cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frequency of Cardiac Conduction Disturbances After Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty

Disturbances in atrioventricular conduction are well-recognized complications of transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is a requisite step in transcatheter aortic valve replacement; however, the contribution of the BAV to atrioventricular conduction disturbances has not been elucidated. The present analysis was undertaken to ascertain the incidence and type of electrocardiographic changes associated with BAV and to consider the role of BAV in the conduction abnormalities after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. In 271 consecutive patients with symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis undergoing BAV, a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram was obtained before and serially after the procedure. Each was examined by experienced electrocardiographers. The cohort was divided into 2 groups with regard to the post-BAV appearance of conduction disturbances. The clinical and procedural characteristics of patients with these disturbances were compared to those in whom no conduction disturbance appeared. After BAV, 23 patients (8.5%) met the study definition of "new conduction defect": 4 patients (1.5%) required permanent pacemaker implantation for advanced atrioventricular block. New left bundle branch block appeared in 9 (3.3%) and left anterior hemiblock in 7 (2.6%). New right bundle branch block appeared in 2 and left posterior hemiblock in 1. No significant difference was found in the clinical or procedural characteristics. The ratio of the balloon size to the left ventricular outflow tract diameter was 1.21 ± 1.6 in those with new conduction defects and 1.15 ± 0.12 (p = 0.032) in those without. In conclusion, BAV is associated with a low incidence of cardiac conduction disturbances and a requirement for permanent ventricular pacing. The size of the valvuloplasty balloon should be carefully selected to avoid oversizing, which can lead to the development of postprocedure conduction disturbances.
Chemical Sensing with Nanowires

Transformational advances in the performance of nanowire-based chemical sensors and biosensors have been achieved over the past two to three years. These advances have arisen from a better understanding of the mechanisms of transduction operating in these devices, innovations in nanowire fabrication, and improved methods for incorporating receptors into or onto nanowires. Nanowire-based biosensors have detected DNA in undiluted physiological saline. For silicon nanowire nucleic acid sensors, higher sensitivities have been obtained by eliminating the passivating oxide layer on the nanowire surface and by substituting uncharged protein nucleic acids for DNA as the capture strands. Biosensors for peptide and protein cancer markers, based on both semiconductor nanowires and nanowires of conductive polymers, have detected these targets at physiologically relevant concentrations in both blood plasma and whole blood. Nanowire chemical sensors have also detected several gases at the parts-per-million level. This review discusses these and other recent advances, concentrating on work published in the past three years.
Hypothalamic gene expression underlying pre-hibernation satiety

Prior to hibernation, 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) enter a hypophagic period where food consumption drops by an average of 55% in 3 weeks. This occurs naturally, while the ground squirrels are in constant environmental conditions and have free access to food. Importantly, this transition occurs before exposure to hibernation conditions (5°C and constant darkness), so the ground squirrels are still maintaining a moderate level of activity. In this study, we used the Illumina HiSeq 2000 system to sequence the hypothalamic transcriptomes of ground squirrels before and after the autumn feeding transition to examine the genes underlying this extreme change in feeding behavior. The hypothalamus was chosen because it is known to play a role in the control and regulation of food intake and satiety. Overall, our analysis identified 143 genes that are significantly differentially expressed between the two groups. Specifically, we found five genes associated with feeding behavior and obesity (VGF, TRH, LEPR, ADIPOR2, IRS2) that are all upregulated during the hypophagic period, after the feeding transition has occurred. We also found that serum leptin significantly increases in the hypophagic group. Several of the genes associated with the natural autumnal feeding decline in 13-lined ground squirrels show parallels to signaling pathways known to be disrupted in human metabolic diseases, like obesity and diabetes. In addition, many other genes were identified that could be important for the control of food consumption in other animals, including humans.
Effects of age on pulmonary perfusion heterogeneity measured by magnetic resonance imaging

Normal aging is associated with a decline in pulmonary function and efficiency of gas exchange, although the effects on the spatial distribution of pulmonary perfusion are poorly understood. We hyp...
Optimum Cross-Coupled Tracker for Pulse-Doppler Radar

Although there is a well-defined relation between range and range rate, in conventional pulse-Doppler tracking radars the range-gate and frequency control loops are usually closed independently. In this paper, the optimum cross- coupled stationary tracking filter is derived, in which the range error signal is used to boost the frequency loop, and vice versa. The filter is derived for a general case of target dynamics and uncorrelated white noise in both the range gate and frequency control channels. It is shown that its tracking performance is superior to that of the conventional uncoupled tracking loop for reliable frequency channel operation. In solving the usually difficult degenerated Riccati matrix equation, a simple solution is obtained by applying the method of completion of the square to matrixes.
Self-organization at the frictional interface for green tribology

