cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of myocardial perfusion by myocardial contrast echocardiography using harmonic power and the transvenous contrast agent SHU 563A in acute coronary occlusion and after reperfusion.

Abstract Background: Harmonic power Doppler imaging is a novel technique for the assessment of myocardial perfusion by contrast echocardiography. In this study, we examined whether myocardial contrast echocardiography using harmonic power Doppler and the new transvenous contrast agent SHU 563A can identify myocardial perfusion defects during coronary occlusion and reperfusion. Methods: To assess the potential of this technique, we occluded either the left anterior descending coronary artery or the circumflex coronary artery for 2 to 3 h followed by 1 h reperfusion in 10 dogs in an open chest model. After transvenous administration of SHU 563A, an air-filled, polymeric contrast agent, myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed in short and long axis views with triggered harmonic power Doppler imaging after coronary occlusion and reperfusion. Post-mortem triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining was performed to verify infarction. Harmonic power Doppler and anatomic data were analyzed by independent observers. Results: During coronary occlusion, harmonic power Doppler showed perfusion defects in all 10 dogs. The defect size in the short axis view at papillary muscle level ranged 4–51% (14±13%) and 3–43% (16±10%) in the long axis view (% total LV slice area). After reperfusion (1 h) and infusion of dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg), power Doppler demonstrated perfusion defects in seven dogs: 0–20% (9±8%) (short axis view) and 0–48% (13±14%) (long axis view). Five dogs showed anatomic infarction. The anatomic infarct area was 0–18% (6±8%) (slices corresponding to the echocardiographic short axis images). Perfusion defect size by harmonic power Doppler correlated well with residual infarct size ( r =0.82, P Conclusions: Myocardial contrast echocardiography using harmonic power Doppler and the new contrast agent SHU 563A accurately displays perfusion defects during acute coronary occlusion and after reperfusion. The site and size of residual myocardial infarction is reliably identified on line, in color. This approach has excellent potential for clinical application.
Active learning of novel sound-producing objects: Motor reactivation and enhancement of visuo-motor connectivity

Our experience with the world commonly involves physical interaction with objects enabling us to learn associations between multisensory information perceived during an event and our actions that create an event. The interplay among active interactions during learning and multisensory integration of object properties is not well understood. To better understand how action might enhance multisensory associative recognition, we investigated the interplay among motor and perceptual systems after active learning. Fifteen participants were included in an fMRI study during which they learned visuo-auditory-motor associations between novel objects and the sounds they produce, either through self-generated actions on the objects active learning or by observing an experimenter produce the actions passive learning. Immediately after learning, behavioral and BOLD fMRI measures were collected while perceiving the objects used during unisensory and multisensory training in associative perception and recognition tasks. Active learning was faster and led to more accurate recognition of audiovisual associations than passive learning. Functional ROI analyses showed that in motor, somatosensory, and cerebellar regions there was greater activation during both the perception and recognition of actively learned associations. Finally, functional connectivity between visual-and motor-related processing regions was enhanced during the presentation of actively learned audiovisual associations. Overall, the results of the current study clarify and extend our own previous work [Butler, A. J., James, T. W., & Harman James, K. Enhanced multisensory integration and motor reactivation after active motor learning of audiovisual associations. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 23, 3515-3528, 2011] by providing several novel findings and highlighting the task-based nature of motor reactivation and retrieval after active learning.
The Impact of Japanese Corporate Transnationalism on Men’s Involvement in Family Life and Relationships

This study examines the ways in which Japanese corporate transnationalism affects husbands’ involvement in family life and marital relationships primarily from a perspective of wives. It is based on interviews with 22 Japanese wives and 4 husbands. Studies of Japanese corporate transnationalism treat men as mere supervisors to local workers or representatives of corporations and pay little attention to their family relations. The study found that corporate transnationalism weakens the Japanese masculine corporate culture (which creates absent husbands and fathers) and consequently provides Japanese men an opportunity to consolidate family bonds and integrate themselves into family life, though not all men take advantage of this opportunity. Inasmuch as transnational corporate families are isolated from their friends and relatives in Japan, the degree and willingness of husbands’ involvement in family life has a substantial effect on the quality of marital relationships.
Functional neocortical microcircuitry demonstrated with intrinsic signal optical imaging in vitro.

