cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The MS-Q Force Field for Clay Minerals: Application to Oil Production

A Morse-charge equilibration force field (MS-Q FF), originally developed for the bulk oxides SiO_2 and Al_2O_3, has been used to model kaolinite and pyrophyllite clay minerals and their interactions with representative organic molecules. The MS-Q FF reproduces the structural parameters for these clay minerals and gives accurate enthalpies of immersions in water, organic solvents, and hydrocarbons. To form a basis for improving squeeze corrosion treatment strategies, we calculate the adsorption energy of oleic imidazoline, a corrosion inhibitor oil production chemical.
Daily Physical Activity Program Increases Bone Mineralization and Growth in Preterm Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Objective. A study of daily physical activity was performed with 32 preterm infants to evaluate changes in body weight and bone mineralization. Study Design. Subjects were matched by birth weight and gestational age and randomly assigned to the physical activity (PA;n = 16) or to the control (C; n= 16) program. PA consisted of range of motion against passive resistance to all extremities for 5 to 10 minutes daily. Peripheral dual-energy x-ray of the right forearm (ulna and radius); biomarkers of bone formation (serum type I collagen C-terminal propeptide [PICP]) and resorption (urine pyridinoline cross-links of collagen [Pyd]); serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D; and urine levels of calcium, phosphate, and creatinine were obtained. All measurements were made at study entry and at 2.0 kg of body weight. Results. Despite a similar nutrient intake at advised levels for preterm infants, gains in body weight (g) and forearm bone length (cm), bone area (BA; cm2), bone mineral content (BMC; mg), and fat-free mass (g) were greater in PA infants. Forearm bone mineral density and fat mass gains did not differ between groups. Serum PICP levels remained constant in PA infants but decreased in C infants suggesting a slower rate of bone formation. Urine Pyd or bone resorption activity was similar between groups. A higher level of serum PTH was observed in PA infants at 2.0 kg of body weight; however, the change from study entry to completion did not differ between groups. All other serum and urine values were similar and within normal limits. Conclusion. A daily PA program promotes greater gains in body weight, forearm length, BA, BMC, and fat-free mass in premature infants.
A Practical Comparison of Motion Planning Techniques for Robotic Legs in Environments with Obstacles

ATHLETE is a large six-legged tele-operated robot. Each foot is a wheel; travel can be achieved by walking, rolling, or some combination of the two. Operators control ATHLETE by selecting parameterized commands from a command dictionary. While rolling can be done efficiently, any motion involving steps is cumbersome - each step can require multiple commands and take many minutes to complete. In this paper, we consider four different algorithms that generate a sequence of commands to take a step. We consider a baseline heuristic, a randomized motion planning algorithm, and two variants of A* search. Results for a variety of terrains are presented, and we discuss the quantitative and qualitative tradeoffs between the approaches.
Detection of myxoid liposarcoma-associated FUS–DDIT3 rearrangement variants including a newly identified breakpoint using an optimized RT-PCR assay

Myxoid/round cell liposarcoma is characterized by the recurrent translocations t(12;16)(q13;p11) and, less commonly, t(12;22)(q13;q12), which fuse FUS or EWSR1, respectively, to DDIT3 on chromosome 12. Although a number of different variant breakpoints have been described, greater than 90% of all cases have one of the three different FUS-DDIT3 fusions, which may have clinical significance. To identify the individual breakpoints, a sequence-specific assay such as reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) is needed. In this study, we optimized primer design to develop an RT-PCR assay for the detection of the most common translocations in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. We compared our assay with primers previously published for testing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens and achieved the most consistent results with our primers. We obtained RNA from 32 MLS cases, of which 27 carried one of the three common FUS-DDIT3 chimeric transcript types. Four of the negative cases were from very small biopsies with very low RNA concentration. One case was consistently negative by RT-PCR, but showed a FUS rearrangement by fluorescent in situ hybridization, suggesting that it may harbor one of the rarer FUS-DDIT3 chimeric types. In addition to the common fusions, our assay also identified a novel FUS-DDIT3 fusion between exon 9 of FUS and exon 3 of DDIT3 in one of the cases.
Judging the veracity of web sites

People vary considerably in their competency levels depending on the web sites' topic. Does this knowledge influence their ability to make judgements? In order to see if we could discover a relationship between judgments, confidence, and knowledge of the topic, we conducted a study using participants who already possessed considerable evaluation skills and were sophisticated users of the World Wide Web. We picked a topic that that some of our participants would know very well and some of the participants would know very little about. Participants were asked to rate whether the web sites were considered objective and accurate, mistaken, or purposely misleading and give reasons for their decision. We found that the confidence ratings varied considerably with expertise but the judgments themselves did not. This gives educators hope that evaluation skills may be taught that are general enough that students can apply them to a variety of web sites.
Mode-coupling analysis of multipole symmetric resonant add/drop filters

