cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-performance 3-1 interlock collapsing ALU's

A high-performance 3-1 interlock collapsing ALU, i.e., an ALU that allows the execution of most execution interlocks in a single machine cycle, is presented. We focus on reducing the Boolean equations describing the device and the incorporation of new mechanisms in the interlock collapsing ALU design. In particular, we focus on the reduction of the critical path, regarding delay, for the interlock collapsing ALU implementation. It is shown that the delay associated with the implementation of the proposed device, in terms of logic stages, assuming a commonly available CMOS technology, is equivalent to the number of logic stages required for the implementation of a 3-1 binary adder. The resulting implementation demonstrates that the proposed 3-1 interlock collapsing ALU can be designed to outperform existing schemes for interlock collapsing ALU's by a factor of at least two. Finally, it is suggested that the proposed device can be used in the implementation of multiple instruction issuing machines, allowing the issuance and execution of interlocks in parallel and in a single machine cycle with no cycle time increases. >
Increasingly restrictive definitions of hyperkalemia outcomes in a database study: effect on incidence estimates.

Purpose To determine the incidence of hyperkalemia-associated adverse outcomes among ambulatory patients with diabetes newly initiating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor therapy and to examine to what extent increasingly restrictive definitions of hyperkalemia-associated outcomes influenced incidence estimates. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 27 355 individuals with diabetes who were new users of RAAS inhibitors at three integrated healthcare systems. Results Using the least restrictive definition of hyperkalemia-associated outcome, an ambulatory visit (AV), inpatient hospitalization (IP), or emergency department (ED) visit co-occurring within 7 days of coded hyperkalemia diagnosis and/or potassium concentration of ≥5.5 mmol/L, the incidence rate of hyperkalemia was 30.1 per 1000 person-years (p-y). Restricting to only IP or ED visits co-occurring within 24 hours of coded diagnosis and/or potassium ≥6 mmol/L, the incidence rate was 10.2 per 1000 p-y. When this latter definition was further restricted by removing available potassium laboratory values, the incidence rate declined to 9.5 per 1000 p-y. Conclusions Modifying the definition of hyperkalemia-associated outcome resulted in up to threefold differences in incidence rate estimates. Our results demonstrate the value of including potassium laboratory results and AVs in identifying hyperkalemia from electronic data. Comparing incidence estimates across published studies requires consideration of differences in outcome definitions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Architecture and Performance of the Hardware Accelerators in IBM’s PowerEN Processor

Computation at the edge of a datacenter has unique characteristics. It deals with streaming data from multiple sources, going to multiple destinations, often requiring repeated application of one or more of several standard algorithmic kernels. These kernels, related to encryption, compression, XML Parsing and regular expression searching on the data, demand a high data processing rate and power efficiency. This suggests the use of hardware acceleration for key functions. However, robust general purpose processing support is necessary to orchestrate the flow of data between accelerators, as well as perform tasks that are not suited to acceleration. Further, these accelerators must be tightly integrated with the general purpose computation in order to keep invocation overhead and latency low. The accelerators must be easy for software to use, and the system must be flexible enough to support evolving networking standards.In this article, we describe and evaluate the architecture of IBM’s PowerEN processor, with a focus on PowerEN’s architectural enhancements and its on-chip hardware accelerators.PowerEN unites the throughput of application-specific accelerators with the programmability of general purpose cores on a single coherent memory architecture. Hardware acceleration improves throughput by orders of magnitude in some cases compared to equivalent computation on the general purpose cores. By offloading work to the accelerators, general purpose cores are freed to simultaneously work on computation less suited to acceleration.
Pressure-flow relationships and vascular impedance in man

Blood pressure and velocity waveforms were recorded in a series of patients at cardiac catheterization. The changes in shape of the waveforms are interpreted in terms of reflections and are related to computations of vascular input impedance.
Contour variables in vocal communication between squirrel monkey mothers and infants

This study investigates the occurrence and structure of the caregiver call, a form of communication in squirrel monkeys that is almost exclusively infant-directed. Caregiver calls exhibit variability in several acoustic features, most notably pitch range and contour, which are significantly associated with particular contexts of infant care; e.g., nursing or retrieval. The use of caregiver calls by squirrel monkeys is compared to the use of motherese (infant-directed speech) by humans. The possible functional and motivational basis for specific acoustic variables in the caregiver call is discussed.
Divergent roles for Wnt/β-catenin signaling in epithelial maintenance and breakdown during semicircular canal formation