Abstract Intrinsic signal optical imaging was used to record the changes in light transmittance evoked by electrical stimulation in slices prepared from sensorimotor cortex of young adult rats. The spatial characteristics of the optical signal evoked by stimulation of layer II/III, IV, V, or VI were clearly different. Layer IV and V stimulation elicited a radially-oriented region of increased light transmittance which was “hourglass” shaped: its tangential extent was greatest in layers II/III and layer V, and least in layer IV. Layer VI stimulation also elicited a radially-oriented signal but the tangential extent of this signal was the same across layers II–VI—that is, it was column-shaped. Upper layer stimulation produced a signal whose tangential extent was much greater in the upper layers than its radial extent to the deeper layers. The spatial form of the stimulus-evoked intrinsic signal was not dependent on the cytoarchitectonic area in which it was elicited. The tangential and radial distribution of the signal evoked by stimulation of different layers appears to reflect the connectivity of cortex, particularly the horizontal connectivity present in layers II/III, V, and VI, and the interlaminar connections that exist between layers II/III and V and from layers VI to IV. The spatial characteristics of the intrinsic signal were independent of the strength of stimulation used. The idea that inhibitory mechanisms restrict the tangential extent of the signal was evaluated in experiments in which the intrinsic signal was recorded before and after the addition of 10 μM bicuculline methiodide. In all slices studied in this way ( n =12), bicuculline methiodide drastically increased the tangential extent of the signal. In 4/12 slices, the tangential spread of the signal was asymmetric with respect to the stimulus site. Asymmetric spread of the signal occurred for both layer V and layer VI stimulation and, in 2/4 of those cases, could be attributed to a cytoarchitectonic border whose presence appeared to restrict the spread of the signal across the border. Although increasing stimulation strength did not change the spatial characteristics of the radially-oriented signal evoked by layer V or VI stimulation, at maximal stimulus intensity the signal evoked from these layers was often accompanied by a band of decreased light transmittance in the most superficial layers (layers I and II). It is concluded that in vitro intrinsic optical signal imaging allows one to image a response attributable to activation of local subsets of cortical connections. In addition, the opposite effects of high-intensity deep layer stimulation on the superficial layers vs layers III–VI of the same column raise the possibility that the most superficial layers may respond differently to repetitive input drive than the rest of the cortical column.
Polymeric microcombustors for solid-phase conductive fuels

This paper presents a micromachined SU-8 combustor for the ignition and reaction of solid conductive fuels. Solid fuels can be made conductive by doping the fuel with conductive powder. The conductive solid fuel serves to simplify device fabrication by allowing ignition to occur by passing current directly through the fuel sample from two MEMS-fabricated electrodes as opposed to relying on the transfer of heat from external or imbedded igniters. An array of high-aspect-ratio electrodes were patterned from SU-8 by multiple-exposure. The devices were filled with 3.97 mm/sup 3/ of graphite-doped conductive Glycidyl-Azide-Polymer (GAP). Nozzles with varying sizes are fitted on the microcombustors. Approximately 600 mN was generated within 20 ms. The easy fabrication and low cost/weight of these microcombustors or gas generators lend themselves to disposable, one-use, or short duration applications.
The westward drift of the Earth's magnetic field

The westward drift of the non-dipole part of the earth's magnetic field and of its secular variation is investigated for the period 1907-45 and the uncertainty of the results discussed. It is found that a real drift exists having an angular velocity which is independent of latitude. For the non-dipole field the rate of drift is 0.18$\pm $0.015 $ ^{\circ} $ /year, that for the secular variation is 0.32$\pm $0.067 $ ^{\circ} $ /year. The results are confirmed by a study of harmonic analyses made between 1829 and 1945. The drift is explained as a consequence of the dynamo theory of the origin of the earth's field. This theory required the outer part of the core to rotate less rapidly than the inner part. As a result of electromagnetic forces the solid mantle of the earth is coupled to the core as a whole, and the outer part of the core therefore travels westward relative to the mantle, carrying the minor features of the field with it.
A Conceptual Analysis of the Mentor Relationship in the Career Development of Women

This article presents a conceptual analysis of the mentor relationship as an aspect of social lear ning and the career development of women. The discussion consists of three sections, the first of which deals with the socializing process of modeling with emphasis on role models and their im pact on women's career development. Part two discusses the mentor relationship as an aspect of social learning. This section defines and analyses the term mentor in regard to related concepts. The significance of mentor relationships as shown in the literature is presented separately as studies relative to each sex. A model is presented that depicts the career stages and functional relationships within each stage. The last section discusses some of the reasons for the present lack of mentor relationships for women in regard to the analysis presented in the first two sections.
An Ash2L/RbBP5 heterodimer stimulates the MLL1 methyltransferase activity through coordinated substrate interactions with the MLL1 SET domain.

