cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical Activity Among South Asian Indian Immigrants: An Integrative Review

Objective(s): The aim of this research review was to portray the correlates of lifestyle physical activity (PA) behavior of healthy South Asian Indian (SAI) immigrants comprehensively by identifying, synthesizing, and critically analyzing the existing research literature. Design and Sample: An integrative review methodology was used. The sample included 11 cross-sectional and 4 qualitative studies. Measures: The physical activity framework for SAI immigrants guided the development of data collection tools that included study measures of PA and background (current health, acculturation, discrimination, social support, environmental) and intrapersonal (motivation) correlates of PA. Results: Regardless of the PA measure used, all studies reported low PA levels in at least 40% of the participants. The correlates of PA most often studied were sociodemographic variables, current health, and acculturation; female sex; poorer health; and less time since immigration. Few studies focused on social support, environmental factors, or included dynamic motivational factors. Conclusions: Increased knowledge of the factors that impact lifestyle PA is needed so that public health nurses can develop targeted interventions to increase the lifestyle PA of SAI immigrants at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and central obesity.
Completely right injective semigroups that are unions of groups

A semigroup S with 0 and 1 is termed completely right injective provided every right unitary S-system is injective. A necessary condition for a semigroup to be com-pletely right injective is given in [2]; namely, every right ideal is generated by an idempotent. An example in section 3 of this paper shows the existence of semigroups with 0 and 1 satisfying this condition which are not completely right injective. In [3], it is shown that the condition that every right and left ideal is generated by an idempotent is necessary and sufficient in the case that S is both completely right and left injective (called completely injective). Such a semigroup is an inverse semigroup with 0 whose idempotents are dually well-ordered.
Big Red: The Cornell Small League Robot Soccer Team

In this paper we describe Big Red, the Cornell University Robot Soccer team. The success of our team at the 1999 competition can be mainly attributed to three points: 1) An integrated design approach; students from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, operations research, and computer science were involved in the project, and a rigorous and systematic design process was utilized. 2) A thorough understanding of the system dynamics, and ensuing control. 3) A high fidelity simulation environment that allowed us to quickly explore artificial intelligence and control strategies well in advance of working prototypes.
Cord blood chemerin and obestatin levels in large for gestational age infants.

Objective: To investigate possible alterations in cord blood levels of adipokines, chemerin and obestatin (secreted by adipose tissue and associated with later development of insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome), as well as insulin, in large for gestational age (LGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies, granted that these groups differ in body fat mass and metabolic/endocrine mechanisms. Methods: Cord blood chemerin, obestatin, and insulin concentrations were prospectively measured in 40 LGA (9 born from diabetic and 31 from nondiabetic mothers) and 40 AGA singleton full-term infants. Results: Cord blood chemerin concentrations were significantly higher in LGA compared with AGA neonates (b = 38.91, SE 9.29, p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant differences in obestatin concentrations were observed between groups. Insulin levels were significantly elevated as customized centiles increased (b = 0.003, SE = 0.001, p = 0.032). Conclusions: Higher chemerin concentrations in LGA neonates p...
Soft error vulnerability aware process variation mitigation

As transistor process technology approaches the nanometer scale, process variation significantly affects the design and optimization of high performance microprocessors. Prior studies have shown that chip operating frequency and leakage power can have large variations due to fluctuations in transistor gate length and sub-threshold voltage. In this work, we study the impact of process variation on microarchitecture soft error robustness, an increasing reliability design challenge in the billion-transistor chip era. We explore two techniques that can effectively mitigate the effect of design parameter variation while significantly enhancing microarchitecture soft error reliability. Our first technique is entry-based. It tolerates the deleterious impact of variable latency techniques on soft error reliability by reducing the quantity and residency cycle of vulnerable bits in the microarchitecture structure at a fine granularity. Our second technique is structure-based. It applies body biasing schemes to dynamically adapt transistor sub-threshold voltage (and hence device-level soft error robustness) to the program reliability characteristics at a coarse granularity. We also combine the two techniques which further produces improved results. Compared to existing process variation tolerant schemes, our proposed techniques achieve optimal trade-offs between reliability, performance, and power. To our knowledge, this paper presents the first study on characterizing and optimizing processor microarchitecture resilience to soft errors in light of process variation.
Parameters of cell freezing: Implications for the cryopreservation of stem cells

The overall objective of this review has been to discuss specific parameters that may influence the ability to successfully cryopreserve stem cells and, more importantly, stem-cell-based therapies. This discussion of factors is in no way complete. Specifically, the effect of temperature and the duration of storage, sensitivities to cryopreservation of bone marrow cells from patients with specific disorders (for example, chronic myelogenous leukemia), and the postfreeze processing of cells are factors of clinical significance that, for the sake of brevity, have been omitted. As new stem-cell-based therapies (gene, stem cell transplant, or immunotherapy) become the standard of care for a wide variety of diseases, appropriate cryopreservation protocols will be necessary to increase patient access, reduce cost, and enhance the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. Appropriate protocols must include methods and reagents appropriate for human use. The cryopreservation protocols developed must also reflect the biological and physical properties of the cells that can be altered significantly by the culture process. Finally, cryopreservation studies should be performed concurrently with in vitro culture studies to reduce the overall cost and time required for the development or validation of a cryopreservation protocol.
Convertible Securities and Wall Street Innovation

