cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symptom pathogenesis during acute influenza: interleukin-6 and other cytokine responses.

In experimental human influenza infection initiated by nasal inoculation, the magnitude of viral replication, fever, and symptoms correlate with nasopharyngeal lavage fluid levels of various cytokines. Our aim was to assess these relationships in patients with naturally occurring acute influenza. Patients with culture-positive influenza illness of less than 36 hr of duration were studied. Nasopharyngeal washing were collected at enrollment and on Day 2, 4, 6 and 8 for quantitative virus isolation and IL-6, TNF-alpha, INF-alpha, INF-gamma and IL-10 determinations. Blood samples collected at entry and on Day 2 and 6 were processed to assess plasma cytokines and circulating influenza RNA. Patients received either oseltamivir or placebo for 5 days. We assessed the correlation between nasopharyngeal lavage fluid or blood levels of cytokines before treatment and viral titers, symptom severity and fever. Sixteen adult subjects (median age of 22 years) were studied. In this small group of patients no significant differences between placebo and oseltamivir patients were found in viral replication or measures of cytokines. Thus the data for all 16 subjects were pooled for analysis. At entry, influenza A viruses were cultured from nasopharyngeal washes at a median titer of 4.8 log(10)TCID(50)/ml of wash. Viral titers correlated positively with symptom score (P = 0.006) and temperature values (P < 0.001). Viral titers, fever and symptoms were highest at enrollment and fell in parallel during the subsequent days. RT-PCR assays failed to detect influenza RNA in the white blood cells from any patient. We observed a significant release, in both nasopharyngeal lavage fluid and in plasma, of IL-6, TNF-alpha, INF-alpha, INF-gamma and IL-10. At entry high IL-6 levels were detected in the nasopharyngeal lavage fluid (median 10.3 pg/ml) and plasma (median 5.1 pg/ml) of all patients. We found a positive correlation between plasma IL-6 levels and both symptom scores and temperature values (P < 0.05), as well as a positive correlation between nasopharyngeal lavage fluid levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha and temperature (P < 0.05). We did not find significant associations between symptoms, fever and levels of INF-alpha, INF-gamma or IL-10. The magnitude of early decrease in viral titers correlated with initial levels of INF-gamma in nasopharyngeal lavage fluid (P < 0.05). Significant production of IL-6, TNF-alpha, INF-alpha, INF-gamma and IL-10 occurs in response to community acquired influenza A illness. As in experimental influenza, symptoms and fever in natural acute influenza correlate with the release of IL-6.
Light Suppresses Melatonin Secretion in Humans

Bright artificial light suppressed nocturnal secretion of melatonin in six normal human subjects. Room light of less intensity, which is sufficient to suppress melatonin secretion in other mammals, failed to do so in humans. In contrast to the results of previous experiments in which ordinary room light was used, these findings establish that the human response to light is qualitatively similar to that of other mammals.
Retrieval of forest canopy parameters for OTTER using an optimization technique

An inversion algorithm based on a nonlinear optimization technique is used to retrieve a subset of forest canopy parameters that can be used in ecosystem modeling. The inversion algorithm uses a parametric model derived from a discrete component forest scattering model which includes all major scattering contributions to radar backscatter. The parametric model, however, is derived for cases where only one mechanism dominates the scattering process, in this case, branch layer volume scattering. The free parameters are taken to be the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant of branch layer constituents. The parametric model and the inversion algorithm are validated with synthetic data and applied to two data sets taken at different dates over one of the OTTER sites (Santiam Pass). The inversion algorithm is shown to be a useful tool in the quantitative monitoring of canopy moisture status, as well as a building block of its future versions which will include a more comprehensive set of forest scattering parameters as unknowns.
The unified concept of carpal injuries

The classification of injuries to the wrist using a unified concept of mechanism of injury based on a hyperextension mechanism provides a means of understanding the spectrum of wrist injuries. The compressive forces acting after injury induce collapse deformities which if unrecognized, result in permanent weakness and limitation of motion. Careful examination and awareness of the spectrum of wrist injuries allows consideration of optimal treatment.
Screening Wild Oat Accessions from Morocco for Resistance to Puccinia coronata.

Abstract Here, we report the screening of 332 new accessions of 11 different wild oat (Avena) species from the United States Department of Agriculture National Small Grains Collection in Aberdeen, ID, for resistance to crown rust disease, caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae. This collection originated from Morocco and includes Avena agadiriana, A. atlantica, A. barbata, A. damascena, A. eriantha, A. hirtula, A. longiglumis, A. magna, A. murphyi, A. sterilis, and A. wiestii. After screening this collection with a highly diverse population of P. coronata f. sp. avenae, 164 accessions (49%) were rated moderately resistant to resistant in the preliminary screen at the seedling stage and 181 accessions (55%) rated moderately resistant to highly resistant in the adult plant stage. Although none of the accessions showed a highly resistant response consistently in the seedling stage, 20 accessions did display a highly resistant response in the adult plant stage. Both seedling as well as adult plant resistan...
Site-specific oligodeoxynucleotide binding to maize Adh1 gene promoter represses Adh1-GUS gene expression in vivo

