cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free energy profiles of Al3+ and La3+ cation distribution in silica and soda silicate glasses

The factors that control the distribution of Al3+ and La3+ cations in silica and soda silicate glasses is examined by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In particular, the response of the glass network to the presence of metal oxide is probed using liquid state theory that treats the glass network as a solvent and the metal cation as a solute. MD simulations are used to obtain the mean force of the solvent-solute and solute-solute interactions along a trajectory that is then used to obtain the potential of mean force. The resulting free energy is analyzed along the trajectory to determine the stable configurations of the cation pair. Details of determining the PMF for an Al cation pair in silica and silicate glass is presented. A comparison of these results with those previously calculated for a La cation pair in the same glass systems is given. The results reveal that there are distinct differences on how the network accommodates the two different size cations. It is found that the network wraps itself around the larger La cation very much like a solvent shell, whereas, the smaller Al cation is incorporated into the network backbone. In silica and soda silicate glasses clusteringmore » of the La ion pair to form La-O-La linkages is favored, in contrast, the glasses favor a separated state of the Al ion pair.« less
Plasma Processing in Semiconductor Manufacturing

The implementation of plasma deposition and reactive ion etching into a semiconductor VLSI manufacturing process is rarely trivial. In some cases isolated process modules may appear to function well until integrated into a lengthy product flow, where interactions occur with prior or subsequent processing steps. In addition, dry processes have some unique and sometimes undesirable characteristics which need to be considered. Examples of both of these kinds of problems will be shown. Opportunities still exist for research to lead to a better understanding of mechanisms and for development work to improve the equipment and specific processes.
A new method for incorporating weighted temporal and spatial smoothing in the inverse problem of electrocardiography

In this paper, we present a method for incorporating temporal smoothing (TS) into the estimate of epicardial potentials from body surface potential data. Our algorithm employs a different spatial smoothing parameter, chosen by the composite residual error and smoothing operator criteria, at each time step in the sequence. The total spatial smoothing term is then simply partitioned between temporal and spatial smoothing. The algorithm appears to be quite robust with regard to this partitioning. The new method was evaluated in the setting of additive Gaussian noise, but otherwise realistic conditions of body geometry and reference epicardial potentials. In examining the match between estimated and measured electrograms, or the match between estimated isopotential maps and measured isopotential maps, the estimates constructed using the new TS algorithm produced consistently smaller relative errors than those constructed using a quasi-static (QS) algorithm or those constructed by postprocessing the QS estimate with a moving average filter.
PiNGO: a Cytoscape plugin to find candidate genes in biological networks.

Summary: PiNGO is a tool to screen biological networks for candidate genes, i.e. genes predicted to be involved in a biological process of interest. The user can narrow the search to genes with particular known functions or exclude genes belonging to particular functional classes. PiNGO provides support for a wide range of organisms and Gene Ontology classification schemes, and it can easily be customized for other organisms and functional classifications. PiNGO is implemented as a plugin for Cytoscape, a popular network visualization platform. Availability: PiNGO is distributed as an open-source Java package under the GNU General Public License (http://www.gnu.org/), and can be downloaded via the Cytoscape plugin manager. A detailed user guide and tutorial are available on the PiNGO website (http://www.psb.ugent.be/esb/PiNGO). Contact: steven.maere@psb.vib-ugent.be
Computational Chemistry in Environmental Toxicology QSAR

Abstract Computational chemistry provides a means for the calculation or estimation of three-dimensional chemical structure, organization and analysis of chemical data, classification of industrial chemicals by structure and properties, prediction of toxicity, and identification of chemical structure. The development of the EPA National Environmental Supercomputer Center (NESC) in Bay City, Michigan, makes available to scientists in EPA Headquarters, the ability to perform advanced QSAR modeling. This provides the means to develop and apply QSAR models for chemicals acting by a variety of molecular mechanisms. The work makes possible improved programmatic support to the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Pollution Prevention Act.
Development of a model for predicting retention times in solvent‐gradient micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Instrumentation and a computational method are described that are capable of predicting retention times of solutes separated by solvent-gradient micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). Theoretical predictions are based on capacity factor, electroosmotic flow rate, and micellar flow rate data obtained by the separation (under isocratic conditions) of a test mixture of fluorescently labeled alkylamines with the use of differing concentrations of organic modifier in the mobile phase. Separations are performed using continuous concave, linear, and convex gradients, and the resultant solute retention times are shown to correlate reasonably well with values obtained from the theoretical model. Thus, a computational method for optimization of solvent-gradient MECC is made possible.
Heterogeneity of homomeric GluR5 kainate receptor desensitization expressed in HEK293 cells

