cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T-wave inversions on ECG as primary manifestation of Hashimoto's disease

A middle-aged Hispanic woman presented to the emergency department (ED) reporting of acute new onset pressure-like chest pain developed at rest. It was radiated to the right arm and associated with malaise. Initial ECG demonstrated T-wave inversions (TWIs) in all anterior and lateral leads. Electrolytes, serial cardiac troponin and D-dimer were all normal. Comprehensive transthoracic echocardiogram and nuclear stress test did not reveal a cardiac cause of her symptoms. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone was markedly elevated (207 mIU/L) and free thyroxine was low (FT4 0.07 ng/dL), consistent with severe primary hypothyroidism. Thyroperoxidase (TPO) antibodies were positive. Therapy with levothyroxine was started. No other cause of the TWIs was identified. A repeat ECG obtained 8 weeks later showed partial resolution of the TWIs. Our observations indicate that Hashimoto’s disease is the most likely primary cause of this patient9s extensive and profound TWI, which improved after thyroid replacement therapy.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Seroprevalence and Ultrasound-Diagnosed Uterine Fibroids in a Large Population of Young African-American Women

For decades reproductive tract infections (RTIs) have been hypothesized to play a role in uterine fibroid development. The few previous studies conducted used self-reported history of RTIs and had inconsistent findings. We investigated this hypothesis further using serological analysis, an immunological measure of past exposure. We focused on herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) because prior published data have suggested a possible association with fibroids, and serology for HSV-2 is much more sensitive than self-report. We used cross-sectional enrollment data from African-American women enrolled in a prospective study of fibroid incidence and growth (recruited 2010-2012) in the Detroit, Michigan, area. The women were aged 23-34 years and were screened for fibroids using a standardized ultrasound examination at their enrollment. Age- and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios. Of 1,696 participants, 1,658 had blood samples and HSV-2 serology results; 22% of participants with serology results had fibroids. There was no significant association between HSV-2 seropositivity and the presence of fibroids (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval: 0.73, 1.20), nor were there any associations with size of the largest fibroid, number of fibroids, or total fibroid volume. Our data provide no evidence for an influence of HSV-2 exposure on fibroid risk in young African-American women. Further study of other serologically measured RTIs is warranted.
Preliminary Studies on the Cell Suspension Culture of the Aloe saponaria Haw

The study focused on the suspension culture of the Aloe saponaria Haw.Compared the influence of different basic medium and inoculums amount on cell growth increment during the process of suspension culture,Optimized the effecting factors of the Aloe saponaria Haw cell in suspension culture by orthogonal design.Discussed the characters of physiological and biochemical indices in the cell growth cycle.The results indicated,B5 medium was in favor of the cell multiplication;the most suitable inoculums amount was 2 g callus per 50 mL liquid medium ;the most suitable hormone combinations was 2,4-D 3.0 mg/L+KT 0.5 mg/L,glucose 25 g/L pH 5.8;the suspension culture growth cycle of the Aloe saponaria Haw was 25 days,the cell multiplication grapH was in shape of 'S';in the previous of suspension culture cell,the pH decreased obviously,in the logarithmic growth phase of cell,the pH slightly increased and became stable;total phenolic content 、POD、SOD showed two peaks respectively,but the peaks appeared at different time, and the change trend was in direct proportion to the cell growth trend,PPO activity was in converse proportion to the cell growth trend.
Distributed Control of Voltage Regulating Devices in the Presence of High PV Penetration to Mitigate Ramp-Rate Issues

A distributed voltage control scheme is proposed in an active distribution network in the presence of a large scale photovoltaic (PV) farm/plant to mitigate high ramp-rate issues. Multiple voltage regulating devices, such as on-load tap changers, step voltage regulators (SVRs), and switched capacitors banks are controlled in various ways based on either a centralized or a distributed coordination management scheme. This paper presents the relationship of the active and reactive power outputs of a PV plant in the presence of the conventional voltage regulating devices, and proposes a distributed control strategy to coordinate the SVRs with the PV smart inverter’s capability to improve power quality. The distributed voltage control schemes are tested on an unbalanced medium voltage feeder located in a California utility service territory with the PV integrated at the far end of the feeder.
The Impact of Content-Based Network Technologies on Perceptions of Nutrition Literacy

Background: Consumers are exposed to obesogenic environments on a regular basis. Building nutrition literacy is critical for sustaining healthy dietary habits for a lifetime and reducing the prevalence of chronic disease. Purpose: There is a need to investigate the impact of content-based network (CBN) technologies on perceptions of nutrition literacy because use of content-based networks has increased indefinitely. Methods: A quantitative survey analyzed by structural equation modeling was used to examine 3 CBN characteristics: serendipitous nutrition discovery, nutrition information management, and social modeling in relation to nutrition self-efficacy and perceptions of nutrition literacy among a sample of undergraduate students (N = 349). Results: Users of the website Pinterest, the most popular CBN, provide support that perception of the CBN's ability to provide access to new and interesting nutrition content impacts feelings of self-efficacy when making dietary decisions. Translation to Health Educa...
Solvation Structure and Concentration in Glyme-Based Sodium Electrolytes: A Combined Spectroscopic and Computational Study

