cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation on hepatitis E virus infection conditions among livestock workers in

Objective To explore hepatitis E virus infection conditions and the related risk factors among livestock workers in Guangzhou.Method Cluster sampling was used in this survey.A total of 510 livestock workers from farms,slaughterhouses and markets were investigated.Serum samples were obtained and tested for HEV IgG antibodies by indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay method.Compare the average age and average length of service between HEV IgG antibodies positive groups and HEV IgG antibodies negative groups with Z-test.χ2test was used to compare the positive rate differences of HEV IgG antibodies based on the following categorical variables,i.e.gender,native place,workplaces and contact livestock species.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the probable determining factors for HEV infection.Results The total positive rate of HEV IgG antibodies was 45.1%.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of HEV infection increased with age and the risk was higher among the workers who handled swine,goats and sheep.Conclusions Livestock workers should take precautions to prevent the infection of HEV.
Effect of hormonal and substrate backgrounds on cell membrane function in normal males

Hormonal and substrate influences on in vivo cellular membrane function were evaluated in 15 healthy male volunteers. Each subject underwent serial evaluations of membrane function in the anterior tibialis muscle, as assessed by transcutaneous measurement of resting membrane potential (Em). Group A subjects (n = 9) underwent measurement of resting Em in the basal state and again during the 10th day of intravenous feeding (IVF). Group B subjects (n = 6) underwent measurement of resting Em in the basal state during epinephrine infusion and again during epinephrine infusion on the 7th day of IVF. Percutaneous needle biopsy of the vastus lateralis muscle permitted calculation of transmembrane electrolyte distribution from the Nernst equation, using the measured Em and the chloride space method. Hospitalization with intake of a defined-formula enteral diet for 3 days resulted in depolarization (P less than 0.05) of resting Em (-75.3 +/- 1.6 mV) compared with normal (-79.8 +/- 0.9 mV). Despite 10 days of subsequent IVF, further depolarization (P less than 0.05) of resting Em (-71.2 +/- 1.2 mV) was observed. In the dual presence of IVF and exogenous epinephrine infusion, there was an increase (P less than 0.05) in intracellular potassium concentration and repolarization of resting Em (-80.6 +/- 0.8 mV) to normal levels. These data indicate that hormonal background and substrate availability contribute to the in vivo modulation of cellular membrane function in human skeletal muscle, possibly through facilitation of sodium-dependent amino acid transport across the cell membrane.
Symptoms and Course of Xeroderma Pigmentosum

Sixteen Finnish patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) were followed for up to 23 years, and their neurological symptoms and course determined in a study at Turku University Central Hospital, Finland; Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; University of Brighton, and University of Sussex, UK.
The effects of the combination of egg and fiber on appetite, glycemic response and food intake in normal weight adults – a randomized, controlled, crossover trial

This study evaluated appetite and glycemic effects of egg-based breakfasts, containing high and moderate protein (30 g protein and 20 g protein +7 g fiber, respectively) compared to a low-protein cereal breakfast (10 g protein) examined in healthy adults (N = 48; age 24 ± 1 yr; BMI 23 ± 1 kg/m(2); mean ± SE). Meals provided 390 kcal/serving and equal fat content. Food intake was measured at an ad libitum lunch meal and blood glucose response was measured. Visual analog scales (VAS) were used to assess hunger, satisfaction, fullness, and prospective food intake. The egg-based breakfast meal with high protein produced greater overall satiety (p < 0.0001), and both high protein and moderate protein with fiber egg-based breakfasts reduced postprandial glycemic response (p < 0.005) and food intake (p < 0.05) at subsequent meal (by 135 kcal and 69 kcal; effect sizes 0.44 and 0.23, respectively) compared to a cereal-based breakfast with low protein and fiber.
Cleaning Puparia for Forensic Analysis.

We tested procedures for removing adipocere from insect samples to allow identification. An acceptable procedure was determined: (i) Samples were sorted in petri dishes with 75% alcohol to remove any larvae, adult insects, or other soft-bodied material. (ii) Samples of up to 24 puparia were placed in a vial with 15 mL of 95% acetone, capped, and vortexed for a total of 30–90 sec in 10- to 15-sec bursts. This step removed large masses of adipocere or soil from specimen. (iii) Specimens were removed from acetone and placed in a vial of 15 mL of 2% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and vortexed in 10- to 15-sec bursts until all puparia appeared clean (with our samples this required a total of 60–120 sec). (iv) Specimens were removed from the 2% KOH, placed in 75% ethanol, and examined microscopically. (v) Material was stored in 75% ethanol for identification and long-term preservation.
The Accessory Olfactory System: Role in Maintenance of Chemoinvestigatory Behavior

