cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Starvation and Lighting on the Movement Behavior of the German Cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae)

Computerized moving-image analysis measured the influence of starvation and lighting conditions on the locomotor activity of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). Starvation increased the distance traveled, velocity, and the proportion of time in motion of adult males and last instars but did not increase adult female movement. For females, males, and nymphs, starvation increased cockroach residence time around the source of water and harborage and decreased the distance traveled by females and nymphs around the observation arena's edge. Fluorescent light reduced the proportion of time in motion for males, but the velocity of males was greater in fluorescent light relative to infrared light. Adult males and females stopped more frequently in infrared light. Overall, males and nymphs were more mobile than females and they explored larger areas. The moving-image analysis technique is an efficient and accurate tool for observing movement of individual cockroaches and has applications in repellency, attractancy, and basic movement behavior studies.
Urinary kallikrein and urinary prostaglandin E2 in genetically hypertensive mice.

SummaryWe have evaluated urinary kallikrein activity and urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) immunoreactivity in Schlager high blood pressure (HBP) and low blood pressure (LBP) mice. Urinary kallikrein activity was measured by a colorimetric method employing α-N-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester HCl (TAME) as substrate. It was shown that urinary TAME esterase activity in HBP and LBP mice was probably due to a single enzyme and that this enzyme appeared to be urinary kallikrein. Urinary PGE2 immunoreactivity was determined by a specific radioimmunoassay. Urinary kallikrein activity was significantly elevated and urinary PGE2 immunoreactivity was significantly reduced in HBP compared to LBP mice. High urinary kallikrein activity in HBP mice resembles situations such as human primary aldosteronism, where hypertension is produced by mineralocorticoid excess. Low urinary PGE2 levels in HBP mice, however, compares to the situation observed for human essential hypertension. The HBP mouse thus has alterations in physio...
Locality and Data Labels for Insects

It is increasingly apparent to the field biologist that many of the data recorded on insect specimens are very inadequate for a precise study of insect populations. Enjoyable as it is to go into the field for the study of insects, no single person can do all the work needed for any study. To restate this fact, the data gathered by one field worker should be useful and available to all. It is always possible to gather far more data while in the field than those pertaining to the person's own research. If the material collected and the recorded observations that go with this material are sufficiently detailed and reliable, great amounts of data become available to others. To encourage each collector to attempt to make his collection significant to the field biologist, a review of the principles is outlined here and a method of labeling proposed that will further this aim.
The Role of Oxidative Stress in Ovarian Cancer: Implications for the Treatment of Patients

Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the world and the seventh leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. It is often undetected until disease has reached an advanced stage with the majority of patients found to have Stage III or IV disease on presentation. Oxidative stress (OS) appears to play a major role in the development and progression of ovarian cancer with various events in malignant transformation linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Many changes take place in and around the ovaries during ovulation, such as the repeated destruction and repair of the ovarian surface epithelium, resulting in the development OS. When antioxidants fail to remove ROS, OS increases and mutations in DNA occur. Further evidence is provided by patients with endometriosis, who appear to be at higher risk of ovarian cancer due to OS conditions within endometrioitic lesions. Multiparity, lactation, and oral contraceptive pill use all reduce the number of lifetime ovulations, a factor that appears important in protecting against ovarian cancer development. Endogenous antioxidants enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, are critical for maintaining normal cell function by converting ROS to less harmful forms; however, increasing the intake of dietary or supplemental antioxidants, such as vitamins, carotenoids, and minerals, does not appear to prevent the development of ovarian cancer. Greater success may arise by increasing the prevalence of endogenous enzymatic antioxidants or by finding additional methods that can decrease the amount of ROS present in the ovarian environment.
Discussions on Time Parameters for Alternating Voltage Tests on XLPE Cables

This paper compared the different criteria in selecting the test time parameter for 110 kV cross-linked polyethylene(XLPE) cables in the different codes and standards both at home and abroad.Based on analyses in line with the solid dielectric breakdown theory,it concluded that it takes a long time for a partial fault to develop gradually to the dielectric breakdown.According to the actual site tests,except a small number of serious faults which could be exposed in a very short time,most faults,started from partial ones,turned into breakdowns slowly over time.Selection of 5 minutes as the test time is inadequate for explosion of faults,while the relatively more appropriate test time should be 60 minutes.
IN SITU PCR. OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURES AND APPLICATIONS

