cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Need for Hematology Nurse Education in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Community Case Study in Tanzania.

Hematology-related diseases such as anemia, malaria, sickle cell disease and blood cancers have differing rates of survival between high-income and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Nurses in LMICs have an unmet need for specialty training and education to address hematology and hemato-oncology disorders. A gap in the literature exists about hematology nurse education and clinical service demands in LMICs. This community case study documents a collaborative hematology and basic hemato-oncology education program to sustainably strengthen nurse capacity at a national referral hospital and university in Tanzania. The goal of the intervention was to provide culturally competent nurse training in pediatric and adult hematology. A certified pediatric nurse practitioner with hematology and oncology experience provided culturally competent training and staff development to nurses over two weeks to meet this goal. Prior to development of a training schedule, nurses confidentially identified five of their top learning needs. Main hematology and basic oncology educational needs identified by nurses were the management of anemia, safe handling of cytotoxic agents, and treatment of sickle cell disease. The format of the education varied from bedside teaching to formal presentations to one-on-one individual discussions. Overall, nurses expressed satisfaction with the education and verbalized appreciation for teaching and training activities tailored to meet their needs. Specialized training in hematology and hemato-oncology has the potential to increase nurses’ confidence, respect and participation in interprofessional team decision making. Lessons learned from the impact of collaborative nurse education and partnership in Tanzania can be generalized to other LMICs. This community case study highlights the importance of specialty nurse education, interprofessional development and global partnerships needed to improve patient outcomes.
Contraceptive service provider imposed restrictions to contraceptive access in Urban Nigeria

Health service providers can restrict access to contraceptives through their own imposed biases about method appropriateness. In this study, provider biases toward contraceptive service provision among urban Nigerian providers was assessed. Health providers working in health facilities, as well as pharmacists and patent medical vendors (PMV), in Abuja, Benin City, Ibadan, Ilorin, Kaduna, and Zaria, were surveyed in 2011 concerning their self-reported biases in service provision based on age, parity, and marital status. Minimum age bias was the most common bias while minimum parity was the least common bias reported by providers. Condoms were consistently provided with the least amount of bias, followed by provision of emergency contraception (EC), pills, injectables, and IUDs. Experience of in-service training for health facility providers was associated with decreased prevalence of marital status bias for the pill, injectable, and IUD; however, training experience did not, or had the opposite effect on, pharmacists and PMV operator’s reports of service provision bias. Provider imposed eligibility barriers in urban study sites in Nigeria were pervasive - the most prevalent restriction across method and provider type was minimum age. Given the large and growing adolescent population - interventions aimed at increasing supportive provision of contraceptives to youth in this context are urgently needed. The results show that the effect of in-service training on provider biases was limited. Future efforts to address provider biases in contraceptive service provision, among all provider types, must find creative ways to address this critical barrier to increased contraceptive use.
Florence Nightingale: A Critical Look at a Legend

Florence Nightingale was a nineteenth-century woman who has been largely misunderstood by contemporary society. Today, the name of Florence Nightingale conjures the image of the saintly lady of the lamp; a nurturing and compassionate woman who patiently cared for ailing and lonely soldiers. Although this image has substance, Florence Nightingale was passionate, driven, ambitious, and egocentric. In many ways, she fully realized her sister's accusation that she was more like a man of her time than any woman of her era. 1 She was, however, marked undoubtedly by the puritanical Victorian model of womanhood. Very much a product of her class and upbringing , she forged ahead, primarily striving to improve the plight of the soldier, but also the general welfare of the common person' sickbed.
Youth Homelessness and Vulnerability: How Does Couch Surfing Fit?

Youth homelessness is a problem characterized by high levels of vulnerability. The extent to which couch surfing — moving from one temporary housing arrangement to another — is part of youth homelessness is not well understood. Chapin Hall's Voices of Youth Count, a national research initiative, involves a multicomponent approach to studying youth homelessness. This study reports emerging findings regarding couch surfing and homelessness primarily from a national survey of 13,113 adults with youth ages 13–25 in their households or who are themselves ages 18–25. Findings suggest that couch surfing is relatively common, particularly among the older age group. Among households with 13- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 25-year-olds, 4.0% and 20.5%, respectively, reported that any of them had couch surfed in the last 12 months. There are notable social, economic, and educational differences, on average, between youth reporting homelessness and those reporting only couch surfing. However, most youth who report experiencing homelessness also report couch surfing, and these youth who experience both circumstances present high levels of socioeconomic vulnerability. Couch surfing encompasses a range of experiences, some of which likely include need for services. Interviews currently in the field, and expanded analysis of data, will contribute more nuanced policy insights.
The Use of Questions in a Synchronous Intercultural Online Exchange Project.