In mammals, the critical role of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the accessory olfactory system (AOS) in mediating neuroendocrine responses to chemical signals has now been demonstrated (e.g., Bellringer et al., 1980; Kaneko et al., 1980; Reynolds and Keverne, 1979; Wysocki and Katz, submitted). Behavioral responses are also altered when input to the AOS is disrupted in studies of maternal responsiveness (Fleming et al., 1979; Marques, 1979), male sexual behavior (Powers and Winans, 1975; Winans and Powers, 1977; Meredith et al., 1980) and ultrasonic vocalizations (Wysocki et al., in press). The hypothesis for a central role for the AOS in mammalian reproductive behavior has been substantiated (see Wysocki, 1979).
La transformación del espacio doméstico como resultado de cambios en el espacio público en Malata, una doctrina colonial temprana en el valle del Colca

The arrival of the Spaniards to the Colca Valley not only had repercussions in the public sphere but also the native populations were deeply influenced. Notwithstanding the records of these populations in the form of visitas (censuses) and other documentation, the nature of those changes brought about by the application of political-religious discourse on their material culture is unknown. This article aims to further the knowledge of this context of change, through defining the characteristics of the late prehispanic villages of the upper Colca valley and the architectural analysis of Malata, an early Christian doctrina, to understand the transformation of the domestic space based on changes in the public space over the time.
Evidence and Feasibility of Implementing an Integrated Wellness Program in Northeast Georgia

Evidence for the connection between physical and mental health is growing, as is interest in providing a holistic, mind-body approach to improving mental health and wellness. A needs assessment in northeast Georgia identified several regional health priorities, including mental health and substance abuse, access to care, and cardiovascular health. The study's purpose is threefold: to (1) review evidence for integrated mind-body wellness services, (2) explore the feasibility of implementing wellness services in a small mental health agency serving northeast Georgia, and (3) conduct a brief survey assessing interest in a wellness program. The literature search identified articles within the past 10 years with these key words: "yoga," "mental health," "wellness program," "complementary alternative medicine," "tai chi," "mindfulness," "meditation," and "nutrition." The survey was distributed to the agency's affiliates. The literature review identified strong evidence for an integrated mind-body wellness program that includes yoga, tai chi, mindfulness meditation, and nutrition education. Among 73 survey respondents, 86 percent indicated interest in wellness services, and 85 percent agreed that wellness services are important to mental health and well-being. Authors suggest a model to incorporate a holistic wellness program to complement mental health services and help facilitate physical and mental health.
Choice between series and parallel connections of hysteretic system and viscous damper for seismic protection of structures

Summary Supplemental viscous damping devices are generally envisioned to be connected in parallel to the inelastic parent structure or hysteretic damping devices. This gives rise to higher base shear, and often greater ductility demand of the hysteretic system. The series connection of the viscous and hysteretic system (the inelastic structure or a damper) is an alternative approach. In this paper, comparisons between the series and parallel connections of the hysteretic system and viscous dampers are done through response spectra analyses of single degree of freedom structures. Ductility demand of the hysteretic system and the total base shear are chosen as the response quantities. For the series model, a semi-implicit solution scheme for classical Maxwell model is modified to include the inelasticity of the time-independent hysteretic spring. It is observed that the series connection of the 2 dampers gives lower base shear than does the parallel connection. For long-period and low-damping structures, the ductility demand of the hysteretic system in series connection is higher than that in parallel connection. Increasing the viscous damping in series connection reduces the ductility demand substantially, lower than that obtained in parallel connection. Practical methods for implementing the series and parallel connections, in line with roof isolation, are also suggested.
An Efficient Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Interface With Current-Balancing and Hot-Swapping Control

This paper presents an energy efficient Power over Ethernet interface for applications that require higher power delivery than that of IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at standards allow. The proposed architecture increases the power delivered to the powered-device by utilizing all four pairs of the CAT5 cable. Maximum power is guaranteed by a current-balancing control block which equalizes the currents in the CAT5 cable. The current-balancing control is implemented in an efficient way of regulating the pass p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor in the diode bridge stage. The proposed interface also includes a hot-swapping control block that protects the devices in the power conduction path by limiting both the maximum load current and the maximum voltage ramping rate. The voltage and current-limiting functions are controlled by two separated regulation loops. To reduce the power loss, a single pass n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is inserted in the ground current path and is shared by both regulation loops. The experimental result of the assembled prototype showed balanced currents among all four pairs in the CAT5 cable. In cases of hot-plugging, the proposed prototype exhibited both well-controlled inrush current and limited voltage-ramping rate under various load capacitance conditions.
Agricultural Intensification on the epiClassic northern Mesoamerican frontier: The La Quemada Terraces

