cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Refinement of Drivers' Visibility Needs during Wet Night Conditions:

The purpose of this project was to develop a specification for the minimum retroreflectivity of pavement markings in wet nighttime conditions. For this specification to be established, the performance of four retroreflective pavement marking materials in wet night conditions was evaluated. The performance of the pavement markings was evaluated by driver participants under simulated rain conditions with a protocol similar to that of studies that had already been performed at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The performance of the markings was verified on the basis of the participants' ability to detect the end points of the markings in both rainy and clear conditions. This investigation reached the following conclusions: (a) The materials developed over recent years showed an improved performance over those tested previously. (b) The log-linear relationship found previously was functional for the data provided. Two models were developed. The m...
Learning from the Swat Pathans : political leadership in Afghanistan, 1978-97

The conflict in Afghanistan, now two decades old, has generated considerable attention from journalists, policy analysts, and political scientists, but the literature on the conflict includes few references to the work of Fredrik Barth on political leadership among the Swat Pakhtuns of neighboring Pakistan. Here I explore the relevance of Barth's work to an analysis of the war in Afghanistan. In particular, I examine Barth's “methodological individualism” and compare his approach with alternative approaches advanced by three of his principal critics: Talal Asad, Akbar S. Ahmed, and Michael Meeker. [Afghanistan, Pakistan, political authority, Islam]
Suppression of scattering resonances in inhomogeneous microdroplets

Resonance structure in elastic scattering was measured for evaporating micrometer-sized glycerol droplets suspended in an electrodynamic trap. Seeding the droplets with polystyrene latex particles having a diameter of 30 nm ≤ d ≤ 105 nm broadens and attenuates the highest Q (with bare Q ≈ 103−105) resonances, where Q is defined as the ratio of the energy stored to the energy lost from a cavity per cycle. Regardless of whether resonance conditions are satisfied, the presence of latex particles causes fluctuations in the scattering with an amplitude of up to ≈30% of the total signal. Model calculations suggest that the fluctuations may be due at least partially to agglomerated latex particles passing through hot-spot regions within the droplet.
Biokatalytisch relevante rautenförmige Bis(μ‐oxo)dimetall‐Kerne in Kupfer‐ und Eisenkomplexen

Obwohl es in der Chemie des hochvalenten Mangans recht haufig anzutreffen ist, wurde das rautenformige Strukturmotiv des M2(μ-O)2-Kerns fur M=Cu oder Fe erst vor kurzem in synthetischen Komplexen entdeckt. Die strukturelle und spektroskopische Charakterisierung dieser reaktiven Cu2(μ-O)2- und Fe2(μ-O)2-Verbindungen wurde moglich durch die Verwendung von Hilfsliganden mit geeignetem Design, Methoden zur Handhabung bei tiefen Temperaturen und Messverfahren wie der Elektrospray-Ionisierungs-Massenspektrometrie und der Rontgenkristallographie mit Flachenzahlern fur schnelle Datensammlung. Trotz Unterschieden in den Elektronenstrukturen weisen Cu2(μ-O)2- und Fe2(μ-O)2-Kerne analoge kovalente Metall-Oxo-Bindungen, bemerkenswert deckungsgleiche Signalmuster im Raman- und Rontgenabsorptionsspektrum sowie eine ahnliche Neigung zur Abstraktion von Wasserstoffatomen aus Substraten auf. Eine weitere gemeinsame Eigenschaft im Zusammenhang mit der Reaktivitat ist die Kernisomerisierung, auch wenn dabei unterschiedliche Reaktionswege beschritten werden; bei Fe wurde eine Wanderung des Oxoliganden von einer verbruckenden in eine terminale Position festgestellt, wahrend bei Cu die reversible Bildung einer O-O-Bindung beobachtet wurde, die ein Peroxoisomer ergibt. Unser Verstandnis der Biokatalyse wurde durch die Isolierung und umfassende Charakterisierung der Cu2(μ-O)2- und Fe2(μ-O)2-Komplexe bedeutend vertieft. Insbesondere haben sich dadurch neue Vorstellungen zum Funktionsmechanismus von Nichtham-Multimetallenzymen wie Methan-Monooxygenase, Fettsaure-Desaturase oder Tyrosinase bei der Disauerstoffaktivierung ergeben, uber die eine Vielfalt von organischen Umwandlungen katalysiert wird.
Red cell vacuoles: their size and distribution under normal conditions and after splenectomy

The frequency of occurrence of vacuoles in red blood cells was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Small vacuoles were found in about 13% of the cell sections, and they had a mean diameter of 130 +/- 72 nm (mean +/- SD). It can be estimated that there were about 20 small vacuoles per erythrocyte. The frequency of vacuoles was similar in density-separated cell fractions. In splenectomized patients, the small vacuoles were 4 times more frequent; there was again no difference in vacuole density between top and bottom fractions of density-separated red blood cells. The bottom fraction of red blood cells from splenectomized patients, however, had a high incidence of large vacuoles (greater than 300 nm in diameter) and clustering of small vacuoles. These large vacuoles were probably the result of aggregation and fusion of small vacuoles, and their size allowed detection by light microscopy. Hence, the well-known "pocked" or "pitted" red blood cells of splenectomized individuals were more frequent in the bottom fraction. We conclude that small vacuoles occur normally in erythrocytes, that they tend to cluster and fuse during cell aging, and that the spleen is capable of removing these structures when they reach a certain size.
Tricuspid regurgitation after orthotopic heart transplantation.

