cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multidisciplinary Evidence-Based Medicine Journal Clubs: Curriculum Design and Participants' Reactions

ABSTRACT Background Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is becoming an accepted educational paradigm in medical education at a variety of levels. It focuses on identifying the best evidence for medical decision making and applying that evidence to patient care. Methods Three EBM journal clubs were developed at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. One was for senior medical students, another for residents, and the third for primary care faculty members. In each, the sessions stressed answering clinical questions arising from actual patient-care issues. The curricular structure and development of the journal clubs are described. Participants anonymously evaluated aspects of the journal clubs regarding their educational value with Likert scale questions. Results Faculty members and residents generally gave high evaluations to all aspects of the EBM journal clubs. Student evaluations were more mixed. For each of the evaluation questions, the student means were lower than those of faculty and residents. However the differences reached statistical significance only in the responses to the usefulness of the sessions in understanding the medical literature (P Conclusions The establishment of evidencebased medicine journal clubs is feasible, and learners seem to value the sessions. More developed learners may gain more from the experience than those earlier in their medical education.
Vibrational analysis of amino acids: cysteine, serine, β-chloroalanine

Abstract Normal coordinate calculations were carried out involving a total of seven isotopically substituted analogs of the amino acids cysteine, serine, and β-chloroalanine. Raman spectra were obtained for polycrystalline β-chloroalanine and the ND3 analog. Overlay calculations were employed to obtain 55 force constants which reproduce 206 observed frequencies of seven molecules with an average error of ca. 9 cm−1. The valence force field used was based on local symmetry coordinates. Band assignments were based on the potential energy distribution. About 60% of the normal modes of the seven isotopomers can be called group vibrations by the PED criterion. Most skeletal stretching and bending vibrations are highly mixed and cannot be assigned to individual bond stretching or angle deformation modes.
More blood for sickle cell anemia

The clinical features of sickle cell anemia are caused by polymerization of deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin (hemoglobin S), the predominant hemoglobin type found in this genetic disease. Sickle polymer damages the red cell, shortens its life span, and triggers vascular occlusive disease. Among the vascular complications of sickle cell anemia is stroke, which affects about 10% of children who do not undergo long-term blood-transfusion therapy after transcranial Doppler screening. Stroke is accompanied by high cerebral blood-flow velocity, which is associated with endothelial damage, intracranial and extracranial cerebral vascular occlusion, and intracerebral hemorrhage. Blood transfusion reduces the velocity of cerebral blood flow . . .
Pyridoxalated haemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate, a nitric oxide scavenger, decreases dose-limiting hypotension associated with interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a cytokine that induces natural killer cells termed lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, is in use as an anticancer agent. During IL-2 therapy, adverse effects, such as vasodilatation and hypotension, are common. Previous studies suggest that these effects are due to nitric oxide (NO). Therefore a model of IL-2-induced hyperdynamic response in sheep was developed to test the effect of pyridoxalated haemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate (PHP; a NO scavenger), which is currently in clinical development for the treatment of shock associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Twelve female sheep were divided into four groups (n = 3 per group): sham control (Ringer's lactate solution), PHP alone (20 mg . kg -1 . h -1 for 96 h), IL-2 alone (recombinant human IL-2; I 440 000 units/kg intravenously every 8 h) and a combination of PHP and IL-2. All of the sheep received Ringer's lactate solution to maintain haematocrit at baseline levels. The sheep had free access to food and water. A fall in the mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance index by 20% was observed in the IL-2 group, but not in the PHP + IL-2 group. The fluid requirement to maintain the haematocrit was higher in the IL-2 group (5 ml . kg -1 . h -1 ) than in the PHP + IL-2 group (4 ml . kg -1 . h -1 ). The sham group showed no changes in any of the parameters. Scavenging NO by PHP prevented the hyperdynamic reaction induced by IL-2 administration in sheep. This activity of PHP may prevent the early discontinuation of IL-2 therapy that results because of these adverse events.
Does Catecholamine Secretion Mediate the Hypoxia-lnduced Increase in Nerve Activity?