1. Kainate receptors with pharmacological properties similar to those of the GluR5 subunit have been shown to modulate inhibitory synaptic transmission in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. The kinetic properties of currents gated by GluR5 receptors have not been examined in detail. Here we describe several biophysical features of recombinant GluR5 receptors expressed in HEK293 cells. 2. We found that homomeric GluR5 receptors can exhibit striking inter-cell variability in channel kinetics in response to the agonists kainate and glutamate. Desensitization rates in response to kainate varied between individual cells by nearly 1000-fold (range, 1.5 ms to 1.5 s), while glutamate desensitization rates differed by 9-fold (range, 1.0 to 9.0 ms). 3. The time course of recovery from desensitization in response to glutamate also showed inter-cell variation. The majority of glutamate currents in GluR5-expressing cells recovered from desensitization with two widely separated exponential components: 50 +/- 10 ms and 5.1 +/- 1.0 s (contributing 37.6 % and 62.4 % of the sum of the exponential fits, respectively). In contrast, currents with the fastest desensitization kinetics had a recovery time course of 4.8 +/- 0.3 s. 4. Kainate receptors in murine dorsal root ganglion neurons are likely to be composed of homomeric GluR5 subunits. These receptor currents recovered from glutamate desensitization with a biexponential time course of 36 +/- 4 ms and 4.7 +/- 0.7 s. 5. These results suggest that aspects of GluR5 kainate receptor function are modulated by intracellular mechanism(s). At synapses such mechanisms could regulate the frequency- response relationship of synaptic kainate receptors by altering their rate of entry into and recovery from desensitization.
The Lessons of SARS

Given the low mortality and morbidity of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) compared with other public health scourges, is the attention devoted to it misdirected? The SARS experience has provided at least 4 enduring lessons. First, by providing a test of the capacity of each part of the public health system, from national to local and hospital responses, it has better prepared the world for the anticipated and much-feared next real pandemic. Second, SARS has reemphasized that from housing, sexual practices, and slaughtering techniques to health care capacity, the situation in other, especially developing, countries affects us. Global cooperation is necessary not only for justice but to ensure our own health. Third, despite trends toward commercialization, easier lives, and self-centered individualism, the response of health care professionals to SARS reaffirmed dedication to caring for the sick even at great personal risks as the core ethical principle of medicine. Finally, SARS also emphasized the importance of the duty of health care administrators and senior physicians to rapidly institute procedures to maximize the safety of frontline physicians and nurses. These lessons will be valuable far beyond the SARS episode.
Comparison of Two Types of Plating Media for Detection and Enumeration of Campylobacter from Poultry Samples

Campy-Line agar, was compared to Campy-Cefex agar for recovery of Campylobacter spp. Five samples were examined from each of 18 broiler carcasses including: feathers, skin, crop, ceca and colon. An additional 16 rinse samples from fresh fully processed commercial broiler carcasses were also examined. Campy-Line agar provided Campylobacter spp. counts that closely mirrored those found by enumeration on Campy-Cefex agar. Campy-Cefex agar generally provided slightly higher counts (P<0.05) for all sample types except skin. However, Campylobacter populations recovered with Campy-Line agar were correlated with those recovered using Campy-Cefex agar; correlation coefficient values were 0.94 for feathers, 0.95 for skin, 0.98 for crop, 0.87 for ceca and 0.88 for colon samples. Observations suggest that Campy-Line agar is easier to use due to the virtual absence of contaminating colonies.
Privacy Protection in Data Mining: A Perturbation Approach for Categorical Data

To respond to growing concerns about privacy of personal information, organizations that use their customers' records in data-mining activities are forced to take actions to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. A common practice for many organizations today is to remove identity-related attributes from the customer records before releasing them to data miners or analysts. We investigate the effect of this practice and demonstrate that many records in a data set could be uniquely identified even after identity-related attributes are removed. We propose a perturbation method for categorical data that can be used by organizations to prevent or limit disclosure of confidential data for identifiable records when the data are provided to analysts for classification, a common data-mining task. The proposed method attempts to preserve the statistical properties of the data based on privacy protection parameters specified by the organization. We show that the problem can be solved in two phases, with a linear programming formulation in Phase I (to preserve the first-order marginal distribution), followed by a simple Bayes-based swapping procedure in Phase II (to preserve the joint distribution). Experiments conducted on several real-world data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Towards the Design and Development of Future Robotic Products and Systems

Summary form only given. This talk will focus on design as a means to discover and understand the how to best design future robotic products. One important consideration is how to understand the human experience of use of these systems. Robotic products are a class of social products, artifacts, services, and systems that have social meaning and implications for people's social behavior and relationships. In this talk, I will begin with historic examples of products that inspired surprising and unintended social behaviors. I will then focus on robotic products specifically, showing how our research seeks to understand how simple social attributes in robotic products and systems makes them easier to adopt and less stigmatizing. In specific, I will discuss a set of particular design cues - gaze, motion, and speech and sound, and the concept of personality derived collectively from these primitives - discuss how alone and in combination, they might foster the adoption and use of robotic products and systems.
Local issues, local uses: tools for robotics and sensing in community contexts