The morphogenetic program that shapes the three semicircular canals (SSCs) must be executed with extreme precision to satisfy their complex vestibular function. The SSCs emerge from epithelial outgrowths of the dorsal otocyst, the central regions of which fuse and resorb to leave three fluid-filled canals. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is active at multiple stages of otic development, including during vestibular morphogenesis. How Wnt/β-catenin functionally integrates with other signaling pathways to sculpt the SSCs and their sensory patches is unknown. We used a genetic strategy to spatiotemporally modulate canonical Wnt signaling activity during SSC development in mice. Our findings demonstrate that Wnt/β-catenin signaling functions in a multifaceted manner during SSC formation. In the early phase, Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required to preserve the epithelial integrity of the vertical canal pouch perimeter (presumptive anterior and posterior SSCs) by establishing a sensory-dependent signaling relay that maintains expression of Dlx5 and opposes expression of the fusion plate marker netrin 1. Without this Wnt signaling activity the sensory to non-sensory signaling cascade fails to be activated, resulting in loss of vestibular hair and support cells and the anterior and posterior SSCs. In the later phase, Wnt/β-catenin signaling becomes restricted to the fusion plate where it facilitates the timely resorption of this tissue. Mosaic recombination of β-catenin in small clusters of canal pouch cells prevents their resorption, causing instead the formation of ectopic SSCs. Together, these disparate functions of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in epithelial maintenance and resorption help regulate the size, shape and number of SSCs.
Radical cyclizations of functionalized allenes

Abstract Substitution of P(O)Ph 2 , SOPh, and SO 2 Ph on an allene facilitates intramolecular radical addition to the central allene carbon to provide good yields of five-, six-, and seven-membered carbocycles.
Evaluation of wireless soft real-time protocols

Communication between current military real-time systems and future interconnection of general purpose, embedded real-time systems will often require wireless communications. However, there has been little work undertaken to offer support for real-time applications on wireless networks. We present and evaluate three protocols; variations of two published protocols by Paterakis and Gallager as well as our new one, the Sliding Partition (SP) collision resolution algorithm (CRA). In a real-time setting, the modified Gallager CRA consistently performs worst of the three we consider. We observe that when the deadline range is small, the Sliding Partition CRA performs best. When the deadline range is large, however, the Paterakis CRA performs slightly better than the SP CRA. Both analytic and simulation results are obtained to study the maximum input traffic rates that can be sustained for various laxities, delay bounds, and message loss rates.
A Room-Temperature Molten Salt Prepared from AuCl3 and 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride

A room-temperature molten salt has been prepared from AuCl3 and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIC). At a ratio of 1 mol of AuCl3 to 2 mol of EMIC, the salt is a bright yellow-orange and sh...
A mathematical model quantifying GnRH-induced LH secretion from gonadotropes.

A mathematical model is developed to investigate the rate of release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from pituitary gonadotropes in response to short pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The model includes binding of the hormone to its receptor, dimerization, interaction with a G protein, production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum, entrance of Ca2+ into the cytosol via voltage-gated membrane channels, pumping of Ca2+ out of the cytosol via membrane and endoplasmic reticulum pumps, and release of LH. Cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics are simplified (i.e., oscillations are not included in the model), and it is assumed that there is only one pool of releasable LH. Despite these and other simplifications, the model explains the qualitative features of LH release in response to GnRH pulses of various durations and different concentrations in the presence and absence of external Ca2+.
Natural disturbance regimes in northeastern North America—evaluating silvicultural systems using natural scales and frequencies

Many scientists and foresters have begun to embrace an ecological, natural disturbance paradigm for management, but lack specific guidance on how to design systems in ways that are in harmony with natural patterns. To provide such guidance, we conducted a comprehensive literature survey of northeastern disturbances, emphasizing papers that studied late-successional, undisturbed, or presettlement forests. Evidence demonstrates convincingly that such forests were dominated by relatively frequent, partial disturbances that produced a finely patterned, diverse mosaic dominated by late-successional species and structures. In contrast, large-scale, catastrophic stand-replacing disturbances were rare, returning at intervals of at least one order of magnitude longer than gap-producing events. Graphing the contiguous areas disturbed against their corresponding return intervals shows that these important disturbance parameters are positively related; area disturbed increases exponentially as the return interval lengthens. This graph provides a convenient metric, termed the natural disturbance comparability index, against which to evaluate both single and multi-cohort silvicultural systems based on their rotations or cutting-cycles and stand or gap sizes. We review implications of these findings for silvicultural practice in the region, and offer recommendations for emulating natural disturbance regimes.
Noise from a Turbofan Engine Without a Fan from the Engine Validation of Noise and Emission Reduction Technology (EVNERT) Program

ar-field noise levels of a turbofan engine are composed of many noise sources including the fan inlet, fan discharge, compressor stages, combustor, turbine stages, air valves, and external jet. A turbofan engine was run with and without the fan in order to quantitatively determine the fan’s contribution to both forward- and aft-radiated noise. The shaft load from the fan was replaced by a water brake when running without the fan. Instrumentation internal to the combustor was added to determine its modal structure and help identify any combustor tones in the far-field data. The data was then compared to predictions using industry-standard routines.
Transforming carbon nanotubes by silylation: an ab initio study.