Time-dependent mode-coupling theory is used to analyze a type of resonant add/drop filter based on the excitation of degenerate symmetric and antisymmetric modes. Flat-top transfer functions are achieved with higher order filters that utilize multiple resonator pairs, designed to satisfy the degeneracy conditions. The resulting analytic expressions lead to an equivalent circuit and the transfer characteristics of the filter are related to standard L-C circuit designs.
Development and Validation of a Short Version of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire

Background—Clinical trials and national performance measures increasingly mandate reporting patients’ perspectives of their health status: their symptoms, function, and quality of life. Although the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) is a validated disease-specific health status instrument for coronary artery disease (CAD) with high test–retest reliability, predictive power, and responsiveness, its use in routine clinical practice has been limited, in part, by its length (19 items). Methods and Results—Using data from 10 408 patients with CAD from 5 multicenter registries, we derived and validated a shortened version of the SAQ (SAQ-7) among patients presenting with stable CAD, undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, and after acute myocardial infarction. We examined the psychometric properties of the SAQ-7 as compared with the full SAQ. Seven items from the Physical Limitation, Angina Frequency, and Quality of Life domains were identified for the SAQ-7, with high levels of concordance (0.88–1.00) ...
The importance of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in subtraction of electrosensory reafference in the dorsal nucleus of skates

The dorsal nucleus of the little skate is a cerebellum-like sensory structure that adaptively filters out predictable electrosensory inputs. The filter's plasticity is mediated by anti-Hebbian associative depression at the synapses between parallel fibers and ascending efferent neurons (AENs). Changes in synaptic strength are indicated by the formation of a cancellation signal which is initiated by co-activation of parallel fibers and AENs, and can be reversed by parallel fiber activity in the absence of AEN activation. In other cerebellum-like sensory structures, the formation of the cancellation signal requires activation of postsynaptic NMDA receptors on the principal neurons. We demonstrate here by immunohistochemistry that the somas and the initial portion of both apical and basal dendrites of the AENs are labeled with antibodies raised against the NR1 subunit of NMDA receptors from a South American electric fish. In in vivo physiological experiments, we show that the formation of the cancellation signal induced by coupling an electrosensory stimulus to ventilatory movements or direct parallel fiber stimulation is blocked when either of the NMDA receptor antagonists 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV) or MK801 is injected into the molecular layer above the recorded AEN. Blocking NMDA receptors prevented formation of a cancellation signal in 79% (15/19; APV) and 60% (3/5; MK801) of the AENs. This blockage was reversible in 40% (6/15) of the AENs after APV removal. Thus, in the dorsal nucleus, the activity-dependent, long-lasting but reversible change in synaptic strength of the parallel fiber-AEN synapses appears to be an NMDA receptor-dependent process.
Pedestrian positioning with physical activity classification for indoors

This paper presents a wearable Inertial Measurement Unit pedestrian positioning system for indoors. Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is introduced to pre-process the sensor data and classify common activities. HMM also complements local minimum angular rate value for capturing the onset/end of each step. ZUPT algorithm are implemented to correct the walking velocity at step stance phase when errors existed. A novel acceleration-based approach combined with gyroscope data is developed to achieve a better heading estimation. Proposed method is able to reduce drift errors from gyroscopes and avoid electromagnetic perturbance to magnetometers when estimate subject's position. Experiment results show the positioning system achieves approximately 99% accuracy.
Utilization of CUDA-OpenGL interoperability to display electromagnetic fields calculated by FDTD

In this contribution, a compute unified device architecture (CUDA) implementation of a two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) program will be presented along with the OpenGL interoperability to display electromagnetic fields. CUDA, which runs on a graphics processing unit (GPU) card, is used for electromagnetic field data generation and image manipulation, while OpenGL is used to draw field distribution on the screen. Since CUDA and OpenGL both run on GPU and share data through common memory in the framebuffer the CUDA-OpenGL interoperability is very fast. Step by step details of implementation of this interoperability are demonstrated.
Reframing Academic Advising for Student Success: From Advisor to Cultural Navigator.

Good morning! I want to thank you, NACADA, for giving me the opportunity to talk with you today about a subject that I think is critically important and central to all constituents in higher education: college student success. Everyone is talking about student success nowadays. The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU for too many reasons and too many years, the rising costs of college have fallen on the shoulders of students and families. CHEE advocates that the costs of higher education should be shared by all those who benefit from it, including students and families, but also state and local governments, industry, and the larger society. In terms of engagement, research (some undertaken by CHEE) shows that students who are engaged in their educational experience perform better, exhibit greater learning gains, and achieve higher levels of success. So like others in initiatives across the nation, CHEE uses that information to promote student engagement in high-impact practices in college. As a research center, CHEE works to engage its partners both on and off campus in efforts around student success. Finally, CHEE’s ultimate goal is to ensure excellence in the higher education enterprise, and those dedicated to CHEE pay close attention to #WhatWorks—the name of the Center’s most recent report series—not what does not work. CHEE is driven to change lives by changing education and ensuring student success. After all, what’s the point of attending college and even
Osseous sarcoidosis of the hand : Pathologic analysis and review of the literature

