cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Causes of Injury to Flooded Tobacco Plants.

Tobacco is one of the most susceptible of crop plants to injury from flooding or saturation of the soil with water. It really exhibits two types of reaction to flooding, immediate but temporary wilting accompanying temporary flooding, and severe permanent injury caused by longer periods of flooding. If the soil is suddenly saturated by a downpour of rain and the sun later shines 'bright and hot, sudden wilting of the leaves, often termed "flopping" by tobacco growers, sometimes occurs. This sudden wilting occurs where drainage is slow and the soil remains saturated for at least a few hours ?fter a rain. High air temperatures and bright sun accentuate this sudden wilting and its occurrence may depend also on the condition of the plants, apparently being much more severe if the tobacco has been growing rapidly and therefore is somewhat soft and succulent. If the excess soil moisture drains away within a few hours the plants usually recover from this type of wilting with little or no permanent injury. Where because of topography or an impermeable subsoil the soil in the root zone remains saturated for several days serious permanent injury or death usually results. The leaves of such plants turn yellow and die, beginning with the lower ones and progressing up the stem. Such injury is most common and severe on clay soils because they drain more slowly than sandy soils, but injury sometimes occurs even on sandy soil if poorly drained. Considerable discussion has occurred among tobacco workers concerning the causes of the sudden wilting which often occurs immediately after a rain, but apparently little or no research has been done. Of course, the immediate effect of saturating the soil with water is to displace the air which normally occupies the noncapillary pore space of the soil. This causes a deficiency of oxygen and an accumulation of carbon dioxide, either of which might injure or kill the roots. Damage to the root systems has been assumed to result in reduction of water intake and injury to the tops from desiccation. This explanation seems inadequate, however, because wilting often occurs within an hour or two after flooding, too soon for serious injury to the roots. Furthermore, as Kramer (8) pointed out earlier, some of the symptoms of flooding injury are different from those expected in plants dying from desiccation. Wilting is often most severe in the middle leaves and in cloudy weather leaves of flooded plants often turn yellow and die with little or no wilting. Epinasty also is common, though the change in angle of curvature is so small in tobacco that it is generally overlooked. These observations suggested the need for a careful study both of the visible symptoms of flooding injury and of the physiological causes of these symptoms.
Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic injury after spinal instrumentation

Aortic injury after thoracic spinal instrumentation is a rare complication that carries significant potential morbidity and mortality if it is not appropriately managed. We report a patient successfully treated in an endovascular manner, thereby applying minimally invasive techniques to avoid the morbidity of open thoracotomy. Decreased short-term morbidity with the endovascular approach offers significant advantage over open repair, thereby omitting aortic cross-clamping, thoracotomy, and increased risk from the patient's comorbidities. An endovascular approach to this potentially devastating complication of thoracic spinal instrumentation can be both safe and effective in selected patients and not exclusively performed in cases of hemorrhage, hematoma, or pseudoaneurysm.
Creating a tailored trustworthy space for democracy advocates using hostile host

This paper examines unique challenges faced by citizen-- journalists and democracy advocates. They have specific digital security and privacy needs. Our use case considers citizen-journalists accessing the Internet through Internet cafes in regions controlled by repressive governments. These work in hostile environments countering censorship technologies, such as the great firewall of China, and surveillance tools such as deep packet inspection tools marketed to Syria by Blue Coat technologies. We discuss current tools for protecting our users and their limitations. We then consider how to develop an open source environment that is flexible, adaptive, and protects the user from surveillance, as much as possible. This is a unique example of creating tailored trustworthy spaces designed to work in insecure, hostile environments.
Fetal-neonatal Uremia in Advanced Maternal Diabetes:

A symmetrically growth retarded premature infant was born to a mother with advanced diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal failure, and hypertension, and man aged with aggressive medical therapy without the use of dialysis. The neonatal course was uncomplicated, except for cord blood creatinine and BUN concentrations of 4.7 mg/dl and 116 mg/dl, respectively, that fell to 1.1 mg/dl and 44 mg/dl by 2 days of age. Strict glucose control, careful management of the metabolic abnor malities of uremia, and periodic surveillance of fetal well-being led to a successful pregnancy.
Tuberculosis Isolation Comparison of Written Procedures and Actual Practices in Three California Hospitals

