cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between water-holding capacity and protein denaturation in broiler breast meat

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between water-holding capacity (WHC) attributes and protein denaturation in broiler breast meat. Boneless skinless breast fillets (n = 72) were collected from a commercial processing plant at 2 h postmortem and segregated into low-WHC and high-WHC groups based on muscle pH and color (L*a*b*). At 6 and 24 h postmortem, brine uptake (%), cooking loss (%), and protein solubility (sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar) were measured and protein fractions were analyzed using SDS-PAGE. Drip loss accumulation (%) was measured after storage for 2 and 7 days postmortem. High-WHC fillets exhibited lower L*-lightness values and greater pH values at 2 and 24 h postmortem than low-WHC fillets. High-WHC fillets had greater brine uptake and less cooking loss at both 6 and 24 h postmortem compared to low-WHC fillets. Aging from 6 to 24 h postmortem increased brine uptake in high-WHC fillets, but did not affect cooking loss in either low-WHC or high-WHC fillets. Drip loss accumulation was greater in low-WHC fillets at both 2 and 7 days postmortem. Myofibrillar protein solubility decreased with postmortem time but was not different between low-WHC and high-WHC fillets. Sarcoplasmic protein solubility increased with postmortem time and was greater in high-WHC fillets. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that low-WHC fillets exhibited more glycogen phosphorylase denaturation than high-WHC fillets as evidenced by a more extensive shift of the protein from the sarcoplasmic to the myofibrillar protein fraction. Correlation analysis revealed that overall protein solubility measurements were not related to WHC attributes but that the degree of glycogen phosphorylase denaturation was significantly correlated (|r| = 0.52 to 0.80) to measures of WHC. Data indicated that WHC differences in broiler breast fillets were not due to differences in myofibrillar protein denaturation and suggested that the denaturation of sarcoplasmic proteins onto myofibrils may influence WHC in breast meat.
Balance between Hyperinflammation and Immunosuppression in Sepsis

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients and the leading cause of death among patients admitted to intensive care units. The immune response in sepsis is characterized by the activation of both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways. These pathways are concurrent, starting early in the course of sepsis. Given the high burden of morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis, there is an increasing interest in immunomodulatory therapies targeted at improving outcomes in sepsis. This review will summarize current understanding about the balance between hyperinflammation and immunosuppression in sepsis and discuss the role of potential therapies to modulate these responses.
Identification of the novel activity-driven interaction between synaptotagmin 1 and presenilin 1 links calcium, synapse, and amyloid beta

Background Synaptic loss strongly correlates with memory deterioration. Local accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, and neurotoxic Aβ42 in particular, due to abnormal neuronal activity may underlie synaptic dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and memory impairments. To gain an insight into molecular events underlying neuronal activity-regulated Aβ production at the synapse, we explored functional outcomes of the newly discovered calcium-dependent interaction between Alzheimer’s disease-associated presenilin 1 (PS1)/γ-secretase and synaptic vesicle proteins.
Organizational and Extra Organizational Determinants of Occupationally Induced Social Marginality: a Study of Merchant Seamen

This paper explores the occupational sources of social marginality in merchant seamen. The total institutional characteristics of the work setting of this group are influential in producing this effect, and a number of organizational and extra-organizational variables are examined as determinants. Several were found to have significant impact on the degree of social marginality experienced by seamen and collectively the independent variables predicted 43 percent of the variance. Theoretical implications of applying the model to other occupational forms are discussed.
Blind self-adaptive RAKE receiver based on the RLS-Kalman filter

In view of the disturbances of multiple access and the multipath of the DS-CDMA,this paper introduces the blind adaptive RAKE receiver based on the RLS-Kalman filter.Signals are inspected without training sequences.The results of theory and imitation show that this method has high precision and stabilization of signals.The method has the lower rate of error code than the traditional RAKE receiver under the same conditions.
Interference factor of amplitud integrated electroencephalogram and its nursing countermeasure

Objective: To discuss the key points of nursing for the integrated EEG of amplitude. Methods: From January 2014 to December 2014,98 patients with term a EEG were monitored by HIE,and the interference factors in operation and monitoring were analyzed. Results: The interference factor of the EEG monitoring process and the corresponding nursing were analyzed,and the accuracy of the EEG results were improved. Conclusion: The effective nursing can avoid the interference factor to the effect of a EEG results,and provide reliable and accurate information for the diagnosis of the disease.
A New Phase-locked Technology Applied to LVRT of Photovoltaic Inverter

A new phase-locked technology applied to low voltage ride through(LVRT) of photovoltaic inverter is illustrated, which gets the angle of the positive sequence voltage by using of the positive sequence filter and phase-locked technology.Experimental results show that the proposed technology is capable of offering the angle of the positive sequence voltage and improving the stability of the output current under the condition of unbalanced voltage fault.
295 DURATION OF NASAL CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE IN NEONATES 23 TO 32 WEEKS' GESTATIONAL AGE.

