cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
175 – Management of Lipid Metabolism

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the management of lipid metabolism in the body. Multiple studies have demonstrated that elevations in serum lipoprotein (a) levels and intermediate-density lipoproteins concurrent with decreased high-density lipoprotein levels even in subjects with normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels are major risk factors for ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Hypertension, history of tobacco use, blood lipids, alcohol consumption, and history of cardiac disease present the greatest opportunity for intervention to prevent brain ischemia due to cerebral atherosclerosis. Risk factor modification is the most effective and cost-efficient method of treating cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. Individuals at high risk for ischemic cerebrovascular events are well served by modifications in lifestyle such as termination of smoking, moderating alcohol intake, and assuming a health conscious diet. The initial treatment of elevated cholesterol and LDL levels should begin with dietary therapy. The results of dietary modification have been much more consistent when a professional dietitian has been involved in the counseling. Effective dietary modification not only lowers LDL intake but can also help to reduce obesity which is associated with other risk factors for atherosclerosis such as hypertension and diabetes.
Neighborhoods and Felony Disenfranchisement: The Case of New York City:

Over the past two decades, scholars have sought to estimate the direct and indirect effects of felony disenfranchisement on political representation. This literature, however, has often overlooked ...
Anatomy Visualizations Using Stereopsis: Assessment and Implication of Stereoscopic Virtual Models in Anatomical Education.

Anatomical knowledge, such as gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, histology, and embryology, involve three-dimensional (3D) learning and interpretation. Virtual 3D models especially have been used in the anatomical sciences both as a supplement to traditional anatomical education with cadaveric specimens and as a substitute for cadavers at institutions that do not utilize human donors for educational purposes. This paper discusses the methods used to assess the models’ validation and accuracy, as well as suggestions for the models’ improvement. This paper also aims to describe students’ learning of anatomy using stereoscopic 3D models and provides a summary of the results from the literature concerning students’ performance outcomes using virtual stereoscopic models as well as both students’ and experts’ perceptions of their utilization. There have been mixed results in the literature concerning the effectiveness of virtual 3D anatomical models in general, but there is limited research on stereoscopic anatomical models specifically. Stereoscopic anatomical models have shown to improve the learning of students, particularly for the students with low spatial ability, and they have the potential to enhance students’ understanding of 3D relationships.
Ventilator Driving Pressure and Mortality after Cardiac Surgery

Background: ARDS affects nearly 10% of mechanically ventilated postoperative cardiac surgery patients. Driving pressure (∆P) is defined as the difference in static airway pressure at end inspiration (Pplat) and end expiration (intrinsic PEEP) during controlled mechanical ventilation with a passive patient expressed in cm H2O. Is driving pressure significantly associated with mortality after cardiac surgery? We hypothesized that driving pressure is not significantly associated with mortality after cardiac surgery. Methods: This was an IRB-approved, single center, retrospective analysis. Data from 960 subjects was extracted from electronic medical records and analyzed from January 1, 2017-October 1, 2019. Data collected included initial driving pressure upon admission to the ICU from the OR and all-cause mortality to hospital discharge. Inclusion criteria for our study included patients over 18 years of age who had cardiac surgery during the data collection period and were not actively breathing upon admission to the ICU. Chi square of independence was applied to compare group mortality association. Data are reported as mean (SD). Alpha was set at 0.05. Data was analyzed with SPSS v25 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Results: Our sample included 960 subjects, of which 9% (n=94) died. Mortality was 29% (n=27) for subjects who had a ∆P > 13 cm H2O whereas only 13% (n=116) of the surviving 900 subjects had a ∆P of > 13 cm H2O (P Conclusions: ∆P > 13 cm H2O is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality among adult mechanically ventilated postoperative cardiac surgery patients. All-cause mortality may overestimate the number of deaths related to increased driving pressure. Future studies should include respiratory-related mortalities.
Utilizing Smart City Cyber-physical Infrastructure for Tracking and Monitoring Pandemics like COVID-19 with the ICCC as the Nerve Centre

Managing the ongoing COVID-19 (aka Coronavirus) pandemic has presented both challenges and new opportunities for urban local body administrators. With the Indian government's Smart City mission taking firm roots in some of the Indian cities, the authors share their learnings and experiences of how a Smart City Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) can be extended to become the nerve centre of pandemic-related operations and management, leveraging the Smart City IoT infrastructure such as surveillance cameras for monitoring and enforcement. The authors are of the opinion that the lessons learned and experiences gained from these cities are extremely valuable and can easily be replicated in other cities in a relatively short time period, thus providing a standard and uniform method across the nation for handling epidemics in the future.
Attitudes toward Voting Technology, 2012–2018