This chapter discusses the convertible securities that the issuer bears share price risk during the period of time when the security is being marketed to prospective investors. The principal investors in most convertible securities are hedge funds that engage in convertible arbitrage strategies. These investors typically purchase the convertible and simultaneously sell short a certain number of the common shares that underlie the convertible. The number of shares they sell short as a percentage of the shares underlying the convertible is approximately equal to the risk-neutral probability at that point in time (as determined by a convertible pricing model that uses binomial option pricing as its foundation) that the investor will eventually convert the security into common shares. This probability is then applied to the number of common shares into which the convertible security could convert to determine the number of shares the hedge fund investor should sell short (the hedge ratio). It is evident by convertible securities, investment banks are creative in achieving the varying objectives of both their issuing and investing clients. New forms of securities must take into account not only client economic priorities but also consider legal, tax, accounting, and political issues. All large investment banks have new product development teams that work with internal and outside advisors, including lawyers, accountants, tax experts, and regulatory experts. This is a very time-consuming and complicated process, and it often includes false starts. Significant resources can be invested in creating a new structure only to conclude at the end that, although it resolves economic, legal, and accounting issues, there is a disadvantageous tax outcome.
A mixed-particle scheme for low-frequency fast multipole algorithm for multi-region problems

At low frequencies, loop-tree decomposition is necessary for surface integral equation method. A new loop-loop interaction scheme is implemented to obviate the need for static subtraction. For multi-region problems, in each region, a mixed-particle (mixed basis) scheme is implemented so that only one tree is necessary. To further reduce the cost, a new arrangement of radiation/receiving patterns is proposed so that most of the matrix-vector-product (MVP) procedure is re-used.
In Transduced Cells, the US3 Protein Kinase of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Precludes Activation and Induction of Apoptosis by Transfected Procaspase 3

The US3 protein kinase of herpes simplex virus 1 blocks apoptosis induced by replication-incompetent virus mutants, proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, and by a variety of other agents that act at the premitochondrial level in the proapoptotic cascade. To define the role of US3 in blocking apoptosis at the postmitochondrial level, we investigated the US3 protein kinase in transduced cells that were either transfected with a plasmid encoding procaspase 3 or superinfected with a proapoptotic mutant virus lacking the gene encoding the infected cell protein no. 4. (i) We show that US3 blocks the proteolytic cleavage that generates active caspase 3 from the transfected zymogen procaspase 3, concomitant with inhibition of apoptosis. (ii) Studies based on detection of fluorescence emitted upon cleavage of a synthetic caspase 3 substrate showed that expression of the US3 kinase and appearance of the cleaved substrate were mutually exclusive. (iii) An affinity-purified glutathione S-transferase (GST)-US3 fusion protein, but not the inactive GST-US3(K220N) protein, phosphorylated procaspase 3 in vitro. The studies published earlier on the effect of US3 on the upstream regulatory proteins and current studies suggest that the US3 protein kinase may act on several proteins in the proapoptotic cascade to enable the virus to complete its replication.
In-vivo study of non-invasive thrombolysis by histotripsy in a porcine model

Thrombolysis is currently performed using either thrombolytic drugs or catheter-based interventions, both of which have significant associated risks. Previously, it was demonstrated that histotripsy cavitation ultrasound therapy can break down blood clots rapidly in-vitro guided by imaging feedback. This study is an initial evaluation of histotripsy's ability to non-invasively dissolve clots in-vivo. A venous thrombosis model was developed using two balloon catheters inserted into the femoral vein of porcine subjects, then injecting thrombin in an occluded region of the vessel between the balloons. Both partially and fully occlusive clots were formed, with average length of 2 cm. Treatment was performed using a 1 MHz, spherically focused transducer coupled to the legs of the subject by a water bath. Therapy consisted of 5 cycle ultrasound pulses delivered at a rate of 1 kHz with a peak negative focal pressure (p-) of 14–19 MPa. The treatment was guided by ultrasound imaging. We were able to easily visualize clots on a B-Mode image, and target them such that the bubble cloud generated by histotripsy was entirely within the vessel. Histotripsy was able to break down the clots, as indicated by a reduction of echogenicity within the vessel walls, and in some cases improved flow through the vessel on color Doppler imaging. Vessels showed minimal damage post-treatment. These results indicate that histotripsy has potential to be an effective noninvasive thrombolysis technique.
Refractory bilateral pneumothoraces in end-stage cystic fibrosis.

