cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micromachined room-temperature microbolometer for millimeter-wave detection and focal-plane imaging arrays

We have combined silicon micromachining technology with planar circuits to fabricated room-temperature niobium microbolometers for millimeter-wave detection. In this type of detector, a thin niobium film, with a dimension much smaller than the wavelength, is fabricated on a 1-micrometers thick Si3N4 membrane of square and cross geometries. The Nb film acts both as a radiation absorber and temperature sensor. Incident radiation is coupled into the microbolometer by a 0.37 (lambda) dipole antenna with a center frequency of 95 GHz and a 3-db bandwidth of 15%, which is impedance matched with the Nb film. The dipole antennas is placed inside a micromachined pyramidal cavity formed by anisotropically etched Si wafers. To increase the Gaussian beam coupling efficiency, a machined square or circular horn is placed in front of the micromachined section. Circular horns interface more easily with die-based manufacturing processes; therefore, we have developed simulation tools that allow us to model circular machined horns. We have fabricated both single element receivers and 3 X 3 focal-plane arrays using uncooled Nb microbolometers. An electrical NEP level of 8.3 X 10-11 W/(root)Hz has been achieved for a single- element receiver. This NEP level is better than that of the commercial room-temperature pyroelectric millimeter-wave detectors. The frequency response of the microbolometer has a ln(1/f) dependence with frequency, and the roll-off frequency is approximately 35 kHz.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Batten's disease: clues to neuronal protein catabolism in lysosomes.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Batten disease) encompasses a group of 8 or more inherited lysosomal storage diseases, with an overall frequency of 1 in 12,500 births. All are characterized by progressive blindness and dementia and were initially classified on the basis of age of onset, clinical phenotype and ultrastructural characterization of the storage material as granular osmiophilic deposits, curvilinear bodies or fingerprint bodies. Recent research has shown that the various forms of Batten disease result from mutations in at least 8 genes which code for proteins involved in different aspects of lysosomal protein catabolism. These include palmitoyl:protein thioesterase 1 (CLN1), tripeptidylpeptidase 1 (CLN2), cathepsin D (CLN8), and two membrane proteins of unknown function (CLN3 and CLN5). Biochemically, Batten disease is characterized by the accumulation in neurons and other cells of an autofluorescent pigment which has resisted many attempts at analysis. In this review we attempt to relate our current understanding of the nature of the storage material in Batten disease with this genetic information. We conclude that the 8 genes probably code for proteins which facilitate the degradation of post-translationally modified proteins in lysosomes, suggesting that the turnover of these proteins is highest in cortical neurons. J. Neurosci. Res. 60:133–140, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Characterizing sources of indoor and outdoor aerosols using PIXE

Abstract Indoor and outdoor aerosol sampling of two homes with wood-burning stoves was conducted at Waterbury, Vermont during February and March 1982. Altogether 201 indoor and 232 outdoor aerosol samples were collected using the continuous time sequence streaker filter samplers. The aerosol samples were analyzed by proton induced X-ray emission for the following elements: Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Pb, As, Se. and Br. We identified the major indoor and outdoor sources of the aerosols using factor analysis and studying characteristic source elemental ratios. Our results indicate that residential wood combustion, which is used in about half of the homes in Waterbury, is an important indoor source of particles and also significantly affects the chemical composition of outdoor aerosols.
Evaluation of the Adequacy of the Threshold Limit Value for Cyclonite

Abstract Cyclonite (RDX) is an explosive material that is commonly compounded with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. The current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists 8-hour, time-weighted average threshold limit value (TLV) for cyclonite is 1.5 mg/m3 and it contains a “skin” notation. The present study has reviewed the human and animal toxicity literature available for RDX for the purpose of assessing the relative safety of the current RDX standard. Although the only available health study of occupational exposure to RDX finds no evidence of chronic toxicity in areas where the current TLV level was achieved, the evidence for the reported effectiveness of this TLV is of a very limited nature. The animal data are more extensive, and several chronic studies have been completed. When no observed adverse effect levels identified from the chronic animal studies are used to derive a TLV for RDX, and these derivations adopt relatively standard safety factors for this type of animal-to-human dosage extra...
Analysis of Observed and Predicted Tsunami Travel Times for the Pacific and Indian Oceans