Despite the fact that self-organization during friction has received relatively little attention from tribologists so far, it has the potential for the creation of self-healing and self-lubricating materials, which are important for green or environment-friendly tribology. The principles of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes and of the nonlinear theory of dynamical systems are used to investigate the formation of spatial and temporal structures during friction. The transition to the self-organized state with low friction and wear occurs through destabilization of steady-state (stationary) sliding. The criterion for destabilization is formulated and several examples are discussed: the formation of a protective film, microtopography evolution and slip waves. The pattern formation may involve self-organized criticality and reaction-diffusion systems. A special self-healing mechanism may be embedded into the material by coupling the corresponding required forces. The analysis provides the structure-property relationship, which can be applied for the design optimization of composite self-lubricating and self-healing materials for various ecologically friendly applications and green tribology.
Understanding the Experience of Imaginary Audience in a Social Media Environment

Adolescent use of social networking sites has grown quickly over the past decade. Despite this high level of use, less research has examined the interaction between adolescent development and use of social networking sites. Thus, the present study seeks to understand the relationship between adolescents’ Facebook use and their experience of a developmental construct, Imaginary Audience. Using survey data collected from 260 participants between the ages of 9 and 26, results suggested a positive relationship between Facebook use and Imaginary Audience ideation. Furthermore, to better understand this relationship, behavioral rehearsal was tested as a mediating variable. Results were supportive of this mediator. The present study was limited in two main ways: First, given the cross-sectional survey design, we were unable to make causal claims from our data. Second, the sample was predominantly homogenous in nature. Despite these limitations, however, the implications of these findings are twofold: First, this...
Discovery of dendrimers and dendritic polymers: A brief historical perspective*

A brief historical perspective relating the discovery of dendrimers and other dendritic polymers is presented. Dendritic polymers are recognized as the fourth major class of macromolecular architecture consisting of four sub- classes, namely, (1) random hyperbranched, (2) dendrigrafts, (3) dendrons, and (4) dendrimers. The previous literature is reviewed with anecdotal events leading to implications for dendrimers in the emerging science of nanotechnology. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2719–2728, 2002
Reducing complexity and improving the reliability of frequency reconfigurable antennas

In this paper the complexity and reliability of frequency reconfigurable antennas are presented. A new approach for decreasing the complexity of reconfigurable antennas while maintaining the reliability of such structures is discussed. An example is given to prove the validity of the proposed approaches.
Time Courses of Growth and Remodeling of Porcine Aortic Media During Hypertension: A Quantitative Immunohistochemical Examination

Arteries undergo marked structural and functional changes in human and experimental hypertension that generally involve smooth muscle cell (SMC) hypertrophy/hyperplasia as well as abnormal extracellular matrix turnover. In this study we examined time courses of changes in SMC activity and matrix protein content in a novel mini-pig aortic coarctation model. Cell proliferation was evaluated by immunostaining of Ki-67, apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL, and phenotypic changes were monitored by immunostaining three SMC contractile markers (caldesmon, calponin, and smoothelin). Changes in medial collagen and elastin were examined by picrosirius red and Verhoeff–van Gieson staining, respectively. LabVIEW-based image analysis routines were developed to objectively and efficiently quantify the (immuno)histochemical results. We found that significant cell proliferation and matrix production occurred in the early stages of this coarctation model and then declined gradually; the SMCs also tended to exhibit a less cont...
Simulation-optimization framework for stochastic optimization of R&D pipeline management

() The simulation-based optimization framework Sim-Opt uses a twin-loop computational architecture, which combines mathematical programming and discrete e®ent simulation, to address this problem. This article extends our earlier work to present methods ( for integrating information from the inner loop Sim-Opt time lines, reacti®e adjust)( ) ment and using it in the outer risk-control loop Stochastic Optimization loop to obtain statistically significant impro®ements in the solutions to the underlying stochastic optimization problem. Two classes of information can be obtained from the inner loop time lines: the first pertaining to portfolio selection and the second resource crowding associated with the chosen operation policy. Methods presented quantify the information on these two classes, and a three-step heuristic incorporates this information in the outer risk-control loop to dri®e the system toward impro®ing solutions with respect to () the mean net present ®alue NPV of the portfolio and the probability of deli®ering a positi®e NPV. This method was used on a pharmaceutical product de®elopment case study, consisting of 11 projects, 154 acti®ities, 14 resource types and a 20-year planning horizon with respect to patent expiration. Basic algorithm engineering efforts are also described to significantly impro®e the performance of formulation generation, the generation of a heuristic lower bound and the identification of cut families to effecti®ely apply branch-and-cut methods.
DNA Looping and Genome Architecture: How Proteins can Connect and Organize Chromosomes