In this digital era, online intercultural exchange has gained increased popularity in language and culture education. However, concerns arise over its productiveness and efficacy in engaging participants cognitively. In addition, there is a paucity of research on out-of-classroom synchronous online exchange projects, let alone those involving Chinese English learners and English-speaking Chinese learners. Guided by the social constructivist theory, this study examined the productiveness of a small-scale intercultural online exchange project from its quality dimension measured by the participants’ use of questions. The purpose was to gain a better understanding of the dynamics and educational value of online synchronous text communication in language and culture learning. Participants were six English learners from China and six English-speaking Chinese learners from the U.S. Unlike many previous intercultural exchanges, this project was entirely independent from the curricula on both sides. Within a certain time frame, participants chose when and where exactly the synchronous text chat took place. Data analyses focused on the self-generated questions found in chat logs. Although participants seemed to self-generate more lower-order than higher-order thinking questions, the latter were frequently used in the process of online discussion to engage learners from both sides in critical thinking and self-reflection. Differences in the use of questions were found across dyads, languages, and groups of participants. Implications for future research and project design were discussed.
Profile of the Alere i Influenza A & B assay: a pioneering molecular point-of-care test.

Introduction: The Alere i Influenza A & B assay incorporates the Nicking Enzyme Amplification Reaction technique on the Alere i instrument to detect and differentiate influenza virus (Flu) A and B ...
1916. The Year of Culmination

In the same week that Naumann’s volume appeared in the book stores, the Central Powers experienced one of their greatest moments of the war. On October sixth the combined imperial armies opened a destructive offensive upon Serbia. A few days later Bulgaria joined to form the Quadruple Alliance. Belgrad was stormed, and the Serbs were driven westward in defeat. The succession of victorious war bulletins from Southeastern Europe opened new perspectives beyond Naumann’s book. German destiny appeared to be on the march.
Intracranial Meningioma Surgery: Value-Based Care Determinants in New York State, 1995-2015.

Objective Intracranial meningiomas are the most commonly diagnosed brain tumor in the United States. With increasing incidence, efficient allocation of limited health care resources is a critical component of emerging value-based models of care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of patient and hospital variables on metrics of value-based care. Methods The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database was queried for records of patients undergoing intracranial meningioma surgery in New York State from 1995 to 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the effect of hospital volume and patient demographics on 30-day readmissions, 30-day mortality, prolonged length of stay (pLOS), and excess hospital charges. Results Among the 14,239 patients included, 10,252 (72%) cases were performed at high-volume centers (HVC) (>75th percentile). HVC were associated with lower rates of readmissions, mortality, and pLOS, but higher hospital charges. In the multivariate analysis, HVC had reduced odds of pLOS (odds ratio, 0.56; P Conclusions This statewide population analysis of readmissions, mortality, length of stay, and hospital charges after intracranial meningioma surgery identified patient predictors of adverse outcomes. These determinants may be used by hospitals to develop improved systems of care in at-risk populations.
A Multimodal Preemptive Analgesic Protocol for Alveolar Bone Graft Surgery: Decreased Pain, Hospital Stay, and Health Care Costs.

Objective:To evaluate postoperative pain, hospital length of stay (LOS), and associated costs of multiple perioperative analgesic strategies following alveolar bone grafting (ABG).Design:Retrospect...
Cardiovascular resistance to thrombosis in 13-lined ground squirrels.

13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) enter hibernation as a survival strategy during extreme environmental conditions. Typical ground squirrel hibernation is characterized by prolonged periods of torpor with significantly reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow, interrupted every few weeks by brief interbout arousals (IBA) during which blood flow fluctuates dramatically. These physiological conditions should increase the risk of stasis-induced blood clots and myocardial ischemia. However, ground squirrels have adapted to survive repeated bouts of torpor and IBA without forming lethal blood clots or sustaining lethal ischemic myocardial damage. The purpose of this study was to determine if ground squirrels are resistant to thrombosis and myocardial ischemia during hibernation. Blood markers of coagulation, fibrinolysis, thrombosis, and ischemia, as well as histological markers of myocardial ischemia were measured throughout the annual hibernation cycle. Hibernating ground squirrels were also treated with isoprenaline to induce myocardial ischemia. Thrombin–antithrombin complex levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) during hibernation, while D-dimer level remained unchanged throughout the annual cycle, both consistent with an antithrombotic state. During torpor, the ground squirrels were in a hyperfibrinolytic state with an elevated ratio of tissue plasminogen activator complexed with plasminogen activator inhibitor to total plasminogen activator inhibitor (p < 0.05). Histological markers of myocardial ischemia were reversibly elevated during hibernation with no increase in markers of myocardial cell death in the blood. These data suggest that ground squirrels do not form major blood clots during hibernation through suppression of coagulation and a hyperfibrinolytic state. These animals also demonstrate myocardial resistance to ischemia.
Late open conversion after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Abstract Objective With the increasing use of endovascular aortic repair, open repair after aortic stent grafting is of increasing interest. We retrospectively reviewed cases of late open conversion for complications after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Methods TEVAR due to aortic aneurysm and dissection was performed in 538 patients between 1994 and 2017. A total of 33 patients, including 4 patients referred from other centers, required late conversion to open repair; 14 (42.4%) patients required circulatory arrest for aortic arch involvement. The mean interval to open conversion after TEVAR was 33.9 months (range, 1-123 months). Demographics of the patients, reason for conversion, surgical techniques, surgical outcomes, and survival were reviewed. Results Indications for late open conversion included type I endoleak (14), stent graft-induced new entry intimal tear (6), retrograde type A dissection (4), stent migration and fracture (3), stent graft infection (3), sac enlargement without endoleak (1), aortopulmonary fistula (1), and stent implantation failure (1). Hospital mortality was 9.1% (3/33). All occurred in the patients with arch involvement. The patients had several major morbidities; six patients (18.1%) had pulmonary complications, two (6.1%) suffered a stroke, one (3.0%) experienced paraplegia, and one (3.0%) had renal failure. Overall survival rates at 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years were 84.5% ± 6.4%, 74.5% ± 8.7%, and 67.1% ± 10.1%, respectively. The arch involvement group (48.1% ± 15.7%) had significantly worse 10-year survival than the no arch involvement group (86.1% ± 9.4%; P = .048). Conclusions Despite the complexity of TEVAR, open conversion due to late complications can be performed successfully with acceptable results. However, cases involving the aortic arch have relatively worse outcomes. Lifelong surveillance is mandatory, and early decision-making about open conversion before the development of a complicated aortic arch lesion is suggested to achieve better outcomes.
Survival of algae in a desiccated soil: a 25 year study

