cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of physical and chemical defenses in the hemlock woolly adelgid.

The invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand, Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Adelgidae) causes significant mortality to eastern and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Carriere and T. caroliniana Engelmann, respectively) throughout the eastern United States. Adelges tsugae produces vast quantities of a wax covering that surrounds most of the instars as well as the adult and eggs. Using direct probe EI mass spectrometry, this wax covering was characterized as a diketoester wax, 17-oxohexatriacontanyl 11-oxotriacontanoate, and accounted for ≈ 42 % of A. tsugae total biomass. The presence of the anthraquinone, chrysophanol, and its precursor anthrone, chrysarobin, in A. tsugae has only been briefly described. Further study confirmed these compounds in all A. tsugae life stages. Additionally, several predatory beetles in use or under consideration as biological control agents for this species appear to ingest and excrete these compounds when feeding on A. tsugae. The production of both a physical and a chemical defense may represent a significant energy investment by A. tsugae.
What's New in Hand Surgery

This update reviews material presented at the 2012 annual meetings of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS), and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) as well as articles published in the field of hand surgery (other than those published in this journal) between August 2011 and July 2012. In addition to the broad focus of the AAOS, both hand surgery organizations feature presentations on shoulder and elbow surgery and general microsurgery, all of which are beyond the scope of this review. If a work was presented at more than one meeting, only the first presentation is described. Meeting abstracts for the ASSH, AAHS, and AAOS annual meetings are maintained online at www.assh.org, www.handsurgery.org, and www.aaos.org, respectively. The treatment of wrist fractures is increasingly surgical. However, several recent studies called into question the benefits of operative treatment as compared with nonoperative treatment. A report that was presented to ASSH reviewed 258 patients over the age of sixty-five years with distal radial fractures that were treated either operatively or nonoperatively. The patients were matched according to AO type, age, and sex. One year after the fracture, Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) scores, wrist motion, and grip strength were similar in the two treatment groups. The operative treatment group had a higher risk of complications (29% compared with 17%; p = 0.03) and a greater need for subsequent surgery (11% compared with 5%; p = 0.1) but had a lower malunion rate (4% compared with 26%) in comparison with the nonoperative treatment group. The authors concluded that surgery improves radiographic appearance but not function in patients over the age of sixty-five years and that these results come at the cost of higher rates of complications and additional surgery. A recent report …
The Translocation of Intestinal Facultative and Anaerobic Bacteria in Defined Flora Mice

It is widely accepted that intestinal anaerobic bacteria do not translocate from the intestinal tract as readily as facultative species. However, to date this hypothesis has not been tested in defined flora animals where the intestinal concentrations of different bacterial species can be closely monitored. Seven different groups of defined flora mice were colonised with from two to seven different species of bacteria representing various mixtures of intestinal facultative and/ or anaerobic species, including Escherichia coli C25 (streptomycin resistant), E. coli M14 (streptomycin sensitive), Proteus mirabilis , enterococcus, Bacteroides vulgatus , B. fragilis , and Clostridium sp. With the exception of the Clostridiurn sp., each of these species colonised the caeca of defined flora mice at concentrations ≥ 10 9 per gram. Each of the four facultative species (i.e., E. coli C25, E. coli M14, P. mirabilis , and enterococcus) translocated to the mesenteric lymph nodes of approximately one-half of the defined flora mice associated with each species (n ≥ 42). In contrast, of the remaining three anaerobic species, only B. vulgatus translocated in only three mice (n = 52), despite caecal population levels of each of the Bacteroides species that were comparable to each of the facultative species. These results indicate that, in animals with a limited intestinal flora, intestinal anaerobic bacteria do not translocate as readily as facultative species and that the mechanism responsible for the translocation of facultative bacteria in preference to anaerobic bacteria is independent of the concentration of intestinal bacteria. Keywords: Translocation; Anaerobe; Facultative; Intestinal.
Impact of fears on quality of life in patients with a silent disease: osteoporosis

Fears and apprehensions are often cited as contributing to decreased quality of life; however, questions relating to worry over the future are rarely included in generic quality-of-life questionnaires. We report an effort to quantify the effect of fear on quality-of-life domains as measured by using the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. In the course of developing an osteoporosis-targeted quality-of-life (OPTQoL) questionnaire, we asked participants to complete the SF-36 Health Survey and another questionnaire containing items that women with osteoporosis could be expected to find difficult or worrisome. Two hundred twenty-two women with established osteoporosis (loss of height, kyphosis, history of fractures); 101 women with known low bone mineral density (BMD) but without established osteoporosis; and 142 women with no known osteoporosis completed both the osteoporosis questionnaire and the SF-36 Health Survey. This test version of the OPTQoL contained two domains for fears of osteoporosis and the consequent fractures and deformities; these domains were termed fears now and fears future. After adjusting for age and selected comorbidities, we estimated the additional contribution of the two fears domains on the domain scores of the SF-36 Health Survey. For women with established osteoporosis, the fears now domain explained 4% to 8% of the variance within each domain of the survey. For women with low BMD only, fears now had a significant effect only on the physical functioning domain of the survey and explained 4% of the variance of that domain. Fears future had a significant role in explaining the SF-36 Health Survey score on all domains except physical functioning among women with established osteoporosis; however, the fears future domain explained less of the variance (2% to 5%) among these women than did the fears now domain. For women with low BMD only, fears future had a significant impact only on the mental health and the general health domains (4% and 5% of the variance, respectively). Osteoporosis-related fears appear to explain a small but significant percentage of the variation in quality of life for women in midlife.
Group Well-Child Care An Analysis of Cost