Histone H3 lysine 4 (K4) methylation is a prevalent mark associated with transcription activation and is mainly catalyzed by the MLL/SET1 family histone methyltransferases. A common feature of the mammalian MLL/SET1 complexes is the presence of three core components (RbBP5, Ash2L and WDR5) and a catalytic subunit containing a SET domain. Unlike most other histone lysine methyltransferases, all four proteins are required for efficient H3 K4 methylation. Despite extensive efforts, mechanisms for how three core components regulate MLL/SET1 methyltransferase activity remain elusive. Here we show that a heterodimer of Ash2L and RbBP5 has intrinsic histone methyltransferase activity. This activity requires the highly conserved SPRY domain of Ash2L and a short peptide of RbBP5. We demonstrate that both Ash2L and the MLL1 SET domain are capable of binding to S-adenosyl-L- [methyl-3H] methionine in the MLL1 core complex. Mutations in the MLL1 SET domain that fail to support overall H3 K4 methylation also compromise SAM binding by Ash2L. Taken together, our results show that the Ash2L/RbBP5 heterodimer plays a critical role in the overall catalysis of MLL1 mediated H3 K4 methylation. The results we describe here provide mechanistic insights for unique regulation of the MLL1 methyltransferase activity. It suggests that both Ash2L/RbBP5 and the MLL1 SET domain make direct contacts with the substrates and contribute to the formation of a joint catalytic center. Given the shared core configuration among all MLL/SET1 family HMTs, it will be interesting to test whether the mechanism we describe here can be generalized to other MLL/SET1 family members in the future.
FPGA-based test bed for design and evaluation of low-power FIR-filter hardware accelerators

Finite impulse response (FIR) filters are often used for processing audio, communication and other signals. Truncated-matrix multipliers offer reduced area, power and delay at the expense of increased computational error. This paper describes a test bed for low-power FIR-filter hardware accelerators that use truncated-matrix multipliers. It accepts analog input signals, filters them in real-time using an inexpensive field-programmable gate array (FPGA) development board, and produces analog outputs. The input is simultaneously processed using truncated-matrix multipliers and standard multipliers for comparison. Parameters such as filter coefficients, the number of unformed columns and the error correction method can be changed on the fly. The test bed enables real-time testing at the systems-integration level using real analog inputs and outputs.
AAC Camp as an Alternative School-Based Service Delivery Model: A Retrospective Survey

School-based speech-language pathologists are obligated to apply evidence-based practice and document progress of their students’ response to intervention in compliance with federal law. The purpos...
Continuous time-dependence in computed tomography.

Computed tomography is sensitive to changes in the imaged distribution during acquisition of the projection data. Previous investigations have emphasized discrete or discontinuous changes in the imaged object. Recent advances have motivated our investigation of object time‐dependence characterized by a continuous function in time at each point. Formal mathematical and computer simulation approaches have been developed, and are presented along with simple examples of their applications. Further applications in three distinct ongoing studies are outlined.
The Effect of Powder Mixing Procedures on α‐SiAlON

Various procedures of mixing starting powders for hot-pressing α-SiAlON ceramics were studied. They included different milling methods (attrition milling, ball milling, and sonication), liquid medium (water, isopropyl alcohol, and pyridine), and atmospheres (ambient air and nitrogen). These mixing procedures resulted in markedly different densification behavior and fired ceramics. As the powders experienced increasing oxidation because of mixing, the densification temperature decreased, the amount of residual glass increased, and α-SiAlON was destabilized and replaced by β-SiAlON and AlN polytypes during hot pressing. These effects were mitigated when pyridine, nitrogen, and sonication were used. Several protocols that yielded nearly phase-pure, glass-free dense α-SiAlON were thus identified.
Validation of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) domains in nonsurgical patients

Background: The objectives of this study were, first, to confirm the presence of multiple domains within the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) using a medically treated population, and, second, to reanalyze data from this population to reveal incremental information. A prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed. Methods: One hundred twenty-seven adults with chronic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis symptoms were treated with nasal saline irrigation or spray. Treatment outcome was quality of life measured with SNOT-20 scores, which were reanalyzed for this study with a factor analysis. Differences in change scores were compared. Results: Factor analysis confirmed the presence of four domains: psychological function, sleep function, rhinological symptoms, and ear and/or facial symptoms. At 8 weeks after randomization, saline irrigation had significant effects on the rhinological symptom (p 0.01) and sleep (p 0.01) compared with saline spray, but no between-group difference was seen in psychological function or ear and/or facial symptom domains. Conclusion: Subscales identified differences in the impact of two medical interventions on chronic sinonasal symptoms. Reporting subscale scores might improve the precision of the SNOT-20 instrument, allowing discrimination between various treatments and their differential impact on sinonasal quality of life. (Am J Rhinol Allergy 23, 40–45, 2009; doi: 10.2500/ajra.2009.23.3259)
The Management Factor in Commercial Agriculture: Is It an Art or a Science?