Catecholamine secretion from carotid body glomus cells is hypothesized to cause the hypoxia-induced increase in nerve activity. To test aspects of this hypothesis, tissue catecholamine and single-fiber nerve activity was measured from rat carotid bodies in vitro. Hypoxia (1-min duration, 0 Torr at nadir) caused a rapid increase in catecholamine release and nerve activity, consistent with the hypothesis, but repetitive hypoxias interspersed with short rest periods resulted in a much greater decline in catecholamine release than nerve activity. Furthermore, pretreatment with reserpine (24 h) nearly abolished catecholamine release, but nerve response was not different than untreated controls. These results suggest that catecholamine secretion is not causal to the increase in nerve activity of rat carotid body.
Contributions of Inter- and Intraband Excitations to Electron Heat Capacity and Electron-Phonon Coupling in Noble Metals

This work examines the effects of photonically induced interband excitations from the d-band to states at the Fermi energy on thermophysical properties in noble metals. The change in the electron population in the d-band and the conduction band causes a change in electron heat capacity and electron-phonon coupling factor, which in turn impacts the evolution of the temperature after pulse absorption and electron thermalization. Expressions for heat capacity and electron-phonon coupling.factor are derived for electrons undergoing both inter- and intraband transitions. In noble metals, due to the large d-band to Fermi energy separation, the contributions to electron heat capacity and electron-phonon coupling factor of intra- and interband transitions can be separated. At high absorbed laser fluences and pulse energies greater than the interband transition threshold, the interband and intraband contributions to thermophysical properties differ.
Tumor Necrosis Factor—α and Interleukin-1α Decrease the Adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to Cultured Keratinocytes

We hypothesized that the primary epidermal cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1alpha, which are produced after skin injury, modulate bacterial adherence and the initiation of group A streptococcal skin infections. Streptococcus pyogenes binds preferentially to highly differentiated keratinocytes in vitro, simulating the superficial human skin infection, impetigo, and providing a model system for testing this hypothesis. Exposure of keratinocytes to 10 ng/mL TNF-alpha for 20 h decreased adherence to undifferentiated and differentiated keratinocytes by 33% and 38%, respectively. Treatment with 1 ng/mL IL-1alpha decreased adherence to undifferentiated and differentiated keratinocytes by 23% and 18%, respectively. Exposure to both cytokines simultaneously produced an additive 50% reduction in adherence. These data suggest that TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha may play a role in cutaneous host defense by impeding streptococcal adherence and decreasing its ability to form a nidus of infection in the skin.
Intravenous nicotine conditions a place preference in rats using an unbiased design

The rewarding effects of nicotine contribute to the chronic use of tobacco products. The place conditioning task, a widely used pre-clinical model to study drug reward, has lead to mixed results in rats when nicotine was administered subcutaneously or intraperitoneally; intravenously administered nicotine has not been examined. Further, much of the research demonstrating a nicotine-conditioned place preference in rats has used a biased design making these results susceptible to non-reward interpretations. The present study assessed whether intravenous (IV) nicotine would condition a place preference in an unbiased design and evaluated important behavioral parameters: nicotine dose, number of conditioning trials, and infusion-to-placement interval. In adult male Sprague Dawley rats, IV nicotine (0.03 mg/kg) conditioned a place preference after 8 conditioning trials. This conditioned preference was observed whether nicotine was infused 10 min before or immediately after placement in the paired environment for 10 min; infusing nicotine immediately after removal from the paired environment did not condition a preference after 4 or 8 conditioning trials. Four conditioning trials were not sufficient to condition a preference regardless of the temporal relation between the paired environment and 0.03 mg/kg nicotine. A 0.01 mg/kg dose of nicotine did not condition a place preference after 4 or 8 trials when infused immediately upon placement in the paired environment. Intravenous nicotine (0.03 mg/kg) has rewarding effects in an unbiased design suggesting that the place conditioning protocol used in the present study might be an especially useful model for studying the processes underlying the conditioned rewarding effects of nicotine.
Phytoplankton size-structure on the western shelf of the Antarctic Peninsula: a remote-sensing approach

Remote-sensing models based on total (b b) and particle (b bp) backscattering are proposed for estimating phytoplankton size-structure characteristics over the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) waters. It is hypothesized that phytoplankton assemblages with larger cells will have lower spectral b b and b bp slopes (γ). Likewise, a higher concentrations of total chlorophyll a (chlT) will coincide with larger phytoplankton cells. Values of [image omitted] , derived from satellite and in situ remote-sensing reflectance (R rs) measurements were matched up with field determinations of chlorophyll a concentration fractions (chl(>20 µm) and chl(0.45-20 µm)) collected between 1997 and 2006 as part of the Palmer-LTER project. Functionalities between in situ measurements of [image omitted] and chlorophyll a fractions were also investigated. A consistent inverse relationship between chl(>20 µm)/chlT and γ (b b and b bp) values was found and verified with two approaches: spatial matchup of satellite monthly composites and time-space matchup of photosynthetic pigment markers. Based on satellite data, a [image omitted] value of 1.668 was a fair predictor to differentiate WAP waters dominated by 'large' (chl(>20 µm)/chlT≥0.5, [image omitted] ) vs 'small' (chl(>20 µm)/chlT 20 µm) would explain most of the chl(>20 µm)/chlT-γ variability. No relationships were evident between chlT values and γ values. Although our results cannot be generalized to other oceanic regions, this work is the first to provide evidence about the significant influence of phytoplankton size distributions on spectral backscattering of WAP waters. Furthermore, and based on chlorophyll a fraction analysis, it was the >20 µm phytoplankton cells that were responsible for such γ variations seen on satellite and in situ values.
Measuring preferences for cost-utility analysis: how choice of method may influence decision-making.