Objective. To determine if group well-child visits (WCV) can be cost neutral compared with individual WCV by varying health care providers, group size, and physician salary. Method. We created 6 economic models to evaluate the costs of WCV: 3 for individual WCV delivered by (1) advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), (2) resident, and (3) attending and 3 for group WCV delivered by (4) APRN with a nurse and social worker; (5) resident with an attending, nurse, and child life specialist; and (6)attending with a nurse. For group WCV, we performed sensitivity analyses on group size and duration of provider participation. Results. We achieved cost-neutrality at 4 families in the APRN group WCV model; at 3, 4, 5, and 6 families in the resident model with 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes of attending supervision, respectively; and at 4 and 5 families in the low and high attending salary model, respectively. Conclusion. Group WCV can be delivered in a cost-neutral manner by optimizing group size and provider partici...
Nonlinear indentation of fibers

An instrumented indentation method is established to accurately measure the local elastic-plastic material properties of a single fiber by accounting for the additional sources of compliance associated with fiber indentation. The Oliver-Pharr instrumented indentation data analysis method is compared for indentation of a standard, planar fused silica sample and in the radial direction of homogeneous, isotropic E-glass fibers of two different diameters. Compliance contributions from substrate deflection and other nonindentation-related fiber deflections are quantified and shown to be negligible. The added compliance observed is attributed to the lack of constraint due to the finite geometry of a curved fiber surface. This compliance contribution is accounted for by using a proposed area correction to capture the geometry of the curved fiber-probe contact combined with a structural compliance correction. Implementation of these corrections to experimental indentation curves results in accurate measurements of the fiber elastic modulus and hardness.
Surgery for Parkinson’s Disease

he history of surgery for Parkinson’s disease dates back to 1909 and ictor Horsley, who attempted to relieve some of the symptoms of this isease by ablating certain areas of the sensorimotor cortex. Patients ften experienced a reduction of their tremor with an associated impairent of voluntary function. Medical treatment for Parkinson’s disease as so limited at this time; there was a great need for a surgical treatment. n operation to lesion the corticospinal tracts was popularized by Bucy in 939. At the same time, experimental neurophysiological research began o identify the extrapyramidal system as being important in regulating ovement and its role in movement disorders such as Parkinson’s isease. Russell Meyers was the first to operate on the basal ganglia in 939 through an open craniotomy, but with mortality rate of 15.7%. ess invasive procedures were sought, and the idea of stereotactic surgery as re-explored. Stereotactic neurosurgery was first conceived by Horsley and Clark in 906 as a method to accurately target structures deep inside the brain hrough a small opening in the skull. The brain is unique in that it is held mmobile in a protective case which makes it ideal for applying a hree-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system for locating any structure. tereotactic surgery utilizes a reference system—usually a frame which is ecured to the patient’s skull—which is then matched to the coordinates f structures which are mapped on an atlas or image of the patient’s brain. his technique has been used extensively by neurosurgeons beginning in he early 1950s and remains so today. What makes this technique so uccessful today is the ability to use it with CT and/or MRI images of the rain which essentially provides an individual atlas of each patient’s rain. In the 1950s and 1960s, lesioning techniques utilizing stereotactic urgery for Parkinson’s disease became widely used and accepted by the ublic. As the understanding of neurophysiology and the patho-neuro-
On the average-case hardness of CVP

We prove a connection of the worst-case complexity to the average-case complexity based on the Closest Vector Problem (CVP) for lattices. We assume that there is an efficient algorithm which can approximately solve a random instance of CVP, with a non-trivial success probability. For lattices under a certain natural distribution, we show that one can approximately solve several lattice problems (including a version of CVP) efficiently for every lattice with high probability.
A Compact Fully-Integrated Extremum-Selector-Based Soft-Start Circuit for Voltage Regulators in Bulk CMOS Technologies