This paper explores public attitudes about voting technologies from 2012 to 2018. Among the attitudes studied are those related to usability, security, and voter confidence. Scales are created to help explore the relationship between these attitudes and computer anxiety, computer self-efficacy, computer experience, and beliefs about computer privacy. There is a consistent status quo bias in attitudes about computer equipment — users of DREs tend to favor DREs and users of opscans tend to favor opscans. On top of this bias, DREs have tended to be regarded as superior to both opscans and hand-counted paper over the time covered in the paper, although this advantage has also declined. Computer anxiety plays a consistent role in predicting preferences disfavoring computer-based equipment. The role of computer self-efficacy, computer experience, and beliefs about computer privacy play a less consistent role. The analysis in this paper points out the importance of prior experience in determining preferences for voting technologies, but also an important role that is played by affective responses to computers in general.
Potential Environmental Effects of Deepwater Floating Offshore Wind Energy Facilities

Abstract Over the last few decades, the offshore wind energy industry has expanded its scope from turbines mounted on foundations driven into the seafloor and standing in less than 60 m of water, to floating turbines moored in 120 m of water, to prospecting the development of floating turbines moored in ~1,000 m of water. Since there are few prototype turbines and mooring systems of these deepwater, floating offshore wind energy facilities (OWFs) currently deployed, their effects on the marine environment are speculative. Using the available scientific literature concerning appropriate analogs, including fixed-bottom OWFs, land-based wind energy facilities, wave and tidal energy devices, and oil and gas platforms, we conducted a qualitative systematic review to estimate the potential environmental effects of deepwater, floating OWFs during operation, as well as potential mitigation measures to address some of the effects. We evaluated six categories of potential effects: changes to atmospheric and oceanic dynamics due to energy removal and modifications, electromagnetic field effects on marine species from power cables, habitat alterations to benthic and pelagic fish and invertebrate communities, underwater noise effects on marine species, structural impediments to wildlife, and changes to water quality. Our synthesis of 89 articles selected for the review suggests that many of these potential effects could be mitigated to pose a low risk to the marine environment if developers adopt appropriate mitigation strategies and best-practice protocols. This review takes the necessary first steps in summarizing the available information on the potential environmental effects of deepwater, floating OWFs and can serve as a reference document for marine scientists and engineers, the energy industry, permitting agencies and regulators of the energy industry, project developers, and concerned stakeholders such as coastal residents, conservationists, and fisheries.
Reactive astrocytes: The nexus of pathological and clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease

Astrocyte reactivity is a hallmark of neuroinflammation that arises with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and nearly every other neurodegenerative condition. While astrocytes certainly contribute to classic inflammatory processes (e.g. cytokine release, waste clearance, and tissue repair), newly emerging technologies for measuring and targeting cell specific activities in the brain have uncovered essential roles for astrocytes in synapse function, brain metabolism, neurovascular coupling, and sleep/wake patterns. In this review, we use a holistic approach to incorporate, and expand upon, classic neuroinflammatory concepts to consider how astrocyte dysfunction/reactivity modulates multiple pathological and clinical hallmarks of AD. Our ever-evolving understanding of astrocyte signaling in neurodegeneration is not only revealing new drug targets and treatments for dementia but is suggesting we reimagine AD pathophysiological mechanisms.
The effect of caustic soda treatment to recover rare earth elements from secondary feedstocks with low concentrations

Abstract Caustic soda (NaOH) treatment has enhanced rare earth element (REE) extraction from monazite. This study examined the effectiveness of caustic soda for RE-phosphates with lower concentrations for extraction from coal overburden, an alternative feedstock derived from mining waste. Pourbaix (Eh-pH) diagrams were constructed for La, Ce, Nd, Eu, and Y-PO4-H2O systems to understand the thermodynamics of NaOH-facilitated acid leaching for low-concentration RE-phosphates and oxides and to elucidate the difference in recoveries among individual REEs. The Eh-pH diagrams indicated that low crystallinity is beneficial for extraction. Nd was thermodynamically most favorable for the extraction process among the five elements examined, and Y was the least promising. Experiments were conducted using three Pennsylvania coal overburden samples to validate the effect of caustic soda on rare earth leaching. The experimental results showed that for NaOH (6 M), a leaching time of 2 h at 125 °C was sufficient to obtain twice the recovery values compared to those without the NaOH treatment. After implementing the caustic soda treatment, a high total REE recovery (>60%), especially for Nd and Pr, could be achieved with diluted HCl and more environmentally friendlier citric acid. The results were similar for both coarse and fine particles. This novel approach is likely to improve the feasibility of REE extraction from coal-associated feedstock in a more environmentally benign manner.
Regularity for parabolic equations with singular or degenerate coefficients

We study parabolic equations in divergence form with coefficients which are singular or degenerate as Muckenhoupt weight functions in one spatial variable. We establish weighted reverse Holder’s inequalities, and Lipschitz estimates for weak solutions of homogeneous equations with coefficients depending only on one spatial variable. We then use these results to prove interior, boundary, and global weighted estimates of Calderon-Zygmund type for weak solutions, assuming that the coefficients are partially vanishing mean oscillations with respect to the considered weights. The solvability in weighted Sobolev spaces is also achieved. Such results are new even for elliptic equations and our results can be readily extended to systems.
Industrial Buyers’ Perceptions of Salespeople: An Exploratory Investigation