During 2003 nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) was introduced as the initial management of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in our NICU. Objective To characterize the NCPAP course in babies with RDS. Methods All newborns # 32 GA (n = 250, Jan 2004-Oct 2005) with RDS were intubated, given surfactant, and then extubated to NCPAP. For data analysis, infants were divided into 3 GA groups 23-26, 27-29, and 30-32 weeks. Comparisons within GA groups were made using ANOVA with Student9s t-test for post hoc analysis. Results GA was inversely related to days on NCPAP (Table). Postconceptual age (PCA) at NCPAP wean was similar in babies $ 26 wks GA. Conclusions Babies 26-30 wks GA are weaned from NCPAP at a mean of approximately 30.5 weeks PCA and a weight of > 1,250 g. However, babies # 25 wks require longer courses of NCPAP, suggesting that factors other than RDS contribute substantially to their needs for respiratory support.
High-dynamic-range neutron time-of-flight detector used to infer the D(t,n)4He and D(d,n)3He reaction yield and ion temperature on OMEGA.

Upgraded microchannel-plate–based photomultiplier tubes (MCP-PMT’s) with increased stability to signal-shape linearity have been implemented on the 13.4-m neutron time-of-flight (nTOF) detector at the Omega Laser Facility. This diagnostic uses oxygenated xylene doped with diphenyloxazole C15H11NO + p-bis-(o-methylstyryl)-benzene (PPO + bis-MSB) wavelength shifting dyes and is coupled through four viewing ports to fast-gating MCP-PMT’s, each with a different gain to allow one to measure the light output over a dynamic range of 1 × 106. With these enhancements, the 13.4-m nTOF can measure the D(t,n)4He and D(d,n)3He reaction yields and average ion temperatures in a single line of sight. Once calibrated for absolute neutron sensitivity, the nTOF detectors can be used to measure the neutron yield from 1 × 109 to 1 × 1014 and the ion temperature with an accuracy approaching 5% for both the D(t,n)4He and D(d,n)3He reactions.
Risk, Uncertainty and Economic Theory

This chapter discusses the distinction between risk and uncertainty, and outlines expected utility theory, as developed by Bernoulli, followed by a presentation of the treatment of risk and uncertainty by Frank Knight and by Keynes and, later, by Markowitz and Tobin. It then proceeds to examine how the subject has been explored by the behavioral school and also highlights the contributions of Ben Bernanke.
Weather’s Effect on Construction Labor Productivity

AbstractWeather impacts construction worker productivity, both physiologically and psychologically. Weather’s effect on productivity is therefore an important topic and has been the subject of a co...
On Long-Tenured Independent Directors

Recent surveys show that 24% of independent directors in Russel 3,000 firms have continuously served on their boards for fifteen years or more. Based on a sample of S&P 1500 firms over the period 1998-2012, we document strong positive effects on financial performance for firms with one, very long-tenured independent director. We show that long-tenured independent directors are highly skilled individuals, and over time they accumulate information and knowledge valuable to the companies they serve in, even when the cost of acquiring information is high. long-tenured directors also decrease the likelihood of (1) corporate scandals, and (2) motions by hedge funds requiring changes in board composition. Our results are robust to several endogeneity tests including instrumental variable and dynamic regressions.
Advertising in times of war: Themes in Argentine print advertising during the Malvinas/Falklands War

In the plethora of literature that investigates how the advertising industry reacts to changes in society, very few studies are concerned with regions outside of North America and Europe. For this ...
The development process for a new materials science conceptual evaluation

In this work, we introduce the Materials Science Conceptual Evaluation (MSCE). This is a 31 item multiple choice test designed to complement the Materials Concept Inventory (MCI) developed in 2002 by Krause et al. In developing this assessment, we collected data from over 700 students, including over 100 interviews, focused on areas where students struggle or have misunderstandings. There are several main goals of this article. The first is to inform the engineering education community of the existence of this evaluation and its psychometric properties, which support its validity and reliability as an assessment. The second goal is to describe our design and validation process and what we discovered to be the most, and least, important general steps for future engineering education assessment design and validation. Lastly, we will communicate some of the key findings about student difficulties with basic concepts and the required reasoning and graphical skills for an introductory materials science course.
Interprofessional practice for simultaneous implementation of merged techniques from three disciplines: OT SLP ABA

Abstract Collaborative interprofessional education and practice are important goals for effective health care. The present study examined the simultaneous implementation of merged core techniques from three disciplines: Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, and Applied Behavior Analysis, in a program serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The intervention taught graduate student clinicians in an interprofessional clinic to execute a common set of procedures, simultaneously delivering them as part of their treatment sessions, while maintaining their home discipline's procedural integrity. Interprofessional coaching using remote communication technologies were implemented sequentially across participants in a multiple baseline design. This research demonstrated a model of interprofessional merge of therapy procedures for clinicians in practice under the supervision of licensed professionals and showed that changes in clinician's behavior were associated with improvements in child outcomes.
Julia C. Schneider, Nation and Ethnicity: Chinese Discussions on History, Historiography, and Nationalism (1900s–1920s). Leiden Series in Comparative Historiography, 11. Leiden: Brill, 2017. x, 501 pp. Illustrations, Bibliography, Glossary, Index. € 187 (HB). ISBN 978-90-04-33011-5