The evaluation of gene expression in the context of cellular morphology is essential to the full understanding of cell biology. A variety of methods for detection of nucleic acids are currently available. Solution PCR requires disruption of the sample and detection of the amplified material by electrophoresis in agarose gels. In situ Hybridization methods, on the other hand, permit morphological correlation and provide a high sensitivity that is sufficient for many applications. In some instances, however, the amount of target in the sample is below the limit of detection of this technique. In situ PCR allows the detection of minimal amounts of nucleic acids with exquisite sensitivity and specificity, while the integrity of the cells and the morphology of tissues remains preserved. This technique, although not exempt from difficulties, is undergoing methodological simplifications that will make it suitable for an increasing number of basic science and clinical applications. The following is a review of the principles, methods and applications of In situ PCR.
Voltage closed-loop virtual synchronous generator control of full converter wind turbine for grid-connected and stand-alone operation

One way to incorporate the increasing amount of wind penetration is to control wind turbines to emulate the behavior of conventional synchronous generators. This paper presents a comprehensive virtual generator control for the full converter wind turbine considering the power balance. The voltage closed-loop virtual synchronous generator control of the wind turbine allows it to work under both grid-connected and stand-alone condition. Power system control and power dispatch can also be realized through the control. The power balance of the wind turbine system is achieved by controlling the rotor speed of the turbine according to the loading condition. The optional integration of the short term turbine level energy storage is also considered. Experimental results on emulation testbed are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Rapid intensification and the bimodal distribution of tropical cyclone intensity

The severity of a tropical cyclone (TC) is often summarized by its lifetime maximum intensity (LMI), and the climatological LMI distribution is a fundamental feature of the climate system. The distinctive bimodality of the LMI distribution means that major storms (LMI >96 kt) are not very rare compared with less intense storms. Rapid intensification (RI) is the dramatic strengthening of a TC in a short time, and is notoriously difficult to forecast or simulate. Here we show that the bimodality of the LMI distribution reflects two types of storms: those that undergo RI during their lifetime (RI storms) and those that do not (non-RI storms). The vast majority (79%) of major storms are RI storms. Few non-RI storms (6%) become major storms. While the importance of RI has been recognized in weather forecasting, our results demonstrate that RI also plays a crucial role in the TC climatology.
Three Decades of Developing, Grounding, and Using Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT)

For 30 years, good fortune has enabled us to contribute to the development of symbolic convergence theory (SCT). SCT is a general theory of communication that helps explain broad aspects of interpersonal, small group, public, organizational, mass, and intercultural communication. SCT explains the communicative force of fantasy-sharing on human action as stemming from its ability to forge a symbolic consciousness that is constitutive of reality. In this chapter, we first depict SCT’s heuristic value. Next, we highlight its historical development and grounding research. Then, we set out its anatomical elements providing a clear view of the relationship among its 18 technical concepts. Specifically, we highlight its basic, message, dynamic, communicator, medium, and evaluative concepts. Then, we depict its utility by describing its use in solving real-world problems ranging from physician recruitment to relationship building to creating a new corporate identity and culture. Thereupon, we synthesize the answe...
The Catholic Conversation since 9/11: A Moral Challenge

The years 2001–2002 brought not just one but two major blows to American Catholics. A few short months after the trauma of September 11, the sexual abuse scandal exploded, beginning in Boston, and spread quickly throughout the country. While these events may seem unrelated on the surface, there was in fact a curious connection: the Catholic bishop who, as head of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops, was charged with formulating a response to September 11 and the prospect of war in Afghanistan was none other than the infamous Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston.
KINETIC EVOLUTION OF CORONAL HOLE PROTONS BY IMBALANCED ION-CYCLOTRON WAVES: IMPLICATIONS FOR MEASUREMENTS BY SOLAR PROBE PLUS

We extend the kinetic guiding-center model of collisionless coronal hole protons presented in Isenberg and Vasquez to consider driving by imbalanced spectra of obliquely propagating ion-cyclotron waves. These waves are assumed to be a small by-product of the imbalanced turbulent cascade to high perpendicular wavenumber, and their total intensity is taken to be 1% of the total fluctuation energy. We also extend the kinetic solutions for the proton distribution function in the resulting fast solar wind to heliocentric distances of 20 solar radii, which will be attainable by the Solar Probe Plus spacecraft. We consider three ratios of outward-propagating to inward-propagating resonant intensities: 1, 4, and 9. The self-consistent bulk flow speed reaches fast solar wind values in all cases, and these speeds are basically independent of the intensity ratio. The steady-state proton distribution is highly organized into nested constant-density shells by the resonant wave-particle interaction. The radial evolution of this kinetic distribution as the coronal hole plasma flows outward is understood as a competition between the inward- and outward-directed large-scale forces, causing an effective circulation of particles through the (v{sub ∥}, v{sub ⊥}) phase space and a characteristic asymmetric shape to the distribution. These asymmetries are substantial and persistmore » to the outer limit of the model computation, where they should be observable by the Solar Probe Plus instruments.« less
Polydactylous Transverse Erythronychia: Report of a Patient with Multiple Horizontal Red Bands Affecting the Fingernails