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a relatively common abnormality in normal adults as well as after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). A few studies have shown reduction in the incidence of TR after OHT by total bicaval surgical anastomosis technique. Other studies reported no significant difference in the rates of TR between the standard and bicaval techniques. Objective: Evaluate and compare the degree of TR after OHT by standard and bicaval anastomosis techniques. Method: Echocardiograms from the first 56 consecutive patients that had the total bicaval surgical technique performed were retrospectively reviewed and compared with the last 57 consecutive patients who had the standard biatrial technique performed. Patients with adequate two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms were included. Results: No statistical difference was observed for each grade of TR at both early and late time points. No significant difference was observed between the TR velocities of both biatrial and bicaval anastomosis patients at different periods. Conclusion: There appears to be no difference between the TR severity and TR velocity at early and late time points regardless of anastomotic technique. (Echocardiography 2010;27:1-4)
Partial least square and k-nearest neighbor algorithms for improved 3D quantitative spectral data-activity relationship consensus modeling of acute toxicity.

A diverse set of 154 chemicals that included US Food and Drug Administration–regulated compounds tested for their aquatic toxicity in Daphnia magna were modeled by a 3-dimensional quantitative spectral data–activity relationship (3D-QSDAR). Two distinct algorithms, partial least squares (PLS) and Tanimoto similarity-based k-nearest neighbors (KNN), were used to process bin occupancy descriptor matrices obtained after tessellation of the 3D-QSDAR space into regularly sized bins. The performance of models utilizing bins ranging in size from 2 ppm × 2 ppm × 0.5 A to 20 ppm × 20 ppm × 2.5 A was explored. Rigorous quality-control criteria were imposed: 1) 100 randomized 20% hold-out test sets were generated and the average R2test of the respective models was used as a measure of their performance, and 2) a Y-scrambling procedure was used to identify chance correlations. A consensus between the best-performing composite PLS model using 0.5 A × 14 ppm × 14 ppm bins and 10 latent variables (average R2test = 0.770) and the best composite KNN model using 0.5 A × 8 ppm × 8 ppm and 2 neighbors (average R2test = 0.801) offered an improvement of about 7.5% (R2test consensus = 0.845). Projection of the most frequently occurring bins on the standard coordinate space indicated that the presence of a primary or secondary amino group—substituted aromatic systems—would result in an increased toxic effect in Daphnia. The presence of a second aromatic ring with highly electronegative substituents 5 A to 7 A apart from the first ring would lead to a further increase in toxicity. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1271–1282. © 2014 SETAC
HAND ASSISTED LAPAROSCOPIC PARTIAL NEPHRECTOMY FOR PERIPHERAL AND CENTRAL LESIONS: A REVIEW OF 30 CONSECUTIVE CASES

ABSTRACTPurpose: We reviewed our first 30 hand assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomies and compared the results of 8 centrally located vs 22 peripherally located tumors.Materials and Methods: Tumors were classified by computerized tomography as central (less than 5 mm from the pelvicaliceal system or hilar vessels) or peripheral. The hand assisted technique consisted of mobilization and manual parenchymal compression without vascular occlusion or ureteral stent placement. Argon beam coagulation and a fibrin glue bandage were used for hemostasis.Results: Mean tumor size was 2.6 cm (range 1.0 to 4.7). Mean operative time was 199 and 271 minutes, and estimated blood loss was 240 and 894 ml for peripheral and central lesions, respectively. No case required open conversion. The final diagnoses were renal cell carcinoma in 21 patients, angiomyolipoma in 4, benign or hemorrhagic cyst in 3 and oncocytoma in 2. Initial positive margins were found in 5 of 30 specimens (16.7%) (1 central and 4 peripheral) and al...
The Dynamics of the ENSO–Atlantic Hurricane Teleconnection: ENSO-Related Changes to the North African–Asian Jet Affect Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclogenesis

The nature of the teleconnection linking ENSO variability with Atlantic basin tropical storm formation is investigated. Solutions of the linearized barotropic vorticity equation forced with August-October El Nino event divergence produce upper-tropospheric vorticity anomalies over the Sahel and at the mouth of the North African-Asian (NAA) jet over the tropical Atlantic. These responses are similar in magnitude and orientation to observed ENSO vorticity variability for this region. Further investigation reveals that the vorticity anomalies over the subtropical Atlantic develop primarily in response to very low wavenumber, westward-propagating stationary Rossby waves excited by El Nino- related convective activity over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. However, the dynamics of this teleconnection change as the Atlantic basin hurricane season progresses. In August and September the response is domi- nated by the westward-propagating stationary Rossby waves that alter vorticity within the NAA jet and to its south. The upper-tropospheric nondivergent zonal wind anomalies produced by these vorticity anomalies are similar in pattern to observed zonal wind and vertical zonal wind shear anomalies, which suppress Atlantic basin tropical cyclogenesis. By October, eastward-propagating signals also develop over the tropical Atlantic Ocean in response to El Nino conditions. Over the main development region of Atlantic basin tropical cyclogenesis, these eastward- propagating Rossby waves appear to destructively interfere with the vorticity changes produced by the westward-propagating Rossby waves within the NAA jet. In addition, the NAA jet has shifted south by October. Consequently, the resultant upper-tropospheric nondivergent zonal wind perturbations for October are weak and suggest that ENSO should have little effect on rates of Atlantic basin tropical cyclogenesis during October. Statistical analyses of monthly ENSO-related changes in Atlantic basin tropical storm formation support this hypothesis.
Comparative study of relational and object-oriented modelings of genomic data

Two major techniques commonly available for modeling genomic data are the relational and object oriented approaches. This paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches. The comparison was done using two sets of disparate genomic data, one for the E. Coli genome and one for the human genome, in order to demonstrate the generality of the modeling methods and the credibility of the comparison itself. One major strength of the object-oriented approach is its highly flexible data modeling power offering an elegant way of representing complex genomic objects. The approach's major weakness includes the lack of generic way of accessing complex objects. The strength of the relational approach is its full provision of SQL. But the approach's weakness is cumbersome modeling of complex genomic objects that is due to normalization. This paper also includes discussions on broader issues related to the two alternative approaches such as support for ad hoc queries and a federation of heterogeneous genomic databases in which both relational and object-oriented data models are used. >
Enhance the efficiency of FWM-based wavelength conversion with a double-ring resonator

Wavelength conversion by the four-wave mixing process in a resonator faces a tradeoff between the bandwidth and the resonant enhancement. We show that a double-ring resonator can enhance the conversion efficiency without sacrifice the bandwidth.
Availability of CNC machines: multiple-input transfer-function modeling

Computer numerical control (CNC) machines are an integral part of FMSs (flexible manufacturing systems). Frequent breakdown of CNC machines can lead to an unacceptable level of downtimes in FMSs. The acquisition of CNC machines has been justified on economic grounds; however, some analyses do not consider the breakdown of CNC machines. The interrelationship between the downtimes, type of breakdown, and uptimes of CNC machines is explored. The data are analyzed using multiple-input transfer-function modeling. The authors' approach is a prototype for the analysis of reliability data involving three interrelated sources of data. They show that: (i) uptime is not a leading indicator of downtime; (ii) downtimes and uptimes are not importantly related in the same period, and (iii) each CNC machine downtime has a forward effect on the uptime; however, influence is delayed from 1 to 7 downtime periods. The modeling provides management with useful information for assessing maintenance policies, making replacement policy decisions, and evaluating the availability and readiness of CNC machines. The models can provide decision makers with superior short-term forecasting and important maintenance information which could be used in the development of production plans and future machine requirements. >
Estimating the Costs and Benefits of Providing Free Public Transit Passes to Students in Los Angeles County: Lessons Learned in Applying a Health Lens to Decision-Making

In spite of increased focus by public health to engage and work with non-health sector partners to improve the health of the general as well as special populations, only a paucity of studies have described and disseminated emerging lessons and promising practices that can be used to undertake this work. This article describes the process used to conduct a Health Impact Assessment of a proposal to provide free public transportation passes to students in Los Angeles County. This illustrative case example describes opportunities and challenges encountered in working with an array of cross-sector partners and highlights four important lessons learned: (1) the benefits and challenges associated with broad conceptualization of public issues; (2) the need for more comprehensive, longitudinal data systems and dynamic simulation models to inform decision-making; (3) the importance of having a comprehensive policy assessment strategy that considers health impacts as well as costs and feasibility; and (4) the need for additional efforts to delineate the interconnectivity between health and other agency priorities. As public health advances cross-sector work in the community, further development of these priorities will help advance meaningful collaboration among all partners.
Synthesizing Research, Education, and Practice According to the Scholarship of Practice Model: Two Faculty Examples

SUMMARY The Scholarship of Practice involves an ongoing, reflective discourse among the theoretical concepts of occupational therapy, the empirical verification of those concepts through research, and the application of those concepts in real-world clinical practice. This article illustrates how the Scholarship of Practice framework is applied by occupational therapy faculty members as a key aspect of their scholarly and teaching roles. Two distinct perspectives are provided-one describes the scholarship and teaching of a clinical-track faculty member and the other describes that of a research-track faculty member. Both examples illustrate how each faculty member's work involves an integration of teaching and advising, scholarship (i.e., developing occupational therapy theory and conducting research), and practice. In both cases, the faculty member uses the Scholarship of Practice approach to better understand the kinds of problems and needs of clients and the ways in which practitioners can use knowledge generated by theory and research to most effectively address them. In turn, each faculty member relies heavily on the feedback from students and practitioners regarding the outcomes of the practical application of the concepts offered by theory and research. This feedback is then utilized to revise and refine existing theory, generate new research questions, and ultimately inform best occupational therapy practice. Finally the process serves as an ideal context for teaching and advising.
Incentives, insurance, and the variability of consumption and leisure☆