Objective:To evaluate implementation of healthcare worker exposure control measures for tuberculosis (TB)-patient isolation, as specified by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and the hospital's TB-control policy.Design:Prospective multihospital study comparing CDC guidelines and hospital policy for TB-patient isolation to once-weekly observations of TB-patient isolation practices over 14 consecutive weeks at each hospital.Setting:Three urban hospitals (two county, one private community) in counties in California with a high incidence rate of TB.Measurements:Work practices for TB-patient isolation were observed and ventilation performance of isolation rooms was assessed while patient rooms were in use for TB isolation.Results:Of 170 TB-patient rooms observed, 119 (70%) involved a patient in a designated TB isolation room, the room was under negative pressure, the door was closed, and a “respiratory precautions” sign was on the door; 32 patient-room units (19%) were not under negative pressure or not designated as negative-pressure rooms. Of 151 patient-room units mechanically capable of negative pressure at a prior point in time, 16 (11%) were not under negative pressure at the time of use. Of 67 patient-room units equipped with continuous monitoring devices, 8 (12%) involved devices that did not accurately reflect the direction of airflow. Of the 62 healthcare workers observed using a respirator for TB, 40 (65%) did not don the respirator properly.Conclusions:Implementing CDC guidelines for TB-patient isolation was feasible but imperfect in the three hospitals. Day-to-day work practices deviated from hospital policy. Prospectively quantifying the implementation of a hospital TB isolation policy while the room is in use may lead to improved estimates of risk and may help to identify and thereby prevent avoidable healthcare worker exposures to Mycobacterium tuberculosis aerosol. Auditing practices and verifying equipment performance is likely to identify unexpected problems in implementation of the TB control program.
Regulation of homocysteine metabolism and methylation in human and mouse tissues

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism involves multiple enzymes; however, tissue Hcy metabolism and its relevance to methylation remain unknown. Here, we established gene expression profiles of 8 Hcy metabolic and 12 methylation enzymes in 20 human and 19 mouse tissues through bioinformatic analysis using expression sequence tag clone counts in tissue cDNA libraries. We analyzed correlations between gene expression, Hcy, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels, and SAM/SAH ratios in mouse tissues. Hcy metabolic and methylation enzymes were classified into two types. The expression of Type 1 enzymes positively correlated with tissue Hcy and SAH levels. These include cystathionine beta-synthase, cystathionine-gamma-lyase, paraxonase 1, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, betaine:homocysteine methyltransferase, methionine adenosyltransferase, phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferases and glycine N-methyltransferase. Type 2 enzyme expressions correlate with neither tissue Hcy nor SAH levels. These include SAH hydrolase, methionyl-tRNA synthase, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate:Hcy methyltransferase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, DNA methyltransferase 1/3a, isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferases, and histone-lysine N-methyltransferase. SAH is the only Hcy metabolite significantly correlated with Hcy levels and methylation enzyme expression. We established equations expressing combined effects of methylation enzymes on tissue SAH, SAM, and SAM/SAH ratios. Our study is the first to provide panoramic tissue gene expression profiles and mathematical models of tissue methylation regulation.
Propensity Score Methods for Confounding Control in Nonexperimental Research

Nonexperimental studies are increasingly used to investigate the safety and effectiveness of medical products as they are used in routine care. One of the primary challenges of such studies is confounding, systematic differences in prognosis between patients exposed to an intervention of interest and the selected comparator group. In the presence of uncontrolled confounding, any observed difference in outcome risk between the groups cannot be attributed solely to a causal effect of the exposure on the outcome. Confounding in studies of medical products can arise from a variety of different sociomedical processes.1 The most common form of confounding arises from good medical practice, physicians prescribing medications and performing procedures on patients who are most likely to benefit from them. This leads to a bias known as confounding by indication, which can cause medical interventions to appear to cause events that they prevent.2,3 Conversely, patients who are perceived by a physician to be near the end of life may be less likely to receive preventive medications, leading to confounding by frailty or comorbidity.4–6 Additional sources of confounding bias can result from patients’ health-related behaviors. For example, patients who initiate a preventive medication may be more likely than other patients to engage in other healthy, prevention-oriented behaviors leading to bias known as the healthy user/adherer effect.7–9 Many statistical approaches can be used to remove the confounding effects of such factors if they are captured in the data. The most common statistical approaches for confounding control are based on multivariable regression models of the outcome. To yield unbiased estimates of treatment effects, these approaches require that the researcher correctly models the effect of the treatment and covariates on the outcome. However, correct specification of an outcome model can be challenging, particularly in studies …
Improved pulmonary and growth outcomes in cystic fibrosis by newborn screening

Background Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) is effective in improving long-term growth outcomes. However, there is conflicting evidence that early diagnosis maintains normal pulmonary function. Our goal was to determine if newborn screening results in improved longitudinal growth and maintenance of normal pulmonary function. Methods A retrospective study of individuals with CF born in Connecticut between 1983 and 1997 was conducted by medical record and CF Foundation Registry review. Growth, pulmonary function and bacterial acquisition/colonization data, from diagnosis through July 1, 2005, were compared in those diagnosed by newborn screen (n = 34) to those diagnosed by sweat test after symptom appearance (n = 21). Results Screened individuals demonstrated greater weight and height for age at diagnosis (P = 0.01 and 0.01) and through 15 years of age (P = 0.0002 and 0.01). Body mass index was higher in screened individuals (21 vs. 18 kg/m2) at 15 years of age (P = 0.01). At 15 years of age, screened individuals had a clinically higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC; 90% and 104% predicted) than non-screened individuals (74% and 91% predicted; P = 0.08 and 0.10). Over a 9-year period, from ages 6 to 15, percent predicted FEV1 and FVC increased by 4% and 13% in screened individuals; and declined by 14% and 5% respectively in non-screened individuals (P = 0.01 and 0.02). Acquisition/colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was similar between groups (P = 0.23). Conclusions In this CF cohort, individuals diagnosed by newborn screening have improved growth and preservation of normal pulmonary function without increased risk of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:648–655. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the periodic logistic equation