A destructive granulomatous process involving the right fifth metacarpal and the soft tissues of the right thumb and nose of an African-American woman without pulmonary disease is described. The initial biopsy examination of the metacarpal showed caseating and noncaseating granulomata. After a fifth-ray amputation the disease progressed, leading to the referral of the patient to our institution. A biopsy examination of this recurrence showed a predominance of solid noncaseating granulomata. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made on the basis of the morphology of the granulomata and by exclusion of infectious and neoplastic causes. Steroid therapy has resulted in cessation of clinical and radiographic disease progression at a 3-year clinical follow-up evaluation.
System for high accuracy internal quantum efficiency measurement

We developed a system that evaluates simultaneously the spectral dependence of Quantum Efficiency (QE) and internal quantum efficiency (IQE) without the need of additionally moving the sample under investigation during the measurement. The system meets all requirements of ASTM 1021 and exceeds the standard requirements by performing I–V measurements for each wavelength, λ, along with the possibility to investigate the temperature dependence of QE, IQE and short circuit current, Isc. The system is fully PC controlled, thus allowing PC controlled conditions of white light, DC biasing and temperature. The temperature can span the range 10 – 45°C. The compact design of the light delivery module provides capability for the system to obtain QE, IQE or Isc maps. The full width at half maximum for the beam was determined to be 495 microns. The system can provide 1 nm spectral resolution. The analysis of IQE versus wavelength (λ) curves we obtained (uncertainty in measurement ± 0.7 %) demonstrates that the system presented in this paper is suitable for determining the key parameters for the quantification of minority carrier recombination rate in solar cells.
Note-Pathwise Convexity and its Relation to Convergence of Time-Average Derivatives

In this note, we further develop the pathwise convexity approach introduced by Hu 1991 to prove consistency of infinitesimal perturbation analysis for the derivative of the steady-state waiting time of the G/G/1 queue. In addition to generalizing the argument, we illustrate the technique with applications to stochastic storage theory and networks of queues.
The Role of Self-Monitoring in Initial Word-Recognition Learning

How to teach initial word recognition is one of the most contentious and hotly debated issues in literacy education. The debate has been particularly damaging for children who struggle the most with initial literacy learning. The more complex view of initial word-recognition learning presented in this chapter renders the debate moot and leads to more productive approaches to instruction.
The Battle for Value, 2004: Fedex Corp. Vs. United Parcel Service, Inc

Set in June 2004, this case invites the student to assess the financial performance of FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service, Inc (UPS). The two firms have competed intensely for dominance of the overnight express package industry. This case is intended for use in an introductory discussion of corporate value creation and its sources. The case requires no numerical computations from the student; rather, the tasks for the student are to interpret the results and to reflect upon their implications.
Business and Casualty Losses When Basis Has Not Been Lost

This proposal would deny a business or casualty loss deduction for basis to the extent of the fair market value of the property held by the taxpayer after the casualty or loss event. To the extent property still has value, basis has not been lost. The proposal would have no effect on sales, total losses, or properties like cars and machinery that do not appreciate. The proposal is part of a series of proposals under a grand norm that adjusted basis needs to describe the investment value of an asset.The proposal is made as a part of the Shelf Project, a collaboration by tax professionals to develop and perfect proposals to help Congress when it needs to raise revenue. Shelf Project proposals are intended to raise revenue, defend the tax base, follow the money, and improve the rationality and efficiency of the tax system. The tax community can propose, follow, or edit proposals at http://www.taxshelf.org. A longer description of the Shelf Project can be found at ‘‘The Shelf Project: Revenue-Raising Projects That Defend the Tax Base,’’ Tax Notes, Dec. 10, 2007, p. 1077, Doc 2007-22632, 2007 TNT 238-37.Shelf Project proposals follow the format of a congressional tax committee report in explaining current law, what is wrong with it, and how to fix it.Copyright 2008 Calvin H. Johnson.
The importance of tracking introduced species: nine synonyms of Atheta (Dimetrotina) pasadenae Bernhauer, 1906 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae).