The control of gene expression sometimes entails the folding of DNA into looped structures mediated by the binding of protein. Although the literature abounds with examples of single DNA loops induced by the attachment of sequentially distant genetic elements on a common protein core, recent studies have demonstrated the occurrence of multiple loops formed by three or more remote, protein-anchored sites. For example, the Escherichia coli Gal repressor has the ability to form oligomeric structures leading to higher-order helical protein pathways that can secure multiple chromosomal connections. Moreover, several novel experimental investigations have highlighted the role of bridging proteins, such as the macrodomain Ter protein (MatP) and the histone-like structuring protein (H-NS), in chromosome condensation and organization. These proteins are thought to be able to bridge distant DNA sites and to participate in the folding of the bacterial genome. We are examining the entanglement of DNA loops that attach to such proteins with the help of a novel energy minimization method associated with traditional Monte Carlo approaches. We focus on the multiple loops that can be induced by oligomeric Gal assemblies and report the relevant energy landscapes and topological and statistical properties as functions of the number of Gal repressors and the chain lengths of the different loops. In addition, we take advantage of the fact that our optimization method accounts for the presence along DNA of bound ligands to reveal how the binding of architectural proteins (e.g., the Escherichia coli histone-like HU protein) can ease or suppress the formation of such loops. Finally, we examine the influence of MatP and H-NS on the conformation and fluctuations of DNA minicircles to understand how these proteins may contribute towards the formation of topological domains.
Paul Meehl and the evolution of statistical methods in psychology

Abstract In his landmark 1978 paper, Paul Meehl delineated, with remarkable clarity, some fundamental challenges facing soft psychology as it attempts to test theory with data. In the quarter century that followed, Meehl’s views stimulated much debate and progress, while continually evolving to keep pace with that progress. This paper pays homage to Meehl’s prescience, and traces the impact of his ideas on the recent shift of emphasis away from hypothesis testing and toward confidence interval estimates of effect size.
Deconstructing the Policing of the Normal: An Examination of the Work Done by Undercover Anti-Bullying Teams

Bronwyn Davies and her colleagues have argued for a Foucauldian analysis of bullying relations in schools as an alternative to the common assumption of pathological moral character in the bully. In a Foucauldian analysis, bullying works to maintain discursive categories of normality through marking those who differ as other. Bullying discourages dissensus and polices social norms more than it deviates from them. This paper takes up this analysis and examines the undercover anti-bullying team process for whether it produces greater openness to difference and challenges the discursive logic of bullying.
Peritoneal Mouse as Detected on (18)F-FDG PET-CT.

We present the case of a 77 year old male with a history of prostate cancer. Follow up PET-CT and contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated a small peritoneal loose body or “mouse” in the pelvis. This is an uncommon, benign, asymptomatic finding which is usually incidentally discovered. The significance of being aware of this entity is to distinguish it from metastasis, especially in patients with known abdominal and pelvic malignancies.
Some vector formulas for the bending and shearing of prismatic beams with arbitrary cross section

Abstract Vector formulas for normal stress, shear flow, and deflection curve of a prismatic beam with arbitrary cross section are derived. Applications of the formulas are made in arbitrary non principal coordinates.
Using a layered approach for interoperability on the semantic Web

In this paper, we further develop a proposed layered approach for the semantic Web. Our objective is to build a specific solution to the problem of providing data interoperability among different databases, so as to allow for schematic data integration. In particular, we solve the problem of translating queries on a database schema into queries on another database schema, using their relationship with an ontology. We use RDF schema to model the databases and the ontology. A common vocabulary expresses the mappings between each database schema and the ontology.
Rickettsioses: A review for the dermatologist

The term "rickettsioses" is applied to diseases caused by three genera, Rickettsia, Rocizalimaea, and Coxiella, of the family Ricketlsiaceae. There is no known antigenic relationship. between the three genera, nor is there a close similarity in the guanine + cytosine molar percentage of their component deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (a crude criterion indicating that the genes of the three genera do not have similar overall quantities of certain bases in their molecular composition, thus suggesting that there are major dissimilarities between them). In spite of these differences, however, there are many biologic, pathophysiologic, and chemical similarities between the microorganisms in these genera. The genera Coxiella andRochalimaea each contain only one recognized species, Coxiella bumeti (the cause of Q fever, which has no skin manifestations) and Roclwlimaea quillfalla, respectively. The genus Rickettsia, however, contains ten recognized species, which may be grouped under three clinical subtypes: typhus, spotted fever, and scrub typhus (Table I; 1). The typhus and spotted fever SUbtypes are antigenically and biologically more closely related to each other than they are to the scrub typhus group.
Community Health Assessment and Improved Public Health Decision-Making: A Propensity Score Matching Approach