We use ab initio density functional calculations to study the chemical functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes and graphene monolayers by silyl (${\mathrm{SiH}}_{3}$) radicals and hydrogen. We find that silyl radicals form strong covalent bonds with graphene and nanotube walls, causing local structural relaxations that enhance the $s{p}^{3}$ character of these graphitic nanostructures. Silylation transforms all carbon nanotubes into semiconductors, independent of their chirality. Calculated vibrational spectra suggest that specific frequency shifts can be used as a signature of successful silylation.
Vicious circle principle and the paradoxes

This note is a sequel to the previous paper of mine which was entitled Identity, variables, and impredicative definitions and published in this Journal, vol. 21 (1956), pp. 225–245. That early paper served to call attention to the dependency of the set-theoretic paradoxes on the interpretation of the variables that may occur in the critical abstraction principle : where K is a well-formed formula containing free occurrences of y but not those of x . A partial reinterpretation of the variables occurring in the above formalization of the abstraction principle yields Frege's unsuccessful way out of Russell's antinomy: with the same kind of K as above. Another gives us the alternative schema where K + is obtained from a K of the kind described above by replacing every well-formed part of the form (∃ z ) L by (∃ z )( z ≠ x & L ) and every well-formed part of the form ( z ) L by ( z )( z ≠ x ⊃ L ). Still a third choice of an interpretation yields the schema where K + is subject to the same conditions as in (1) and z 1 , z 2 , …, z k are all the free variables of (2). These three interpretations are only some of the most conspicuous ones among a multitude of possible ways of interpreting the variables that may occur in the abstraction principle.
Combination therapy protects ischemic brain in rats. A glutamate antagonist plus a gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist.

The excitotoxic effects of glutamate can be blocked almost completely with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, in cell culture, tissue slices, and in some animal models. After stroke in rats, we showed previously that an agonist of GABA, muscimol, was as neuroprotective as MK-801, an antagonist of glutamate. To obtain further neuroprotection and to avoid the side effects associated with high doses of MK-801, we wanted to assess the efficacy of the two agents in combination.Treatment was administered 5 minutes after embolic cerebral ischemia in Sprague-Dawley rats. The subjects were rated using a neurological evaluation 48 hours later. Visual-spatial learning was measured 8 to 10 weeks after stroke, after which we measured the volume of each cerebral hemisphere and several large cerebral compartments. Treatment groups included saline (n = 27), MK-801 1.0 mg/kg (n = 23), muscimol 1.0 mg/kg (n = 17), and both agents together using a dose of 0.5 mg/kg each (n = 25).A probit analysi...
Prediction of Resource Availability in Fine-Grained Cycle Sharing Systems Empirical Evaluation

Fine-Grained Cycle Sharing (FGCS) systems aim at utilizing the large amount of computational resources available on the Internet. In FGCS, host computers allow guest jobs to utilize the CPU cycles if the jobs do not significantly impact the local users. Such resources are generally provided voluntarily and their availability fluctuates highly. Guest jobs may fail unexpectedly, as resources become unavailable. To improve this situation, we consider methods to predict resource availability. This paper presents empirical studies on resource availability in FGCS systems and a prediction method. From studies on resource contention among guest jobs and local users, we derive a multi-state availability model. The model enables us to detect resource unavailability in a non-intrusive way. We analyzed the traces collected from a production FGCS system for 3 months. The results suggest the feasibility of predicting resource availability, and motivate our method of applying semi-Markov Process models for the prediction. We describe the prediction framework and its implementation in a production FGCS system, named iShare. Through the experiments on an iShare testbed, we demonstrate that the prediction achieves an accuracy of 86% on average and outperforms linear time series models, while the computational cost is negligible. Our experimental results also show that the prediction is robust in the presence of irregular resource availability. We tested the effectiveness of the prediction in a proactive scheduler. Initial results show that applying availability prediction to job scheduling reduces the number of jobs failed due to resource unavailability.
Novel peptide ligands for integrin α4β1 overexpressed in cancer cells

Using the "one-bead one-peptide" combinatorial technology, a library of random cyclic octapeptides and nonapeptides, consisting of natural and unnatural amino acids, was synthesized on polystyrene beads. This library was used to screen for peptides that promoted attachment and proliferation of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma cells (H1650), employing a "cell growth on bead" assay. Consensus peptide sequences of cNleDXXXXc and cXNleDXXXXc (where Nle is norleucine) were identified. With alanine scanning and site-directed deletion, a typical ligand consisted of a motif of -NleDI/V/Nle- with two flanking cysteines. These peptide ligands were specific for promoting cell attachment of the H1650 cells and the cells of lymphoid cancers (Jurkat and Raji) but not other selected human cell lines of lung cancer and fibroblast. In an antibody blocking assay, integrin alpha(4)beta(1), which was overexpressed in H1650, Jurkat, and Raji, was identified as a putative receptor for these peptide ligands. Using Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with either wild-type or mutant integrin alpha(4), a critical binding site for these peptides was localized to the glycine residue at position 190 of integrin alpha(4).
Due Process and the Failure of the Criminal Court

To anyone remotely familiar with the workings of Criminal Courts, the notion of a thorough due process system is quite foreign. More than half of the cases that enter the court end at the accused’s initial appearance before a judge. At that moment, none of the parties involved – prosecutor, defense attorney or judge – have done any kind of fact or legal investigation, and precious little is known about the charges or the accused. Cases are resolved in a matter of minutes in what has been described over and over again as assembly line justice. Rather than providing the accused with an opportunity to argue his or her case, the process has been described, derisively but accurately, as meet ‘em, greet ‘em, and plead ‘em.
Vacuum sampling for Psoroptes ovis (Acari: Psoroptidae).