The not uncommon reference to management as an "art" makes the assumption that management ability is an applied talent improved upon by experience and observation, as opposed to the "science" of management as a skill obtained from study and training based upon systematized facts, principles, and methods. Professionals generally agree that at least some managerial processes can be improved through educational procedures. To date, however, we have not reached the stage where the total managerial process can be taught to farmers. A sharper recognition of the processes of management in which education can make a significant contribution will help guide teaching and research. To improve management ability we need a managerial-process model to know what we're trying to improve. Eight processes or functions have been proposed by Nielson: (1) formulation of the goals or objectives of the firm; (2) recognition and definition of a problem or opportunity; (3) obtaining information-observation of relevant facts; (4) specification and analysis of alternatives; (5) decision making-choosing an alternative; (6) taking action; (7) bearing responsibility for the decision or action taken; and (8) evaluating the outcome.' Understandably a manager does not consciously proceed systematically from process 1 through 8. However, for purposes of training and research the managerial-process model is useful. Since management functions are primarily a mental process, each choice and action that results is conditioned by the attitudes, values, and goals of the manager. His goals and value concepts unconsciously determine what he will observe, what variables he will consider, what information he will gather, and which alternatives he will choose. Thus the for-
Fixed-dose combination therapy of nebivolol and valsartan for the treatment of hypertension

Recent large clinical trials have refuted earlier suggestions from the Joint National Committee 8 committee that less aggressive targets for blood pressure control were all that could be justified in most hypertensive patients. It now does appear that in fact "lower is better," with blood pressure targets < 120/80 mm Hg appropriate for many hypertensive patients. Two drug combinations are often indicated as initial therapy if a 20/10 mm Hg or greater blood pressure reduction is necessary to reach target. Combinations consisting of β-blockers and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors have previously been deemed "less effective," based on partially overlapping mechanisms of action and limited clinical trial evidence. Nebivolol is a vasodilating β1-selective blocker and β3- adrenoceptor agonist; β3-adrenoceptor activation increases nitric oxide concentrations and thus explains the vasodilatory effect. A recent 8-week randomized trial (N=4,161) in individuals with stage 1-2 hypertension demonstrated that single-pill fixed dose combinations (FDC) of nebivolol and valsartan, an angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor blocker, were more effective in reducing blood pressure than the corresponding monotherapies, with comparable tolerability. In addition, an ABPM-biomarkers substudy from that trial (n=805) demonstrated that the FDC prevented a valsartan-induced increase in plasma renin activity, and that the nebivolol/valsartan 20/320 mg/day dose reduced plasma aldosterone concentration significantly more than valsartan 320 mg/day. This article will describe the properties of nebivolol that make it unique and separate it from other β-blockers, and will further support the pharmacological advantages of this particular combination.
U.S. v. Windsor and the Judicial Politics of the Roberts Court

This article examines the political implications of the Executive’s nondefense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), along with the long-term constitutional implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor. Part I offers a critical assessment of the Windsor case, arguing that the majority overreached with respect to jurisdiction and underperformed with respect to the protection of gay rights. Part II considers the propriety of the Executive’s non-defense of DOMA, arguing that the Executive’s defend-but-do-not-enforce posture was deeply problematic. Part III considers Windsor in the context of Chief Justice Roberts’s leadership of the Court, exploring the implications of the case for the future role of the Supreme Court in the national debate on gay rights.
The Formulaic Expression of the Theme of “Exile” in Anglo-Saxon Poetry

THE study of the conventional qualities of Anglo-Saxon poetic diction has received a much-needed stimulus in Francis P. Magoun, Jr's "Oral-Formulaic Character in Anglo-Saxon Narrative Poetry."' In this article, Mr Magoun examines the first twenty-five lines of Beowulf and twenty-four lines (512-535) of Christ and Satan for words and phrases which, by virtue of their repetition in the same grammatical-metrical patterns in the same or other poems, may be termed formulas. The large percentage of such expressions in these lines suggests that a good part of Old English narrative poetry is traditional and formulaic in nature, and hence of oral rather than lettered composition. Of the many provocative considerations this analysis leads to, I should like to quote the following:
Metapopulation dynamics affect resistance development in the predatory mite, Metaseiulus occidentalis (Acari:Phytoseiidae)