Objectives. We analyzed the likelihood of chronic disease prevention activities delivery, as a proxy measure of public health decision-making and actions, given that local health agencies (LHAs) implemented a community health assessment and improvement plan in their communities.Methods. Using a propensity score matching approach, we linked data from the 2010 National Association of County and City Health Officials profile of LHAs and the 2010 County Health Rankings to create a statistically matched sample of implementation and comparison LHAs. Implementation LHAs were those that implemented a community health assessment and improvement plan. We estimated the odds of chronic disease prevention activities delivery and the average treatment effect on the treated.Results. Implementation group LHAs were 2 times as likely (95% confidence interval = 1.60, 2.64) to deliver population-based chronic disease prevention programs than comparison group LHAs. Furthermore, chronic disease prevention activities were more ...
Herpesvirus Vectors for Therapy of Brain Tumors

Genetically modified, conditionally-replicating Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) vectors for the treatment of malignant glioma have provided encouraging results in the handful of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials conducted to date. In recent years, a number of new strategies have been developed to improve anti-tumor activity of these attenuated vectors, through either introduction of foreign gene inserts to enhance tumor killing through a variety of mechanisms, or through combination with existing treatment regimens, including radiation and/or chemotherapeutics. Another promising new approach has been the engineering of novel oncolytic HSV vectors that retain wildtype replication, but are targeted to tumor cells through a variety of mechanisms. This review summarizes the latest advances in herpesvirus-mediated oncolytic therapies from both preclinical results and clinical trials with oncolytic HSV vectors in patients, and their implication for design of future trials.
Surgical apgar outcome score: perioperative risk assessment for radical cystectomy.

Purpose: Currently objective perioperative risk assessment metrics are lacking for radical cystectomy. Using a simple 10-point scale similar to neonatal Apgar assessment we evaluated whether a surgical outcome score calculated immediately after radical cystectomy would predict major complications and mortality.Materials and Methods: We identified 155 consecutive radical cystectomies performed between 2005 and 2007 at our institution. Data were collected on 45 preoperative and intraoperative variables. We used a framework established by the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to evaluate major complications within 30 days of surgery. We used a 10-point scoring system that had been previously validated in general and vascular surgery populations, comprising estimated blood loss, lowest heart rate and lowest mean arterial pressure.Results: A total of 40 (26%) patients undergoing radical cystectomy experienced a major complication within 30 days of the operation. There was a progressive decrease in ...
The Impact of Metropolitan School Desegregation on Public Opinion A Longitudinal Analysis

Little research systematically examining changes in public opinion as a consequence of the implementation of a school desegregation plan involving busing has been reported. Four surveys were conducted to measure the impact of the implementation of a court-ordered metropolitan desegregation plan on a community (New Castle County, Delaware) over seven years. Results indicate that the general population remained opposed to busing after desegregation, that busing resulted in a primarily temporary decline in public school evaluations, and that feelings that blacks were receiving equal treatment in the public schools increased over time. Although white suburban opposition to busing lessened somewhat in magnitude and intensity, city and black opposition increased. Overall, those closest to the public schools were the most likely to react relatively positively to the change.
Overcoming the challenge of security in a mobile environment

The secure operation of ad hoc networks faces the novel challenge of location verification on top of the security challenges that wireline networks face. The novelty lies in the fact that a node can correctly validate who it is, but lie about its location and exploit this to create problems to the network. There are three main factors that make ad hoc networks more vulnerable: (a) nodes can overhear other nodes announcements, (b) nodes can lie about their location, and (c) nodes can avoid detection and isolation by moving. As a result, malicious nodes can fake their position and this way obstruct the routing. In this work, we explain how location and topology related malice can affect the security of wireless ad hoc networks. First, we present the most important attacks that can stem from misuse of location information. Second, we provide an overview of security routing approaches. Although several of the current techniques are promising, we conclude that there does not exist a bulletproof approach as of yet.
Feature Article---Merging AI and OR to Solve High-Dimensional Stochastic Optimization Problems Using Approximate Dynamic Programming

We consider the problem of optimizing over time hundreds or thousands of discrete entities that may be characterized by relatively complex attributes, in the presence of different forms of uncertainty. Such problems arise in a range of operational settings such as transportation and logistics, where the entities may be aircraft, locomotives, containers, or people. These problems can be formulated using dynamic programming but encounter the widely cited “curse of dimensionality.” Even deterministic formulations of these problems can produce math programs with millions of rows, far beyond anything being solved today. This paper shows how we can combine concepts from artificial intelligence and operations research to produce practical solution methods that scale to industrial-strength problems. Throughout, we emphasize concepts, techniques, and notation from artificial intelligence and operations research to show how these fields can be brought together for complex stochastic, dynamic problems.
The Role of Kelvin Waves in Evolution of the Catalina Eddy