Julia C. Schneider’s Nation and Ethnicity: Chinese Discussions on History, Historiography, and Nationalism is a timely and important contribution to the scholarship on Chinese nationalism and natio...
Hyperbolic metamaterial-based plasmoelectronic nanodevices for detection and harvesting of infrared radiation

Efficient conversion of long-wavelength light into direct current represents a great potential for photodetection, photocatalyst, and photovoltaics, with a variety of applications in sensing, security, defense, and emissive infrared energy harvesting. We propose here a new type of plasmo-electronic nanodevice, engineered as the hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM), to efficiently trap and nonlinearly rectify the incoming infrared radiation. These HMM-based nanodevices are constituted by the periodic, dissimilar metal-insulator-metal (MIM) heterojunctions, whose homogenized material properties enable the perfect absorption of infrared radiation and the localization of optical fields. The nonlinear optical rectification driven by the multiphoton-assisted tunneling in the MIM heterojunctions can efficiently convert the infrared radiation into the DC electricity (photocurrent). Most interestingly, the wideband or frequency-selective photon-to-electron conversion can be controlled via the design of HMM nanostructures. Our theoretical and numerical results demonstrate that the zero-bias responsivity of the HMM-based nanodevices can be up to ~100 mA/W in the mid-infrared regime.
The Protestant Worldview and the Search for Facts, Reason, and Meaning

An idea can be called a fact only within a system of thought, or worldview. Facts, to be facts, are necessarily context-dependent. But not all worldviews are created equal. Only the Protestant worldview, rooted as it is in divine revelation, gives rise to metaphysically warranted facts. In all other worldviews, the very notion of “facticity” is compromised because it is rooted in a metaphysical cheat, an epistemological question begging that lies at the root of all secular knowing. The implications of this metaphysical cheat are enormous for pedagogy, both in its presuppositions and applications, the chief consequence being the cosmic nihilism and despair it inevitably imposes on thinking persons, but is shamefully avoided in contemporary secular educational theory, which lacks intellectual justification and internal consistency.
Non-organic Visual Loss in Patients with Multifocal Intraocular Lenses.

Purpose To report non-organic visual loss (NOVL) following cataract surgery with multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
Thermal and Environmental Barrier Coatings for Advanced Turbine Engine Applications

Ceramic thermal and environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs) will play a crucial role in advanced gas turbine engine systems because of their ability to significantly increase engine operating temperatures and reduce cooling requirements, thus help achieve engine low emission and high efficiency goals. Advanced T/EBCs are being developed for the low emission SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) combustor applications by extending the CMC liner and vane temperature capability to 1650 C (3000 F) in oxidizing and water vapor containing combustion environments. Low conductivity thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are also being developed for metallic turbine airfoil and combustor applications, providing the component temperature capability up to 1650 C (3000 F). In this paper, ceramic coating development considerations and requirements for both the ceramic and metallic components will be described for engine high temperature and high-heat-flux applications. The underlying coating failure mechanisms and life prediction approaches will be discussed based on the simulated engine tests and fracture mechanics modeling results.
VENTILATION AND LANDSCAPING: Design Implications for Hot Humid Climates

ABSTRACT This paper explains for the architect the physics of airflow patterns, the aerodynamics of buildings and their implications on effective ventilation. Also discussed are ventilation influenced design strategies of sunshading, daylighting and landscaping.
Biosynthesis, Absorption, and Hepatic Metabolism of Retinol

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses biosynthesis, absorption, and hepatic metabolism of retinol. The major natural sources of vitamin A in the diet are certain plant carotenoid pigments, such as β-carotene, and the long-chain retinyl esters found in animal tissues. β-carotene is converted to vitamin A, primarily, in the intestinal mucosa. The biosynthetic process involves two soluble enzymes: β-carotene 15,15'-dioxygenase and retinaldehyde reductase. β-carotene 15,15'-dioxygenase catalyzes the cleavage of β-carotene at the central double bond by a dioxygenase mechanism to yield two molecules of retinaldehyde; the aldehyde is then reduced to retinol. Dietary retinyl esters are hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen, and the resulting retinol is absorbed into the mucosal cell. Retinol in the mucosal cell is re-esterified with long-chain, mainly saturated fatty acids; the retinyl esters, in association with chylomicrons, are then transported through the lymph into the general circulation. After entry into the vascular compartment, chylomicrons are metabolized in extrahepatic tissues by the lipolytic removal of much of the chylomicron triglyceride. The chylomicron remnant, thus formed, is a smaller and cholesterol-rich particle that contains essentially all the chylomicron retinyl esters and is removed from the circulation almost entirely by the liver. After uptake of the chylomicron retinyl esters, hydrolysis and re-esterification occur in the liver.
Measuring the Latent Quality of Precedent: Scoring Vertices in a Network