A fully-integrated soft-start circuit for voltage regulators is presented in this brief. A soft-start strategy based on an extremum selector and a linearly ramped-up reference is developed to prevent any massive in-rush current through the power device during the start-up phase of the regulator. The strategy is realized by a compact on-chip circuit that requires no external components and has minimal transistor overhead, thereby minimizing the implementation area and the cost of the overall regulator. The linearly ramped-up reference is created through the use of nonlinear MOS capacitors available in a low-cost bulk CMOS technology. The proposed soft-start circuit has been implemented in a 0.35-μm bulk CMOS technology as part of a 50-mA linear regulator. The proposed circuit occupies 0.013 mm2 on silicon, which corresponds to about 13% of the total area of the linear regulator. The soft-start circuit enables the output voltage of the regulator to be linearly ramped up to the steady state under different load currents and charging currents.
Treatment Strategies for the Behavioral Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease: Focus on Early Pharmacologic Intervention

The impact of behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease is substantial. These symptoms contribute to diminished quality of life for patients and caregivers and increase the cost of care in nursing homes. Early recognition of behavioral symptoms and appropriate treatment are important for successful management. Nonpharmacologic strategies remain the cornerstone of the management of Alzheimer's disease-related behavioral symptoms. However, nonpharmacologic strategies may not be effective for problem behaviors, and pharmacologic intervention may be necessary. Relevant articles were identified through various MEDLINE searches with no date restrictions, with an emphasis on recent studies that used cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine. Additional reports of interest were identified from the reference lists of these articles. To facilitate cross-study analyses in the review of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, the database search was limited to randomized, placebo-controlled trials that used the Neuropsychiatric Inventory to assess behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Overall, evidence from trials of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine suggests that when these agents are optimized for the various stages of Alzheimer's disease, they can also prevent the emergence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Although results from the literature are not uniformly positive, cholinesterase inhibitors have been shown to produce significant improvements in behavioral symptoms in patients with both mild- to-moderate and moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease. Evidence also indicates that memantine might be of benefit as an adjunct to long-term cholinesterase inhibitor treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease and that memantine monotherapy may have some beneficial effects on behavior in patients with mild-to-moderate disease. Of importance, although no direct comparisons have been performed, these agents seem to have an improved safety and tolerability profile compared with the frequently used antipsychotic drugs. When nonpharmacologic strategies are deemed insufficient to ease problem behaviors in patients with Alzheimer's disease, treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors, alone or in combination with memantine as appropriate for the stage of disease, may be considered as a first-line option in the early pharmacologic management of Alzheimer's disease-related behavioral symptoms.
Position Finding with Prior Knowledge of Covariance Parameters

Butterly [1] presents a Bayesian approach as an alternative to the classical methods for solving the position-finding problem. Butterly assumes that bearing errors are independent and normally distributed with known variances. In the paper, the assumption of known variances is relaxed and it is shown that uncertainty about these variances can be incorporated into the model while also retaining the computational advantages of the Butterly formulation. It is also shown that the Bayes estimate and the classical maximum likelihood estimate will agree in certain cases.
Designing and Deploying Mobile Health Interventions

This chapter focuses on the exciting field of mobile devices in healthcare. We describe the variety of mobile devices used in healthcare and discuss considerations researchers, designers, software developers, and informaticians need to take into account when designing and deploying these devices in the healthcare environment. We examine both the use of mobile devices for healthcare providers and consumers. We cover the broad range of devices, ranging from stand alone devices in a largely historical perspective, through smartphones and tablets, and some slightly future leaning wearable devices. Lastly, we discuss things to consider when studying the use of mobile devices in the healthcare environment.
Simulations of electron avalanches in an ultra-low-background proportional counter

Abstract New classes have been added to the simulation package Garfield++ to import the potential and electric field solutions generated by ANSYS ® MaxwellTM v.16. Using these tools we report results on the simulation of electron avalanches and induced signal waveforms in comparison to experimental data of the ultra-low-background gas proportional counters being developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Furthermore, an improved mesh search algorithm based on Delaunay triangulation was implemented and provided at least a three order of magnitude time savings when compared to the built-in point-location search class of Garfield++.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Owing to 11β-Hydroxylase Deficiency

Humans have two isozymes with 11β-hydroxylase activity that are, respectively, required for cortisol and aldosterone synthesis. CYP11B1 (11β-hydroxylase) converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone, is expressed at high levels, and is regulated by ACTH. CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) is normally expressed at low levels and is regulated mainly by angiotensin II and potassium levels. In addition to 11β-hydroxylase activity, the latter enzyme has 18-hydroxylase and 18-oxidase activities and thus can synthesize aldosterone from deoxycorticosterone. Mutations in the CYP11B1 gene cause steroid 11β-hydroxylase deficiency, a form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Mutations in CYP11B2 result in aldosterone synthase deficiency, which can cause hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypovolemic shock in infancy. These are both recessive disorders. Unequal crossing over between the CYP11B genes can generate a duplicated chimeric gene with the transcriptional regulatory region of CYP11B1 but sufficient coding sequences from CYP11B2 so that the encoded enzyme has aldosterone synthase (i.e., 18-oxidase) activity. This results in glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism, a form of hypertension inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This review concentrates on steroid 11β-hydroxylase deficiency.
A Bayesian semiparametric accelerated failure time model for arbitrarily censored data with covariates subject to measurement error