Preferences for health are required when the economic value of healthcare interventions are assessed within the framework of cost-utility analysis. The objective of this paper was to review alternative methods for preference measurement and to evaluate the extent to which the method may affect healthcare decision-making. Two broad approaches to preference measurement that provide societal health state values were considered: (i) direct measurement; and (ii) preference-based health state classification systems. Among studies that compared alternative preference-based systems, the EQ-5D tended to provide larger change scores and more favourable cost-effectiveness ratios than the Health Utilities Index (HUI)-2 and -3, while the SF-6D provided smaller change scores and less favourable ratios than the other systems. However, these patterns may not hold for all applications. Empirical evidence comparing systems and decision-making impact suggests that preferences will have the greatest impact on economic analyses when chronic conditions or long-term sequelae are involved. At present, there is no clearly superior method, and further study of cost-effectiveness ratios from alternative systems is needed to evaluate system performance. Although there is some evidence that incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) thresholds (e.g. $US50 000 per QALY gained) are used in decision-making, they are not strictly applied. Nonetheless, as ICERs rise, the probability of acceptance of a new therapy is likely to decrease, making the differences in QALYs obtained using alternative methods potentially meaningful. It is imperative that those conducting cost-utility analyses characterise the impact that uncertainty in health state values has on the economic value of the interventions studied. Consistent reporting of such analyses would provide further insight into the policy implications of preference measurement.
An investigation of the validity of the Lifeshirt in comparison to standard polysomnography in the detection of obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract Background Due to the cost and waiting times for traditional sleep studies, there is great interest in finding alternatives for the diagnosis of sleep apnea. Several alternatives exist, including ambulatory devices. Our laboratory utilized one such device, a form-fitting vest called the Lifeshirt, and compared its accuracy to that of polysomnography (PSG). Methods PSG was performed with simultaneous utilization of the Lifeshirt on 50 individuals who met screening criteria for obstructive sleep apnea. Participants came to the sleep laboratory approximately 2 h before their normal bedtime. A sleep technician prepared each participant for PSG and Lifeshirt monitoring. “Lights Out” occurred when the participant was ready for bed, and time in bed was standardized to approximately 7 h. PSGs were scored by experienced personnel in our laboratory, while Lifeshirt data were sent electronically to the Lifeshirt manufacturer for analysis. The major variable that was compared between PSG and Lifeshirt was the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), or the number of apneas and hypopneas per hour. Due to incomplete data on two participants, analyses were completed on 48 individuals. Results Sensitivity of the Lifeshirt ranged from .85 (AHI of ⩾5) to 1.00 (AHI of ⩾25). Specificity ranged from .67 to 1.00. Using the Bland–Altman technique of determining agreement, the mean difference between the AHI of the Lifeshirt and PSG was 1.02 (±16.36). When these values are plotted, every case falls within the limits of agreement, with one exception. Conclusions The Lifeshirt compared favorably with PSG and could be used with considerable confidence for the screening of patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea.
Test and validation of a non-deterministic system — True Random Number Generator

We present a validation and test methodology for a non-deterministic system, namely a True Random Number Generator (TRNG). The TRNG testing methods at Intel have matured over time, and what we present here is the 3rd generation methodology used in our latest chipset products. In addition to well known DFT and DFV techniques, testing of a TRNG requires rigorous statistical analysis to determine its proper operation. Known published works and standards donpsilat address the TRNG testing and validation issues in high volumes or their recommendations are impractical in real manufacturing constraints. We present a practical statistical methodology for TRNG testing in a high volume manufacturing environment. Its validity was proven by testing a 65-nm CMOS-based TRNG design to meet NIST standards. Our methodology can be extended to the testing of similar non-deterministic systems.
Initiating Influenza Chemoprophylaxis with the First Influenza Case: A New Institutional Standard?