In this chapter, we consider the problem of estimating the latent influence of vertices of a network in which some edges are unobserved for known reasons. We present and employ a quantitative scoring method that incorporates differences in “potential influence” between vertices. As an example, we apply the method to rank Supreme Court majority opinions in terms of their “citability,” measured as the likelihood the opinion will be cited in future opinions. Our method incorporates the fact that future opinions cannot be cited in a present-day opinion. In addition, the method is consistent with the fact that a judicial opinion can cite multiple previous opinions.
"Something old and dark has got its way": Shakespeare's Influence in the Gothic Literary Tradition

“Something old and dark has got its way”: Shakespeare’s Influence in the Gothic Literary Tradition by Natalie Ann Hewitt Claremont Graduate University: 2013 This dissertation examines Shakespeare’s role as the most significant precursor to the Gothic author in Britain, suggesting that Shakespeare used the same literary conventions that Gothic writers embraced as they struggled to create a new subgenre of the novel. By borrowing from Shakespeare’s canon, these novelists aimed to persuade readers and critics that rather than undermining the novel’s emergent, still unassured status as an acceptable literary genre, the nontraditional aspects of their works paid homage to Shakespeare’s imaginative vision. Gothic novelists thereby legitimized their attempts at literary expression. Despite these efforts, Gothic writers did not instantly achieve the type of acceptance or admiration that they sought. The Gothic novel has consistently been viewed as a monstrous, immature literary form—either a poor experiment in the history of the novel or a guilty pleasure for those who might choose to read or to write works that fit within this mode. Writers of Gothic fictions often claim that their works emulate Shakespeare’s dramatic pathos, but they do not acknowledge that the playwright also had to navigate similar opposition to his own creative expression. While early Gothic novelists had to contend with skeptical readers and reviewers, Shakespeare had to negotiate the religious, political, and ideological limitations that members of the court, the church, and the patronage system imposed upon his craft. Interestingly, Shakespeare often succeeded in circumventing these limitations by employing the literary techniques and topoi that we recognize today as trademarks of Gothic fiction—spectacle, sublime, sepulcher, and the supernatural. Each of these concepts expresses subversive intentions toward authoritative power. For Shakespeare and the Gothic novelists, the dramatic potential of these elements corresponds directly to their ability to target the sociocultural fears and anxieties of their audience; the results are works that frighten as well as amuse. As my dissertation will show, these authors use similar imagery to surreptitiously challenge the authority figures and institutions that sought to prescribe what makes a work of fiction socially acceptable or worthy of critical acclaim. Dedicated to the memory of my father-in-law
Caregiver-Reported Outcomes and Barriers to Care among Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate

Background: For children with cleft lip and/or palate, access to care is vital for optimizing speech, appearance, and psychosocial outcomes. The authors posited that inadequate access to care negatively impacts outcomes in this population. Methods: Sixty caregivers of children with cleft lip and palate were surveyed to assess perceived barriers using the validated Barriers to Care questionnaire. The questionnaire includes 39 items divided into five subscales, with higher scores indicating fewer barriers. Caregiver-reported outcomes were assessed using the Cleft Evaluation Profile, which captures cleft-specific appearance- and speech-related outcomes. Higher scores correspond to less satisfactory outcomes. Desire for revision surgery was assessed as a binary outcome among caregivers. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the relationship of barriers to care, caregiver-reported outcomes, and desire for revision, adjusting for clinical and demographic covariates. Results: Sixty percent of caregivers perceived barriers to care, and caregivers who reported poorer access to care described poorer cleft-related outcomes (r = 0.19, p = 0.024). Caregivers with poorer skills (r = 0.17, p = 0.037), expectations (r = 0.17, p = 0.045), and pragmatics (r = 0.18, p = 0.026) subscale scores were associated with worse Cleft Evaluation Profile scores. Barriers were also negatively associated with aesthetic item scores (r = 0.11, p = 0.025). Finally, caregivers reporting fewer barriers were 21.2 percent less likely to express interest in revision surgery. Conclusions: Barriers to care were associated with poorer appearance-related outcomes and increased interest in revision among caregivers of cleft patients. Enhancing access to care is critical in order to effectively meet goals of care for these families.
EXTRAMAMMARY PAGET'S DISEASE--EPIDERMOTROPHIC CARCINOMA OF THE ANAL REGION: REPORT OF A CASE AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.