AbstractA flexible Bayesian semiparametric accelerated failure time (AFT) model is proposed for analyzing arbitrarily censored survival data with covariates subject to measurement error. Specifically, the baseline error distribution in the AFT model is nonparametrically modeled as a Dirichlet process mixture of normals. Classical measurement error models are imposed for covariates subject to measurement error. An efficient and easy-to-implement Gibbs sampler, based on the stick-breaking formulation of the Dirichlet process combined with the techniques of retrospective and slice sampling, is developed for the posterior calculation. An extensive simulation study is conducted to illustrate the advantages of our approach.
Contemporary Japanese Fiction & ‘Middlebrow’ Translation Strategies

AbstractThis paper examines some of the key concepts in contemporary translation theory through a case study of ‘Kitchen’, published in 1993. It argues that current trends in translation theory privilege alienating strategies and that such preference has limited value when considering the Japanese translation tradition, which has been characterized by alien otherness. It then takes up the publication history and translation strategy of Banana Yoshimoto’s ‘Kitchen’ and suggests that a middlebrow translation strategy may be best suited for negotiating the problems of sameness and difference involved in cross-cultural encounters.
Exploiting block sparsity for joint mitigation of asynchronous NBI and IN in hybrid powerline-wireless communications

Transmission of the same information signal simultaneously over multiple physical layers, such as powerline and unlicensed wireless communication networks, results in higher reliability and/or enhances the coverage range compared to using a single physical layer due to diversity gains. However, each physical layer suffers from its own distinct impairments that can severely degrade performance. Unlicensed wireless communications suffers from narrow-band interference (NBI) while powerline communications (PLC) is impaired by impulsive noise (IN). With orthogonal frequency division multiplexing used for both communication systems, these two impairments, if not mitigated, can severely degrade performance. This paper proposes an approach for efficient joint estimation and mitigation of the NBI and IN signals in hybrid wireless and PLC systems. The proposed approach exploits the inherent sparse structures of the NBI and IN signals in the frequency and time domains, respectively, and is based on the compressive sensing (CS) principles. The paper also addresses the practical asynchronous NBI scenario that suffers from carrier frequency offset (CFO) with respect to the wireless received signal. In this regard, it investigates the use of time-domain windowing to enhance the NBI's sparsity and, hence, improve its subsequent estimation and mitigation. Further, the paper enhances the estimation and mitigation of NBI and IN by modeling the burstiness of both impairments as block-sparse vectors. To this end, it investigates the performance of two block-sparse CS recovery algorithms with and without prior knowledge of the bursts' boundaries. Finally, numerical experiments quantify the performance gains realized by exploiting both the burstiness and sparsity of the NBI and IN signals over exploiting sparsity alone.
When the Trainer Got Trained: Seven Things I Learned About Delivering Diversity Trainings

My introduction to ethnic diversity came earlier than most—particularly because the “otherness” of my family and I was evident, even in the smallest of things. My family had migrated to the United ...
Improving follow-up after fragility fractures: an evidence-based initiative.

BACKGROUND: Patients with fragility fractures are at risk for recurrent fractures and are at risk for inadequate follow up. Prevention of future fractures through appropriate follow-up can decrease annual healthcare expenditures and patient morbidity and mortality. PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to delineate an evidence-based practice initiative at a university health center to improve patient follow-up care after fragility fractures. METHODS: A review of the literature revealed significant evidence calling for notification of the patients' primary care provider, ordering a bone density scan within 3 months, and a referral to osteoporosis. A plan for improving patient outcomes was developed utilizing the iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care. The evidence-based initiative was implemented, and the outcomes were assessed. OUTCOME: The results were that 100% of patients received adequate follow-up after fragility fractures.
Interpretation of Flood-Illuminated Adaptive Optics Images in Subjects with Retinitis Pigmentosa

