cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GAMMA AND ALPHA RADIOLYSIS OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF DIETHYLENETRIAMINEPENTAACETIC ACID.

Abstract The radiolytic destruction of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), an eluting agent for the purification of 244 Cm by cation exchange chromatography, was studied in H 2 SO 4 and HNO 3 solutions. In 0·4 M H 2 SO 4 , DTPA is effectively destroyed by both H atoms and OH radicals. For γ radiation, G (-DTPA) = G H + G OH ; and for a radiation, G (-DTPA) = G H + G OH + G HO 2 . At doses > 10 21 eV/g in solutions less than 4 M acid, lanthanide and actinide oxalates precipitate. In ∼ 4 M HNO 3 solutions containing > 1 g/l. 244 Cm eluted from cation exchange columns, the DTPA must be completely destroyed by α-radiolysis before the 244 Cm can be concentrated by precipitation with 1 M NaOH. At high pH values and in the presence of metal cations that are complexed by DTPA, G (-DTPA) is lowered significantly. Competition studies with various solutes established that OH radicals destroy DTPA effectively (k = 2 × 10 9 M −1 sec −1 ). Failure of excess Br − ions to lower G (-DTPA) suggests that DTPA can react by a charge transfer mechanism in addition to H atom abstraction.
Sea lamprey orient toward a source of a synthesized pheromone using odor-conditioned rheotaxis

Characterization of vertebrate chemo-orientation strategies over long distances is difficult because it is often not feasible to conduct highly controlled hypothesis-based experiments in natural environments. To overcome the challenge, we couple in-stream behavioral observations of female sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) orienting to plumes of a synthesized mating pheromone, 7α,12α,24-trihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one-24-sulfate (3kPZS), and engineering algorithms to systematically test chemo-orientation hypotheses. In-stream field observations and simulated movements of female sea lampreys according to control algorithms support that odor-conditioned rheotaxis is a component of the mechanism used to track plumes of 3kPZS over hundreds of meters in flowing water. Simulated movements of female sea lampreys do not support that rheotaxis or klinotaxis alone is sufficient to enable the movement patterns displayed by females in locating 3kPZS sources in the experimental stream. Odor-conditioned rheotaxis may not only be effective at small spatial scales as previous described in crustaceans, but may also be effectively used by fishes over hundreds of meters. These results may prove useful for developing management strategies for the control of invasive species that exploit the odor-conditioned tracking behavior and for developing biologically inspired navigation strategies for robotic fish.
Multiscaling in fragmentation

Abstract We review recent results on random fragmentation of multidimensional objects. In addition to the obvious volume conservation, these processes exhibit an infinite number of hidden conservation laws. The fragment size distribution is characterized by an infinite number of scales and thus, exhibits multiscaling. Nevertheless, the volume distribution function shows ordinary scaling, i.e., it is characterized by a single scale.
Seizing the Moment: The Problem of Conversational Agency*

In conversation, actors face constraints on when they can speak, whom they can address, what they can say, and what they can safely expect from others by way of cooperation. This is the backdrop against which people pursue their idiosyncratic interests and objectives, success at which constitutes conversational agency. In principle, agency is made possible by the “looseness” of conversational constraints. This does not create a clear path for the advancement of personal ends, however, since options are always limited by the context, and success is always contingent upon the cooperation of others. Ultimately, the most agentic people are those who readily exploit imperfect options though this means abandoning the inflexible pursuit of pre-conceived objectives.
Men’s Issues in Elderly Sexuality

In nearly all cultures, the functioning of the male phallus is tied intimately to a man’s sense of self, body image, and implied social worth. Although empirical studies suggest consistently that elderly men engage in sexual activity into late life with a relatively high frequency, more anecdotal, clinical evidence suggests that older men may regard age-related changes in their sexual response cycle with trepidation, embarrassment, anger, and fear.
On the effects of graph based evolutionary algorithms for training finite state classifiers

This work presents a method for evolving finite state machines for the classification of polymerase chain reaction primers in mice using graph based evolutionary algorithms. Using these machine learning tools we can compensate for many lab, organism, and chemical specific factors that can cause these primers to fail. Using Finite State Classifiers can help to decrease the number of primers that fail to amplify correctly. For training these classifiers, fifteen different graph based evolutionary algorithms were used in two different experiments to explore the effects of diversity preservation on the development of these classifiers. By controlling the rate at which information is shared in the evolving population, classifiers with a high likelihood of not accepting bad primers were found. This proposed tool can act as a post-production add-on to the standard primer picking algorithm for gene expression detection in mice to compensate for local factors that may induce errors.
Context-Dependent Emotion Regulation: Suppression and Reappraisal at the Burning Man Festival