In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Rubin et al. [ 1 ] discuss postexposure chemoprophylaxis against influenza A in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). They report that amantadine chemoprophylaxis initiated ^5 days after the beginning of an influenza outbreak reduces outbreak duration, incidence of influenza symptoms, and case-fatality rate. Their findings make sense: the earlier the diagnosis, the quicker the introduction of barriers to transmission (such as speedier chemoprophylaxis initiation), the lower the number of new vectors, and the lower the impact and extent of an influenza outbreak. These
Lessons Learned from Applying Interoperability and Information Exchange Standards to a Wearable Point-Of-Care System

Interoperability at the device and system levels has the potential to improve ease of use for point-of-care systems while lowering the cost of these systems. To this end, we developed a prototype wearable monitoring system based on interoperability standards that demonstrates plug-and-play wireless connectivity between the system components. The system utilizes both device-level (IEEE 11073, Bluetooth) and system-level (Health Level (HL7), CORBA) standards. The wearable monitoring system stores data in a local database, and these data are then sent to a remote database via HL7 messages. The remote data can be viewed and processed with a graphical user interface created in Java that employs the CORBAmed PIDS and COAS services as implemented by OpenEMed. The lessons learned from this endeavor are summarized in this paper
Superimposed HMM transient detection via target tracking ideas

The quickest detection of superimposed hidden Markov model (HMM) transient signals is addressed. It is assumed that a known HMM is always extant but at an unknown time a second known HMM may also be present, and overlapped with the previous. Two approaches are proposed. The first treats the superimposed HMMs as a unit with an expanded state space, thus converting the problem of detecting superimposed HMMs into detection of a change in HMM, this being readily solved using a previously proposed procedure. Such an approach, though excellent in terms of performance, is not suitable for the superposition of multiple HMMs with large state dimensions due to computational complexity. A second detection scheme (based on multiple target tracking ideas) with much lower computational needs but little loss in terms of performance, is therefore developed.
Reproducibility of a comprehensive diet history in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial

Abstract Objective To evaluate the reproducibility of a modified Burke-type diet history within the context of a long-term, randomized, 29-center clinical diabetes study. Design Diet histories were collected by trained interviewers at the end of years 1 and 2 after subjects were randomly assigned to the intensive treatment group or the conventional treatment group. Mean daily intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and dietary fiber were calculated for each treatment group at each time period. Subjects The study population consisted of 139 subjects in the intensive treatment group and 128 subjects in the conventional treatment group. Ages ranged from 13 to 39 years; groups included men and women. Distribution by age, sex, race, proportion of smokers, weight reported as percent ideal body weight, and duration of IDDM were similar in both groups. Statistical methods Differences in nutrient intake between the conventional and intensive treatment groups at each time period were tested for significance using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The Wilcoxon paired differences test was used to assess changes between time periods within treatment groups. Linear agreement between repeated administrations of the diet history was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the extent of within-subject reproducibility was assessed by intraclass correlation. Results No statistically significant differences in energy and nutrient intakes were observed between the two groups at either year 1 or year 2. Within each treatment group, energy and nutrient intake differences between times were not statistically significant. Correlation coefficients between years 1 and 2 ranged from .51 for dietary fiber to .72 for dietary cholesterol; within-subject reproducibility was slightly higher. Applications These results demonstrate long-term reproducibility for the meal-based diet history in the DCCT population.
Social Relationships and Sleep Quality.

Background The quality of social relationships and social support appears to be associated with physical health outcomes and sleep quality. Almost all previous research in this area focuses on positive aspects of relationships.
Differential Correlates of Nutritional Status in Kinshasa, Zaire

In an effort to search for causes of malnutrition in the urban environment to guide intervention efforts, a study of more than 2000 mother/child pairs was conducted in Kinshasa, Zaire. Under the auspices of the Zairian National Nutrition Planning Center a representative sample of a large lower class urban population was interviewed at two points in time. One phase covered morbidity and nutritional status measurements for all children under five years of age. A second phase examined a complex set of socioeconomic and behavioural variables possibly linked to nutritional outcomes for a 20% sample of the households. After merging the data sets bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed twice, using the youngest child and the household as the unit of analysis respectively. Results showed that different complexes of variables predicted malnutrition as measured by three separate anthropometric measures. For so-called acute malnutrition (weight-for-height) morbidity, migration, and diarrhoeal knowledge, all emerged as significant predictors. Chronic malnutrition (height-for-age), however, was only significantly predicted by zone of residence, a level of living score, and recent morbidity when all major variables were considered in the regression model. Factors that were significant predictors of each of these two indices also were predictors of the third nutritional indicator, weight-for-age. Birth interval also was associated with this index. The findings here suggest more careful scrutiny of the nature, causes, interpretation and use of these widely accepted measures of nutritional status.
Investigation of the electroplastic effect using optical and conventional techniques