The optimal salt concentration used in metal-ion energy storage devices has long focused heavily on 1 M electrolytes; however, recent evidence suggests taking a deeper look at electrolyte properties as a function of salt concentration. Toward that goal, the effect of concentration on solvation properties for a prototype sodium electrolyte is considered with potential applications for sodium-ion and sodium–air technologies. An empirical force field for sodium triflate in digylme, an electrolyte already in use with sodium–air systems, was developed from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations in conjunction with the variational force-matching method. Atomistic simulations of this electrolyte along with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) experimental studies validate the qualitative accuracy of the model and demonstrate its transferability across different concentrations. The solvation structure and the extent of ion pairing effects in the electrolyte were considered for concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 2...
Design for Testability

This chapter investigates some design methods aimed at making logic circuits more amenable to testing using the test generation technique proposed in Chapter 3. It is clear from the previous two chapters that this approach is particularly well suited to circuits such as ripple-carry adders and parity checkers which contain repeated subcircuits interconnected in a regular fashion. A bus-oriented high-level model can be easily constructed following the procedure PSC of Fig. 2.17, so that a test set for an total bus faults in the resulting model detects all, or nearly all, SSL faults in the circuit. The scope of our testing methodology can be broadened considerably by formulating some design-for-testability techniques for circuits like carry-lookahead generators, counters, and decoders, etc., which take the form of slightly irregular array or tree circuits. The presence of irregularity makes the construction of high-level models for the unmodified circuits difficult, and complicates test generation. In this chapter, we consider redesigning circuits of this sort to enhance their regularity, and make them better suited to test generation using hierarchical approaches.
Neutron fluence at the pressure vessel of a pressurized water reactor determined by the MCNP code

Pressure vessel fluence and reaction rates for dosimetry foils in the cavity surrounding the pressure vessel of a pressurized water reactor were determined with a Monte Carlo calculation using the ...
Preoperative Albumin Is Predictive of Early Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality in Common Urologic Oncologic Surgeries.

Abstract Introduction Multiple studies have linked preoperative nutrition status to postoperative outcomes. This relationship has been little studied in urology. We used a standardized, national, risk-adjusted surgical database to evaluate 30-day outcomes of patients undergoing common urologic oncologic procedures as they related to preoperative albumin. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program is a risk-adjusted dataset analyzing preoperative risk factors, demographics, and 30-day outcomes. From 2005 through 2012, we identified a total of 17,805 patients who underwent prostatectomy, nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, cystectomy, or transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Hypoalbuminemic patients were compared with those with normal preoperative albumin, and 30-day outcomes were evaluated. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios for mortality and complication rates. Results Evaluation of the cohort noted significantly increased overall morbidity, serious morbidity, and mortality in the hypoalbuminemic group ( P P P Conclusions The large sample size, standardized data definitions, and quality control measures of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database allow for in-depth analysis of subtle but significant differences in outcomes between groups. Serum albumin is a strong predictor of short-term postoperative complications in the urologic oncology patient.
Relation Between Aggression Exposure During Youth and Later Resting Skin Conductance Levels

ABSTRACTRecent research efforts have focused on examining the relationship between environmental and physiological factors to better understand the effect that childhood chronic stress might have on adult health outcomes. This study examines the relation between childhood parental aggression exposure and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), as measured by resting skin conductance levels (SCLs). Participants (N = 155) completed retrospective self-report measures of childhood exposure to interparental aggression and physically aggressive parenting. The 2-way interaction between exposure to physically aggressive parenting and interparental aggression accounted for unique variance in adulthood SCL. Sex differences emerged in this relationship. Results suggest that the type of aggression exposure might play an important role in the relationship between stressors in youth and resting SNS activity in adulthood. Future research areas are identified, including the need to examine plasticity in the SNS depending o...
Exposure to fetal testosterone, aggression, and violent behavior: A meta-analysis of the 2D:4D digit ratio

Abstract The search for reliable risk factors is a staple among both scholars and policymakers concerned with structuring interventions designed to reduce aggressive and violent behavior. Within this line of work, strong claims have recently been made regarding the predictive capacity of a potential physical biomarker of criminogenic risk: the 2D:4D digit ratio, a purported indirect indicator of exposure to fetal testosterone. The results of studies assessing the link between the digit ratio and problematic behavior are, however, mixed. Accordingly, in the present study we subject this literature ( N = 32 studies; 361 effect size estimates) to a meta-analysis using multilevel modeling techniques. Our results reveal that the overall mean effect size of the 2D:4D digit ratio to measures of aggressive and violent behavior is weak but statistically significant (mean r = 0.036, p
Global Political Dynamics and the Science of Complex Systems