Abstract This paper considers to what extent dynamic incentive models such as Green (1987), Phelan and Townsend (1991), and Atkeson and Lucas (1992) can quantitatively explain why some individuals consume (or work) more than others and why a typical individual's consumption (or leisure) varies over time. A simple repeated agency model is shown to be able to better match several population moments concerning life-cycle labor supply and consumption variation than the same model without incentive constraints. On the other hand, I show for the standard stylized models of repeated agency, incentive-induced variability is an insufficient explanation of the variability in the data.
A Coaxial Magic-T

A coaxial hybrid junction is described whose performance is analogous to a waveguide magic-T. The design of three different types of coaxial magic-T is discussed. Standing-wave characteristics of an experimental model of each type are given. Experimental results indicate that standing-wave ratios less than 2 looking into any arm can be obtained easily over a frequency band of about 10 per cent. Owing to the structural symmetry of the device, the decoupling between shunt and series arm is of the order of 40 db. An application of the coaxial magic-T to phase measurements is described. This method of phase measurement is independent of the amplitude of the unknown signal.
“There’s So Much at Stake” Sexual Minority Youth Discuss Dating Violence

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of dating violence among a sample of sexual minority youth. Focus groups were conducted as part of a larger study that surveyed 109 sexual minority youth between the ages of 18 and 24 years. Participants identified four main themes contributing to dating violence among same-sex couples: homophobia (societal and internalized); negotiating socially prescribed gender roles; assumed female connection; and other relationship issues. Such information is essential for determining the need for and content of dating violence services, including education, safety planning, and referrals for mental and physical health services for sexual minority youth.
Oxygen Consumption and Heart Rate Responses During Five Active Exercises

Oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) responses during five active exercises from a cardiac rehabilitation program were measured in 12 healthy female subjects aged 20 to 30 years. The VO2 value was determined by collecting expired gases using an open-circuit method. Resting HR and VO2 values were established while the subjects were positioned supine for 10 to 20 minutes. Exercise values were recorded while the subjects performed five different active exercise bouts consisting of various combinations of upper and lower extremity range-of-motion exercises in the supine or semi-Fowler positions. These exercises were adopted from a stage 1 bedside cardiac rehabilitation program. These activities resulted in low cardiovascular responses: an HR increase of less than 8 bpm and a VO2 increase of less than 2.0 mL X kg-1 X min-1.
Chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and Felty's syndrome.

The average value of the chemotactic index of polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from patients with SLE was not significantly different from normals. The values in patients with Felty's Syndrome were significantly low, but higher after splenectomy in two patients. The markedly deficient chemotaxis of the polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from the patients with Felty's Syndrome may have some significant relationship to the increased infections seen with this group of patients.
Measurements of κ1(t) and κ2(t) in TaNb alloys

Abstract The temperature dependence of the Ginzburg-Landau parameters κ 1 and κ 2 for several TaNb alloys show apparent agreement with theory, in contrast to disagreement found in other transition metal alloys.
A single transcription factor binds to two divergent sequence elements with a common function in cardiac myosin light chain-2 promoter.

Abstract The cardiac myosin light chain-2 (MLC-2) gene promoter contains several positive and negative cis-acting sequences that are involved in the regulation of its expression. We describe here the properties of two activator sequences, elements A and P, and their DNA-binding factors (ABFs). Element A (CCAAAAGTGG), located at -61, has homology with the evolutionarily conserved sequence CC(A/T)6GG, present in the genes of many contractile proteins. Element P (TAACCTTGAAAGC), located 114 bp upstream of element A, is conserved in both chicken and rat cardiac MLC-2 gene promoters. Deletion mutagenesis demonstrated that these two elements are involved in the positive regulation of MLC-2 gene transcription. At least two sequence-specific element A-binding proteins, ABF-1 and ABF-2, were identified by gel shift analysis of the fractionated cardiac nuclear proteins. ABF-1 binds to element A with strict dependence on the internal element A sequence AAAAGT. In contrast, ABF-2 exhibits a relaxed sequence requirement, as it recognizes the consensus CArG and CCAAT box sequences as well. ABF-2 also recognizes the distal element P despite the fact that the sequences of elements A and P are divergent. DNase I footprinting, methylation interference, and gel shift analyses demonstrated unequivocally that the element A-DNA affinity-purified protein ABF-2 binds to element P with sequence specificity. Since both elements A and P play a positive regulatory role in MLC-2 gene transcription and bind to a single protein (ABF-2), it would appear that ABF-2 is a key transcription factor with the ability to recognize divergent sequence elements involved in a common regulatory pathway during myogenesis.
Molecular Motions of Adsorbed CO2 on a Tetrazole-Functionalized PIM Polymer Studied with 13C NMR