I have examined over 1500 historical tsunami travel-time records for 127 tsunamigenic earthquakes that occurred in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. After subjecting the observations to simple tests to rule out gross errors I compare the remaining reports to simple travel-time predictions using Huygens method and the long-wave approximation, thus simulating the calculations that typically take place in a tsunami warning situation. In general, I find a high correspondence between predicted and reported travel times however, significant departures exist. Some outliers imply significantly slower propagation speeds than predicted; many of these are clearly the consequences of observers not being able to detect the (possibly weak?) first arrivals. Other outliers imply excessively long predicted travel times. These outliers reflect peculiar geometric and bathymetric conditions that are poorly represented in global bathymetric grids, leading to longer propagation paths and consequently increased travel times. Analysis of Δt, the difference between observed and predicted travel time, yields a mean Δt of 19 minutes with a standard deviation of 131 minutes. Robust statistics, being less sensitive to outliers, yield a median Δt of just 18 seconds and a median absolute deviation of 33 minutes. Care is needed to process bathymetry to avoid excessive travel-time delays in shallow areas. I also show that a 2×2 arc minute grid yields better results that a 5×5 arc minute grid; the latter in general yielding slightly slower propagation predictions. The largest remaining source of error appears to be the inadequacy of the point-source approximation to the finite tsunami-generating area.
Hamate erosion: An unusual result of ulnar artery constriction

An erosive lesion of the hamate hook in a patient with symptoms of arterial insufficiency was the result of a pseudoaneurysmal formation of the ulnar artery proximal to an obstruction by cicatrical bands.
Multiplexed cytokine protein expression profiles from spreading depression in hippocampal organotypic cultures.

Cytokines are involved in ischemic tolerance, including that triggered by spreading depression (SD), yet their roles in neuroprotection remain incompletely defined. The latter may stem from the pleiotropic nature of these signaling molecules whose complexities for interaction might be better deciphered through simultaneous measurement of multiple targeted proteins. Accordingly, the authors used microsphere-based flow cytometric immunoassays and hippocampal organotypic cultures (HOTCs) to characterize the magnitude, time course, and diversity of cytokine (interleukin [IL] 1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF], interferon-γ [IFN-γ], and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) response to SD. GM-CSF was not detected in HOTCs or media. However, SD triggered a significant, generalized increase in seven cytokines evident in HOTCs 6 hours later, with the remaining cytokine, IL-1β, becoming significantly different at 1 and 3 days. Additionally, these changes extended to include surrounding media for IL-6 and TNF-α by 1 and 3 days. This increase was localized to microglia via immunostaining for IL-1α, IL-1β, and interferon-γ. IL-10, although significantly more abundant in HOTCs 6 hours after SD, was significantly less abundant in surrounding media at that time and at 1 day. Finally, the generalized early increase in tissue cytokines later settled to a pattern at 3 days of recovery centering on changes in IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α, cytokines capable of modulating ischemic injury.
Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of twins discordant for Rh alloimmunization

Minimally invasive methods have been used successfully to diagnose and treat maternal red blood cell alloimmunization. We present a case of a dizygotic twin pregnancy discordant for the Rh allele. Serial Doppler ultrasonography helped to diagnose the fetus that was at-risk for anemia caused by Rh alloimmunization and to direct treatment.
Neurotoxic esterase in rooster testis.

Neurotoxic esterase (NTE) is the putative target protein in the nervous system for the initiation of organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy. Here it is reported that NTE activity is present in rooster testis. Complete titration of rooster testis phenyl valerate esterases with paraoxon shows that about 15% of the enzymic activity is resistant to paraoxon. NTE activity after complete mipafox titration accounts for 30% of paraoxon-resistant phenyl valerate esterases and corresponds to 7.93 ± 0.39 nmol/min/mg of protein (x ± SD, n = 7). Testis NTE is inhibited in vitro similarly to brain NTE by several organophosphorus compounds. Subcellular fractionation studies of the testis indicate that most NTE activity is particle bound. Testis NTE is also inhibited in vivo by several organophosphorus esters but to a lesser extent than brain NTE. Birds dosed with organophosphorus compounds, causing delayed neuropathy, became grossly ataxic, but no testicular pathology was noted by light microscopy in roosters killed 15 days after administration. Serum testosterone levels also measured 15 days after dosing were not different from those of a control group. Recovery of NTE activity was faster in testis than in brain (4 days vs 6 days to recover to 50% of initial activity) in animals that received a high dose of an organophosphorus ester which cause delayed neuropathy.
Continuous Participation in Voluntary Groups as a Protective Factor for the Psychological Well-Being of Adults Who Develop Functional Limitations: Evidence From the National Survey of Families and Households

Objectives. Although previous studies have indicated that declining functional health is associated with individuals’ poorer psychological well-being, few studies have examined factors that can protect adults from the loss of well-being following functional decline. Guided by continuity theory, this study investigated the extent to which continuous participation in voluntary groups (recreational, religious, and civic) buffers individuals against the harmful psychological effects of developing functional limitations. Methods. Longitudinal data came from 4,646 respondents aged 35 to 92 in the National Survey of Families and Households (1987‐1993) who reported having no functional limitations at Time 1. Results. Multivariate models controlling for sociodemographic factors, as well as psychological well-being at Time 1, indicated that developing functional limitations over a 5-year period was associated with greater increases in depressive symptoms and lower levels of personal growth. Increases in depressive symptoms, however, were less severe among men who were continuously involved in recreational groups than among men who were not continuously involved in recreational groups. Additionally, the association between developing functional limitations and lower levels of personal growth did not hold for men or women who continuously participated in religious groups. Discussion. Findings suggest that continuous participation in certain types of voluntary groups can moderate the problematic effects of developing functional limitations on psychological well-being.
Multilevel planning and control: A non-iterative approach and its application to water quality management