Redness of the nail plate—erythronychia—is a common condition involving one or multiple digits. It may affect the entire nail or present as longitudinal red bands that extend from the proximal nail fold to the distal tip of the nail plate. Rarely, red bands may traverse the nail bed horizontally. Although erythronychia is often idiopathic, it has also been associated with amyloidosis, Darier’s disease, lichen planus, and various other cutaneous conditions. We describe the clinical features of a 64-year-old Caucasian man who presented with transverse and longitudinal erythronychia affecting his fingernails. In addition, we review the classification of erythronychia and summarize the acute and chronic conditions that have been associated with this clinical finding. The features of a man with polydactylous transverse and longitudinal erythronychia are presented. In addition, PubMed was used to search the following terms: erythronychia, longitudinal erythronychia, red lunulae, and subungual. All papers were reviewed, and relevant articles, along with their references, were evaluated. Informed consent was obtained from the patient for being included in the study. A 64-year-old Caucasian man with a past medical history significant for testicular cancer and pulmonary embolism presented with multiple horizontal pink-red bands affecting his fingernails. The discoloration was most prominent in the region distal to the lunula. In addition, the nails of the fifth digit of his left hand and third digit of his right hand featured longitudinal red bands extending from the distal curvature of the lunula to the free edge of the nail plate. A diagnosis of polydactylous longitudinal and transverse erythronychia, based on the clinical presentation, was established. Our patient’s red bands were asymptomatic and he was not concerned about the cosmetic appearance of his nails; therefore, no additional investigation or treatment was required. Polydactylous transverse erythronychia is a rare condition characterized by the development of horizontal red bands affecting the fingernails or toe nails. It has only been previously described in a man with multiple system atrophy. In our patient, both transverse and longitudinal red bands were present simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible that horizontal erythronychia is an early clinical manifestation of longitudinal erythronychia.
Emotion-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth with Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Trial

Difficulties with emotion regulation are a core feature of anxiety disorders (ADs) in children and adults. Interventions with a specific focus on emotion regulation are gaining empirical support. Yet, no studies to date have compared the relative efficacy of such interventions to existing evidence-based treatments. Such comparisons are necessary to determine whether emotion-focused treatments might be more effective for youth exhibiting broad emotion-regulation difficulties at pretreatment. This study examined an emotion-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (ECBT) protocol in comparison to traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in a sample of children with a primary anxiety disorder diagnosis. Moderation analyses examined whether children with higher levels of emotion dysregulation at pretreatment would show greater levels of improvement in ECBT than CBT. Ninety-two youth ages 7 to 12 years (58% male) with a primary diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia were included. Participants were randomly assigned to ECBT or CBT. Results showed that youth in both conditions demonstrated similar improvements in emotion regulation and that pretreatment levels of emotion dysregulation did not moderate treatment outcomes. Additional analyses showed that ECBT and CBT were similarly effective on diagnostic, severity, and improvement measures. Future work is needed to further explore the ways that emotion regulation is related to treatment outcome for anxious youth.
Enhancement of specific intercellular peroxidases following inoculation of barley with Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei

Abstract Two near isogenic lines of barley carrying alleles of the Ml-a locus for resistance or susceptibility to powdery mildew were inoculated with Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei , race CR3. Peroxidase activity in the intercellular wash fluid was analysed at various times after inoculation. An increase in peroxidase activity was observed in both barley lines between 8 and 16 h post-inoculation, but was not observed in wounded tissue. Six peroxidase isozymes were found in the intercellular wash fluid from uninoculated leaves. Two of these isozymes increased in response to fungal attack. Enhanced levels of activity in these two isozymes were correlated with the appearance of papillae. These results suggest that two of the extracellular peroxidase isozymes are a component of a general host response to inoculation with E. g. hordei . However, these inoculation-related changes in peroxidase isozymes were not correlated with any race-cultivar specific responses.
RoboCOP: A Robotic Coach for Oral Presentations

Rehearsing in front of a live audience is invaluable when preparing for important presentations. However, not all presenters take the opportunity to engage in such rehearsal, due to time constraints, availability of listeners who can provide constructive feedback, or public speaking anxiety. We present RoboCOP, an automated anthropomorphic robot head that acts as a coach to provide spoken feedback during presentation rehearsals at both the individual slide and overall presentation level. The robot offers conversational coaching on three key aspects of presentations: speech quality, content coverage, and audience orientation. The design of the feedback strategies was informed by findings from an exploratory study with academic professionals who were experienced in mentoring students on their presentations. In a within-subjects study comparing RoboCOP to visual feedback and spoken feedback without a robot, the robotic coach was shown to lead to significant improvement in the overall experience of presenters. Results of a second within-subjects evaluation study comparing RoboCOP with existing rehearsal practices show that our system creates a natural, interactive, and motivating rehearsal environment that leads to improved presentation quality.
SIGCSE 2018 new educator workshop