Abstract The response to pressure falls near a coastline is studied with a linear shallow-water representation of the inversion-capped marine layer. The aim is to examine Catalina eddy development in the southern California bight region. Of particular interest is response sensitivity to background flow parallel to the coastline, as quantified by a Froude number (Fr). A conceptual model of eddy evolution is formulated that focuses on a pair of Kelvin waves triggered by the pressure falls. For subcritical Fr,|Fr| < 1, the waves move out of the regions of most favored growth located to the immediate north and south of the pressure fall center. Only a weak residual circulation remains in the bight region and an eddy does not form, For supercritical Fr, the waves tend to be held in place by the background flow. They thus undergo considerable amplification before dissipation eventually halts growth. A vigorous eddy circulation results in the bight region that resembles observed structures.
Pilots Who Are Perceived as Unsociable Are Perceived as More Likely to Have a Mental Illness

The mental state of pilots involved in commercial airlines incidents has been the subject of much debate. The current study seeks to use affective theory to address public perceptions of pilot behaviors and likelihood of perceived mental illness. Participants from India and the United States were given hypothetical scenarios about pilots who were presented as either sociable or unsociable. They were asked to give ratings of affective measures and likelihood of mental illness. The results indicate that pilots who were presented as behaving in an unsociable manner were rated as more likely to have a perceived mental illness compared with those who were behaving sociably. Affect appeared to at least partially mediate the relationship between sociability and perceived likelihood of mental illness for both cultural groups.
Effect of a late decaying scalar on the neutralino relic density

If the energy density of the Universe before nucleosynthesis is dominated by a scalar field $\ensuremath{\phi}$ that decays and reheats the plasma to a temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{RH}}$ smaller than the standard neutralino freeze-out temperature, the neutralino relic density differs from its standard value. In this case, the relic density depends on two additional parameters: ${T}_{\mathrm{RH}}$, and the number of neutralinos produced per $\ensuremath{\phi}$ decay per unit mass of the $\ensuremath{\phi}$ field. In this paper, we numerically study the neutralino relic density as a function of these reheating parameters within minimal supersymmetric standard models and show that the dark matter constraint can almost always be satisfied.
Incorporating tiotropium into a respiratory therapist-directed bronchodilator protocol for managing in-patients with COPD exacerbations decreases bronchodilator costs.

BACKGROUND: Tiotropium is used in maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but there are no guidelines on when to start tiotropium following an exacerbation. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the addition of tiotropium to a respiratory-therapist-directed bronchodilator protocol affects bronchodilator costs for patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data on the number and type of bronchodilator treatments administered to all patients admitted for COPD exacerbation during the 3-month period (January through March 2006) after tiotropium was added to our bronchodilator protocol, and compared that data to a historical control period (January through March 2004) before tiotropium was available in our hospital. We compared the costs of bronchodilator treatments, baseline patient characteristics, comorbidities, concomitant medications, length of stay, adverse events, and in-hospital deaths. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and concomitant medications were similar in the 2004 control group (n = 181) and the 2006 intervention group (n = 174). The mean SD number of bronchodilator treatments per admission was significantly higher in the control period (13.6 ± 15.6) than in the intervention period (10.6 ± 9.4). That difference correlated to a reduction in combination therapy (short-acting inhaled β2 agonist plus ipratropium), which decreased from a per-admission average of 6.7 ± 14.2 in the control period to 1.9 ± 5.1 in the intervention period. Calculated bronchodilator costs were significantly lower in the intervention period than in the control period. Length of stay also significantly decreased, from 6.5 ± 5.0 d to 5.5 ± 4.0 d. There were no adverse events related to tiotropium. Pulmonary-related in-hospital deaths were not significantly different between the 2 periods. CONCLUSIONS: Early addition of maintenance-treatment tiotropium to a respiratory-therapist-directed bronchodilator protocol for patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation reduced costs and produced no safety concerns.
The Study of the Development of Civic Engagement Within Contemporary Developmental Science: Theory, Method, and Application

Within contemporary developmental science, models derived from relational developmental systems metatheory emphasize that the basic process involved in the ontogeny of civic engagement involves mutually-influential and beneficial relations between the developing individual and his or her complex and changing social, cultural, and physical contexts (represented as individual ← → context relations). The authors suggest that research on the development of civic engagement should be theoretically predicated, use change-sensitive, longitudinal methods, and be comparative across time and place. Using these facets of scholarship as a lens, we discuss the contributions to this special issue. We conclude that the present set of studies provides a useful basis for future research and applications aimed at understanding and promoting individuals’ civic contributions, and their support of social organizations promoting individual thriving and freedom, liberty, and social justice.
A cryogenically cooled, ultra-high-energy-resolution, trap-based positron beam