This paper describes six creativity support tools we developed to foster community engagement and expression with robotics and sensing, assessing the benefits and shortcomings of each tool. From the descriptions of these tools and their uses, we highlight two issues. The first is the challenge of, and a general strategy for, enabling informed speculation with unfamiliar technologies. The second issue is that in enabling such speculation, the research process is opened to significant shifts in trajectory. These shifts concomitantly serve as markers of technological fluency and challenge the research project, reinforcing the value of a community co-design approach.
Blocked versus interleaved practice with multiple representations in an intelligent tutoring system for fractions

Previous research demonstrates that multiple representations can enhance students' learning. However, learning with multiple representations is hard. Students need to acquire representational fluency with each of the representations and they need to be able to make connections between the representations. It is yet unclear how to balance these two aspects of learning with multiple representations. In the present study, we focus on a key aspect of this question, namely the temporal sequencing of representations when students work with multiple representations one-at-a-time. Specifically, we investigated the effects of blocking versus interleaving multiple representations of fractions in an intelligent tutoring system. We conducted an in vivo experiment with 296 5th- and 6th-grade students. The results show an advantage for blocking representations and for moving from a blocked to an interleaved sequence. This effect is especially pronounced for students with low prior knowledge.
A Second-generation Nicam 728 TV Digital Stereo Sound Decoder Using Customised Digital Signal Processing Techniques.

This paper describes a second generation decoder IC for Nicam 728 TV digital stereo sound, employing multiprocessor techniques for DQPSK demodulation and Nicam data demultiplexing. Benefits are significant component reduction, mtdtistandard operation and improved performance.
ASSESSING RATIONAL AND INTUITIVE STYLES: A HUMAN INFORMATION PROCESSING METAPHOR

This article has four distinct but related purposes. First, we describe the research setting for assessing human information processing style in terms of the rational-intuitive complementarity. We highlight earlier management study that directly deals with this dimension. Then we review popular instruments for assessing style in rational-intuitive terms. Second, we outline a conceptual model that elaborates the rational—intuitive styles of human information processing into three modes each. There are innovative management studies, and Eastern and Western philosophical bases for this model. We use this background to help synthesize three lines of neurophysiological research to formulate a six-mode human information processing (HIP) metaphor. Third, we use the HIP metaphor to develop an HIP survey with a scale for each mode. This section describes how conceptual definitions are derived from the model with guidance from the rational-intuitive term pairs and the survey item pool. Finally, we describe the statistical analysis of the reliability and validity of the six scales for the HIP survey. We use a criterion-based factor analytic approach for isolating the scale items. Then, the HIP metaphor is used to predict associations among the scales in our study. We use a modified form of the multitrait—multimethod approach to test our predictions. Finally, this section summarizes the results of the predicted relationships among the variables on the self-assessment tools used in this study. The study helps bring the rational—intuitive assessment of human information processing into the mainstream of management research.
Delivery of Pancreatin in Microsphere Preparations: Transit, Timing, Physiological Needs

While maldigestion and malabsorption of dietary protein are usually eliminated with treatment (Harris et al. 1955; Regan et al. 1977; Durie et al. 1980), steatorrhea is commonly refractory to any form of pancreatin therapy in patients who have pancreatic insufficiency (PI) (Fig. 1). Fat absorption can be normalized in about 10% of patients (Durie et al. 1980; Schneider et al. 1985), but the majority excrete 10%–30% of dietary fat on current treatments (Table 1). In about 8% of patients, outputs of fecal fat remain much above 30% of intake and are almost completely unaffected by any form of pancreatin (Henker 1989; Durie et al. 1980). A consequence of failure to normalize fat absorption is the need for heavy supplementation with fat-soluble vitamins (Hahn et al. 1974; Farrell et al. 1977; Mischler et al. 1979; Dutta et al. 1982; Hanly et al. 1985; Gibbens et al. 1988; Raynor et al. 1989), especially with vitamin E. Serum levels of vitamin E in patients with cystic fibrosis vary inversely with the amount of fat lost in the feces (Congdon et al. 1981). Undernutrition, reduced appetite relative to caloric needs, and inadequate consumption of calories are common in treated patients with PI. Fecal loss of ingested calories contributes significantly to caloric imbalance (Buchdal et al. 1989).
Activated Sludge Effluent Quality Distribution

Effluent quality data from 28 activated sludge process wastewater treatment plants were analyzed. Effluent quality variation could be described by simple linear functions of mean annual values.
Simultaneous Clostridium difficile-associated colitis and late-onset intestinal cytomegalovirus disease in a renal transplant recipient