A23-year-old woman with cystic fibrosis and advanced lung disease, requiring tracheostomy, was ransferred for treatment of acute chronic respiratory ailure. Her arterial blood gas at time of the initial ransfer revealed hypercapnic respiratory failure (pH .29; PCO2 83 mm Hg; PO2 124 mm Hg. Figure 1 shows the chest roentgenogram at admission, which demonstrated bilateral pneumothoraces. She was found to have significant bronchopleural fistula with continuous air leak. Despite all our efforts of respiratory support with mechanical ventilation and refractory pneumothoraces, her hypercapnic respiratory failure progressed with a follow-up arterial blood gas (pH 7.27; PCO2 105 mm Hg; PO2 42 mm Hg. The decision was made to bridge her to ung transplantation with venovenous extracorporeal embrane oxygenation (VV ECMO). A 27 Fr bi-caval ual lumen catheter (Avalon Laboratories, LLC, Los ngeles, CA) was subsequently placed through the right
A plug-in approach to neyman-pearson classification

The Neyman-Pearson (NP) paradigm in binary classification treats type I and type II errors with different priorities. It seeks classifiers that minimize type II error, subject to a type I error constraint under a user specified level α. In this paper, plug-in classifiers are developed under the NP paradigm. Based on the fundamental Neyman-Pearson Lemma, we propose two related plug-in classifiers which amount to thresholding respectively the class conditional density ratio and the regression function. These two classifiers handle different sampling schemes. This work focuses on theoretical properties of the proposed classifiers; in particular, we derive oracle inequalities that can be viewed as finite sample versions of risk bounds. NP classification can be used to address anomaly detection problems, where asymmetry in errors is an intrinsic property. As opposed to a common practice in anomaly detection that consists of thresholding normal class density, our approach does not assume a specific form for anomaly distributions. Such consideration is particularly necessary when the anomaly class density is far from uniformly distributed.
Assessment of the Statistical Characterization of Small-Scale Rainfall Variability from Radar: Analysis of TRMM Ground Validation Datasets

Abstract The main objective of this study is to assess the ability of radar-derived rainfall products to characterize the small-scale spatial variability of rainfall. The authors use independent datasets from high-quality dense rain gauge networks employed during the Texas and Florida Underflights (TEFLUN-B) and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission component of the Large-Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere (TRMM-LBA) field experiments conducted by NASA in 1998 and 1999. A detailed comparison between gauge- and radar-derived spatial variability estimates is carried out by means of a correlation function, covariance, variogram, scaling characteristics, and variance reduction due to spatial averaging. Emphasis is given to the correlation function because it is involved in most of these statistics. The approach followed in the analysis addresses the problems associated with the traditional estimation methods and the recognized differences in the scales of observation. The performance of the radar-derived correlation fu...
PARASITIC ARTHROPODS OF SMALL MAMMALS IN MISSISSIPPI

Abstract Twelve species (292 individuals) of small mammals were livetrapped and examined for parasitic arthropods in 17 localities in Mississippi from June through November 1998. Fifteen species of ectoparasites were collected: 2 species of sucking lice (Anoplura), 4 species of fleas (Siphonaptera), larvae of 2 species of bots (Cuterebridae), 4 species of mesostigmatid mites (Mesostigmata), and immature stages of 3 species of hard ticks (Ixodidae). The white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) harbored the most species of parasitic arthropods (8), followed by the cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus—6), and the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus—5). New state records for Mississippi were established for the sucking louse Hoplopleura hirsuta, the bot Cuterebra americana, the laelapid mite Laelaps alaskensis, and the fleas Orchopeas pennsylvanicus and Peromyscopsylla scotti.
Rock Physics Modeling of Unconsolidated Sands: Accounting for Partial Friction Grain Contacts and Heterogeneous Stress Field

A partial friction heterogeneity model of a random-compacted granular pack can be formulated using two parameters (fp,f(μ)) to account for (1) macroscopic stress heterogeneity distribution of grain packs and (2) microscopic partial friction on the area of grain contact. This proposed partial friction heterogeneity model indicates that surface friction between grain contact is nonignorable, which results in tangential loading path being irreversible. Meanwhile, the tangential stress causes partial sliding on grain contact surface. Macroscopically, the effective shear modulus increases when either fraction of partial slip grain contacts or micro-friction on the area of grain contacts increases.
The Fibrinolytic System of Cultured Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells

Abnormal thrombus formation and dissolution are associated with several cardiovascular diseases, including disseminated intravascular coagulation, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction (Marder and Francis 1983; Collen 1980). The walls of blood vessels undoubtedly contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders. More specifically, vascular endothelial cells have been shown to participate in the thrombotic process through the synthesis of specific coagulation (Jaffe et al 1973; Stern and Brett 1986) and fibrinolytic (Loskutoff 1986) enzymes, and by the ability to assemble these pathways on their surface (Stern et al 1985). We have been studying the fibrinolytic system of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEs). These cells produce a number of the fibrinolytic activators and inhibitors present in plasma, suggesting that the fibrinolytic system of blood may originate from endothelium. This brief review summarizes some of our studies.
Acoustic vector solitons