There is a 36 bp tract of extreme homopurine/homopyrimidine (PuPy) asymmetry in the maize Adh1 gene promoter (from -44 to -79) that is S1-hypersensitive in plasmids under supercoil tension. Oligodeoxynucleotides corresponding to the PuPy tract were designed to examine the secondary structure of the region and address the possible role of the tract in gene regulation. On the basis of oligodeoxynucleotide band-shift and DNase I footprinting analyses, it was concluded that the homopyrimidine oligodeoxynucleotide can form a triple helix with the duplex PuPy tract in vitro. Transient assays in protoplasts, suspension cells, and seedling roots show that the homopyrimidine oligodeoxynucleotide is also capable of repressing Adh1-GUS gene expression during co-transformation, presumably by the formation of a triple helix with the PuPy tract in vivo. The complementary homopurine oligodeoxynucleotide would not form a triple helix in vitro, nor would it repress Adh1-GUS in vivo. We propose that triple helix formation is a potential regulatory phenomenon in vivo, and that an intraregion triple helix could occur within the Adh1 promoter via the formation of H-DNA.
Non-Conjugated Polymers for Organic Photovoltaics: Physical and Optoelectronic Properties of Poly(perylene diimides)

Most polymers employed in organic photovoltaic cells have π-conjugated backbones. Here we investigate the physical and optoelectronic properties of three nonconjugated polymers based on perylene diimides. The optical properties, exciton diffusion length, band edge positions, conductivity, and carrier mobility of these polymers are described. They are electron-conducting and highly photostable. The film structure and optoelectronic properties vary with deposition conditions and annealing procedures. One of the polymers has an unusually long exciton diffusion length of 22 nm. The free electron density resulting from n-type charged defects is ∼3 × 1015 cm−3 in one polymer and is even lower in the others. Simple bilayer solar cells are limited by their series resistance suggesting that these semiconductor films would benefit from doping.
A Combined Chemical and Electrochemical Approach Using Bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene and Glucose Oxidase for the Detection of Chlorinated Phenols.

A novel electrocatalytic approach using a chemical reaction and an enzymatic reaction has been developed for the measurement of 18 chlorophenol congeners, including highly chlorinated pollutants such as pentachlorophenol, 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, and several trichlorophenols. Chlorophenols were oxidized to chlorobenzoquinones with very high yields using bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene in 0.1 M trichloroacetic acid, pH 1.5, at ambient temperature. UV−visible spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry, and HPLC have been used to characterize the reaction products and yields. Together with glucose oxidase immobilized on a working glassy carbon electrode (+0.45 V vs Ag/AgCl), chlorinated benzoquinones have been demonstrated to be efficient mediators in a glucose oxidase/glucose system. In this approach, glucose oxidase was readily reduced by excess glucose to provide a non-rate-limiting source of electron flow toward the electrode. The oxidation products of chlorophenols then recycled...
Dissolution problems with botanical reference materials

As part of the analytical research leading to the certification of the new Apple and Peach Leaves Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), a study was undertaken to evaluate different sample dissolution techniques for losses of analyte species. Possible loss mechanisms include absorption or adsorption of analyte elements at the walls of the sample decomposition vessels, and the formation or persistence of insoluble particulate material during sample dissolution. Results of this study indicated that significant fractions of some elements were present on particles after acid dissolution, despite visual indications that dissolution was complete. In addition, large amounts of some elements remained in the platinum crucibles used to fuse samples with lithium metaborate.
Rate Constant for the Reaction of O(3P) with IO at T = 298 K

The rate coefficient for the O(3P) + IO reaction has been measured using the discharge-flow kinetic technique coupled to collision-free mass spectrometric detection at 1 Torr nominal pressure (He). IO is generated by the reaction of O with I2; IO then decays in the presence of excess atomic oxygen. A one-parameter fitting to a numerical model gives a rate coefficient of (1.5 ± 0.7) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at T = 298 K. This result is significantly faster than an earlier estimate but is in good agreement with the only previous study of the reaction which employed laser photolysis combined with absorption spectrophotometry. The present result is compared with those for the reactions O(3P) + XO and X + IO where X = Cl and Br.
Optical activity of the f–f transitions in trigonal dihedral (D3) lanthanide(III) complexes. I. Theory