Planning (long-term and aggregate) and control (short-term, detailed, and possibly online) activities take place at different levels of an organizational hierarchy. A decision process model is synthesized using the composition principle for formulation, Stackelberg-incentives for coordination, and periodic optimization for the solution. The model is then applied to a water quality management problem. Performance of the model is empirically investigated.
Preferences based on spectral differences in acoustic signals in four species of treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae)

SUMMARY Frogs have two inner ear organs, each tuned to a different range of frequencies. Female treefrogs (Hylidae) of three species in which males produce calls with a bimodal spectrum ( Hyla chrysoscelis , H. versicolor , H. arenicolor ) preferred alternatives with a bimodal spectrum to alternatives with a single high-frequency peak. By contrast, females of H. avivoca , in which males produce calls with a single, high-frequency peak, preferred synthetic calls with a single high-frequency peak to calls with a bimodal spectrum. These results are consistent with the expectations of the matched-filter hypothesis and run counter to the predictions of the pre-existing bias hypothesis. At moderate to high playback levels (85–90 dB), females of H. avivoca and of two of three mtDNA-defined lineages of H. versicolor preferred unimodal signals with a high-frequency peak to those with a low-frequency peak. Females of H. chrysoscelis , H. arenicolor and the third lineage of H. versicolor did not show a preference, indicating that receiver mechanisms may be at least as evolutionarily labile as call structure. Spectral-peak preferences of gray treefrogs from Missouri, USA were intensity-dependent. Whereas females chose low-frequency calls at 65 dB spl, there was either no preference ( H. chrysoscelis ) or a preference for high-frequency calls ( H. versicolor ) at 85 and 90 dB spl. These non-linear effects indicate that there is an increasing influence of high-frequency energy on preferences as females approach calling males, and these results serve to emphasize that playback experiments conducted at a single level may have limited generality.
Postreproductive Life Predicted by Primate Patterns

Regression analyses of primate life spans on recently revised female body and brain masses of Old World primates predict a human life span of between 72 years and 91 years-estimates that exceed the age of human menopause (and prior estimates) by well over 20 years. The life spans predicted from body and brain sizes in the early Homo suggest that postreproductive life spans predate Homo sapiens Among anthropoid primates, residual longevity after body and brain effects are controlled is greatest for Homo and for the New World monkeys of the genus Cebus. Body and brain masses predict a 25-year life span for Cebus, although recorded life spans exceed 50 years. Cebus are geographically widespread, have a female-bonded social organization convergent with Old World monkeys, and are primarily frugivorous, though the diet is heavily supplemented with vertebrate prey. Regressions of phylogenetically independent contrasts indicate that body mass and brain mass relationships to longevity remain significant when phylogeny is controlled and that brain mass is a more robust predictor than body mass. These data are new in terms of the completeness of species representation, more reliable body masses, presentation of various comparison group regressions, and control for phylogenetic independence.
Population-Based Liability Determination, Mass Torts, and the Incentives for Suit, Settlement, and Trial

We explore how the incentives of a plaintiff, when considering filing suit and bargaining over settlement, differ between suits associated with stand-alone torts cases and suits involving mass torts. We contrast ‘‘individual-based liability determination’’ (IBLD), wherein a clear description of the mechanism by which a defendant’s actions translate into a plaintiff’s harm is available, with ‘‘population-based liability determination’’ (PBLD), wherein cases rely on the prevalence of harm in the population to persuade a judge or jury to draw an inference of causation or fault. PBLD creates a ‘‘rational optimism effect’’ on the plaintiff’s part that is inherent in many mass tort settings. This effect creates incentives for higher settlement demands and results in greater interim expected payoffs forplaintiffsand,thus,anincreasedpropensitytofilesuit.Consequently,defendants in PBLD cases face increased ex ante expected costs compared with the IBLD regime, thereby increasing incentives to take care. (JEL K13, K41, D82)
Dietary treatment of blood pressure in kidney disease

Most patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) also have hypertension. It is critical to control blood pressure in CKD to decrease the risk of negative outcomes. Modification of diet can reduce blood pressure, most notably in people with hypertension and in older adults. Current guidelines recommend reducing sodium intake to less than 2.4 g/day and increasing potassium and calcium intakes. Sodium reduction is supported for CKD patients in general. However, increasing potassium intake should be restricted in patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). In addition, because of the high phosphorus levels of many calcium-rich foods such as dairy products, calcium intake also should be limited in this low-GFR population. There is increasing evidence for the association of other nutrients such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin C with blood pressure. Those nutrients are also discussed here.
MYSEA: the monterey security architecture