A theory of an acoustic vector soliton of self-induced transparency is constructed. By using the perturbative reduction method the magnetic Bloch equations and the equation of motion for the displacement field for the small area pulse are reduced to a system of two coupled nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations. The shape of an acoustic vector soliton with the sum and difference of the frequencies is presented. Explicit analytical expressions for the parameters of an acoustic vector soliton are obtained as well as simulations of an acoustic vector soliton presented with realistic parameters which can be reached in experiments. It is shown that the vector soliton in the special case can be reduced to the breather solution, and these nonlinear waves have different profiles.
Etiology of an Uncomplicated Coryza in the Domestic Fowl

The domestic fowl is subject to an infectious coryza, generally known as contagious catarrh, which under laboratory conditions remains localized in the nasal and orbital passages. In this respect it is unlike the coryza of laryngotracheitis, fowl pox, and fowl cholera from which there is commonly an extension of the etiological agent to other loci with the production of characteristic lesions.Contagious catarrh was recently studied in Holland by deBlieck,1 who isolated an organism resembling the B. influenzae of man from exudate streaked on an aerobic blood agar plate. Pure cultures of the bacterium when injected intranasally in normal fowl regularly produced a nasal discharge.In the present investigation an uncomplicated coryza was initiated and subsequently maintained in a flock of disease-free birds by the intranasal injection, through the palatine cleft, of exudate originally obtained from naturally infected fowl. A nasal discharge, the only consistent symptom, generally appeared after an incubation p...
Multimetallic Core/Interlayer/Shell Nanostructures as Advanced Electrocatalysts

The fine balance between activity and durability is crucial for the development of high performance electrocatalysts. The importance of atomic structure and compositional gradients is a guiding principle in exploiting the knowledge from well-defined materials in the design of novel class of core–shell electrocatalysts comprising Ni core, Au interlayer, and PtNi shell (Ni@Au@PtNi). This multimetallic system is found to have the optimal balance of activity and durability due to the synergy between the stabilizing effect of subsurface Au and modified electronic structure of surface Pt through interaction with subsurface Ni atoms. The electrocatalysts with Ni@Au@PtNi core-interlayer-shell structure exhibit high intrinsic and mass activities as well as superior durability for the oxygen reduction reaction with less than 10% activity loss after 10 000 potential cycles between 0.6 and 1.1 V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode.
Experimental and FEA evaluation of membrane-type locally resonant acoustic metamaterial arrays for aircraft interior sound insulation

Metamaterials have emerged as promising solutions for manipulation of sound waves in a variety of applications. Locally resonant acoustic materials (LRAM) decrease sound transmission by 500 % over acoustic mass law predictions at peak transmission loss (TL) frequencies with minimal added mass, making them appealing for weight-critical applications such as aerospace structures. TL of single-celled and multi-celled LRAM was measured with systematic variation in geometric parameters to understand the effects of each parameter on acoustic response. FEA was also used to predict TL as a function of frequency for structures with varying complexity. Stacked LRAM panels were evaluated to produce structures with both increased TL magnitude and multi-peak profiles. Finally, dynamic response of the single-cell and array structures under discrete frequency excitation was examined using laser vibrometry to understand the mechanism of sound insulation and to verify negative dynamic mass behavior.
Neurologic diseases in women: Five new things

This review highlights some of the new epidemiologic information concerning sex differences involving combined oral contraceptives and stroke, depression and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use during pregnancy, emerging knowledge of the teratogenicity and cognitive effects of anticonvulsants during pregnancy, demyelinating disorders in pregnancy, and the influence of timing of hormonal exposure on the risk of Alzheimer disease.
Management of the ruptured bladder secondary to blunt abdominal trauma.

During a 4-year 9-month interval 51 patients were seen with ruptured bladders. Of these patients 42 had suffered blunt trauma: 19 intraperitoneal, 22 extraperitoneal and 1 combined intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal injury. All patients with intraperitoneal injuries, 5 with extraperitoneal injuries and the 1 with combined injury were treated successfully by exploration, debridement, formal closure and catheter drainage. Of the patients with extraperitoneal injuries 16 were treated successfully by catheter drainage alone.
Updates on Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) Linked Data Task Groups

ABSTRACTThe Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) has set up two task groups to work on issues related to making PCC-produced metadata useful in linked data services. The PCC Task Group on URIs in MARC is exploring issues surrounding the addition of machine actionable identifiers to legacy MARC records. The CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials Program) BIBFRAME Task Group is discussing BIBFRAME and other vocabularies in the context of continuing resources. The PCC URI Task Group and the CONSER BIBFRAME Task Group represent efforts by the PCC to lay the groundwork for further developments in providing linked data services with its metadata.
Hypercalcemia in Patients with Williams-Beuren Syndrome.