Abstract The underlying paradigms of Boserup, Chisholm and risk management theories are used as frameworks to present and interpret findings from our excavations on the La Quemada agricultural terraces in southern Zacatecas, Mexico. Boserupian models are based on population pressure; Chisholm models are based on distance, and risk management focuses on environmental challenges and the varied human responses to them. The data suggests a greater congruency to risk management, especially in terms of diversification and the cultivation of agave as a key buffer throughout the region. Distance also plays an important role, and underscores the local-level concentration of production. A distinction is shown between the La Quemada terraces and those associated with individual settlements. The former implies top-down decision making; the latter reflects bottom-up or collective group decisions. Finally, an alternative consideration to these paradigms lies in the extractive nature of the primate settlement system. Here additional subsistence requirements for large labor groups and specialists could indirectly encourage increased agricultural productivity.
Sketch Based Interaction Techniques for Chart Creation and Manipulation

In a classroom environment, students are often required to extract descriptive statistics from charts, or find an appropriate graphical representation of the data they are given. On paper these drawings are static, but in an interactive learning environment, the exploration of data can be improved. To address this, we present a set of novel interaction techniques for the creation and manipulation of 12 chart types that leverage pen and touch in a prototype application, SketChart. We allow a user to sketch an appropriate chart type to visualize their data, after which, he or she can remove, merge, and filter data through direct manipulations. Data series and points are also managed through a pair of interactive legends. In a formative user study based on a set of typical statistics questions, we find that even with a chart recognition accuracy of only 81%, the overall system was still well received and can be used as a learning tool for descriptive statistics.
Reduced vascular risk factors in Parkinson's disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies compared to Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives The association of vascular risk factors (VRFs) with incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) has been well studied. However, the association between VRFs and non-AD dementia is seldom investigated. In this study, we aim to compare the concurrence of VRFs of Lewy body dementia (LBD) to AD. Materials & Methods We consecutively enrolled patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), and AD, and the prevalence of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and obesity was assessed and compared. Results A total of 167 consecutive patients were studied. Among them, 55 had DLB, 34 had PDD, and 78 had AD. History of any VRF among three groups was not significantly different. In addition, the patients with AD had significantly higher systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic pressure (DBP), waist, body mass index (BMI), ac glucose, and HbA1c (all p-value < .005). After a stepwise procedure that considered age, sex, disease severity, antiparkinson drugs, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, glycated hemoglobin, body mass index, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein, SBP in the third tertile (144-198 mmHg), BMI in the second tertile (23.6-26.4), and TG in the third tertile (127-310) were significantly lower in LBD than in AD. Conclusions The VRFs are less associated with LBD than with AD. DLB and PDD showed a similar pattern of the association of VRFs. SBP, BMI, and TG were significantly lower in LBD compared with AD.
The environmental, economic and societal consequences of inadequate nitrogen pollution controls

Because adequate nutrient controls were not established in the USA and other countries when there were past opportunities to do so, nutrient pollution of estuaries and coastal waters has resulted in the impairment of ecosystems and major reductions or collapse of fisheries at numerous sites around the world, resulting in major economic and societal impacts. The root problem is that political policies and processes have permitted municipalities, developers, industries and farmers to expand and operate without paying the full cost of their activities. Their expanded activities have occurred at the expense and displacement of those who rely on the productivity and recreational value of our estuarine and coastal waters. Some governments have developed remedial nutrient control programs, but most of them have been poorly conceived, under funded and inadequately enforced, resulting in small increments of progress that tend to be lost because of inadequate land use and immigration controls. It is proposed that establishment of comprehensive nutrient controls is needed throughout the world to preserve and protect estuarine and coastal waters, and to protect or re-establish fisheries, for both economic and societal stability. Nitrogen is the key nutrient for the establishment of control strategies. It is recommended that nutrient recovery from wastewaters and controlled reuse of both water and nutrients be widely implemented as a part of nutrient control strategies.
Classification of Coxeter Groups

We continue to assume that g ≤ o(V) is a Coxeter group with root system Δ, and that П = {r 1, ..., r n } is a t-base for some t ∈ V. As before, the fundamental reflection along r i will be denoted by S i .
Intraoperative hypotension and flap loss in free tissue transfer surgery of the head and neck.

Background In free flap head and neck reconstructions, hemodynamic management is complicated by the deleterious effects of excessive crystalloid administration. Patients may undergo periods of hypotension or excess fluid administration. The purpose of this study was to present our examination of the hypotheses that intraoperative hypotension and blood pressure lability are associated with increased fluid administration and flap failure. Methods We reviewed the records of 445 patients undergoing head and neck surgery involving free tissue transfer. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the relationship between hemodynamic variables and flap loss (primary outcome) and other complications. Results On multivariate analysis, intraoperative hypotension and large-volume fluid administration were associated with flap loss. Neither blood pressure lability nor vasopressor administration was significantly associated to our primary outcome. Conclusions Intraoperative hypotension is associated to flap failure in head and neck free tissue transfer surgeries, as is large-volume fluid administration.
Screen-viewing Practices in Social Virtual Reality