Background Infection remains the most common complication following renal transplantation (RT). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most important pathogens in this patient population and Clostridium difficile-associated colitis (CDAC) has emerged as one of the most frequent gastrointestinal complications. Only few cases of simultaneous CMV enterocolitis and CDAC have been reported. Case report A 73-year-old woman who underwent RT more than 10 years earlier developed severe abdominal pain and profound bloody diarrhea. She was diagnosed with simultaneous CMV enterocolitis and CDAC and treated with ganciclovir and metronidazole. She was unable to clear the infections and underwent colonic and small bowel resection, but ultimately died from indirect complications following the two severe infections. Conclusions Late-onset CMV disease in this patient who was CMV negative prior to transplantation and received a CMV-negative graft was an unexpected event; the simultaneous occurrence of CDAC aggravated the clinical picture ultimately leading to surgery, graft failure and death. Clinicians should be aware that opportunistic infections may develop many years post transplant and may occur simultaneously.
Bootstrap likelihood ratio confidence bands for survival functions under random censorship and its semiparametric extension

Simultaneous confidence bands for survival functions, from randomly right censored data, can be computed by inverting likelihood ratio functions based on appropriate thresholds. Sometimes, however, the requisite asymptotic distributions are intractable, or thresholds based on Brownian bridge approximations are not easy to obtain when simultaneous confidence bands over only sub-regions are possible or desired. We obtain the thresholds by bootstrapping (i) a nonparametric likelihood ratio function via censored data bootstrap and (ii) a semiparametric adjusted likelihood ratio function via a two-stage bootstrap that utilizes a model for the second stage. These two scenarios are grounded respectively in standard random censorship and its semiparametric extension introduced by Dikta. The two bootstraps, which are different in the way resampling is done, are shown to have asymptotic validity. The respective confidence bands are neighborhoods of the well-known Kaplan-Meier estimator and the more recently developed Dikta's semiparametric counterpart. As evidenced by a validation study, both types of confidence bands provide approximately correct coverage. The model-based confidence bands, however, are tighter than the nonparametric ones. Two sensitivity studies reveal that the model-based method performs well when standard binary regression models are fitted, indicating its robustness to misspecification as well as its practical applicability. An illustration is given using real data.
Increasing Elementary School Students’ Subjective Well-Being Through a Classwide Positive Psychology Intervention: Results of a Pilot Study

There is growing interest in school-based programs to promote students’ subjective well-being (SWB). Students with greater SWB tend to have stronger relationships with their teachers and classmates, as well as behave in more positive ways. Drawing from theory and research pertinent to promoting children’s SWB, we developed an 11-session classwide positive psychology intervention that targeted elementary school students’ novel use of character strengths, gratitude, kindness, and relationships in the classroom. Throughout a pilot study, children in fourth grade experienced clinically meaningful lasting gains in multiple indicators of SWB, particularly positive affect and satisfaction with self, but no changes in distal indicators of behavioral student engagement (attendance, office disciplinary referrals). This initial application by school psychologists partnering with a classroom teacher provides evidence of promise that elementary school children can benefit from participation in universal positive psychology interventions that target internal assets (gratitude, kindness, and signature strengths) and environmental resources (student-teacher and peer relationships).
Effects of 2-Ethylamino-l,3,4 Thiadiazole HCl on Uric Acid Production in Man.

SummaryOral administration of 2-ethyl-amino-1, 3y 4 thiadiazole HCl to patients with advanced cancer has been shown to cause a marked rise in serum uric acid levels and in total urinary uric acid excretion.
The Growth of the Head Capsule in Individual Milkweed Bugs

Dyar (1890) reported that the width of the insect head capsule in one instar seemed to have a constant ratio to that in the preceding instar throughout larval development. Since then, many investigators have reported data bearing on this rule. In an extended review, Gaines and Campbell (1935) plotted the logarithm of the mean head width against the instar number. The points deviated convexly from the straight line predicted by Dyar's rule but could be fitted with a parabola. Their observations, those of the many investigators they quote, and also those of Yasumatsu (1946) were based upon means computed from a different lot of insects in each instar. This technique requires relatively large numbers for validity. An alternative approach is to measure the same individuals repeatedly through their larva or nymphal development. Such measurements have been made on nymphs of the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus , and these form the basis of the present note.
Structures and solution conformational dynamics of stylissamides G and H from the Bahamian sponge Stylissa caribica.