In 1958 soil was collected from a Connecticut cornfield, air dried and then stored in the laboratory. During the first five years of storage 31 species (in 17 genera) were isolated and identified. ...
Evolved avian influenza virus (H7N9) isolated from human cases in a middle Yangtze River city in China, from February to April 2017.

Abstract Seven cases of avian influenza A H7N9 virus infection were reported from February to April 2017 in Changsha City. Viral genome was acquired by RT-PCR, aligned with other H7N9 viruses using Clustal W, and phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining method. Our results showed the representativeness of H7N9 virus infections in Middle Yangtze River City. The hemagglutinin segment contained Thr160Ala, Gly186Val and Gln226Leu substitutions, which are associated with increased binding affinity in humans. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that H7N9 viruses had an avian origin, and belonged to the Yangtze River Delta lineage. The proportion of PB2 Ala588Val substitutions in viruses revealed a significantly increasing in recent years, from 0.8 % (1 of 128 cases) to 84.9 % (275 of 324 cases). The data indicate that H7N9 viruses may be more capable of infecting mammals, even though they are still considered low pathogenic avian influenza virus. Hence, the prevalence and genetic evolution of this virus should be closely monitored to prevent more severe human pandemics.
Race to the Top and Lesson Study Implementation in Florida: District Policy and Leadership for Teacher Professional Development

Lesson study was introduced to school districts in Florida in the United States as part of the federal government’s Race to the Top Program in 2010 to scale improvement in instruction and student learning. However, little is known about what district policy and leadership characteristics are associated with the level of lesson study implementation. Based on a mixed methods study of a statewide survey and interviews of district professional development directors, we found that district requirement of lesson study, funding provision, and future sustainability plan were significantly and positively associated with a broader implementation of lesson study within the district. The interviews revealed that the districts that implemented lesson study districtwide first internalized lesson study through communicating and funding a districtwide expectation of job-embedded, inquiry-based professional development. Following this internalization, the district leaders institutionalized it by supporting school ownership and leadership in organizing and embedding lesson study into the school organizational structures and routines. Implications for educational leaders at local educational agencies are discussed.
Obesity and survival among a cohort of breast cancer patients is partially mediated by tumor characteristics.

Obesity exerts adverse effects on breast cancer survival, but the means have not been fully elucidated. We evaluated obesity as a contributor to breast cancer survival according to tumor molecular subtypes in a population-based case–cohort study using data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. We determined whether obese women were more likely to be diagnosed with poor prognosis tumor characteristics and quantified the contribution of obesity to survival. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated via Cox multivariate models. The effect of obesity on survival was evaluated among 859 incident breast cancers (subcohort; 15% random sample; median survival 7.8 years) and 697 deaths from breast cancer (cases; 100% sample). Obese women had a 1.7- and 1.8-fold increased risk of stage III/IV disease and grade 3/4 tumors, respectively. Obese women with Luminal A- and Luminal B-like breast cancer were 1.8 (95% CI 1.3–2.5) and 2.2 (95% CI 0.9–5.0) times more likely to die from their cancer compared to normal weight women. In mediation analyses, the proportion of excess mortality attributable to tumor characteristics was 36.1% overall and 41% and 38% for Luminal A- and Luminal B-like disease, respectively. Obesity was not associated with breast cancer-specific mortality among women who had Her2-overexpressing or triple-negative tumors. Obesity may influence hormone-positive breast cancer-specific mortality in part through fostering poor prognosis tumors. When tumor biology is considered as part of the causal pathway, the public health impact of obesity on breast cancer survival may be greater than previously estimated.
Anatomic and volumetric characterization of the cisterna chyli using CT lymphangiography and computer-assisted design software in dogs with idiopathic chylothorax.