Five species names are placed in synonymy with Atheta (Dimetrotina) pasadenae Bernhauer, 1906: Dimetrota vaniuscula Casey, 1911; Atheta pseudocoriaria Bernhauer, 1943 (non Cameron, 1939); A. zealandica Cameron, 1945; A. aucklandensis Pace, 1987 and A. pseudoinsulana Klimaszewski in Klimaszewski et al., 2002. Four names are confirmed to be junior synonyms of A. pasadenae: Atheta pseudolaticollis Erber & Hinterseher, 1992 (non Bernhauer, 1936, non Cameron, 1944); A. immucronata Pace, 1999; A. gulosa Tronquet, 2000 and A. atlantidum Smetana, 2004. Lectotypes are designated for A. pseudocoriaria Bernhauer, 1943; A. zealandica Cameron, 1945 (both designations are to be attributed to Richard A.B. Leschen); and A. pasadenae Bernhauer, 1906. Relationships among the subgenera Xenota Mulsant & Rey, 1874, Dimetrotina Casey, 1911, Oxypodera Bernhauer, 1915 and Mycetota Adam, 1987 of the genus Atheta Thomson, 1858 are discussed. The name Mycetota Adam, 1987 is placed in synonymy with Dimetrotina Casey, 1911 (treated as valid subgenus of Atheta), resulting in three new subgeneric assignments: Atheta (Dimetrotina) laticollis (Stephens, 1832), A. (D.) mucronata (Kraatz, 1859), and A. (D.) pasadenae Bernhauer, 1906. Atheta pasadenae is a species with almost cosmopolitan distribution, most likely originating from Africa and (unintentionally) introduced to Europe, North and South America, New Zealand, the Macaronesian islands, Tristan da Cunha archipelago, Juan Fernandez archipelago and Hawaii.
The purification of bovine cathepsin B1 and its mode of action on bovine collagens.

1. Cathepsin B1 was isolated from bovine spleen by autolysis, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and chromatography on Amberlite IRC-50. Two isoenzyme forms were purified to homogeneity by chromatography on CM-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex. 2. A collagenolytic cathepsin was separated from cathepsin B1 during purification. The remaining collagenolytic activity of the purified cathepsin-B1 isoenzymes was no greater than 0.3 unit/unit of cathepsin B1 compared with about 5.0 unit/unit of cathepsin B1 in the autolysed spleen extracts. 3. The cathepsin B1 isoenzymes lowered the viscosity of gelatin at 37°C. Optimum activity was at pH4–5. 4. At 28°C the interchain cross-links in native tropocollagen were cleaved most effectively at pH4–5. Insoluble tendon collagen was digested at pH3.5 and 28°C to yield mainly α-chain components, with the loss of a short N-terminal sequence. 5. Electron-microscope studies of collagen fibrils showed that cathepsin B1 caused longitudinal splitting and dissociation of the protofilaments. The effect was not general but occurred at selected sites. 6. The isoenzymes of cathepsin B1 cleaved the telopeptide region of calf skin tropocollagen between the lysine-derived cross-link and the triple helix. The CB1 peptide fragments obtained from enzyme-degraded α1 chains were hydrolysed at Gly12-Ile13 and Ser14-Val15. The residual α2 CB1 peptides were hydrolysed at Ala8-Asp9 and Asp9-Phe10.
Current Trends in Management of Defecatory Dysfunction, Posterior Compartment Prolapse, and Fecal Incontinence

While it would be our hope to report that there have been significant gains in the understanding of the correlation between the posterior vaginal compartment and defecatory dysfunction in the last year, this is not the case. Instead, we review the highlights of management of posterior vaginal compartment and defecatory dysfunction including (1) defining and understanding the patient’s symptoms; (2) considering systemic disorders, motility dysfunction, and mechanical causes that may be contributing; (3) encouraging conservative management as first-line therapy; and (4) recognizing which surgical options are likely to improve specific symptoms. This review is then followed by an update on treatment options for fecal incontinence, which we now prefer to refer to as accidental bowel leakage. We are able to report on five exciting and innovative treatment approaches for accidental bowel leakage. As the scientific community increases focus on patient-centered outcomes, we are likely on the verge of a greater understanding of how treatment options for posterior compartment prolapse and defecatory dysfunction can improve patient symptoms. This year, we can report that strong evidence-based recommendations simply do not exist, and this area is ripe for future investigation.
Low propensity for poultry isolates of Pasteurella multocida to acquire adaptive resistance to oxytetracycline.

SUMMARY. Thirty independently derived reference strains and clinical isolates of Pasteurella multocida were tested to determine their potential for acquiring adaptive resistance to oxytetracycline in an effort to better understand the prolonged high efficacy of the antibiotic for pasteurellosis in poultry. All reference strains and clinical isolates exhibited uniform susceptibility as measured with the broth dilution method. None of the strains or isolates readily acquired significant resistance when grown in subinhibitory oxytetracycline levels under the conditions employed. These data support the conclusions that spontaneous variation in P. multocida resulting in oxytetracycline resistance is uncommon in the field and that the organism possesses a very low propensity for acquiring adaptive resistance in response to growth in the presence of the antibiotic.
Effects of Constant Laboratory Temperatures on the Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Mean development time of Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata (McD.), reared at constant temperatures varied from 127.4 days at 15°C to 43.4 days at 30°C. Mortality was high at both temperature extremes; however, it occurred at different times in the life cycle for the low and high temperatures. Generally, larger larvae and pupae, and more fecund females, were produced at higher temperatures. When considering all factors, the optimum rearing temperature is not necessarily the temperature at which development occurs at the fastest rate. The data suggest that laboratory rearing should be conducted at 22 to 26°C.
Quality Measures in Upper Limb Surgery.