The CO2 adsorption in a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) functionalized by tetrazole (TZPIM) has been studied with in situ 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy at variable temperature and loading conditions. The CO2 molecules are seen to interact with tetrazole sites through physisorption. The adsorbed system was studied from 8 to 385 K at two loadings of CO2. The 13C NMR resonance lineshapes and relaxation times have been analyzed to give insights into the adsorption process. The CO2 molecules undergo site to site hopping with accompanying CO2 reorientations while adsorbed on TZPIM, resulting in line narrowing starting near 100 K. Correspondingly, the spin echo T2 passes through a minimum at 100 K. The analysis indicates that two kinds of adsorption sites are available.
The Description of, and Environmental Characterization for, a New Species of Ochrotrichia from Colorado (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae)

The male and female sex of the new species Ochrotrichia (O.) susanae are described and figured, and notes on the larvae and cases are given. Data on physicochemical characteristics of the environment and life-cycle of the species are presented.
Evaluation of Emergency Rescue Plan for Occupational Health in 10 Enterprises of Deyang City

[Objective]To evaluate file perfection degree of emergency rescue plan for occupational health,to find out the deficiency of the plan,to improve levels of the plan,and strengthen the ability of enterprises in dealing with occupational emergency,through the comparison and analysis of emergency rescue plan in 10 different enterprises of Deyang city.[Methods]Checklist was employed to inspect the content of emergency rescue plan item by item. The results were analyzed and evaluated.[Results]All the 10 enterprises had insufficiencies in the content of emergency rescue planning,among which 4 were good,2 were not so good and 4 were bad.[Conclusion]The emergency rescue planning of the 10 enterprises are on the different levels. Based on the inspection and analysis of the planning,suggestions are provided for developing suitable and operational emergency rescue plan.
An intervention for cardiac arrest survivors with chronic fatigue: A feasibility study with preliminary outcomes

Abstract Aim The primary aim was to examine the feasibility of recruiting and retaining participants for an Energy Conservation + Problem Solving Therapy (EC + PST) intervention delivered over the telephone, to evaluate the acceptability of the intervention, and to assess the appropriateness of the outcome measures. The secondary aim was to evaluate the preliminary intervention effect on fatigue impact, activity performance, and participation in daily activities in post-cardiac arrest (CA) adults with chronic fatigue. Methods This feasibility study used a prospective, pre-post experimental design. Individuals who were at least 3 months post-CA with moderate-to-severe fatigue were eligible to participate. By participating in EC + PST intervention sessions, participants learned how to apply EC strategies to solve their fatigue-related problems. Participants were assessed before and after completing the intervention using outcome measures assessing fatigue, activity performance, and participation in daily activities. Results Eighteen CA survivors with chronic fatigue successfully completed the intervention and the assessments with high satisfaction. We observed a 15% recruitment rate and ceiling effects on two outcome measures of perceived-performance in daily activities. Significant decreases in the impact of physical ( p = .001) and cognitive ( p = .006) fatigue of CA survivors were observed with small to moderate effect sizes of r = 0.23–0.25 after receiving the EC + PST intervention. Conclusion The delivery of EC + PST intervention over the telephone is feasible, and the intervention is highly acceptable to CA survivors with chronic fatigue. Also, the EC + PST intervention seems promising in reducing the impact of physical and cognitive fatigue of CA survivors.
Clinical Efficacy of Methylphenidate in Children and Adolescents

The efficacy of methylphenidate (MTP) is amply documented for children with ADHD. In addition to modifying the central features of the disorder, inattention, impulsive behavior and excessive motor activity, the medication has been shown also to improve social behavior with peers and adults, as well as academic performance. The concerns that these benefits may not extend beyond the period of active intervention, and that treatment efficacy in only partial in some children, has led to the development of other, psychosocial interventions. Behavioral treatment by itself is ineffective, but contributes significantly to clinical change in children who derive incomplete gains from MTP alone. Cognitive training has not been shown to have therapeutic impact either as a single treatment, or as an adjunct to MTP. Clinical indications for MTP extend to children and adolescents with Conduct disorders. Treatment affects antisocial behavior regardless of the concurrent presence of hyperactivity symptomatology. Extended treatment with MTP alone is difficult to implement in older children due to lack of cooperation. MTP has been shown to be safe. Deceleration of growth velocity is the only identified long-term side effect. It occurs after more than one year of treatment at greater than low doses. It appears completely reversible with treatment cessation prior to the adolescent growth spurt. Efficacy in Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is especially well demonstrated in preadolescents, with only sparse evidence for efficacy in adolescents.
Baby Nuclear Pores Grow Up Faster All the Time

