated radiotherapy with a total dose of 44 Gy to the whole lymphatic drainage, 60 Gy to the area of affected lymph nodes, 71 Gy to the prostate bed, and 75 Gy to the anastomosis region. 8 weeks after completion of radiotherapy, a follow-up MR lymphography with ferumoxtran-10 was performed. In the first MRI with ferumoxtran-10, 5 metastatic lymph nodes were found in the iliac region. The scan 8 weeks postradiotherapy no longer showed lymph nodes suspicious for metastases. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) decreased from 2.06 ng/ml pretherapeutically to 0.02 ng/ml at 2 weeks after treatment and was no longer detectable at 8 months after treatment. Lymph node staging with ferumoxtran-10 and subsequent dose escalation with intensity-modulated radiotherapy led to the elimination of positive lymph nodes and a decrease in the PSA value.
Supermolecular Protein Complexes

Many important biological functions are carried out by supramolecular protein complexes, which are characteristically formed in a hierarchical arrangement. For those complexes, just like large man-made structures, flexible motions are essential for maintaining robustness and for fulfilling their functions. To study the motion, various computer simulation techniques have played an important role in elucidating spatial and temporal trajectories of proteins. Furthermore, in recent years, computational modeling has also dramatically contributed to the improvement of structural models in refinement. In this chapter, to give a representative illustration of the subject, the author outlines several examples taken from recent studies of supramolecular protein complexes. Keywords: Coarse-grained Simulation; Cryogenic Electron Microscopy; Fiber Diffraction; Large Conformational Change; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Normal Mode Analysis; Structural Refinement; Supramolecular Protein Complexes
Low-rank MMSE detector for synchronous DS-CDMA

The low-rank minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) detector for direct sequence (DS) spread-spectrum code-division multiple-access (CDMA) is proposed. The low-rank linear MMSE detector lies in a subspace of the signal space. We demonstrate that when the dimension of the signal space is lower than the processing gain and the MMSE detector is obtained using the estimated covariance matrix, the low-rank MMSE detector can perform better than the full rank MMSE detector. A subspace tracking algorithm that tracks both the rank and the signal subspace is used to implement the low-rank MMSE detector adaptively.
A Tokamak Experimental Power Reactor

The ANL-TEPR has a major radius, R = 6.25, and a plasma radius, a = 2.1 m. Sixteen, pure-tension-D superconducting magnets, with minor bore, R/sub bore/ = 7.7 m, and vertical bore, Z = 11.9 m, provide a toroidal field of 34 kG in the plasma, with a maximum field ripple of 2 percent. A stainless-steel-B/sub 4/C blanket/shield, which is 1 m on the inside and 1.3 m on the outside, protects the magnets and converts the nuclear energy to sensible heat, which is removed by the primary coolant, helium or H/sub 2/O. The first wall is 2-cm-thick stainless steel with a 100-..mu..m low-Z coating on the plasma side, and operates at less than or equal to 550/sup 0/C. The toroidal vacuum chamber is pumped down from 10/sup -3/ to 10/sup -5/ torr between burn pulses by thirty-two 25,000 l/s cryosorption pumps, and 50,000 l/s cryosorption panels maintain the vacuum in the neutral beam injectors, which are used to heat the plasma.
Monotone operators, subdifferentials and Asplund spaces

A set-valued map T from a Banach space E into the subsets of its dual E* is said to be a monotone operator provided Open image in new window whenever x, y c E and x* e T(x), y* e T(y). We do not require that T(x) be nonempty. The domain (or effective domain) D(T) of T is the set of all x e E such that T(x) is nonempty.
Amiloride blocks acid responses in NaCl-best gustatory neurons of the hamster solitary nucleus.

Boughter, John D., Jr. and David V. Smith. Amiloride blocks acid responses in NaCl-best gustatory neurons of the hamster solitary nucleus. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 1362–1372, 1998. Biophysical studies of isolated taste receptor cells show that one mechanism of Na+ salt transduction involves the inward movement of Na+ through amiloride-blockable ion channels on the apical receptor cell membrane, which leads to a direct depolarization. Hamster taste receptor cells with amiloride-blockable Na+ responses also show an amiloride-sensitive H+ current. Thus one mechanism for the transduction of acid taste involves the amiloride-sensitive channel. We investigated the effects of amiloride on responses to acids in neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) of the hamster. The responses of 47 NST neurons were recorded extracellularly while the anterior tongue was stimulated with solutions representing the four taste qualities (NaCl, sucrose, HCl, quinine), which were used to characterize each cell on the basis of...