A stochastic metapopulation model was used to examine implementation of a pesticide-resistant strain of the predatory phytoseiid mite, Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt). A resistant strain could be established at frequencies >50% per tree within 1 yr in simulations, which corresponded well with field trials. Comparisons between simulations with and without metapopulation dynamics and local extinctions suggest that metapopulation dynamics affect establishment of resistant strains of biological control agents primarily by increasing local homozygosity within patches. Metapopulation dynamics therefore accelerate resistance development most when the resistance mechanism is recessive, because dominant alleles respond to selection regardless of the level of homozygosity. The predator population went extinct more often when the simulated prey species, based on the mite Tetranychus urticae Koch, was initially susceptible, as expected from the food limitation hypothesis. These extinctions differed from those predicted by the food limitation hypothesis, however, because they occurred at overwintering and not immediately following pesticide applications. This difference may be important when testing the food limitation hypothesis in field experiments. The survival of the predator population after pesticide treatments is linked to the high reproductive capacity and rapid recovery of the prey population as well as heterogeneity in patch dynamics introduced by the metapopulation model. Frequent loss of rare resistance alleles during overwintering suggest that reducing the size of the population during this genetic bottleneck through management tactics could retard the ability of a species (either natural enemy or pest) to adapt to pesticide treatments. Overwintering may represent a genetic weak point in many life cycles which could be exploited by resistance management strategies.
Epiphysiolysis of the femoral neck due to closed reduction of an adolescent hip dislocation with a 4-year follow-up: a case report and review of the literature.

This case study discusses a 13-year-old girl diagnosed with a displaced Salter Harris II fracture of the proximal femoral epiphysis post reduction of a dislocated hip. Radiographs before reduction revealed a small fracture of the inferomedial femoral head. This, however, did not induce concern befor
Application of Fault Tree Analysis in safety assessment of blasting operation in open-pit

Qualitative analysis on safety of blasting operation in a open-pit is made by FTA method,a important method for safety assessment.The Fault Tree on blasting fault is established in order to find major reasons causing fault,and take relevant precautionary measure,which has guidance for safety operation for other open-pit.
Mitral Anular Calcification: An Age-Stratified Case-Control Study

Age-adjusted oods ratios, 95% confidence limits, χ 2 values, and power to detect relative risks≥1.5 were used to compare the features of 371 patients with MAC (cases) to 672 age-stratified patients without MAC (controls). The results show a strong association between MAC and chronic renal insufficiency (odds ratio 2.7; 95% confidence limits 1.83 and 3.99; χ 2 24.8; p>0.001). Disproportionately high odds ratios for MAC and chronic renal insufficiency were found for ages 40-49 years (odds ratio 24.00) and 50-59 years (odds ratio 13.80). No association was found between MAC and ischemic cerebral vascular accidents (odds ratio 0.93; 95% confidence limits 0.67 and 1.38; power 0.73) or transient ischemic attacks (odds ratio 0.76; 95% confidence limits 0.42 and 1.38; power 0.76). Similarly, no associations were found between MAC and electrocardiographic diagnosis of myocardial infarction (odds ratio 0.85; 95% confidence limits 0.62 and 1.16; power 0.75), echocardiographic evidence for regional wall motion abnormality (odds ratio 0.83; 95% confidence limits 0.57 and 1.20; power 0.81), or the clinical diagnosis of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease (odds ratio 1.40; 95% confidence limits 0.98 and 2.00; power 0.73)
Small-scale structure of the midlatitude storm enhanced density plume during the 17 March 2015 St. Patrick's Day storm

Kilometer-scale density irregularities in the ionosphere can cause ionospheric scintillation—a phenomenon that degrades space-based navigation and communication signals. During strong geomagnetic storms, the midlatitude ionosphere is primed to produce these ∼1–10 km small-scale irregularities along the steep gradients between midlatitude storm enhanced density (SED) plumes and the adjacent low-density trough. The length scales of irregularities on the order of 1–10 km are determined from a combination of spatial, temporal, and frequency analyses using single-station ground-based Global Positioning System total electron content (TEC) combined with radar plasma velocity measurements. Kilometer-scale irregularities are detected along the boundaries of the SED plume and depleted density trough during the 17 March 2015 geomagnetic storm, but not equatorward of the plume or within the plume itself. Analysis using the fast Fourier transform of high-pass filtered slant TEC suggests that the kilometer-scale irregularities formed near the poleward gradients of SED plumes can have similar intensity and length scales to those typically found in the aurora but are shown to be distinct phenomena in spacecraft electron precipitation measurements.
Effects of Age and Gender on Recall and Recognition Discriminability

Objective Recall and recognition memory abilities are known to decline with increasing age, yet much of the evidence stems from studies that used simple measures of total target recall or recognition. The California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II) includes a new measure of recall discriminability that is analogous to recognition discriminability. These discriminability measures yield more thorough assessments of recall and recognition by accounting for intrusion and false positive errors, respectively. Research also has shown that women outperform men on verbal episodic memory tests. However, gender differences in recall and recognition discriminability and the age-by-gender interaction on these constructs have not been thoroughly examined. Method Cognitively healthy adults (N = 223) 18-91 years in age completed the CVLT-II. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine effects of age, gender, and the age-by-gender interaction on CVLT-II subtypes of recall and recognition discriminability. Results Discriminability scores decreased with increasing age, and women outperformed men. There was an age-by-gender interaction on total, immediate, and free recall discriminability - the negative association between age and scores was stronger in men than in women. Exploratory analyses revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between age and recall discriminability scores in women. Conclusions The present findings support and expand upon the extant literature on aging, gender, and verbal episodic memory, plus describe a novel age-by-gender interaction intrinsic to subtypes of recall discriminability. The findings suggest that methods traditionally used to assess recognition memory function can be used to elucidate age- and gender-related changes in recall ability across the adult lifespan.
Thundercloud Electric Fields in the Ionosphere