The objectives of this retrospective, observational study were to characterize the anatomical features of the cisterna chyli (CC) in a cohort of dogs diagnosed with idiopathic chylothorax that underwent CT lymphangiography (CTLa), and to evaluate the feasibility of computer-assisted design (CAD) software to quantify volumetric measurements of the CC. Twenty-three client-owned dogs with idiopathic chylothorax were included. Additionally, CTLa was performed in three canine cadavers to assess the ability of CAD software to accurately acquire volumetric measurements. Injection sites, attenuation values, anatomic location, dimensions, and aortic diameter to CC ratio (Ao:CC) were recorded. Video records of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) thoracic duct ligation (TDL) were reviewed in eight out of 23 dogs to compare operative and CTLa findings. The CC was dorsal and right-sided in 18 out of 23 dogs, located between L1 and L4 in 21 dogs, and extended as far cranially as T11 in two dogs. The median measurements for length, height, and width were 150.0, 5.5, and 13.3 mm, respectively. Median total volume was 1.82 mL. Median volumes to the right and left of the aorta were 1.46 and 0.49 mL, respectively (P = .014). Median total CC volume to body weight ratio (CC:bw) was 0.07 mL/kg. The presence of an intrathoracic CC was observed intraoperatively in six out of eight cases that underwent VATS TDL. Findings supported the use of CTLa and CAD as feasible methods for characterizing the CC in dogs diagnosed with chylothorax. These methods may facilitate interventional planning involving the CC such as embolization.
Impactful for whom? Exploring the diversity of learning pathways outside of the classroom for engineering students

Despite calls to increase diversity in engineering education and the professional workforce [1], there are persistent issues of underrepresentation for female and minority students [2]. This challenge warrants consideration of underrepresented students’ experiences both inside and outside the classroom and how they can contribute to persistence. Engagement in out-ofclass activities has been linked to positive academic and interpersonal outcomes. However, access to, and impact of, these activities can vary for different groups of students. This session leverages an ongoing National Science Foundation CAREER project to explore out-of-class participation disaggregated by student demographics to provide a more nuanced profile of engagement and offer strategies for advising undergraduate engineering students.
Beyond resistance in Dominican American women’s fiction: Healing and growth through the spectrum of quietude in Angie Cruz’s Soledad and Naima Coster’s Halsey Street

The Dominican Republic and its relationship with Dominican America have often been studied in relation to the brutal regime of Rafael Trujillo, tiguere masculinity, and the political sphere. Writers like Julia Alvarez and Junot Diaz, as well as anthologies of Dominican women’s writing, form a literary archive that conceives of women’s writing as a perpetual act of rebellion, mostly against Trujillo and Trujillista models of masculinity. Starting from Lorgia Garcia-Pena’s conception of “contradiction” (2016) and Kevin Quashie’s The Sovereignty of Quiet (2012), this article argues that Angie Cruz’s Soledad (2001) and Naima Coster’s Halsey Street (2017) are a counter-archive of woman-centered, Dominican American narratives of return dependent on feminized forms of expression and belonging—namely art, quiet, secrecy, surrender, and interiority. These novels reclaim the power of these acts and spaces along a spectrum of quietude, ranging from acts of alienation to tools for bonding, healing, and growth.
Mechanisms of Stem Cell-mediated Antinociception

Management of post-endodontic pain with NSAIDs and opioids are associated with serious side effects. Stem cells participate in wound healing; however, their role in regulation of nociception presents a gap in knowledge. This study sought to evaluate mechanisms of Stem Cells of Apical Papilla (SCAP)-mediated reversal of apical periodontitis (AP)-induced mechanical allodynia (MA). Using a mouse model of AP, we first established a model of orofacial MA using von Frey filaments. Post-baseline thresholds, pre-labeled SCAP were injected intravenously in one-half of AP animals once/week for 3 weeks; Sham animals served as controls; MA was measured 24 hours post injections. Immunohistochemistry of periapical lesions and medullary dorsal horn (MDH) was performed for expression of SCAP and nociceptive marker, c-fos. Teeth with AP were extracted at 3 weeks and co-cultured with or without SCAP. Conditioned Media (CM) was collected and applied to mouse cultured trigeminal neurons (TGs) followed by application of capsaicin (15nM; CAP) to evaluate TG nociceptor activity using calcium-imaging. Statistics: 2-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test. MA peaked at day 21 in AP mice. This effect was fully reversed by SCAP injections. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated SCAP homing into periapical lesions with no expression in the MDH. AP mice showed robust expression of c-fos in the MDH, which was drastically reduced after SCAP injections. Lastly, CM from Teeth alone sensitized CAP-evoked calcium accumulation. However, CM from Teeth co-cultured with SCAP significantly reduced CAP sensitization. Collectively, this study, for the first time establishes a model of MA in mice with AP, which is reversed by SCAP. This appears to be a peripheral effect as SCAP homed to periapical lesions and data from calcium-imaging suggest that SCAP release soluble factors in the periphery that inhibit TG activity. These findings provide significant insight into mechanisms of stem cell-mediated analgesia. Start-up funds (PID 156778).
Decentralization, privacy and performance for DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) is both key determinant of a users' quality of experience (QoE) and privy to their tastes, preferences, and even the devices they own. Growing concern about user privacy and QoE has brought a number of alternative DNS techniques and services, from public DNS to encrypted and oblivious DNS. Today, a user choosing among these services and its few providers is forced to prioritize -- aware of it or not -- between web performance, privacy, reliability, and the potential for a centralized market and its consequences. We present Onoma, a DNS resolver that addresses the concerns about DNS centralization without sacrificing privacy or QoE by sharding requests across alternative DNS services, placing these services in competition with each other, and pushing resolution to the network edge. Our preliminary evaluation shows the potential benefits of this approach across locales, with different DNS services, content providers, and content distribution networks.
Run-time Malware Detection Using Embedded Trace Buffers