Two new peptides, stylissamides G and H, were isolated from extracts of a sample of Stylissa caribica collected in deep waters of the Caribbean Sea. A single sample of S. caribica among a collection of 10 samples that were examined by LC-MS appeared to be a different chemotype from the others in that it lacked the familiar pyrrole-2-aminoimidazole alkaloids, stevensine and oroidin, and contained peptides of the stylissamide class. The structures of the title compounds were solved by integrated analysis of the MS and NMR spectra and chemical degradation. The solution conformation of stylissamide G was briefly examined by electronic circular dichroism and temperature-dependent 1H NMR chemical shifts of amide NH signals, which supported a conformationally rigid macrocycle.
New Results in the Use of Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring

∗Piezoelectric-wafer active sensors (PWAS) are small, inexpensive, non-invasive, elastic wave generators/receptors that can be easily affixed to a structure. Piezoelectric-wafer active sensors are wide-band non-resonant devices. They can be wired into sensor arrays and connected to data concentrators and wireless communicators. However, the development of PWAS technology is not yet complete, and a number of issues have still to be resolved. This paper presents new results obtained in using the PWAS for structural health monitoring. The new results to be presented were obtained in the following directions: (i) tuning the PWAS of asymmetric geometries (rectangular plan forms) to excite and detect different Lamb wave modes in selective directions; (ii) PWAS durability and survivability; (iii) steering beam large-area coverage (embedded ultrasonic structural radar – EUSR); and probability of detection (POD) with PWAS probes (an initial investigation). The paper presents analytical methods and experimental results that can be successfully used in the design of active SHM systems to be installed on operational structures. The durability and survivability of the PWAS transducers has been tested under various environmental exposures and the importance of adequate adhesive and protective coating design has been shown. These initial results are sufficient to gain confidence in this new technology and start installation on realistic structures. (For longer-term durability and survivability results, further tests are planned in subsequent studies.) The EUSR steering beam method based on PWAS phased-arrays has been refined to increase it power of detection for various structural defects. It has been also proved that EUSR performance is not affected by structural curvature typical of aircraft installation. The initial investigation of PWAS POD has indicated that crack as small as 1.57 mm can be detected directly and imaged relatively easily. Overall, these results confirm that PWAS transducers are a technology with good potential for implementation in active SHM systems. The paper will finish with a summary of the presented work and a perspective for further research and industrial implementation.
Varietal Resistance to Insect Attack in Various Cruciferous Crops

The relative resistance to insect attack of 43 varieties of Cruciferae representing 11 different Brassica crops, including 16 green and 5 red varieties of cabbage, were studied in field experiments conducted at Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1960. Evaluations were made of the relative insect resistance of the various varieties to the cabbage maggot, Hylemya brassicae (Bouche); the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.); the diamondback moth, Plutella maculipennis (Curtis); and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner). In the varieties screened, a considerable range of relative resistance was observed for each of the insect species studied. With few exceptions the relative level of resistance was found to be primarily a characteristic of the crop species and secondarily one of variety. The relative resistance of the different varieties to each of the insects was independent of the level of resitance to any other species; the mechanisms of resistance being different for each insect considered. Host selection could not be correlated with plant size for any of the insect pecies studies. In the cabbage varieties host selection by the imported cabbageworm was found to be related to foliage color; the red cabbage varieties being less susceptible to oviposition than any of the green varieties. Larval survival of this species was, however, favored on the red cabbage varieties, the larva/egg ratios being higher on these varieties than on the green cabbages.
Interfacial characterization and mechanical property of Ti/Cu clad sheet produced by explosive welding and annealing

It was aim to investigate the interfacial microstructure and shear performance of Ti/Cu clad sheet produced by explosive welding and annealing. The experimental results demonstrate that the alternate distribution of interfacial collision and vortex of flyer layer forms in the interface a few of solidification structure. TEM confirms that the interfacial interlayer contains obvious lattice distortion structure and intermetallic compounds. It interprets the explosive welding as the interfacial deformation and thermal diffusion process between dissimilar metals. The interfacial shear strength is very close to the Cu matrix strength, which is determined by the mixture of the mechanical bonding and metallurgical bonding. Several cracks exist on the shear fracture owing to the intermetallic compound in the interfacial solidification structure and also the probable welding inclusion.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of elderly patients with acute pulmonary embolism

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of elderly patients with acute pulmonary embolism(APE). Methods Seventy-three patients with APE admitted to Xuanwu Hospital from 1995 to 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Results (1)There were 36 elderly patients(≥60 years of age) with APE (36/73,49.3﹪) aged (71.6±6.8) years in average,and 37 non-elderly patients (37/73, 50.7﹪) aged (44.8±9.9) years in average. (2)Risk factors in elderly group were in order of lower extremity venous thrombosis (DVT), cardiovascular and cerebrovascularl disease history, operation history, tumor, fructure; while in non-elderly group, the risk factors were in order of DVT, operation history, cardiovescular and cerebrovascularl disease history, fructure and tumor. The rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease history and tumor were higher(17/36∶8/37), (6/36∶1/37) in elderly group than in non-elderly group, with significant difference(P0.05). (3)The mortality was higher in elderly group than in non-elderly group(11/36∶2/37), with significant difference(P0.05).Conclusion There are many risk factors and poor prognosis in elderly patients with acute pulmonary embolism.
A Survey of Studies on Chinese Grammaticalization Since the 1990s

