cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of fused-silica capillary gas chromatography to the analysis of underivatized drugs

Abstract The feasibility of using fused-silica capillary chromatography for the routine analysis of several common drugs is illustrated. Considerations for optimizing on-column and splitless injection are discussed as part of a study of system discrimi nation and reproducibility. The peak shape of polar solutes is improved through the use of a binary solvent and non-extractable stationary phase columns. Cold on-column injection with cross-linked polysiloxane deactivated columns produced linear quantitation from 1 to 100 ng with precisions of 0.1–2% for selected anticonvulsant drugs.
Extrusion cooking of a maize/soybean mixture: Factors affecting expanded product characteristics and flour dispersion viscosity

Abstract The effects of endosperm hardness and extrusion conditions on expanded product characteristics and flour dispersion viscosity of an extruded maize/soybean (88/12) mixture were studied. Samples were obtained with a Brabender single screw extruder. A factorial experimental design was used to analyze the combined effects on radial expansion of two maize endosperm hardness, extrusion temperature and grits moisture content. Surface response methodology was used to study the effects of extrusion conditions on extrudate properties, taking grits moisture (14–18%) and extrusion temperature (155–185 °C) as factors. Specific mechanical energy consumption, radial expansion, specific volume and product texture were determined on each extrudate sample, and the viscosity of the dispersion from extrudate flour was measured at different solids concentrations. For the 88/12 (maize/soybean) mixture, a softer maize endosperm gives a more expanded product than the harder one. Texture scores were directly related with specific volume. The best extrusion conditions to obtain expanded products and precooked flour from an 88/12 maize/soybean mixture were 170 °C and 14% moisture.
Changes in ecdysteroids during embryogenesis of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus rathbun.

Abstract Total ecdysteroid titers [estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA)] in embryos of the blue crab increased from ∼6 ng 20-hydroxyecdysone equivalents/g in the immature embryo to a maximum of ∼500 ng 20-hydroxyecdysone equivalents/g in maturing embryos; titers dropped to ∼300 ng 20-hydroxyecdysone equivalents/g in prehatch embryos. High-pressure reverse-phase chromatography of the embryo extracts resolved five RIA-active components. α-Ecdysone and the polar conjugate of 20-hydroxyecdysone were present in low quantities. The concentration of 20-hydroxyecdysone increased during embryogenesis to a maximum of ∼160 ng/g in maturing embryos and decreased only slightly in the prehatch embryos. Two unidentified components were also detected and the changes in their concentrations were estimated. One, an apolar component (peak III), accounted for as much as 63% of the total RIA activity as the embryos matured. The estimated concentration of this component increased from 85 ng/g in early embryos to 475 ng/g in maturing embryos, then decreased by 50% in the prehatch embryos. The level of the other, more polar component (peak II) increased from 7.5 to 75 ng/g as the embryos developed. The increase in the concentration of ecdysteroids during embryogenesis indicates that crab embryos have the capacity to synthesize ecdysteroids and suggests that these hormones may have a physiological role in the embryonic development of crustaceans.
Searching for collaboration in international nursing partnerships: a literature review

GEORGE E.K. & MEADOWS-OLIVER M. (2013) Searching for collaboration in international nursing partnerships: a literature review. International Nursing Review60, 31–36 Background: Nurses from low-income countries (LICs) face extreme nursing shortages, faculty shortages and a lack of professional development opportunities. Nurses from high-income countries (HICs) can leverage their wealth of resources to collaborate with nursing colleagues in LICs to expand clinical, education and research capacity. In turn, nurses from HICs gain stronger competency in the care they provide, improved communication skills and an increased understanding of global health issues. Aim: The purpose of this literature review is to identify international nursing clinical, education and research partnerships among nurses from LICs and HICs and to analyse the degree of collaboration involved in each partnership using DeSantis' counterpart concept. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of international nursing partnerships in the scientific literature from January 2001 to July 2012. A total of nine articles met inclusion criteria for analysis. Findings: All of the articles discuss lessons learnt in building international nursing partnerships among nurses from HICs and LICs. However, the articles failed to meet the criteria set forth by DeSantis' counterpart concept to achieve fully collaborative nursing partnerships. Conclusions: International nursing partnerships require more foresight and planning to create partnerships in which the benefits derived by nurses from LICs equal those of their colleagues from HICs. By striving for such collaboration, international nursing partnerships can help build nursing clinical, education and research capacity in LICs.
Large Cellular Inclusions Accumulate in Arabidopsis Roots Exposed to Low-Sulfur Conditions