Do the complex dynamics of international relations resemble the long-term evolution observed in living systems? This chapter will try to identify the mechanisms associated with those dynamics, and to determine if the science of complex adaptive systems can aid in the understanding of international development.It tries to address the weaknesses of current theories of international political economy to adequately explain global diversity and queries its empirical and theoretical limitations. Providing insight on the mechanisms by which divergence is a response to heightened interconnectivity, complexity theory offers a way to overcome the limitations of conventional political economy analysis.We find that at a qualitative level the dynamics of the international system resemble known aspects of biological behaviour, speciation and intermittent behaviour. The next frontier for the study of social development is to find quantitative measures that define these processes.
L’espressione dell’infinito nell’arte giapponese

Kuki Shūzō, filosofo e poeta giapponese, in L’espressione dell’infinito nell’arte giapponese (1929) offre al pubblico occidentale una lettura di quello che egli ritiene essere il destino ideale dell’arte giapponese: esprimere l’infinito, partendo dal finito. Strutturandosi come un’indagine sulle tecniche artistiche, il saggio guida il lettore in un’analisi che dalle arti figurative, agenti sull’idea geometrica di spazio, giunge sino alla poesia e alla musica, arti operanti sull’idea cronologica del tempo.
Impact of zoledronic acid (ZA) versus pamidronate (P) on overall survival (OS) in multiple myeloma (MM).

e17546 Background: Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (BPs) have been shown to improve OS compared to non-nitrogen containing BPs in MM (Morgan et al. Lancet 2010). Treatment guidelines recommend use of ZA or P (both nitrogen-containing) in MM patients with bone disease. No study has compared the effect of these two drugs on OS. We compared the impact of ZA versus P on OS in United States Veterans with MM. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients diagnosed with MM from 10/2002-2/2009 within the Veterans Heath Administration Central Cancer Registry who received ZA (n=482) or P (n=757) by linking registry data to pharmacy records. Cox multivariable analysis was used to estimate the association between choice of BP and OS while controlling for potential confounders: body mass index (BMI), age, race, Charlson comorbidity index, year, treatment, hemoglobin (Hgb), creatinine (Cr), and albumin. Results: The median OS in patients receiving ZA was 34.5 months, compared to 26.4 months in the P group. After ...
Population Ecology of two Relictual Salamanders from the Klamath Mountains of Northwestern California

We investigated the population ecology of the southern Olympic salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus) and the Del Norte salamander (Plethodon elongatus) in the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California. A random stratified sampling design was used to investigate the distribution and relative abundance of subpopulations (metapopulation structure) of both species. We investigated specific demographic and other ecological aspects of one subpopulation of each species at sites with the highest relative numbers of each as revealed by the metapopulation analyses. Mark-recapture studies were conducted over 3 yr at these sites to gather ecological information on populations of these salamanders that appeared to exist in optimum conditions. We report data on population parameters, reproductive biology, movement, and growth. We offer this approach as a way to evaluate potential long-term viability of highly specialized or relictual species. We emphasize the importance of integrating site-specific ecological data with information on metapopulation structure at landscape and bioregional scales for conservation planning.
LMStr: exploring shared hardware controlled scratchpad memory for multicores

In this paper, we present an on-chip memory store called "Local Memory Store (LMStr)"which can be used with a regular cache hierarchy or solely as a redesigned scratchpad memory (SPM). The LMStr is a shared special kind of a SPM among the cores in a multicore processor. This memory hierarchy is hardware-controlled in terms of management of the store itself. Yet, compiler support is instrumental in deciding which data items/types should live in the store. Critical data should be stored in the LMStr according to its type (i.e., local, global, static, or temporary). The programmer can provide, at will, hints to the compiler to place certain data items in the LMStr. We evaluate our design using a matrix multiplication micro-application and multiple Mantevo mini-applications. Our results show that LMStr improves data movement by up to 21% compared to cache alone with a mere 3% area overhead. Not only that but LMStr improves the cycles per memory access by up to 40%. It also projects up to 85% less dynamic energy consumption compared to traditional cache.
Standoff analysis of laser-produced plasmas using laser-induced fluorescence.