Mandated requirements to share information across different sensitivity domains necessitate the design of distributed architectures to enforce information flow policies while providing protection from malicious code and attacks devised by highly motivated adversaries. The MYSEA architecture uses component security services and mechanisms to extend and inter-operate with commodity PCs, commodity client software, applications, trusted components, and legacy single level networks, providing new capabilities for composing secure, distributed multilevel secure solutions. This results in an architecture that meets two compelling requirements: first, that users have a familiar work environment, and, second, that critical mandatory security policies are enforced.
Transactive control: A technique for widespread coordination of responsive Smart Grid assets

This presentation will summarize work on the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project. A key element of the project is development and implementation of a technique referred to as transactive control. Transactive control will provide a means of coordinating the response of smart grid assets at all levels of the power system. In simple terms transactive control may be thought of as extending the notion of locational marginal pricing throughout the power system from generation to end-use. The transactional nature of the technique, however, introduces a new element in the use of a pair of signals to implement an equivalent to market closing distributed in space and time.
Leveraging dynamic spare capacity in wireless systems to conserve mobile terminals' energy

In this paper, we study several ways in which mobile terminals can backoff on their uplink transmit power in order to extend battery lifetimes. This is particularly effective when a wireless system is underloaded as the degradation in user's perceived quality of service can be negligible. The challenge, however, is developing a mechanism that achieves a good tradeoff among transmit power, idling/circuit power, and the performance customers will see. We consider systems with flow-level dynamics supporting either real-time or best effort (e.g., file transfers) sessions. The energy-optimal transmission strategy for real-time sessions is determined by solving a convex optimization. An iterative approach exhibiting superlinear convergence achieves substantial amount energy savings, e.g., more than 50% when the session blocking probability is 0.1% or less. The case of file transfers is more subtle because power backoff changes the system dynamics. We study energy-efficient transmission strategies that realize energy-delay tradeoff. The proposed mechanism achieves a 35%-75% in energy savings depending on the load and file transfer target throughput. A key insight, relative to previous work focusing on static scenarios, is that idling power has a significant impact on energy-efficiency, while circuit power has limited impact as the load increases.
Freshman rules in calculus

In this note we present a class of functions (f, g) that satisfy 'freshman rules' in calculus.
Vesicoureteral Reflux and Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction: Association, Treatment Options and Outcome

ABSTRACTPurpose: We investigated the association, treatment options and outcomes of patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction and concomitant vesicoureteral reflux.Materials and Methods: We analyzed 6,790 consecutive pediatric urology records at our university. Treatment options included observation, and primary pyeloplasty, ureteroneocystostomy and nephroureterectomy. Hydronephrosis, reflux and obstruction were judged as resolved. improved, unchanged or worse.Results: A total of 1,140 patients had vesicoureteral reflux, 224 had ureteropelvic junction obstruction and 41 had both conditions (39 ipsilateral and 6 contralateral kidneys). There was no increased risk of obstruction in patients with reflux when all grades of reflux were grouped (odds ratio 1.26, confidence interval 0.91 to 1.71). In contrast, subgroup analysis of patients with high grade reflux demonstrated a 5-fold increased risk of obstruction (odds ratio 5.0, confidence interval 2.4 to 10.8). One patient was lost to followup. Observat...
Current treatment options for vulvovaginal atrophy

Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA), a condition associated with declining estrogen levels, is commonly seen in postmenopausal women. VVA is marked by vaginal dryness, itching, dyspareunia and incontinence, which can contribute to diminishing quality of life for millions of postmenopausal women worldwide. Most available treatments contain estrogen, whether administered locally or systemically. Other treatment options include lubricants and moisturizers. These therapeutic approaches can provide temporary relief of some VVA symptoms while on therapy, but do not address the underlying condition, and they are not without potential side effects. However, promising new VVA therapies are in development that target the underlying condition with acceptable side-effect profiles. In this article, the benefits and drawbacks of current therapies and new treatments under development for VVA are discussed.
Bile Acid Determination after Standardized Glucose Load in Pregnant Women