Anti-virus software (AVS) tools are used to detect Malware in a system. However, AVS are vulnerable to attacks. A malicious entity can exploit these vulnerabilities to subvert the AVS. Recently, hardware components like Hardware Performance Counters (HPC) have been used for Malware detection. In this paper, we propose PREEMPT, a zero overhead, high-accuracy, low-latency technique to detect Malware by re-purposing embedded trace buffer (ETB), a debug hardware component available in most modern processors. The ETB is used for post-silicon validation and debug and allows us to control and monitor the internal activities of a chip, beyond what is provided by the Input/Output pins. PREEMPT combines these hardware-level observations with machine learning-based classifiers to preempt Malware before it causes damage. The benefits of re-using ETB for Malware detection include the increased robustness against attacks and no performance penalties. PREEMPT can detect Malware on an OpenSPARC T1 core running Linux operating system with a F1-score of 96.6%.
Home language maintenance in bilingual children with normal hearing and with hearing loss who use cochlear implants.

We investigated home language (Spanish) maintenance in Spanish- and English-speaking bilingual children with normal hearing (NH) and their peers with hearing loss (HL) who used cochlear implants (CIs) at two time points about 7 months apart. Twenty-two bilingual children (11 with NH and 11 with CIs) between the ages of 4;6 and 7;11 participated in the study, who were matched as closely as possible on chronological age, time elapsed between the first and the second sample, gender, and age of exposure to their languages across groups. We compared group performance on the Preschool Language Scales - 5th edition (PLS-5) and the Word Intelligibility Picture Identification at each time point as well as home language maintenance calculated based on item responses on the PLS-5. Our results indicated differences on all measures at both time points between the performance of children with NH and their peers with HL who used CIs in that the former group outperformed the latter. We also found that bilingual children with NH maintained their home language at a higher level than their peers with HL who used CIs. Further, the data also showed that despite the group differences, both groups displayed maintenance of their home language and that individual variability was more prevalent in the CI group. We conclude that home language maintenance is not only possible, but it should be encouraged for both bilingual children with NH and their peers with HL who used CIs.
Cerebrovascular microRNA Expression Profile During Early Development of Alzheimer's Disease in a Mouse Model.

BACKGROUND Emerging evidence demonstrates association of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with impaired delivery of blood oxygen and nutrients to and throughout the brain. The cerebral circulation plays multiple roles underscoring optimal brain perfusion and cognition entailing moment-to-moment blood flow control, vascular permeability, and angiogenesis. With currently no effective treatment to prevent or delay the progression of AD, cerebrovascular microRNA (miRNA) markers corresponding to post-transcriptional regulation may distinguish phases of AD. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that cerebrovascular miRNA expression profiles indicate developmental stages of AD pathology. METHODS Total RNA was isolated from total brain vessel segments of male and female 3xTg-AD mice [young, 1-2 mo; cognitive impairment (CI), 4-5 mo; extracellular amyloid-β plaques (Aβ), 6-8 mo; plaques+neurofibrillary tangles (AβT), 12-15 mo]. NanoString technology nCounter miRNA Expression panel for mouse was used to screen for 599 miRNAs. RESULTS Significant (p < 0.05) downregulation of various miRNAs indicated transitions from young to CI (e.g., let-7g & miR-1944, males; miR-133a & miR-2140, females) and CI to Aβ (e.g., miR-99a, males) but not from Aβ to AβT. In addition, altered expression of select miRNAs from overall Pre-AD (young + CI) versus AD (Aβ+ AβT) were detected in both males (let-7d, let-7i, miR-23a, miR-34b-3p, miR-99a, miR-126-3p, miR-132, miR-150, miR-151-5p, miR-181a) and females (miR-150, miR-539). Altogether, at least 20 cerebrovascular miRNAs effectively delineate AD versus Pre-AD pathology. CONCLUSION Using the 3xTg-AD mouse model, these data demonstrate that cerebrovascular miRNAs pertaining to endothelial function, vascular permeability, angiogenesis, inflammation, and Aβ/tau metabolism can track early development of AD.
Nanomechanical Behavior of CoCrFeMnNi High-Entropy Alloy