This study reports screen-viewing practices in the social virtual reality platform Altspace, based on immersive observations. We identified what type of content is being watched and how the screen content facilitates, complements, or is the focus of social interactions.
EcoWisdom for Climate Justice Planning: Social-Ecological Vulnerability Assessment in Boston’s Charles River Watershed

Climate change has exacerbated socioeconomic and environmental stresses in places where social and ecological vulnerability persist. With a growing population projected to occur in the Boston metropolitan area, more socially vulnerable groups are likely to bear the burdens from climate change-induced hazards. Understanding the interlinked relationship between social and ecological vulnerability is critical to understand the resilience of social-ecological systems in communities. This paper aims to provide a social-ecological assessment framework that serves as a resilience planning tool to inform growth management and incorporate EcoWisdom for climate justice planning. This study employed a Social-Ecological Vulnerability Matrix to examine climate justice hotspots where social vulnerability intersects with ecological vulnerability of a place in the Charles River Watershed. Four climate change scenarios derived from a climate sensitivity study were investigated. The results provided implications for four planning strategies corresponding to the four quadrates of the matrix. This paper demonstrated a planning tool to inform policies for enhancing resilience under a range of climate change impacts and to integrate equity planning for local climate justice.
Clinical utility of the WASI-II and its association with acculturation levels among Arab American adolescent males

AbstractNeuropsychologists attempting to provide an ethical and clinically useful assessment of intellectual functioning among immigrant youth face great challenges. For instance, immigrant youth u...
Sparse User Check-in Venue Prediction By Exploring Latent Decision Contexts From Location-Based Social Networks

The proliferation of online Location-Based Social Networks (LBSN) has offered unprecedented opportunities for understanding fine-grained spatio-temporal behaviors of users and developing new location-aware applications. In this article, we focus on the problem of “Sparse User Check-in Venue Prediction,” where the goal is to predict the next venue LBSN users will visit by exploiting their sparse online check-in traces and the latent decision contexts. While efforts have been made to predict users’ check-in traces on a LBSN, several important challenges still exist. First, check-in traces contributed by LBSN users are often too sparse to provide sufficient evidence for a reliable prediction, especially when the prediction space is huge (e.g., hundreds of thousands of venues in large cities). Second, the user's decision context on which venue to visit next is often latent and has not been incorporated by current venue prediction models. Third, the dynamic and non-deterministic dependency between check-ins is either ignored or replaced by a simplified “consecutiveness” assumption in existing solutions, leading to sub-optimal prediction results. In this article, we develop a Context-aware Sparse Check-in Venue Prediction (CSCVP) scheme inspired by natural language processing techniques to address the above challenges. In particular, CSCVP predicts the venue category information and explores the similarity between users to address data sparsity challenge by significantly reducing the prediction space. It also leverages the Probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis (PLSA) model to incorporate the user decision context into the prediction model. Finally, we develop a novel Temporal Adaptive Ngram (TA-Ngram) model in CSCVP to capture the dynamic and non-deterministic dependency between check-ins. We evaluate CSCVP using three real-world LBSN datasets. The results show that our scheme significantly improves accuracy (30.9 percent improvement) of the state-of-the-art user check-in venue prediction solutions.
Convolutional Neural Network for ECG-based Virtual Pathology Stethoscope Tracking in Patient Heart Auscultation

Cardiac auscultation (CA) is the auditory detection of heart sounds to diagnose abnormalities, a crucial skill that is both efficient and cost-effective in medical practice. However, due to increased prevalence and usage of expensive cardiac technologies, many new physicians and trainees have difficulty performing essential cardiac examinations on their patients, particularly diagnosing abnormalities through auscultation using a stethoscope. A virtual pathology stethoscope is a simulation-based solution that train students to perform cardiac examinations by listening to abnormal heart sounds in otherwise healthy standardized patients (SPs). This study reports the accuracy of an electrocardiogram (ECG)-based stethoscope tracking method for placing virtual symptoms in correct auscultation regions. A modified stethoscope head with two electrodes was used to pick up ECG signals at the four primary auscultation sites. A one-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) is then modeled to classify the location of the stethoscope by taking advantage of subtle differences in the ECG signals. A 91% accuracy was obtained, showing promising performance gain over our previous methods. This finding would significantly extend the simulation capabilities of SPs by allowing trainees to perform realistic CA and hear CA in clinical environment.
Parameter Identification and Nonparametric Calibration of the Tri-Pyramid Robot