Background: Quality measures are now commonplace and are increasingly tied to financial incentives. We reviewed the existing quality measures that address the upper limb and tested the null hypothesis that structure (capacity to deliver care), process (appropriate care), and outcome (the result of care) measures are equally represented. Methods: We systematically reviewed MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines, the National Quality Forum, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Physician Quality Reporting System for quality measures addressing upper limb surgery. Measures were characterized as structure, process, or outcome measures and were categorized according to their developer and their National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care (National Quality Strategy) priority as articulated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Results: We identified 134 quality measures addressing the upper limb: 131 (98%) process and three (2%) outcome measures. The majority of the process measures address the National Quality Strategy priority of effective clinical care (90%), with the remainder addressing communication and care coordination (5%), person and caregiver-centered experience and outcomes (4%), and community/population health (1%). Conclusions: Our review identified opportunities to develop more measures in the structure and outcome domains as well as measures addressing patient and family engagement, public health, safety, care coordination, and efficient use of resources. The most common existing measures—process measures addressing care—might not be the best measures of upper limb surgery quality given the relative lack of evidence for their use in care improvement.
A propensity score approach to estimating child restraint effectiveness in preventing mortality.

Confounding between the child’s restraint use and driver behavior can bias restraint effectiveness estimates away from the null if survivable crashes are more common in certain restraint types. Analyzing only fatal crashes may introduce selection bias toward the null because any protective effects of a restraint type will underrepresent children in that restraint. A marginal-structural-model-type estimator suggests a 17% reduction in fatality risk for children aged 2 through 6 in child restraint systems relative to seat belts. This reduction is estimated at 22% when severe misuse of the restraint is excluded.
Evaluation of New Diagnostic Biomarkers in Pediatric Sepsis: Matrix Metalloproteinase-9, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1, Mid-Regional Pro-Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, and Adipocyte Fatty-Acid Binding Protein

Elevated plasma concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (mrProANP), and adipocyte fatty-acid-binding proteins (A-FaBPs) have been investigated as biomarkers for sepsis or detection of acute neurological injuries in adults, but not children. We carried out a single-center, prospective observational study to determine if these measures could serve as biomarkers to identify children with sepsis. A secondary aim was to determine if these biomarkers could identify children with neurologic complications of sepsis. A total of 90 patients ≤ 18 years-old were included in this study. 30 with severe sepsis or septic shock were compared to 30 age-matched febrile and 30 age-matched healthy controls. Serial measurements of each biomarker were obtained, beginning on day 1 of ICU admission. In septic patients, MMP9-/TIMP-1 ratios (Median, IQR, n) were reduced on day 1 (0.024, 0.004-0.174, 13), day 2 (0.020, 0.002-0.109, 10), and day 3 (0.018, 0.003-0.058, 23) compared with febrile (0.705, 0.187-1.778, 22) and healthy (0.7, 0.4-1.2, 29) (p< 0.05) controls. A-FaBP and mrProANP (Median, IQR ng/mL, n) were elevated in septic patients compared to control groups on first 2 days after admission to the PICU (p <0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio, mrProANP, and A-FaBP to distinguish septic patients from healthy controls were 0.96, 0.99, and 0.76, respectively. MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was inversely and mrProANP was directly related to PIM-2, PELOD, and ICU and hospital LOS (p<0.05). A-FaBP level was associated with PELOD, hospital and ICU length of stay (p<0.05). MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio associated with poor Glasgow Outcome Score (p<0.05). A-FaBP levels in septic patients with neurological dysfunction (29.3, 17.2-54.6, 7) were significantly increased compared to septic patients without neurological dysfunction (14.6, 13.3-20.6, 11). MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were significantly lower, while A-FaBP and mrProANP were higher in septic patients compared to the control groups. Each biomarker was associated with hospital morbidity and length of stay. These results suggest that these biomarkers merit further prospective study for the early identification of children with sepsis.
Establishment of CRL2830 Cell Model in Vitro with VEGFR2 Low Expression and Study of Its Biological Characteristics

An idea model of polycystic kidney cells CRL2830 with angiogenesis factor receptor 2(VEGFR2) low expression was established by applying 3-D culture and shRNA technology,which can be applied to reveal the role of VEGFR2 in polycystic kidney disease.The change of biological characteristics in this cell line was observed,and the results have shown that,although VEGFR2 low expression does not affect cell growth and invasion,it can result in the volume increase of cell and nucleus and the enhancement of cell aggregation.Furthermore,the low expression of VEGFR2 can not only inhibit cyst growth but also efficiently induce early cell apoptosis in 3-D culture cells,compared with parental cells.
Leadership responsibilities and integrity of physicians in healthcare.