A successful career as a computer science educator involves more than a deep understanding of a research area. Yet many new CS educators experience relatively little educator training - and face more questions than answers, e.g., What different career-path choices do CS educators pursue? How do I choose an institution or career path that is right for me? How can I balance teaching, research, service, and a life beyond all those things? What are the balancing acts involved in working effectively with colleagues and managing the advancement and tenure process? What tips could help me organize a course, deliver engaging lectures, and build lasting relationships with students?The New Educators Workshop (NEW) is a pre-symposium event at SIGCSE 2018 that, through presentations, discussions, and small-group community building, will tackle all of these questions. NEW is designed to assist aspiring and early-career educators in exploring the non-research facets of an academic career. It will run on February 21, 2018 from 9am to 5pm, and is open to graduate students who are considering teaching-related careers, as well as pre-tenure faculty members seeking guidance and/or networking support. The 2018 NEW is one of several career-focused, SIGCSE-affiliated workshops that have served more than 200 educators over the past decade.
Titles, Tracks, and Terminology

Faculty appointments are described in terms of title and track. The title is the academic rank in a hierarchy from instructor to professor. The track is the academic pathway for each individual, such as tenure, research, clinician-educator, clinician-investigator, or clinical. The terms of appointment and criteria for promotion are determined by the track. As each school defines titles and tracks differently, it is essential that every faculty member understands the system at his/her institution. Titles have precise meanings for each medical school, especially in the use of suffixes and/or prefixes (modifiers). Tenure tracks strictly regulate the time available to meet the requirements for award of tenure (the tenure clock) and generally require achievements in each of the major missions of education, scholarship, and service (the triple threat). Non-tenure tracks usually focus on one or more mission areas, have no time restriction for promotion, and often have modified titles. Once tenure is awarded, appointments generally continue unless a cause for termination intervenes, whereas non-tenure appointments usually have contractual end dates but may be renewable.
First-Order Shear Deformation Theory Variants for Curved Sandwich Panels

Due to the curvature, the first-order shear deformation theory for curved sandwich panels is not a direct extension of the corresponding one for flat panels; thus, it is formulated accordingly, and...
In Situ Observations of Early Stage Oxidation of Ni-Cr and Ni-Cr-Mo Alloys

Results of in situ transmission electron microscopy experiments on the early stage oxidation of Ni-Cr and Ni-Cr-Mo alloys are reported. An epitaxial rock-salt oxide with compositions outside the conventional solubility limits initiated at the surface of both alloys, progressing by a layer-by-layer mode. Kirkendall voids were found in Ni-Cr alloys near the metal/oxide interface, but were not seen in the Ni-Cr-Mo. The voids initiated in the oxide then diffused to the metal/oxide interface, driven by the misfit stresses in the oxide. A sequential oxide initiation was observed in NiCr alloys: rock-salt → spinel → corundum; however, for NiCrMo alloys, the metastable Ni2-xCrxO3 (corundum structure) phase formed shortly after the growth of the rock-salt phase. Chemical analysis shows that solute atoms were captured in the initial oxide before diffusing and transforming to more thermodynamically stable phases. The results indicate that Mo doping inhibits the formation of Kirkendall voids via an increase in the nu...
Soybean System for Testing the Genetic Effects of Industrial Emissions and Liquid Effluents

The testing of complex mixtures found in today’s air, water, and soils for harmful effects on man is a gigantic and important task. This paper introduces a eukaryotic test system that yields at least qualitative estimates of genetic damage of the type observable in man. The soybean spot test is based on inducing various types of genetic damage by treating seeds or seedlings with the chemical or mixture of chemicals in question. This review briefly describes the nature of the test system, the kinds of data obtained for various chemicals, their postulated genetic effects, and the potential usefulness of this material for environmental mutagen testing. This summary is only a guideline to understanding the system; the details of previous work can be found in references (for reviews, see Nilan and Vig, 1976; Vig, 1975, 1978).
Symbolic Package for Quantum Groups, Noncommutative Algebras, and Logics

This paper describes packages for symbolic calculations in quantum groups, noncommutative differential geometry, and multivalued logic. The package for quantum groups and the program for logic are written in Mathematica 3.0 and/or 4.0. As an example, some results in the logic obtained using these packages are presented.
Law and Finance in the Context of Crisis: The Imperative of Structural Vision