Annulate lamellae (AL) are stacked ER-derived membranes containing nuclear pore complex-like structures whose fate and function have remained a mystery. During the short interphase of early embryonic cells, AL are rapidly delivered into the nuclear envelope through fenestrations, highlighting the remarkable dynamics of the nuclear envelope.
Concept of an expandable cardiac valve for surgical implantation in infants and children

Abstract Background Options for cardiac valve replacement in children are limited to fixed-diameter prostheses that do not accommodate for somatic growth. An externally stented bovine jugular vein graft has been modified for surgical valve replacement in pediatric patients, with the intention of subsequent valve expansion in the catheterization laboratory as the child grows. Methods Pediatric patients at a single institution who underwent surgical implantation of an expandable bovine jugular vein valve between 2010 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Forty-two patients underwent implantation at median age of 10 months (range, 3 weeks to 5.8 years) in aortic, mitral, pulmonary, or tricuspid positions. Numerous techniques for valve modification and implantation were used. Results The valve was competent with low gradient acutely postoperatively in all patients. Eight patients experienced central or paravalvular deterioration, and 7 required reoperation for valve-related adverse outcomes. Twenty patients underwent at least one previous valve repair or replacement. Twenty patients underwent 32 episodes of catheter-based balloon expansion of the valve, exhibiting a significant decrease in median gradient from 12 mm Hg to 8 mm Hg ( P Conclusions A surgically implanted externally reinforced bovine jugular vein demonstrates acceptable short-term function and is amenable to catheter-based enlargement as the child grows. Modification of valve design and implantation techniques are necessary to reduce perivalvular complications.
Remittance Received by Households of Western Chitwan Valley, Nepal: Does Migrant’s Destination Make a Difference?

Studies on migration in Nepal primarily focused on the causes of migration, in general. While a few studies examined the remittances received or sent by migrants, there is little information about the variation in remittances received by households by migrant’s destination. Thus, this exploratory study attempts to answer: Does the extent to which households receive remittances vary by migrant’s destination? Using the data collected in 2013 from the western Chitwan Valley of Nepal, the findings from multivariate analysis reveal that net of controls, both the receipt (whether a household received any remittance or not) as well as the amount of remittances received by a household varied by migrant’s destination. Evidence suggests that households are less likely to receive remittances from migrants working in India (a country of low earning potential) as compared to those working in Nepal. On the other hand, households received significantly more amount of remittances from migrants working in countries with high earning potentials (such as Middle East, East or South East Asia, and America, Australia and Europe) as compared to the domestic migrants who were working inside of Nepal but outside of Chitwan. Adjusting for other factors, the largest amount of remittances was received from migrants working in the East or South East Asian countries (e.g. South Korea, Malaysia, Japan) followed by those in America, Australia, and Europe and the Middle East. The insights gained from this exploratory study are discussed .
Developing a Questionnaire to Evaluate College Students' Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Self-efficacy, and Environmental Factors Related to Canned Foods

Abstract Objective Develop a questionnaire to measure students' knowledge, attitude, behavior, self-efficacy, and environmental factors related to the use of canned foods. Methods The Knowledge–Attitude–Behavior Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Canned Foods Alliance survey were used as frameworks for questionnaire development. Cognitive interviews were conducted with college students (n = 8). Nutrition and survey experts assessed content validity. Reliability was measured via Cronbach α and 2 rounds (1, n = 81; 2, n = 65) of test-retest statistics. Means and frequencies were used. Results The 65-item questionnaire had a test-retest reliability of .69. Cronbach α scores were .87 for knowledge (9 items), .86 for attitude (30 items), .80 for self-efficacy (12 items), .68 for canned foods use (8 items), and .30 for environment (6 items). Conclusions and Implications A reliable questionnaire was developed to measure perceptions and use of canned foods. Nutrition educators may find this questionnaire useful to evaluate pretest–posttest changes from canned foods–based interventions among college students.
The genetic regulation of the longevity of CD4 memory T cells. (LYM5P.660)

We have previously reported that CD4 memory T cells enter a stage of quiescence upon resolution of infection and the consequent reduction in antigenic levels. The hyporesponsive memory T cells become responsive again upon challenge with a secondary infection, or antigen and Toll-like receptor agonists. To better understand the genetic mechanisms of the longevity of CD4 memory T cells , we performed cDNA microarray analysis of CD4 memory T cells developed after immunization with vaccinia-OVA virus using DO11.10 transgenic cells in an adoptive transfer experiment. Gene expression levels of CD4 T cells were evaluated at 9 days, 5 weeks, 6 months and 10.5 months post immunization. We repeated the experiment in DR1 transgenic mice immunized with H5N1 influenza vaccine because they have diverse polyclonal TCR repertoire and are better representative of the natural conditions. We used HLA-DR1/H5N1-HA(259-274) tetramers for staining of the antigen specific CD4 memory T cells. We found up-regulation of genes mediating DNA repair and inhibiting apoptosis, and down-regulation of glucose metabolism and up-regulation of lipid metabolism are important in longevity of CD4 memory T cells. Using FACS staining we verified several genes that were detected as significantly up-regulated by microarray experiments. These observations verified our microarray data as well as confirming our findings that long-term CD4 memory T cells are quiescent and switch from glucose to lipid metabolism.
Use of a neonatal rat system as a bioincubator to generate adult-like mature cardiomyocytes from human and mouse pluripotent stem cells