Glaring inequalities and injustices have left large segments of our population uninsured, underinsured, or unreliably insured. According to the January 14, 2004 report by the Institute of Medicine,[1] about 18,000 inexcusable deaths are due to lack of health insurance in our country every year. It is as if the human toll of 9/11 had been devastating those among us who have been deprived of health insurance roughly 6 times yearly!
Effects of pen flooring type and bedding on lamb growth and carcass characteristics

Abstract Two studies were conducted to determine the effects of floor or bedding type on lamb performance, carcass characteristics, and visceral organ mass. In Exp. 1, seventy-two early weaned Targhee × Hampshire ram lambs (initial BW = 35.2 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design experiment to determine the effects of floor type and bedding with lambs fed an 80% concentrate diet. The types of flooring investigated were expanded metal, dirt with a sand top-dress, and dirt with straw bedding. Flooring type affected DMI (P
Discrepancies in Race and Ethnicity Documentation: a Potential Barrier in Identifying Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Data collection on race and ethnicity is critical in the assessment of racial disparities related to health. Studies comparing clinical and administrative data show discrepancies in race documentation and attribution. Self-reported data from two studies were compared to demographics in the electronic health record (EHR) extracted from the Biomedical Translational Research Information System (BTRIS) repository. McNemar and Bhapkar analyses were conducted to quantify the agreement of ethnicity and race between self-reported and EHR data. Pearson’s chi-square tests were used to explore the relationship between acculturation, length of time in the USA, country of residence, and how individuals self-reported their race. The sample (n = 280) was predominantly female (52.1 %), with a mean age of 47 (SD ± 13.74), mean years in the USA were 12.8 (SD ± 11.67) and the majority were born outside of the USA. (55.6 %). Those who self-identified as Hispanic (n = 208) scored a mean of 5.5 (SD ± 3.07) on the short acculturation scale (SAS) that ranges 4 to 20; lower scores indicate less acculturation. A significant difference was found between the way race is reported in the electronic medical record and self-reported data among those people who identified as Hispanic, with significant differences in the white (p < 0.0001) and other (p < 0.0001) categories. The misclassification of race is most frequent in those individuals who self-identified as Hispanic. As the Hispanic population in the USA continues to grow, understanding the factors that affect the way that individuals from this heterogeneous population self-report race may provide important guidance in tailoring care to address health disparities.
Adaptation and Implementation of a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Girls in Child Welfare

This study describes the process of adapting and implementing Girls Aspiring toward Independence (GAIN), a trauma-focused, group-based therapy adapted from Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) for girls in child welfare. Descriptive data were examined on 3 outcomes: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and social problem-solving skills among adolescent girls in the child welfare system. Qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized to inform the adaptation of the CBITS intervention, evaluate feasibility, treatment fidelity, and acceptability, and to test the effects of the intervention. Girls ages 12 to 18 (N = 27) were randomly assigned to the experimental and usual care conditions. Participants' symptoms of PTSD and depression and social problem-solving skills were evaluated at pre, post- (3 months), and follow-up (6 months) assessments. Adaptations for GAIN were primarily related to program structure. Data indicated that the program was receptive to girls in child welfare and that it was feasible to recruit, randomize, assess outcomes, and implement with adequate fidelity. Retention was more successful among younger girls. Descriptive initial data showed greater reductions in the percentage of girls with PTSD and depression, and modest increases in social problem-solving skills in the experimental versus usual care condition. Despite the growth of knowledge in dissemination and implementation research, the application of trauma-focused empirically supported treatment to child welfare populations lags behind. A large-scale RCT is needed to determine if GAIN is effective in reducing mental health problems and social problem-solving in the child welfare population. (PsycINFO Database Record
The modulation of synchronization by tuning functions and its effect on multi-sensory perception

Our brain is wired to handle sensory inputs from multiple modalities such as vision, hearing and touch. Computational models have largely focused on a single sensory channel at a time, most notably vision and audition. Hence there is a gap in our understanding of the mechanisms that govern the integrated processing of information in these channels. One approach that has received attention in the literature is sensory binding achieved through synchronization. We demonstrate that synchronization can be realized through a network of oscillatory elements. We examine factors governing synchronization, specifically the tuning function that determines the sensitivity of the oscillators to phase differences. We develop a computational model that allows the exploration of phenomena studied in cognitive neuroscience, including deficits in synchronization that accompany disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The width of the tuning function affects the ability of subjects to combine auditory and visual streams of information, where broader tuning functions are associated with poorer performance. We demonstrate that quantitative measures of simulated system performance behave similarly to data gathered by cognitive neuroscience experimentalists. Thus, we produce results that are consistent with findings in cognitive neuroscience and psychology. Our model could serve as a basis to understand the subtle dynamics of processes involved in both normal and abnormal perception. A quantitative approach could help researchers model the effect of different interventions, including drugs such as methylphenidate that promote synchrony.
Magnetic Compression Stricturoplasty For Treatment of Refractory Esophageal Strictures in Children: Technique and Lessons Learned.