Do people use different emotion regulation strategies in different social contexts? To answer this question, we compared typical emotion regulation use with emotion regulation use at a temporary annual art festival (Burning Man). We assessed two common emotion regulation strategies: expressive suppression (linked to generally negative outcomes) and cognitive reappraisal (linked to generally positive outcomes). Compared to typical emotion regulation use at home, at Burning Man participants reported decreased suppression use and increased reappraisal use. We consider implications for understanding contextual variation in emotion regulation and discuss the properties of the Burning Man context that may facilitate this more adaptive emotion regulation profile.
Camera-Based Ballot Counter

Portable ballot counters using camera technology and manual paper feed are potentially more reliable and less expensive than scanner-based systems. We show that the spatial sampling rate, geometric linearity, point-spread function, and photometric transfer function of off-the shelf consumer cameras are acceptable for ballot imaging. However, scanner illumination is much more uniform than can be economically accomplished for variable size ballots. Therefore flat-field compensation must be designed into the image processing software. We illustrate the mechanical design of a prototype camera-based ballot reader based on our comparative observations.
Comparisons between the three-dimensional structures of the chemotactic protein CheY and the normal Gly 12-p21 protein.

The three-dimensional structure of a chemotactic protein Che Y from Salmonella typhimurium has recently been determined by X-ray crystallography. The structure of this small protein, containing 129 amino acid residues, shows a domain consisting of a central beta-pleated sheet surrounded on both sides by alpha-helices. We have examined the sequence and the arrangement of the structural domains of the Che Y protein and have compared them with other nucleotide binding protein sequences and structures. We find that the Che Y protein has significant sequence homology to the ras-gene encoded p21 protein. In addition, the structural domains of the two proteins are arranged in a fundamentally similar manner, including the phosphate-binding site (both proteins bind phosphate-containing ligands). The striking similarity in the arrangement of the structural domains of the two proteins suggests that both may serve similar functions as signal transducers.
Bandwidth quantization in the broadband ISDN

The authors indicate that the number of rates supportable in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) broadband network has to be limited unless a network is acceptable without knowing its grade of service. The quantization of the channel bandwidth, given the traffic arrival rate as a function of requested bandwidth, is considered. Capacity sharing models in ATM networks are presented. The calculation procedure for blocking probability which will be affected by the quantization problem is described. A class of control methods that can render a product-form solution is introduced. The results indicate that there is little performance difference between a quantized channel and a continuous-rate channel as the level of quantization exceeds ten. >
Health related quality of life in pregeriatric patients with chronic diseases at urban, public supported clinics.

Background Understanding health-related quality of life (HRQOL) leads to more effective and focused healthcare. America's growing health disparities makes it is increasingly necessary to understand the HRQOL of pregeriatric individuals who are now 55–64 years old, i.e. before they are eligible for federally mandated health care at age 65. Our study measured the self-perceived HRQOL of pregeriatric, poor patients with multiple chronic diseases treated at 2 public clinics.
Sliced Ridgelet Transform for Image Denoising

Image denoising based on curvelet transforms gives better results than image denoising based on the standard ridgelet transforms. This paper introduces an approach for image denoising that is based on ridgelets computed in a localized manner and that is computationally less intensive than curvelets, but with similar denoising performance. In this localized ridgelet transform, denoted sliced ridgelet transform, the ridge function is divided into several slices of constant length. The projection of each slice at a certain angle is computed and followed by a one-dimensional wavelet transform, to produce the ridgelet coefficients for each slice. The denoising operation corresponds to a simple thresholding of these ridgelet coefficients. Finally, inverse wavelet transform and inverse Radon transform are applied to the denoised ridgelet coefficients, to reconstruct a denoised version of the input image.
Impact of Tai Chi Exercise on Multiple Fracture-Related Risk Factors in Post-Menopausal Osteopenic Women: A Pilot Pragmatic, Randomized Trial