We report the use of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) of laser ablation (LA) plumes for standoff applications. The standoff analysis of Al, as major and minor species in samples, is performed in a nanosecond laser-produced plasma created at a distance of ∼10 m. The LIF of LA plumes is carried out by resonantly exciting an Al transition at 394.4 nm (S1/22−P1/22) using a continuous wave (cw) tunable laser and by collecting the direct-line fluorescence signal at 396.15 nm. The spectral resolution of LIF is obtained by scanning the cw tunable LIF laser across the selected Al transition. Our results highlight that LIF provides enhanced signal intensity, emission persistence, and spectral resolution when compared to thermally excited emission.
Managing the Performance Impact of Administrative Utilities

Administrative utilities (e.g., filesystem and database backups, garbage collection in the Java Virtual Machines) are an essential part of the operation of production systems. Since production work can be severely degraded by the execution of such utilities, it is desirable to have policies of the form “There should be no more than an x% degradation of production work due to utility execution.” Two challenges arise in providing such policies: (1) providing an effective mechanism for throttling the resource consumption of utilities and (2) continuously translating from policy expressions of “degradation units” into the appropriate settings for the throttling mechanism. We address (1) by using self-imposed sleep, a technique that forces utilities to slow down their processing by a configurable amount. We address (2) by employing an online estimation scheme in combination with a feedback loop. This throttling system is autonomous and adaptive and allows the system to self-manage its utilities to limit their performance impact, with only high-level policy input from the administrator. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches in a prototype system that incorporates these capabilities into IBM’s DB2 Universal Database server.
Petaluma: A Comment

Abstract Since tens of millions of words have been spilled about Rampo,1 New York's “favorite child” growth control case, it is my parochial duty as California reporter to help equalize the situation by adding to the fives of millions of words spelled in analysis of the Petaluma litigation. I am reminded to be brief because of the planner who forecast dire results to his psyche if he had to hear or read one more thing about the cases.
On applying temporal database concepts to event queries

Temporal databases and query languages have been a subject of research for more than 30 years and are a natural fit for expressing queries that involve a temporal dimension. This paper makes an argument for an event query language that incorporates temporal relational operators to provide a higher degree of expressivity for event queries. The proposed event query language is based on relational algebra with extensions from the XChangeEQ event query language. After an overview of temporal database operators, example use cases are presented to illustrate the benefits of integrating event and temporal query language concepts. Challenges to the approach and potential solutions are also presented.
In-core leaching of chloride for prediction of corrosion of steel in concrete

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the effect of temperature and environment (particularly temperature cycling) on the behavior of polymer composite materials typical of that used in infrastructure applications as well as in aerospace applications. To examine the role of temperature cycling on an aerospace composite, durability studies were carried out on a woven graphite/epoxy system targeted at applications in areas of the aircraft industry where operating environment is of concern. Fatigue and residual strength testing was carried out on the composite material in question with the objective of developing a residual strength based life prediction model in which the effects of environment are considered. In this case, the approach called for the evaluation of tensile strength degradation during fatigue cycling in specified environments. The results could then be combined to predict the fatigue life of the material under periodically changing environments. The study was duplicated with the material that was previously aged (unstressed) under hygrothermal cycling to study the effects of environment alone on the composite.
Behavioral Approaches with Juvenile Offenders

Recent times have seen intense concern expressed over the prevalence of crime. In annual surveys conducted from 1972 through 1982, U.S. citizens were asked, “Is there more crime in this area than there was a year ago, or less?” Each year save one, the most common response was “more crime,” indicating the belief that crime has been an ever-increasing phenomenon in this society (Gallup, 1982). A 1980 survey indicated that at least 70% of the respondents reported taking at least one set of precautionary measures when going out of their residence (Research and Forecasts, Inc., 1980). Consistently, crime and lawlessness have been mentioned in surveys as one of the three most important social issues of our times (Roper Organization, 1982).
NHC-Catalyzed Formal [2+2] Annulations of Allenoates for the Synthesis of Substituted Oxetanes

An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed reaction of γ-substituted allenoates for the synthesis of substituted oxetanes has been developed. The method provides an approach to access substituted oxetanes in a single step and is the first example of an NHC-catalyzed formal [2+2]-annulation employing γ-substituted allenoates with trifluoromethyl ketones. Mechanistic and modeling studies provide a rationale for the divergence in reactivity observed compared to the analogous reaction using unsubstituted allenoates and inform a hypothesis to explain the observed diastereoselectivity under different reaction conditions.
β-Strand inspired bifacial π-conjugated polymers

Access to diverse, relatively high molecular weight soluble linear polymers without pendant solubilizing chains is the key to solution state synthesis of structurally diverse nanoribbons of conjugated materials. However, realizing soluble 1D-π-conjugated polymers without pendant solubilizing chains is a daunting task. Herein, inspired from the polypeptide β-strand architecture, we have designed and developed novel bifacial π-conjugated polymers (Mn: ca. 24 kDa) that are soluble (ca. 70 to >250 mM) despite the absence of pendant solubilizing chains. The impact of varying the bifacial monomer height on polymer solubility, optical properties, and interactions with small molecules is reported.
Augmented reality in dermatology: Are we ready for AR?