The nanomechanical behavior of the Co20Cr20Fe20Mn20Ni20 high-entropy alloy was investigated in as-cast, rolled, annealed, and thin-film forms. Dislocation nucleation was studied by repeated indents at a low load for each of the different processing conditions. Distinct displacement bursts (pop in) were observed in the loading curve marked by incipient plasticity for all the samples. The as-cast and annealed samples showed pop ins for 100% of the indents, whereas the rolled and thin-film samples showed a much lower fraction of displacement bursts. This was explained by the high density of dislocations for the cold-worked and thin-film conditions. The strong depth dependence of hardness was explained by geometrically necessary dislocations. The nanomechanical behavior and twinned microstructure indicate low stacking-fault energy for this high-entropy alloy.
Evolving the architecture of SQL Server for modern hardware trends

The basic architecture of SQL Server, as well as other major database systems, goes back to a time when main memories were (very) small, data lived on disk, machines had a single (slow) processor, and OLTP was the only workload that mattered. This is not an optimal design for today's environment with large main memories, plenty of cores, and where transactional and analytical processing are equally important. To adapt to these trends and take advantage of the opportunities they offer SQL Server has added support for column store indexes and in-memory tables over the last two releases. The two features are aimed at dramatically improving performance on analytical and transactional workloads, respectively. This paper gives an overview of the design of the two features and the performance improvements they provide.
ATP Is Required for the Binding of Precursor Proteins to Chloroplasts

One of the first steps in the transport of nuclear-encoded, cytoplasmically synthesized precursor proteins into chloroplasts is a specific binding interaction between precursor proteins and the surface of the organelle. Although protein translocation into chloroplasts requires ATP hydrolysis, binding is generally thought to be energy independent. A more detailed investigation of precursor binding to the surface of chloroplasts showed that ATP was required for efficient binding. Protein translocation is known to require relatively high levels (1 mM or more) of ATP. As little as 50-100 microM ATP caused significant stimulation of precursor binding over controls with no ATP. Several different precursors were tested and all showed increased binding upon addition of low levels of ATP. Nonhydrolyzable analogs of ATP did not substitute for ATP, indicating that ATP hydrolysis was required for binding. A protonmotive force was not involved in the energy requirement for binding. Other (hydrolyzable) nucleotides could substitute for ATP but were less effective at stimulating binding. Binding was stimulated by ATP generated inside chloroplasts even when an ATP trap was present to destroy external ATP. We conclude that internal ATP is required for stimulation of precursor binding to chloroplasts.
Separation and Identification of the Polar Lipids of Chromatium Strain D

Abstract The polar lipids of the autotrophically grown, obligately anaerobic, photosynthetic bacterium Chromatium strain D were separated by paper chromatography. Four major phospholipids were identified: lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin. In addition, three glycolipids were observed and characterized, namely, monoglucosyldiglyceride, which is found in other biological systems, and (mannosyl, glucosyl)-diglyceride and (dimannosyl, glucosyl)-diglyceride, which heretofore have not been observed in nature.
Analysis of Search Based Algorithms for Satisfiability of Quantified Boolean Formulas Arising from Circuit State Space Diameter Problems.

The sequential circuit state space diameter problem is an important problem in sequential verification. Bounded model checking is complete if the state space diameter of the system is known. By unrolling the transition relation, the sequential circuit state space diameter problem can be formulated as an evaluation for satisfiability of a Quantified Boolean Formula (QBF). This has prompted research in QBFs in the verification community. Most of existing QBF algorithms, such as those based on the DPLL SAT algorithm, are search based. We show that using search based QBF algorithms to calculate the state space diameter of sequential circuits with existing problem formulations is no better than an explicit state space enumeration method. This result holds independent of the representation of the QBF formula. This result is important as it highlights the need to explore non-search based or hybrid of search and non-search based QBF algorithms for the sequential circuit state space diameter problem.
Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries

Originally a Gale publication (first edition, 1998), Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries is now in its fifth edition but is printed by Grey House Publishing under a special license agreement from G...
Disturbance reduction using fuzzy control

The ability of two different fuzzy controllers in reducing the effects of external disturbances acting on a system is presented in this work. The two different fuzzy controllers are based on the operation of PI type controllers. >
Displacements and rotations of practical vibrational modes of piezoelectric bimorph cantilever beams