We show that the p-periodic logistic equation xn+1 = „n mod pxn(1 i xn) has cycles (periodic solutions) of minimal periods 1;p;2p;3p;:::: Then we extend Singer’s theorem to periodic dierence equations, and use it to show the p-periodic logistic equation has at most p stable cycles. Also, we present computational methods investigating the stable cycles in case p = 2 and 3:
The role of serendipity in drug discovery.

Serendipity is one of the many factors that may contribute to drug discovery. It has played a role in the discovery of prototype psychotropic drugs that led to modern pharmacological treatment in psychiatry. It has also played a role in the discovery of several drugs that have had an impact on the development of psychiatry, “Serendipity” in drug discovery implies the finding of one thing while looking for something else. This was the case in six of the twelve serendipitous discoveries reviewed in this paper, ie, aniline purple, penicillin, lysergic acid diethylamide, meprobamate, chlorpromazine, and imipramine, in the case of three drugs, ie, potassium bromide, chloral hydrate, and lithium, the discovery was serendipitous because an utterly false rationale led to correct empirical results; and in case of two others, ie, iproniazid and sildenafil, because valuable indications were found for these drugs which were not initially those sought. The discovery of one of the twelve drugs, chlordiazepoxide, was sheer luck.
Aging in America in the Twenty‐first Century: Demographic Forecasts from the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on an Aging Society

Context: The aging of the baby boom generation, the extension of life, and progressiveincreasesindisability-freelifeexpectancyhavegeneratedadramatic demographictransitionintheUnitedStates.Officialgovernmentforecastsmay, however, have inadvertently underestimated life expectancy, which would have major policy implications, since small differences in forecasts of life expectancy produceverylargedifferencesinthenumberofpeoplesurvivingtoanolderage. This article presents a new set of population and life expectancy forecasts for the United States, focusing on transitions that will take place by midcentury. Methods: Forecasts were made with a cohort-components methodology, based on the premise that the risk of death will be influenced in the coming decades by accelerated advances in biomedical technology that either delay the onset and age progression of major fatal diseases or that slow the aging process itself. Findings: Results indicate that the current forecasts of the U.S. Social Security Administration and U.S. Census Bureau may underestimate the rise in life expectancy at birth for men and women combined, by 2050, from 3.1 to 7.9 years. Conclusions: The cumulative outlays for Medicare and Social Security could be higher by $3.2 to $8.3 trillion relative to current government forecasts. This article discusses the implications of these results regarding the benefits and costs of an aging society and the prospect that health disparities could attenuate some of these changes.
Bayesian epistasis association mapping via SNP imputation.

Genetic mutations may interact to increase the risk of human complex diseases. Mapping of multiple interacting disease loci in the human genome has recently shown promise in detecting genes with little main effects. The power of interaction association mapping, however, can be greatly influenced by the set of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyped in a case–control study. Previous imputation methods only focus on imputation of individual SNPs without considering their joint distribution of possible interactions. We present a new method that simultaneously detects multilocus interaction associations and imputes missing SNPs from a full Bayesian model. Our method treats both the case–control sample and the reference data as random observations. The output of our method is the posterior probabilities of SNPs for their marginal and interacting associations with the disease. Using simulations, we show that the method produces accurate and robust imputation with little overfitting problems. We further show that, with the type I error rate maintained at a common level, SNP imputation can consistently and sometimes substantially improve the power of detecting disease interaction associations. We use a data set of inflammatory bowel disease to demonstrate the application of our method.
Catheter Entrapment in a Chiari Network Involving an Atrial Septal Defect

During cardiac catheterization in a 51-year-old man with secundum atrial septal defect, catheter entrapment in the area of the interatrial defect occurred. At thoracotomy, the catheter was found to be caught by and looped within a Chiari network involving the septal defect, a hitherto unreported complication of cardiac catheterization.
Entering the petaflop era: the architecture and performance of Roadrunner