In understanding the process of the buyer-seller interaction, it is important to understand the antecedents as well as the dynamics of the process. For example, the expectations that buyers bring to the sales interaction are important, since these expectations can determine the outcome by setting the tone of the process. A negative impression of one party on the part of the other may hinder further progress in the sale (Spiro, Perreault and Reynolds 1977; Wortruba 1980). Simply put, the prospect’s perception of the salesperson is an important determinant of salesperson effectiveness (Webster 1968).
Gyrooperations — The SL(2, C) Approach

We employ in this chapter the standard SL(2, C) formalism for dealing with the Lorentz group of relativity physics to approach the gyrovector space notion. Reading this chapter would be useful for readers who are familiar, or wish to familiarize themselves, with the standard SL(2,C) formalism and its Pauli spin matrices, and who wish to see how these lead to gyrogroups and gyrovector spaces. Starting from the Pauli spin matrices and a brief description of the matrix representation of the (3+1)-dimensional Lorentz transformation, we present the standard SL(2, C) algebra. We then derive in this algebra some old and some new identities that naturally lead to the notions of the gyrogroups and gyrovector spaces. The use of the standard SL(2,C) formalism to approach the study of gyrogroups and gyrovector spaces provides more than a motivational approach. It provides the means to unify the various isomorphic gyrovector spaces that we study in this book [CU].
No Difference in Hippocampus Volume Detected on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Autistic Individuals

Neuropathological and animal studies have implicated the hippocampus as having a potential role in autism. Current imaging methods are well suited to the detailed measurement of the volume of the hippocampus, which has received little attention in previous imaging studies in autism. We report the results of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of 35 autistic and 36 control subjects. Detailed (1.5 mm) MRI did not reveal differences in the volume of the hippocampus in autistic individuals.
Health services research : key to health policy

Despite the long and distinguished history of health services research in the United States, this unparalleled work is the first comprehensive account of what health services research aims to do and what the research has actually accomplished. Specially commissioned essays by a roster of leading scholars offer an incisive look at the current potential of the field.
High power fast flexible electronics: Transparent RF AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on plastic substrates

Heat dissipation is a major challenge for practical applications of fast flexible electronics, particularly using wide band gap semiconductors, due to the high power needed to achieve high frequency operation. Using an intrinsic GaN buffer layer as a heat conductive conductor, transparent, flexible RF GaN HEMTs with a device area of 400 × 350 um2 on plastic substrates (PET) are demonstrated with high thermal dissipation of 0.5 W. The device exhibits an f MAX of 115 GHz with no severe degradation of device performance compared with that made on a Si substrate. Low temperature plastic substrates also exhibited no thermal damage/melting. Our approach demonstrated that flexible single crystal material such as intrinsic GaN is a contender for thermal management of medium power RF flexible devices.
On the structure of mammalian chromosomes during spermatogenesis and after radiation with special reference to cores

The material used in this study was obtained from testes of C57 black mice showing pathobiosis after 1000 r local acute X-rays, from control mice, and from biospy material of an oligospermic human male. Spermatocytes of the mouse survive 1000 r, and the timing and prophasic structure of meiotic chromosomes is not changed. In first meiotic metaphase the pathobiotic material shows kinetochores with more contrast than the control : the kinetochore regions are larger and the microfibrillar bundles of the chromosome body are more plainly defined (5). From such material the structure of the mouse chromosome can now be described with certainty. These meiotic bivalents of the mouse under low power electron microscopy correspond to the light microscope images published in the ’30 s for Trillium and Tradescantia (3).
Derivation of a network macromodel model with delay extraction for efficient time-domain simulation of lossy transmission lines

This paper presents an alternative derivation of delay extraction for lossy transmission lines based on the method of characteristics and a network formulation. The resulting model consists of ideal transmission lines, controlled sources, and delayless networks, which are approximated by rational polynomial functions. The approach has been implemented in Hspice and is demonstrated for single and coupled transmission lines.
Deductive Data Mining

In ICDM02 the Foundation on Data Mining and Discovery Workshop [3], we have proposed that data mining is a procedure that transforms (extracts or discovers from) data into patterns/knowledge: Schematically $$ DM:Patterns \Leftarrow Data, or KD:Knowledge \Leftarrow Data $$
Charged particle storage device

This paper deals with the motion of charged particles in a magnetic bottle. The realization entails an assembly of current loops, which in the present treatment is simplified to three components: a solenoid and two dipoles. For a given configuration of the magnetic field and the initial position and momentum of the particles, it has been found that the particles can be stored in a racetrack-like fashion, looping around at near constant radius, somewhat toe-ing in upon reflection from the repeller at the end of the bottle.
Atrial Fibrillation Predictors: Importance of the Electrocardiogram