Augmented reality (AR) refers to a group of technologies that capture, analyze, and superimpose digital information onto the real world. This information gives health care providers unique and useful perspectives that can enhance patient care. AR has been utilized in selected scenarios in health care for several decades, notably laparoscopic surgery and vein finding. In recent years, improved wireless technologies, computing power, and analytics are leading to rapid growth in the AR industry. Novel health care–specific use cases are rapidly being introduced with the potential to widely affect clinical care, particularly in dermatology because of the visual nature of the field. In this article, we define AR, profile clinical and educational uses of AR in dermatology, and discuss key policy considerations for the safe and appropriate use of this emerging technology.
What drives the market for exchange-traded notes?

Abstract Exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are a relatively new form of security design that appear similar to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but with no underlying portfolio holdings. We identify those characteristics of ETNs that are distinct from ETFs, and we test which ETN characteristics are most associated with interest from investors. We find that some ETNs have return patterns that are not spanned by ETFs, while other ETNs employ different strategies to attract investors. We show that the market activity for ETNs is associated with the distinctiveness of ETN returns, improvements in tracking errors, access to leverage, and the extent of risk transformation that ETNs allow.
‘Where are you from? Your English is so good’: a Korean female scholar's autoethnography of academic imperialism in U.S. higher education

Higher education institutions are growing as international spaces, making it crucial to understand how international scholars are subjected to U.S. conceptions of race and racialization. Drawing fr...
Chromosome-autonomous feedback downregulates meiotic DSB competence upon synaptonemal complex formation

The number of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) initiating meiotic recombination is elevated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants that are globally defective in forming crossovers and synaptonemal complex (SC), a protein scaffold juxtaposing homologous chromosomes. These mutants thus appear to lack a negative feedback loop that inhibits DSB formation when homologs engage one another. This feedback is predicted to be chromosome autonomous, but this has not been tested. Moreover, what chromosomal process is recognized as “homolog engagement” remains unclear. To address these questions, we evaluated effects of homolog engagement defects restricted to small portions of the genome using karyotypically abnormal yeast strains with a homeologous chromosome V pair, monosomic V, or trisomy XV. We found that homolog-engagement-defective chromosomes incurred more DSBs, concomitant with prolonged retention of the DSB-promoting protein Rec114, while the rest of the genome remained unaffected. SC-deficient, crossover-proficient mutants ecm11 and gmc2 experienced increased DSB numbers diagnostic of homolog engagement defects. These findings support the hypothesis that SC formation provokes DSB protein dissociation, leading in turn to loss of a DSB competent state. Our findings show that DSB number is regulated in a chromosome-autonomous fashion and provide insight into how homeostatic DSB controls respond to aneuploidy during meiosis. bioRxiv version 2 (September 2020) We added one bioRxiv citation in the discussion section which shows increased breaks in gmc2 and ecm11 mutants. This work was done independently by Keun Kim, Miki Shinohara and colleagues. The pulse gel electrophoresis result shown in Figure 1D has been re-quantified. The conclusion remains that homeologous and monosomic chromosome V generate more DSBs compared to internally controlled chromosome III. One zip3 map included in PCA (Figure 6C) and hierarchical clustering analysis (Figure S5B) has been deleted because this particular map has not yet been published. This change does not affect the conclusion. An additional supplemental table (S5) has been added to show Spo11-oligo datasets used in this study. Figures and preprint have been reformatted.
Data-driven motion correction in clinical PET - a joint accomplishment of creative academia and industry

TO THE EDITOR: I read with great interest the recent JNM article by Walker et al. comparing data-driven and hardware-driven motion correction technologies in PET ([1][1]). The former is an important innovation, and its transition into the marketplace is exciting to see. Publications such as this one
A database of seismic designs, nonlinear models, and seismic responses for steel moment-resisting frame buildings:

A number of simplified methodologies have been developed and used to estimate seismic drift demands in buildings. However, none of them have been systematically tested against a large number of bui...
The Role of the Adipokine Leptin in Immune Cell Function in Health and Disease

Leptin is a critical mediator of the immune response to changes in overall nutrition. Leptin is produced by adipocytes in proportion to adipose tissue mass and is therefore increased in obesity. Despite having a well-described role in regulating systemic metabolism and appetite, leptin displays pleiotropic actions, and it is now clear that leptin has a key role in influencing immune cell function. Indeed, many immune cells have been shown to respond to leptin directly via the leptin receptor, resulting in a largely pro-inflammatory phenotype. Understanding the role of adipose-tissue derived mediators in inflammation is critical to determining the pathophysiology of multiple obesity-associated diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disease, and infection. This review, therefore, focuses on the latest data regarding the role of leptin in modulating inflammation.
Inhibitory effect of O-glycosylation inhibition on human intestinal epithelial cells Mucin 2 expression and bacteria adherence