The electroplastic effect in materials is an interesting and potentially useful phenomenon in which an applied electric field affects the plastic flow properties of materials under strain. We have undertaken a study to use optical methods to monitor changes in alkali halide crystals undergoing the electroplastic effect. Some preliminary results from this work are presented along with more conventional quasi-static measurements of the electroplastic effect.
Asymptotically dense spherical codes. I. Wrapped spherical codes

A new class of spherical codes called wrapped spherical codes is constructed by "wrapping" any sphere packing /spl Lambda/ in Euclidean space onto a finite subset of the unit sphere in one higher dimension. The mapping preserves much of the structure of /spl Lambda/, and unlike previously proposed maps, the density of the wrapped spherical codes approaches the density of /spl Lambda/ as the minimum distance approaches zero. We show that this implies that the asymptotically maximum spherical coding density is achieved by wrapped spherical codes whenever /spl Lambda/ is the densest possible sphere packing.
Homomorphism closed vs. existential positive

Preservations theorems, which establish connection between syntactic and semantic properties of formulas, are a major topic of investigation in model theory. In the context of finite-model theory, most, but not all, preservation theorems are known to fail. It is not known, however, whether the Los-Tarski-Lyndon theorem, which asserts that a first-order sentence is preserved under homomorphisms if it is equivalent to an existential positive sentence, holds with respect to finite structures. Resolving this is an important open question in finite-model theory. In this paper we study the relationship between closure under homomorphism and positive syntax for several nonfirst-order existential logics that are of interest in computer science. We prove that the Los-Tarski-Lyndon theorem holds for these logics. The logics we consider are variable-confined existential infinitary logic, Datalog, and various fragments of second-order logic.
Nucleoskeleton mechanics at a glance

The nucleus contains the genetic information of the cell and all of the regulatory factors that process the genome effectively. The genome is encapsulated by a dense, filamentous meshwork called the nucleoskeleton, which is located at the inner nuclear membrane. The components of the nucleoskeleton
More success and failure factors in software reuse

Numerous discrepancies exist between expert opinion and empirical data reported in Morisio et al.'s recent TSE article. The differences related to what factors encouraged successful reuse in software organizations. This note describes how those differences were detected and comments on their methodological implications.
Optimizing and learning diffusion behaviors in complex network

Many dynamic phenomena can be modeled as a diffusion process. For my dissertation, I study diffusion processes in the area of sustainability, such as how wildlife spreads over a fragmental landscape and how fish spread within a river network, and try to answer two important questions. 1) How to shape the diffusion by using a limited amount of resources, for example how to maximize the spread of birds by preserving a limited number of landscape units? 2) How to model the diffusion process and estimate the parameters of the model using incomplete and noisy observations? This document describes my current research progress and future research directions of answering these two important questions.
Effect of Varying Potato Leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Population Densities on Snap Bean Yield

Varying infestation levels of potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), were created on commercial snap bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris (L.)) cultivars by application of insecticides at predetermined thresholds, and subsequent yield responses were determined. Low (close to zero), medium (one adult per sweep or one nymph per leaf), and unrestricted infestation levels were compared on ‘Early Gallatin’, ‘Lake Superior’, and ‘Bush Blue Lake-94’ at two Wisconsin locations (Arlington and Hancock) using two planting dates and infestation levels in 1980 and three in 1981. E. fabae populations in 1980 were moderate. Two to four applications of fen valerate were necessary to maintain populations at the low threshold, and little benefit in increased yield was obtained compared with untreated plots. In 1981, populations were high. A systemic insecticide and two or three foliar applications were needed to maintain populations at the low density, which yielded higher than the untreated controls in each variety. Only one or two foliar sprays were required at the medium threshold. Although higher leafhopper populations occurred in these plots, yield differences between the low and medium infestation levels were small provided that fewer than one leafhopper per sweep was detected before the first trifoliate stage. Throughout these trials, higher E. fabae populations were found in ‘Bush Blue Lake-94’ than in ‘Early Gallatin’. Yield reductions were greatest in ‘Early Gallatin’, however, indicating a tolerance for E. fabae injury in ‘Bush Blue Lake-94’. ‘Lake Superior’ was intermediate in leafhopper populations and yield reduction. An action threshold of 0.5 adult per sweep before the first trifoliate and one adult per sweep or one nymph per leaf for the remainder of the season is proposed for snap beans. Intensity, duration, and time of E. fabae infestation are crucial factors in the determination of subsequent effects on crop yields. Crop variety and additional plant stress factors, including low temperature and incidence of plant disease, can also affect yield response to leafhopper damage and should be considered in management decisions.
Gender and Persistence in Negotiation: A Dyadic Perspective