Objective Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a rare liver disorder, usually manifesting in the third trimester and associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. The hallmark laboratory abnormality in ICP is elevated fasting serum bile acids; however, there are limited data on whether a nonfasting state affects a pregnant woman's total bile acids. This study assesses fasting and nonfasting bile acid levels in 10 healthy pregnant women after a standardized glucose load to provide insight into the effects of a glucose load on bile acid profiles. Study Design Pilot prospective cohort analysis of serum bile acids in pregnant women. A total of 10 healthy pregnant women from 28 to 32 weeks' gestation were recruited for the study before undergoing a glucose tolerance test. Total serum bile acids were collected for each subject in the overnight fasting state, and 1 and 3 hours after the 100-g glucose load. Results There was a statistically significant difference between fasting versus 3-hour values. There was no statistically significant difference between fasting versus 1-hour and 1-hour versus 3-hour values. Conclusion There is a difference between fasting and nonfasting total serum bile acids after a 100-g glucose load in healthy pregnant women.
The Roles of the Family in the Formation of Offsprings’ Earnings and Income Capacity

In this paper I will examine both the theoretical and empirical roles the family plays in the formation of its offsprings’ earnings and income capacity. The family generally influences a child’s income capacity by contributing genes, changing his or her marginal productivity via “investments” in human capital, and/or changing his level of financial assets. We will examine both the determinants of individuals’ level of human capital and the distribution of bequests and gifts among individuals and siblings. The models of human capital acquisition are based on the idea that people receive labor market rewards which are based on their own skills, some of which are innate and some of which are acquired by purposeful investment in expenditures (of time, money, and love) on human capital. The distribution of gifts and bequests are based on other, sometimes conflicting models.
An exploratory study of the differences in prior travel experience and tourist information sources.

The information search of potential travelers is an important component of tourism. Essentially, it is how travelers learn about tourism destinations, which affects their decision whether or not to visit. The primary purpose of this visitor inquiry study is to group inquirers based on their prior travel to the study destination and total travel. Then, the study examines differences across the different groups of travelers based on prior travel experience and the usefulness of various information sources. Results reveal differences between prior travel experience groups and the importance of previous trips to the study destination, relatives, and official visitors guide as sources of information. Implications for convention and visitor bureaus are discussed.
Addressing Epistemologic and Practical Issues in Multimethod Research: A Procedure for Conceptual Triangulation

Although a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods are being used increasingly in nursing research, little practical advice exists about the conduct of such studies. Conceptual triangulation offers one approach to multimethod research, addressing epistemologic and practical issues that have long plagued investigators. Conducting quantitative and qualitative research as parallel studies and using method-specific criteria for rigor provide an alternative to blending methodologic assumptions. Systematic examination of the support for findings guides judgments about model development, and the provision for multiple conceptual models resolves issues about the interpretation of findings.
Small Angle X-Ray Scattering of Crystalline Polymer Blends

Binary blends of a semicrystalline polymer, poly(butylene terephthalate), PBT, with an amorphous polymer, polyarylate, PAr, were studied for a wide range of compositions. Small angle x-ray scattering, thermal and mechanical analyses were conducted to determine the location of the uncrystallizable PAr relative to the crystal lamellae of PBT, for blends crystallized by heating from the quenched state. Comparison of experimental and calculated long periods indicates that interlamellar PAr placement becomes less probable as the PAr composition increases. When PBT crystallizes in these blends, most PAr is rejected from the regions near the crystal surfaces when PAr fraction exceeds about 0.40.
The Comparative Analysis of the Value for Barium Meal and Endoscopy in the Diagnosis of Peptic Ulcer

Objective To investigate the clinical value of barium meal and gastroscopy in the diagnosis of peptic ulcer.Methods 70 patients in the department of gastroenterology in our hospital from April 2011 to March 2012 were diagnosed as peptic ulcer patients.They were taken with fiber gastroscopy and pathological examination first,and then with barium meal examination.The diagnostic results of the two detection methods were taken for evaluation.Results The detection results of barium meal and endoscopy compared,there was no significant difference in the examination results(P 0.05).Conclusion Barium meal examination as a convenient,inexpensive diagnostic method,it has a good diagnostic value in the clinical diagnosis of peptic ulcer.
Sound Waves Gesture Recognition for Human-Computer Interaction

Gestures, a natural language of humans, provide an intuitive and effortless interface for communication with the computers. However, the achievements do not satisfy researcher’s demands because of the complexity and instability of human gestures. We propose a new method to recognize gestures from sound waves. The main contribution of this paper is to recognize gestures based on the analysis of short-time Fourier transforms (STFT) using the Doppler effect to sense gestures. To do this, we generate an inaudible tone, which gets frequency-shifted when it reflects off moving objects like the hand. We measure this shift with the microphone to infer various gestures. Experimenting method and evaluating results by using the hand gestures of many different people to browse applications such as website, document and images in the browser on the computers in the classroom and library environment for accurate results. In addition, we describe the phenomena and recognition algorithm, demonstrate a variety of gestures, and present an informal evaluation on the robustness of this approach across Laptop device and people.
Transplacental passage of clindamycin from mother to neonate.