Piezoelectric ceramic bimorph flexure beams are essential elements in micro- and nano-technology sensors, devices and systems, such as optical deflectors and modulators. Mode shape depends on drive frequency, so it is possible to adjust the shape to optimize a particular performance function. Two configurations are of particular practical importance for MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical structure/system) and MOMS (micro-opto-mechanical structure/system) sensor applications: the free end of a fixed-free cantilever resonator adjusted to translate without rotation, and to rotate without translation. Using simple Euler-Bernoulli beam theory applied to a piezoceramic bimorph configuration, expressions are found for beam displacement and slope as function of frequency. Relevant parameters are tabulated at frequencies of Rayleigh resonance and the piezo-antiresonances of zero displacement and slope, with numerical examples.
Enhanced Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells on Extracellular Matrix-Containing Osteomimetic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Current methods of treating critical size bone defects include autografts and allografts, however, both present major limitations including donor-site morbidity, risk of disease transmission, and immune rejection. Tissue engineering provides a promising alternative to circumvent these shortcomings through the use of autologous cells, three-dimensional scaffolds, and growth factors. We investigated the development of a scaffold with native bone extracellular matrix (ECM) components for directing the osteogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Toward this goal, a microsphere-sintering technique was used to fabricate poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds with optimum mechanical and structural properties. Human osteoblasts (hOBs) were seeded on these scaffolds to deposit bone ECM for 14 days. This was followed by a decellularization step leaving the mineralized matrix intact. Characterization of the decellularized PLGA scaffolds confirmed the deposition of calcium, collagen II, and alkaline phosphatase by osteoblasts. hESCs were seeded on the osteomimetic substrates in the presence of osteogenic growth medium, and osteogenicity was determined according to calcium content, osteocalcin expression, and bone marker gene regulation. Cell proliferation studies showed a constant increase in number for hESCs seeded on both PLGA and ECM-coated PLGA scaffolds. Calcium deposition by hESCs was significantly higher on the osteomimetic scaffolds compared with the control groups. Consistently, immunofluorescence staining demonstrated an increased expression of osteocalcin in hESCs seeded on ECM-coated osteomimetic PLGA scaffolds. Gene expression analysis of RUNX2 and osteocalcin further confirmed osteogenic differentiation of hESCs at the highest expression level on osteomimetic PLGA. These results together demonstrate the potential of PLGA scaffolds with native bone ECM components to direct osteogenic differentiation of hESCs and induce bone formation.
Hypoxia tolerance of introduced Nile perch: implications for survival of indigenous fishes in the Lake Victoria basin

The introduction of predatory Nile perch (Lates niloticus) into the Lake Victoria basin coincided with a dramatic decline in fish diversity. However, remnant populations of indigenous fishes persist in lagoons and satellite lakes separated from the main lakes by extensive areas of swamp, while other indigenous species find refuge in ecotonal areas at edges of marginal swamps in the main lakes. Low-oxygen conditions in these wetlands may physiologically stress Nile perch and therefore minimize its interaction with prey species. This study examined the low-oxygen tolerance of Nile perch collected from Lake Nabugabo, Uganda, by documenting behavioural and physiological strategies that relate to oxygen uptake. In response to hypoxia, Nile perch used aquatic surface respiration (ASR) at the air-water interface, ventilating their gills with water from the surface. However, several lines of evidence suggest that Nile perch in Lake Nabugabo are inefficient at ASR and relatively intolerant of low oxygen conditions. These include high thresholds for ASR relative to other indigenous fishes of the Lake Victoria basin, no decrease in gill ventilation rate with the onset of ASR, a faster time to loss of equilibrium in hypoxic conditions than other species from the region, and a high critical oxygen tension (24 mm Hg).
External Heat Transfer Coefficient Measurements on a Surrogate Indirect Inertial Confinement Fusion Target

External heat transfer coefficients were measured around a surrogate indirect inertial confinement fusion target based on the laser inertial fusion energy (LIFE) target to validate thermal models o...
True life, real lives: Revisiting the boundaries between ethnography and fiction

Ethnography and fiction have long been in dialogue in their common endeavor to understand human life and through their shared foundation on writing. Recently, anthropologists and sociologists have expressed concern that the worlds they study might be depicted more compellingly, accurately, and profoundly by novelists or filmmakers than by social scientists. Discussing my work on the embodiment of history in South Africa and on urban policing in France in light of, respectively, J. M. Coetzee's novel The Life & Times of Michael K and David Simon's television series The Wire, I analyze their commonalities and singularities. Using Marcel Proust's meditation on life and suggesting the heuristic value of distinguishing true life from real lives, I propose, first, to differentiate horizontal and vertical approaches to lives and, second, to complicate the dichotomy associating ethnography with the former and fiction with the latter. This reflection, which borrows from Georges Perec's rumination on the puzzle-maker, can be read as a defense of ethnography against a certain prevailing pessimism.
Investigating the Stress and Crystal Quality of AlN Air-Bridges through Micro-Raman Scattering