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Substantial interest has developed in the primary prevention of AF, and thus the identification of individuals at risk for developing AF. The electrocardiogram (ECG) provides a wealth of information, which is of value in predicting incident AF. The PR interval and P wave indices (including P wave duration, P wave terminal force, P wave axis, and other measures of P wave morphology) are discussed with regard to their ability to predict and characterize AF risk in the general population. The predictive value of the QT interval, ECG criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy, and findings of atrial and ventricular ectopy are also discussed. Efforts are underway to develop models that predict AF incidence in the general population; however, at present, little information from the ECG is included in these models. The ECG provides a great deal of information on AF risk and has the potential to contribute substantially to AF risk estimation, but more research is needed.
The polarization of excimer fluorescence from a dinucleotide

Abstract The polarization of the excimer fluorescence from the dinucleotide CpC has been observed to be strikingly different from that of the monomer. The mixed polarization in the absorption reflects significant ground state interaction. The mixed polarization in the fluorescence is most likely due to a component which is polarized between the chromophores, a manifestation of charge resonance character in the excimer state.
A stability analysis of finite-volume advection schemes permitting long time steps

Abstract Finite-volume schemes developed in the meteorological community that permit long time steps are considered. These include Eulerian flux-form schemes as well as fully two-dimensional and cascade cell-integrated semi-Lagrangian (CISL) schemes. A one- and two-dimensional Von Neumann stability analysis of these finite-volume advection schemes is given. Contrary to previous analysis, no simplifications in terms of reducing the formal order of the schemes, which makes the analysis mathematically less complex, have been applied. An interscheme comparison of both dissipation and dispersion properties is given. The main finding is that the dissipation and dispersion properties of Eulerian flux-form schemes are sensitive to the choice of inner and outer operators applied in the scheme that can lead to increased numerical damping for large Courant numbers. This spurious dependence on the integer value of the Courant number disappears if the inner and outer operators are identical, in which case, under the a...
Vitamin Retention During Preparation and Holding of Mashed Potatoes Made from Commercially Dehydrated Flakes and Granules

The retention of ascorbic acid, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and folic acid in dehydrated potato granules and flakes during home preparation and subsequent extended periods of holding at elevated temperatures on a steam table was investigated. Losses were insignificant with all vitamins during the preparation of the mashed potatoes except for riboflavin in the case of granules and folic acid in the case of flakes. Holding the mashed products on a steam table for up to 1 hr reduced the retentions of ascorbic acid and folic acid to 63% and 56% respectively in mashed potatoes made from flakes. Retention values for ascorbic acid in granules amounted to 66–67% and for folic acid they ranged from 78–86%. The holding period exerted little or no effect on retention of riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6.
Osmotin overexpression in potato delays development of disease symptoms.

Abstract Transgenic potato and tobacco plants carrying the osmotin gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter constitutively overexpressed osmotin to a level of approximately 2% of total cellular protein. Leaves of transgenic potato plants exhibited delayed development of disease symptoms after inoculation with spore suspensions of Phytophthora infestans, which is the cause of late blight disease of potato. In contrast, transgenic tobacco plants did not display any change in the development of disease symptoms when challenged with either spore suspensions or fungal mycelia of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae. Using in vitro assays, purified osmotin was found to be more effective against P. infestans. Some inhibition of P. parasitica also was observed in vitro even though no in vivo effect could be established.
Uniform, rapidly convergent algorithm for quantum optimal control of objectives with a positive semidefinite Hessian matrix

A uniform iteration method is presented for achieving quantum optimal control over any real objective with a positive semidefinite Hessian matrix. Theoretical analysis shows that this uniform algorithm exhibits quadratic and monotonic convergence. Numerical calculations verify that for this uniform algorithm, within a few steps, the optimized objective functional comes close to its converged limit. For some optimal control purposes, the objective itself is not required to be directly a physical observable, but it is only necessary that the objective have a suitable association with some desired physical observables. As an illustration of the algorithm, the control objective is chosen to achieve maximum population in a target state as well as minimum phase mismatch with the target state.
Diffusion-controlled aggregation in the continuum approximation

A numerical solution and analytic approximation are obtained for the mean-field continuum equations corresponding to diffusion-controlled aggregation. For $dg2$ an asymptotic solution is found with the density of the cluster varying as the inverse radius, which suggests a Hausdorff dimension $D=d\ensuremath{-}1$.
Expression of the glucocorticoid receptor in renal cell neoplasms: an immunohistochemical and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction study