The purpose of this study was to correlate features on flood-illuminated adaptive optics (AO) images with color fundus, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We imaged 39 subjects diagnosed with RP using the rtx1TM flood-illuminated AO camera from Imagine Eyes (Orsay, France). We observed a correlation between hyper-autofluoresence changes on FAF, disruption of the interdigitation zone (IZ) on SD-OCT and loss of reflective cone profiles on AO. Four main patterns of cone-reflectivity were seen on AO: presumed healthy cone mosaics, hypo-reflective blurred cone-like structures, higher frequency disorganized hyper-reflective spots, and lower frequency hypo-reflective spots. These regions were correlated to progressive phases of cone photoreceptor degeneration observed using SD-OCT and FAF. These results help provide interpretation of en face images obtained by flood-illuminated AO in subjects with RP. However, significant ambiguity remains as to what truly constitutes a cone, especially in areas of degeneration. With further refinements in technology, flood illuminated AO imaging has the potential to provide rapid, standardized, longitudinal and lower cost imaging in patients with retinal degeneration.
Intracellular Mosaicism (Nuclear-/Mitochondrial+) for Thymidine Kinase in Mouse L Cells

An electron-microscope and ultracentrifuge examination of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA from Cl-I-d cells has demonstrated that mitochondria possess the enzyme(s) necessary for incorporation of thymidine and its analogues. These cells lack the nuclear thymidine kinase and are routinely grown in high levels of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Budr) to select against wild-type revertants. When these cells are grown in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine the mitochondrial DNA incorporates the thymidine analogue into both strands of the DNA duplex while the nuclear DNA shows no incorporation. Approximately 13% of the total thymidines of the M-DNA are replaced by 5-bromodeoxyuridine and the DNA exhibits the form expected for normal mouse mitochondrial DNA. If the cells are grown in normal medium the mitochondrial DNA regains its normal base composition. Comparison of mitochondrial morphology under these 2 conditions reveals that the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine results in a distortion of the cristae similar to the effect induced by chloramphenicol. It is hypothesized that the incorporated mutagen (5-bromodeoxyuridine) may be altering the protein products of mitochondrial DNA. The results suggest (1) the existence of a separate and distinct thymidine kinase in the mitochondria of mouse L cells and (2) mutagenic but reversible effects of Budr incorporated into mitochondrial DNA.
Portable digital pulse rate meter

This paper introduces the hardware and software design of portable digital pulse rate meter,using infrared pulse sensor and MCU system to complete the measurement of pulse rate rapidly and accurately,the measurement result is displayed by three digital tube.The system circuit is small size,low cost and easy to use.
Equilibrium Concentration of Sulfate Ion in CaSO_4-Ca(OH)_2-H_2O System

The equilibrium concentration of sulfate ion, SO42-, in CaSO4-Ca(OH)2-H2O system under different pH values at 25℃ was determined, and the effect of concentration of Na+ on it was also investigated.The results showed that there was little influence of pH value on the SO42-equilibrium concentration, the value of 0.01235 mol/L was minimal when pH value was 3.0～12.0.The SO42-concentration increased with the addition of concentration of Na+ in the solution.In addition, Pitzer theory was adopted to adjust the activity coefficient of the system, and the theoretical calculation was in agreement with experimental data.These research results may provide some theoretical basis for the treatment of sulfate contaminated industrial wastewater
Simultaneous determination of 10 volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in drinking water by headspace-capillary gas chromatography

Objective:To establish headspace-capillary gas chromatography for the determination of 10 volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in drinking water.Methods:Samples were saturated with NaCl,headspace-balanced at 50℃ for 35 min,determined by GC-electron capture detector(ECD) and quantified by external standard method.Results:The recoveries of the method were in the range of 81.3%~113.3%.The relative standard deviation was between 1.91%~10.2%.The detection limit was between 0.1 μg/L~0.4 μg/L.Conclusion: This method is simple,accurate,sensitive and suitable for the analysis of 10 volatile halogenated hydrocarbons in drinking water.
Lamotrigine: treatment of epilepsy in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical use, and potential adverse effects of lamotrigine in elderly patients with epilepsy. DATA SOURCES: English-language literature regarding humans was searched from January 1990 through January 2003 using PubMed and the terms "lamotrigine," "epilepsy," and "elderly." STUDY SELECTION: Studies of epilepsy treatment with lamotrigine in elderly patients, review articles, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, and clinical studies/reports regarding adverse effects of lamotrigine were evaluated. Two studies specifically dealing with lamotrigine treatment of epilepsy in the elderly were reviewed in detail. DATA EXTRACTION: Data from identified publications were included. Relevant data from other patient populations were evaluated and used to develop recommendations. DATA SYNTHESIS: The pharmacokinetic and pharmacologic profiles of lamotrigine were evaluated to assess this drug's utility for treatment of epilepsy in the elderly. Safety, efficacy, and frequency of common side effects such as sedation and cognitive interference were assessed and compared with those of other antiepileptic drugs. Risk factors for less common, serious adverse effects such as skin rash and hypersensitivity were evaluated. Specific risks to elderly patients related to these adverse effects were assessed. Potential interactions between lamotrigine and other drugs likely to be used in elderly patients with seizure disorders were evaluated. CONCLUSION: Lamotrigine is an effective antiepileptic drug in the elderly. It has a favorable side effect profile when accepted dosage recommendations are followed. Elderly patients do not appear to be at increased risk for lamotrigine-induced skin rashes and hypersensitivity reactions. Cotherapy with valproate may increase the likelihood of skin rash. Combined treatment with lamotrigine and carbamazepine may increase central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects. Interactions between lamotrigine and other drugs are uncommon. Additional evaluations of long-term outcomes in elderly patients treated for epilepsy with lamotrigine will clarify the place of this drug in therapy.
Gelation properties of tilapia fish protein isolate and surimi pre- and post-rigor: Rigor condition of tilapia FPI and surimi