This is the fifteenth case of perianal extramammary Paget’s disease reported in medical literature (Table 1). Diagnosis by early biopsy, or repeated biopsies, and histochemical study of the tissues removed is necessary for accurate diagnosis. Treatment consists of wide local excision with follow-up biopsy examinations. Metastasis may be local or widespread.
Buprenorphine Markedly Elevates a Panel of Surrogate Markers in a Murine Model of Sepsis

ABSTRACTSepsis can be simulated in animals by perforating the cecum via a surgical procedure termed “cecal ligation and puncture” (CLP), which induces similar inflammatory responses as observed during the clinical course of human sepsis. In addition to anesthetic agents, many Institutional Animal Ca
Dynamic Response of Lattice-Type Structures

The dynamic response of lattice-type structures, assuming small displacements, may be described by the following set of four matrix equations: (1) Equation of consistent displacements; (2) joint equation of equilibrium; (3) force displacement equation; and (4) equation of support. The response function or indicial flexibility matrix is formed of terms that are solutions of the partial differential equations describing the transverse, torsional, and longitudinal vibrations of uniform, slender beams. The set of matrix equations becomes a set of linear, algebraic equations when transformed to the Laplace domain. Solutions that are carried out in the Laplace domain yield expressions for displacements, rotations, end moments, and forces in terms of the transform variable. Inversions are carried out in terms of series expansions of orthogonal functions. External damping, together with forcing function cut-off, is introduced to assure the uniform convergence of the series for all values of time. The application of the equations to the externally damped cantilever beam and to the unsymmetrical portal verifies the validity of the method.
Survivorship in immune therapy: Assessing toxicities, body composition and health-related quality of life among long-term survivors treated with antibodies to programmed death-1 receptor and its ligand.

Abstract Aim Antibodies to programmed death-1 receptor and its ligand (anti–PD-1/PD-L1) produce durable responses in many cancers. However, the long-term effects of anti–PD-1/PD-L1 blockade are not well defined. We identified the toxicities, health outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) amongst long-term survivors treated with anti–PD-1/PD-L1. Methods We assessed 217 patients who received anti–PD-1/PD-L1 for melanoma, renal cell carcinoma or non–small-cell lung carcinoma between 2009 and 2017, with survival greater than two years after treatment. Patient and tumour characteristics, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), cardiometabolic parameters (glucose, blood pressure, body mass index [BMI]), body composition (using automated body composition analyser, computed tomography and Slice-o-matic software) and HRQoL outcomes were tracked. Results Among the included patients, most were men (70.3%) and at anti–PD-1/PD-L1 initiation had an average age of 61.0 years and median BMI of 28.5. Median overall survival was not reached; 33 (15.2%) died during the follow-up primarily from progressive cancer (n = 28). At the last follow-up, most patients' Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 0 (38%) or 1 (41%). There was no difference in blood pressure, glucose or BMI from baseline to two years after treatment initiation. Body composition showed increased adiposity (p = 0.05), skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.03) and skeletal muscle gauge (p = 0.04). We observed chronic irAEs at the last follow-up including hypothyroidism (10.6%), arthritis (3.2%), adrenal insufficiency (3.2%) and neuropathy (2.8%). New diagnoses of type 2 diabetes (6.5%) and hypertension (6.0%) were observed, with uncertain relationship to anti–PD-1/PD-L1. Patient-reported outcomes compared favourably with cancer and general populations, although younger age (p = 0.003) and need for subsequent therapy (p = 0.03) were associated with worse HRQoL outcomes. Conclusion Durable responses to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and favourable HRQoL outcomes are encouraging. Chronic events may be more common than previously thought although no clear chronic adverse cardiometabolic effects were observed.
Platform for Ultra-Strong Modulation in Hybrid Silicon Nitride/2D Material Photonic Structures

We demonstrate a platform for ultra-strong optical modulation in hybrid silicon nitride (SiN)/2D waveguides, by leveraging the gate dependent absorption modulation in graphene and the strong electro-refractive effects in monolayer TMDs.
Quasi-static anti-plane shear crack propagation in nonlinear strain-limiting elastic solids using phase-field approach

We study a quasi-static evolution of anti-plane crack with the nonlinear strain-limiting model using the phase-field approach. The nonlinear strain-limiting models, a subclass of the implicit constitutive relations, allow the linearized strain value to remain small even if the stress value tends to infinity. To compute the quasi-static crack, we solve the constrained energy minimization for the nonlinear bulk energy coupled with diffusive crack energy. An iterative staggered scheme (L-scheme) is employed for coupling the nonlinear mechanics and phase-field, and augmented Lagrangian is utilized to accommodate crack irreversibility. Several numerical experiments of the proposed framework substantiate the bounded strain in the neighborhood of the crack-tip for both static and quasi-static cracks. The comparisons of bulk and the crack energies and the discrete crack-tip speed between the LEFM and our model are presented.
The effectiveness of exercise program after lumbar discectomy surgery.