Introduction. Esophageal stricture is the most common complication following repair of esophageal atresia (EA). In general, these strictures are successfully managed using endoscopic techniques inc...
A load balancing inspired optimization framework for exascale multicore systems: a complex networks approach

Many-core multi-threaded performance is plagued by on-chip communication nonidealities, limited memory bandwidth, and critical sections. Inspired by complex network theory of social communities, we propose a novel methodology to model the dynamic execution of an application and partition the application into an optimal number of clusters for parallel execution. We first adopt an LLVM IR compiler analysis of a specific application and construct a dynamic application dependency graph encoding its computational and memory operations. Next, based on this graph, we propose an optimization model to find the optimal clusters such that (1) the intra-cluster edges are maximized, (2) the execution times of the clusters are nearly equalized, for load balancing, and (3) the cluster size does not exceed the core count. Our novel approach confines data movement to be mainly inside a cluster for power reduction and congestion prevention. Finally, we propose an algorithm to sort the graph of connected clusters topologically and map the clusters onto NoC. Experimental results on a 32-core NoC demonstrate a maximum speedup of 131.82% when compared to thread-based execution. Furthermore, the scalability of our framework makes it a promising software design automation platform.
The NFL's Chop-Block Rule Change: Does It Prevent Knee Injuries in Defensive Players?

Background:The chop block, a football maneuver in which an offensive player blocks an opponent around the thigh while another offensive player engages the same opponent above the waist, was declare...
Tapered arteriovenous grafts do not provide significant advantage over nontapered grafts in upper extremity dialysis access.

Abstract Objective Although tapered dialysis access grafts are often used in an effort to prevent ischemic steal, their efficacy is uncertain. Our goal was to use real-world data to assess the performance of these grafts with respect to primary patency and ischemic steal. Methods The Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried from 2010 to 2017 for all patients undergoing tapered dialysis grafts in the upper arm. Multivariable analysis was performed to analyze primary patency, ischemic steal, and reinterventions. Results We identified 3608 patients who received dialysis access grafts, 1473 tapered grafts and 2135 nontapered grafts. The mean age was 64.8 years, and 43.4% of the patients were male. Tapered grafts were used more often in female patients (60.5% vs 54%), nonwhite patients (53.3% vs 47.7%), patients with no previous access (28% vs 26.3%), grafts with an antecubital brachial artery origin (50% vs 44.4%), and grafts with an antecubital cephalic vein target (7.4% vs 3.7%; P Conclusions Tapered grafts for upper extremity arteriovenous access do not affect primary patency, development of steal, or endovascular reintervention in comparison to nontapered grafts. Our findings do not support the routine use of these grafts in dialysis access to improve outcomes.
LiTE SAR, Ku-band synthetic aperture radar for small unmanned air vehicles

A high resolution Ku-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) was recently flown on a hand-launched Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), demonstrating a breakthrough in resolution for small size, weight and power (SWaP). Ku-Band SAR systems are a useful tool in border patrol, agriculture, crops control, petroleum reserve, surveillance missions, particularly when combined with the Coherent Change Detection (CCD) capability of this system. A continuous-wave (CW) transmitter with near 100% duty factor and an innovative wave-form generator were utilized to minimize power consumption to 24 Watts DC while eliminating the need for high power Ku-Band amplifiers. The weight was trimmed by replacing the typical gimbaled narrow-beam antenna with broad-coverage horn antennas designed to accommodate the platform's roll, pitch, and yaw.
Frontier Theory of Inquiry: Apparent Conflicts Between the Ghent Logical Program and the “Darwinian” Selectionist Program

I begin with an appreciation of several pragmatic aspects of Diderik Batens’ research program, then turn to the apparent conflict with Donald Campbell’s evolutionary epistemology, with its generalized Darwinian account of creative problem solving via mechanisms of blind variation plus selective retention (BVSR). While there are significant differences of emphasis and style, I argue that the two are broadly compatible, just as the problem-solving approach of Herbert Simon and Allen Newell is broadly compatible with that of Campbell, also contrary to first appearances. The paper ends with some questions for the Ghent program concerning difficult open problems for future investigation.
How to play the flute: A commentary on Dreyfus's “Intelligence without representation”

Can we describe and explain flute-playing without recourse to mental representations? Certainly; see above. Indeed, we can describe and explain flute playing without recourse to embouchures, finger coordination, breath control or any of the other things flutists seem to obsess about; see above once more. Forced to say how to play the flute in twenty-five words or less, one could do no better than this: you blow there and you move your fingers up and down here. Professor Dreyfus offers a similarly economical account of how people learning new skills, driving a car, say, or playing chess, gain competence:
Immunologic features of erythrocyte sensitization. II. The nature of blood group antibodies.