The theory of natural optical activity in the 4f→4f transitions of trigonal dihedral (D3) lanthanide(III) complexes is developed within the framework of a crystal field model. Within this model, both the chiral and achiral components of the crystal field are represented in terms of multipole‐point charge and multipole‐induced dipole lanthanide–ligand interactions. Electric dipole intensity within the 4f→4f transitions is presumed to arise from interconfigurational mixing between the 4fN, 4fN−1 5d, and 4fN−1 ng configurational states localized on the lanthanide ion, and between the 4fN configurational states of the lanthanide ion and dipolar excitations localized in the ligand environment. Expressions are derived for electronic rotatory strengths, dipole strengths, and dissymmetry factors, and special attention is given to how these quantities are related to the electronic and stereochemical properties of the ligand environment and to the electronic structure of the lanthanide ion. A computational model ba...
Sipuncula from southern Brazil

A collection of 291 sipunculans from the continental shelf off southern Brazil is described. Ten species are included, two new to science (Phascolion medusae and Aspidosiphon longirhyncus). The latter comprises 74% of the specimens collected. Four are recorded for the first time in the southwestern Atlantic Oceccn (Golfingia eremita, G. pellucida, A. Albus, and A. exhaustus). The remaining two (G. misakiana and P. hedraeum) have been recorded from Brazilian waters before. While most of the material represents a warm, shallow water community (the southern end of the South Brazilian Province), another group of species found south of 34oS in deepercooler water points to the possibility of a zoogeographical barrier on the continental slope in these latitudes.
Parental Depression and Interparental Conflict: Children and Adolescents’ Self-Blame and Coping Responses

The present study examined the role of children and adolescents' perceptions of self-blame specific to interparental conflict and children and adolescents' coping behaviors in the context of parental depression as predictors of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a sample of 108 youth (age 9-15 years old) of parents with a history of depression. Higher levels of current depressive symptoms in parents were associated with higher levels of interparental conflict and higher levels of internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents, and interparental conflict was positively associated with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children/adolescents. Consistent across a series of multiple regression models, children and adolescents' perceptions of self-blame and use of secondary control coping (acceptance, distraction, cognitive restructuring, positive thinking) were significant, independent predictors of both internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
Influence of Gastric Acidity on Fluoride Absorption in Rats

The rate of F absorption from the stomach is pH-dependent, with greater absorption at low pH. Since the rate of absorption is also strongly influenced by the rapidity of gastric emptying, we have compared the relative importance of gastric acidity and gastric emptying in overall F absorption. Male rats (350 g, n = 85) were pre-treated with cimetidine (to inhibit gastric acid secretion) or pentagastrin (to stimulate gastric acid secretion) or were untreated controls, and given 50 micrograms F by stomach intubation. The pH of the F-containing solution was varied in the cimetidine-pre-treated group (pH 1.5, 5.5, 8.5), and was 5.5 for the control and pentagastrin-pre-treated groups. Gastric emptying was measured by addition of 14C polyethylene glycol to the F solution as an unabsorbed marker of fluid movement. F absorption was measured after 10, 20, and 40 min. The rate of gastric emptying was unaffected by pre-treatment or pH of the intubating solution. Initially, F absorption was greatest at low pH. After 40 min, absorption was comparable in all groups, averaging approximately 70% of the initial dose. The extent of absorption from the stomach was inversely related to pH, but increased absorption from the small intestine compensated for the low gastric absorption at high pH.
Identification of Mo(V) commonly observed in passive films formed on stainless steels

There has been a longstanding debate and controversy in the literature with regard to the determination by XPS of the exact oxidation state of a molybdenum species commonly observed in the passive films of stainless steel. In this paper we have compared both the XPS and ESR analyses of molybdenum oxyhydroxides previously postulated to contain Mo(V) as well as Mo(IV) and Mo(VI). The compositions of these compounds closely resemble those found in the passive films of Mo-bearing stainless steel. It has been shown that the same Mo species exhibiting an XPS Mo 3d s/2 spectrum binding energy value of 230.8 eV is observed to exhibit an ESR spectra having a g factor of 1.921, which corresponds to Mo(V).
Anxiety phenotype in mice that overexpress protein kinase A

The role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signaling in the molecular pathways involved in fear and memory is well established. Prior studies in our lab reported that transgenic mice with an inactivating mutation in Prkar1a gene (codes for the 1-alpha regulatory subunit (R1α) of PKA) exhibited behavioral abnormalities including anxiety and depression. In the present study, we examined the role of altered PKA signaling on anxiety-like behaviors in Prkar1a(+/-) mice compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. The elevated plus maze (EPM) and marble bury (MB) tests were used to assess anxiety-like behavior. The hotplate test was performed to evaluate analgesia. We further examined the impact of the Prkar1a inactivating mutation on PKA activity in specific nuclei of the brain associated with anxiety-like behavior. Results for the MB test showed a genotype effect, with increased anxiety-like behavior in Prkar1a(+/-) mice, compared to WT littermates (p<0.05). MANOVA analysis showed a significant genotype difference in anxiety-like behavior in the EPM between WT and Prkar1a(+/-) mice on combined dependent variables (open arm time and open to total time ratio; p<0.05). Results of hotplate testing showed no genotype effect however; the expected sex difference was noted. Analysis of PKA activity showed the loss of one Prkar1a allele led to an increase in basal and cAMP-stimulated kinase activity in both the basolateral and central amygdala. These results suggest that the alteration in PKA signaling in Prkar1a(+/-) mice is not a ubiquitous effect; and supports the importance of cAMP/PKA pathway in neurobiological processes involved in anxiety and fear sensitization.
Specific Recognition and Cleavage of the Plus-Strand Primer by Reverse Transcriptase