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including induced PSCs, hold great potential for personalized disease modeling, drug testing and cell-based therapeutics. However, cells differentiated from PSCs remain immature in a dish, and thus there are serious caveats to their use in modeling adult-onset diseases such as cardiomyopathies and Alzheimer's disease. By taking advantage of knowledge gained about mammalian development and from bioinformatics analyses, we recently developed a neonatal rat system that enables maturation of PSC-derived cardiomyocytes into cardiomyocytes analogous to those seen in adult animals. Here we describe a detailed protocol that describes how to initiate the in vitro differentiation of mouse and human PSCs into cardiac progenitor cells, followed by intramyocardial delivery of the progenitor cells into neonatal rat hearts, in vivo incubation and analysis. The entire process takes ∼6 weeks, and the resulting cardiomyocytes can be analyzed for morphology, function and gene expression. The neonatal system provides a valuable tool for understanding the maturation and pathogenesis of adult human heart muscle cells, and this concept may be expanded to maturing other PSC-derived cell types, including those containing mutations that lead to the development of diseases in the adult.
A High-Capacity Lithium–Gas Battery Based on Sulfur Fluoride Conversion

Identification of novel redox reactions that combine the prospects of high potential and capacity can contribute new opportunities in the development of advanced batteries with significantly higher...
Evaluating the impact of translated written discharge instructions for patients with limited English language proficiency.

Abstract Introduction Patients with limited English language proficiency have indicated that they believe post-operative instructions written in their native language will improve comprehension over verbal translation alone, but the effect of this has not been previously studied. We hypothesize that providing written discharge instructions in Spanish for native Spanish speakers will improve comprehension regarding post-operative care after routine otolaryngologic procedures when compared to instructions written in English. Methods This prospective randomized controlled trial enrolled subjects who met criteria from June 2016 to November 2016. Subjects were Spanish-speaking parents and legal guardians of children undergoing tympanostomy tube insertion, adenoidectomy, and/or tonsillectomy. Subjects were given written discharge instructions in either English or Spanish. Both cohorts received standard verbal counseling in Spanish as well. Primary outcome was score on a standardized quiz assessing comprehension of discharge instructions. Patient satisfaction and preferences were secondary outcomes assessed through a survey. Participants underwent follow up one month after initial enrollment. Results Twenty subjects were enrolled, with ten receiving written discharge instructions in Spanish and ten receiving instructions written in English. There was no significant difference in comprehension scores between the two groups. Eleven participants completed the survey on patient satisfaction and preferences. Most subjects (91%, 10/11, p Conclusions Spanish-speaking patients indicate a strong preference for written discharge instructions in their native language, although there was no significant difference in short-term comprehension of instructions written in English vs. Spanish on objective evaluation. Accommodating these preferences may improve long-term comprehension and patient satisfaction, and ultimately build invaluable rapport between providers and patients.
Integrating AlInN interlayers into InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells for enhanced green emission

Significant enhancement in green emission by integrating a thin AlInN barrier layer, or interlayer (IL), in an InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) is demonstrated. The MQWs investigated here contains 5 periods of an InGaN QW, a 1 nm thick AlInN IL, and a 10 nm thick GaN barrier grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. To accommodate the optimum low-pressure (20 Torr) growth of the AlInN layer a growth flow sequence with changing pressure is devised. The AlInN IL MQWs are compared to InGaN/AlGaN/GaN MQWs (AlGaN IL MQWs) and conventional InGaN/GaN MQWs. The AlInN IL MQWs provide benefits that are similar to AlGaN ILs, by aiding in the formation of abrupt heterointerfaces as indicated by X-ray diffraction omega-2theta (ω-2θ) scans, and also efficiency improvements due to high temperature annealing schedules during barrier growth. Room temperature photoluminescence of the MQW with AlInN ILs shows similar performance to MQWs with AlGaN ILs, and ∼4–7 times larger radiative efficiency (pump intensity dependent) at green wavelengths than conventional InGaN/GaN MQWs. This study shows the InGaN-based MQWs with AlInN ILs are capable of achieving superior performance to conventional InGaN MQWs emitting at green wavelengths.
Trends in the construction of on-farm irrigation reservoirs in response to aquifer decline in eastern Arkansas: Implications for conjunctive water resource management