Abstract The structural changes and rheological properties of tilapia proteins prepared using two refining methods (pH shift processing and surimi processing, respectively) with pre- and post-rigor muscle were investigated. Higher storage modulus (G′) and better gel texture were observed in surimi produced from pre-rigor fish than surimi made from post-rigor fish, but no rigor effect was noted on the gel-forming ability of fish protein isolate (FPI). The effect of salt on the gelation of tilapia muscle with different rigor states or refining method was also determined. The addition of salt appeared to readily unfold protein structures in FPI as measured by surface hydrophobicity, surface reactive sulfhydryl content, dynamic rheology, and Raman spectroscopy. However, the effect of salt on the degree of unfolding in surimi was not as sensitive as in FPI.
Caffeic acid binds to the minor groove of calf thymus DNA: A multi-spectroscopic, thermodynamics and molecular modelling study

Caffeic acid (CA) is a plant polyphenol which acts as an antioxidant and has various pharmacological effects. DNA is one of the major cellular targets of therapeutic molecules. Thus, studying the interaction of small molecules with DNA is of great importance. In the current article, we have studied the mode of binding of CA with calf thymus DNA (Ct-DNA) using a series of biophysical techniques. Formation of complex between CA and Ct-DNA is ascertained by analyzing the UV-vis absorbance and fluorescence emission spectra of CA upon successive addition of Ct-DNA. Binding constants of CA with Ct-DNA obtained using multiple experiments was in the order of 103 M-1 which is consistent with known groove binders. Analysis of thermodynamic parameters suggest that hydrogen bonding and van der Waal's forces played major role in the binding process. Competitive displacement studies confirmed that CA binds to the minor groove of Ct-DNA. These observations were further validated by KI quenching experiment, DNA melting studies, CD and viscosity measurements. In silico molecular docking further provided insight into the mode of binding of CA with Ct-DNA. Through in vitro experiments and in silico molecular docking studies, it was concluded that CA binds to the minor groove of Ct-DNA.
Differential Geometry of Surfaces

This chapter is intended to help the reader learn some of the concepts of differential geometry as they appear in terms of coordinates and also to move toward thinking of them in intrinsic terms (‘coordinate free’), which is the modern approach to differential geometry. Our primary interest is in the hyperbolic plane as a Riemannian manifold.
Society and Policy Maker’s Responsibilities

This chapter focuses on the responsibilities of the public sector in consumer-product governance. These responsibilities are first conceptualized in terms of ethical principles, focusing on autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Next, policy criteria for oversight are examined as a way to operationalize these ethical principles. Two example sets of criteria, one from the U.S. government and another from a consumer advocacy group, are evaluated for similarities and differences in emphasis and underlying values. Both ethical principles and policy criteria are top-down ways of looking at the obligations of the public sector to consumers. In a more bottom-up approach, the fields of risk perception and social psychology are reviewed for insights into what consumers care about when it comes to consumer products and what these hopes and concerns imply for government obligations to consumers. As a case study, research on public attitudes towards food products manufactured using nanotechnology and biotechnology is presented to suggest what government agencies might do as a result of consumer desires. Finally, an emerging model for governance, responsible research and innovation (RRI), is described as one way to incorporate a greater variety of consumer values and desires into public-sector oversight of consumer products.
Health-Related Quality of Life Among US Workers: Variability Across Occupation Groups

Objectives. To examine the health-related quality of life among workers in 22 standard occupation groups using data from the 2013–2014 US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.Methods. We examined the health-related quality of life measures of self-rated health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, frequent activity limitation, and frequent overall unhealthy days by occupation group for 155 839 currently employed adults among 17 states. We performed multiple logistic regression analyses that accounted for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’s complex survey design to obtain prevalence estimates adjusted for potential confounders.Results. Among all occupation groups, the arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupation group reported the highest adjusted prevalence of frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, frequent activity limitation, and frequent overall unhealthy days. The personal care and service occupation group had the highest adjusted prevale...
Market Transition, Social Stratification, and Health Disparities in China: Longitudinal Analysis 1991 to 2006

ABSTRACTAlthough a large body of literature has documented that China’s market transition from state socialism led to substantial changes in the social stratification order, little is known about t...
Discontinuity-Preserving Vector Smoothing of Multivariate MR Images Using Vector Mean Field Annealing