Abstract A lumbar herniation disc appears as a major cause of lumbar pain and sciatica. The purpose of the present systematic review is to examine the effectiveness of such exercise programs on pain, disability, quality of life, strength and the assessed time required to return to work/normal activities after undergoing lumbar discectomy surgery. PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were used for the selection of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The PEDro scale was chosen to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Seven RCTS met the inclusion criteria. According to the evaluation of the PEDro scale, one was considered as « high quality», five as « moderate quality» and one as « low quality». The mean score of the studies was 5.14. The results showed that after such exercise there was an improvement in pain, disability, quality of life, muscle strength and in time required to return to work. The exercise programs have a positive impact on the reduction of pain, disability, time required to return to work/normal activities as well as an increase in quality of life and muscle strength in patients with lumbar discectomy surgery.
Does land use matter? Carbon consequences of alternative land use futures in New England

Globally, forests play an important role in climate change mitigation. However, land-use impacts the ability of forests to sequester and store carbon. Here we quantify the impacts of five divergent future land-use scenarios on aboveground forest carbon stocks and fluxes throughout New England. These scenarios, four co-designed with stakeholders from throughout the region and the fifth a continuation of recent trends in land use, were simulated by coupling a land cover change model with a mechanistic forest growth model to produce estimates of aboveground carbon over 50 years. Future carbon removed through harvesting and development was tracked using a standard carbon accounting methodology, modified to fit our modeling framework. Of the simulated changes in land use, changes in harvesting had the most profound and immediate impacts on carbon stocks and fluxes. In one of the future land-use scenarios including a rapid expansion of harvesting for biomass energy, this changed New England forests from a net carbon sink to a net carbon source in 2060. Also in these simulations, relatively small reductions in harvest intensities (e.g., 10% reduction), coupled with an increased percent of wood going into longer-term storage, led to substantial reductions in net carbon emissions (909 MMtCO2eq) as compared to a continuation of recent trends in land use. However, these projected gains in carbon storage and reduction in emissions from less intense harvesting regimes can only be realized if it is paired with a reduction in the consumption of the timber products, and their replacements, that otherwise would result in additional emissions from leakage and substitution.
Elderly Migration and State Fiscal Policy: Evidence from the 1990 Census Migration Flows

The elderly's unique economic situation makes some government expenditure and taxation policies more attractive than others and also makes them potentially quite mobile. This research investigates whether elderly migration is affected by state fiscal policies, paying close attention to how the public sector is represented and using net as well as gross state-to-state migration flows. Our empirical results suggest that, in addition to cost-of-living and climate considerations, the elderly are attracted to states that exempt food from sales taxes and spend less on welfare. Low personal income and death taxes also encourage migration, depending on how these taxes are measured.
Dyslexia: Past, Present, and Future

The current paper aims to provide a historical overview of the dyslexia therapy and research. Currently, dyslexia research is an interdisciplinary endeavor encompassing a wide array of subjects including neurology, education, psychology, and linguistics. However, under the influence of the concurrent literary, educational and psychological trends in different eras, different fields have provided unique insights into the nature of reading difficulties. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the current trends in the dyslexia research.
Diversity and Predicted Function of Gut Microbes from Two Species of Viviparid Snails

Animal gut bacteria are involved in numerous critical functions. In snails, gut bacteria play crucial roles in organic material digestion and nutrient production and have been implicated in aspects of reproduction. Snail gut microbes are known to differ between species and even between anatomical compartments of the digestive tract; dietary changes are also known to alter snail gut flora. In an effort to better understand their diversity and function, we studied the gut microbial communities from two viviparid snails, Campeloma decisum and Cipangopaludina japonica. We were interested in whether significant differences in bacterial community composition existed between the two species, and whether differences in microbial diversity corresponded to differences in community function. Using next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S V4 region, we found no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between Ca. decisum and Ci. japonica. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phyla in both species, while Bacteroidetes had a higher mean abundance in Ci. japonica. Nine taxonomic groups were present in significantly different mean abundances between the snail species. Pseudomonads and Enterobacteriaceae were notably more abundant in Ca. decisum, while Proteobacteria and Chitinophagaceae were more abundant in Ci. japonica. Peptidoglycan synthesis, pyruvate fermentation, and aerobic respiration by cytochrome c were the three most abundant microbial pathways represented in the viviparid gut. Fourteen functional pathways differed significantly between Ca. decisum and Ci. japonica, potentially correlated with differences in bacterial community composition and snail life history. Our data fill in data gaps regarding gut microbes in Viviparidae and highlight future research paths examining the prevalence of Firmicutes and unidentified diversity in both snail species.
Development of the Rat Spinal Cord: Immuno- and Enzyme Histochemical Approaches