Objective To evaluate the timing, trajectory, and implications of hypercalcemia in Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) through a multicenter retrospective study. Study design Data on plasma calcium levels from 232 subjects with WBS aged 0-67.1 years were compared with that in controls and also with available normative data. Association testing was used to identify relevant comorbidities. Results On average, individuals with WBS had higher plasma calcium levels than controls, but 86.7% of values were normal. Nonpediatric laboratories overreport hypercalcemia in small children. When pediatric reference intervals were applied, the occurrence of hypercalcemia dropped by 51% in infants and by 38% in toddlers. Across all ages, 6.1% of the subjects had actionable hypercalcemia. In children, actionable hypercalcemia was seen in those aged 5-25 months. In older individuals, actionable hypercalcemia was often secondary to another disease process. Evidence of dehydration, hypercalciuria, and nephrocalcinosis were common in both groups. Future hypercalcemia could not be reliably predicted by screening calcium levels. A subgroup analysis of 91 subjects found no associations between hypercalcemia and cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal complaints, or renal anomalies. Analyses of electrogradiography data showed an inverse correlation of calcium concentration with corrected QT interval, but no acute life-threatening events were reported. Conclusions Actionable hypercalcemia in patients with WBS occurs infrequently. Although irritability and lethargy were commonly reported, no mortality or acute life-threatening events were associated with hypercalcemia and the only statistically associated morbidities were dehydration, hypercalciuria, and nephrocalcinosis.
Kinetic simulation of direct-drive capsule implosions and experiment comparisons

We have carried out simulations of direct-drive capsule implosion experiments conducted on Omega laser facility at the Laboratory of Laser energetics of the University of Rochester [1]. The capsules had a glass shell (SiO2) 4μm with an inner diameter of 1094μm. One was filled with equal parts of deuterium (D) and tritium (T) at 5.0 atmospheric pressure and the other capsule with 32% D, 32% T, and 36% He-3. The capsules were imploded with 60 laser beams with a square pulse length of 0.6ns of total energy of 16.3kJ. Spherical one-dimensional radiation hydrodynamic calculations with Hydra [2] and kinetic particle/hybrid simulations with LSP [3] were carried out for the post-shot analysis to compare neutron yield, yield ratio, and shell convergence in assessing the effects of plasma kinetic effects. The LSP simulations were initiated at 0.6ns with the density, temperature, and velocity profiles of the electrons, D, T, He-3, and SiO2 species based on output from Hydra simulations. The electrons are treated as a fluid while all the ion dynamics was simulated by the standard particle-in-cell technique. In our LSP simulations, we clearly observed species separation phenomenon between the deuterons, tritons and He-3 during the implosion but significantly less after the compression. The neutron yield, gamma bang-time and -width from the LSP simulations compared favorably with experiments while more significant discrepancies were found with Hydra simulations partly due to its inability to model species separation which leads to the reduction of reactivity during the implosion of the hot plasma. Detail comparison among the kinetic simulations, rad-hydro simulations, and experimental results will be presented. Additionally, we will present results from our calculations in which an attempt to model laser drive is included in our LSP simulations.
Communication During Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Family Conferences: A Pilot Study of Content, Communication, and Parent Perceptions

While there is a robust literature describing family conferences (FCs) in adult intensive care units (ICUs), less information exists about FCs in pediatric ICUs (PICUs). We conducted a pilot study to describe the focus of discussion, communication patterns of health care team members (HTMs) and parents, and parents' perspectives about clinician communication during PICU FCs. We analyzed data from 22 video- or audiorecorded PICU FCs and post-FC questionnaire responses from 27 parents involved in 18 FCs. We used the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) to describe FC dialogue content. Our questionnaire included the validated Communication Assessment Tool (CAT). FCs were focused on care planning (n = 5), decision making (n = 6), and updates (n = 11). Most speech came from HTMs (mean 85%; range, 65-94%). Most HTM utterances involved medical information. Most parent utterances involved asking for explanations. The mean overall CAT score was 4.62 (using a 1-5 scale where 5 represents excellent and 1 poor) with a mean of 73.02% "excellent" responses. Update and care-planning FCs had lower CAT scores compared to decision-making FCs. The lowest scoring CAT items were "Involved me in decisions as much as I wanted," "Talked in terms I could understand," and "Gave me as much information as I wanted." These findings suggest that while health care providers spend most of their time during FCs relaying medical information, more attention should be directed at providing information in an understandable manner. More work is needed to improve communication when decision making is not the main focus of the FC.
Optimization of the input and output stages in high efficiency power supplies