Abstract As part of conjunctive water resource management, on-farm reservoirs have been constructed to address declines in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial aquifer, the primary source of irrigation for most of the row crops grown in eastern Arkansas. These reservoirs and their associated infrastructure represent significant investments in financial and natural resources, and may cause producers to incur costs associated with foregone crop production and long-term maintenance. A better understanding of past trends in reservoir construction can allow for more efficient resource allocation towards future adoption of this practice. Thus, an analysis of reservoir construction trends in the Grand Prairie (GP) Critical Groundwater Area and Cache River (CR) Critical Groundwater Area was conducted. Between 1996 and 2015, on average, 16 ± 5 and 4 ± 1 reservoirs were constructed per year, corresponding to cumulative new reservoir surface areas of 161 ± 49 and 60 ± 18 ha yr−1, for GP and CR, respectively. In terms of reservoir locations relative to aquifer status, after 1996, 84.5% of 309 reservoirs constructed in GP and 91.0% of 78 in CR were located in areas with remaining saturated aquifer thicknesses of 50% or less. The majority of new reservoirs (74% in GP and 63% in CR) were constructed on previously productive cropland. The next most common land use, representing 11% and 15% of new reservoirs constructed in GP and CR, respectively, was the combination of a field edge and a ditch, stream, or other low-lying area. Less than 10% of post-1996 reservoirs were constructed on predominately low-lying land, and the use of this land cover decreased in both critical groundwater areas during the past 20 years. A reservoir footprint analysis indicated that 85% of the typical reservoir system consists of the reservoir pond itself with the remaining 15% of land area consisting of tailwater recovery ditches, and other associated features. The disparities in reservoir construction rates, locations, and prior land uses between the two critical groundwater areas is likely due to groundwater declines being first observed in GP as well as the existence of two large-scale river diversion projects under construction in GP that feature on-farm storage as a means to offset groundwater use. Results of this analysis can be used in the development of targeted resource allocation initiatives and conservation efforts in critical groundwater areas and other similarly water-scarce regions.
The Importance of Spatial Thinking in an Uncertain World

We live in uncertain times. Although we cannot eliminate uncertainty and its effects, it is important to minimize the disruption and loss that result from it. Mitigating the negative effects of uncertainty, especially by applying geospatial technologies, requires spatial thinking skills. We argue that teaching students how to use geospatial technologies will not enable them to deal with uncertainty unless they also learn to think spatially. Spatial thinking can be learned and should be taught. Results from classroom-based research provide guidance in developing effective ways to teach spatial thinking and geospatial technologies.
The machine learning aspects in building the global smartphone seismic network

MyShake is a global crowdsourcing smartphone seismic network to monitor and detect earthquakes. After it got released to the public in 2016, we arrived at more than 300,000 downloads with more than 800 detected earthquakes globally within 2 years. Machine learning plays a critical role in MyShake that makes everything happen. In this presentation, I will present the details of how we use the artificial neural network to distinguish earthquakes from the human activity movements recorded on a single phone in real-time. This includes how we do the data acquisition, pre-processing the data, addressing imbalanced datasets, feature engineering/selection, and evaluating the model. I will also talk other machine learning aspects in the MyShake network including the convolutional neural network that we built on the server to further classify the whole waveforms to find that caused by earthquakes, the adversarial machine learning for securities of the system, dealing with the dynamically changing network, training customized model for each user etc. These machine-learning applications in MyShake illustrate the power of combining data science and geophysics and provide good examples of how do we better facilitate the interactions of the two fields.MyShake is a global crowdsourcing smartphone seismic network to monitor and detect earthquakes. After it got released to the public in 2016, we arrived at more than 300,000 downloads with more than 800 detected earthquakes globally within 2 years. Machine learning plays a critical role in MyShake that makes everything happen. In this presentation, I will present the details of how we use the artificial neural network to distinguish earthquakes from the human activity movements recorded on a single phone in real-time. This includes how we do the data acquisition, pre-processing the data, addressing imbalanced datasets, feature engineering/selection, and evaluating the model. I will also talk other machine learning aspects in the MyShake network including the convolutional neural network that we built on the server to further classify the whole waveforms to find that caused by earthquakes, the adversarial machine learning for securities of the system, dealing with the dynamically changing network, training ...
Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Muscle Fatigue in Rats Receiving Doxorubicin Treatment

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of in vivo creatine monohydrate (Cr) supplementation on doxorubicin (Dox)-induced muscle dysfunction. Male rats were fed a diet supplemented with 3% Cr or a standard chow for 2 wk. After 2 wk of feeding, animals received Dox or saline as a placebo. Five days post-injection, grip strength was measured, and muscle fatigue was analyzed ex vivo. When compared with controls, a significantly lower grip strength was observed with Dox treatment, but no significant handgrip difference was observed with Cr feeding prior to Dox treatment when compared to controls. In the isolated muscle fatigue experiments, solei (primarily type I muscle) from controls produced significantly less force than baseline at 60 s and solei from Dox treated rats produced significantly less force than baseline at 30 s; however, Cr feeding prior to Dox produced significantly less force than baseline at 60 s. In the primarily type II EDL, a decline in force production from baseline was observed at 50 s in controls and Cr + Dox and at 20 s in standard chow + Dox. Cr attenuated the increase in fatigue that accompanies Dox treatment suggesting that Cr supplementation may have use in managing Dox myotoxicity.