1 Introduction.- 2 A Survey of the Development of the Rat Spinal Cord.- 2.1 The Matrix Layer.- 2.2 The Mantle Layer.- 2.3 The Marginal Layer.- 2.4 Development of Descending Fiber Tracts.- 2.4.1 Nucleus Tegmentalis Laterodorsalis Dorsolateral Funiculus.- 2.4.2 Locus Coeruleus Ventral Funiculus.- 2.4.3 Nucleus Ruber Dorsolateral Funiculus.- 3 Materials and Methods.- 3.1 Animals.- 3.2 Histological Procedures.- 3.3 Antibodies.- 3.4 Immunohistochemistry.- 3.5 Enzyme Histochemistry.- 3.6 Neuronal Tracing: Intrauterine and Postnatal Applications.- 4 Results.- 4.1 General Comments on the Techniques.- 4.2 Matrix Layer.- 4.2.1 Basal Plate/Floor Plate.- 4.2.2 Alar Plate/Roof Plate.- 4.3 Mantle Layer.- 4.3.1 Ventral Horn/Ventral Commissure/Ventral Raphe.- 4.3.2 Intermediate Gray.- 4.3.3 Dorsal Horn/Dorsal Raphe.- 4.4 Marginal Layer.- 4.4.1 Ventral Funiculus.- 4.4.2 Lateral Funiculus.- 4.4.3 Dorsal Funiculus/Dorsolateral Fasciculus.- 4.5 Tracer Experiments.- 4.5.1 Nucleus Tegmentalis Laterodorsalis.- 4.5.2 Nucleus Locus Coeruleus.- 4.5.3 Nucleus Ruber.- 5 Discussion.- 5.1 Matrix Layer.- 5.2 Mantle Layer.- 5.3 Marginal Layer.- 5.4 Development of Long Descending Systems.- 5.4.1 Methodological Considerations.- 5.4.2 Nucleus Tegmentalis Laterodorsalis Dorsolateral Funiculus.- 5.4.3 Locus Coeruleus Ventral Funiculus.- 5.4.4 Nucleus Ruber Dorsolateral Funiculus.- 5.4.5 Cerebral Cortex Dorsal Funiculus.- 5.4.6 Conclusion.- 6 New Insights into the Development of the Rat Spinal Cord.- 6.1 Matrix Layer.- 6.2 Mantle Layer.- 6.3 Marginal Layer.- 7 Summary.- 7.1 Matrix Layer.- 7.2 Mantle Layer.- 7.3 Marginal Layer.- References.
Optical Random Access Memory Based on Bacteriorhodopsin

During the past five years, investigators have shown considerable interest in the potential use of light transducing proteins to perform optical switching functions.1,2 There are significant advantages inherent in the use of biological molecules, either in their native form, or modified via organic synthesis or protein engineering, as active components in molecular electronic devices. These advantages derive in large part from the natural selection process, and the fact that nature has solved through trial and error problems of a similar nature to those encountered in harnessing organic molecules to carry out logic, switching and energy transducing functions. One example of this type of serendipity to be explored in the present paper is the use of the light harvesting protein, bacteriorhodopsin, as the photoactive element in an optically coupled random access memory.
Between Eris and Eros: Nietzsche on Beautiful Competition

A critique of agonistic democracy based on an analysis of Nietzsche's view of the good human community.
The aging road warrior: national trend toward older riders impacts outcome after motorcycle injury

Industry statistics suggest that motorcycle owners in the United States are getting older. Our objective was to analyze the effect of this demographic shift on injuries and outcomes after a motorcycle crash. Injured motorcyclists aged 17 to 89 years in the National Trauma Databank were reviewed from 1996 to 2005. Age trends and injury patterns were assessed over time. Injury Severity Score (ISS), length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) use, comorbidities, complications, mortality, injury patterns, helmet use, and alcohol use were compared for subjects 40 and older versus those younger than 40-years-old. There were 61,689 subjects included. Over the study period, the mean age increased from 33.9 to 39.1 years (P Language: en
Microwave gauging with improved angular resolution

Angular resolution of a microwave level gauge may have positive impact on the robustness of the target detection. Therefore, an azimuthal scan can be performed with the aid of electronical or mechanical beam-steering methods. The present paper provides an overview and a comparison of signal-processing methods which improve the angular resolution of such measurements. For a given antenna, improvements can be achieved well beyond the limit of the half-power beam-width (HPBW) of that sensor. Among others, the performance of the Wiener filter and the Kalman filter for a motion-free channel is examined in greater detail since their application exhibits promising improvements on the angular resolution in both, simulations and measurements. In addition, the advantage of using a Kalman filter for a channel with statistical fluctuations is shown in simulations.
A Comparison of Co-Array Fortran and OpenMP Fortran for SPMD Programming

Co-Array Fortran, formally called F−−, is a small set of extensions to Fortran 90/95 for Single-Program-Multiple-Data (SPMD) parallel processing. OpenMP Fortran is a set of compiler directives that provide a high level interface to threads in Fortran, with both thread-local and thread-shared memory. OpenMP is primarily designed for loop-level directive-based parallelization, but it can also be used for SPMD programs by spawning multiple threads as soon as the program starts and having each thread then execute the same code independently for the duration of the run. The similarities and differences between these two SPMD programming models are described. Co-Array Fortran can be implemented using either threads or processes, and is therefore applicable to a wider range of machine types than OpenMP Fortran. It has also been designed from the ground up to support the SPMD programming style. To simplify the implementation of Co-Array Fortran, a formal Subset is introduced that allows the mapping of co-arrays onto standard Fortran arrays of higher rank. An OpenMP Fortran compiler can be extended to support Subset Co-Array Fortran with relatively little effort.
Improved measurement of multimode squeezed light via eigenmode decomposition