Roadrunner is a 1.38 Pflop/s-peak (double precision) hybrid-architecture supercomputer developed by LANL and IBM. It contains 12,240 IBM PowerXCell 8i processors and 12,240 AMD Opteron cores in 3,060 compute nodes. Roadrunner is the first supercomputer to run Linpack at a sustained speed in excess of 1 Pflop/s. In this paper we present a detailed architectural description of Roadrunner and a detailed performance analysis of the system. A case study of optimizing the MPI-based application Sweep3D to exploit Roadrunner's hybrid architecture is also included. The performance of Sweep3D is compared to that of the code on a previous implementation of the Cell Broadband Engine architecture---the Cell BE---and on multi-core processors. Using validated performance models combined with Roadrunner-specific microbenchmarks we identify performance issues in the early pre-delivery system and infer how well the final Roadrunner configuration will perform once the system software stack has matured.
ANATOMY OF THE STIGMA AND STYLE OF SWEET POTATO

Summary The stigma and style are the sites where self-incompatibility and hybrid sterility reactions occur in the sweet potato. The stigma is a highly branched structure covered with a specialized papillate epidermis which exudes a sticky fluid. The cells of the body of the stigma are arranged in gradually narrowing columns which conduct the pollen tubes from stigma to style. The style contains a central, uniform core of pollen-tube conducting tissue. The junction of style and ovary provides a continuous but contorted pathway of conducting tissue which pollen tubes follow. The incompatibility reaction, which occurs at the stigmatic surface, is hypothesized to be due to interactions of substances in the pollen and in the stigmatic exudate. Sterility, on the other hand, may be due to pollen tube disorientation or failure at the stigma-style junction and the style-ovary junction, where passage may be mechanically more difficult.
Food insufficiency and women's mental health: Findings from a 3-year panel of welfare recipients

Household food insufficiency is a significant problem in the United States, and has been associated with poor outcomes on mental health indicators among low-income women. However, it is difficult to disentangle the mental health consequences of household food insufficiency from poverty and other shared risk factors. Drawing on theories of the social production of health and disease, research evidence linking food insufficiency with poor mental health, and high rates of food insufficiency among welfare recipients, we examined whether a change in household food insufficiency is associated with a change in women's self-reported mental health in a sample of current and recent welfare recipients over a 3-year period of time, controlling for common risk factors. Data were obtained from a prospective survey of women who were welfare recipients in an urban Michigan county in February 1997 (n=753). We estimated fixed effect models for changes in mental health status that make use of information on household food insufficiency gathered in the fall of 1997, 1998, and 1999. The relationship between household food insufficiency and respondents' meeting the diagnostic screening criteria for major depression remained highly significant even when controlling for factors known to confer increased risk of depression and time invariant unobserved heterogeneity. These findings add to growing evidence that household food insufficiency has potentially serious consequences for low-income women's mental health. If confirmed by further research, they suggest that the public health burden of depression in welfare recipients and other low-income women could be reduced by policy-level interventions to reduce their exposure to household food insufficiency.
Natural history and conservation of the endangered Saffron-cowled Blackbird Xanthopsar flavus in Argentina

Based on 21,518 km of road surveys, the Argentinian range of the endangered Saffron-cowled Blackbird Xanthopsar flavus now seems confined to two small and disjunct areas in Corrientes and Entre Rios provinces, north-east Argentina. In Corrientes the species inhabits natural pastures and rice-fields; in Entre Rios agropastoral land. Estimates based on numbers of localities and flock sizes suggest a Saffron-cowled Blackbird population of 500–1,000 individuals. This blackbird is highly gregarious. Mean flock size (n = 30, non-breeding period) was 31.9 birds (range: 6–102), and was significantly larger in Entre Rios. In Corrientes foraging blackbird flocks associated mostly with the Black-and-White Monjita Xolmis dominicana, in Entre Rios with the Brown-and-Yellow Marshbird Pseudoleistes virescens. Nesting in both provinces was colonial, with up to 24 nests in a 0.43 ha plot. Nests were built in native and introduced herbaceous plants. The Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis parasitized 29.2% of the nests in one colony; its eggs and chicks are larger than those of the host. Plausible reasons for the species's extinction or decline at a local level are drainage of wetlands (south-west Buenos Aires Province) and the replacement of pastures with pine and eucalypt plantations in Corrientes. General threats include trapping for the pet trade and increased cowbird parasitism. Flocks below a minimum size may not be viable. An urgent measure of protection would be the fencing and preservation of traditional colony sites.En base a 21.518 km de censos de rutas parece que la distribution actual del amenazado Tordo Amarillo o Dragon Xanthopsar flavus en Argentina esta limitada a dos pequenas areas disyuntas en las provincias de Corrientes y Entre Rios. En Corrientes la especie se encuentra en pasturas naturales y arroceras, mientras que en Entre Rios usa campos agricola-ganaderos. Una estimation basada en el numero de localidades y tamanos de bandadas indicaria una poblacion total de 500 a 1.000 individuos. El tamano promedio de bando (n = 30, periodo no reproductive) fue 31,9 individuos (rango 6–102) y es significativamente mayor en Entre Rios. En Corrientes las bandadas se asocian principalmente con la Monjita Dominica Xolmis dominicana, y en Entre Rios con el Pecho Amarillo Pseudoleistes virescens. La nidificacion fue colonial en ambas provincias, con una densidad de hasta 24 nidos en 0,43 ha. Los nidos se construyeron en plantas herbaceas nativas y exoticas. El Tordo Renegrido Molothrus bonariensis parasito 29,4 % de los nidos de una colonia, siendo sus huevos y polios significativamente mayores. Posibles razones para la extincion y declination a nivel local de la especie serian el drenaje de humedales (SO de Buenos Aires) y el reemplazo de pasturas por bosques implantados de pinos y eucaliptos (Corrientes). Las amenazas a nivel generales incluyen la captura para el comercio de aves de jaula, y un mayor parasitismo de cria. Una medida urgente de protection de la especie seria cercar y preservar sitios tradicionales de nidificacion.
Sonic Hedgehog–Modified Human CD34+ Cells Preserve Cardiac Function After Acute Myocardial Infarction