We consider the problem of electric field mapping around thunderclouds, with particular emphasis upon ionospheric and magnetospheric implications. Calculated electric field strength at large heights depends critically on atmospheric conductivities as well as on cloud parameters. It is extremely important to include the effects of the geomagnetic field above ~ 70 km altitude. At night, horizontal d c electric field above a bipolar thundercloud may exceed 10–4 V/m at 100 km altitude. Time-varying fields due to lightning discharges are also considered. The recovery time following lightning decreases rapidly with increasing altitude until at 100 km the electric field waveform appears as a sharp pulse with ~0.1 sec duration. The peak pulse amplitude may easily exceed 10–4 V/m. In the daytime, both d c and a c fields are weaker by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude as a result of higher conductivities above ~ 50 km. We conclude that thundercloud electric fields are probably too weak to produce significant electro-dynamic effects on the daytime ionosphere, but the nighttime values border on being significant.
Increasing the number of integrated vascular surgery residency positions is important to address the impending shortage of vascular surgeons in the United States.

Abstract Objective The demand for vascular surgeons is expected to far exceed the current supply. In an attempt to decrease the training duration and to address the impending shortage, integrated vascular surgery residencies were approved and have expanded nationally. Meanwhile, vascular fellowships have continued to matriculate approximately 120 trainees annually. We sought to evaluate the supply and demand for integrated vascular residency positions as well as changes in the quality of applicants. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of national data compiled by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the National Resident Matching Program regarding integrated vascular surgery residency programs (2008-2015) and fellowships (2007-2016). Variables reviewed included the total number of applicants, sex, U.S. vs international medical school enrollment, applications per program, and applicants per position. In addition, we conducted a retrospective review of applicants to the University of Massachusetts Medical School integrated vascular surgery residency program from 2008 to 2015 to examine these variables and United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores over time. Results The number of vascular surgery integrated residency positions increased from 4 in 2008 to 56 in 2015. Concurrently, the number of integrated residency applicants grew from 112 in 2008 to 434 in 2015. This increase has been predominantly driven by a 575% increase in U.S. graduate applicants and a 170% increase in women applicants. The percentage of international medical graduates has decreased by 17% during the study period. The total number of applicants per residency position increased from 5.9 to 7.8. Meanwhile, the number of vascular surgery fellowship positions remained stable with an applicant to position ratio near 1:1. At the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the mean United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (226 to 235) and Step 2 CK (237 to 243) scores among integrated residency applicants have improved annually and typically exceed the national average among U.S. applicants who have matched in their preferred specialty. Conclusions Since the approval of a primary certificate in vascular surgery and the subsequent rollout of integrated vascular residency programs, the number of residency programs and the quality of residency applicants have continued to increase. Demand from medical school applicants vastly outweighs the current supply of training positions by eightfold. In contrast, demand from fellowship applicants matches the supply of fellowship positions. The matriculation of additional trainees must be met with continued expansion of the integrated vascular surgery residency pathway to manage future public health needs.
Operating a motor vehicle after marijuana use: Perspectives from people who use high-potency marijuana.

ABSTRACTBackground: With advancing marijuana legalization in the United States, a primary concern is the possible increase in consequences relating to marijuana driving impairment, especially among people who use high-potency marijuana (i.e., extracts). In this study, the research team assessed the risk perception and experiences of driving under the influence of marijuana by investigating people who use extracts. Methods: Participants from 2 studies were queried about driving after using marijuana. In Study 1, phone interviews (n = 19) were conducted with people who use extracts. In Study 2, people who use extracts (n = 174) were recruited to participate in a nationwide survey via an online existing panel. Responses to marijuana and driving–related questions were qualitatively coded for themes (e.g., riskiness, engagement in behavior) developed by the research team. Results: Prominent themes identified in Study 1 suggested a belief that driving risk following marijuana use is dependent on the individual ...
Autocracies and Economic Sanctions: The Divergent Impact of Authoritarian Regime Type on Sanctions Success

There is some consensus in the literature that economic sanctions targeting authoritarian regimes are less effective than those against democratic regimes. This line of research, however, assumes t...
Influence of Thermal Annealing on Free Carrier Concentration in (GaN)1–x(ZnO)x Semiconductors