Switched mode power supplies are found in all applications e.g. telecom-cabinets, PCs, monitors and fan motor drives. In most cases of medium and high power applications such supplies consist in three conversion stages. The first power stage is a so called PFC frontend, which reduces the harmonic currents. The second stage transforms the PFC-output voltage to an ac-voltage, which is adjusted to the requirements of the equipment. The third stage rectifies the ac-voltage of the previous inverter. To increase the efficiency of the power supply, each of these stages must be as efficient as possible. The paper describes methods to increase the efficiency of the first power conversion stage (PFC) by using modern semiconductor devices and by a new topology, which eliminates one PFC-rectification stage. Also, optimization criteria for the rectifier output stage will be given.
A travel time and amplitude interpretation of a marine refraction profile: Transformed shear waves

abstract Generalized ray theory is used to investigate primary to shear mode conversion at the ocean bottom. A homogeneous, plane layered model is assumed. The transient response in the ocean is computed for those rays that traverse the solid layers exclusively in the shear mode. Synthetic seismograms are computed by convolving the response with the source pulse shape and instrumentation function. A profile of observations and synthetics are compared for a proposed model. This comparison is made for the same profile in which the P - velocity structure was determined previously. The crustal elastic parameters are well-determined by the combined analysis.
Defensin-chemokine heteromeric complexes derived from heterocellular activation-a possible target to inhibit CCL5 in cardiovascular settings.

Ischemic heart disease is one of the leading causes of death all over the world even after several medical technologies such as revascularization therapy including catheter intervention and surgery, and drug treatment have been developed. Among them, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is caused by sudden occlusion of coronary arteries induced by atherosclerotic plaque rapture or vasospasm. Consequently, cardiomyocytes downstream of the culprit site are exposed to hypoxia and eventually die, which induces acute pump failure, fatal arrhythmia, acute valvular dysfunction, cardiac rupture and so on. Even after surviving this acute period, pathological cardiac remodeling changes left ventricular size, mass and function, and leads to several chronic complications such as heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia, which finally increases the mortality. Therefore, development of new treatment strategy for this life-threatening disease is required.
Novel Technique for Proximal Bone Anchoring of Penile Prosthesis After Radial Forearm Free Flap Neophallus

Abstract Background Penile prosthesis insertion allows individuals with a neophallus to achieve erectile function. Lack of corporal bodies to accommodate cylinders makes anchoring of any prosthesis challenging. Anchoring the device to pubic bone is one strategy to achieve proximal stabilization of the prosthesis. Purpose To describe outcomes of bone anchoring of penile implant in a neophallus with an accompanying video focusing on operative technique and salient tips for surgeons performing these procedures. Methods A single institution retrospective chart review of 10 neophallus patients undergoing penile prosthesis placement from 2006 to 2015. The pubic symphysis is exposed and corticotomy created for placement of the rear tip extender of the implant using a Stryker TPS bone drill. Anchoring sutures through the corticotomy defect, rear tip, and proximal cylinder seat the implant. The remainder of the implantation procedure mirrors that used in native tissue. Results and limitations The overall peri-operative complication rate was 20% with a mean follow up of 49 months. 70% of patients required reoperation, with a mean of 1.4 prosthesis revision surgeries per patient. Primary causes of revision included infection, poor fixation of the rear tip, and prosthesis failure. Despite high revision rates, 80% of patients have fully functioning prosthesis as of last follow up. Limitations include retrospective study design and the small patient cohort. Conclusions Penile prosthesis placement in the neophallus is feasible and effective. A bone-anchored rear-tip is an option to provide proximal stabilization. Continued efforts to minimize the need for revisions are ongoing and necessary.
Inactivation of ID4 promotes a CRPC phenotype with constitutive AR activation through FKBP52.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is the emergence of prostate cancer cells that have adapted to the androgen-depleted environment of the prostate. In recent years, targeting multiple chaperones and co-chaperones (e.g., Hsp27, FKBP52) that promote androgen receptor (AR) signaling and/or novel AR regulatory mechanisms have emerged as promising alternative treatments for CRPC. We have shown that inactivation of inhibitor of differentiation 4 (ID4), a dominant-negative helix loop helix protein, promotes de novo steroidogenesis and CRPC with a gene expression signature that resembles constitutive AR activity in castrated mice. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism through which loss of ID4 potentiates AR signaling. Proteomic analysis between prostate cancer cell line LNCaP (L+ns) and LNCaP lacking ID4 (L(-)ID4) revealed elevated levels of Hsp27 and FKBP52, suggesting a role for these AR-associated co-chaperones in promoting constitutively active AR signaling in L(-)ID4 cells. Interestingly, protein interaction studies demonstrated a direct interaction between ID4 and the 52-kDa FK506-binding protein (FKBP52) in vitro, but not with AR. An increase in FKBP52-dependent AR transcriptional activity was observed in L(-)ID4 cells. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of FKBP52-AR signaling, by treatment with MJC13, attenuated the tumor growth, weight, and volume in L(-)ID4 xenografts. Together, our results demonstrate that ID4 selectively regulates AR activity through direct interaction with FKBP52, and its loss, promotes CRPC through FKBP52-mediated AR signaling.
Using Lesson Study to Prepare Preservice Special Educators.