Rationale:Ischemic cardiovascular disease represents one of the largest epidemics currently facing the aging population. Current literature has illustrated the efficacy of autologous, stem cell therapies as novel strategies for treating these disorders. The CD34+ hematopoetic stem cell has shown significant promise in addressing myocardial ischemia by promoting angiogenesis that helps preserve the functionality of ischemic myocardium. Unfortunately, both viability and angiogenic quality of autologous CD34+ cells decline with advanced age and diminished cardiovascular health. Objective:To offset age- and health-related angiogenic declines in CD34+ cells, we explored whether the therapeutic efficacy of human CD34+ cells could be enhanced by augmenting their secretion of the known angiogenic factor, sonic hedgehog (Shh). Methods and Results:When injected into the border zone of mice after acute myocardial infarction, Shh-modified CD34+ cells (CD34Shh) protected against ventricular dilation and cardiac functi...
Controversies in the management of stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer.

New developments in the management of non-small-cell lung cancer, as well as recent proposals for changing the current lung cancer staging system, are posing a challenge in the therapeutic decision making regarding this disease. For the last two decades, the management of stage IIIA (N2) disease has been controversial and the target for clinical trials has been to determine the best therapeutic approach that may result in better survival outcomes without increasing toxicity. For many years, combined modality treatment (systemic chemotherapy plus radiation therapy) became the standard of care in this setting. However, the poor outcomes seen with combined modality for N2 has obligated us to explore other possibilities. In this sense, recent clinical trials in the neoadjuvant setting using chemotherapy alone or combined modality are providing fruitful results and shifting the paradigm on this stage. A recent, large randomized multicenter trial argues against what has slowly become a current practice in some ...
Influence of “traveling” youth and substance use behaviors in the social networks of homeless youth

Traveling homeless youth (i.e., youth who migrate from city to city, after a short period of time) exhibit elevated levels of risky substance use behaviors compared to non-traveling youth. Using sociometric data, we examined the characteristics of homeless youth who are connected to at least one traveler and how at least one connection to travelers was associated with substance use of travelers and non-travelers. Data were collected from 386 homeless youth at two drop-in centers in Los Angeles, CA. Results indicated that, comparing to what would be expected by chance, youth who reported at least one connection to travelers were more likely to use substances, more travelers reported at least one tie to another traveler, and more substance-using travelers reported at least one tie to other substance-using travelers. Multivariate analyses revealed that binge drinking and marijuana use were associated with homeless youth reporting connections to at least one substance-using traveler. Injection drug use was associated with reporting at least one connection to an injection drug user, regardless of traveler status, once we controlled for demographic characteristics and traveler status. We suggest the need for substance-using traveler-specific services using brief one-on-one interventions to prevent further engagement in risky substance use.
Validity and Reliability of Scores Obtained on Multiple-Choice Questions: Why Functioning Distractors Matter.

Purpose Plausible distractors are important for accurate measurement of knowledge via multiple-choice questions (MCQs). This study demonstrates the impact of higher distractor functioning on validity and reliability of scores obtained on MCQs. Methods Free-response (FR) and MCQ versions of a neurohistology practice exam were given to four cohorts of Year 1 medical students. Consistently non-functioning multiple-choice distractors (<5% selection frequency) were replaced with those developed from incorrect responses on FR version of the items, followed by administration of the revised MCQ version to subsequent two cohorts. Validity was assessed by comparing an index of expected MCQ difficulty with an index of observed MCQ difficulty, while reliability was assessed via Cronbach’s alpha coefficient before and after replacement of consistently non-functioning distractors. Result Pre-intervention, effect size (Cohen’s d) of the difference between mean expected and observed MCQ difficulty indices was noted to be 0.4 – 0.59. Post-intervention, this difference reduced to 0.15 along with an increase in Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of scores obtained on MCQ version of the exam. Conclusion Multiple-choice distractors developed from incorrect responses on free-response version of the items enhance the validity and reliability of scores obtained on MCQs.
Validation of new approach of modelling traces by mapping mechanical properties for a printed circuit board mechanical analysis