Reverse transcriptases (RTs) of retroviruses and long terminal repeat (LTR)-retrotransposons possess DNA polymerase and RNase H activities. During reverse transcription these activities are necessary for the programmed sequence of events that include template switching and primer processing. Integrase then inserts the completed cDNA into the genome of the host cell. The RT of the LTR-retrotransposon Tf1 was subjected to random mutagenesis, and the resulting transposons were screened with genetic assays to test which mutations reduced reverse transcription and which inhibited integration. We identified a cluster of mutations in the RNase H domain of RT that were surprising because they blocked integration without reducing cDNA levels. The results of immunoblots demonstrated that these mutations did not reduce levels of RT or integrase. DNA blots showed that the mutations did not lower the amounts of full-length cDNA. The sequences of the 3′ ends of the cDNA revealed that mutations within the cluster in RNase H specifically reduced the removal of the polypurine tract (PPT) primer from the ends of the cDNA. These results indicate that primer removal is not a necessary component of reverse transcription. The residues mutated in Tf1 RNase H are conserved in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and make direct contact with DNA opposite the PPT. Thus, our results identify a conserved element in RT that contacts the PPT and is specifically required for PPT removal.
Regulation of queen development through worker aggression in a predatory ant

Extreme developmental plasticity within the eusocial insects defines the separation between the queen and worker castes. The switch between these 2 developmental pathways is thought to be under tight social control. Although a large emphasis has been placed on the effect of larval nutrition on caste determination, workers of many species have no direct control over larval feeding. This may be particularly relevant to the early evolution of ants, when behaviors that allow fine control over larval nutrition, such as mouth-to-mouth food exchange between larvae and workers, were probably not yet present. We investigated larval-directed aggression as an alternative means to regulate queen development in the ant Harpegnathos saltator, a species that retains ancestral characteristics. We tested worker response toward natural queen-destined larvae and larvae induced to develop as queens using a juvenile hormone analog (JHA). Workers from colonies that were not rearing queens bit queen-destined larvae, whereas worker-destined larvae were not attacked. When colonies were naturally rearing queens, workers did not bite JHA-treated larvae, and a larger proportion of these larvae developed into queens compared with larvae that received biting. This supports the hypothesis that workers of H. saltator use biting to inhibit queen development during periods when the conditions for queen rearing are not met. We propose that mechanical stress, in addition to nutrition, could serve as a mechanism to regulate queen development in species that lack fine control over larval food consumption, and this may have played a role during the early evolution of eusociality in ants. Key words: aggression, developmental plasticity, juvenile hormone, queen determination, social regulation, stress. [Behav Ecol]
Diverse succession planning: Lessons from the industry leaders.

Although practitioners and academics alike have argued for succession planning practices that facilitate better talent identification and creation of stronger “bench strength,” there has been little attention to the incorporation of gender and racial diversity with succession planning.We discuss practices and competencies for incorporating diversity with succession planning and identify methods for developing women and minorities as successors for key positions. Improvements in strategy, leadership, planning, development, and program management processes are suggested. Recommendations for process improvement are developed from the diversity and succession planning literatures and interviews of 27 human resource professionals from a broad range of industries. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radiation Hydrodynamics in Astrophysics

Hydrodynamics codes are used to study nearly every astrophysical phenomena observed. Although coupling radiation and hydrodynamics is much less common, radiation hydrodynamics codes are being used in a growing number of astrophysics problems from energetic out flows of compact remnants such as core-collapse supernovae and active galactic nuclei to the formation of stars and planets to cosmological simulations of the first stars. In this paper, we review the current “state-of-the-art” radiation hydrodynamics techniques used in astrophysics. This review will cover both the techniques used in astrophysics (Sect. 2) and the problems that have been studied (Sect. 3). Most of the techniques are well-known in both the transport and hydrodynamics communities. The only surprises may be the rudemenatry level at which most working astrophysics codes do radiation transport. In Sect. 4, we will study in more detail the method used to do radiation hydrodynamics with smooth particle hydrodynamics, as it is less well-known and may prove a powerful tool to solve a number of astrophysics problems. What astrophysicists mean when they say they have a “radiation hydrodynamics” code varies from person to person. So before we begin this review, we must go through a few definitions.
Incidence and Prevalence of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in a Racially Mixed Population