Sulfur is vital for primary and secondary metabolism in plant roots. To understand the molecular and morphogenetic changes associated with loss of this key macronutrient, we grew Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedlings in low-sulfur conditions. These conditions induced a cascade of cellular events that converged to produce a profound intracellular phenotype defined by large cytoplasmic inclusions. The inclusions, termed low-sulfur Pox, show cell type- and developmental zone-specific localization. Transcriptome analysis suggested that low sulfur causes dysfunction of the glutathione/ascorbate cycle, which reduces flavonoids. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicated that low-sulfur Pox are the result of peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of quercetin in roots grown under sulfur-depleted conditions.
Bacteriocin Activity of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Controlled by the Serine Protease HtrA via Posttranscriptional Regulation

The blp locus of a type 6A strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae encodes a two-peptide bacteriocin, pneumocin MN, which mediates intraspecies competition during mouse nasopharyngeal colonization. This locus is regulated by a quorum-sensing mechanism consisting of a dedicated two-component regulatory system and a peptide pheromone. Like most clinical isolates, this type 6A strain can be separated into opaque and transparent colony variants, each playing a different role during pneumococcal infection. In this study, we show that the blp locus is differentially regulated at the posttranscriptional level in pneumococcal opacity variants. Transparent and opaque variants produce equivalent amounts of blpMNPO transcript when stimulated with a synthetic pheromone, but transparent variants have no pneumocin MN-mediated inhibitory activity while opaque variants produce large zones of inhibitory activity. The differential regulation in opacity variants is driven by the two-component regulatory system CiaRH via its regulation of the serine protease HtrA. Transparent mutants deficient in CiaH or HtrA show increased pneumocin MN-mediated inhibition. In addition, these mutants demonstrate alterations in their dose response to a synthetic peptide pheromone, suggesting that HtrA activity impacts pneumocin MN production at the level of signaling. This, in addition to its known effects on competence, suggests that HtrA is a pleiotropic regulator whose protease activity affects several important bacterial pathways. The complex regulation of pneumocins may allow the pneumococcus to reserve the secretion of active peptides for situations where the benefit of their inhibitory activity outweighs the cost of their production.
Reovirus Infection or Ectopic Expression of Outer Capsid Protein μ1 Induces Apoptosis Independently of the Cellular Proapoptotic Proteins Bax and Bak

Mammalian orthoreoviruses induce apoptosis in vivo and in vitro; however, the specific mechanism by which apoptosis is induced is not fully understood. Recent studies have indicated that the reovirus outer capsid protein μ1 is the primary determinant of reovirus-induced apoptosis. Ectopically expressed μ1 induces apoptosis and localizes to intracellular membranes. Here we report that ectopic expression of μ1 activated both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways with activation of initiator caspases-8 and -9 and downstream effector caspase-3. Activation of both pathways was required for μ1-induced apoptosis, as specific inhibition of either caspase-8 or caspase-9 abolished downstream effector caspase-3 activation. Similar to reovirus infection, ectopic expression of μ1 caused release into the cytosol of cytochrome c and smac/DIABLO from the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Pancaspase inhibitors did not prevent cytochrome c release from cells expressing μ1, indicating that caspases were not required. Additionally, μ1- or reovirus-induced release of cytochrome c occurred efficiently in Bax(-/-)Bak(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Finally, we found that reovirus-induced apoptosis occurred in Bax(-/-)Bak(-/-) MEFs, indicating that reovirus-induced apoptosis occurs independently of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bax and Bak.
The role of dopamine oxidation in mitochondrial dysfunction: implications for Parkinson’s disease

The etiology of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown, although mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been implicated in the mechanisms associated with PD pathogenesis. Dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta have been shown to degenerate to a greater extent in PD than other neurons suggesting the possibility that DA itself may be contributing to the neurodegenerative process. This review discusses our work on the effects of DA oxidation and reactive DA quinones on mitochondrial function and protein modification and the potential for exacerbating toxicity associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in PD.
Technical Note-Assessment of Risk Attitude by a Utility Dependence Condition

This paper introduces a utility dependence condition and shows that it implies a multiattribute utility function that has a logarithmic or power form in terms of conditional utility functions on the individual attributes.
Recovery of grizzly and American black bears from xylazine, zolazepam, and tiletamine

Abstract Field workers handling bears continually strive to improve their field methods and reduce risks to animals during capture. Zolazepam–tiletamine (ZT) is the standard anesthesia currently used in bear captures, but has a prolonged recovery because there is no antagonist. Researchers are increasingly using xylazine, zolazepam, and tiletamine (XZT) in combination as an improvement to ZT alone. Because xylazine provides excellent analgesic qualities and can be antagonized, XZT has the potential for effective anesthesia and faster recovery time for bears. I assessed recovery times and considered physiological parameters to asses the quality of anesthesia of grizzly (Ursus arctos) and American black (U. americanus) bears anesthetized with XZT, for which the xylazine portion was antagonized by yohimbine (XZT/Y). I compared these recovery times with unpublished recovery time data on bears anesthetized with ZT only. My XZT/Y samples came from research projects in western Montana, northern Idaho, and southe...
Structure of the N-Linked Glycan Present on Multiple Glycoproteins in the Gram-negative Bacterium, Campylobacter jejuni