Since the 1990s Chinese scholars have introduced the theories of grammaticalization and meanwhile conducted systematic and deep studies into the grammaticalization of Chinese language from such aspects as routes to grammaticalization,mechanism of grammaticalization,and diachronic evolution and synchronic analysis of grammaticalization.By adopting new research angles and updating research methods,the scholars have extended their studies from isolated languages to comprehensive language system,from the grammatical structure of Chinese to its pragmatic functions,and from the Chinese ontology to the language universality.Compared with the grammar of Indo-European languages,the grammaticalization of Chinese displays its own unique features and thus demands further exploration.
Conditioned to eat while watching television? Low-income caregivers' perspectives on the role of snacking and television viewing among pre-schoolers.

Objective Although television (TV) viewing is frequently paired with snacking among young children, little is known about the environment in which caregivers promote this behaviour. We describe low-income pre-schoolers' snacking and TV viewing habits as reported by their primary caregivers, including social/physical snacking contexts, types of snacks and caregiver rationales for offering snacks. These findings may support the development of effective messages to promote healthy child snacking. Design Semi-structured interviews assessed caregiver conceptualizations of pre-schoolers' snacks, purpose of snacks, snack context and snack frequency. Setting Interviews occurred in Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Subjects Forty-seven low-income multi-ethnic primary caregivers of children aged 3-5 years (92 % female, 32 % Hispanic/Latino, 34 % African American) described their child's snacking in the context of TV viewing. Results TV viewing and child snacking themes were described consistently across racial/ethnic groups. Caregivers described snacks offered during TV viewing as largely unhealthy. Labels for TV snacks indicated non-nutritive purposes, such as 'time out', 'enjoyment' or 'quiet.' Caregivers' primary reasons for providing snacks included child's expectations, behaviour management (e.g. to occupy child) and social time (e.g. family bonding). Some caregivers used TV to distract picky children to eat more food. Child snacking and TV viewing were contextually paired by providing child-sized furniture ('TV table') specifically for snacking. Conclusions Low-income caregivers facilitate pre-schoolers' snacking and TV viewing, which are described as routine, positive and useful for non-nutritive purposes. Messages to caregivers should encourage 'snack-free' TV viewing, healthy snack options and guidance for managing children's behaviour without snacks or TV.
Toward a better understanding of the genomic region harboring Fusarium head blight resistance QTL Qfhs.ndsu-3AS in durum wheat.

New molecular markers were developed and mapped to the FHB resistance QTL region in high resolution. Micro-collinearity of the QTL region with rice and Brachypodium was revealed for a better understanding of the genomic region. The wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides)-derived Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance quantitative trait locus (QTL) Qfhs.ndsu-3AS previously mapped to the short arm of chromosome 3A (3AS) in a population of recombinant inbred chromosome lines (RICLs). This study aimed to attain a better understanding of the genomic region harboring Qfhs.ndsu-3AS and to improve the utility of the QTL in wheat breeding. Micro-collinearity of the QTL region with rice chromosome 1 and Brachypodium chromosome 2 was identified and used for marker development in saturation mapping. A total of 42 new EST-derived sequence tagged site (STS) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed and mapped to the QTL and nearby regions on 3AS. Further comparative analysis revealed a complex collinearity of the 3AS genomic region with their collinear counterparts of rice and Brachypodium. Fine mapping of the QTL region resolved five co-segregating markers (Xwgc1186/Xwgc716/Xwgc1143/Xwgc501/Xwgc1204) into three distinct loci proximal to Xgwm2, a marker previously reported to be closely linked to the QTL. Four other markers (Xwgc1226, Xwgc510, Xwgc1296, and Xwgc1301) mapped farther proximal to the above markers in the QTL region with a higher resolution. Five homozygous recombinants with shortened T. dicoccoides chromosomal segments in the QTL region were recovered by molecular marker analysis and evaluated for FHB resistance. Qfhs.ndsu-3AS was positioned to a 5.2 cM interval flanked by the marker Xwgc501 and Xwgc510. The recombinants containing Qfhs.ndsu-3AS and new markers defining the QTL will facilitate utilization of this resistance source in wheat breeding.
Intravascular pressure regulates local and global Ca2+ signaling in cerebral artery smooth muscle cells