Context: The epidemiology of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has generally been studied in Caucasian populations. Objective: The aim was to examine the incidence and prevalence of PHPT within a racially mixed population. Design: A descriptive epidemiologic study was performed. Patients/Setting: The study population included 3.5 million enrollees within Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Methods: All patients with at least one elevated serum calcium level (>10.5 mg/dL, 2.6 mmol/L) between 1995 and 2010 were included. Cases of PHPT were identified by electronic query of laboratory values using biochemical criteria, after exclusion of secondary or renal and tertiary hyperparathyroidism cases. The incidence and prevalence rates of PHPT were calculated according to sex, race, age group by decade, and year. Results: Initial case finding identified 15,234 patients with chronic hypercalcemia, 13,327 (87%) of which had PHPT as defined by elevated or inappropriately normal parathyroid hormone levels. The inc...
The effects of chamber pressurization on soil‐surface CO2 flux and the implications for NEE measurements under elevated CO2

Soil and ecosystem trace gas fluxes are commonly measured using the dynamic chamber technique. Although the chamber pressure anomalies associated with this method are known to be a source of error, their effects have not been fully characterized. In this study, we use results from soil gas-exchange experiments and a soil CO2 transport model to characterize the effects of chamber pressure on soil CO2 efflux in an annual California grassland. For greater than ambient chamber pressures, experimental data show that soil-surface CO2 flux decreases as a nonlinear function of increasing chamber pressure; this decrease is larger for drier soils. In dry soil, a gauge pressure of 0.5 Pa reduced the measured soil CO2 efflux by roughly 70% relative to the control measurement at ambient pressure. Results from the soil CO2 transport model show that pressurizing the flux chamber above ambient pressure effectively flushes CO2 from the soil by generating a downward flow of air through the soil air-filled pore space. This advective flow of air reduces the CO2 concentration gradient across the soil–atmosphere interface, resulting in a smaller diffusive flux into the chamber head space. Simulations also show that the reduction in diffusive flux is a function of chamber pressure, soil moisture, soil texture, the depth distribution of soil CO2 generation, and chamber diameter. These results highlight the need for caution in the interpretation of dynamic chamber trace gas flux measurements. A portion of the frequently observed increase in net ecosystem carbon uptake under elevated CO2 may be an artifact resulting from the impact of chamber pressurization on soil CO2 efflux.
Policy analysis for warranty, maintenance, and upgrade of software sysytems

Maintenance of large software systems is one of the least-structured problems in information systems. In this paper, we present a framework to analyze warranty, maintenance, and upgrade decisions for software packages under different market conditions. We discuss the impact of various factors, such as quality, market volatility, and technological obsolescence, on the software supplier's policies and economic return. We identify a class of optimal (or near optimal) policies that are surprisingly robust and easy to implement, and report on the effectiveness of these policies under different market conditions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is digoxin a breast cancer risk factor

Breast cancer has remained a major public health issue across the globe. It appears that despite centuries of discovery and attention to this disease, there are still many unresolved issues surroun...
Principles and Practice of a Neuropsychological Approach to Conducting Independent Educational Evaluations

Pediatric clinical neuropsychological evaluations often compliment traditional psychoeducational evaluations and can facilitate the special education evaluation process in determining eligibility and providing recommendations to enhance a child’s progress. Many pediatric neuropsychologists have medical-legal experience along with knowledge of advanced assessment techniques. As a profession, pediatric neuropsychologists are in increasing demand to conduct independent educational evaluations. This article highlights the laws governing the Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) and the basic procedures for providing IEEs.
Creativity and sense of humor.

In a study on cognitive and personality structure and sense of humor, Rouff (1973) investigated the relationship between creativity and humor comprehension, among other variables. Creativity was defined in terms of a linking together of disparate cognitive elements (Mednick, 1962; Mednick & Mednick, 1967). Comprehending jokes was viewed as requiring the ability to link disparities or incongruities-in the sense of reconciling them in order to "get the joke" (Koestler, 19G4; Maier, 1932). From such observations it was predicted that scores on a creativity rest and on a humor comprehension measure would be positively related. Twenty cartoons, with and without captions, and Mednick's Remote Associates Test were administered to 108 Temple University undergraduates enrolled in introductory psychology classes. Ss were required to write explanations of the point or points of each of the cartoons. These explanations were scored (after McGhee, 1968) on the basis of the degree to which they indicated that S had grasped the main disparity or incongruity comprising the point of a cartoon, and had explained why the disparity aroused humor. The Pearsonian correlation coefficient between comprehension of humor and RAT scores was significant (I. = 0.37, p < .001). When the effects of intelligence, i.e., SAT scores, were partialled out, the association remained. (rs between humor comprehension and creativity scores with Verbal, Quantitative, and Total scores held constant, respectively were: 0.30, p < .05; 0.37, p < .01; 0.33, p < .01.) These results strongly suggest that comprehension of humor and creative thinking are related and that they have a common basis in the ability to link disparities. This relationship would appear to transcend intelligence.
Within-person distributions of neuropsychological test scores as a function of dementia severity.