To evaluate maternal and neonatal cord blood levels at delivery in patients receiving 900 mg of clindamycin intravenous (IV) every 8 h. Prospective study consented every mother that entered labor with a positive group B streptococcal culture, a high-risk penicillin allergy, and sensitivity to clindamycin and erythromycin. Maternal and cord blood clindamycin levels were obtained at delivery. Time from last dose completion to delivery, number of doses administered and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Twenty-three patients were consented. All maternal clindamycin values were therapeutic and 22 (96%) of the 23 cord blood samples were therapeutic. The mean maternal level was of 4.46 μg ml−1 (range of 0.7 to 8.4 μg ml−1). The mean cord blood level was 3.35 μg ml−1 (range of <0.5 to 6.4 μg ml−1). These data show that the current dosing recommendation of 900 mg of clindamycin IV every 8 h produces therapeutic maternal and cord blood levels.
In situ validation of fungal N translocation to cereal rye mulches under no-till soybean production

The ability of grass mulches to inhibit weed performance has been linked to their limitations on nitrogen availability to the weeds. Fungal translocation of N from the soil to the surface mulch has been confirmed in laboratories, but this mechanism has not been documented under field conditions. Experiments used 15N (NH4)2SO4 , 99.7 at.%, which was uniformly injected below the soil surface at a rate of 1 mg 15 N kg−1 soil. Some plots were treated with a fungicide (Captan) every 2 weeks after injection, while others were not treated. Nitrogen transfer was monitored by measuring levels in surface residue, soybean tissue, and extractable soil inorganic N pools. Despite the N release from the cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) tissues ranging from 15 to 50 kg N ha−1, there was a detectable increase in 15N enrichment of 10–15 % in the cereal rye tissue. Six weeks after injection, tissue from the plots not treated with fungicide contained 36 % more 15 N. The increased 15N enrichment in the cereal rye mulch supports laboratory observations that soil inorganic N is translocated into surface mulch via fungal mechanisms. These findings illustrate microbial-mediated sinks for nitrogen in cereal rye mulches in no-till soybean production systems.
Video game violence and aggression: A proven connection?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the evidence is clear, that violent media – including video games – lead to aggression in children. But Joseph Hilgard and colleagues find that much of the experimental evidence, both for and against, is undermined by a tricky statistical weakness
Structural health monitoring of an adhesive disbond through electromechanical impedance spectroscopy

Abstract The aerospace industry continues to increase the use of adhesives for structural bonding due to the increased joint efficiency (reduced weight), even distribution of the load path and decrease in stress concentrations. However, the limited techniques for verifying the strength of adhesive bonds has reduced its use on primary structures and requires an intensive inspection schedule. This paper discusses a potential structural health monitoring (SHM) technique for the detection of disbonds through the in situ inspection of adhesive joints. This is achieved through the use of piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS), thin unobtrusive sensors which are permanently bonded to the aircraft structure. The detection method utilized in this study is the electromechanical impedance spectroscopy, a local vibration method. This method detects disbonds from the change in the mechanical impedance of the structure surrounding the disbond. This paper will discuss how predictive modeling can provide valuable insight into the inspection method, and provide better results than purely empirical methods will provide. A method for identifying the appropriate frequency range and sensor locations is presented, and the method was verified experimentally using a large aluminum test article, and included both pristine and disbond coupons.
Glucocorticoids, hippocampal damage and the glutamatergic synapse.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the present knowledge concerning the cell biology of how glucocorticoids (GCs) damage hippocampal neurons. It presents studies that suggest that GCs leave hippocampal neurons in a state of metabolic vulnerability. In the absence of a coincident metabolic challenge, this vulnerability is survived readily. However, when co-incident insults occur, neuronal viability is compromised, at least in part via exacerbation of the EAA cascade of damage. These observations are of some potential relevance, in that they suggest that exogenous GCs, in the aftermath of some insults, can potentially exacerbate hippocampal damage, and should be avoided if possible. It has been shown that inhibiting the GC stress response in the aftermath of status epilepticus seizures, by administering the adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitor metyrapone, diminish hippocampal damage. In an approach meant to decrease the total lifetime exposure to GCs, the chapter demonstrates that a neonatal behavioral intervention that reduces adult basal GC concentrations in the rat prevents some neuron loss and spatial learning deficits that characterize aging in the rat.
Reliability of Cu/NiFe and Cu/Ni Metaconductor Devices for RF Applications

This work presents the thermal reliability test results of a metaconductor device on a glass substrate. Custom thermal cycling testing between room temperature and 100 °C has been performed for both Cu/Ni and Cu/NiFe metaconductor based transmission lines. The overall electrical performance has been well preserved between 300 kHz and 12 GHz. After a high temperature annealing treatment with 400 °C for 2 hours, Cu/Ni metaconductor transmission lines also maintain ferromagnetic performance reasonably well while some samples show delamination due to thermal stress cracking the glass beneath the traces. While both Cu/Ni and Cu/NiFe devices show high resilience to the thermal cycling, Cu/Ni devices seem less susceptible to oxidation and other defects.
Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Maternal Asthma, and Asthma in School-Aged Children