We studied interactive effects of gender in negotiation dyads, theorizing that the degree and manner of a negotiator's persistence are functions of the gender composition of the dyad. Our findings ...
Identifying configurations of behavior change techniques in effective medication adherence interventions: a qualitative comparative analysis

Interventions to improve medication adherence are diverse and complex. Consequently, synthesizing this evidence is challenging. We aimed to extend the results from an existing systematic review of interventions to improve medication adherence by using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to identify necessary or sufficient configurations of behavior change techniques among effective interventions. We used data from 60 studies in a completed systematic review to examine the combinations of nine behavior change techniques (increasing knowledge, increasing awareness, changing attitude, increasing self-efficacy, increasing intention formation, increasing action control, facilitation, increasing maintenance support, and motivational interviewing) among studies demonstrating improvements in adherence. Among the 60 studies, 34 demonstrated improved medication adherence. Among effective studies, increasing patient knowledge was a necessary but not sufficient technique. We identified seven configurations of behavior change techniques sufficient for improving adherence, which together accounted for 26 (76 %) of the effective studies. The intervention configuration that included increasing knowledge and self-efficacy was the most empirically relevant, accounting for 17 studies (50 %) and uniquely accounting for 15 (44 %). This analysis extends the completed review findings by identifying multiple combinations of behavior change techniques that improve adherence. Our findings offer direction for policy makers, practitioners, and future comparative effectiveness research on improving adherence.
Energy funneling in the dendrimeric nanostar probed by time-resolved nonlinear spectroscopies

The complex excitonic dynamics of a four-generation phenylacetylene dendrimer with a perylene acceptor and its signatures in time- and frequency-gated fluorescence and pump-probe spectroscopies are simulated using density matrix Liouville space wavepackets and the Doorway/Window representation of sequential optical signals.
In situ characterization of structural dynamics in swelling hydrogels

Characterizing the structural morphology and the local viscoelastic properties of soft complex systems raises significant challenges. Here we introduce a dynamic light scattering method capable of in situ, continuous monitoring of structural changes in evolving systems such as swelling gels. We show that the inherently non-stationary dynamics of embedded probes can be followed using partially coherent radiation, which effectively isolates only single scattering contributions even during the dramatic changes in the scattering regime. Using a simple and robust experimental setup, we demonstrate the ability to continuously monitor the structural dynamics of chitosan hydrogels formed by the Ag+ ion-triggered gelation during their long-term swelling process. We demonstrate that both the local viscoelastic properties of the suspending medium and an effective cage size experienced by diffusing probe particles loaded into the hydrogel can be recovered and used to describe the structural dynamics of hydrogels with different levels of cross-linking. This characterization capability is critical for defining and controlling the hydrogel performance in different biomedical applications.
Measured depth-dependence of waveguide invariant in shallow water with a summer profile

Acoustic-intensity striation patterns were measured in the time-frequency domain using an L-shaped array and two simultaneously towed broadband (350–650 Hz) sources at depths above and below the thermocline under summer profile conditions. Distributions of the waveguide invariant parameter β, extracted from the acoustic striation patterns, peak at different values when receivers are above or below the thermocline for a source that is below the thermocline. However, the distributions show similar characteristics when the source is above the thermocline. Experimental results are verified by a numerical analysis of phase slowness, group slowness, and relative amplitudes of acoustic modes.
The intercultural transfer of football: the contexts of Germany and Argentina

Historians of sport have paid little attention to the ways in which modern sports such as football were transferred from its place of origin to receiving cultures around the globe. While it is reco...
Generating Designs Using an Algorithmic Register Transfer Language with Formal Semantics

ARTL (Algorithmic Register Transfer Language) is a language used to describe and specify synchronous hardware at the algorithmic and register-transfer levels. Its syntax and natural semantics are formalized in higher-order logic using HOL. An ARTL simulation engine (abstract machine) and compiler are described and verified within HOL. The machine and compiler for ARTL is fully implemented. Also, we present the principles of ARTL synthesis using to standard cells and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
Creativity, Intelligence, and Culture

What is creativity? What is intelligence? And how do conceptions of them vary across cultures? This chapter considers cultural implications of the nature of creativity and intelligence and focuses particularly on the things parents and teachers can do to develop creativity in all cultural settings.
Transient Responses to Notch and Tlx1/Hox11 Inhibition In T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma.