Tai Chi (TC) is a mind-body exercise that shows potential as an effective and safe intervention for preventing fall-related fractures in the elderly. Few randomized trials have simultaneously evaluated TC's potential to reduce bone loss and improve fall-predictive balance parameters in osteopenic women. In a pragmatic randomized trial, 86 post-menopausal osteopenic women, aged 45-70, were recruited from community clinics. Women were assigned to either nine months of TC training plus usual care (UC) vs. UC alone. Primary outcomes were changes between baseline and nine months of bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal femur and lumbar spine (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and serum markers of bone resorption and formation. Secondary outcomes included quality of life. In a subsample (n = 16), quiet standing fall-predictive sway parameters and clinical balance tests were also assessed. Both intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were employed. For BMD, no intent-to-treat analyses were statistically significant; however, per protocol analyses (i.e., only including TC participants who completed ≥ 75% training requirements) of femoral neck BMD changes were significantly different between TC and UC (+0.04 vs. -0.98%; P = 0.05). Changes in bone formation markers and physical domains of quality of life were also more favorable in per protocol TC vs. UC (P = 0.05). Changes in sway parameters were significantly improved by TC vs. UC (average sway velocity, P = 0.027; anterior-posterior sway range, P = 0.014). Clinical measures of balance and function showed non-significant trends in favor of TC. TC training offered through existing community-based programs is a safe, feasible, and promising intervention for reducing multiple fracture risks. Our results affirm the value of a more definitive, longer-term trial of TC for osteopenic women, adequately powered to detect clinically relevant effects of TC on attenuation of BMD loss and reduction of fall risk in this population. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01039012
Distributed Adaptive Quantization and Estimation for Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider distributed parameter estimation in a wireless sensor network, where due to bandwidth constraint, all sensor nodes have to quantize their observations and send quantized data to a fusion center. We consider the case where each sensor can send only one bit of information. In such a case, the achievable estimation performance is critically dependent on the choice of the one-bit quantizer used at the sensor nodes to perform quantization; it is also known that a fixed quantizer does not perform well, in particular when the quantization threshold is away from the unknown parameter to be estimated. In this paper, we propose a new distributed adaptive quantization scheme by which each individual sensor node dynamically adjusts the threshold of its quantizer based on earlier transmissions from other sensor nodes. We develop the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and derive the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) associated with our distributed adaptive quantization scheme. Numerical results show that our approach does not suffer from the drawback of the fixed quantization approach and outperforms the latter.
Children's health care and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: what's at stake?

Although the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (hereafter referred to as the ACA) of 2010 does not explicitly target the health care needs of children, its significant reforms and cascading effects throughout our complex health system are likely to directly and indirectly affect children’s health care. The ACA increases insurance coverage for children and their families by covering comprehensive preventive services with no cost sharing, eliminating exclusions for preexisting conditions, prohibiting lifetime dollar limits, extending dependent health benefits to 26 years of age, and expanding coverage to many previously uninsured parents. Despite these advances, some provisions of the ACA have the potential to compromise children’s health care in unanticipated ways. Because children account for a disproportionately small percentage of overall health care spending, the effect of the ACA on children is not on the radar of those individuals implementing the ACA who are more focused on insurance expansion and cost control among adults. Thus, it falls to children’s health advocates to monitor the ACA’s effect on child health care, to both minimize harm and maximize opportunities for improvement.
In situ staining using MHC class I tetramers.

The invention of MHC-tetramer technology to label antigen-specific T cells has lead to a greatly enhanced understanding of T lymphocyte biology. This protocol describes the use of MHC class I tetramers to stain antigen-specific T cells in tissue sections. In situ tetramer staining (IST) can be used to determine the localization, abundance, and phenotype of antigen-specific T cells in native environments and in three-dimensional space. IST is broadly applicable because it can be used to stain essentially any antigen-specific T cell in any tissue for which MHC tetramers are available. IST can be combined with histochemistry and/or immunohistochemistry to permit visualization and characterization of antigen-specific T cells relative to other cell types in stained tissue sections. Thus, IST is a useful and valuable component of MHC-tetramer technology. Keywords: In situ tetramer staining (IST); MHC class I tetramers; CD8+ T cells; vibratome; confocal microscopy
Towards sonar based perception and modelling for unmanned untethered underwater vehicles

Experimental results obtained with the authors' calibrated computer-controlled, frequency-modulated subbottom penetrating sonar are presented. A topographic model of the sea-floor surface and a sequence of sonar images, obtained with the same FM sonar, is given. This latter sequence shows a vertical section through the sea-bed itself. Despite the absence of surface features, the variations in stratigraphy of this vertical section and the automation of the interpretation of these features open the possibility of using these data to navigate when resurfacing is either not an option or undesirable. >
Katalyse an aufgedampften Metallfilmen. I. Widerstandsänderungen von Nickelfilmen während katalytischer Reaktionen

An aufgedampften Nickelfilmen werden wahrend katalytischer Reaktionen Widerstandsanderungen beobachtet, die Aussagen uber den Mechanismus der Reaktion gestatten. Es wurden insbesondere die Hydrierung von Butadien und Benzol und der Zerfall der Ameisensaure untersucht.
Sustained antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in SIV-infected macaques correlates with delayed progression to AIDS.