Summary form only given. We find that the quantum statistics of multimode squeezed fields are easily obtained and simply understood via an eigenmode description. The eigenmode description of squeezed light is based on our finding that the squeezing matrix /spl Gamma/ can always be diagonalized by a physical transformation of the fields - either a change of basis or linear unitary evolution. Each eigenmode possesses single-mode squeezing statistics, and the corresponding eigenvalue is the effective squeezing parameter for that mode. The squeezing eigenmodes are completely uncoupled from one another (at the quantum level) and represent independent channels (pixels) useful for carrying noise-sensitive data. We show how an eigenmode description of a squeezed field allows one to easily calculate noise statistics of the field upon diffraction and/or propagation through any sequence of lossless linear optical elements. We further show that the eigenmodes define the shape of the local oscillator which must be used in order to obtain the smallest quantum noise in balanced homodyne or heterodyne measurements. Finally, we use the theory to model pulsed optical parametric downconversion in a /spl chi//sup (2)/ medium with a classical pump field of arbitrary bandwidth, allowing for the possibility of phase and/or group velocity mismatch.
Active Memory Clusters: Efficient Multiprocessing on Commodity Clusters

We show how novel active memory system research and system networking trends can be combined to realize hardware distributed shared memory on clusters of industry-standard workstations. Our active memory controller extends the cache coherence protocol to support transparent use of address re-mapping techniques that dramatically improve single-node performance, and also contains the necessary functionality for building a hardware DSM machine. Simultaneously, commodity network technology is becoming more tightly-integrated with the memory controller. We call our design of active memory commodity nodes interconnected by a next-generation network active memory clusters. We present a detailed design of the AMC architecture, focusing on the active memory controller and the network characteristics necessary to support AMC. We show simulation results for a range of parallel applications, showing that AMC performance is comparable to that of custom hardware DSM systems and far exceeds that of the fastest software DSM solutions.
Noncontrast mapping of arterial delay and functional connectivity using resting-state functional MRI: a study in Moyamoya patients.

Purpose To investigate if delays in resting-state spontaneous fluctuations of the BOLD (sfBOLD) signal can be used to create maps similar to time-to-maximum of the residue function (Tmax) in Moyamoya patients and to determine whether sfBOLD delays affect the results of brain connectivity mapping.
Lumbar spine neuroarthropathy (Charcot joint) caused by a myxopapillary ependymoma.

A 57-year old highly functional paraplegic man status post T10–S1 laminectomy and tumor resection followed by cobalt irradiation of a myxopapillary ependymoma 47 years previously, presented with increasing lumbar pain when upright and when transitioning from his wheelchair. Pain improved when supine. Lower extremity pain and spasms/spasticity were treated 30 years previously with a L3 and L4 rhizotomy/nerve transection. Continence required bladder selfcatheterization and maintenance of a colostomy. Examination was notable for flaccid paraplegia (longstanding and unchanged), a T10 segmental sensory level (also longstanding) and lumbar kyphosis. Current MRI (Fig. 1) revealed a pseudoarthrosis at the L2–3 disc interspace (1). Charcot joints may be seen in patients with loss of sensation (deafferentation) affecting a limb or trunk and are most often a complication of diabetes, syringomyelia or spinal cord trauma (2). Charcot arthropathies are however rare in spine. Spinal neuroarthropathies are induced by abnormal motion between vertebral bodies that lead to articular fracture and joint disruption together with disc degeneration and endplate fragmentation. These processes eventually lead to joint widening and subluxation that may be very deforming. The predominant changes may be atrophic, as in this case, with endplate and vertebral body resorption or, more commonly, there may be hypertrophic changes characterized by osteophyte formation, bony sclerosis and formation of a paraspinal mass of mixed bone formation and fragmentation [1]. The radiographic differential diagnosis includes pathologic vertebral fracture from primary or metastatic tumor or from osteomyelitis. These entities may be distinguishable most reliably on MRI with identification of an enhancing tumor mass or abnormal inflammatory infiltration of the disc space and paravertebral tissues with high T2 signal along with enhancement of the inflammatory tissue with or without abscess formation. In comparison, Charcot spine shows endplate and facet disruption, subluxation, bone fragmentation, intradiscal vacuum phenomena or intradiscal fluid collection [2]. Limited long-term outcome data on the surgical treatment of spinal Charcot joints is available. Nonetheless, the principles of surgical intervention focus on the immobilization of the unstable pseudoarthrosis. Strategies include circumferential debridement and stabilization across the pseudoarthrosis, use of a 4-rod construct to provide greater rigidity and improved biomechanical stress distribution, extension of constructs to the pelvis, and adjunctive use of bone-morphogenic protein [3]. M. C. Chamberlain (&) Department of Neurology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, 825 Eastlake Ave East, MS G4940, Box 19023, Seattle, WA 98109, USA e-mail: chambemc@u.washington.edu; chambemc@uw.edu
Richard Bellman's contributions to computer science

Abstract The contributions of Richard Bellman which have direct relevance to computer science—especially to computer software and programming problems—are reviewed. Applications of dynamic programming are emphasized.