An improved system of vacuum sampling using a modified household vacuum cleaner was compared with standard skin scraping to detect covert to light populations of Psoroptes ovis (Hering) on cattle.
A Practical and Accurate Approximation for Carrying Out Repeated Measures Power Calculations.

AbstractOftentimes consulting researchers are faced with generating power calculations for pilot designs that entail complex correlation/covariance structures. In many of these instances it is necessary for the statistician to elicit information pertaining to the correlation/covariance structure from researchers with little or no statistical background. We detail a simple strategy that seems to work well with clients for standard repeated measures normal-based models. The algorithm is based solely on eliciting minimum and maximum values. The procedure allows a statistician to develop a “baseline” for parameter values used in the power calculations. We then illustrate how to proceed with the calculations using simulation techniques and normal-based approximations.
An Optimal Search Procedure

(1959). An Optimal Search Procedure. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 66, No. 8, pp. 690-693.
Risk prediction for local versus regional/metastatic tumors after initial ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosis treated by lumpectomy

Among women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), we identified factors associated with local invasive cancer (LIC) and regional/metastatic invasive cancer (RMIC) and provide 10-year risks based on clinically relevant factors. We created a retrospective, population-based cohort of 1492 women with an initial diagnosis of DCIS (1983-1996) treated by lumpectomy alone. Histological and molecular markers (Ki67, ER, PR, COX-2, p16, ERBB2) were collected on DCIS cases with a subsequent tumor (DCIS, LIC, or RMIC) and a subsample of frequency-matched controls without subsequent tumors. Competing risks methods were used to identify factors associated with LIC and RMIC and cumulative incidence methods to estimate 10-year risks for combinations of factors. Median follow-up time was 12.6 years (range 0.5-29.5 years). The overall 10-year risk of LIC (11.9 %) was higher than for RMIC (3.8 %). About half of women with initial DCIS lesions are detected by mammography and p16 negative and have a 10-year risk of LIC of 6.2 % (95 % CI 5.8-6.8 %) and RMIC of 1.2 % (95 % CI 1.1-1.3 %). Premenopausal women whose DCIS lesion was p16 positive or p16 negative and detected by palpation had high 10-year risk of LIC of 23.0 % (95 % CI 19.3-27.4 %). Ten-year risk of RMIC was highest at 22.5 % (95 % CI 13.8-48.1 %) for those positive for p16, COX-2, and ERRB2, and negative for ER, but prevalence of this group is low at 3 %. Ten-year risk of LIC and RMIC is low for the majority diagnosed with DCIS. Combinations of molecular markers and method of detection of initial DCIS lesion can differentiate women at low and high risk of LIC and RMIC.
Haemodynamic Observation of Low Molecular Dextran and Urapidil of Little Dosage in Left Heart Dysfunction

Objective: It was investigated the haemodynamic effect of low molecular dextran(LMD) in left heart dysfunction in due to certificate it's efficiency of haemodilution and improvement microcirculation to left heart dysfunction. Methods: There were 20 cases of left heart dysfunction of Ⅲ or Ⅳ heart function, there were 10 cases cororary heart disease, 6 cases of hypertensive heart disease, 4 cases of dilated car-diomyopathy in it. LMD 200 ml and urapidil 25 mg be maintained to 2 hours intravenous infusion. In all patients, the haemodynamic record was performed before and after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours LMD infusion. Results: Pulmonary artery wedge pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, mean pulmonary artery pressure were decreased. Cardiac output cardiac index, left ventricular stroke work index were increased after LMD infusion. There were no significant statistical difference in heart rate, systonic blood pressure and diastolic pressure, in before and after LMD infusion. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that intravenous LMD and low dose urapidil produced acute and significant haemodynamic benefit in patients with left heart dysfunction.
When, where and how to test for sleep apnea.