Mass spectrometry investigations of partially purified Campylobacter jejuni protein PEB3 showed it to be partially modified with an Asn-linked glycan with a mass of 1406 Da and composed of one hexose, five N-acetylhexosamines and a species of mass 228 Da, consistent with a trideoxydiacetamidohexose. By means of soybean lectin affinity chromatography, a mixture of glycoproteins was obtained from a glycine extract, and two-dimensional gel proteomics analysis led to the identification of at least 22 glycoproteins, predominantly annotated as periplasmic proteins. Glycopeptides were prepared from the glycoprotein mixture by Pronase digestion and gel filtration. The structure of the glycan was determined by using nano-NMR techniques to be GalNAc-alpha1,4-GalNAc-alpha1,4-[Glcbeta1,3-]GalNAc-alpha1,4-GalNAc-alpha1,4-GalNAc-alpha1,3-Bac-beta1,N-Asn-Xaa, where Bac is bacillosamine, 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyglucopyranose. Protein glycosylation was abolished when the pglB gene was mutated, providing further evidence that the enzyme encoded by this gene is responsible for formation of the glycopeptide N-linkage. Comparison of the pgl locus with that of Neisseria meningitidis suggested that most of the homologous genes are probably involved in the biosynthesis of bacillosamine.
HOW ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS CHANGE WITH DEVELOPMENT: The Epidemiologic and Environmental Risk Transitions Revisited

▪ Abstract Transition frameworks are used to envision the important changes that occur during economic development from poor to middle-income or rich countries. We explain the derivation of and use data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) and Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) projects of the World Health Organization (WHO) to explore the classic epidemiologic transition framework, which describes the changes in causes of illness and death during economic development. We provide the first full empirical test of the environmental risk transition framework, which describes the shift in environmental risks during development from household, community, and global risk factors. We find that the simplistic conclusions commonly drawn about the epidemiologic transition, in particular the increase in chronic diseases with development, are not supported by current data; in contrast, the conceptual framework of the environmental risk transition is broadly supported in a cross-sectional analysis. We also describe ...
Mosbys and broomsedge: the semantics of class in an Appalachian kinship system

The kinship forms of a community in the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States are examined, with a focus on a kinship unit called the set by the mountain people. This unit, which is a collection of descendants of a common ancestor living in close proximity, is analyzed in terms of its composition, constitution, and use in network formation. It is demonstrated that the set is not simply a kinship group and that its existence is not simply an adaptation to poverty. Rather, it is a codification of the distinctions of kinship, personal identity, and class understood by the mountain people. The nexus of these class relationships lies in usufructuary rights of kin to land, which has been translated into an idiom of identification with named localities. [kinship, class, Appalachia, land]
Detection of Cytomegalovirus in Whole Blood Using Three Different Real-Time PCR Chemistries

Several different primer-probe chemistries have been produced commercially for real-time PCR detection and quantification of cytomegalovirus, but there are few studies evaluating their relative performance. We assessed three such commercial reagents with respect to analytical and clinical operating characteristics. The samples included 149 clinical whole blood specimens that were de-identified and assayed in parallel with all primer–probe systems. Individual methods used TaqMan, dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer hybridization probes, and labeled primer chemistries. Method comparability was determined both qualitatively, based on pair-wise assessment of concordance, and quantitatively, based on pair-wise linear regression analysis. Analytical sensitivity and the lower end of the linear dynamic range reached 10 target copies per reaction for the TaqMan and labeled primer systems and 100 target copies per reaction for the dual fluorescence resonance energy transfer probe system. Quantitative linearity reached an upper limit of 105 copies per reaction for all methods. No assay cross-reactivity was seen with other common viral pathogens (100% analytical specificity). Pair-wise analysis of qualitative results from clinical samples showed no significant differences in sensitivity between the three sets of reagents, and linear regression analysis indicated that the quantitative values achieved were comparable in all positive specimens. The findings demonstrate that similar analytical and clinical performance characteristics can be demonstrated for quantitative detection of cytomegalovirus in clinical whole blood extracts using a wide variety of real-time PCR chemistries.
Multimodel Inference Understanding AIC and BIC in Model Selection

The model selection literature has been generally poor at reflecting the deep foundations of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and at making appropriate comparisons to the Bayesian information...
Congenital gastric teratoma in Wiedemann‐Beckwith syndrome

Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) may be associated with abdominal tumors, including Wilms tumor, adrenocortical carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, gonadoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and neuroblastoma. We report on a newborn infant with WBS and a congenital teratoma of the stomach. This is the sole report of any teratoma being associated with WBS and also the first report of a tumor present at birth and visible prenatally in WBS. At birth this infant boy had the diagnostic findings of WBS with macroglossia, ear lobule creases and pits, nevus flammeus, and omphalocele, and an abdominal mass. Abnormalities were detected prenatally when ultrasound examination showed placental overgrowth, polyhydramnios, omphalocele, and posterior abdominal calcifications. Resection of the mass and partial gastrectomy were performed at age 10 days; histologic study showed an immature grade-II teratoma containing a mixture of mature and immature tissues from all germ layers. Results of cytogenetic studies of blood and teratoma were normal (46,XY). This congenital gastric teratoma in a newborn boy with classical WBS may represent either a tumor or an included twin. We discuss its implications for the association of WBS with neoplasia and monozygotic (MZ) twinning, review various neoplasias associated with WBS, and consider pathogenetic mechanisms.
Loading and spatial location in wire and radio communications networks

Two algorithms and related performance measures for calculating traffic intensity as a function of spatial location are presented. The first measure of traffic loading is the product of the number of links per area, the average link distance, and the average load per link in a given area. This measure gives a sense of the joint amount of traffic load and cabling for wire networks. The second measure is simply the product of the number of links per area and the average load per link in a given area. This measure gives a sense of traffic load only for wire and radio networks. An example of the algorithms' use for a circular network operating under a shortest path routing is included. >
Long-term survival in an untreated patient with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from breast primary

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC), also termed neoplastic eningitis, occurs when cancer involves the pia mater covering he brain and spine, and the arachnoid membrane. Within this rea, malignant cells are thought to disseminate throughout the euro-axis by passive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow [1]. Patients an present with a range of neurologic symptoms including pain; utcomes are generally poor and considered incurable. Although he exact incidence is unknown the rate seems to be increasing as ovel therapeutics has resulted in improved outcomes for many umors [2]. With increased survival there is a greater interval of ime for disease to recur in the central nervous system (CNS) as any chemotherapeutic agents have poor penetration through the lood brain barrier. The clinical impact of LC is significant: five perent of all cancer patients are thought to develop LC during the ourse of disease and twenty percent of patients with advanced ancer having neurological signs or symptoms have LC [3]. Some ancers have more of a predilection for LC and include breast, ung and melanoma while improved therapeutics may increase
Weak-coherent-state-based time-frequency quantum key distribution

We study large-alphabet quantum key distribution (QKD) based on the use of weak-coherent states and the time–frequency uncertainty relation. The large alphabet is achieved by dividing time and spectrum into M bins resulting in a frame similar to traditional pulse-position modulation (in time domain). However, the non-uniform occurrence of a photon prepared in a time/frequency bin creates the space for eavesdropping. By analysis, we show that a new intercept-resend attack strategy exists, which is stronger than that has been reported in the literature and hence the secret key rate of time-frequency QKD (TF-QKD) can be more tightly bounded. We then analyse the secret key rates of TF-QKD under various practical issues, such as channel loss, background noise, jitter and atmospheric turbulence in order to better understand the applicability of TF-QKD. Further, we discuss the information reconciliation for TF-QKD. Specifically, we investigate the layered coding scheme for TF-QKD based on quasi-cyclic low-densit...
Differential Fertility and Intelligence: Current Status of the Problem

In 1940 Raymond B. Cattell reported that parents with higher IQ scores were inclined to have smaller families than those with lower measured intelligence. He indicated that the differential birth rate with regard to intelligence would, in time, result in a lower IQ in the general population. This finding supported earlier observations by Lentz (1927) and Mailer (1933), among others, of an inverse relationship between family size and test performance. According to Cattell, the rate of decline in the United States and Great Britain was between 1.0 and 1.5 points per decade. Confirmation of Cattell’s findings was presented by Burt in 1946 with a warning that the rate of decline in the English population was between 1.3 and 2.5 points per generation.
Living a Calling, Nationality, and Life Satisfaction A Moderated, Multiple Mediator Model

The present study examined the differences in the experience of a calling among working adults in the Unites States and India. First, we examined group differences in perceiving a calling and living a calling between Americans and Indians, with Indians being more likely to endorse perceiving and living out a calling than Americans. Second, we tested a moderated, multiple mediator model to investigate the mediating role of life meaning and job satisfaction in the relation of living a calling to life satisfaction and the moderating role of nationality. Supporting prior research, both life meaning and job satisfaction were found to mediate the relation between living a calling and life satisfaction. Furthermore, we found that nationality moderated the living calling–life meaning and living calling–job satisfaction links. These results indicate the importance of nationality in the link between living a calling and life satisfaction. Implications for research are discussed.
Variability in Motor and Language Recovery during the Acute Stroke Period