The regulation of intracellular Ca2+ signals in smooth muscle cells and arterial diameter by intravascular pressure was investigated in rat cerebral arteries (∼150 μm) using a laser scanning confoc...
Clocks, Jitter, and Phased-Lock Loops

We conclude our tour of signal integrity by focusing on clocks and clock sources. Clock sources turn out to be the drama queens of electronic design, requiring extremely careful layout and often causing significant design headaches.
Training Needs of International Medical Graduate Physicians in Psychiatry: A Perspective

The heterogeneity in the cultural, linguistic, and medical educational background of international medical graduate (IMG) physicians in psychiatry poses significant challenges in assessing their training needs. This chapter addresses the complex determination of training needs and their recommended solutions. To that end, inter-group differences within the IMG physician spectrum are discussed, with an emphasis on the imperatives within each culture. The recent literature on training needs for IMG physicians was reviewed and the following needs were identified as most relevant (in descending order): communication and language skills, medical/pharmacologic knowledge, dealing with social isolation, other acculturation issues, adequacy of supervision, psychosocial/patient management focus, cultural diversity training, understanding the health care systems, understanding the hospital culture, and medical documentation. This chapter highlights the role of psychotherapy training as an acculturative experience, along with the importance of a program development paradigm for needs evaluation and training implementation. Specific recommendations will be listed to assist training directors and IMG physicians in this crucial training area.
An approximate solution for a plane strain hydraulic fracture that accounts for fracture toughness, fluid viscosity, and leak-off

The goal of this paper is to develop an approximate solution for a propagating plane strain hydraulic fracture, whose behavior is determined by a combined interplay of fluid viscosity, fracture toughness, and fluid leak-off. The approximation is constructed by assuming that the fracture behavior is primarily determined by the three-process (viscosity, toughness, and leak-off) multiscale tip asymptotics and the global fluid volume balance. First, the limiting regimes of propagation of the solution are considered, that can be reduced to an explicit form. Thereafter, applicability regions of the limiting solutions are investigated and transitions from one limiting solution to another are analyzed. To quantify the error of the constructed approximate solution, its predictions are compared to a reference numerical solution. Results indicate that the approximation is able to predict hydraulic fracture parameters for all limiting and transition regimes with an error of under one percent. Consequently, this development can be used to obtain a rapid solution for a plane strain hydraulic fracture with leak-off, which can be used for quick estimations of fracture geometry or as a reference solution to evaluate accuracy of more advanced hydraulic fracture simulators.
REDUCED RISK OF NSAID INDUCED ADVERSE EVENTS WITH CONCOMITANT USE OF MISOPROSTOL

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used prescription and over-the-counter analgesic medications worldwide. NSAID toxicity, however, limits their use by raising cardio-renal morbidity and mortality risk. Withdrawal of the balancing vasodilatory
Utilisation of an electronic incident report to document injury-related demographics and medical triage in youth, high school and college athletes

Objective To develop and utilise a custom mobile application to provide a portable yet systematic method to characterise injury demographics, post-injury disposition, and immediate medical care of sport-related concussion in youth, high school and college settings. Design Retrospective observational study. Setting Academic medical centre. Participants Athletes under the care of Cleveland Clinic Concussion Centre clinicians from August 5, 2014-March 1, 2016. The sample included youth (n=110), high school (n=1175) and college (n=309) athletes; approximately 35% of the sample were female. Intervention Electronic incident reports were completed on all student-athletes with suspected concussion to triage injury severity, document injury-related demographics along with immediate medical management. Total time to complete the incident report was less than three minutes. Outcome measures Sport, mechanism of injury, red flags, immediate symptoms, and post-injury disposition were recorded for all participants. Main results Football and soccer represented the greatest frequency of injury across males and females respectively. Despite significantly fewer red flags in youth, they were sent to the emergency department four times more frequently (22%) than high school or college athletes (5%). Conclusions The systematic characterisation of injury profiles indicates athletes across the continuum of age share general characteristics in terms of incidence as a function of sport and setting (practice vs. competition). The disproportional disposition to emergency departments, despite the absence of red flags, indicates a more conservative approach to youth concussion triage compared to high school and college athletes. Competing interests None.
Transfer of function and prior derived-relations testing.