Glucocorticoid receptors mediate the action of steroid hormones in a variety of tissues, including the kidney. Our goal was to determine the expression pattern and prognostic significance of glucocorticoid receptor in renal cell neoplasms. Paraffin-embedded microarrays from 200 patients with RCNs including 147 clear cell renal cell carcinomas, 23 papillary, 16 chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, and 14 oncocytomas were analyzed for glucocorticoid receptor expression by immunohistochemistry. Glucocorticoid receptor expression was also quantitated by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 45 cases (33 clear cell renal cell carcinomas, 5 chromophobe renal cell carcinomas, and 3 oncocytomas). Strong nuclear glucocorticoid receptor expression was present in normal glomeruli and in the proximal convoluted tubules. Nuclear glucocorticoid receptor expression was found in most clear cell renal cell carcinomas (66%), in 26% of papillary renal cell carcinomas, and in only 6% of chromophobe renal cell carcinomas and 14% of oncocytoma (P < .005). Within the clear cell renal cell carcinoma group, most positive cases (87%) demonstrated strong immunoreactivity (2+ and 3+), whereas only 1 papillary renal cell carcinoma, 1 chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, and none of the oncocytomas showed strong expression. Glucocorticoid receptor α messenger RNA expression was significantly higher in clear cell renal cell carcinoma than in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, oncocytoma, or in the normal kidney. Significantly more frequent glucocorticoid receptor expression was associated with tumors of low nuclear grade (Fuhrman grade 1 and 2) and low stage (stages 1 and 2; P = .0068 and P = .0002). Survival analysis revealed a significant direct correlation between glucocorticoid receptor expression and overall survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (P = .01). In summary, strong glucocorticoid receptor expression was most commonly seen in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and only rarely seen in other subtypes. The glucocorticoid receptor expression pattern in RCNs seems to reflect the histogenetic origin of clear cell renal cell carcinoma from the proximal nephron. Finally, glucocorticoid receptor expression proved to be a marker of less aggressive behavior in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Who Will Listen to the Other Side? Primary and Secondary Group Support and Selective Exposure

This study deals with the relationship between social support for one's own opinions and willingness to listen to the other side. It is hypothesized, and the data support the idea, that the effect of social support upon selective exposure varies with the level (primary or secondary groups) of the social environment in which the social support occurs. It is also suggested that the degree to which selective exposure processes act as a barrier to mass persuasion and social change has been underestimated.
Corticosteroid effects on blood gene expression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Though Deflazacort and prednisone improve clinical endpoints in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, Deflazacort produces fewer side effects. As mechanisms of improvement and side effect differences remain unknown, we evaluated effects of corticosteroid administration on gene expression in blood of DMD patients. Whole blood was obtained from 14 children and adolescents with DMD treated with corticosteroids (DMD-STEROID) and 20 DMD children and adolescents naive to corticosteroids (DMD). The DMD-STEROID group was further subdivided into Deflazacort and prednisone groups. Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 expression microarrays were used to evaluate mRNA expression. Expression of 524 probes changed with corticosteroids, including genes in iron trafficking and the chondroitin sulfate biosynthesis pathway. Deflazacort compared with prednisone yielded 508 regulated probes, including many involved in adipose metabolism. These genes and pathways help explain mechanisms of efficacy and side effects of corticosteroids, and could provide new treatment targets for DMD and other neuromuscular disorders.
Initiation of New DNA Strands by the Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Primase-Helicase Complex and Either Herpes DNA Polymerase or Human DNA Polymerase α

A key set of reactions for the initiation of new DNA strands during herpes simplex virus-1 replication consists of the primase-catalyzed synthesis of short RNA primers followed by polymerase-catalyzed DNA synthesis (i.e. primase-coupled polymerase activity). Herpes primase (UL5-UL52-UL8) synthesizes products from 2 to ∼13 nucleotides long. However, the herpes polymerase (UL30 or UL30-UL42) only elongates those at least 8 nucleotides long. Surprisingly, coupled activity was remarkably inefficient, even considering only those primers at least 8 nucleotides long, and herpes polymerase typically elongated
Responses to sound of the basilar membrane of the mammalian cochlea

Recent evidence shows that the frequency-specific non-linear properties of auditory nerve and inner hair cell responses to sound, including their sharp frequency tuning, are fully established in the vibration of the basilar membrane. In turn, the sensitivity, frequency selectivity and non-linear properties of basilar membrane responses probably result from an influence of the outer hair cells.
Productivity Improvement by Integrated Management of Wafer Map Data

Utilization of proprietary wafer map data has yet been prevalent and forcing us to spend huge amount of cost and time on system development for outsource fabrication factory data transmission. We have developed the system that is able to centralized control of wafer map data by the SEMI compliant DB to reduce development cost and time. It has also been contributing to reduce yield decline and production delay caused by map data related malfunctions.
Solid-phase Submonomer Synthesis of Peptoid Polymers and their Self-Assembly into Highly-Ordered Nanosheets