It has been shown that red cells sensitized with anti-Rh antibody are agglutinated by anti-γ-globulin sera, regardless of the "order" of Rh antibody activity. Red cells sensitized with anti-Lewis antibody, on the other hand, are agglutinated by anti-sera to non-γ-globulin substances. Of six other blood group antibodies studied, five provided γ-globulin red cell coating materials and one, an anti-Kidd, a non-γ-globulin material. The participation of complement, or complement-like, substances was shown in some instances. Various pitfalls in the technics employed in absorbing Coombs sera so as to render them immunochemically specific are discussed.
Biology, Diseases, and Economics: An Epidemiological History of Slavery in the American South

The economic history of antebellum southern slavery has been and is the subject of ongoing debates among scholars. The literature includes assessments about the efficiency of slavery as well as about the adequacy of slave living standards and diets. Yet this literature under appreciates the important biologic and historical role that parasitic diseases played in the history of slavery. Recognizing the role of parasitic diseases calls into question some prevailing interpretations of slavery. Lacking direct evidence on slave diets, scholars turned to anthropometric evidence as proxies for the living standards of slaves, leading to the prevailing view that adult slaves were given adequate sustenance, but slave infants and children were severely malnourished. We argue it was not slave diets, but the combination of the plantation system and diseases that caused abnormally small slave children. The diseases that concern us, primarily hookworm and malaria, affected slaves ('blacks') and free labor ('whites') differently. Many slaves were concentrated on large plantations with infants and younger children crowded into 'nurseries.' This system allowed the maintenance and spread of diseases that adversely affected younger slaves. Southern white children however were less likely to be raised in conditions so conductive to parasitic diseases. The disease ecology of the antebellum South has implications for the prevailing view that slavery was more efficient than free labor. Biologic evidence indicates that people of tropical West African ancestry are more resilient to the effects of hookworm and malaria than European descendents. Thus when whites did contract these diseases, they were more afflicted than blacks. When slaves entered the adult work force they were taken from disease breeding grounds (slave nurseries) and sent into relatively (for blacks) healthy fields, while whites that went into the fields found a disease environment that was typically worse than that of their childhood. If black adults were more productive than were white adults because of a greater resilience to parasitic diseases, then part of any measured difference in productivity between slave and free farms should be attributed to the disease resistance of African descendents, rather than to any inherent efficiencies of slavery.
Operation Naloxone: Overdose prevention service learning for student pharmacists

Abstract Background and purpose A service learning program for student pharmacists was developed to train other university students to respond effectively to opioid overdoses with naloxone. Assessments were analyzed to determine the effect of program participation on student pharmacists’ overdose-related knowledge retention and harm reduction attitudes. Educational activity and setting Student pharmacists were invited to attend a 90-min train-the-trainer seminar to obtain foundational knowledge regarding opioid overdose risk, symptoms, and response. Attendees were eligible to participate in a series of 10 community outreach events to educate university students. These two-hour events included a 30-min team huddle, 60-min workshop, and 30-min team debrief. Student pharmacists were asked to complete a follow-up assessment to evaluate knowledge retention and harm reduction attitudes. Findings and discussion Responses from students who participated in community outreach events (intervention) were compared to those who only attended the train-the-trainer seminar (control). A total of 116 subjects attended a train-the-trainer seminar and 94 completed the follow-up assessment. Thirty-six subjects voluntarily participated in at least one community outreach event while 58 did not participate. The intervention group demonstrated superior knowledge retention compared to the control group (p Summary The Operation Naloxone service learning program enabled student pharmacists to engage with their community while reinforcing overdose-related knowledge. Student pharmacists exhibited progressive attitudes regarding harm reduction interventions.
A molecular mechanism for calcium-mediated synaptotagmin-triggered exocytosis

The regulated exocytotic release of neurotransmitter and hormones is accomplished by a complex protein machinery whose core consists of SNARE proteins and the calcium sensor synaptotagmin-1. We propose a mechanism in which the lipid membrane is intimately involved in coupling calcium sensing to release. We found that fusion of dense core vesicles, derived from rat PC12 cells, was strongly linked to the angle between the cytoplasmic domain of the SNARE complex and the plane of the target membrane. We propose that, as this tilt angle increases, force is exerted on the SNARE transmembrane domains to drive the merger of the two bilayers. The tilt angle markedly increased following calcium-mediated binding of synaptotagmin to membranes, strongly depended on the surface electrostatics of the membrane, and was strictly coupled to the lipid order of the target membrane.
A tabu search algorithm for a capacitated clustering problem

This paper investigates a clustering problem in a production and routing environment where a centralised facility uses a fleet of vehicles to serve a set of customers. A multi-period capacitated clustering problem is solved to partition customer into clusters with constraints that the accumulated customer demand in every period of the planning horizon is satisfied. The resulting mathematical model is hard to solve exactly and efficient heuristics are thus developed in this paper. The heuristics are based on the tabu search but include two novel features in the design of neighbourhood search; the first one is the dynamic combination of customers with close proximity into supernodes to eliminate ineffective moves and the second one is an ejection chain approach to perform composite moves of variable length from a series of simple moves. Computational results showed that they were able to provide superior solutions, especially in certain cases of tight capacity constraints.