This presentation focused on issues relevant to the decision to perform testing for sleep disordered breathing. Polysomnographic signals can be captured equally well in both the center and in the home, by attended as wellas unattended monitoring. Attention now is on clinical decisions that best match patient presentation to improved clinical outcome. Standardization ininterpretation can be achieved, provided sufficient experience, training, and continued surveillance of equipment function. The sleep center must evolve to manage patient with more diverse presentations and be a resource for knowledge in sleep and chronobiology to a broad range of medical issues and systems.
Introduction to ABCT’s 50th Anniversary Special Series of Commentaries by Selected Past Presidents of the Association

Abstract Welcome to a special series in Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, brought to you by the Committee for the 50 th Anniversary of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). Comprised of commentary articles, a subset of luminary past presidents present their views of the history of cognitive and behavioral therapies and their ideas on where the field will go next, using the backdrop of their own careers as a point of departure.
m 6 A RNA methylation promotes XIST -mediated transcriptional repression

The long non-coding RNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) mediates the transcriptional silencing of genes on the X chromosome. Here we show that, in human cells, XIST is highly methylated with at least 78 N^6-methyladenosine (m^6A) residues—a reversible base modification of unknown function in long non-coding RNAs. We show that m^6A formation in XIST, as well as in cellular mRNAs, is mediated by RNA-binding motif protein 15 (RBM15) and its paralogue RBM15B, which bind the m^6A-methylation complex and recruit it to specific sites in RNA. This results in the methylation of adenosine nucleotides in adjacent m^6A consensus motifs. Furthermore, we show that knockdown of RBM15 and RBM15B, or knockdown of methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3), an m^6A methyltransferase, impairs XIST-mediated gene silencing. A systematic comparison of m^6A-binding proteins shows that YTH domain containing 1 (YTHDC1) preferentially recognizes m^6A residues on XIST and is required for XIST function. Additionally, artificial tethering of YTHDC1 to XIST rescues XIST-mediated silencing upon loss of m^6A. These data reveal a pathway of m^6A formation and recognition required for XIST-mediated transcriptional repression.
The Cyber Aggression in Relationships Scale: A New Multidimensional Measure of Technology-Based Intimate Partner Aggression

The purpose of this study was to develop and provide initial validation for a measure of adult cyber intimate partner aggression (IPA): the Cyber Aggression in Relationships Scale (CARS). Drawing on recent conceptual models of cyber IPA, items from previous research exploring general cyber aggression and cyber IPA were modified and new items were generated for inclusion in the CARS. Two samples of adults 18 years or older were recruited online. We used item factor analysis to test the factor structure, model fit, and invariance of the measure structure across women and men. Results confirmed that three-factor models for both perpetration and victimization demonstrated good model fit, and that, in general, the CARS measures partner cyber aggression similarly for women and men. The CARS also demonstrated validity through significant associations with in-person IPA, trait anger, and jealousy. Findings suggest the CARS is a useful tool for assessing cyber IPA in both research and clinical settings.
Arguing with style: How persuasion and the enthymeme work together in on invention book 3

By considering the detailed construction and presentation of an “argumentative trope” in Book 3 of On Invention, this study highlights an intriguing overlap between style and argument, where stylistic devices (especially enthymematic antithesis) are specifically and consciously employed to create and enhance persuasion through manipulation of audience identity. As such, it suggests that ancient authors, and especially those within the Byzantine tradition, were perhaps less naive than is generally supposed with regard both to the psychological aspects of style and to the complex nature of audiences. The study also argues that, contrary to much contemporary opinion, the concepts of the ancient enthymeme, epicheireme, and related terminology are still very much worth exploring.
Synagogues for sale: Jewish-State mutuality in the communist Czech lands, 1945–1970

AbstractThe Jewish communities of communist Czechoslovakia enjoyed the right to receive in restitution property which had belonged to their interwar predecessors and which had been lost or stolen during the Second World War. The efforts to recover, manage, and dispose of these properties brought the interests of the Council of Jewish Religious Communities in the Czech Lands into alignment with those of their minders at the State Office of Ecclesiastical Affairs and its successor institutions. Their collaboration in the sale of surplus synagogues and the protection of cemeteries (as a class of properties) helped them develop a close working relationship characterized by limited mutuality. This, in turn, contributed to the context which gave rise to an efflorescence of Jewish cultural life in the 1960s. While self-consciously revisionist, this article in no way seeks to deny the prevalence of state and popular antisemitism in the postwar years, which often came in the guise of anti-Zionism. It seeks, rather...
Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome is a disease of the exocrine glands frequently defined as dry mouth and dry eyes. The exocrine system encompasses glands that are distributed throughout the body, and they produce variety of secretory products such as the digestive enzymes and bile, sweat, saliva, tears, cerumen, prostate and vaginal fluids, and the mucus secretions of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Reduction and/or alteration in the exocrine secretions disrupt the normal physiology, shift the balance of the microbiota, and subject the body to variety of diseases. Although initial symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome may be subclinical and mild, Sjogren’s syndrome is often associated with a significant number of serious and life-threatening comorbidities. This chapter reviews the prevalence and implications of the most frequently reported comorbidities in Sjogren’s syndrome.
Comparison of Volatile Organic Compound Transport in Composite Liners with HDPE and Ethylene-Vinyl Alcohol Co-Extruded Geomembranes

AbstractThis study evaluated migration of five common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through simulated composite landfill liners that employ a co-extruded geomembrane (GM) with an interior layer...
A Longitudinal Assessment of the Effect of Resident-Centered Care on Quality in Veterans Health Administration Community Living Centers