In this work, we report the post-growth investigation of the microstructure and stress in the AlN films grown on patterned amorphous dielectrics through micro-Raman spectroscopy. The surface texture of AlN/SiO2 structures was characterized by randomly oriented crystallites typical of polycrystalline films. Post growth analysis of the AlN/SiO2 structures using micro Raman spectroscopy did not reveal phonon modes corresponding to wurtzite AlN. The presence of randomly oriented crystallites with a possibility of oxidized Al phase in the AlN film could have suppressed the appearance of wurtzite AlN phonon peaks in the Raman spectrum. Profiling the stress and the microstructure of AlN/SiO2 structures across the width of the bridges is thus limited by these factors. AlN structures on SiO2 when subjected to wet etching in buffered HF (10:1) showed a clear change in texture. Micro-raman spectroscopy on the etched areas revealed wurtzite AlN like phonon modes. The appearance of wurtzite AlN modes can be attributed to the removal of oxidized Al phase in the AlN film after wet etching.
Proteomic searches comparing two (R)-lacosamide affinity baits: An electrophilic arylisothiocyanate and a photoactivated arylazide group

We have advanced a novel strategy to search for lacosamide ((R)-1) targets in the brain proteome where protein binding is expected to be modest. Our approach used lacosamide agents containing affinity bait (AB) and chemical reporter (CR) units. The affinity bait moiety is designed to irreversibly react with the target, and the CR group permits protein detection and capture. In this study, we report the preparation and evaluation of (R)-N-(4-azido)benzyl 2-acetamido-3-(prop-2-ynyloxy)propionamide ((R)-3) and show that this compound exhibits potent anticonvulsant activities in the MES seizure model in rodents. We compared the utility of (R)-3 with its isostere, (R)-N-(4-isothiocyanato)benzyl 2-acetamido-3-(prop-2-ynyloxy)propionamide ((R)-2), in proteomic studies designed to identify potential (R)-1 targets. We showed that despite the two-fold improved anticonvulsant activity of (R)-3 compared with (R)-2, (R)-2 was superior in revealing potential binding targets in the mouse brain soluble proteome. The difference in these agents utility has been attributed to the reactivity of the affinity baits (i.e., (R)-2: aryl isothiocyanate moiety; (R)-3: photoactivated aryl azide intermediates) in the irreversible protein modification step, and we conclude that this factor is a critical determinant of successful target detection where ligand (drug) binding is modest. The utility of (R)-2 and (R)-3 in in situ proteome studies is explored.
Comment on Gollin and Rosser

Abstract Gollin and Rosser (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1974 , 17, 539–544) misunderstand the way in which we use the term mediation. We agree with them in the need to reject inferences about cognitive processes from what children do not do, and we also agree in the need for age × task experimental designs.
An improved fit to the inversion spectrum of 14NH3

Abstract A Pade approximation with 19 terms is used to fit to measured line positions in the inversion spectrum of ammonia. It gives an order of magnitude better fit than an exponential (Costain) function with 21 terms, and two orders of magnitude better fit than a polynomial with 21 terms.
Environmental attitudes and the personal relevance of management actions in a park setting.

The relationship between environmental attitudes and corresponding beliefs has been the focus of much controversy that is not just confined to the environmental literature. The controversy centers on the lack of a consistent relationship between an individual's often favorable attitudes toward preserving nature and apparent endorsement of negative actions. This research examines a possible explanation taken from communication theory that evaluates how information is integrated to form a cognitive orientation that may help explain such paradoxes. It is suggested that, as the personal relevance of information or action increases, individuals are increasingly motivated to evaluate more highly the consequences of an action. Because of this increased evaluational introspection, attitudinal beliefs or opinions may be less directly influential in predicting an outcome. The results of a survey confirmed that more personally relevant actions were less likely to be positively associated with pro-environmental attitudes, despite the benefit the environment would receive by endorsing those actions.
Deletion of the gelatinase MMP-2 affects the compositional and biomechanical properties of bone

While determinants independent of bone mass have been identified for bone strength and toughness, little is known about genetic regulation of these factors, referred to collectively as bone quality. In the present work, using a mouse model, we investigated whether the deletion of the gene coding for matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) could affect the structural, compositional, and biomechanical properties of cortical bone. Analysis by micro-Computed Tomography of the femur of 8-week and 16-week old, male mice revealed that the loss of MMP-2 caused thinner cortices but had no effect on moment of inertia. Regardless of age, the MMP-2 null femurs had lower modulus and strength than the wild-type femurs. This effect was likely related to the decrease in bone mineral density and mineral-to-collagen ratio that was observed for the knock-out femurs. Enzymes important for the turnover of collagen may be important to bone quality.
Formation of a yeast SNARE complex is accompanied by significant structural changes

Abstract The evolutionarily conserved SNARE (SNAP receptor) proteins and their complexes are key players in the docking and fusion of secretory vesicles with their target membrane. Biophysical techniques were used to characterize structural and energetic properties of the cytoplasmic domains of the yeast SNAREs Snc1 and Sso1, of the SNAP-25-like domain of Sec9, and of the Sso1:Sec9 and Sso1:Sec9:Snc1 complexes. Individually, all three SNAREs are monomeric; Sso1 shows significant secondary structure while Snc1 and Sec9 are largely unstructured. Ternary SNARE complex formation (KD