Although several in vitro lines of evidence support the potential power of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in controlling HIV infection, the role of ADCC in the pathogenesis of HIV infection in vivo remains uncertain. There are few studies to date that longitudinally determine the plasma ADCC activity in HIV-infected subjects. We sought to establish an SIV/macaque model to perform such a longitudinal study. In the rhesus macaque cohort studied here, three of five macaques (designated Group 1) maintained higher plasma ADCC activity for at least 1 year after inoculation with SIV/17E-Br. The ADCC activity of the two remaining macaques (Group 2) fell 12 weeks after inoculation. There were also differences in longitudinal measurements of anti-SIV envelope IgG titers and CD4 counts. Group 1 macaques maintained higher antienvelope IgG titers and higher CD4+ T cell numbers as late as 60 weeks postinoculation, while Group 2 macaques had significantly lower titers at 1 year postinoculation and ...
Some Analyses of Amnesic Syndromes in Brain-Damaged Patients

The contribution of the hippocampus to the normal operation of human memory processes has been quite clearly delineated by Milner and her collaborators during the past 15 years. These investigators have documented the nature of the memory disorder following injury to the hippocampus and, in addition, have provided support for the dual process theory of memory. Since these investigations are quite well known, only a brief summary of their major findings will be presented here prior to a more thorough discussion of two closely related issues: (1) an analysis of the amnesic disorders of alcoholic Korsakoff patients and (2) an examination of the amnesic syndromes produced by different forms of brain damage. The alcoholic Korsakoff patient is clinically similar to patients with bilateral hippocampal damage but, unlike these patients, he has suffered extensive midline limbic-diencephalic damage involving the nucleus medialis dorsalis and/or mammillary bodies (Victor et al., 1971). Since both of these structures have major anatomical connections with the hippocampus as well as other limbic entities, a thorough behavioral investigation of the amnesia of Korsakoff patients may enrich our understanding of the manner in which various limbic and diencephalic structures interact in the processing of information.
Comparative Analysis of the IR Signal Enhancement of Biomolecules Adsorbed on Graphene and Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

The effect of surface enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) was studied for molecules adsorbed on non-metallic surfaces, namely graphene and graphene oxide, deposited on rough gold support. Comparative analysis of the effect was presented for thymine, one of the bases of DNA. The maximum enhancement factor for Thy adsorbed on graphene was equal to 3.7 for ring and N–H deformational vibrations and it was about 4 for N–H deformational vibrations for graphene oxide-based system. However, the majority of vibration bands of Thy adsorbed on graphene oxide in the 1,800–500 cm−1 region showed greater enhancement factors than those on graphene. Total enhancement in this region was about 2.0 for graphene oxide and 1.6 for graphene. The mechanism of the enhancement for graphene-based system seems to have rather chemical than electromagnetic nature. Comparison of the obtained data allowed us to conclude that the mechanism of IR enhancement for Thy adsorbed on graphene-based structures (graphene and graphene oxide) has charge transfer nature in contrast to predominately local field enhancement in the case of Thy adsorbed on single-wall carbon nanotubes characterized by higher enhancement factors (up to 5.3 for N–H deformational vibrations and about 2.8 for the total spectrum).
Dynamic fatigue properties of optical fibers during the unloading process

The long-term mechanical reliability of optical fibers is the important problem in the design of optical fiber cables.
The stir-settle approach to semiautomated light scattering determination of liquid-liquid coexistence curves

Critical opalescence turbidity masks the precise location of liquid−liquid coexistence curve temperatures (Tcx) in light scattering data collected from stirred samples using semiautomated instrumentation. A modified semiautomated technique in which a stirred sample is fully equilibrated and then light scattering data is collected as a function of time with no stirring is described. Tests on three systems (aniline + hexane, methanol + cyclohexane, and isobutyric acid + water) showed that coalescence and sedimentation in the unstirred two-phase sample causes distinct temporal changes in the light scattering, most noticeably in light collected 2° off-incidence. With this experimental method, the coexistence curve temperatures of near-critical samples can be identified with ± 0.01 K uncertainty. Precise determination of Tcx can also be hampered by long mixing times. Equilibration lag measurements as a function of sample composition and ramping rate are also reported. These measurements show that the equilibra...
Effect of a chemical chaperone, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, on HDM-induced allergic airway disease