This experiment assessed transfer of function through equivalence relations with and without prior derived-stimulus-relations (DSR) testing. In a DSR-Testing Group, eight college students learned A-B and A–C discriminations in baseline. They then derived the B-C and C-B equivalence relations before being exposed to a transfer-of-function manipulation and test. Eight participants in a No-DSR Testing Group were exposed to the transfer-of-function manipulation and test immediately after learning the baseline discriminations (i.e., B-C and C-B testing were omitted). In the transfer-of-function manipulation, participants learned to respond differently in the presence of B1 and B2 to avoid money loss. In the transfer-of-function test, responding in the presence of C1 and C2 was measured in the absence of differential consequences. Transfer of function occurred reliably only in the DSR-Testing Group (i.e., participants responding to C1 and C2 in the manner they learned to respond to B1 and B2, respectively). These findings support the notion that prior DSR testing can be critical to observing transfer of function.
Kaluza-Klein Monopoles and their Zero Modes

We find the conditions for the existence of fermionic zero modes of the fundamental representation in the background of a Kaluza-Klein (KK) monopole. We show that while there is no zero mode without a real mass, a normalizable zero mode appears once the real mass is sufficiently large. This provides an elegant explanation for the known decoupling of KK monopole effects in supersymmetric theories when a large real mass term is added. We also present an application where the correct counting of KK zero modes plays an essential role in understanding the nonperturbative effects determining the low-energy dynamics.
Characterization of double-positive metamaterials for advanced applications

A new type of metamaterial has been developed at the University of Missouri for use in pulsed power and high power microwave systems. These materials also have direct applications in dielectric-loaded components and nonlinear transmission lines. We present a double-positive metamaterial that incorporates high permeability, high resistivity nickel-zinc ferrite powers into a dielectric matrix. The ferrite powers were diagnosed using XRD and SEM analysis. A bimodal particle distribution was investigated with particles 5μm and 30nm in diameter. The 3D models of composites were constructed using a custom Monte-Carlo algorithm to investigate the effect of particle distribution and density on material electromagnetic properties. Simulations are compared with experimental results in order to validate the models. Power handling and dielectric strength were also examined with a 100kV, 60ns pulse derived from a PA-80. A maximum electric field of 309.50 kV/cm was measured before breakdown using 0.2cm thick disks, 2.54cm in diameter. Tests performed on the electromagnetic frequency response showed materials with near equal values of positive relative permeability and permittivity that were between 3.0–6.0 for frequencies between 200MHz and 1GHz. This work presents a statistical analysis of the dielectric strength, power handling, and electromagnetic response of the composites with varying particle distributions.
Amicus Brief (certiorari stage) -- Kalyanaram v. New York Institute of Technology

Whistleblowers should not be required to pick their poison. They should not be penalized for following the law, particularly where, as here, the alleged “wrong” relied upon by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals was Petitioner’s compliance with the Act’s sealing provision. See 31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)(2) That provision expressly requires whistleblowers to maintain the confidentiality of qui tam lawsuits during the pendency of a government investigation. Petitioner followed the Act’s express mandate — and suffered the consequences.
Characterization of solution-phase drug-protein interactions by ultrafast affinity extraction

A number of tools based on high-performance affinity separations have been developed for studying drug-protein interactions. An example of one recent approach is ultrafast affinity extraction. This method has been employed to examine the free (or non-bound) fractions of drugs and other solutes in simple or complex samples that contain soluble binding agents. These free fractions have also been used to determine the binding constants and rate constants for the interactions of drugs with these soluble agents. This report describes the general principles of ultrafast affinity extraction and the experimental conditions under which it can be used to characterize such interactions. This method will be illustrated by utilizing data that have been obtained when using this approach to measure the binding and dissociation of various drugs with the serum transport proteins human serum albumin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein. A number of practical factors will be discussed that should be considered in the design and optimization of this approach for use with single-column or multi-column systems. Techniques will also be described for analyzing the resulting data for the determination of free fractions, rate constants and binding constants. In addition, the extension of this method to complex samples, such as clinical specimens, will be considered.
Physical Examination of the Pediatric Elbow

Pediatric elbow injuries often present a diagnostic dilemma for the treating physician. The unique anatomy of the elbow in the growing child along with the narrow therapeutic window and relatively high complication rates associated with certain types of fracture patterns creates a challenging diagnostic environment for the clinician. Moreover, injury patterns change with the growth and development of the elbow into adolescence and young adulthood. Understanding the context and chronicity of the injury helps guide the clinician through a comprehensive physical examination and establishes the appropriate diagnostic framework to successfully treat pediatric and adolescent patients presenting with a wide variety of elbow pathology.
Consensus Equilibrium: A Framework for Model Integration

We introduce a framework for integrating heterogeneous models based on a modular framework which we call consensus equilibrium (CE). In the CE framework, each source of information, such as for example a sensor or machine learning algorithm, is represented by a functional map or agent. The estimate of the desired unknown is than computed as the solution to a set of force-balance equations. We show that the CE framework is a generalization of the previous plug & play (P&P) approach because it allows for the integration of multiple models each of which can be implemented as either the solution to an optimization problem (i.e., a proximal map) or a machine learning technique (e.g., a DNN). We present results illustrating the use of the CE method in a variety of applications ranging from restoration of images with unknown blurring models, to tomographic reconstruction of additively manufactured parts, to holographic imaging through deep turbulence.