Learning to teach students with disabilities is challenging. Preservice special educators must develop critical knowledge of content as well as skill for enacting evidence-based practices effective...
The effect of phototherapy on progression to tumors in patients with patch and plaque stage of mycosis fungoides

Background: Phototherapy has been a mainstay in the treatment of mycosis fungoides (MF). However, the recent findings of UV-induced p53 mutations in advanced MF suggest that phototherapy may contri...
The regional influence of the Arctic Oscillation and Arctic Dipole on the wintertime Arctic surface radiation budget and sea ice growth

An analysis of 2000–2015 monthly Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System-Energy Balanced and Filled (CERES-EBAF) and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA2) data reveals statistically significant fall and wintertime relationships between Arctic surface longwave (LW) radiative flux anomalies and the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and Arctic Dipole (AD). Signifying a substantial regional imprint, a negative AD index corresponds with positive downwelling clear-sky LW flux anomalies (>10 W m−2) north of western Eurasia (0°E–120°E) and reduced sea ice growth in the Barents and Kara Seas in November–February. Conversely, a positive AO index coincides with negative clear-sky LW flux anomalies and minimal sea ice growth change in October–November across the Arctic. Increased (decreased) atmospheric temperature and water vapor coincide with the largest positive (negative) clear-sky flux anomalies. Positive surface LW cloud radiative effect anomalies also accompany the negative AD index in December–February. The results highlight a potential pathway by which Arctic atmospheric variability influences the regional surface radiation budget over areas of Arctic sea ice growth.
Ricardo Chávez Castañeda: The Limits of Fiction

In this final chapter, Sanchez Prado seeks to relocate Chavez Castaneda as a writer whose travails with literary forms are essential to understand the impulse and relevance of the Crack group in the reconfiguration of Mexican fiction at the turn of the twenty-first century, and focuses on two novels: El dia del huron (1997) and La conspiracion idiota (2003). Sanchez Prado concludes that Chavez Castaneda’s fiction is an attempt at reconfiguring the very structure of literary narration in Mexico.
Abstract 58: Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase Kinase (CaMKK) Promotes Post-stroke Brain Plasticity and Recovery in Aged Mice

Reduced brain plasticity, including axonal regeneration and angiogenesis, is thought to contribute to poorer functional recovery in the aged brain after a stroke. CaMKK has been suggested to activate major molecular pathways that enhance brain plasticity. Here we evaluated the hypothesis that CaMKK promotes post- stroke recovery by stimulating axonal regeneration and angiogenesis in aged mice. Ischemic stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 60 minutes in aged WT male mice followed by reperfusion. STO-609, a pan-CaMKK inhibitor, and lentiviral vectors carrying CaMKK β (LV-CaMKK β) were started 3 days after stroke onset. Pellet reaching test (success rate) was carried out to evaluate the integrity of sensorimotor function every week for a total of 5 weeks. Pharmacological inhibition of CaMKK by STO-609 significantly worsened stroke recovery evaluated by pellet reaching test from day 14 to day 35 after stroke (Day 35:Vehicle 0.29±0.02 vs. STO 0.16±0.02, n=8 in vehicle/n=5 in STO, p 0.05). Additionally, CaMKK β overexpression improved mouse performance on pellet reaching test after stroke (day 35: LV-GFP 0.26±0.02 vs. LV-CaMKK β 0.36±0.02, n=7 LV-GFP/n=9 in LV-CaMKK β, p Conclusions: Pharmacological inhibition of CaMKK worsened post-stroke recovery while overexpression of this molecule improved outcome. We observed reduced axonal density and cerebral vascular density with CaMKK inhibition, indicating CaMKK is an endogenous activator of brain plasticity in stroke. Our data suggested that CaMKK signaling may reduce long-term disability in the population at the greatest risk of stroke, the elderly.
Goodbye to the bioassay

It is time to say goodbye to the standard two-year rodent bioassay. While a few, primarily genotoxic, compounds which are clearly associated with human cancer test positive in the bioassay, there is no science-based, sound foundation for presuming it provides either a valid broad (across different chemicals) capability for discerning potential human carcinogens or a valid starting point for making human risk assessment decisions. The two basic assumptions underlying the bioassay are: (1) rodent carcinogens are human carcinogens; and (2) results obtained at high doses are indicative of results that will occur at lower, environmentally relevant, doses. Both of these assumptions are not correct. Furthermore, a reevaluation of National Toxicology Program bioassay data has revealed that if the dose group size were increased from 50 to 200 rodents per group the number of bioassays deemed to be positive would increase from approximately 50% to very close to 100%. Thus, under the extreme conditions of the bioassay (e.g., high doses, lifetime exposure and, at times, a non-physiological route of administration) virtually all chemicals tested could be made into rodent carcinogens. In recent years there have been a number of proposals to move away from the standard bioassay. In particular, a recently formulated decision tree (Cohen, 2017), which places an emphasis on dose–response relationships and invites the use of MOA information, provides a sound basis for moving on from the bioassay and towards a rational approach to both identify chemicals which appear to have the potential to cause cancer in humans and take dose–response relationships into consideration in order to place the extent, if any, of the risk they might pose into proper perspective.
Decolonizing the Classroom: Embracing Radical Internationalism