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced unfolded protein response plays a critical role in inflammatory diseases, including allergic airway disease. However, the benefits of inhibiting ER stress in the treatment of allergic airway disease are not well known. Herein, we tested the therapeutic potential of a chemical chaperone, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), in combating allergic asthma, using a mouse model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic airway disease. TUDCA was administered during the HDM-challenge phase (preventive regimen), after the HDM-challenge phase (therapeutic regimen), or therapeutically during a subsequent HDM rechallenge (rechallenge regimen). In the preventive regimen, TUDCA significantly decreased HDM-induced inflammation, markers of ER stress, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and fibrosis. Similarly, in the therapeutic regimen, TUDCA administration efficiently decreased HDM-induced airway inflammation, mucus metaplasia, ER stress markers, and AHR, but not airway remodeling. Interestingly, TUDCA administered therapeutically in the HDM rechallenge regimen markedly attenuated HDM-induced airway inflammation, mucus metaplasia, ER stress markers, methacholine-induced AHR, and airway fibrotic remodeling. These results indicate that the inhibition of ER stress in the lungs through the administration of chemical chaperones could be a valuable strategy in the treatment of allergic airway diseases.
Molecular Typing of Non-polioviruses and the Genetic Characteristic of Echovirus 7 Isolated From AFP Cases in Yunnan Province,2003

Objective To analyze molecular typing of non-polioviruses and the genetic characteristics of echovirus 7 from AFP cases in Yunnan province in 2003.Method The 18 strains of non-polio viruses were serotyped according to Oberste's method and the genetic characteristics of echovirus 7 were analysed.Results A total of 215 stool samples were collected from children aged below 15 years.Among the 34 positive samples,16 were polioviruses(4.7%),all of which were vaccine strains and no wild polioviruses were detected.Among other 18 non-polioviruses(8.4%),one strain belonged to human enterovirus A(HEV-A),14 strains were HEV-B(9 serotypes,3 strains of echovirus 7) and 3 strains were HEV-C(2 serotypes),no HEV-D viruses detected.Conclusion In 2003,the prevalence of NPV from AFP patients is nearly the same as that of previous years.The phylogenetic analysis indicate that different E7 clusters existed in Yunnan province.
Etiologic and Related Analysis of 164 Children with Short Stature in Suzhou Area

Objective To explore the etiologic and related investigation of 164 children with short stature.Methods One hundred and sixty-four children were collected,among them 109 were males(66.5%),55 were females(33.5%),the average age was(8.24±2.54) years.All of the children were collected with detailed medical history and with both physical and laboratory examination,and the 20 controls were also included.Results Eighty-six cases(52.4%) were diagnosed as idiopathic short stature(ISS),ncluding constitutional delay of growth and puberty(CDGP) and family short stature(FSS);57 cases(34.8%) were diagnosed as growth hormone deficiency(GHD),serum IGF-1 and IGFBP3 levels in chil-dren with GHD were significantly lower than those in the controls(P0.01);15 cases(9.1%) were diag-nosed as intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR);6 cases(3.7%) were diagnosed as Turners syndrome.Conclusions Idiopathic short stature is a common disease among them,and the second is growth hormone deficiency(GHD),determining serum IGF-1 and IGFBP3 levels could be applied for screening and diagnosis of GHD.For short stature children,correct treatment is according to the pathogeny.After an assessment of short stature has been made,appropriate therapy may be instituted.
Effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of low relaxation seven-wire prestressing strand

Abstract This paper presents results from experiments on the effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of low relaxation seven-wire prestressing strand. A set of steady-state tensile strength tests are carried out on prestressing strands and reinforcing bars at various temperatures. Data from these tensile strength tests is utilized to derive stress-strain response, yield strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and rupture strain of prestressing strand and reinforcing bars in 20–800 °C temperature range. Results obtained from these property tests indicate that prestressing strand experiences higher strength degradation than that of reinforcing steel bar throughout the temperature range. In addition, presence of preload on prestressing strand slightly increases the temperature induced rate of strength degradation beyond 450 °C. Results from these mechanical property tests are utilized to propose empirical relations for expressing variation of mechanical properties of low relaxation seven-wire prestressing strand as a function of temperature.
Childhood Obesity in America: Biography of an Epidemic. By Laura Dawes. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2014. Pp. vii, 305. $45.00.)

What does a biography of an epidemic look like? Although some might imagine such a project examining primarily medical processes and texts, a rich history of any epidemic necessarily involves unpac...
Abstract A13: Identifying Chamorro cancer survivorship needs through the development of a community-based database

The Chamorro Cancer Survivors Network is a program designed to foster support among Chamorros (indigenous people of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) who have had cancer. The network was created by Guam Communications Network (GCN) in 2006 with a planning grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and is an outgrowth of GCN9s education and research efforts with Chamorro cancer survivors who wanted to mobilize themselves in order to address the many needs of survivors, their families and caregivers in California and on Guam. A unique aspect of the network is the creation of a database of over 400 Chamorro cancer survivors detailing their cancer characteristics (e.g., site, stage) and histories (e.g., date of diagnosis, treatments). In this presentation, we will discuss how GCN has built the database, characteristics of Chamorro survivors, and plans for utilizing it to develop strategies for community-based participatory research, cancer prevention campaigns, patient navigators, and cancer support group services. We will also highlight activities to date that have been derived from the database and are the driving forces of our cancer education and research studies.
Unit commitment using adaptive dynamic programming

This paper solves a unit commitment (UC) problem of the interconnected power system. The UC provides an approach to decrease the cost and improve reliability of the network. The UC is a dynamic process, and the generation plan is always changing according to different load and network topology. The problem is solved by ADP which solves the dynamic problem with a two-stage neural network method. One stage is to search the optimal solution and the other stage is to evaluate the solution and obtain the objective function. Finally the UC of one sample power system is solved by ADP method
IRF5 as an upstream regulator of severe steroid-refractory asthma.