OBJECTIVE The distribution of a person's scores on a battery of neuropsychological tests reflects the nature and extent of intraindividual variability and may provide clinically useful information not captured by examining test scores in isolation. We sought to test the hypothesis that systematic alterations of within-person test-score distributions characterize worsening cognitive impairment. METHOD We analyzed cross-sectional data from 2 datasets that included 395 clinical patients and 135 neurologically normal older adults (≥60 years old). We computed each person's mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis for a battery of 13 neuropsychological measures and compared these distributional properties across groups. RESULTS Most healthy older adults produced normal (Gaussian) test-score distributions. Among patients, test-score distributions increasingly shifted away from normal with worsening cognitive impairment. Worsening dementia was accompanied by progressively lower mean scores and increasingly positive skew. Within-person standard deviations initially grew at mild levels of impairment, but then shrank with worsening dementia, resulting in positive kurtosis. CONCLUSIONS Within-person distributional properties vary as a function of dementia severity. Despite the limitations associated with using a clinical rather than a research sample, the analyses reported here serve as a "proof of concept" and suggest that similar investigations with more rigorously characterized patient samples may be fruitful.
Molecular Mechanism of Ionic-Liquid-Induced Membrane Disruption: Morphological Changes to Bilayers, Multilayers, and Vesicles

The application of ionic liquids (ILs) in many industrially relevant processes provides an urgent need to better understand their molecular interactions with biological systems. A detailed understanding of the cytotoxicity mechanism of ILs can be helpful in facilitating the molecular design of nontoxic ILs. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we investigate the effects of imidazolium-based ILs on several lipid bilayer morphologies. Our results demonstrate that the asymmetric insertion of IL cations into one side of a lipid bilayer leaflet enhances the leaflet strain, which upon reaching a critical value triggers a morphological disruption in the bilayer. Consistently, the bending modulus of the bilayer is reduced by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude relative to that of an IL-free planar bilayer prior to the disruption event. Our results suggest that ILs that can easily insert into the lipid bilayer without diffusing across or inducing lipid flip-flop can be more disruptive to a lipid biomem...
Creep Monitoring of High Temperature Metal Parts in Power Plant

Creep damage of the high temperature metal parts in power plant is unavoidable.In order to prolong the service life under the premise of safety as far as possible,the damage and aging conditions of the high temperature metal parts must be studied.SPICA,a high temperature creep monitoring technology developped by KEMA over 20 years,is an nondestructive quasi-online monitoring for high-temperature creep strain components,especially suitable for monitoring of weld heat-affected zone local creep setrain.As the traditional creep monitoring method of the high temperautre pipe diameter(or circumference)is out of date,SPICA becomes alternative technologies for domestic power plants creep monitoring of high temperature metal parts.This paper is intended to introduce KEMA SPICA technology,so that the domestic power plant metal materials workers understand the new method of monitoring creep.
Regenerative Cell Therapy: Historical Background and Future Directions

Abstract Since Cohnheim initially invoked the idea of a reservoir of pluripotent cells in the bone marrow, researchers have made continuous advances to establish cell therapy as a treatment modality for end-stage diseases. In the field of peripheral artery disease (PAD), research has progressed from preclinical trials to multiple clinical trials that have demonstrated safety. Several trials are also establishing efficacy. There are still many unanswered questions in regards to optimizations studies, fundamental cell biology, and proper evaluation tools, but this is a critical period of time for cell therapy in PAD. The numerous discoveries and advances, especially in the last 20 years, need to now culminate into an adequately powered randomized controlled trial that can illustrate the efficacy of cell therapy.
Genotype X cropping system interactions of peanuts grown as a sole crop and in association with maize

Studies on peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) were made in Florida to examine genotype x cropping system interactions when cultivated as an intercrop with maize (Zea mays L.). The effects of different dates of sowing for maize were examined, as well as two different regimes of leafspot disease control (casual organisms- Cercospora arachidicola Hori and Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & Curt.) Deighton) for peanuts. Peanut yields averaged 1870 kg ha-1 in the intercrop system and were the same whether the maize sowing was six weeks before the peanut sowing or the two crops were sown at the same time. Averaged over the two years of the study there was no significant interaction between peanut genotypes and cropping systems, although a significant interaction occurred in the first year of the study. Peanut yields in monocrop were highly correlated with yields in intercrop in both seasons (r = 0.97), while yield rank correlations between the two systems were inconsistent (r = 0.66). Fungicide applications at 14-day intervals increased peanut yields by 300 kg ha-1 when compared with applications at 28-day intervals, but the yield increase was less pronounced in the intercrop system. Genotype x spray interval genotype x spray interval x cropping system interactions were both significant. In this system peanut materials selected for high yield in monocrop were also suitable for intercropping with maize. The combination of the two crops had yield advantages for the entire system and improved peanut leafspot control compared with monocrop culture.
WE-FG-201-02: Automated Treatment Planning for Low-Resource Settings