BH Medsker, BK Brew, E Forno. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2017;118(1):55–60 To determine if maternal asthma with depression increases the risk for asthma in children compared with maternal asthma without depression. Two cross-sectional studies of 6- to 14-year-old children in Puerto Rico (PR) ( n = 655) and Sweden (SW) ( n = 6887). In the PR cohort, children were randomly selected based on 2009–2010 US census data. A screening questionnaire assessed for self-reported maternal asthma, physician-diagnosed asthma, and wheeze in …
Tunable ligand emission of napthylsalophen triple-decker dinuclear lanthanide(III) sandwich complexes

The fluorescent ligand 1,1'-((1E,1'E)-(1,2-phenylenebis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene)) bis(naphthalen-2-ol) (H2L) was used to prepare lanthanide(iii) metal complexes. These were found to self-assemble as triple decker sandwich complexes of the type (Ln2L3), where Ln = Pr(iii), Nd(iii), Sm(iii), Eu(iii), Gd(iii), Tb(iii), Dy(iii), Ho(iii), Er(iii), Yb(iii), or Lu(iii). The structures of the complexes Nd2L3, Gd2L3, Tb2L3, Dy2L3, Ho2L3, Yb2L3, and Lu2L3 are structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the Nd2L3 complex, both metals are 8 coordinate. Yb2L3, Tb2L3, Dy2L3, and Lu2L3 are isostructural. In these, as in the Gd2L3 and Ho2L3 complexes, one metal is 8 coordinate, one 7 coordinate. The ligand was found to have tunable emission in the solid state across the lanthanide series with a maximum at 556 nm for the Sm2L3 complex to 617 nm for Er2L3. Of these, most demonstrate only ligand-centered fluorescence at room temperature. The ligand was found to have much greater fluorescence in the complex Lu2L3. Here, we describe these distinctive triple decker complexes and their absorption and emission properties as both solids and solutions.
Perioperative Management of Biologic and Immunosuppressive Medications in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

CASE SUMMARY:A 23-year-old man with a 7-year history of Crohn’s disease presents with a 20-cm segment of terminal ileal inflammation with an associated 12-cm stricture. The patient describes obstructive-like symptoms and a recent 20-pound weight loss. He has previously lost response to both inflixim
Pilot evaluation of HEAL - A natural experiment to promote obesity prevention behaviors among low-income pregnant women.

Abstract Instituting interventions during the prenatal period is optimal for early obesity prevention in the child. Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) is a six-week, multi-component program to promote breastfeeding, healthy dietary habits, cooking skills and physical activity among Medicaid-eligible pregnant-women in Texas. HEAL is integrated into the healthcare system and offered as a standard-of-care for eligible patients. Methods: Preliminary evaluation of this natural experiment conducted from March 2015 through October 2016 informs the initial feasibility, acceptability and effects of the program on participant diet, home nutrition environment, physical activity, and breastfeeding self-efficacy and intentions measured using self-report surveys. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to evaluate pre- and post-intervention changes, controlling for participants' ethnicity, age, and income level. Interaction effects of session attendance on the outcomes were further assessed. Results: Of the 329 women who enrolled in HEAL, 210 women completed the pre-post assessment (64% retention rate). Pre-to-post intervention, there were significant increases in availability and intake of fruits and vegetables, self-efficacy towards consuming more fruits and vegetables, and cooking frequency and skills (p
Leveraging thermally-aware chiplet organization in 2.5D systems to reclaim dark silicon

As on-chip power densities of manycore systems continue to increase, one cannot simultaneously run all the cores due to thermal constraints. This phenomenon, known as the ‘dark silicon’ problem, leads to inactive regions on the chip and limits the performance of manycore systems. This paper proposes to reclaim dark silicon through a thermally-aware chiplet organization technique in 2.5D manycore systems. The proposed technique adjusts the interposer size and the spacing between adjacent chiplets to reduce the peak temperature of the overall system. In this way, a system can operate with a larger number of active cores at a higher frequency without violating thermal constraints, thereby achieving higher performance. To determine the chiplet organization that jointly maximizes performance and minimizes manufacturing cost, we formulate and solve an optimization problem that considers temperature and interposer size constraints of 2.5D systems. We design a multi-start greedy approach to find (near-)optimal solutions efficiently. Our analysis demonstrates that by using our proposed technique, an optimized 2.5D manycore system improves performance by 41% and 16% on average and by up to 87% and 39% for temperature thresholds of 85°C and 105°C, respectively, compared to a traditional single-chip system at the same manufacturing cost. When maintaining the same performance as an equivalent single-chip system, our approach is able to reduce the 2.5D system manufacturing cost by 36%.
BLOOD | Erythropoiesis in Fishes