Severe, corticosteroid (CS)-refractory asthma is a significant problem both clinically and in terms of economic impact. A CS-responsive T helper-type 2 (Th2)/Type 2 response is a feature of milder asthma. However, we recently reported heightened airway type 1 (IFN-γ) and type 17 (IL-17) immune responses along with detectable Th2 response in >50% of clinically diagnosed severe asthma cases in adults in the context of CS treatment. In macrophages, the transcription factor IRF5 was previously shown to promote the expression of Type 1/17-inducing cytokines. However, its role in promoting the expression of these cytokines in dendritic cells (DCs), which would impact T helper cell differentiation, has not been studied. Thus, to determine the role of IRF5 in eliciting a CS-refractory severe asthma phenotype, we utilized our newly established model of severe asthma, in which IFN-γ plays an important role in increased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and which is poorly responsive to CS mimicking human disease. Using WT and IRF5−/− mice subjected to the severe asthma model, we show that IRF5 is required to promote Th1 and Th17 immune responses and importantly, also plays a role in increased AHR. In the absence of IRF5, reduced Th1/Th17 responses were associated with decreased expression of the type-1/17-promoting cytokines IL-12 and IL-6 in lung DCs. Also, using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells, we detected higher IRF5 expression in human severe versus milder asthma. Therefore, IRF5 may represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention in CS-refractory human severe asthma with a strong Th1/Th17 immunobiologic component.
Irreversibility in Ba 0.625 K 0.375 BiO 3

An irreversibility line has been identified in bulk ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{0.625}$${\mathrm{K}}_{0.375}$${\mathrm{BiO}}_{3}$, which follows the relation 1-T/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{H}}^{2/3}$. According to the flux-creep model, the magnetic irreversibility is caused by thermally activated flux creep and is closely connected with the field-induced resistive broadening. However, previous resistivity measurements showed that the ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{0.625}$${\mathrm{K}}_{0.375}$${\mathrm{BiO}}_{3}$ system did not exhibit resistive transition broadening. Thus, an alternative explanation based on the Josephson-coupling model is suggested to interpret the irreversibility observed in ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{0.625}$${\mathrm{K}}_{0.375}$${\mathrm{BiO}}_{3}$.
The effect of aspirin on kidney allograft outcomes; a short review to current studies.

Context: The use of aspirin in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients has been shown to reduce myocardial infarction but may increase major bleeding. However, its effects in kidney transplant recipients are unclear. Evidence Acquisitions: A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception through September 2016. We included studies that reported odd ratios, relative risks or hazard ratios comparing outcomes of aspirin use in kidney transplant recipients. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were assessed using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. Results: We included 9 studies; enrolling 19 759 kidney transplant recipients that compared aspirin with no treatment. Compared to no treatment, aspirin reduced the risk of allograft failure (4 studies; RR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.99), allograft thrombosis (2 studies; RR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.53), and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) or mortality (2 studies; RR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.88), but not allograft rejection (3 studies; RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.45 to 1.65) or delayed graft function (DGF) (2 studies; RR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.58 to 1.72) in kidney transplant recipients. The data on risk of major or minor bleeding were limited. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that administration of aspirin in kidney transplant recipients is associated with reduced risks of allograft failure, allograft thrombosis, and MACEs or mortality, but not allograft rejection or DGF. Future studies are needed to assess the risk of bleeding, and ultimately weigh the overall risks and benefits of aspirin use in specific kidney transplant patient populations.
Satellite Observations of Regional Drought Severity in the Continental United States Using GRACE-Based Terrestrial Water Storage Changes

AbstractDrought monitoring is important for characterizing the timing, extent, and severity of drought for effective mitigation and water management. Presented here is a novel satellite-based drought severity index (DSI) for regional monitoring derived using time-variable terrestrial water storage changes from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). The GRACE-DSI enables drought feature comparison across regions and periods, it is unaffected by uncertainties associated with soil water balance models and meteorological forcing data, and it incorporates water storage changes from human impacts including groundwater withdrawals that modify land surface processes and impact water management. Here, the underlying algorithm is described, and the GRACE-DSI performance in the continental United States during 2002–14 is evaluated. It is found that the GRACE-DSI captures documented regional drought events and shows favorable spatial and temporal agreement with the monthly Palmer Drought Severity Index ...
Safety of differential radiation dosing in lymph node positive necks treated with IMRT