Many low- and middle-income countries lack the resources and services to manage cancer, from screening and diagnosis to radiation therapy planning, treatment and quality assurance. The challenges in upgrading or introducing the needed services are enormous, and include severe shortages in equipment and trained staff. In this symposium, we will describe examples of technology and scientific research that have the potential to impact all these areas. These include: (1) the development of high-quality/low-cost colposcopes for cervical cancer screening, (2) the application of automated radiotherapy treatment planning to reduce staffing shortages, (3) the development of a novel radiotherapy treatment unit, and (4) utilizing a cloud-based infrastructure to facilitate collaboration and QA. Learning Objectives: 1.Understand some of the issues in cancer care in low- resource environments, including shortages in staff and equipment, and inadequate physical infrastructure for advanced radiotherapy. 2.Understand the challenges in developing and deploying diagnostic and treatment devices and services for low-resource environments. 3.Understand some of the emerging technological solutions for cancer management in LMICs. NCI; L. Court, NIH, Varian, Elekta; I. Feain, Ilana Feain is founder and CTO of Nano-X Pty Ltd
Teaching Games for Understanding: Building a Physically Literate Individual

This article provides practical examples of a variety of tactical concepts and strategies using the teaching games for understanding model that can be used for small-sided games, full-sided games and games for outcomes.
Resilience in Urban African American Adolescents: The Protective Enhancing Effects of Neighborhood, Family, and School Cohesion Following Violence Exposure:

Exposure to violence (ETV) poses a serious threat to adolescents’ safety and well-being; however, some adolescents who grow up in such toxic environments are able to thrive due to a combination of ...
Shakespeare and the Power of Performance: Personation and playing: “secretly open” role-playing

To reopen the question of character here is to contextualize, between page and stage, the various forms and functionings of Shakespeare's dramatis personae . Once we have begun, in Paul Yachnin's words, “to understand that Shakespearean characterization is an artful response to the situation of the theatre,” we can better come to grips historically with the complexities of this response. To do so we must examine how a distinctly literary product unfolded within a culturally innovative and socially divergent institution. Here it seems difficult to do justice to a rich variety of interactions between two major communicative modes of articulation without taking account of a highly varied set of effects. In view of an extremely wide and changeful range of performance practices, we propose to look at the two media in a radically contingent relationship. In this relationship the respective weight and potency of the one inflects the workings of the other. Put simply, the making of Shakespeare's dramatis personae can be traced on a wide spectrum bracketed by two extreme ways of figuration. One is where writing, in shaping dramatic speech and action of imaginary agents, provides given, more or less authoritative contours for staging images of artificial persons. The other sees the strength of the performative, the material act of staged counterfeiting, as pervasive enough to assert itself in its own right and to affect by its own authority the imaginary figuration of a person even before it comes to be staged.
Deconstructing the failure: analyzing the unanswered questions within educational Q&A

Community Question and Answering (CQA) is a well-known platform for knowledge sharing and social learning. CQA services have expanded into the education sector, where school students are the main users. Here, CQA functions as a non-traditional learning environment in which students use their own knowledge to construct the knowledge base. However, there have been cases where some questions are not answered within such a Q&A system. This failure may occur if a question is unclear, complex, inappropriate, or unrelated to the subject in which it is contextualized. While experts do not answer posted questions, co-users moderate responses and help maintain answer quality. However, due to the presence of users from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, many questions remain unanswered. The current study analyzes and explores the failed questions collected from Brainly, a social learning Q&A platform for school students. The quality of 1,000 questions extracted from this service is analyzed based on human-based ratings and extracted textual features. The findings show that a relationship can be drawn between the non-textual assessment results and the objective textually extracted features. This further encourages the study of why a question might be of poor quality. The findings also show which subjects contain the highest number of unanswered questions. These results will further help us to understand how questions should be restructured to obtain answers from their askers' peers.
Continuing Medical Education Questions: September 2017: Fecal Incontinence Is Associated With Mortality Among Older Adults With Complex Needs: An Observational Cohort Study

Continuing Medical Education Questions: September 2017: Fecal Incontinence Is Associated With Mortality Among Older Adults With Complex Needs: An Observational Cohort Study
Stories as Decision Scaffolds: Understanding Nonlinear Storytelling Using Case-Based Reasoning and Educational Design Research

Case-based reasoning (CBR) is a theoretical approach to understand how narratives support problem-solving. In many game-based learning environments, nonlinear storytelling is a popular approach to unfold the problem-solving experience. For this study, we developed a game-like, case-based learning environment that utilized nonlinear, narrative elements to present cases and facilitate decision-making. The study presented here explored learners’ general perceptions of the learning environment, with a specific focus on usability. Evaluation results identified themes related to problem representation, perspective taking, decision-making, retention, and retrieval/reuse. Implications for case-based reasoning and educational design research are discussed.
Trajectory modeling of marine oil spills