We consider PD-, T1-, and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images jointly as a vector-valued image and use the angle of this vector field to formulate maximum a posteriori restoration as a global optimization problem. We use Mean Field Annealing (MFA) to find restorations that are superior to those obtained by previous multivariate approaches when shading artifacts near the MRI antenna are significant. Local homogeneity of the vector field as well as the angle between the components or the ratio of the components of the field are shown to have potential use for improving segmentation.
A Time Series Case-Based Predicting Model for Reservation Forecasting

This study addresses how to construct sales forecasting models by using restaurant reservation data. The issues of how to retrieve booking patterns, search for influential parameters, and divide samples for training, validating, and testing are discussed. Regression and Pick Up models, which are common practice, are also built as benchmarks. We used data from a mid-sized restaurant to show that the proposed Time Series Case-Based Predicting model can significantly outperform the benchmarks in all testing cases.
Androgen control of gene expression in the rabbit meibomian gland.

Meibomian gland function is extremely important in promoting the health and integrity of the ocular surface.1–5 This gland, through its synthesis and secretion of lipids, enhances the stability and prevents the evaporation of the tear film.1–5 Meibomian gland dysfunction, in turn, leads to lipid insufficiency, tear film instability and evaporative dry eye.1–5 In fact, meibomian gland dysfunction is thought to be the primary cause of dry eye syndromes throughout the world.6 However, despite the importance of the meibomian gland in maintaining the well-being of the eye, very little research has been published concerning the physiological regulation of this tissue.
The Attention Deficit: Can Prospective and Current Students Comprehend ADHD Documentation Guidelines?

Students with ADHD are less likely to graduate from college than their peers; this study examines the currency and readability of ADHD documentation guidelines of 335 randomly selected, four-year, public and non-profit private institutions in the United States. Findings reveal that ADHD documentation is current, yet composed at nearly a 17th-grade level, rendering it difficult for students to apply for the learning accommodations they need. Implications for practitioners and future research are addressed.
Meta-Analysis of Physical Activity Levels in Youth With and Without Disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to explore the current levels of physical activity among youth with disabilities using meta-analysis. The search identified 11 publications including 729 participants (age 4–20 yr). The overall effect size for 11 studies was Hedges g = 0.60 (SE = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.24, 0.96], p .85). Results also suggested that the differences in physical activity between youth with and without disabilities were affected by age ( 13 yr, g = 0.37, SE = 0.10, 95% CI [0.18, 0.57], p < .05; Q va...
Learning Trajectories for Real- Time Optimal Control of Quadrotors

Nonlinear optimal control problems are challenging to solve efficiently due to non-convexity. This paper introduces a trajectory optimization approach that achieves realtime performance by combining machine learning to predict optimal trajectories with refinement by quadratic optimization. First, a library of optimal trajectories is calculated offline and used to train a neural network. Online, the neural network predicts a trajectory for a novel initial state and cost function, and this prediction is further optimized by a sparse quadratic programming solver. We apply this approach to a fly-to-target movement problem for an indoor quadrotor. Experiments demonstrate that the technique calculates near-optimal trajectories in a few milliseconds, and generates agile movement that can be tracked more accurately than existing methods.
Exploiting the Power of Group Differences: Using Patterns to Solve Data Analysis Problems

Abstract This book presents pattern-based problem-solving methods for a variety of machine learning and data analysis problems. The methods are all based on techniques that exploit the power of gro...
Suppression of Tibetan Religious Heritage

The culture and society of Tibet has been shaped by Mahayana Buddhism and the web of Lamaist monasteries. Ethnically, culturally and linguistically Tibet has been a distinct entity for over 2,000 years. In 1911 Tibet expelled all Chinese officials and was free of all Chinese influence until 1950 when People’s Liberation Army invaded and occupied the country. The imposition of Han Chinese Maoist ideology and control of religious institutions and practices is transforming the society and culture of Tibet. This chapter discusses the various phases in China’s control of religion in Tibet and future of religion in the country.
Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility Design and Experiment Capability

The Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility was designed and built in the late 1950s. The air-cooled reactor design incorporates fuel composed of highly enriched uranium dispersed in graphite with ...
The Hip in Congenital Femoral Deficiency

Abnormalities that affect the development of the human femur range from subtle differences that are of no functional or cosmetic consequence, to complete absence.
Biophysical modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 viral cycle reveals ideal antiviral targets