Peptoids are a novel class of biomimetic, non-natural, sequence-specific heteropolymers that resist proteolysis, exhibit potent biological activity, and fold into higher order nanostructures. Structurally similar to peptides, peptoids are poly N-substituted glycines, where the side chains are attached to the nitrogen rather than the alpha-carbon. Their ease of synthesis and structural diversity allows testing of basic design principles to drive de novo design and engineering of new biologically-active and nanostructured materials. Here, a simple manual peptoid synthesis protocol is presented that allows the synthesis of long chain polypeptoids (up to 50mers) in excellent yields. Only basic equipment, simple techniques (e.g. liquid transfer, filtration), and commercially available reagents are required, making peptoids an accessible addition to many researchers' toolkits. The peptoid backbone is grown one monomer at a time via the submonomer method which consists of a two-step monomer addition cycle: acylation and displacement. First, bromoacetic acid activated in situ with N,N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide acylates a resin-bound secondary amine. Second, nucleophilic displacement of the bromide by a primary amine follows to introduce the side chain. The two-step cycle is iterated until the desired chain length is reached. The coupling efficiency of this two-step cycle routinely exceeds 98% and enables the synthesis of peptoids as long as 50 residues. Highly tunable, precise and chemically diverse sequences are achievable with the submonomer method as hundreds of readily available primary amines can be directly incorporated. Peptoids are emerging as a versatile biomimetic material for nanobioscience research because of their synthetic flexibility, robustness, and ordering at the atomic level. The folding of a single-chain, amphiphilic, information-rich polypeptoid into a highly-ordered nanosheet was recently demonstrated. This peptoid is a 36-mer that consists of only three different commercially available monomers: hydrophobic, cationic and anionic. The hydrophobic phenylethyl side chains are buried in the nanosheet core whereas the ionic amine and carboxyl side chains align on the hydrophilic faces. The peptoid nanosheets serve as a potential platform for membrane mimetics, protein mimetics, device fabrication, and sensors. Methods for peptoid synthesis, sheet formation, and microscopy imaging are described and provide a simple method to enable future peptoid nanosheet designs.
Discourse Behaviors in Older Adults

An overview of the changes in older adults' comprehension of language and discourse is provided before changes in production are discussed in some detail. Age-related changes in discourse production have been studied in terms of semantic skills, syntactic complexity, verbal fragmentation, information load, cohesion, macrostructural elements, and conversation. In spite of the heterogeneity in older adults' discourse behaviors, they have a tendency to use shorter, less complex sentences and more indefinite, ambiguous references. Nevertheless, the basic conversational skills of the normally aging elderly are usually well preserved.
Cynthia Tompkins. Experimental Latin American Cinema. Austin: U of Texas P, 2013. x+ 294 pp.

Review of Cynthia Tompkins. Experimental Latin American Cinema. Austin: U of Texas P, 2013. x+ 294 pp.
Tissue distribution and warfarin sensitivity of vitamin K epoxide reductase.

Abstract The distribution of vitamin K epoxide reductase activity and its sensitivity to warfarin have been examined in whole musomes from tissues of both control and warfarin-resistant strain rats. The distribution of activity roughly paralleled that previously shown for the vitamin K-dependent carboxylase. Activity on a per gram tissue basis was highest in kidney, adrenal, spleen, lung, testes, and epididymis at a level about l/20th of that present in liver musomes. Vitamin K quinone formation by musomes from warfarin-resistant rats was approximately half that of control strain samples. In addition, hydroxy vitamin K was formed by warfarin-resistant strain musomes to about the same extent as vitamin K quinone in all tissues. The K m values for dithiothreitol (DTT) and vitamin K epoxide were similar in all tissues ( range = 0.1–0.2 mM DTT at 40 μM vitamin K epoxide, and 10–30 μM vitamin K epoxide at 2 mM DTT). The sensitivities to warfarin were similar for all control strain rat tissues (I 50 = 10–20 μ M at 2 mM DTT and 40 μM vitamin K epoxide) and similarly elevated for all warfarin-resistant rat tissues (I 50 = 30 to > 80 μ M). These results suggest that the identical enzyme is expressed in all tissues and that tissue specific ioszymes do not occur.
Tissue gas tensions in small wild mammals.

Abstract Partial pressures of oxygen and CO 2 , in subcutaneous gas pockets were measured in three small wild mammals, short tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), pocket mouse (Perognathus penicillatus), and little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). In the bat, day and night time samples were taken. The group mean O 2 and CO 2 values (+-S.D.) were, in each species, as follows: Shrew, P O 2 = 37±6, P CO 2 = 53 +-5; pocket mouse, P O 2 = 44±11, P CO 2 , = 38.5±7; bat, day time P O 2 =40±7, P CO 2 = 33.8 night time P O 2 , = 45±7, P CO 2 , = 38+-4. The P O 2 , is within the range normally measured in larger mammals, and it is concluded that mean “tissue” oxygen tension may therefore be an interspecific constant. If the subcutaneous pocket P O 2 is at all indicative of Pvo 2 , then Pao 2 —Pvo 2 is also an interspecific constant, but because the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve shifts down and to the right in small animals, Cao 2 —Cvo 2 , cannot also be a constant, as ∝ o 2 , would require, hence, the relationship ∝ M 0.74 cannot be true. The pocket P CO 2 values show greater interspecific difference but are still within the range seen in larger mammals. More knowledge concerning species differences in blood CO 2 absorption curves is required to interpret the CO 2 data.
The 2006 K/DOQI Anemia Guidelines for CKD: Key Updates