The Tri-pyramid Robot is a 3-degree-of-freedom overconstrained parallel robot designed for the rapid flexible forming of three-dimensional thin sheets without geometry-specific dies used in conventional forming processes. In this article, a combined parametric and nonparametric calibration method for the geometric and nongeometric errors of the Tri-pyramid Robot is presented. The geometry-based inverse and forward kinematic equations are derived. With the actuator values and the relative end-effector positions measured through experiments, the real structural parameters are identified using the nonlinear least-squares method. A neural network is trained to further calibrate the position- and direction-dependent nongeometric errors, such as backlash and link deformations. Combining the end-effector position calculated from the kinematic model and the nongeometric errors predicted with the trained neural network, the end-effector positions can be predicted. The validation experiments show that the accuracy of the robot can be improved by 60% with the proposed method.
Urban Resilience and the Politics of Development

This chapter explores the phenomenon of urban resilience and shows how climate urbanism has become a new planning logic in the global South. Drawing on experiences from Surat and Kochi in India, I illustrate the real and conscious political decisions that cities make to design and implement risk management priorities. Although resilience thinking offers visions of ‘bouncing back’ from and adapting to climate shocks while retaining economic prosperity, local rhetoric of and approaches to realizing resilience inevitably become enmeshed within the values and interests of political agents and forces that are constantly contesting the development trajectory of the city. For the global South, the rise of climate urbanism therefore raises questions about how its implementation can be complicated by established political coalitions, local development interests, and entrenched forms of socioeconomic exclusion.
Time-Varying Optimization-Based Consensus Control For Microgrid's Secondary Control

In this paper, a time-varying convex optimization-based consensus controller is utilized for the secondary control of Microgrid in islanded mode. During this mode, grid-forming units are responsible for controlling the frequency and voltage of the microgid. Hierarchical control structure based on droop control is utilized to provide these functionalities. In primary control level, the system stability is maintained through supplying required active and reactive power leaving a deviation in the frequency and voltage magnitudes. The secondary control level is introduced to restore the frequency and voltage to their nominal values. However, droop-based hierarchal control suffers from poor reactive power sharing due to voltage drop in the lines. The proposed controller aims to restore the frequency to its nominal value and voltage within a predefined limit while keeping the active and reactive power sharing difference between units to the minimum. The proposed controller employs consensus-based distributed communication where each unit only communicates with its neighbor. This paper provides optimality and consensus analysis of time-varying optimization-based consensus control as well as a design procedure of the controller. The proposed controller is validated through SIMULINK/ MATLAB simulation. The real-time convex optimization solver is provided by CVXGEN.
Energy-Efficient Optimal Water Flow Considering Pump Efficiency

The electricity demand for water supply purposes is steadily increasing due to urbanization. Therefore, water distribution networks (WDNs) are becoming energy-intensive due to the wide-spread deployment of electricity-driven water pumps. Energy-efficient operation of water pumps is a significant concern for WDN operators. To this end, this paper formulates the optimal water flow (OWF) problem to optimally schedule pumps and valves with the objective of minimizing the pump power consumption while at the same time accounting for the flow-dependent pump efficiency in WDNs. The resulting OWF problem is a mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP). The problem includes a fractional (nonconvex) objective and nonconvex constraints due to the WDN hydraulics, and is hard to solve. A novel successive linear approximation-based approach is used to overcome the nonconvex hydraulic constraints. Furthermore, Dinkelbach’s algorithm is used to tackle the fractional pump power objective. Finally, a solver called convex optimal water flow (C-OWF) is developed, which relies on solving a sequence of mixed-integer linear programs. A case study verified by simulation software EPANET illustrates the C-OWF’s benefits in operating the pump near maximum efficiency and reducing pump power compared to conventional rule-based designs.
Connecting the dots: rethinking the relationship between code and prose writing with functional connectivity

Medical imaging studies of software engineering have risen in popularity and may reveal the neural underpinnings of coding activities. To date, however, all studies in computer science venues have treated brain regions independently and in isolation. Since most complex neural activity involves coordination among multiple regions, previous analyses may overlook neural behavior. We propose to apply functional connectivity analysis to medical imaging data from software engineering tasks. Informally, this analysis treats the brain as a graph, rather than a series of independent modules, and statistically infers relevant edges. We present a functional connectivity analysis of existing data, which elucidates the interconnections between code writing and prose writing, especially regarding higher mathematics and semantic processing. First, we found a significant link between Broca’s Area (language) and the Number Form Area (higher mathematics) for coding. This both refines previous interpretations that code writing and natural language are distinct from each other, and may also contribute to the understanding of the Number Form Area in the Psychology literature. Second, we identify an area with important functional connectivity for both prose writing and coding, unlike previous analyses that associated it with coding. This advances our neural understanding of coding and prose writing, and was only exposed by using functional connectivity analysis. Third, for coding, we find a strong functional connectivity result for a brain region involved in semantic processing for language, with implications for CS training. Finally, we find a neural relationship between coding and expertise, including a more grounded explanation than prior work.
Picosecond Nonlinear-Optical Limiting in Silicon