Objective To examine whether changes in resident-centered care (RCC) over time were associated with changes in quality. Data Sources/Study Setting Data sources were the Minimum Dataset quality indicators (which consist of measures of both prevalence and incidence of adverse events) and the Artifacts of Culture Change Tool (which measures RCC; FYs 2009–2012) from 130 Veterans Health Administration community living centers. Study Design A retrospective longitudinal study. Data Collection/Extraction Methods Data were from VA secondary data sources. Principal Findings The overall relationship between RCC and quality was not statistically significant (p = .22), although there was a weakly significant negative relationship (i.e., increased RCC was associated with poorer quality) in the seven quarters after implementation of an automated version of the Artifacts Tool (p = .08). In facility-specific analyses, there were 15 facilities with a weakly significant (p < .10) positive relationship between RCC and quality and 21 with a weakly significant negative relationship. Adjusted cost per patient day was over 50 percent higher in the 21 facilities with a negative relationship than in the 15 facilities with a positive relationship (p < .05). Conclusions The Artifacts score is a formal performance metric in the VA, and thus, facilities were explicitly incentivized to increase RCC. Using qualitative methods to identify characteristics that distinguished those facilities able to increase both RCC and quality from those that suffered declines in quality as RCC was improved is an important follow-up to this study.
Abstract 339: DWORF: a Novel Cardiac Micropeptide That Enhances SERCA Activity and Cardiomyocyte Contractility

Background: Our lab has discovered a novel conserved micropeptide of 34 amino acids encoded by a muscle-specific RNA that was previously annotated as a putative long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). This m...
A Data Quality Assessment Guideline for Electronic Health Record Data Reuse.

Introduction: We describe the formulation, development, and initial expert review of 3x3 Data Quality Assessment (DQA), a dynamic, evidence-based guideline to enable electronic health record (EHR) data quality assessment and reporting for clinical research. Methods: 3x3 DQA was developed through the triangulation results from three studies: a review of the literature on EHR data quality assessment, a quantitative study of EHR data completeness, and a set of interviews with clinical researchers. Following initial development, the guideline was reviewed by a panel of EHR data quality experts. Results: The guideline embraces the task-dependent nature of data quality and data quality assessment. The core framework includes three constructs of data quality: complete, correct, and current data. These constructs are operationalized according to the three primary dimensions of EHR data: patients, variables, and time. Each of the nine operationalized constructs maps to a methodological recommendation for EHR data quality assessment. The initial expert response to the framework was positive, but improvements are required. Discussion: The initial version of 3x3 DQA promises to enable explicit guideline-based best practices for EHR data quality assessment and reporting. Future work will focus on increasing clarity on how and when 3x3 DQA should be used during the research process, improving the feasibility and ease-of-use of recommendation execution, and clarifying the process for users to determine which operationalized constructs and recommendations are relevant for a given dataset and study.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Genes to Pathways to Circuits

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a collection of etiologically diverse and overlapping syndromes that share the core diagnostic features of fundamental impairments in reciprocal social communication and highly restricted interests and/or repetitive behaviors. Dramatic progress in the genomics of ASD has emerged as a consequence of rapidly advancing genomic technologies; a highly productive focus on rare and de novo mutations; the consolidation of large patient and family cohorts of sufficient size to power systematic discovery efforts; highly effective partnerships among governmental agencies, advocacy groups, and philanthropy to support research; and an early and sustained commitment to data sharing across the ASD genomics community. These forces have resulted in a rapidly increasing number of risk genes and regions and an emerging picture of the genomic architecture of ASD. Despite challenges imparted by identifying extreme locus and allelic heterogeneity, initial efforts at characterizing the underlying mechanisms of ASD have shown a surprising degree of convergence with regard to molecular mechanisms, anatomical regions, and developmental epochs.
The 1990 Economic Community of West African States-Liberian Civil War Challenge

This chapter considers how and why ECOWAS decided to take on peacemaking in the Liberian Civil War which began in December 1989 when the Charles Taylor-led National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) launched an attack on the Liberian-Cote d’Ivoire border. Within five months, the NPFL controlled more than 90 percent of the country, and the conflict quickly deteriorated into unspeakable levels of violence and ethnic genocide. After an ECOWAS Standing Mediation Committee failed, an ECOWAS Cease-fire Monitoring Group was created to intervene militarily. This is an example of an REO taking on peacemaking as a result of the failure of Great Power interest and global governance. Most agree that leadership in the Liberian Civil War represented a turning point in ECOWAS’ institutional development.
Family Therapy : An Introduction to Process, Practice and Theory

Family Therapy: An Introduction to Process, Practice and Theory is a primer for students, professionals, and trainees to understand how family therapists conceptualize the problems people bring to therapy, utilize basic therapeutic skills to engage clients in the therapeutic process, and navigate the predominant models of family therapy. This text walks readers through each of these main areas via a straightforward writing style where they are provided with exercises and questions to help them develop the basic concepts and tools of being a family therapist. Upon finishing this book, students will have the foundational skills and knowledge needed to work relationally and systemically with clients.
Exact model of the power-to-efficiency trade-off while approaching the Carnot limit