T he National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/ DOQI) guidelines for the management of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) were updated this past spring for the second time since their initial publication in 1997. The charter guidelines focused on the treatment of anemia in dialysisdependent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In 2001, these guidelines were broadened to include the subpopulation of CKD patients who were not on dialysis. These most recent update pertains to non-dialysis–dependent CKD patients stages 1 through 5, dialysisdependent (either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) ESRD patients, and renal transplant patients. This update was prompted by evidence from various clinical and observational studies that primarily addressed the target hemoglobin (Hgb) level for patients with CKD. These new guidelines differ from previous ones in the significance accorded this evidence. They can be regarded as either guidelines or recommendations for clinical practice. The evidence comes not only from studies conducted in the United States but also from those conducted in Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the Middle East. The European Best Practice guidelines from 2004 were also evaluated. The three key changes made in the current K/DOQI guidelines are outlined in Table I. These changes include the definition of anemia, the target Hgb level, and the target iron status as measured by transferrin saturation and ferritin level.
A Failure Analysis Technique for Locating the Fail Site in MOSFET (LSI) Logic Chips with Sputtered SiO2 Passivation

This paper describes a technique used successfully to locate the fail site in MOSFET (LSI) Logic Chips. It is used to analyze modules or chips which fail functionally during electrical test. Signal tracing is employed to locate the fail site while dynamically exercising the chip. This technique emphasizes the analysis of AC fails (timing problems) and chips with sputtered SiO2 (Quartz) passivation.
Quasi-Neutral Limit for Euler-Poisson System

This paper provides a rigorous proof of the quasi-neutral limit for the Euler-Poisson system on a bounded domain in one space dimension. The most general case is being considered when the plasma is sustained by ionization. A wide range of plasmas, from collisionless to highly collisional, is permitted. At the plasma center, the ions are assumed to be at rest, and essentially quasi-neutral initial data are prescribed. The theorem asserts that the quasi-neutral limit is obtained until the ion velocity reaches the ion-sound speed. In addition, formal matched asymptotic expansions are given which describe the solution in its passage from the plasma center to the wall.
Comparison of compound and cross-modal training on postoperative visual relearning of visual decorticate rats

The effects of postoperative bimodal compound conditioning and cross-modal transfer of learning on behavior were compared by training rats prior to visual decortication to avoid shock with visual intensity cues. On Postop Day 6, rats were given avoidance training in one of three cue conditions: auditory intensity cues (cross-modal), paired auditory and visual cues (compound conditioning), or no cues (no-training control). On Postop Day 7 rats in the no-training control and the cross-modal transfer conditions were retrained with the visual discrimination while rats in the compound conditioning group were either retrained with the visual intensity cue or trained with the auditory intensity cue. Postoperative cross-modal transfer training enhanced visual relearning whereas bimodal compound conditioning interfered with relearning. However, compound conditioning facilitated subsequent auditory discrimination learning. These results support the notion of an injury-induced neurological bias that is increased after bimodal compound conditioning and reduced after cross-modal training. Potential implications for neurological rehabilitation are also discussed.
Asymmetric Retinopathy in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

We reviewed retrospectively the records of 57 diabetic patients with asymmetric retinopathy persisting for two years or more (mean, 4.8 years) to identify intraocular risk and protective factors for the development of proliferative retinopathy. For each patient in this series, the more severely affected eye had proliferative retinopathy and the fellow eye had either background diabetic retinopathy or no retinopathy. Branch vein occlusion (P = .016) was identified as a statistically significant risk factor for proliferative retinopathy and chorioretinal scarring (P = .031) was found to be a statistically significant protective intraocular factor. In 34 patients with long-standing asymmetric retinopathy, no intraocular risk or protective factors were identified.
Inguinodynia and ilioinguinal neurectomy

The value of open inguinal herniorraphy without mesh is being lost. Mesh herniorraphy is being inappropriately used as the standard of care. The complication of inguinodynia is occurring at inappropriately high rates. Ilioinguinal neurectomy is not a simple solution.
Cross-spectral TDOA and FDOA estimation

We present methods for accurately estimating and tracking instantaneous frequency and relative time delay of narrowband signal components. These methods are applied to the problem of estimating the location of an emitter from the signal(s) received by one or more receivers. Both instantaneous frequency estimation and time delay estimation are based on previously reported cross-spectral methods that have been applied successfully to a variety of signal processing problems. Accurate geolocation is accomplished by matching the Doppler characteristics of the received signal to Doppler characteristics estimated from the known emitter motion and possible emitter locations.
Polyp size and advanced histology in patients undergoing colonoscopy screening: implications for CT colonography.