Objective To investigate the effect of O-glycosylation inhibition in intestinal epithelial cells on the expression of Mucin 2(MUC2) and bacterial adherence.Methods Intestinal epithelial cells HT-29 and differentiated HT-29 cells(HT-29Gal) were treated with an inhibitor of O-glycosylation(benzyl-α-GalNAc),and then named as HT-29-OBN and HT-29-Gal-OBN,respectively.The mRNA and protein expression of MUC2 in HT-29,HT29-Gal,HT-29-OBN and HT-29-Gal-OBN were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting.Then the four kinds of above cells were incubated with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(EPEC) or enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7(EHEC O157:H7).The bacteria were quantified by determining the colony forming unit(CFU) following the plating of serial dilutions of the bacteria to evaluate the effect of benzyl-α-GalNAc on bacteria adherence.Results The results of real-time PCR and Western blotting showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of MUC2 in HT-29-OBN and HT-29-Gal-OBN cells were significantly lower than those in the untreated cells HT-29 and HT-29-Gal(P0.05).The bacterial adherence assay showed that the adherence of EPEC and EHEC O157:H7 to HT-29-OBN and HT-29-Gal-OBN cells significantly decreased compared with that to HT-29 and HT-29-Gal cells(P0.05).Conclusion Inhibition of O-glycosylation in intestinal epithelial cells may reduce the bacteria adherence and MUC2 expression.
110 Usage and perceptions of equestrian safety equipment

Equestrians are no strangers to injury. Modernization of the sport aims to support safe riding habits and limit fatal injuries, especially with the use of equestrian safety equipment. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing the use of safety equipment across a range of equestrian disciplines. It was hypothesized that use, perceptions of efficacy, and influencing factors would differ according to discipline but not other demographic factors. An online survey was widely distributed via horse industry organizations and social media over a 2-week period in January 2021. The survey identified rider demographics including age, education level, geographic region, and primary riding discipline, and used 5-pt Likert-scale questions regarding use, perceived effectiveness, and influences on 3 types of safety equipment. Data were examined using frequency counts, correlation, and mixed model ANOVA (SAS, Inc.). Of 770 responses, 48.6% identified themselves as English riders, 46.2% as western riders, and 5.2% as drivers. As hypothesized, helmet use was lower in western disciplines than English disciplines (P 0.05). When asked how often respondents used helmets, only 58.2% of all participants chose “always,” yet 74.2% considered helmets “very effective” in preventing injury. Across all disciplines, 79.1% “strongly agreed” or “somewhat agreed” that their use of helmets was influenced by past injuries and experiences. Of respondents, 75.3% “strongly agree” that youth should be required to wear helmets. Unlike helmet use, only 16.8% had used safety vests in the past year, and 19.5% used safety stirrups. Use of safety vests and safety stirrups was greater (P
A case report of COVID-19 colitis and a sports medicine driven community outreach program that contributed to a successful outcome

This case illustrates a lesser seen presentation of SARS-CoV-2 (henceforth to be termed COVID-19): acute ascending colitis in the community setting. In a broader context, however, this case demonstrates the importance of community, spirituality and a social support network while fighting a life-threatening illness, especially one that demands social and physical isolation while convalescing. Many are attracted to practice in the field of sports medicine due to a sense of community and teamwork that parallels the goals of the individual athlete. This case illustrates the unconventional role sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons and team sports chiropractors have undertaken in the battle versus Covid-19, specifically consulting on the patient while creating an outreach program in the hopes of contributing to the patient's sense of wellness. In this unique case, our patient is a current soccer coach and former professional soccer player known well in the American and El Salvadorian soccer communities. The community he has devoted his life's work to played a pivotal role in his battle against COVID-19. While this disease has undoubtedly resulted in global upheaval, community support, particularly that of the Washington D.C. Soccer community and the D.C. United Major League outreach program, played a large role in the psychosocial wellness of the patient and ultimately his recovery.
On the Other Side of Interests: The Rise of Values and Their Transformation into Disinterest

The creation of the notion of “classical theory” in the United States was part and parcel of a radical reformulation of the theory of the nature of the actor carried out by Talcott Parsons. This involved the recasting of core concerns in European sociology turning on the notion of “values” in such a way as to support Parsons’s Manichean attempt to cordon off sociology from the specter of utilitarianism, which he conceived to threaten the young shoot of sociology from both the right and the left. We here show how Parsons creatively misappropriated his sources in order to support his conviction that the modern world has a new form of legitimate domination based on the disinterested service of professionals; the notion of “values,” one that sociologists still take seriously, comes from his reformulation of the conception of the motivational structure of the actor to facilitate an unquestioning acceptance of protestations of disinterest on the part of the structurally empowered.
Numerical Modeling of Solar Convection and Oscillations in Magnetic Regions