Background: Most stroke recovery occurs by 90 days after onset, with proportional recovery models showing an achievement of about 70% of the maximal remaining recovery. Little is known about recovery during the acute stroke period. Moreover, data are described for groups, not for individuals. In this observational cohort study, we describe for the first time the daily changes of acute stroke patients with motor and/or language deficits over the first week after stroke onset. Methods: Patients were enrolled within 24-72 h after stroke onset with upper extremity hemiparesis, aphasia, or both, and were tested daily until day 7 or discharge with the upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery after Stroke, the Boston Naming Test, and the comprehension domain from the Western Aphasia Battery. Discharge scores, and absolute and proportional changes were examined using t-tests for pairwise comparisons and linear regression to determine relative contributions of initial impairment, lesion volume, and age to recovery over this period. Results: Thirty-four patients were enrolled: 19 had motor deficits alone, 8 had aphasia alone, and 7 had motor and language deficits. In a group analysis, statistically significant changes in absolute scores were found in the motor (p Conclusions: Over the first week after stroke onset, recovery of upper extremity hemiparesis and aphasia were not predictable on the basis of initial impairment, lesion volume, or age. In addition, patients only achieved about 1/3 of their remaining possible recovery based on the anticipated 70% proportion found at 90 days. These findings suggest that the complex interaction between poststroke structural repair, regeneration, and functional reorganization during the first week after stroke has yet to be elucidated.
Coupling of PnET-II3SL and SWAT for Modeling the Combined Effects of Forests and Agriculture on Water Availability

The earth’s climate is governed by a series of complex interactions between the sun, oceans, atmosphere, land-cover, and all living things. Natural variations in the global climate have occurred irregularly throughout history. Modern climatic models suggest that not only will this phenomenon continue in the future, but larger magnitudes and higher frequencies of variability are likely due to human influences. Furthermore, it has been postulated that the increasing concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases could result in regional changes of soil moisture, runoff, mean sea level, and the potential for severe climatic events (extreme hurricanes, floods, droughts, etc). The climate change / variability phenomenon, because of its potential to exert significant influence on water availability, the economy, and human society as a whole, has drawn considerable attention from the scientific community and government agencies worldwide. In response to growing concerns, we are attempting to expand our understanding of the relationship between land-use heterogeneities, water availability, and climate change / variability in the southeastern United States. Specifically, this paper describes the coupling and validation of a hydrologic / forest productivity model (PnET-II3SL) with a hydrologic / agricultural productivity model (SWAT) to better represent the hydrologic response characteristics of large spatial areas. The resulting model is capable of generating more scientifically sound predictions of the effects of climate change / variability, with regards to water availability, in the heterogeneous watersheds of the southeastern United States. Validation efforts are described, utilizing long-term historical records, for 15 experimental watersheds. Selected sites represent a diversity of climatic regimes, topographic conditions, soil types, area, and vegetal species. Furthermore, validation efforts focus on evaluations of model robustness to changes in management practices and factors such as biological adaptation.
In-flight Responses of the Black Turpentine Beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to Individual Monoterpenes, Turpentine, and Paraquat-treated Slash Pines

Relative attraction of the black turpentine beetle (BTB), Dendroctonus terebrans (Olivier), to the monoterpene constituents of gum turpentine, a synthetic mixture of monoterpenes approximating the composition of turpentine, and whole gum turpentine was determined in the field by comparing each of the test substances as baits in standard BTB traps. Both individual monoterpenes and the monoterpene mixture were less attractive to BTB adults than whole gum turpentine. The preferential attraction of BTB adults to slash pine, Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii , trees stressed by application of the herbicide paraquat to a bark wound was investigated and changes in the monoterpene compositions of the stressed trees were compared with BTB attack and landing rates. Paraquat-treated trees attracted significantly more BTB and received significantly more attacks than wounded or nontreated trees. Paraquat treatments resulted in small but significant changes in the oleoresin percentages of α-pinene and β-pinene. These changes could not be correlated with increased attraction of BTB to paraquat-treated trees, however.
Chemical Changes in Epiphyseal Growth Zone of Rats Induced by Excess and Lack of Estrogen.

SummaryStudies have been reported on the changes induced by excess and lack of estrogen on the rate of overall growth and the chemical composition of the epiphyseal growth zone of rats as compared to control rats of the same age. The effects of estrogen administration were to retard growth and to decrease water content, increase the percentage of calcium, and to decrease the mucopolysaccharide: collagen ratio in the tissue analyzed. Deprivation of estrogen by ovariectomy had significant but opposite effects on these same parameters.
Study on Calculation Method of Frost Force of Tunnels in Frozen Soil