A technique is described to produce a pulsed, magnetically guided positron beam with significantly improved beam characteristics over those available previously. A pulsed, room-temperature positron beam from a buffer gas trap is used as input to a trap that captures the positrons, compresses them both radially and axially, and cools them to 50 K on a cryogenic CO buffer gas before ejecting them as a pulsed beam. The total energy spread of the beam formed using this technique is 6.9 ± 0.7 meV FWHM, which is a factor of ∼5 better than the previous state-of-the-art, while simultaneously having sub-microsecond temporal resolution and millimeter spatial resolution. Possible further improvements in beam quality are discussed.
Living environment and life satisfaction of aged population in Beijing Municipality

Taking the 60 years or older population in Beijing as the main research object and based on data from the sixth census and a sampling survey, this study analyzes the spatial characteristics of the living environment and life satisfaction of elderly in Beijing using statistical and spatial analysis methods. The results show that:(1)the aged population of the urban space declined from the Beijing downtown area to the periphery, peaked around the third ring road. The aged population was high in the inner city and the western suburbs, mainly in the Dongcheng and Xicheng Districts, where the percentage of the aged population was generally greater than 10%.The percentage of aged population was relatively high in the Haidian, Fengtai, and Shijingshan Districts, with greater internal differentiation within these districts.(2) The elderly respondents lived mainly in two persons households, followed by four and five persons households and in the latter case the respondents were often younger. Those living alone and empty-nesters often aged over 70 years. Housing of the respondents was often purchased from the work units and this is the main factor affecting the elderly's choice of residence.(3) Overall life satisfaction of the respondents was relatively high. Among the income, health, living conditions, and happiness factors, happiness was slightly higher than the other three factors and satisfaction toward income was relatively low.(4) Dichotomous Logistic models were used to analyze form of living arrangements, relationship with neighbors, surrounding service facilities, and community environmental conditions and it was found that large shopping facilities, community sports activities, relationship with neighbors, and community identity positively impacted on life satisfaction of the elderly respondents, while empty-nest situation and poor medical facilities and property management resulted in a negative impact on the life satisfaction of the elderly respondents.
Plug-N-Play: Mechanotransduction Goes Modular

Mechanosensitive ion channels initiate sensory signals by converting mechanical information into electrochemical signals. In this issue of Neuron (Zhao et al., 2016), a data-rich structure-function study on mammalian mechanosensitive Piezo channels reveals a modular protein architecture that includes a central pore module surrounded by a force-sensing module.
Information System Managers View Of System Development, Use, And Failure

Results of an empirical study focusing on information system (IS) managers perception of IS failures are presented. One hundred thirty IS managers participated in this study. The study concluded that in spite of differences in background and personal characteristics, a substantial agreement existed among IS managers on issues of system development, use, and failure.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and light effects on reproduction and fitness of wild rice

Plant fitness is typically correlated with total seed biomass or the number of seeds produced per plant, but the connection from seed production to seedlings the following year is seldom made. Seed...
Effects of Prenatal Single-dose Administration of Dexamethasone and Ambroxol on Pulmonary Morphology of Fetal and Neonate Rats

Objective:To investigate effects of prenatal single-dose administration of dexamethasone and ambroxol on pulmonary morphology of fetal and neonate rats.Methods:Thirty-six pregnant rats were randomly assigned to two groups:the treatment group(n=9) and the control group(n=9).On day 17 of pregnancy,the rats in the treatment group were injected intraperitoneally with dexamethasone and ambroxol,while the rats in the control group were injected intraperitoneally with equivalent volumes of isotonic saline.The histologic structures of lungs of each group were observed with light microscope and trans-mission electron microscope on day 19 of pregnancy,postnatal days 3 and 7,respectively.The differences of pulmonary morphogenesis between two groups on different periods were studied.Results:(1) Under the light microscope:lungs in the treatment group had more alveolar numbers(P 0.05), larger alveolar space(P 0.01),and thinner alveolar septum(P 0.01) compared with the control group on day 19 of pregnancy;lungs in the treatment group had larger alveolar space(P 0.05),thinner alveolar septum(P 0.05),while alveolar numbers had no significant difference(P 0.05) compared with the control group on postnatal day 3;lungs in the treatment group had larger alveolar space(P 0.05),thinner alveolar septum(P 0.05),while alveolar numbers had no significant difference(P 0.05) compared with the control group on postnatal day 7;(2) Under the electronic microscope:villi of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells in the treatment group were denser and more integral than those in the control group;the lamellar body could be seen in the treatment group while hardly in the control group on day 19 of pregnancy.There were many lamellar bodies in both groups,while lamellar bodies in the treatment group were more anachromasis and condensed compared with the control group on the postnatal 3 days and 7 days.There were also many cellular organs such as bioblast in endochylema of the treatment group on the postnatal 3 days and 7 days.Conclusion:Prenatal single-dose administration of dexamethasone and ambroxol can promote lung maturation not only of fetal rats but also of neonate rats,without obvious harmful effects.
“Balancing” the Block Davidson–Liu Algorithm