We report a Si picosecond nonlinear-optical energy limiter for 1 pm radiation. This completely passive device has a high transmission for low input energies, but it effectively clamps the output at a low value for high input energies. The switching action is activated by the generation of electron-hole pairs and therefore has a subpicosecond initiation time. The recovery time is limited by the carrier lifetime in the material. This device is attractive for pulsed applications where one wishes to restrict the pulse energy incident upon sensitive optical components. Additional potential applications include its use as an optical Zener diode and as a fluence regulator for use in materials processing.
Epilepsy surgery in a patient with Dandy-Walker variant

Epilepsy surgery is an option for many pediatric patients diagnosed with intractable seizures. Identifying pediatric patients that are candidates for surgery can be complicated. This case presented a 19-year-old female with intractable epilepsy who had chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura and Dandy-Walker variant. The patient had previously been prescribed three appropriate anti-epileptic drugs and continued to experience seizures weekly. The patient had thrombocytopenia, which represented a potential for increased complications. The pre-operative work-up demonstrated heterotopias and dysplasias, which were felt to be the source of the focal onset seizures. She underwent focal resection and at the time of the last follow-up visit, the patient had been seizure free for 2 yr. The outcome of the patient exemplified the importance of evaluating patients with posterior fossa abnormalities for epilepsy surgery. The data in patients with Dandy-Walker variant is limited.
The neurovascular unit, matrix proteases, and innate inflammation

In the central nervous system, microvessel–neuron interactions appear highly coordinated. The rapid simultaneous responses of the microvasculature, neurons, and glia to focal ischemia in experimental ischemic stroke suggest that these responses could be viewed in a unitary fashion, rather than as individual components. The “neurovascular unit” consists of microvessels (endothelial cells–basal lamina matrix–astrocyte end-feet [and pericytes]), astrocytes, neurons and their axons, and other supporting cells that are likely to modulate the function of the “unit.” Each cell component generates an inflammatory response to ischemia. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 was first associated with hemorrhagic transformation following focal ischemia in an experimental model. A series of studies of ischemic stroke patients also suggests a relationship between MMP-9 levels and several consequences of ischemic injury, including hemorrhagic transformation. Recent experimental work suggests specific cell sources for MMP-9 generation and for matrix proteases from four distinct families that could impact neurovascular unit integrity.
Plasma and erythrocyte chemistry of the normal infant from birth to two years of age.

One hundred eighty-eight normal infants from birth to 2 years of age have been studied in a serial manner with regard to concentrations of Na, K, and Cl in plasma and erythrocytes; plasma Ca, NPN, protein and CO2; plasma pH and venous hematocrit. These values have been compared with those of normal women at term and with other adult normal values. Nineteen samples of blood from the umbilical artery were likewise analyzed for comparison. Serial and progressive alterations in the measured variables occurred and in several regards the normal infant body fluid chemical anatomy departs sharply from normal adult values.
Incommensurate magnetic fluctuations in YBa2Cu3O6.6

We use inelastic neutron scattering to demonstrate that the low-frequency magnetic fluctuations in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{6.6}$ ( ${T}_{c}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}62.7$ K) change from commensurate to incommensurate on cooling with the incommensurability first appearing at temperatures above ${T}_{c}$. For the energies studied, the susceptibility at incommensurate positions increases on cooling below ${T}_{c}$, accompanied by a suppression of the spin fluctuations at the commensurate points. These results suggest that incommensurate spin fluctuations may be a common feature for all cuprate superconductors.
Barriers to help-seeking, detection, and adequate treatment for anxiety and mood disorders: implications for health care policy

Recently, the focus of health policies and initiatives has been directed toward mental health. More precisely, depressive and anxiety disorders have received particular attention because of their disabling outcomes and prevalence among most populations. Despite this increased interest, numerous issues regarding patients' willingness to seek treatment and the adequate recognition and treatment of these disorders by clinicians remain to be addressed. This article considers the factors that influence patients and physicians in their reticence to acknowledge and adequately treat depression and anxiety disorders. It also reviews the impact of society and the media, together with other factors relating to health care organization and administration that affect the treatment of depression and anxiety. In view of the multifaceted challenge involved, efforts to achieve a consensus in determining treatment for those with depressive and anxiety disorders are essential. A consensus will require easy, measurable, and reliable disability indicators; evidence that treatment of patients with varying levels of need is cost effective; and that persons who most need and would benefit from care can be reliably identified among the highly prevalent population of persons with more transient symptoms. Governments and other policymakers should be encouraged to provide appropriate coverage for access to primary and secondary care, the treatments required, and sufficient resources so that care is available when necessary. An important aspect of the challenge is to incorporate these efforts within the realistic constraints of primary care.
Indications for hormonal pellets in the therapy of endocrine and gynecic disorders