Abstract Purpose When treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), it is common to use several dose levels for a lymph node positive neck: full dose (66-70 Gy) to gross cancer, intermediate dose (59-63 Gy) to higher risk neck regions, and standard dose (50-54 Gy) to lower risk neck regions. There is no consensus regarding how much of the neck should receive intermediate versus standard dose, however. Methods and materials HNSCC patients treated with IMRT were identified from 2 academic medical centers between 2004 and 2016. Intermediate dose was restricted to a region of the neck 2 cm above and below the most superior and inferior involved lymph nodes; standard dose was delivered to more distal neck regions. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographics and clinical characteristics as well as proportions for failures 2 years after treatment. Failure outside the intermediate dose region was determined by calculating confidence intervals from a modification of the Poisson distribution. Results Of the 57 necks included in this study, 17.5% experienced disease recurrence in the neck within 2 years of completing treatment. All failures were within the 2-cm margin above or below the most superior and inferior involved nodes; there were no failures outside this 2-cm margin (95% confidence interval, 0-7.7). Conclusions The results of this study support the feasibility of treating only the neck adjacent to gross neck disease to an intermediate dose, and treating the remainder of the neck to a lower, standard dose. Although these results are encouraging, additional study of this treatment paradigm is warranted.
Onward migration from Spain to London in times of crisis: the importance of life-course junctures in secondary migrations

ABSTRACTThis study examines one response of migrants to the challenging economic conditions caused by the 2008 financial crisis in Spain: onward migration. Focusing on Colombians and Ecuadorians who mobilise their newly acquired Spanish citizenship to migrate to London, I argue that their new migration is part of their migratory careers and that this process is different from that of Spain-born emigrants because it is marked by the first socioeconomic incorporation. Acknowledging that the crisis is the main driver of this new move, I draw a typology based on life-course junctures to show the differences in how onward migrants understand this new move and what their expectations are. There are three broad types of onward migrants: (1) mature, reluctant migrants, (2) mid-life, career advancement migrants and (3) young, independence-seeking migrants. What they do have in common is that, through their first migration, they have acquired a certain migratory knowledge of the process that shapes their paths and ...
Overview of Positron-Emission Tomography Tracers for Metabolic Imaging

Positron-emission tomography (PET) is a cross-sectional imaging technique that uses compounds labeled with positron-emitting radionuclides to measure the concentration and location of the radiolabeled compounds over time. PET has been used for a broad range of biomedical research and is used routinely in clinical patient care for oncologic, neurologic, and cardiac applications. PET has several properties that make this technique particularly well-suited for metabolic imaging as well as some important limitations. This chapter discusses key principles and applications of PET tracers for metabolic imaging in mammalian systems. Many of the first PET tracers developed for metabolic imaging were radiolabeled forms of naturally occurring products such as glucose and amino acids [1, 2]. Due to the wide range of metabolic PET tracers that have been developed, it is not possible to comprehensively cover this field in a single chapter. We focus primarily on small molecule PET tracers that participate in metabolic pathways and/or serve as markers for the activity of specific metabolic pathways that have been used in human imaging studies.
Burnout in Nurses Working With Youth With Chronic Pain: A Pilot Intervention.

Objective Nurse burnout is a significant issue, with repercussions for the nurse, patients, and health-care system. Our prior mixed-methods analyses helped inform a model of burnout in nurses working with youth with chronic pain. Our aims were to (a) detail the development of an intervention to decrease burnout; (b) evaluate the intervention's feasibility and acceptability; and (c) provide preliminary outcomes on the intervention. Method In total, 33 nurses working on a pediatric inpatient care unit that admits patients with chronic pain conditions participated in the single-session 90-min groups (eight to nine nurses per group). The intervention consisted of four modules including (1) helping patients view pain as multifaceted and shift attention to functioning; (2) teaching problem-solving and reflective listening skills; (3) highlighting positives about patients when venting with coworkers; and (4) improving nurses own self-care practices. Measures provided assessment of feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness at baseline and 3 months postintervention in a single group, repeated measures design. Results Data support the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Pilot outcome results demonstrated improvements in the target behaviors of education on psychosocial influences, self-care, and venting to coworkers as well as self-compassion, general health, and burnout. There were no changes in pain beliefs or the target behaviors of focus on functioning, empathizing with patient, or highlighting positives. Conclusions Our single-session tailored group treatment was feasible and acceptable, and pilot data suggest that it is beneficial, but a more comprehensive approach is encouraged to reduce burnout that might be related to multiple individual, unit, and system factors.
Associations between Mild Cognitive Dysfunction and End-of-Life Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Cancer