We describe a simple modification (“balancing”) of the block Davidson–Liu eigenvalue algorithm which allows the norms of the Krylov search directions to decrease naturally as convergence is approached. In the context of integral-direct configuration interaction singles and time-dependent density functional theory, this provides for efficient utilization of density-based screening. Tests within the TeraChem GPGPU code exhibit speedups of ∼2× on systems with up to 1500 atoms, with negligible loss in accuracy.
Post Traumatic Stress, Moral Injury, and Soul Repair: Implications for Western Christian Theology

This paper explores the soteriological differences in two Christian theological systems and their usefulness in supporting recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD an anxiety-trauma disorder, and moral injury, a disruption of moral conscience and collapse of a person’s moral foundations. The first system, a first-millennium soteriology based in incarnation and resurrection, grounded systems of penance that were required of warriors to restore their souls. The second, based in atonement ideas that emerged in the eleventh-century with the crusades in Europe, constructed a meaning system of redemption that sanctified war and traumatic suffering and eventually abandoned penance for warriors. It is the argument of this paper that atonement theology reenacts and reinforces trauma rather than supporting recovery from trauma and human well-being.
Development of a Test Procedure for Freeze-Thaw Durability of Geomaterials Stabilized With Fly Ash

The objective of this research was to develop a freeze-thaw cycling test procedure and to investigate how the volume, moisture content, resilient modulus (Mr), and unconfined compressive strength (qu) of geomaterials, including soils and recycled materials, stabilized with fly ash change after freeze-thaw cycling. Three different types of materials (fine-grained and coarse-grained soils and recycled pavement materials) and five different fly ashes were used at different percentages (10, 12, 14, and 20 % by dry weight). Both one-dimensional and three-dimensional freezing of the specimens were considered. Freezing in three-dimensional was faster in terms of completing the freeze-thaw cycling and provided very similar results to the ones prepared in one-dimensional. Thus, three-dimensional freezing was adopted in this study without access to water (i.e., closed system). The results of this study indicated that the volume of all soil-fly ash mixtures tended to increase after freeze-thaw cycling; however, the volume change was not significant. Resilient modulus tests were conducted on all unstabilized materials, as well as on their mixtures with fly ash, while qu tests were conducted only on fine-grained soil and their fly ash mixtures. The Mr of all mixtures with one exception decreased by an average of 28.5 % when specimens were subjected to freeze-thaw cycling. The drop in the Mr of the specimens leveled off after 5 freeze-thaw cycles. A general trend of higher Mr of materials stabilized with fly ash (from 3 to 168 %), even after freeze-thaw cycles compared to unstabilized material was observed. In general, a reduction in unconfined compressive strength (qu) after freeze-thaw cycles up to 70 % was obtained. However, results showed that qu of stabilized soils that were subjected to freeze-thaw cycles were still higher (from 6 to 157 %) than the qu of unstabilized soils.
Static Imperfect Market Models

The study of financial equilibrium is concerned with the formulation, qualitative analysis, and computation of solutions to problems that consist of multiple sectors in an economy, each of which can hold multiple financial instruments and seeks to determine his optimal portfolio. In addition, the sectors are often subject to a variety of government regulations and policy interventions, and encounter costs of transacting. An appropriate mathematical framework should be sufficiently general to enable the incorporation of alternative policy interventions for evaluation purposes, be theoretically justified, and, at the same time, be computationally tractable. Finally, the theoretical framework should allow for eventual empirical testing.
Redox interactions of Au(III) with carboxylated dithiafulvenes and tetrathiafulvalene analogues in polar organic media

The redox interactions between HAuCl4 and a series of π-conjugated organic donors, namely carboxylated dithiafulvenes and tetrathiafulvalene vinylogues, were investigated. Interestingly, the dithiafulvene derivative with two carboxylic groups showed the ability to directly induce the formation of Au(0) nanoparticles in dipolar aprotic solvents such as DMF and DMSO.
Beyond the Great Wall: Locating Expatriate Media Environments in China

Fan Mai sheds light on media practices by a specific group of international migrants, English-speaking Western expatriates living in China. The difference-in-power relationship between nations defines the identity of ‘expatriate’ in the first place. Fan Mai identifies three strategies expatriates use to deal with the gap between the Chinese media environment and the media environment they were familiar with: using proxy services to circumvent the Great Firewall, adopting Chinese media platforms as substitutes and creating their own media outlets.
Point-of-care testing for coagulation function: CoaguChek ® XS System versus standard laboratory testing in pediatric patients with normal and abnormal coagulation function