Abstract Abstract 1026 Despite numerous advances in the past few decades, treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL) remains a common and considerable challenge. Further efforts to define the molecular lesions that drive ALL are needed to improve clinical management. The Hox subfamily of T-cell ALL (T-ALL) represents 30–40% of pediatric and adult cases. TLX1/HOX11 is the prototypical member of the Hox group. To generate a resource for developing targeted therapies for Hox T-ALLs, we developed a doxycycline-regulated mouse model of Tlx1-initiated T-ALL. Dysregulated thymic expression of Tlx1 induces T-ALL after ∼5-7 months with penetrance of 15–60%. The lymphoblasts are arrested at the early CD4+/CD8+/CD24hi stage of T-cell development, similar to human T-ALLs of the TLX1 subtype. Spontaneous activation of the Notch1 oncogene occurred in the tumors. In about two-thirds of samples, Notch was activated through acquired mutations in the heterodimerization and PEST domains that resemble the Notch1 mutations found in human patients. Inhibition of Notch signaling with g-secretase inhibitors completely abrogated cell line growth and induced apoptosis. Notch inhibition also transiently delayed leukemia progression by ∼17 days in vivo. In contrast, suppression of Tlx1 expression had more moderate inhibitory effects on cell line growth in vitro. However, suppression of Tlx1 expression in transgenic mice transiently delayed leukemia progression by ∼11 days. Tlx1 suppression had the strongest inhibitory effects on expression of CCR7 and lymph node size. These effects were fully reversed with ectopic expression of Tlx1. These data show that Tlx1 can convert normal thymocytes into leukemia cells, but the leukemia cells are not fully dependent on continued Tlx1 expression. The leukemia cells recruit secondary factors and pathways such as Notch and c-Myc to sustain growth and survival. Our study highlights a strong resiliency of T-ALL cells to both Tlx1 and Notch inhibition. Our study has important implications for targeting these pathways for the treatment of T-ALL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Development of a dietary environmental index to assess nutritional quality versus environmental effect of foods and dietary patterns

Abstract Background Anthropogenic environmental effects of food production and processing, alongside diets that fail to meet nutritional requirements, are contributing to an unhealthy as well as unsustainable food system. Going forward it is crucial that nutritional health be considered alongside the ecological effects of food decisions. However, our ability to assess dietary sustainability is restricted by the absence of coherent, standardised methods that consider both the quality and environmental effects of our diets. As a result, we know little about the sustainability of healthy dietary patterns. Methods To address this gap, a dietary environmental index (DEX) was developed as an assessment instrument to gauge environmental costs against nutritional quality for foods commonly consumed in the USA. For a nationally representative selection of foods reported in the 2007–08 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), life cycle assessment (LCA) indicators of land and water resource use, eutrophication, and greenhouse gas emissions were standardised and combined into an aggregate environmental impact score (EIS). The EIS was then evaluated against nutrient density, as determined using the Nutrient Rich Foods Index 9.3, to calculate the DEX values as the ratio of NRF9·3 to EIS for about 1200 NHANES food items arranged into 135 food categories. Findings DEX scores for most fruit, vegetable, legume, and nut categories performed above the median, and frequently above the 75th percentile, due to simultaneously high NRF9·3 and low EIS. Cereals, pasta, and grain products ranged predominantly around the median DEX. Among dairy, milk and cheeses generally ranked 25th–50th percentile. Meat-based dishes fluctuated around the 25th percentile, with higher DEX generally for poultry and egg products and lower scores for beef and pork. Interpretation Results obtained from this research will provide insight on how food product choices might enhance the nutritional quality of the diet, while reducing harm to the environment. Funding The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Educated but anxious: How emotional states and education levels combine to influence online health information seeking

This study combined conceptual frameworks from health information seeking, appraisal theory of emotions, and social determinants of health literatures to examine how emotional states and education predict online health information seeking. Nationally representative data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 4, Cycle 3) were used to test the roles of education, anxiety, anger, sadness, hope, happiness, and an education by anxiety interaction in predicting online health information seeking. Results suggest that women, tablet owners, smartphone owners, the college educated, those who are sad some or all of the time, and those who are anxious most of the time were significantly more likely to seek online health information. Conversely, being angry all of the time decreased the likelihood of seeking. Furthermore, two significant interactions emerged between anxiety and education levels. Discrete psychological states and demographic factors (gender and education) individually and jointly impact information seeking tendencies.
No Part of the World: How Jehovah's Witnesses Perform the Boundaries of their Community

Relying on fieldwork conducted in the United States and Zambia, as well as analyses of Jehovah’s Witness literature and academic scholarship, this essay uses the Witness distinction between the Truth and the World as a way to think through the ways they perform the boundaries of their community. When speaking to fellow insiders, Jehovah’s Witnesses refer to their religion as the Truth, while when speaking to outsiders they almost never use this term. The Truth/World distinction is Witnesses’ own description of their ingroup/outgroup relations. The first part of the essay focuses on the ways in which Jehovah’s Witnesses perform and affirm their identities through their rituals, including rigorous practices of study. The second part of the essay argues that by abstaining from worldly rituals like holidays and voting, Witnesses invite the larger society in which they are embedded to see them as set apart. Thus for Witnesses, the boundaries of their community are dually constituted, both from within and without.
Post-harvest practices linked with ochratoxin A contamination of coffee in three provinces of Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines

One of the emerging concerns in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines is ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination in coffee. During 2015 to 2016, a total of 51 Arabica (Coffea arabica) coffee samples from Benguet province and 71 Robusta (Coffea canephora var. Robusta) coffee samples from the provinces of Ifugao and Kalinga were analysed for OTA contamination. The OTA-producing fungal contaminants during drying and storage of Arabica and Robusta coffee were Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus ochraceus. Ochratoxin A was more commonly detected in Robusta coffee (36.6%) than in Arabica coffee (21.6%). Among the contaminated samples, Robusta coffee cherries in the drying yard had the highest mean OTA level (120.2 μg kg-1, n = 10) while roasted Robusta coffee beans had the lowest mean level (4.8 μg kg-1, n = 9). The onset of contamination of Arabica coffee occurred during storage, with a mean OTA level of 46.7 μg kg-1 (n = 9). Roasted coffee had lower OTA content although five samples had levels >5.0 μg kg-1. Pearson Chi-square analysis (χ2) and Fisher's exact test revealed that several post-harvest practices involving non-removal of the husk or hull and mixing of defective coffee were significantly associated with the occurrence of OTA during drying and storage (p < 0.05). No significant associations, however, were identified during roasting. This study suggests that the post-harvest practices in Cordillera Administrative Region should focus on the removal of defective coffee in all stages of post-harvest and rapid reduction of moisture content particularly during drying.
Guide RNA Selection for CRISPR-Cas9 Transfections in Plasmodium Falciparum

CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing is addressing key limitations in the transfection of malaria parasites. While this method has already simplified the needed molecular cloning and reduced the time required to generate mutants in the human pathogen Plasmodium falciparum, optimal selection of required guide RNAs and guidelines for successful transfections have not been well characterised, leading workers to use time-consuming trial and error approaches. We used a genome-wide computational approach to create a comprehensive and publicly accessible database of possible guide RNA sequences in the P. falciparum genome. For each guide, we report on-target efficiency and specificity scores as well as information about the genomic site relevant to optimal design of CRISPR-Cas9 transfections to modify, disrupt, or conditionally knockdown any gene. As many antimalarial drug and vaccine targets are encoded by multigene families, we also developed a new paralog specificity score that should facilitate modification of either a single family member of interest or multiple paralogs that serve overlapping roles. Finally, we tabulated features of successful transfections in our laboratory, providing broadly useful guidelines for parasite transfections. Molecular studies aimed at understanding parasite biology or characterising drug and vaccine targets in P. falciparum should be facilitated by this comprehensive database.
Genesis of Continental Diabases and Oceanic Tholeiites Considered in Light of Rare-Earth and Barium Abundances and Partition Coefficients

Continental diabases and oceanic tholeiites in light of rare earth and barium abundances and partition coefficients indicating fusion process
The Acidosis of Chronic Renal Failure

The acidosis of chronic renal failure is not due to bicarbonate wastage per se; rather, bicarbonate reabsorption per nephron is markedly enhanced. The ability to lower the urine pH is preserved. While overall ammonium production may be decreased in chronic renal failure, both ammonium production and excretion are markedly increased when expressed per remaining nephron. Titratable acid excretion in chronic renal failure is essentially maximal, owing to the effect of parathyroid hormone on phosphate excretion by the kidney. Thus, it appears that the acidosis of chronic renal failure is solely the consequence of the reduction in functional renal mass. Extrarenal buffering may contribute substantially to the maintenance of a near normal acid-base status in patients with marked reduction in glomerular filtration rate. That homeostasis is so well preserved until glomerular filtration rate falls to approximately 10 per cent of normal is remarkable; the price, however, may be considerable. Prolonged acidosis may magnify the tendency of renal failure to cause osteodystrophy. An obvious treatment for the acidosis of renal failure is exogenous alkali therapy. Most clinicians withhold alkali therapy until the bicarbonate concentration falls below 20 mEq per L. If the acidosis cannot be safely corrected with exogenous therapy, dialysis should be initiated.
On Institutions and Power: Deconstruction and an Alternative

Social and political institutions, it is generally agreed, are “practical necessities” for human existence. If this is indeed the case, as I will assume, then philosophical positions which misconstrue them and the power exercised in and by them or misjudge how we should deal with them are seriously flawed.