Abstract Background: Cognitive function of patients with advanced cancer is frequently compromised. Objective: To determine the extent that patients' cognitive screening scores was associated with their end-of-life (EoL) treatment preferences, advance care planning (ACP), and care. Design: Patients were interviewed at baseline and administered a cognitive screen. Caregivers completed a postmortem assessment. Setting/Subjects: Patients with distant metastases and disease progression after first-line chemotherapy and their caregivers (n = 609) were recruited from outpatient clinics and completed baseline and postmortem assessments. Measurements: In logistic regression models adjusting for patients' age, education level, and performance status, patients' scores on the Pfeiffer Short Portable Mental Status exam at baseline predicted ACP, treatments, and treatment preferences at baseline, and location of death and caregiver perceptions of the patients' death in a postmortem assessment. Results: For each additi...
Combustion Synthesis of p-Type Transparent Conducting CuCrO2+x and Cu:CrOx Thin Films at 180 °C

Low-temperature solution processing of p-type transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) will open up new opportunities for applications on flexible substrates that utilize low-cost, large-area manufacturing. Here, we report a facile solution synthesis method that produces two p-type TCO thin films: copper chromium oxide and copper-doped chromium oxide. Using combustion chemistry, both films are solution processed at 180 °C, which is lower than most recent efforts. While adopting the same precursor preparation and annealing temperature, we find that annealing environment (solvent vapor vs open air) dictates the resulting film phase, hence the optoelectronic properties. The effect of annealing environment on the reaction mechanism is discussed. We further characterize the electronic, optical, and transport properties of the two materials, and compare the differences. Their applications in optoelectronic devices are successfully demonstrated in transparent p–n junction diodes and as hole transport layers in organ...
METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS CAUSING PURULENT PERICARDITIS IN THE SETTING OF INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE

Purulent pericarditis (PP) is a rare, often fatal condition. We present a case of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) PP in a patient with history of intravenous drug use (IVDU). A 25-year old woman with a history of IVDU presented with fevers, chills, and a productive cough.
Quantifying the synthetic inertia and load-damping effect of a converter-interfaced power source

Converter-interfaced power sources (CIPSs) such as renewable generation and energy storage can operate in inertia emulation mode to support the frequency response of a power grid. This paper proposes an approach to derive the synthetic inertia and load-damping effect of the CIPS using a linearized model connected to an equivalent single machine representing the grid. Case studies are performed to investigate the impacts of six parameters on the synthetic inertia and load-damping effect of the CIPS. These results can be used for better understanding of the time-varying properties of the CIPS and for improved control design.
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY: NEED FOR NEW VISION

Nuclear power plants generate electricity without release of chemicals that cause atmospheric pollution and global warming that threatens catastrophic climatic changes1. Increased and more efficient use of nuclear technology could reduce this danger and threat. However, in its recent report, Mobil Corporation dismisses nuclear power as a non-fossil alternative for reducing emissions that cause global warming, because of “concern over safety and proliferation.” Mobil’svision for nuclear power is flawed. But it is based on a 1998 International Energy Agency report3, reflects the vision of many Americans and their political leaders, and is reflected in US nuclear policies and programs. The vision is flawed because:
Sources of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Our fresh fruits and vegetables come from many different sources. The seasonal availability, quality, and cost of product from each source differs, and these differences are continually changing. Growers and shippers, wherever they are, need to be aware of their competitive position relative to other sources, while wholesalers and retailers must keep abreast of the changing sources of supply. Sourcing, as it is called, is one of the most important functions in marketing fresh produce.
Biochemical Evidence for a Role for Endorphins in Mental Illness

The widespread loci of endorphin and enkephalin neurons in the central nervous system (Bloom et al., 1978; Watson et al., 1978a), the identification of multiple forms of endorphin receptors (Martin et al., 1976; Kosterlitz and Hughes, 1978) and multiple forms of endorphin precursors (Roberts and Herbert, 1977; Lewis et al., 1980), as well as multiple actions of endorphins in the central nervous system all suggest that endorphins play a major role in brain functioning. Biochemical evidence to be discussed below indicates that endorphins and enkephalins may have dual roles as neurohormones and neurotransmitters. Such evidence as the behavioral responses induced by endorphin administration (Lehmann et al., 1979) and the relationship of endorphin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid to psychiatric diagnoses (Rimon et al., 1980) has led to the suggestion that endorphins may be linked to psychiatric disorders.