Abstract The implantation of hormonal pellets has proved of value in the management of a great variety of endocrine and gynecic disorders. Pellet implantation is indicated in those conditions where prolonged hormonal therapy appears necessary. With the use of the Kearns Pellet Injector, pellet implantation is a simple office procedure. Some of the indications and contraindications for pellet implantation are listed. A number of typical case reports are cited in which pellet implantation was of definite benefit to the patient. It appears that the pellet method of hormone administration has more nearly approached the endogenous rate of hormonal secretion. Furthermore, its use has made possible a clearer understanding of the physiologic properties of certain steroids. Testosterone and desoxycorticosterone acetate pellets are now commercially available, and it is hoped that pellets of estradiol and progesterone will soon be made available for general use.
Crowdsourcing The National Map

Using crowdsourcing techniques, the US Geological Survey’s (USGS) Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) project known as “The National Map Corps (TNMCorps)” encourages citizen scientists to coll...
Lead-acid batteries in micro-hybrid vehicles

Abstract More and more vehicles hit the European automotive market, which comprise some type of micro-hybrid functionality to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Most carmakers already offer at least one of their vehicles with an optional engine start/stop system, while some other models are sold with micro-hybrid functions implemented by default. But these car concepts show a wide variety in detail—the term “micro-hybrid” may mean a completely different functionality in one vehicle model compared to another. Accordingly, also the battery technologies are not the same. There is a wide variety of batteries from standard flooded and enhanced flooded to AGM which all are claimed to be “best choice” for micro-hybrid applications. A technical comparison of micro-hybrid cars available on the European market has been performed. Different classes of cars with different characteristics have been identified. Depending on the scope and characteristics of micro-hybrid functions, as well as on operational strategies implemented by the vehicle makers, the battery operating duties differ significantly between these classes of vehicles. Additional laboratory investigations have been carried out to develop an understanding of effects observed in batteries operated in micro-hybrid vehicles pursuing different strategies, to identify limitations for applications of different battery technologies.
Cenozoic latitudinal response curves: individualistic changes in the latitudinal distributions of marine bivalves and gastropods

Abstract. We use a Gaussian logistic regression model to characterize epoch-to-epoch and stage-to-stage changes in the latitudinal response curves of Cenozoic marine bivalve and gastropod genera along the global latitudinal gradient, and analyze these changes to understand the mode and tempo of changes in latitudinal distribution. A ubiquitous “hollow curve” pattern is apparent, wherein smaller changes in response-curve parameters are much more common than larger changes. Curves are strikingly consistent in terms of the average level of change exhibited, despite the many unique environmental and biological changes documented between each of these intervals. This implies that the pace and magnitude of changes in the latitudinal distribution of marine mollusks are not controlled, in aggregate, by time-period-specific conditions. Additionally, we find no evidence for long-term migration from tropical to extratropical latitudes. Our results instead favor a model of either equatorward migration or no general t...
Who or what killed the Soviet Union? How three Davids undermined Goliath

The sources of Soviet collapse intertwined, but Baltic independence movements were as weighty as any factors in subverting the USSR. As the imperial core faltered, nationalists in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania gained strength, and links frayed between the authorities at the centre and political actors on the periphery. Activists in each Baltic republic used Gorbachev's platform of perestroika, glasnost’ and legality to assert their nation's sovereignty in specific domains, such as resources and the environment, but soon escalated to demand sovereignty overall ‐ independence. When the Kremlin complained and threatened repressive action, Baits stood fast. Depending on legal and moral force, including non‐violent resistance, they showed the centre to be irresolute. Fostering separatism in other republics, including a Russia led by Boris Yeltsin, Baits triggered multiple challenges to empire. Gorbachev's counter, a planned ‘Union of Sovereign States’, ignited the August 1991 putsch that effectively ended the ...
P300 correlates of simulated malingered amnesia in a matching-to-sample task: topographic analyses of deception versus truthtelling responses

Two experiments using a P300-enhanced Forced Choice Procedure (P3FCP) investigated simulated amnesia in a matching-to-sample task. In Experiment 1, successful manipulation of subjects towards different behavioral hit rates (75-80% vs. 85-90%) did not adversely affect the diagnostic sensitivity of match-mismatch Pz-P300 amplitude analyses, allowing detection of 69% of simulators. P300 amplitudes of simulators (Malinger group) were as large as those of truth-tellers (truth group, a control), indicating no dual task-related (Malingering) reduction across different behavioral hit rates. Experiment 2 found no main effect of oddball type, match vs. mismatch, on P300 (P3) amplitude with a mismatch-rare variant of the P3FCP. This study also revealed larger Pz-P3s in the Malingering (vs. Truth-telling) condition. Subsequent topographic analyses suggested different Truth and Malinger scaled P3 amplitude topographies in both these sets of P3FCP data and in those from a previous autobiographical memory paradigm. Further analysis yielded preliminary evidence for a common deception-related P3 amplitude topography across different paradigms/conditions.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: survival in population based and hospital based cohorts