Solar observations show that the spectra of turbulent convection and oscillations significantly change in magnetic regions, resulting in interesting phenomena, such as high‐frequency “acoustic halos” around active regions. In addition, recent observations from SOHO/MDI revealed significant changes of the wave properties in inclined magnetic field regions of sunspots, which affect helioseismic inferences. We use realistic 3D radiative MHD numerical simulations to investigate properties of solar convection and excitation and propagation of oscillations in magnetic regions. A new feature of these simulations is implementation of a dynamic sub‐grid turbulence model, which allows more accurate description of turbulent dissipation and wave excitation. We present the simulation results for a wide range of the field strength and inclination in the top 6 Mm layer of the convection zone. The results show interesting and unexpected effects in the dynamics and large‐scale organization of the magnetoconvection (includ...
Dimension-free tail inequalities for sums of random matrices.

We derive exponential tail inequalities for sums of random matrices with no dependence on the explicit matrix dimensions. These are similar to the matrix versions of the Chernoff bound and Bernstein inequality except with the explicit matrix dimensions replaced by a trace quantity that can be small even when the dimension is large or infinite. Some applications to principal component analysis and approximate matrix multiplication are given to illustrate the utility of the new bounds.
In‐Vehicle Network

The in-vehicle network, which exchanges information among electronic devices such as ECUs, sensors, and actuators through wired connections, is becoming more widespread as the development of automotive electronic controls advances. This chapter outlines the principles and technologies of the in-vehicle network, focusing on its purpose, background, current and future development status, and communication protocol. Keywords: in-vehicle network; automotive electronic system; multiplex communication; communication protocol; electronic control unit; frame format; transmission speed
An Optimal Dynamic Mechanism for Multi-Armed Bandit Processes

We consider the problem of revenue-optimal dynamic mechanism design in settings where agents' types evolve over time as a function of their (both public and private) experience with items that are auctioned repeatedly over an infinite horizon. A central question here is understanding what natural restrictions on the environment permit the design of optimal mechanisms (note that even in the simpler static setting, optimal mechanisms are characterized only under certain restrictions). We provide a {\em structural characterization} of a natural "separable: multi-armed bandit environment (where the evolution and incentive structure of the a-priori type is decoupled from the subsequent experience in a precise sense) where dynamic optimal mechanism design is possible. Here, we present the Virtual Index Mechanism, an optimal dynamic mechanism, which maximizes the (long term) {\em virtual surplus} using the classical Gittins algorithm. The mechanism optimally balances exploration and exploitation, taking incentives into account.
The case for controlled inconsistency in replicated data

Although replication is widely accepted as a good technique for increasing reliability and availability of data, it is also known as an expensive proposition, especially when the number of replicas increases. Protocols that keep the copies consistent, such as two-phase commit, require one or more rounds of messages and have a high overhead in the overall performance. There are some applications that can run perfectly using copies that may not be consistent, as long as the application knows how much the copy can differ from the most recent version of the data. Many of the applications would rather tolerate some inconsistencies of the information in order to provide a better, faster service. A scenario is considered in which the database consists of several segments, each one controlled by a single node (or group of nodes). All the updates to a particular segment of the data take place at its controlling node, while the rest of the system is allowed to ask for quasi-copies of the data contained in the segment. >
Impact of prenatal diagnosis on neonatal surgery

Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis has radically altered neonatal surgical practice. Advance warning of severe structural malformations allows time for detailed parental counselling by neonatal surgeons in conjunction with obstetricians and neonatologists, so that the parents of an infant with an abnormality may be adequately prepared for the investigations and surgery which will be required after birth. Prenatal diagnosis also creates opportunities for interventions during pregnancy such as fetal karyotyping, in-utero transfer and planned delivery in a perinatal centre where neonatal surgical and anaesthetic expertise is readily available. Selective termination of fetuses found to have chromosomal abnormalities or such severe abnormalities that survival is unlikely, results in relatively ‘good-risk’ populations presenting to neonatal surgeons after birth. Consequently, survival rates after surgery have improved in many conditions. Neonatal surgeons should be informed of any prenatal diagnosis of a surgical abnormality and should be actively involved in parental counselling and perinatal management.
Use of system identification techniques for improving airframe finite element models using test data