Effective therapies for COVID-19 are urgently needed. Presently there are more than 800 COVID-19 clinical trials globally, many with drug combinations, resulting in an empirical process with an enormous number of possible combinations. To identify the most promising potential therapies, we developed a biophysical model for the SARS-CoV-2 viral cycle and performed a sensitivity analysis for individual model parameters and all possible pairwise parameter changes (162 = 256 possibilities). We found that model-predicted virion production is fairly insensitive to changes in viral entry, assembly, and release parameters, but highly sensitive to some viral transcription and translation parameters. Furthermore, we found a cooperative benefit to pairwise targeting of transcription and translation, predicting that combined targeting of these processes will be especially effective in inhibiting viral production.
Democracy, Dictatorship, and Default: Urban-Rural Bias and Economic Crises across Regimes

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that, in the coming years, more than fifty countries are at risk of default. Yet we understand little about the political determinants of this decision to renege on promises to international creditors. This book develops and tests a unified theory of how domestic politics explains sovereign default across dictatorships and democracies. Professor Ballard-Rosa argues that both democratic and autocratic governments will choose to default when it is necessary for political survival; however, regime type has a significant impact on what specific kinds of threats leaders face. While dictatorships are concerned with avoiding urban riots, democratic governments are concerned with losing elections, in particular the support of rural voting blocs. Using cross-national data and historical case studies, Ballard-Rosa shows that leaders under each regime type are more likely to default when doing so allows them to keep funding costly policies supporting critical bases of support.
Updates to the Regional Seismic Travel Time (RSTT) Model: 1. Tomography

A function of global monitoring of nuclear explosions is the development of Earth models for predicting seismic travel times for more accurate calculation of event locations. Most monitoring agencies rely on fast, distance-dependent one-dimensional (1D) Earth models to calculate seismic event locations quickly and in near real-time. RSTT (Regional Seismic Travel Time) is a seismic velocity model and computer software package that captures the major effects of three-dimensional crust and upper mantle structure on regional seismic travel times, while still allowing for fast prediction speed (milliseconds). We describe updates to the RSTT model using a refined data set of regional phases (i.e., Pn, Pg, Sn, Lg) using the Bayesloc relative relocation algorithm. The tomographic inversion shown here acts to refine the previous RSTT public model (rstt201404um) and displays significant features related to areas of global tectonic complexity as well as further reduction in arrival residual values. Validation of the updated RSTT model demonstrates significant reduction in median epicenter mislocation (15.3 km) using all regional phases compared to the iasp91 1D model (22.1 km) as well as to the current station correction approach used at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization International Data Centre (18.9 km).
Effects of crystallography on hot-spot formation in porous RDX single crystals

Abstract The thermomechanical behavior of porous RDX single crystals is studied under dynamic loading using an anisotropic dislocation-based crystal plasticity model that accounts for deformation-induced heating. A micromechanics-based framework is proposed to account for micro-inertially confined dynamic collapse of pores. A suite of finite element calculations are carried out to systematically elucidate the role of crystallographic orientation on hot-spot formation. Under particular loading orientations, the porous RDX crystals are found to be quite sensitive to deviatoric and volumetric strain localizations, even for loading situations that do not particularly promote strain localization in isotropic materials. Due to the anisotropy-induced strain localizations, fairly severe hot-spots are predicted even under moderate applied strains. The susceptibility of porous RDX to strain localize and form severe hot-spots under particular loading orientations has important implications for accidental detonation of these energetic materials.
New-Onset Diabetes in a 17-year-old Girl with Primary Amenorrhea

1. Jennifer van Helmond, MD*,† 2. Ekene Ajufo, MD* 3. Evan Graber, DO‡ 4. Aubri Milano, DO*,§ 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 2. †Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 3. ‡Division of Endocrinology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 4. §Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ A 17-year-old-girl presents to our hospital from an outside emergency department with a 6-week history of worsening fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, polydipsia, polyuria, and a suspected unintentional 50-lb (22.7-kg) weight loss. Her medical history is significant for primary amenorrhea and depression. Her family history is significant for gestational diabetes mellitus that later developed into type 2 diabetes mellitus in her biological mother. Her mother recently died due to complications of diabetes, and her menarche occurred at age 21 years. There is also a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the patient’s paternal family, including aunts, uncles, and grandparents. She has a biological older sister who is healthy and who had her menarche at age 13 years. On examination the patient is noted to have a sexual maturity rating 5 for breast development and 2 for pubic hair distribution, with scant axillary hair noted. There are no signs of acanthosis nigricans, weight is at the 88th percentile, BMI at the 53th percentile for sex and age, and she is noted to have tall stature, with height greater than the 99th percentile for sex and age. The rest of her examination findings are normal. She is found to have a serum glucose level of 810 mg/dL (45 mmol/L), serum osmolality of 339 mOsm/kg (339 mmol/kg), anion gap of 24 mEq/L (24 mmol/L), and glucose and ketones present on urinalysis. Her hemoglobin A1c level is 14%, and she is also found to have an elevated β-hydroxybutyrate level with a low insulin level and a markedly decreased C-peptide level. She has …