This piece explores the worldwide response to the recent financial and economic crisis through a comparative analysis of financial crisis, regulation and reform in the US and in several emerging market countries. Two main ideas inform my argument. The first idea is the inadequacy of ways of dealing with the crisis that fail to enlist finance more effectively in the service of the real economy, rather than allowing it to serve itself, and that misunderstand globalization as an unyielding constraint on institutional experimentation at home. A wide range of historical and contemporary examples helps make the point. The second idea is the imperative of structural vision: the understanding of the consequences of different paths of institutional change as well as the imagination of new institutional alternatives. A deficiency in such vision is one of the chief flaws in the major currents of contemporary economics. A reformed practice of legal analysis can help redress this defect. The reform of finance and of its relation to production, viewed through the lens of structural vision, can serve as a point of departure for innovations useful to growth, inclusion and democracy.
Fission gas bubbles and recrystallization-induced degradation of the effective thermal conductivity in U-7Mo fuels

Abstract We have developed a mesoscale model to calculate the degradation of the effective thermal conductivity in irradiated U-Mo alloys caused by the fission-induced gas bubbles and recrystallization. The phase-field approach is employed to generate the grain microstructures of U-7Mo fuels with intra- and inter-granular gas bubbles. Based on the phase-field microstructures, the thermal conductivities of U-7Mo as a function of the fission density can be predicted by the developed mesoscale model. The predicted values of effective thermal conductivities are consistent with available experimental data although the grain structure and the distribution of gas bubbles were generated from the phase-field simulations that may not exactly correspond to experimental microstructures. Results show that the effective thermal conductivity decreases rapidly with recrystallization compared to the one prior to recrystallization, which can be attributed to the sudden increase of grain boundary densities and corresponding intergranular gas bubbles at high fission densities. Smaller grain size fuel structure has a lower thermal conductivity at the same fission density due to the increased grain boundary density. The current study can provide a better understanding of the fission-induced degradation mechanism of the thermal conductivity in U-Mo fuels.
Tremor in the Degenerative Cerebellum: Towards the Understanding of Brain Circuitry for Tremor

Cerebellar degenerative pathology has been identified in tremor patients; however, how the degenerative pathology could contribute to tremor remains unclear. If the cerebellar degenerative pathology can directly drive tremor, one would hypothesize that tremor is likely to occur in the diseases of cerebellar ataxia and follows the disease progression in such disorders. To further test this hypothesis, we studied the occurrence of tremor in different disease stages of classical cerebellar degenerative disorders: spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). We further separately analyzed postural tremor and rest tremor, two forms of tremor that both involve the cerebellum. We also explored tremor in different subtypes of SCAs. We found that 18.1% of SCA patients have tremor. Interestingly, SCA patients with tremor have worse ataxia than those without tremor. When stratifying patients into mild, moderate, and severe disease stages according to the severity of ataxia, moderate and severe SCA patients more commonly have tremor than those with mild ataxia, the effect most prominently observed in postural tremor of SCA3 and SCA6 patients. Finally, tremor can independently contribute to worse functional status in SCA2 patients, even after adjusting for ataxia severity. Tremor is more likely to occur in the severe stage of cerebellar degeneration when compared to mild stages. Our results partially support the cerebellar degenerative model of tremor.
Spinal Cord Stimulation for Restless Legs Syndrome: Case Series and Mechanistic Hypothesis.

BACKGROUND Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established therapy for chronic pain syndromes, with growing applicability to other conditions. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a widespread, chronic movement disorder managed primarily and incompletely by medication, and its etiology can be classified as idiopathic or secondary. METHODS Three patients underwent SCS implantation for chronic back and/or leg pain with concomitant targeting of RLS: (1) a 34-year-old man with sporadic RLS symptoms that strongly intensified after military-related spinal fractures, (2) a 54-year-old man with RLS likely secondary to meralgia paresthetica, and (3) a 42-year-old man with low back and right lower extremity pain after a military motor vehicle accident. RESULTS Continuing through 40-month, 2-month, and 28-month follow-ups, respectively, the patients experienced exemplary relief of their RLS symptoms. Notably in the case of patient 1, this benefit appears separate from his pain relief, as during the 5-month period directly after surgery but before adjusted targeting, he only experienced pain alleviation. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of using SCS as a potentially long-lasting, safe, and highly effective therapy for RLS of mixed etiology. Additionally, 2 patients with RLS possibly secondary to chronic pain also benefited from the therapy. This success may be due to increased inhibition from hypothalamic cells controlling dopaminergic input to the spine.
Optical valley-Hall effect of 2D excitons

We demonstrate optical analogue of valley-Hall effect for 2D materials by achieving unidirectional coupling of valley polarized excitonic emission to large wave-vector modes in hyperbolic metamaterials. © 2019 The Author(s)
Lower leg compression and its biomechanical effects on the soft tissues of the leg