This article summarizes the current knowledge of hematopoietic stem-cell development in fish and suggests new study areas. The interpretation of the complex transcriptional changes that occur during hematopoiesis poses many challenges because the relationship between the molecular mechanisms regulating lineage-specific differentiation and other levels of biological organization is poorly understood.
Promoting Healthy Behaviors in Children: Applying Ignatian Values in Schools

An innovative partnership between a college of nursing and local parochial schools provided opportunities for nursing students to offer basic health promotion and disease prevention services, provide health education, and participate in a service-learning, research endeavor. This partnership provided the nursing school with the ability to incorporate Catholic Social Teaching into the curriculum and actively live out the university and Catholic mission of service to others. This clinical experience has gone beyond the boundaries of traditional clinical education and provided students the opportunity to contemplate and put into practice Ignatian values. These values serve as the educational foundation for lifelong refl ection and service. This article shows how the close alignment of Ignatian values and professional expectations and standards for nursing have been integrated in the clinical setting while promoting the health of children in various schools throughout a community.
Gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (G/A) alternating with 5-FU/leucovorin/irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in 1st line metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC).

e16218Background: The use of alternating chemotherapy regimens in cancer therapy may 1)lessen toxicity 2) slow emergence of resistant cancer biology thus improving outcomes and 3) provide a broader...
Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to CO and Formate: Do Reaction Conditions or Ruthenium Catalysts Control Product Selectivity?

The photocatalytic reduction of CO2 can generate a number of products with CO and HCO2– being two of the most commonly observed. Frequently, the selective formation of one of these products is presumed to be the result of catalyst design. However, several common variables are present when exploring the photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction. In order to better understand the origin of selectivity in this reaction, the choices of solvent, electron and proton source, photosensitizer (PS), and catalyst were evaluated in photocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions. Intriguingly, highly selective catalysts for CO or HCO2– under one set of conditions can be transformed by these environmental choices into becoming highly selective for the opposite product while retaining high turnover numbers. This highlights the importance of carefully considering reaction conditions before ascribing catalyst selectivity to an inherent molecular design property.
Mobile Augmented Reality: Exploring a new genre of learning

The proliferation of smartphones provides easy access to experience augmented reality (AR), which has fundamentally shifted the conversation around educational technology both in and out of classrooms. Early research on this new genre of teaching and learning afforded by AR has shown to improve and/or increase learning performance, learning motivation, student engagement, and positive attitudes (Bacca et al., 2014). As mobile technologies reach ubiquity, educators have become exceptionally concerned with designing tools and activities that equip young people to engage with these technologies as producers not just consumers. Of equal significance is the critical issue of ensuring that all young people have equitable access to not only the technologies but also to be able to participate in creating the technologies (Kafai & Burke, 2013). In this column, our goal is to present one approach by which we can empower all young people to produce with mobile augmented reality technologies.
Structure driven immunomodulatory properties of xylo-/arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides and arabinoxylans in RAW264.7 macrophages

Abstract Cereal derived arabinoxylans (AX) have been shown to possess immunomodulatory properties. However, AX are complex molecules that can exist with different degree of polymerization (DP) and degree of arabinose substitution (DS). We investigated the effect of these structural differences on the immunomodulatory property of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides (AXOS) and AX polysaccharides. We investigated the effect of these substrates on RAW264.7 cells with respect to nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-α production. XOS did not display an immunomodulatory activity with respect to NO production except for X3, which decreased NO production compared to control. AXOS which contained arabinose substitution were better capable of decreasing NO production in macrophages. AX polysaccharides on the other hand were inducers of NO production acting as inmmunostimulators. High molecular weight AX polysaccharide (AX H) was immunostimulators with respect to TNF-α production as well. AX H also displayed a dose dependent relationship with TNF-α production in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that exploring high molecular weight AX polysaccharides as immunomodulators could be beneficial compared to smaller molecular weight unsubstituted oligosaccharides.
Triassic carbonate development and reefbuilding in western North America

The Cordilleran region of western North American contains numerous examples of Middle to Upper Triassic carbonate sequences. Many of these developed as broad shallow-water platforms associated with island arcs. These platforms however were not characterized by extensive reef structure. Shallow-water facies in many sequences contain abundant corals, spongiomorphs, sponges, and a variety of rich invertebrate faunas. Most of these are endemic with the exception of the corals, which show much similarity with the Tethyan faunas. Small local reefoid buildups occur within many sequences, especially those of Norian age and contain local organic framework.
Educational and psychological risk factors for South Korean children and adolescents

To say that China, Malaysia, South Korea, and other East Asian countries have undergone immense change in the previous 20 years is an understatement. In fact, the phrase “The Four Asian Tigers” has...