Printed circuit boards (PCB) are found in almost all electronic devices. During manufacturing and field operation, these PCBs are subjected to different loads, which cause stresses and deformations. Excessive stresses and deformations of PCB can lead to system failure. Thermo mechanical simulation helps to predict stress distribution in manufacturing and operational condition. PCB object consists of alternate layers of metal and dielectrics, within each metal layer current is carried by several segments of copper traces and passed to other layers by vias. Modelling these traces and vias is very important for accurate stress calculations on a PCB object. As modern PCBs have several trace segments and vias, modelling each trace and via geometry explicitly is computationally costly. On the other hand, a simplest approach will be assuming uniform lumped values of mechanical properties for the complete PCB but this lumped approach would decrease the accuracy of stress predictions. The new modelling approach presented in this paper considers the effect of traces and vias by locally mapping mechanical properties into each of FEA elements of PCB. Thus eliminates the need to model trace and via geometry explicitly. In this paper, Trace mapping model has been used to predict the stress distribution between solder joints and PCB in a reflow oven during reflow process. Analysis was also done with detailed modelling of trace and via geometry and lumped modelling of PCB. All three approaches of modelling PCB, detailed, lumped and new trace mapping methods are compared.
A Functionally Stable Manganese Oxide Oxygen Evolution Catalyst in Acid

First-row metals have been a target for the development of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts because they comprise noncritical elements. We now report a comprehensive electrochemical characterization of manganese oxide (MnOx) over a wide pH range, and establish MnOx as a functionally stable OER catalyst owing to self-healing, is derived from MnOx redeposition that offsets catalyst dissolution during turnover. To study this process in detail, the oxygen evolution mechanism of MnOx was investigated electrokinetically over a pH range spanning acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions. In the alkaline pH regime, a ∼60 mV/decade Tafel slope and inverse first-order dependence on proton concentration were observed, whereas the OER acidic pH regime exhibited a quasi-infinite Tafel slope and zeroth-order dependence on proton concentration. The results reflect two competing mechanisms: a one-electron one-proton PCET pathway that is dominant under alkaline conditions and a Mn3+ disproportionation process, whi...
Determination of ultrasonic parameters based on attenuation and dispersion measurements.

In the measurement of acoustic attenuation that obeys a power-law α = βf, the traditional through-transmission method uses only the amplitude information of the recorded pulses to determine the two...
Are there disparities in the presentation, treatment and outcomes of patients diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer?-An analysis of 634 patients from the California Cancer Registry

Background: Race, gender and socioeconomic disparities have been suggested to adversely influence stage at presentation, treatment options and outcomes in patients with cancer. Underserved minorities and those with a low socioeconomic status (SES) present with more advanced disease and have worse outcomes for differentiated thyroid cancer, but this relationship has never been evaluated for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Methods: We used the California Cancer Registry (CCR) to evaluate disparities in the presentation, treatment and outcomes of patients diagnosed with MTC. Results: We identified 634 patients with MTC diagnosed between 1988 and 2011. Almost everyone (85%) underwent thyroidectomy with 50% having a central lymph node dissection (CLND). There were no statistically significant differences by age, race or SES in mean tumor size or the proportion of patients diagnosed with localized disease, but men were diagnosed with larger tumors than women and were less likely to be diagnosed at a localized stage. Younger patients and women were more likely to be treated with a thyroidectomy. There were no statistically significant differences in surgical treatment by race or SES. Patients in the highest SES category had a better overall survival, but not disease specific survival, than those in the lowest SES (HR =0.3, CI =0.1–0.7). Patients treated with thyroidectomy had a better overall and cause specific survival, but the effect of CLND was not statistically significant after adjustment for other factors. Conclusions: In MTC, we did not find that race, gender or SES influenced the presentation, treatment or outcomes of patients with MTC. Men with MTC present with larger tumors and are less likely to have localized disease. Half of the MTC patients in California do not undergo a CLND at the time of thyroidectomy, which may suggest a lack appropriate care across a range of healthcare systems.
Isolation and Sequencing of an Active-Site Peptide from Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme

A glutamic acid residue at the active-site of bovine lung angiotensin I-converting enzyme was esterified with p-[N,N-bis-(chloroethyl)amino]phenylbutyryl-L-[U-14]-Proline (chlorambucyl-L-[U-14C]-L-Proline), an affinity label for this enzyme. The radiolabeled enzyme was digested with BrCN and only 1 of the 30 cleavage peptides resolved by reverse-phase HPLC contained the bound radiolabel. This active-site peptide (Mr approximately 16,000) was digested with trypsin, and the labeled peptide (T-2) was further degraded with thermolysin. The enzyme digest peptides were also resolved by reverse-phase HPLC. Only 1 of the 5 peptides obtained after thermolysin digestion (Th-1, Mr 1290) contained the bound radiolabel. Th-1 (12 residues) was subjected to manual Edman degradation and the following partial sequence was determined: H2N-Phe-Thr-Glu-Leu-Ala-Asp-Ser-Glu. The radiolabel was released at cycle 3 and the amount recovered was equivalent to the amount of PTH-Glu detected on HPLC. Thus, glutamic acid is esterified with chlorambucyl-L-[U-14C]-Proline which confirms our earlier findings. The sequence that we determined is homologous in five residues with the corresponding sequences of carboxypeptidase A and B, two other mammalian zinc-proteases. There is little sequence homology with thermolysin, a bacterial zinc-protease that also contains an essential active-site glutamic acid residue.
The Insulin Receptor Family

The insulin receptor family in mammals includes the receptors for insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and the insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR), a receptor whose sequence is homologous to the sequences of the other two receptors but whose ligand is unknown (Fig. 1) (1). Another potential receptor in this family is the receptor for relaxin, a hormone whose structure is related to that of insulin (2). In addition, other members of this receptor family could exist for IGF-I and the highly related IGF-II. Although the cDNA and gene for one receptor which binds IGF-I with high affinity has been isolated (3), several pieces of data suggest that there may be other related IGF receptors. For example, although the receptor expressed from this cDNA had high affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II but almost 1000-fold weaker affinity for insulin (4), several reports in the literature have indicated that there are IGF receptors with a much higher affinity for insulin or a much weaker affinity for IGF-II (5, 6). Some of these studies may have been affected by the presence of hybrid insulin-IGF-I receptors (7). In addition, expression of the apparently same cDNA for the IGF-I receptor in another cell type led to the formation of a receptor which had high affinity for IGF-I and weak affinity for IGF-II when binding studies were performed on whole cells but which bound IGF-I and II almost equally when binding studies were performed in cell lysates (8). In addition, several monoclonal antibodies to the IGF-I receptor were found to stimulate an increase in the affinity of the IGF-I receptor for insulin almost to the level of the insulin receptor (9). These results suggest that the same IGF receptor can bind the IGFs and insulin with different relative affinities depending on the environment of the receptor in the cell membrane. Thus, it is not clear at the present time whether another IGF receptor exists or whether these different binding data can be explained by the present IGF-I receptor interacting with other molecules in different cell backgrounds.
The South Temperate Pronophilina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae): a phylogenetic hypothesis, redescriptions and revisionary notes

Phylogenetic analysis of the south-temperate members of Pronophilina (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) using mitochondrial and nuclear gene data corroborated monophyly of the clade and provided a framework for its systematic revision based on morphology. Of the 19 genera, 8 have been synonymized with 16 new combinations: Cosmosatyrus stelligera n. comb., C. dubii n. comb. , Neomaenas tristis n. comb. , Neosatyrus boisduvalii n. comb. , N. humilis n. comb. , N. schajovskoii n. comb. , N. vesagus n. comb. , Punargentus chiliensis n. comb. , P. lamna cuzcoensis n. comb., P. monticolens n. comb. , P. tandilensis n. comb. , Pampasatyrus edmondsii n. comb. , P. gustavi n. comb. , Tetraphlebia eleates n. comb. , T. leucoglene n. comb. , and T. patagonica n. comb . Neomaenas poliozona eustephanos nom. nov. , stat. nov. has been raised to a valid subspecies. Neomaenas monachus limonias and Pampasatyrus gustavi penai have been demoted to subspecies and Auca nycteropus and A. pales have been synonymized with A. coctei . The phylogenetic placement of Neomaniola euripides , not formally revised here, is discussed.
Lessons learned: how parents respond to school mandates and sanctions

Over the past three decades, a reform movement bent on improving schools and educational outcomes through standards-based accountability systems and market-like competitive pressures has dominated policy debates. Many have examined reform policies’ effects on academic outcomes, but few have explored these policies’ influence on citizens’ political orientations. In this study, using data from an original survey, I examine whether and how No Child Left Behind’s accountability-based architecture influences parents’ attitudes towards the government and federal involvement in education. I find little evidence that diversity in parents’ lived policy experiences shapes their political orientations. However, the results of a survey experiment suggest that information linking school experience to policy and government action may increase parents’ confidence in their ability to contribute to the political process. Understanding whether and under what conditions parents use public school experiences to inform orientations towards the government can improve the design of future reforms.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Parkinsonian Disorders

Parkinsonian disorders are a group of mostly neurodegenerative diseases that affect the basal ganglia. Symptoms include slowness of movement, increased muscle tone, and changes in walking and balance. The most common form of parkinsonism is idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Currently, only symptomatic treatments are available. These treatments can improve symptoms and quality of life, but do not prevent neurodegeneration or slow the course of disease.
Chinese Psychoculture and Foreign Policy Motivation