Abstract Elastic compression of the lower leg is the traditional preventive and curative treatment of venous insufficiency. After presenting the medical strategies related to compression therapies, this chapter develops current advances in clinics as well as in engineering and outlines the most important knowledge arising from this review. Compression hosiery acts by providing pressure to the leg. Pressure generation using socks mainly depends not only on the stiffness and the size of the socks and the size of the leg but also on the leg morphology. In the case of bandages, the role of friction must be outlined, not only as the main factor in maintaining the bandage wrapped around the leg but also as an influencing factor in pressure generation. Besides generated pressure, response of superficial veins to compression also depends on the vein size and the fat stiffness. But mechanical assessments should not mask the importance of other factors such as muscular contraction or nurse formation. An important impact of these results would head toward an improved personalization of compression treatment.
Intake of trans-fats among US youth declined from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010.

Objective To analyse how much the intake of trans-fatty acids (TFA), an important dietary risk factor for CVD, changed among US children and adolescents over a period of time when food regulations that reduced the presence of TFA in the food supply were enacted. Design Regression models were used to estimate changes in levels of TFA in plasma and other CVD risk factors among US children and adolescents from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010. Setting USA. Participants Nationally representative sample of children (aged 6-11 years) and adolescents (aged 12-19 years) who participated in the 1999-2000 and 2009-2010 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results Levels of plasma TFA declined significantly by an average of 61·9 % from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010. The average decline in a TFA commonly found in partially hydrogenated oils (elaidic acid, 67·2 %) was larger than the average decline in a TFA naturally occurring in ruminant animals (vaccenic acid, 60·5 %). Significant improvements in a variety of other CVD risk factors (LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, TAG, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein) were also observed. Conclusions Between the two time points, 1999-2000 and 2009-2010, there were substantial decreases in plasma TFA levels and improvements in several other important CVD risk factors in the population of US children and adolescents.
An anisotropic model for evaluation of corneal elasticity in dynamic OCE (Conference Presentation)

In assuming an isotropic model for soft-tissue, dynamic OCE can produce order of magnitude errors in Young’s modulus estimates relative to static mechanical tests. Considering corneal fiber arrangement, we propose a simplified transverse isotropic (TI) model of the cornea, which depends on moduli λ and μ and the independent modulus G (which affects the propagation of vertically polarized surface waves, such as those measured in OCE). Early theoretical and experimental studies suggest that this TI model of the cornea may greatly improve quantitative estimates of corneal mechanics obtained using dynamic OCE.
Ytterbium Silicate Environmental Barrier Coatings Deposited Using the Solution-Based Precursor Plasma Spray

Gas turbine efficiency can be improved by increasing the operating temperature and by reducing the need for cooling air, both of which are enabled by higher temperature materials. Silicon carbide based ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) have shown promise for achieving higher temperatures. However, to survive in the high-temperature high-humidity combustion environment, environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are essential to limit silicon loss of CMCs and its associated damage. Atmospheric plasma spray (APS) is a popular process for making such coatings. In this work, an alternative deposition process is explored, specifically the solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS), where it will be shown for ytterbium monosilicate EBCs that such process directly deposits thin (< 50 μm), dense and crystalline EBC topcoats without annealing of amorphous phases as is needed in the APS process. In addition, the SPPS process allows for quick compensation of system-specific element loss observed in both SPPS and APS processes. Finally, the secondary phase present in EBCs are much smaller in size for the SPPS process and hence less likely to produce cracking compared to APS EBCs.
Connectivity knowledge and the degree of structural formalization: a contribution to a contingency theory of organizational capability

The objective of this study is to develop a contingency theory of organizational capability based on the identification of decision variables relevant to the design of firms. The paper supports a model in which superior performance is the result of the proper fit between applied knowledge and organizational structure. More specifically, the study shows that the degree of structural formalization adopted by an organization reflects how knowledge controls the flow of action. The study identifies a functionally distinctive type of knowledge used to regulate the temporal order of tasks called connectivity knowledge. The influence of connectivity knowledge on the degree of organizational formalization is empirically tested on data collected in the healthcare sector. Applying a longitudinal logistic regression model on a dataset of 105 hospitals located in New York and New Jersey, this paper measures and compares the odds of key therapeutic tasks being provided by formalized hospital arrangements in which physicians work as employees instead of as autonomous professionals. Empirical results provide preliminary support to the core hypothesis correlating the volume of connectivity knowledge applied in therapeutic services to the degree of structural formalization adopted by a hospital.
Conducting the 2020 Census under Risk of Contagion

The US Constitution mandates that a decennial census take place in 2020. It is standard procedure for households that do not mail their response (or complete it online) to be surveyed in person by enumerators hired for this purpose. But the highly contagious SARS-Cov-2 (novel coronavirus) makes door-to-door enumeration a risky endeavor. To follow through with its important duties while maintaining public health, the Census Bureau should proceed with pilot projects to test and verify virus-safe practices in a few locales and conduct the remainder of the survey with constant reevaluation of its own safety practices. If successful, the 2020 census will provide a biosafety model for in-person interaction with customers that businesses can emulate.
Predicting lipid and ligand binding sites in TRPV1 channel by molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning.