The method of calculating the frost force of tunnels in frozen soil by analysis on the coupled problem of stress field,thermal field and seepage field is very complicated.In view of this,a semi-theoretical and semi-experiential calculation method for the frost force of tunnels in frozen soil is proposed on basis of elastic-plastic mechanics and finite element theory.This calculation method is a numerical analysis method for the coupled problem of the dead weight stress field and the thermal stress field based on the determination of the scope of the frozen surrounding rock mass by testing the ground temperature and determination of the physical and mechanical parameters of the frozen and non-frozen surrounding rock mass by in-situ mechanical testing.The calculation method has been verified feasible by mode tests.
Association of Psychosocial Factors With Physical Activity and Function After Total Knee Replacement: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Objectives To examine the association between self-efficacy, social support, and fear of movement with physical activity and function at baseline and after 12 weeks of physical therapy. Design Nonrandomized cohort study, repeated-measures design. Setting Outpatient rehabilitation clinic within the general community. Participants Adults (N=49) undergoing outpatient physical therapy for total knee replacement (TKR). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Self-efficacy for exercise (SEE), fear of movement, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Knee Outcome Survey–Activities of Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS) were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Results Mean functional change scores significantly increased at 12 weeks for the 6MWT (95% confidence interval [CI], 42.3–106.2), KOS-ADLS (95% CI, 12.7–23.3), and LTPA (95% CI, 6.5–26.1). Self-efficacy and fear of movement were not significantly associated with function at baseline or 12 weeks. Participants with lower SEE had 6 fewer metabolic equivalents per week of improvement in LTPA than those with high self-efficacy (95% CI, −27.9 to 14.8), and those with high fear of movement had 26.1m less improvement in the 6MWT than those with low fear of movement (95% CI, −42.2 to 94.5). Most participants reported having no family or peer support for exercise. Conclusions Physical therapy for TKR improves physical function and self-reported physical activity. High fear of movement and low SEE may be associated with less improvement in physical activity and function over time.
Germ cell tumors.

There has been considerable improvement in the management of patients with ovarian germ cell tumors in the last decade. With modern cisplatin-based chemotherapy integrated with appropriate surgery, nearly all patients with early-stage tumors other than dysgerminoma will survive their disease, as well 50% to 60% of patients with advanced disease at diagnosis. Advanced dysgerminoma is uniquely chemosensitive and virtually all are cured. Likewise, early-stage dysgerminoma patients will almost always survive and many will require no further treatment after surgery.
The effects of the innervation zone and interelectrode distance on the patterns of responses for electromyographic amplitude and mean power frequency versus isometric torque for the vastus lateralis muscle.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of the innervation zone (IZ) and differences in interelectrode distance (IED) on the patterns of responses and mean values for absolute and normalized electromyographic (EMG) amplitude and mean power frequency (MPF) versus isometric torque for the vastus lateralis. Ten men performed submaximal to maximal isometric muscle actions of the dominant leg extensors, and four separate bipolar surface EMG signals were detected from the vastus lateralis using a linear electrode array. Two electrode arrangements had IEDs of 10 and 30 mm and were located directly over the IZ. Two other electrode arrangements also had IEDs of 10 and 30 mm, but were distal to the IZ. The results indicated that in 50% of the cases, the IZ affected the patterns of responses for absolute and normalized EMG amplitude and MPF versus isometric torque. In 80% of the cases, however, there were no differences between the electrode arrangements with 10 and 30 mm IEDs for the absolute and normalized EMG amplitude and MPF versus isometric torque relationships. Both electrode placement over the IZ and differences in IED affected the mean values for absolute EMG amplitude, but not those for absolute EMG MPF. In addition, there were no mean differences among the four electrode arrangements for normalized EMG amplitude and MPF values. Thus, these findings supported normalization, and indicated that it is useful for reducing the influences of the IZ and differences in IED on absolute EMG amplitude and MPF data.
Serum Immunoglobulin Levels in Sheep During the Course of Naturally Acquired and Experimentally Induced Trypanosomiasis

SUMMARY The serum levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) were determined in sheep during the course of natural infections due to T. congolense alone and mixed infections of T. congolense and T. vivax and in experimentally induced infections of one isolate of T. congolense and four isolates of T. brucei group trypanosomes. A significant rise in IgM levels occurred in all the sheep within two weeks. IgG levels increased in all sheep except those dying from acute trypanosomiasis due to experimental infection with T. congolense. The results of these investigations are contrasted with those of other authors.
Embracing Inference as Action: A Step Towards Human-Level Reasoning

Human-level AI involves the ability to reason about the beliefs of other agents, even when those other agents have reasoning styles that may be very different than the AI’s. The ability to carry out reasonable inferences in such situations, as well as in situations where an agent must reason about the beliefs of another agent’s beliefs about yet another agent, is under-studied. We show how such reasoning can be carried out in a new variant of the cognitive event calculus we call \(\mathcal {CEC}_\mathtt {AC}\), by introducing several new powerful features for automated reasoning: First, the implementation of classical logic at the “system-level” and nonclassical logics at the “belief-level”; Second, \(\mathcal {CEC}_\mathtt {AC}\) treats all inferences made by agents as actions. This opens the door for two more additional features: epistemic boxes, which are a sort of frame in which the reasoning of an individual agent can be simulated, and evaluated codelets, which allow our reasoner to carry out operations beyond the limits of many current systems. We explain how these features are achieved and implemented in the MATR reasoning system, and discuss their consequences.
Photofragmentation of mass-selected mixed metal-silicon cluster ions