It was previously demonstrated that the efficiency of (GaN)1–x(ZnO)x semiconductors for solar water splitting can be improved by thermal annealing, though the origin of this improvement was not resolved. In the present work, it is shown that annealing reduces the free carrier (electron) concentration of (GaN)1–x(ZnO)x. The time-, temperature-, and atmosphere-dependent changes were followed through two simple techniques: indirect diffuse reflectance measurements from 0.5 to 3.0 eV which show very high sensitivity to the free carrier response at the lowest energies and EPR measurements which directly probe the number of unpaired electrons. For the thermal annealing of investigated compositions, it is found that temperatures of 250 °C and below do not measurably change the free carrier concentration, a gradual reduction of the free carrier concentration occurs over a time period of many hours at 350 °C, and the complete elimination of free carriers happens within an hour at 550 °C. These changes are driven b...
Public Knowledge and Credibility Perceptions of the FDA as a Tobacco Regulator.

Introduction Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was granted regulatory authority over tobacco products in 2009, few studies have examined perceived credibility of the FDA in this role. The current study assessed knowledge and credibility of the FDA as a regulator of tobacco products. Methods In a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults (N = 4758), we assessed knowledge that the FDA regulates the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes, and credibility of the FDA as a tobacco regulator. We examined demographic differences in knowledge and credibility, and associations of knowledge and trust in government with credibility perceptions. Results Less than half of respondents reported knowing the FDA regulates how cigarettes are sold (46.8%) and advertised (49.7%), and only 36.0% knew the FDA regulates how cigarettes are made, with few demographic differences. Respondents reported that the FDA was moderately credible in regulating tobacco. Knowledge of the FDA as a tobacco regulator and trust in government were the strongest predictors of credibility. Being of younger age, being White (compared to African American), and being male were associated with higher credibility ratings of the FDA. Conclusions Much of the public still does not know that the FDA regulates tobacco products, and credibility perceptions are moderate. Greater knowledge of the FDA's regulatory role was associated with higher credibility; efforts that increase the public's understanding of the FDA's role as a tobacco regulator may positively impact views of the agency's credibility. This may in turn improve public reception to the FDA's messages and regulations. Implications This study is the first to show nationally representative estimates of both knowledge and credibility of the FDA as a tobacco regulator. Our research shows further that knowledge of the FDA's tobacco regulatory roles is likely to be an important factor related to perceived credibility of the FDA. Increasing the public's knowledge of the FDA's roles may enhance the agency's credibility, which can improve public reception to messages and regulations.
Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Social skills training methods such as role-playing, modeling, performance feedback, and social stories have been used in group and individual therapies for decades. This chapter reviews these and other related methods, including manualized treatments that have been applied to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
Union substitution effects of human resource management practices in South Korean workplaces, 2005–2013

This article explores the association between various workplace-level HRM practices and a decline in union strength using a unique longitudinal survey data-set gathered in South Korea from 2005 to ...
The great ASL compound hoax

Author(s): Lepic, Ryan | Abstract: In many descriptions of ASL, signs like SISTER and TOMATO are analyzed as compounds. These are signs which were once created through the concatenation of two separate signs, but whose constituent parts have since fused together to form a single, opaque sign. I suggest that many of these well-known examples are not compounds at all, in a synchronic sense. Because the earliest analyses of compounding defined compounds according to primarily phonological and diachronic criteria, subsequent studies of compounding have been unnecessarily restricted. Presenting examples collected primarily from ASL videos on public YouTube channels, I argue that true examples of compounding in ASL are constructions like NAME SIGN and DEAF COMMUNITY, which contain two identifiable signs.
Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression in Different Adipose Tissue Depots

Obesity has now reached pandemic proportions, resulting in dramatic increases in the occurrence of its associated disorders, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the processes and metabolic perturbations that contribute to the expansion of adipose depots accompanying obesity is critical for the development of appropriate therapeutics. Brown (BAT) and white adipose tissues (WAT) have recently been shown to arise from different mesenchymal progenitors. Treatment of mice with various effectors, most notably catecholamines or PPARγ ligands, induces many features of brown adipocytes within WAT, including induction of mitochondrial proteins and repression of select white genes. Our studies are focused on identifying the mechanisms by which activation of PPARγ represses the production of particular adipokines and acute phase proteins as the white adipocytes adopt a brown-like phenotype. The data show that the repressed genes, including resistin, chemerin, haptoglobin, angiotensinogen and others, are highly expressed in the visceral WAT compared to subcutaneous WAT and BAT. Treatment of mice with a potent non-TZD PPARγ ligand significantly represses these white genes in the visceral depots, coincident with induction of brown-specific genes such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Studies on adipocytes in culture demonstrate that activation of PPARγ directs the C-terminal binding protein corepressors CtBP1 and CtBP2 to complexes containing C/EBPα that reside on the promoters of at least two of the repressed genes, resistin and angiotensinogen. Present studies are designed to determine whether known brown-selective factors, such as PRDM16 and PGC1α, are facilitating acquisition of a brown cell gene signature in white adipocytes in response to PPARγ.
An obesity-associated gut microbiome reprograms the intestinal epigenome and leads to altered colonic gene expression.