Techniques that estimate the past history of a “mystery” spill can assist the forensic investigation. Most spill models are flexible enough to allow for a wide variety of modeling techniques. In general, the models run in either a tactical mode, used for short-term forecasting from a known source or in a statistical mode, using historical environmental conditions to generate a long-term forecast. A modeler uses a forensic approach to investigate the past trajectory of an oil spill. Modelers call this approach a “hind cast” of the spill. In hind casting, the idea with either a forward or backward model run is to “reforecast” the oil movement for a particular spill event and provide investigators an indication when and where the spill occurred. Selecting either a forward or backward option depends upon the question being asked. The first option, running the model forward in time, is used if the location of the oil source is known or needs verification. The second option involves running the model backwards in time from the location where the oil is found.
An observational analysis of discontinuation and non-publication of osteoarthritis trials.

Summary Objective Discontinuation and nonpublication are causes for concern in highly funded research areas of prevalent medical conditions. The aim of our study is to evaluate the rate of discontinuation and nonpublication in osteoarthritis randomized controlled clinical trials. Design We used the ClinicalTrials.gov advanced search using the keyword “osteoarthritis” for phase 3 or phase 4 clinical trials in adults. Two investigators then independently screened the search results by registered title, condition, study design, and completion date. We then performed a systematic search to determine the publication status of the study. Results Our final analysis included 273 studies. Our analysis of these studies included 243 (89%) completed and 30 (11%) discontinued trials. A total of 121,307 (92%) and 10,368 (8%) patients participated in completed and discontinued trials, respectively. Following our searches of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, we identified 67 of the 243 (27.6%) studies as completed but having not reached publication in manuscript form. Conclusions If discontinuation and non-publication rates in osteoarthritis trials continue to be sub-optimal, already scarce research resources will continue to be wasted. One possible explanation for the witnessed nonpublication that warrants further investigation is the issue of publication bias or selective reporting bias, two known problems that decrease research productivity and ethics.
Emission spectra from solids condensed at very low temperatures from the electrical discharge products of nitrogen-carbon monoxide and nitrogen-acetylene mixtures

Two unidentified series of emission bands (sharp and diffuse) between 2900 and 4900 A were observed at 4·2° and 20·4° K. These bands were emitted from the condensed products of microwave discharges in nitrogen-carbon monoxide and nitrogen-acetylene mixtures. The sharp series are characterised by a frequency difference of 2280 cm.−1 and the diffuse series by a frequency difference of 670 cm.−1 Isotopic substitution shows at least one carbon atom is present in the emitting species.
Retroperitoneal exploration with Vicryl mesh and fibrin tissue sealant for refractory chylous ascites.

Abstract Background Congenital chylous ascites poses a significant challenge in neonatal care, and often results in prolonged, complex hospital stays and increased mortality. Few effective options exist in refractory cases. Methods Patients aged 0 to 12 months with refractory chylous ascites underwent retroperitoneal exploration after medical treatment and minimally invasive therapies were unsuccessful. The retroperitoneum was completely exposed via left and right medial visceral rotation and opening the lesser sac. Visible leaks were ligated, and alternating layers of fibrin glue and Vicryl mesh were used to cover the entire retroperitoneum. Results All 4 patients had resolution of their chylous ascites. None required reoperation or reintervention for chyle leaks. All achieved goal enteral feeds at a median of 29 days postoperatively and were discharged from hospital at a median of 42 days postoperatively. Conclusions Management of chylous ascites is extremely challenging in refractory cases. Complete retroperitoneal exposure with fibrin glue and Vicryl mesh application offers a definitive, reliable therapy for achieving cessation of lymphatic leakage and ultimate recovery for patients who fail all nonoperative approaches. Study type Therapeutic. Level of evidence IV
A Framework for Analyzing Ransomware using Machine Learning

Ransomware attacks increased in recent years causing significant damages and disruptions to businesses. Forensic analysis such as reverse engineering of executables (or binary files) is the common practice of examining such malware characteristics. In this work, we developed a reverse engineering framework incorporating feature generation engines and machine learning (ML) to efficiently detect ransomware. This framework is used to perform multi-level analysis (such as raw binaries, assembly codes, libraries, and function calls) in order to better examine and interpret the purpose of malware code segments. We leverage the object-code dump tool (Linux) and portable executable (PE) parser to decode binaries to assembly level instructions and dynamic link libraries (DLLs). Both ransomware and normal binaries are considered to conduct experiments where samples are first pre-processed to extract features and then different (supervised) ML techniques are applied to classify these samples. Experimental results reported the performance i.e., the detection accuracy of ransomware samples which varied from 76% to 97% based on the ML technique used. In particular, among the eight ML classifiers tested, seven of these performed well with detection rate of at least 90%. This study also demonstrated that the combination of static level analysis at the ASM-level and DLL-level can better distinguish ransomware from normal binaries.