Despite many years of basic research and the fact that the microelectronic industry depends heavily on technology involving the chemistry between a metal and semiconductor, major mysteries still exist concerning the silicon-metal interaction. For example, it is not known what early steps led to alloy and metal silicide formation following metal desorption. on a silicon surface at low temperatures.1,2
Data-driven Mobile App Design

Design is becoming a key differentiating factor for successful apps in today's crowded app marketplaces. This thesis describes how data-driven approaches can enable useful tools for mobile app design. It presents interaction mining -- capturing both static (UI layouts, visual details) and dynamic (user flows, motion details) components of an app's design. It develops two approaches for interaction mining existing Android apps and presents three applications enabled by the resultant data: a search engine for user flows, lightweight usability testing at scale, and automated generation of mobile UIs.
Chromatin association of XRCC5/6 in the absence of DNA damage depends on the XPE gene product DDB2

DDB2 is a multifunctional protein that participates in both nucleotide excision repair and regulation of gene transcription. In colon cancer cells, chromatin association of XRCC5/6, in the absence ...
Improving the Performance of OpenCL-based FPGA Accelerator for Convolutional Neural Network

OpenCL FPGA has recently gained great popularity with emerging needs for workload acceleration such as Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which is the most popular deep learning architecture in the domain of computer vision. While OpenCL enhances the code portability and programmability of FPGA, it comes at the expense of performance. The key challenge is to optimize the OpenCL kernels to efficiently utilize the flexible hardware resources in FPGA. Simply optimizing the OpenCL kernel code through various compiler options turns out insufficient to achieve desirable performance for both compute-intensive and data-intensive workloads such as convolutional neural networks. In this paper, we first propose an analytical performance model and apply it to perform an in-depth analysis on the resource requirement of CNN classifier kernels and available resources on modern FPGAs. We identify that the key performance bottleneck is the on-chip memory bandwidth. We propose a new kernel design to effectively address such bandwidth limitation and to provide an optimal balance between computation, on-chip, and off-chip memory access. As a case study, we further apply these techniques to design a CNN accelerator based on the VGG model. Finally, we evaluate the performance of our CNN accelerator using an Altera Arria 10 GX1150 board. We achieve 866 Gop/s floating point performance at 370MHz working frequency and 1.79 Top/s 16-bit fixed-point performance at 385MHz. To the best of our knowledge, our implementation achieves the best power efficiency and performance density compared to existing work.
Pragmatic visionaries: Difference makers as social entrepreneurs

I n the early 1970s, barely a trace of what is today a rapidly growing infrastructure on corporate responsibility existed. Overall, the responsibility infrastructure encompasses a variety of different institutions that place pressures on companies for greater accountability, responsibility, transparency, and sustainability. Some of these institutions, like social investment, an emergent responsibility assurance infrastructure, business associations, and internal responsibility management approaches, are market based, in that they rely onmarketmechanisms. Others are based in civil society, including multi-stakeholder dialogues and collaborations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), activists, interest groups, watchdogs, and ratings and rankings. In parts of the world, legislative and regulatory action is also beginning to focus, in particular, on issues of disclosure and transparency around ESG – environmental, social, and governance – aspects of firms. Below, I explore how a select group of individuals called difference makers used pragmatic vision and social entrepreneurship to build some of the pioneering institutions of the responsibility assurance framework now emerging. This framework is part of a much more extensive network of emerging institutions around corporate responsibility. It encompasses: (1) standards, codes, and principles that businesses are increasingly expected to live up to; (2) credible monitoring, verification, and certification systems to provide assurance that what is stated by companies is what is actually being done; and (3) generally accepted reporting standards comparable to financial reporting standards, but focused on non-financial or ESG matters. This infrastructure has created both new visibility for issues of corporate responsibility and also numerous responses and increasingly proactive momentum among companies, particularly multinational corporations who are in the limelight, around ESG issues. Although there are many individuals whose work could be highlighted, space constraints focus this manuscript on the work of only a few of the many difference makers. SEEDS OF RESPONS IB I L I TY ASSURANCE
Path Generation for a Robot Vehicle Using Composite Clothoid Segments

Abstract We present a method to generate fine grained, smooth paths for wheeled mobile robots. This method takes as input, a sequence of objective points that the robot must attain to avoid obstacles and to progress toward its goal. Segments of clothoid curves are used to join the objective points and hence provide a finer level of details for the robot controller. Previous path generation methods have sought to simplify a path by using arcs, superarcs, polynomial curves, and dothoid curves to round comers, which result from poly-line fits through a given sequence of points. The proposed method generates smooth and continuous curved paths directly from a given sequence of points without adhering to any straight line segments. By virtue of the property of clothoid curves, a generated path is continuous with respect to position, tangent direction, and curvature, and is linear in curvature. Aside from the properties innate to clothoid curves, the generated paths transition smoothly into turns, pass through all the way points, and sweep outside the corners.
Echinocandins in antifungal pharmacotherapy