The gut microbiome, a key constituent of the colonic environment, has been implicated as an important modulator of human health. The eukaryotic epigenome is postulated to respond to environmental stimuli through alterations in chromatin features and, ultimately, gene expression. How the host mediates epigenomic responses to gut microbiota is an emerging area of interest. Here, we profile the gut microbiome and chromatin characteristics in colon epithelium from mice fed either an obesogenic or control diet, followed by an analysis of the resultant changes in gene expression. The obesogenic diet shapes the microbiome prior to the development of obesity, leading to altered bacterial metabolite production which predisposes the host to obesity. This microbiota–diet interaction leads to changes in histone modification at active enhancers that are enriched for binding sites for signal responsive transcription factors. These alterations of histone methylation and acetylation are associated with signaling pathways integral to the development of colon cancer. The transplantation of obesogenic diet-conditioned microbiota into germ free mice, combined with an obesogenic diet, recapitulates the features of the long-term diet regimen. The diet/microbiome-dependent changes are reflected in both the composition of the recipient animals’ microbiome as well as in the set of transcription factor motifs identified at diet-influenced enhancers. These findings suggest that the gut microbiome, under specific dietary exposures, stimulates a reprogramming of the enhancer landscape in the colon, with downstream effects on transcription factors. These chromatin changes may be associated with those seen during colon cancer development.
SLCO1B1 genetic variation and hormone therapy in menopausal women.

AbstractObjective:Response to menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) shows individual variation. SLCO1B1 encodes the OATP1B1 transporter expressed in the liver that transports many endogenous substances, including estrone sulfate, from the blood into hepatocytes. This study evaluated the relationship betw
Atrial Tachycardias and Atrial Flutter

Atrial tachyarrhythmias are defined as supraventricular tachyarrhythmias that do not require the AV node or ventricular tissue for initiation and maintenance. Therefore, this definition excludes AV junctional tachycardia, AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, and AV reciprocating tachycardia involving an accessory AV connection. These arrhythmias are discussed in detail elsewhere (“Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia” on page 487 and “Ventricular Preexcitation Syndromes: The Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and Variants” on page 539). The main focus of this chapter is on focal and mac-roreentrant atrial tachycardias including atrial flutter. Although atrial fibrillation is briefly discussed here, it is reviewed in more detail in Chapter 14.
ANTI-METASTATIC PROSTACYCLINS INHIBIT THE ADHESION OF COLON CARCINOMA TO ENDOTHELIAL CELLS BY BLOCKING E-SELECTIN EXPRESSION

Prostacyclins have long been shown to have anti-metastatic activity. One hypothesis is their modulation of cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression by target organ endothelial cells. We have postulated that prostacyclin, its analogs, and mechanistic mimics decrease colon carcinoma adhesion to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells by blocking endothelial expression of the adhesion molecule E-selectin, but not the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Cultured human microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC) were pre-incubated with prostacyclin (PGI2), dibutyrl-cAMP (dbcAMP), forskolin (FOR), and/or iso-methylbutylxanthine (IBMX) for 15 min, then co-incubated with the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) for 4 h. HDMEC surface expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 was evaluated by flow cytometry and ELISA. Adherence of 51Cr-labeled colon carcinoma cells to HDMEC monolayers was then determined. In parallel assays, HDMECs were incubated with anti-E-selectin and anti-VCAM-1 monoclonal antibody (1:100) prior to the addition of tumor cells. Prostacyclins, its analogs, and mimics significantly reduced E-selectin expression by HDMEC, while the reduction of VCAM-1 expression was much less pronounced. Prostacyclins also significantly decreased colon carcinoma adherence to stimulated HDMECs. The inhibition of E-selectin expression, but not VCAM-1 expression, corresponded to the reduction of tumor cell adherence. Prostacyclin's effects on tumor adhesion were nullified by pre-incubation with E-selectin antibody. The inhibition of colon carcinoma adherence to cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells treated with prostacyclin, its analogs, and mimics appears to result from blocking endothelial E-selectin, but not VCAM-1, expression. These data support the hypothesis that prostacyclins may exert their anti-metastatic effect, in part, by inhibiting CAM-mediated adherence of colon carcinoma to endothelial cells in metastatic target organs.