A method for using system identification techniques to improve airframe finite element models was developed and demonstrated. The method uses linear sensitivity matrices to relate changes in selected physical parameters to changes in total system matrices. The values for these physical parameters were determined using constrained optimization with singular value decomposition. The method was confirmed using both simple and complex finite element models for which pseudo-experimental data was synthesized directly from the finite element model. The method was then applied to a real airframe model which incorporated all the complexities and details of a large finite element model and for which extensive test data was available. The method was shown to work, and the differences between the identified model and the measured results were considered satisfactory.
It Pays to Have a Spring in Your Step

A large portion of the mechanical work required for walking comes from muscles and tendons crossing the ankle joint. By storing and releasing elastic energy in the Achilles tendon during each step, humans greatly enhance the efficiency of ankle joint work far beyond what is possible for work performed at the knee and hip joints. Summary Humans produce mechanical work at the ankle joint during walking with an efficiency two to six times greater than isolated muscle efficiency.
Physical activity recommendations in the treatment of obesity.

Overweight and obesity are linked to increased health risks because of numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer [1]. This is of concern because of the increasing rates of obesity in the United States over the past 30 to 40 years [2]. To address this concern, effective interventions are needed to induce weight loss, prevent weight regain, and prevent weight gain in persons of normal weight. Results of weight loss interventions have shown that the most rapid weight loss is achieved by reducing energy intake. To maximize weight loss, enhance the maintenance of weight loss, and potentially reduce the onset of overweight and obesity, however, energy expenditure in the form of physical activity should be incorporated into interventions [3]. Moreover, physical activity can have a significant independent impact on risk factors (ie, lipids, blood pressure, insulin) that are commonly present in overweight individuals [1]. Therefore, adequately incorporating physical activity into a comprehensive weight management program may prove beneficial for improving weight loss outcomes and reducing associated risk factors for chronic diseases. The following information should be considered when incorporating physical activity in weight control interventions for overweight and obese individuals.
Art and pastoral theology

In this article, art and art viewing are discussed in regard to pastoral theology. Stemming from case situations in classroom and clinical contexts, some of the parameters of art and art viewing and their role in the process of caregiving are given special attention. Using Seward Hiltner's understanding of shepherding, art viewing is examined in relation to guiding and the educative process. With its potential for eliciting the emotive response in the viewer, art is considered as a conducive medium for spirituality and an expression of worship.
Facial expressions and vagal tone of infants of depressed and non-depressed mothers

Mothers classified as ‘depressed’, ‘non-depressed’ or ‘low scoring’ on the Beck Depression Inventory and their 3-month-old infants were videotaped during 3-minute face-to-face play interactions. Infants' facial expressions were coded using the AFFEX facial expression coding system and their EKG was recorded during the interactions to assess the relationship between cardiac measures and facial expressivity. Infants of both ‘depressed’ and ‘low scoring’ mothers showed significantly more sad and anger expressions and fewer interest expressions than infants of nondepressed mothers. Cardiac vagal tone, (quantified from the amplitude of respiratory sinus arrhythmia) was correlated with infants' joy and interest expressions and with self-comfort behaviours in the non-depressed and low scoring groups, but not in the depressed group. The results suggest that matermal depression affects infants' affective state and appearance as well as their biobehavioural emotional regulation systems.
Design of metamaterial based sensors for pressure measurement

Transmission and reflection spectra of periodic and random stacks comprising positive index materials and metamaterials have been extensively studied. In this paper we investigate the effectiveness of periodic stacks of PIM/NIM for use as a sensor. The transfer matrix method is used to find the transmittance and reflectance. Differences between the zero average refractive index bandgap and Bragg bandgap are illustrated. It is shown how these bandgaps can be used as the basis for designing sensors with minimal cross-sensitivity.
An Optimization Model for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

The necessity for environmentally conscious vehicle designs in conjunction with increasing concerns regarding U.S. dependency on foreign oil and climate change have induced significant investment towards enhancing the propulsion portfolio with new technologies. More recently, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have held great intuitive appeal and have attracted considerable attention. PHEVs have the potential to reduce petroleum consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the commercial transportation sector. They are especially appealing in situations where daily commuting is within a small amount of miles with excessive stop-and-go driving. The research effort outlined in this paper aims to investigate the implications of motor/generator and battery size on fuel economy and GHG emissions in a medium-duty PHEV. An optimization framework is developed and applied to two different parallel powertrain configurations, e.g., pre-transmission and post-transmission, to derive the optimal design with respect to motor/generator and battery size. A comparison between the conventional and PHEV configurations with equivalent size and performance under the same driving conditions is conducted thus allowing an assessment of the fuel economy and GHG emissions potential improvement. The post-transmission parallel configuration yields higher fuel economy and less GHG emissions compared to pre-transmission configuration partly attributable to the enhanced regenerative braking efficiency.Copyright © 2011 by ASME