As a key cellular sensor, the TRPV1 channel undergoes a gating transition from a closed state to an open state in response to many physical and chemical stimuli. This transition is regulated by small-molecule ligands including lipids and various agonists/antagonists, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Thanks to recent revolution in cryo-electron microscopy, a growing list of new structures of TRPV1 and other TRPV channels have been solved in complex with various ligands including lipids. Toward elucidating how ligand binding correlates with TRPV1 gating, we have performed extensive molecular dynamics simulations (with cumulative time of 20 μs), starting from high-resolution structures of TRPV1 in both the closed and open states. By comparing between the open and closed state ensembles, we have identified state-dependent binding sites for small-molecule ligands in general and lipids in particular. We further use machine learning to predict top ligand-binding sites as important features to classify the closed vs open states. The predicted binding sites are thoroughly validated by matching homologous sites in all structures of TRPV channels bound to lipids and other ligands, and with previous functional/mutational studies of ligand binding in TRPV1. Taken together, this study has integrated rich structural, dynamic, and functional data to inform future design of small-molecular drugs targeting TRPV1.
"Thanks Doc, But I Prefer to Stay" ̶ Finding Our Way Out of Contentious Hospital Discharge Planning

This is a complex case of a younger man with unclear social supports and a disabling diabetic infection that is limiting his ability to be and possibly feel productive. The patient appears to be ha...
Review article: medical management of the liver transplant recipient - a primer for non-transplant doctors.

Summary Background Survival 10 years after orthotopic liver transplantation now approaches 65%. Consequently, community doctors must manage the metabolic and neoplastic complications of orthotopic liver transplantation in an ageing population. Aims To review common sources of morbidity and mortality in long-term orthotopic liver transplantation recipients, and to make evidence-based recommendations regarding their management. Methods Pertinent studies and reviews were identified by literature search through PubMed. Where evidence-based recommendations could not be gleaned from the literature, expert opinion was obtained from syllabi of national meetings. Results The two most common causes of morbidity and mortality in orthotopic liver transplantation recipients are atherosclerotic vascular disease and de novo malignancy. The pathogenesis of many complications begins before orthotopic liver transplantation, and many are potentially modifiable. Most complications, however, can be directly ascribed to immunosuppressive agents. Despite improvements in our understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the metabolic and neoplastic complications of orthotopic liver transplantation, remarkably few randomized-controlled studies exist to define their optimal management. Conclusions Orthotopic liver transplantation recipients experience and succumb to the same afflictions of old age as non-transplant patients, but with greater frequency and at an earlier age. Most recommendations regarding surveillance for, and treatment of, medical complications of orthotopic liver transplantation remain based upon expert opinion rather than evidence-based medicine.
Absorption Edge Imaging of Sporocide-Treated and Non-treated Bacterial Spores

When deprived of nutrients, spore-forming bacilli produce endospores which are remarkably resistant to chemical sterilization. 1,2 Little is known about the morphology and response of these spores following exposure to sporocidal agents. Light microscopy does not provide sufficient resolution for studying the rupture of the spore coat and fate of intracellular material. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy offer superior resolution but require specimen preparation methods that induce physiologic as well as morphologic changes in the spores, thereby making accurate interpretation of micrographs difficult. To eliminate the possible artifacts induced by chemical fixation, dehydration, embeddment, staining and sectioning, treated and non-sporocidetreated endospores of B. thuringiensis and B. subtilis were imaged by x-ray contact microscopy using monochromatic x-rays.
Reconstruction after partial duodenectomy using a Roux-en-Y lateral duodenojejunostomy: a single center retrospective analysis

Oncologic resections of the second and third portions of the duodenum (D2 and D3) via partial duodenectomy can pose a challenging clinical problem. The duodenum must be repaired primarily or reconstructed. We have adopted a method of reconstruction using a Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy (D-J) in patients with extensive duodenal wall loss. We report our results in the first series of these cases. A retrospective review of patients who underwent post partial duodenectomy with reconstruction between June 2004 and March 2014 was performed. Five patients underwent partial duodenectomy with reconstruction. Two had resection for extrinsic tumors (colonic adenocarcinoma). Three had intrinsic duodenal tumors (one tubular adenoma, one adenocarcinoma and one gastrointestinal stromal tumor). All patients were reconstructed via retrocolic Roux-en-Y D-J. Mean estimated blood loss was 470 mL with median length of stay of 11 days. Post-operative complications included three intra-abdominal abscesses, one superficial wound infection and one gastrointestinal bleed. There were no anastomotic leaks, injuries to the ampulla of Vater or mortalities. In conclusion, partial duodenectomy of lateral D2/D3 with Roux-en-Y D-J is a relatively safe and effective alternative to partial duodenectomy with primary repair or pancreaticoduodenectomy for certain tumors of the duodenum.
Use of emergency medical services for suspected acute cardiac ischemia among demographic and clinical patient subgroups: the REACT trial. Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment.