Psychoculture, for the present purpose, is the study of thinking patterns associated with social norms and historical experiences within the realm of a particular cultural experience. Norms are the subjective aspects of roles, the basic units of a social system regarding functions that hold the society together to survive all kinds of environmental and historical changes. From the cybernetic perspective, the study of Chinese diplomatic drama should start by identifying China’s various national self-images. Psychoculture is the field of alternatives where world views and the associated norms known to Chinese leaders are available to conceptualise China’s national self-image.
Exploring Assessment Demands and Task Supports in Early Childhood Phonological Awareness Assessments

Phonological awareness is assessed in various ways in both research studies and early childhood classrooms. The measures used to assess phonological awareness are related closely, although they differ in the linguistic unit used (e.g., word, syllable, onset-rime, or phoneme), the position of the linguistic unit (e.g., initial, medial, final), the task operation (e.g., detection, segmentation, deletion, production), the response mode (e.g., verbal, nonverbal), the task support or demands (e.g., picture prompts or memory demands), and in words used (low vs. high age of acquisition). To understand phonological awareness assessments better, phonological awareness tasks used with young children were examined based on these variations. The results indicate that considerable variability exists in the cognitive demands on phonological awareness assessments used in early childhood settings. These results raise some important questions regarding how phonological awareness is assessed in early childhood. Moreover, v...
PCB manufacturing variation impact on high frequency measurement fixtures

High-speed digital interconnects found in computer platforms are reaching speeds above 10Gbps in the near future while minimizing the power on-chip. Platform designers now face the challenge of creating interconnects which optimize IO density and performance within the constraints of power and platform affordability. This paper will focus on measurement techniques used to characterize passive interconnect components using fixturing native to the platform's end use. PCB based fixturing inherently contains manufacturing variations dictated by material composition and the manufacturing techniques. Manufacturing variations in the PCB fixtures contribute to uncertainty factors in passive device measurements. A specific focus of on-fixture TRL calibration standards will be studied for manufacturing variations. This information will be used as inputs into a design of experiments to determine the influence of fixture variations on the vector network analyzer (VNA) calibration and its impact to DUT measurements.
Optimization of substituted imidazobenzodiazepines as novel asthma treatments.

We describe the synthesis of analogs of XHE-III-74, a selective α4β3γ2 GABAAR ligand, shown to relax airway smooth muscle ex vivo and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness in a murine asthma model. To improve properties of this compound as an asthma therapeutic, a series of analogs with a deuterated methoxy group in place of methoxy group at C-8 position was evaluated for isotope effects in preclinical assays; including microsomal stability, cytotoxicity, and sensorimotor impairment. The deuterated compounds were equally or more metabolically stable than the corresponding non-deuterated analogs and increased sensorimotor impairment was observed for some deuterated compounds. Thioesters were more cytotoxic in comparison to other carboxylic acid derivatives of this compound series. The most promising compound 16 identified from the in vitro screens also strongly inhibited smooth muscle constriction in ex vivo guinea pig tracheal rings. Smooth muscle relaxation, determined by reduction of airway hyperresponsiveness with a murine ovalbumin sensitized and challenged model, showed that 16 was efficacious at low methacholine concentrations. However, this effect was limited due to suboptimal pharmacokinetics of 16. Based on these findings, further analogs of XHE-III-74 will be investigated to improve in vivo metabolic stability while retaining the efficacy at lung tissues involved in asthma pathology.
Persistence of strong and switchable ferroelectricity despite vacancies

Vacancies play a pivotal role in affecting ferroelectric polarization and switching properties, and there is a possibility that ferroelectricity may be utterly eliminated when defects render the system metallic. However, sufficient quantitative understandings of the subject have been lacking for decades due to the fact that vacancies in ferroelectrics are often charged and polarization in charged systems is not translationally invariant. Here we perform first-principles studies to investigate the influence of vacancies on ferroelectric polarization and polarization switching in prototypical BaTiO3 of tetragonal symmetry. We demonstrate using the modern theory of polarization that, in contrast to common wisdom, defective BaTiO3 with a large concentration of vacancies (or , or ) possesses a strong nonzero electric polarization. Breaking of Ti-O bonds is found to have little effect on the magnitude of polarization, which is striking. Furthermore, a previously unrecognized microscopic mechanism, which is particularly important when vacancies are present, is proposed for polarization switching. The mechanism immediately reveals that (i) the switching barrier in the presence of is small with ΔE = 8.3 meV per bulk formula cell, and the polarization is thus switchable even when vacancies exist; (ii) The local environment of vacancy is surprisingly insignificant in polarization switching. These results provide profound new knowledge and will stimulate more theoretical and experimental interest on defect physics in FEs.