This article discusses the colonial mind and the classroom by investigating ways to decolonize the classroom through employing different historical perspectives and an international lens. The article features an interview with the prolific historian Gerald Horne who discusses the importance of how history is framed in the classroom regarding people of color, colonialism, resistance, and representation. Copyright, Truthout.org. Reprinted with permission. Link to original publication: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/41600-decolonizing-the-classroom-embracing-radical-internationalism
ECT: Exploiting Cross-Technology Concurrent Transmission for Reducing Packet Delivery Delay in IoT Networks

Recent advances in cross-technology communication have significantly improved the spectrum efficiency in the same ISM band among heterogeneous wireless devices (e.g., WiFi and ZigBee). However, further performance improvement in the whole network is hampered because the cross-technology network layer is missing. As the first cross-technology network layer design, our work, named ECT, opens a promising direction for significantly reducing the packet delivery delay via collaborative and concurrent cross-technology communication between WiFi and ZigBee devices. Specifically, ECT can dynamically change the nodes' priorities and reduce the delivery delay from high priority nodes under unreliable links. The key idea of ECT is to leverage the concurrent transmission of important data and raw data from ZigBee nodes to the WiFi AP. We extensively evaluate ECT under different network settings and results show that our ECT's packet delivery delay is more than 29 times lower than the current state-of-the-art solution.
DialSQL: Dialogue Based Structured Query Generation

The recent advance in deep learning and semantic parsing has significantly improved the translation accuracy of natural language questions to structured queries. However, further improvement of the existing approaches turns out to be quite challenging. Rather than solely relying on algorithmic innovations, in this work, we introduce DialSQL, a dialogue-based structured query generation framework that leverages human intelligence to boost the performance of existing algorithms via user interaction. DialSQL is capable of identifying potential errors in a generated SQL query and asking users for validation via simple multi-choice questions. User feedback is then leveraged to revise the query. We design a generic simulator to bootstrap synthetic training dialogues and evaluate the performance of DialSQL on the WikiSQL dataset. Using SQLNet as a black box query generation tool, DialSQL improves its performance from 61.3% to 69.0% using only 2.4 validation questions per dialogue.
Predicting Financial Distress in Acute Care Hospitals

Hospitals continue to face financial pressures from healthcare reform and heightened competition. In this study, our objective was to quantify the financial distress in acute care hospitals in Texas, applying multivariate logistic regression in a four-year longitudinal analysis. Of the 310 acute care hospitals, 50 (16.1%) were in financial distress in the most recent year, up considerably year over year. Distressed hospitals had fewer beds, lower patient acuity, and less outpatient revenues than those in good financial condition. Administrators should identify business turnaround strategies for combating distress to avoid potential closure.
Food and the Theory of Probability

The United States Navy has found by experience that the proper amount of food to prepare per man for a mess of N men is not a linear function of N. As this is not in accord with what one might expect at first sight, it was thought worthwhile to consider the problem from the standpoint of the theory of probability. The Navy Cook Book 1 says
Clinical Decision Support Within the Regenstrief Medical Record System

In this chapter, we review a timeline of Regenstrief Medical Record System (RMRS) studies related to decision support, describe the system’s architecture, and discuss the lessons we have learned from over a quarter century of experience with clinical decision support systems (CDSS). From the beginning, the RMRS has included mechanisms for writing rules for generating reminders to physicians, based on clinical data, including laboratory results, visit diagnosis, coded medications prescribed in the clinic, and vital signs collected on encounter forms.
Review: Jeffrey Reiman, 'As Free and as Just as Possible: The Theory of Marxian Liberalism'

In this essay length critical review (for the online Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews) I set out the main themes and arguments of Jeffrey Reiman's new book and offer a few criticisms. Reiman offers a novel argument for Rawls's difference principle as the centerpiece of a species of liberalism he dubs Marxian Liberalism. While there are difficulties with the argument and details, Reiman does successfully draw to the surface some important Marxian themes in Rawls's thought.
An Unusual Case of Liver Metastases from Glioblastoma Multiforme Following Radiosurgery

A rare case of isolated liver metastases in a patient with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treated with surgery, chemotherapy, external beam irradiation, and salvage stereotactic radiosurgery is described. Our review of literature has revealed only 8 other cases of isolated liver metastases in patients with GBM in the last three decades. Recent data suggest that stereotactic radiosurgery may alter the prognosis of specific subsets of patients with GBM. The potential for combined modality therapy, including radiosurgery to impact on the survival of GBM patients, and, hence, the natural history of this disease, is discussed.