Background & Aims: Colorectal cancer screening with diagnostic imaging can detect polyps. The management of patients whose largest polyp is less than 10 mm is uncertain. The primary aim of this study was to determine rates of advanced histology in patients undergoing colorectal cancer screening whose largest polyp is 9 mm or less. Methods: Subjects include all asymptomatic adults receiving colonoscopy for screening during 2005 from 17 practice sites, which provide both colonoscopy and pathology reports to the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative repository. Patients were classified by size of largest polyp. Advanced histology was defined as an adenoma with villous or serrated histology, high-grade dysplasia, or an invasive cancer. Risk factors for advanced histology were determined using Pearson χ2 and Fisher exact tests. Results: Among 13,992 asymptomatic patients who had screening colonoscopy, 6360 patients (45%) had polyps, with complete histology available in 5977 (94%) patients. The proportion with advanced histology was 1.7% in the 1- to 5-mm group, 6.6% in the 6- to 9-mm group, 30.6% in the greater than 10-mm group, and 72.1% in the tumor group. Distal location was associated with advanced histology in the 6- to 9-mm group (P = .04) and in the greater than 10-mm group (P = .002). Conclusions: One in 15 asymptomatic patients whose largest polyp is 6 to 9 mm will have advanced histology and would undergo surveillance at 3 years based on current guidelines. Because histology is necessary for this decision, most of these patients should be offered colonoscopy. Further study should determine whether patients whose largest polyp is 1–5 mm can be safely followed without polypectomy.
Modeling Ionic Polymer Transducer Transient Sensing Response

Ionic Polymer Transducers (IPTs) exhibit extraordinary charge sensing capabilities in comparison to other electro active polymers (EAPs), such as piezoelectric materials. It has been proposed that the physical mechanism responsible for this behavior is streaming potential, which can explain this sensing response in all forms of deformation. The existence of an electric signal in shear deformation can currently be only explained by the streaming potential hypothesis. Recently, experimental reports have observed a sustained electrical signal from IPT sensing arrangements over long periods of time, suggesting a more active microstructure than is currently considered. This work presents a simplified model to begin exploring this transient and experimentally observed phenomenon within the framework of the streaming potential hypothesis by looking specifically at shear deformation. There will be an emphasis on the the active microstructure and how the motion of the microstructure affects the development of the streaming potential.© 2011 ASME
Training Undergraduate Students in User-Centered Design

Computer software is typically developed according to software engineering methodologies. However, it has been noted that many software development projects fail to achieve their goals. Further it has been stated that some estimates of the failure rate to produce a software product is as high as 60 percent. Many of these problems can be attributed to poor communication between customers and system developers or between end-users and developers. However, many software development life cycles do not focus on understanding the business needs of an organization or how organizational issues may influence system development. As educators of the next generation of computing professionals it is our responsibility to train students in development methodologies where careful attention is paid to understanding the needs of stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for training undergraduate
Thermal properties of pitch-derived graphite foam

Graphite foams make potentially desirable engineering materials because of their high thermal conductivity coupled with their low density. Compared to conventional thermal management materials, such as copper and aluminum, graphite foams have specific thermal conductivity values up to five times higher. A high specific thermal conductivity combined with relatively high specific strength make graphite foam an attractive material for use in thermal management applications. Other properties of graphite foam, such as a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), make the material dimensionally stable, and thus, well suited to thermal applications.
Social capital and all-cause mortality among Finnish men and women aged 30-79

Background: More knowledge is needed about how various dimensions of social capital associate with mortality either independently or mediated by other factors. In this cohort study, individual-level social capital was assessed as a possible predictor of all-cause mortality. Methods: A 9-year mortality follow-up was conducted for participants of a nationally representative Health 2000 Survey carried out in 2000−01. The survey included a personal interview, self-administered questionnaires and a health examination. Response rates to different items varied between 80 and 88%. Due to the item non-response, missing values were replaced by using multiple imputation. Participants ( N = 6377) were 30–79 years old at the baseline. During the follow-up period, 245 women and 340 men died. Cox regression models were used to assess the association between social capital and mortality. We analysed three dimensions of social capital: social support, social participation and trust. Their association with the risk of death was adjusted for several socio-demographic factors, health behaviours, health and biological risk factors. Results: Unactive social participation was associated with higher mortality risk even when adjusting for the other factors. The association was stronger among men [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.56] than women (HR = 1.42). The other two dimensions of social capital were associated with mortality when only age was adjusted for, but this association disappeared when social participation was included in the explanatory model. Conclusions: Active social participation protects against early death. This association is partly mediated through health behaviour and to a minor extent also through health.