BACKGROUND To ascertain whether findings from hospital based clinical series can be extended to patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in the general population, the survival of patients with IPF in a population based registry was compared with that of a cohort of patients with IPF treated at major referral hospitals and the factors influencing survival in the population based registry were identified. METHODS The survival of 209 patients with IPF from the New Mexico Interstitial Lung Disease Registry and a cohort of 248 patients with IPF who were participating in a multicentre case-control study was compared. The determinants of survival for the patients from the Registry were determined using life table and proportional hazard modelling methods. RESULTS The median survival times of patients with IPF in the Registry and case-control cohorts were similar (4.2 years and 4.1 years, respectively), although the average age at diagnosis of the Registry patients was greater (71.7 years versus 60.6 years, p CONCLUSIONS The adjusted survival of patients with IPF in the general population is different from that of hospital referrals which suggests that selection biases affect the survival experience of referral hospitals.
Oxygen and Nitrogen in Leo A and GR 8

We present elemental abundances for multiple H II regions in Leo A and GR 8 obtained from long-slit optical spectroscopy of these two nearby low-luminosity dwarf irregular galaxies. As expected from their luminosities, and in agreement with previous observations, the derived oxygen abundances are extremely low in both galaxies. High signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) observations of a planetary nebula in Leo A yield 12 + log(O/H) = 7.30 ± 0.05; semiempirical calculations of the oxygen abundance in four H II regions in Leo A indicate 12 + log(O/H) = 7.38 ± 0.10. These results confirm that Leo A has one of the lowest ISM metal abundances of known nearby galaxies. Based on results from two H II regions with high S/N measurements of the weak [O III] λ4363 line, the mean oxygen abundance of GR 8 is 12 + log(O/H) = 7.65 ± 0.06; using "empirical" and "semiempirical" methods, similar abundances are derived for six other GR 8 H II regions. Similar to previous results in other low-metallicity galaxies, the mean log(N/O) = -1.53 ± 0.09 for Leo A and -1.51 ± 0.07 for GR 8. There is no evidence of significant variations in either O/H or N/O in the H II regions. The metallicity-luminosity relation for nearby (D < 5 Mpc) dwarf irregular galaxies with measured oxygen abundances has a mean correlation of 12 + log(O/H) = 5.67MB-0.151MB, with a dispersion in oxygen about the relationship of σ = 0.21. These observations confirm that gas-rich, low-luminosity galaxies have extremely low elemental abundances in the ionized gas phase of their interstellar media. Although Leo A has one of the lowest metal abundances of known nearby galaxies, detection of tracers of an older stellar population (RR Lyrae variable stars, horizontal branch stars, and a well-populated red giant branch) indicate that it is not a newly formed galaxy, as has been proposed for some other similar low-metallicity star-forming galaxies.
Teaching students to learn to learn mobile phone programming

This paper describes experiences of the instructor of a course dealing with mobile phone programming. This instance of the course (offered yearly since 2010) reuses the academic content of a traditional software engineering course, but requires mobile phone application development for concrete deliverables that exemplify competency of the academic concepts of the course. The paper describes the tradeoffs between teaching the material vs. students learning the material, group dynamics and constraints, as well as technical recommendations for faculty who are considering offering a course that concentrates on mobile phone applications.
Sorption and hydration effects on liquid carbon dioxide transport through mesoporous γ-alumina and titania membranes

Abstract Dehydrated and partially hydrated liquid carbon dioxide (>70 bar, 298 K) transport was examined in mesoporous ceramic membranes with γ-alumina (5 nm) and titania (1 and 5 kDa) separation layers. Liquid carbon dioxide, a green solvent alternative, is an apolar solvent with pressure-dependent physicochemical properties. Viscosity-corrected volumetric flux was used to incorporate changes in density and viscosity with increasing feed pressure. It was observed, for both dehydrated and partially hydrated liquid carbon dioxide (∼20 ppm water in feed), that solvent–membrane interactions played a significant role in transport behavior. For dehydrated feeds, consecutive permeation cycles indicated appreciable carbon dioxide sorption, reducing the effective cross-sectional pore area and permeability. When liquid carbon dioxide was partially hydrated, water preferentially adsorbed on the pore surface and led to a significant reduction in permeability relative to dehydrated conditions. Flux of hydrated liquid carbon dioxide was non-linear in all three membranes due to water stripping from the pore surface with increasing pressure (i.e. carbon dioxide density and solvent strength). The permeability of liquid carbon dioxide was compared with reported values for “conventional” solvents. Based on our findings, we discuss potential factors that will influence condensed phase carbon dioxide transport in ceramic membranes.