Objectives Echinocandins are the newest addition of the last decade to the antifungal armamentarium, which, owing to their unique mechanism of action, selectively target the fungal cells without affecting mammalian cells. Since the time of their introduction, they have come to occupy an important niche in the antifungal pharmacotherapy, due to their efficacy, safety, tolerability and favourable pharmacokinetic profiles. This review deals with the varying facets of echinocandins such as their chemistry, in-vitro and in-vivo evaluations, clinical utility and indications, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, and pharmacoeconomic considerations. Key findings Clinical studies have demonstrated that the echinocandins – caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin – are equivalent, if not superior, to the mainstay antifungal therapies involving amphotericin B and fluconazole. Moreover, echinocandin regimen has been shown to be more cost-effective and economical. Hence, the echinocandins have found favour in the management of invasive systemic fungal infections. Conclusions The subtle differences in echinocandins with respect to their pharmacology, clinical therapy and the mechanisms of resistance are emerging at a rapid pace from the current pool of research which could potentially aid in extending their utility in the fungal infections of the eye, heart and nervous system.
Computational models of epilepsy

Abstract Purpose Approximately 30% of epilepsy patients suffer from medically refractory epilepsy, in which seizures can not controlled by the use of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Understanding the mechanisms underlying these forms of drug-resistant epileptic seizures and the development of alternative effective treatment strategies are fundamental challenges for modern epilepsy research. In this context, computational modeling has gained prominence as an important tool for tackling the complexity of the epileptic phenomenon. In this review article, we present a survey of computational models of epilepsy from the point of view that epilepsy is a dynamical brain disease that is primarily characterized by unprovoked spontaneous epileptic seizures. Method We introduce key concepts from the mathematical theory of dynamical systems, such as multi-stability and bifurcations, and explain how these concepts aid in our understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in the emergence of epileptic seizures. Results We present a literature survey of the different computational modeling approaches that are used in the study of epilepsy. Special emphasis is placed on highlighting the fine balance between the degree of model simplification and the extent of biological realism that modelers seek in order to address relevant questions. In this context, we discuss three specific examples from published literature, which exemplify different approaches used for developing computational models of epilepsy. We further explore the potential of recently developed optogenetics tools to provide novel avenue for seizure control. Conclusion We conclude with a discussion on the utility of computational models for the development of new epilepsy treatment protocols.
Exploiting the “Win But Does Not Cover” Phenomenon in College Basketball

Wolfers (2006) was the first to document that heavy favorites in college basketball win but fail to cover the preâ€ game point spread at a statistically higher rate than expected. We generate a hedged strategy to exploit the â€œwin but does not coverâ€ phenomenon using two wagers: a bet on the underdog sides line and a bet on the favorite money line. While one bet is guaranteed to win regardless of the outcome, both bets win if the favorite wins but does not cover. We show that the minimumâ€ variance portfolio best exploits this anomaly, yielding an average return of 0.34% per game and a positive return in five of the seven seasons of college basketball analyzed.
Beyond respectability: the intellectual thought of race women

Brittney C. Cooper begins uncovering Black women intellectuals’ contributions to race politics with an analysis of race women’s feminist political theory. Fellow Howard University alumna, Anna Juli...
Rising Clinical Burden of Psychiatric Visits on the Pediatric Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVE The mental health epidemic in pediatrics has resulted in a growing clinical burden on the health care system, including pediatric emergency departments (PED). Our objective was to describe the changing characteristics of visits to an urban PED, in particular length of stay, for emergency psychiatric evaluations (EPEs) over a 10-year period. METHODS A retrospective study of children with an EPE in the PED at a large urban quaternary care children's hospital was performed during two discrete periods a decade apart: July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004 (period 1) and July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014 (period 2). Visit information, including length of stay and demographic data, were compared between groups. RESULTS There was a significant increase in the percentage of PED visits for EPE from period 1 to period 2 (1.1% vs 2.2% P < 0.0001). Overall, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) length of stay for children requiring an EPE increased significantly for all visits (5.3 [3.2-15.4] hours vs 17.0 [6.0-26.0] hours, P < 0.0001), including for patients who were admitted (17.8 [7.4-24.6] hours vs 27.0 [21.0-36.0] hours, P < 0.0001) and for those who were discharged (4.5 [2.8-7.7] hours vs 8 [5-20] hours, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Over a decade, the percentage of children with an EPE has doubled, with a significant increase in the amount of time spent in the PED. This highlights a continued surge in the utilization of PED resources for EPE.