Intraoperative abnormalities of coagulation function may occur for various reasons. In most scenarios, treatment is directed by laboratory parameters. Unfortunately, standard laboratory testing may take 1–2 h. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate a point-of-care testing device (CoaguChek® XS System) in pediatric patients. Patients ranging in age from 2 to 18 years, undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) or cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were eligible for inclusion. After CPB and/or the surgical procedure, 2.8 ml of blood was obtained and simultaneously tested on both the standard laboratory apparatus and the CoaguChek® XS System. The study cohort consisted of 100 patients (50 PSF and 50 cardiac cases) with 13 cases excluded, leaving 87 patients (49 PSF and 38 cardiac cases) for analysis. In PSF cases, reference laboratory international normalized ratio (INR) ranged from 0.98 to 1.77 while CoaguChek® XS INR ranged from 1.0 to 1.3. The correlation coefficient was 0.69. The results of the Bland–Altman analysis showed a bias of 0.09, precision of 0.1, and 95% limits of agreement ranging from −0.11 to 0.28. In cardiac cases, reference INR ranged from 1.68 to 14.19, while CoaguChek® XS INR ranged from 1.4 to 7.9. The correlation coefficient was 0.35. The results of the Bland–Altman analysis showed a bias of −1.8, precision of 2.1, and 95% limits of agreement ranging from −6.0 to 2.4. INR values obtained from CoaguChek® XS showed a moderate correlation with reference laboratory values within the normal range. However, in the presence of coagulopathy, the discrepancy was significantly greater, thereby making the CoaguChek® XS clinically unreliable.
A thought in the park: The influence of naturalness and low-level visual features on expressed thoughts.

Abstract Prior research has shown that the physical characteristics of one’s environment have wide ranging effects on affect and cognition. Other research has demonstrated that one’s thoughts have impacts on mood and behavior, and in this three-part research program we investigated how physical features of the environment can alter thought content. In one study, we analyzed thousands of journal entries written by park visitors to examine how low-level and semantic visual features of the parks correlate with different thought topics. In a second study, we validated our ecological results by conducting an online study where participants were asked to write journal entries while imagining they were visiting a park, to ensure that results from Study 1 were not due to selection bias of park visitors. In the third study, we experimentally manipulated exposure to specific visual features to determine if they induced thinking about the same thought topics under more generalized conditions. Results from Study 3 demonstrated a potential causal role for perceived naturalness and high non-straight edges on thinking about “Nature”, with a significant positive interaction. Results also showed a potential causal effect of naturalness and non-straight edges on thinking about topics related to “Spiritual & Life Journey”, with perceived naturalness having a negative relationship and non-straight edges having a positive relationship. We also observed a significant positive interaction between non-straight edge density and naturalness in relation to “Spiritual & Life Journey”. These results have implications for the design of the built environment to influence human reflection and well-being.
New Method for Estimating the Depth of Small Surface-Breaking Cracks from Photo Inductive Data

Since the depth of surface-breaking cracks often determines the remaining life of a part, the characterization of surface-breaking cracks is a key problem in nondestructive evaluation. Eddy currents have been used for this purpose [1]. However, traditional eddy current methods have poor success when the dimensions of the crack are small compared with the inner radius of the eddy current probe. This is as expected, since the spatial resolution of an eddy current probe is comparable with its inner radius. Moulder et al [2] and Nakagawa [3] have described a new eddy-current based method of nondestructive evaluation, known as the photoinductive method. It offers greatly enhanced spatial resolution by combining the eddy current method with a laser. Images made with the photoinductive method provide a map of the surface-breaking portion of the crack and directly measure its length along the surface. In essence, the photoinductive method allows one to map the square, E · E, of the electric field, E, on the surface of the metallic part. In this paper, we develop and present a new method for estimating the depth and the shape of surface-breaking cracks in metallic parts from photoinductive data.
SURFACE MODIFICATION WITH IONIZED GAS - CLUSTER BEAMS

Energetic beams of gas cluster ions may become unique tools for surface modification. Impacts of clusters deposit energy near the surface with density higher than can be achieved with other methods. The effects of cluster ion bombardment are quite different than those observed with atomic ions: sputtering yields are much higher while implantation and damage are limited to a very shallow layer at the surface, surface smoothing attributed to melting is a unique cluster impact effect. The paper reviews still very sparse data on the interaction of energetic cluster ion beam with solid surfaces and discusses prospects for further development and applications.
Genus distribution of P 3 □ P n

Abstract We derive a recursion for the genus distribution of the graph family P 3 □ P n , with the aid of a modified collection of double-root partials. We introduce a new kind of production, which corresponds to a surgical operation more complicated than the vertex- or edge-amalgamation operations used in our earlier work.