The Carnot heat engine sets an upper bound on the efficiency of a heat engine. As an ideal, reversible engine, a single cycle must be performed in infinite time, and so the Carnot engine has zero power. However, there is nothing, in principle, forbidding the existence of a heat engine whose efficiency approaches that of Carnot while maintaining finite power. Such an engine must have very special properties, some of which have been discussed in the literature, in various limits. While recent theorems rule out a large class of engines from maintaining finite power at exactly the Carnot efficiency, the approach to the limit still merits close study. Presented here is an exactly solvable model of such an approach that may serve as a laboratory for exploration of the underlying mechanisms. The equations of state have their origins in the extended thermodynamics of electrically charged black holes.
Activation of the iodinating system in sheep thyroid particulate fractions by flavin cofactors.

In an earlier report (l), we described the preparation, from sheep thyroid glands, of a particulate fraction consisting primarily of mitochondria and microsomes, which, when incubated with carrier-free radioactive iodide, converted as much as 30 per cent of the added 1131 to labeled iodoprotein. This thyroid particulate fraction differed from the cell-free thyroid preparations used by other workers (2,3) in the following respects: (1) it was active in the absence of added tyrosine and oxidizing agents; and (2) the major product formed was iodoprotein, not free iodotyrosine. In experiments in which the iodine metabolism of the particulate fraction was compared with that of thyroid slices, it was observed that the particulate preparation had a much lower capacity to utilize added carrier iodide; moreover, iodination by the particulate fraction led to the formation of an iodinated protein containing P31 almost exclusively in the form of monoiodotyrosine, whereas the iodinated protein formed by the slice contained almost as much P31-diiodotyrosine as 1131-monoiodotyrosine. The present report deals with our attempts to enhance the iodinating activity of the thyroid particulate fraction. It was found that the capacity of the particulate system to convert added iodide to iodoprotein could be greatly increased by adding flavin cofactors or by increasing the pH of the incubation medium, but in both instances the newly formed iodoprotein still contained 1131 almost exclusively in the form of monoiodotyrosine.
Herstellung der Kugellager

Die hohe, in Abschnitt I behandelte spezifische Flachenpressung, sowie das dauernde Belasten und Entlasten der Kugeln und der einzelnen Ringteile bedingen die Verwendung auserordentlich zahen Materials. Weder Kugeln noch Laufbahn sollen wahrend des Betriebes merkbare bleibende Eindrucke erfahren. Auch darf das Material nicht so sprode sein, das die Kugeln oder die Laufbahnen abbrockeln. Mit Rucksicht auf genugende Widerstandsfahigkeit des Materials gegen Zerspringen ist es von Vorteil, wenn die Kugeln nach dem Kern zu weicher werden.
Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) infection is the most frequently identified health care–associated infection in the United States. C difficile has also emerged as a cause ...
Analysis of diglycolic acid in food packaging, over the counter products, direct additive carboxymethyl cellulose, and retail foods

Carboxymethyl cellulose (i.e. CMC or cellulose gum) is used as a direct additive for foods and drugs to change texture and act as a binder. CMC can also be a fluid absorbent used in food packaging and food contact materials. CMC and other carboxymethyl starches are synthesised by condensing glycolic acid with monochloroacetic acid. Diglycolic acid (DGA) is a byproduct produced by this condensation which cannot be completely removed. Currently, there are no analytical methods to accurately detect and quantify DGA in foods and food packaging materials. A method using a methanol/water extraction coupled with weak anion exchange solid phase extraction cleanup for more complex matrices was developed. A novel LC-MS/MS method was used to determine the DGA concentration in food contact materials, food grade direct additive CMC, and foods containing CMC. This paper will discuss the development of a new method for the preparation and cleanup of various food matrices and LC-MS/MS analysis for the presence of DGA.
Peritransplant eculizumab does not prevent delayed graft function in deceased donor kidney transplant recipients: Results of two randomized controlled pilot trials

Animal models and observational human data indicate that complement, including C5a, pathogenically participates in ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury that manifests as delayed graft function (DGF) following deceased donor kidney transplantation. We report on the safety/efficacy of anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab (Ecu) administered in the operating room prior to reperfusion, to prevent DGF in recipients of deceased donor kidney transplants in two related, investigator-sponsored, randomized controlled trials. Eight recipients from a single center were enrolled in a pilot study that led to a 19-subject multicenter trial. Together, 27 deceased donor kidney transplant recipients, 16 Ecu-treated and 11 controls, were treated with rabbit antithymocyte globulin, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil with or without glucocorticoids, and followed for 6 months. Data analysis showed no epidemiological or transplant-related differences between study arms. Ecu was well tolerated with a similar severe adverse event incidence between groups. The DGF rate did not differ between Ecu-treated (44%) and control (45%, P = 1.0) subjects. Serum creatinine reduction in the first week after transplantation, and graft function up to 180-days post-transplant, were also similar. Ecu administration was safe but did not reduce the rate of DGF in a high-risk population of deceased donor recipients.
Waterpipe smoking: the pressing need for risk communication