Abstract Objective. Barriers to the use of emergency medical services (EMS) and patient delay in seeking care can limit the receipt or effectiveness of reperfusion therapies and the availability of prehospital emergency cardiac care. The Rapid Early Action for Coronary Treatment (REACT) trial was designed to determine the impact of a community intervention on use of EMS among demographic and clinical subgroups of patients with suspected acute cardiac ischemia. Methods. A randomized controlled community trial was conducted in 20 pair-matched communities in the United States. One community from each pair received an 18-month, multicomponent community education program. Data were collected at 44 participating hospitals during a four-month baseline period and throughout the 18-month trial, using medical record abstracts to collect information on mode of transport to the hospital and other sociodemographic and clinical variables. Eligible patients were persons aged ≥30 years presenting with chest pain or discomfort to emergency departments (EDs) who were admitted and discharged with a cardiac-related diagnoses (ICD 410-414, 427-429, 440, 786.9). Results. The net change in the odds of EMS use was an increase of 34% in intervention compared with control communities [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.34, 95% CI 1.07-1.67]. We observed greater increases in the odds of EMS use among patients who had chronic or other cardiac diagnoses (adjusted OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.18-1.99, and adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.17-1.97, respectively) than in those diagnosed as having acute ischemia (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.91-1.44). We observed greater increases in odds of EMS use in those who were retired (adjusted OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.29-2.04) or had systolic blood pressure (SBP) at or below 160 mm Hg upon presentation to the ED (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.26-1.91 for SBP 100-160 mm Hg; 1.61, 95% CI 0.88-2.97 for SBP
Dystroglycan Is Selectively Associated with Inhibitory GABAergic Synapses But Is Dispensable for Their Differentiation

The dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) is a multimolecular complex that links the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton. The DGC is present at the skeletal neuromuscular junction and required for its maturation and maintenance. Members of the DGC are also expressed in brain. We used cultured hippocampal neurons to analyze the distribution, regulation, and role in synaptogenesis of the major transmembrane component of the DGC, dystroglycan; one of its extracellular ligands, agrin; and one of its cytoskeletal binding partners, dystrophin. alpha-Dystroglycan, beta-dystroglycan, and dystrophin clustered at a subset of inhibitory synapses containing GABA(A)R subunits alpha1, alpha2, and gamma2, and the inhibitory receptor anchoring protein gephyrin. DGC components were not detected at excitatory glutamatergic synapses. Dystroglycan is the first identified adhesive macromolecule at mature GABA synapses. Developmentally, dystroglycan clustered at synaptic loci after synaptic vesicles, GABA(A)R, and gephyrin, the latter being closely associated with GABA(A)R at all stages of synaptogenesis analyzed. Analysis of gephyrin -/-, agrin -/-, and mdx mouse hippocampal neurons in culture indicated that synaptic clustering of dystroglycan occurs independently of gephyrin, agrin, and dystrophin. In dystroglycan-deficient neurons, cultured from a conditional mutant strain, GABAergic synapses differentiated with clusters of gephyrin and GABA(A)R apposed to synaptic terminals, but these synapses did not contain detectable dystrophin. Thus the DGC is not essential for GABAergic synaptogenesis but is likely to function in modulating inhibitory synapses or conferring specialized properties on a subset of them.
Design considerations for digital circuits using organic thin film transistors on a flexible substrate

Organic thin film transistor (OTFT) is the basic device for building analog and digital circuits and systems on a flexible substrate. Our studies show that, complementary design logic (CMOS), which is most common in MOSFET circuit design, is not suitable for OTFT circuits. In this work, we propose a new design logic that fits the characteristics of OTFT devices. Considering the fact that the mobility of the p-type OTFT is much better than the n-type OTFT, the proposed design logic uses mostly p-type OTFTs to implement logic functions. Circuit simulations have been done to compare the proposed design logic with other existing ones. The results show that the proposed design logic can improve the performance of the circuit by 2/spl sim/4/spl times/, lower the energy dissipation by 2/spl sim/6/spl times/, and reduce the circuit area by 2/spl sim/10/spl times/.