Introduction: Waterpipe (WP) smoking is an important public health problem that is rapidly evolving globally. Much of WP spread among youth is perpetuated by a misperception of reduced harms compared to cigarettes. Increasing awareness about WP smoking harms through health warning labels (HWLs) represents a promising policy and regulatory strategy to curb WP smoking. Areas covered: Peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed and CINAHL were searched in March 2019. This review focuses on the current knowledge of WP smoking characteristics, its spread and patterns of use globally, and some of the major WP-related health effects. This knowledge is utilized to advance a promising policy and regulatory avenue to curb WP smoking by increasing awareness of its potential harms through HWLs. It also addresses product configuration and unique features that influence the adaptation of HWLs for WP smoking. Expert opinion: HWLs are effective in communicating smoking-related risks to WP smokers in a way that affects their smoking behavior and experience as well as interest in quitting. Although based on limited data, the WP device appears to be a promising location for HWLs as it offers prolonged contact with smokers and those surrounding them.
Heat stress during flowering in cereals – effects and adaptation strategies

Heat stress during flowering has differential impact on male and female reproductive organ viability leading to yield losses in field crops. Unlike flooded rice, dryland cereals such as sorghum, pearl millet and wheat have optimised their flower opening during cooler early morning or late evening hours to lower heat stress damage during flowering. Although previous studies have concluded that pollen viability determines seed set under heat stress, recent findings have revealed pearl millet and sorghum pistils to be equally sensitive to heat stress. Integrating flower opening time during cooler hours with increased pollen and pistil viability will overcome heat stress-induced damage during flowering under current and future hotter climatic conditions.
ASingle-Ion Conducting UiO-66 Metal–OrganicFramework Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

A metal–organic framework (MOF) single lithium-ion conductor has been synthesized by covalently immobilizing anions to the skeleton of MOF structures. The functionalized UiO-66 MOF exhibits an elec...
Differential kinase activity of ACVR1 G328V and R206H mutations with implications to possible TβRI cross-talk in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a lethal pediatric brain cancer whose median survival time is under one year. The possible roles of the two most common DIPG associated cytoplasmic ACVR1 receptor kinase domain mutants, G328V and R206H, are reexamined in the context of new biochemical results regarding their intrinsic relative ATPase activities. At 37 °C, the G328V mutant displays a 1.8-fold increase in intrinsic kinase activity over wild-type, whereas the R206H mutant shows similar activity. The higher G328V mutant intrinsic kinase activity is consistent with the statistically significant longer overall survival times of DIPG patients harboring ACVR1 G328V tumors. Based on the potential cross-talk between ACVR1 and TβRI pathways and known and predicted off-targets of ACVR1 inhibitors, we further validated the inhibition effects of several TβRI inhibitors on ACVR1 wild-type and G328V mutant patient tumor derived DIPG cell lines at 20–50 µM doses. SU-DIPG-IV cells harboring the histone H3.1K27M and activating ACVR1 G328V mutations appeared to be less susceptible to TβRI inhibition than SF8628 cells harboring the H3.3K27M mutation and wild-type ACVR1. Thus, inhibition of hidden oncogenic signaling pathways in DIPG such as TβRI that are not limited to ACVR1 itself may provide alternative entry points for DIPG therapeutics.
Optimal Cystectomy Outcome: A Composite Measurement Evaluating Quality of Care and Mortality Benefit.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the incidence and impact of an "optimal cystectomy outcome" (OCO), a simplified performance metric that encompasses multiple patient-centered outcomes. METHODS We identified patients in the National Cancer Center Database undergoing radical cystectomy for stage cT2-cT3 urothelial carcinoma (2006-2014). OCO was defined as negative resection margin, adequate lymphadenectomy (>10 nodes), no prolonged length-of-stay (<75th percentile), no 30-day-readmission, and no 30-day-mortality. We used multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional-hazards models to identify factors associated with OCO and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Among 12,997 patients who fit the inclusion criteria, individual OCO components were attained at a relatively high rate; however, only 37.6% of patients met all 5 OCO criteria. Patients who underwent surgery at a high-volume (OR 2.45) academic facility (OR 1.60) using a minimally-invasive approach (OR 1.32) were more likely to receive an OCO. Patients were less likely to receive an OCO if they were older (OR 0.98), African American (OR 0.71), had Medicaid insurance (OR 0.66), or more comorbidities (OR 0.48) (all P <0.05). Patients who received an OCO were found to have a significantly lower risk of overall mortality (HR 0.69, P <0.05). CONCLUSION Various patient- and hospital-specific factors affect a system's ability to achieve OCO in patients undergoing radical cystectomy. OCO is directly associated with improved OS and has the potential to function as a composite performance metric for the quality of care in bladder cancer.