cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reuse of Medical Devices: Implications for Infection Control

Reuse of both single-use and multiuse medical devices is a common practice and can result in transmission of infection when appropriate sterilization or reprocessing does not occur. Reuse of single-use devices can be problematic because there are no clear standards for reprocessing, although data regarding adverse outcomes are limited. Single-use devices are commonly reused, appropriately or inappropriately, in resource-limited settings because of cost constraints. Reuse of medical devices raises important legal and ethical questions.
Radiochemical Solar Neutrino Experiments, "Successful and Otherwise"

Over the years, several different radiochemical systems have been proposed as solar neutrino detectors. Of these, two achieved operating status and obtained important results that helped to define the current field of neutrino physics: the first solar-neutrino experiment, the Chlorine Detector ({sup 37}Cl) that was developed by chemist Raymond Davis and colleagues at the Homestake Mine, and the subsequent Gallium ({sup 71}Ga) Detectors that were operated by (a) the SAGE collaboration at the Baksan Laboratory and (b) the GALLEX/GNO collaborations at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory. These experiments have been extensively discussed in the literature and in many previous International Neutrino Conferences. In this paper, I present important updates to the results from SAGE and GALLEX/GNO. I also review the principles of the radiochemical detectors and briefly describe several different detectors that have been proposed. In light of the well-known successes that have been subsequently obtained by real-time neutrino detectors such as Kamiokande, Super-Kamiokande, SNO, and KamLAND, I do not anticipate that any new radiochemical neutrino detectors will be built. At present, only SAGE is still operating; the Chlorine and GNO radiochemical detectors have been decommissioned and dismantled.
Convection bonds and bond graphs

Abstract Bonds which have two effort or potential variables and one flow variable are proposed to represent the interaction of system elements involving the flowof a pure substance, particularly when that substance is compressible. The meanings of the traditional 0 and 1 junctions, the two-port RS element and the multiport C element are generalized to accommodate these bonds, and a new heat transfer element is introduced. Bilateral causality still applies to the bonds, and is readily applied to system models. Certain macro elements are introduced which expedite computation. The graphs are compatible with conventional bond graphs.
On the mechanical response of randomly reinforced chopped-fibers composites: Data and model

Based on a substantial amount of stiffness and failure data for a randomly reinforced, chopped carbon fiber-strand, polymeric composite, this article presents a mechanics based material model that strives to explain the above phenomena. The model simulates the random geometry of the material and utilizes basic ideas of composite laminate theory to predict material properties and failure. In addition, statistical studies are performed in order to assess aspects of size effects on the measured response of this material.
The room temperature chemistries of isocyanates with zeolite NaX

Abstract Isocyanates and di-isocyanates are used in the production of various chemicals and materials, such as pesticides and polyurethane. However, since the disastrous accidental release of isocyanate in Bhopal in 1984 this class of toxic compounds has been under scrutiny, with growing interest in means to respond to isocyanate release. The susceptibility of isocyanates to nucleophilic substitution [D.P.N. Satchell, R.S. Satchell, Chem. Soc. Rev. 4 (1975) 231] and the known nucleophilicity of NaX [Yang, et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 92 (2006) 56; Doetschman, et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 92 (2006) 292; Kanyi, et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 108 (2008) 103] led to this study of a spectrum of isocyanates representing cyclic and aromatic isocyanates, di-isocyanates, 1°, 2°, and 3° isocyanates, and alkyl chain isocyanates of various lengths. Additional experiments were done in order to understand the nature of a tightly bound chemical adduct product that forms in the isocyanate reactions with the zeolite. The isocyanate functional group was shown to be susceptible to nucleophilic attack by Faujasite NaX. A carbamate framework adduct, with the anionic nitrogen stabilized by the sodium cation is proposed. The product is very tightly bound to the zeolite. In two, but not all, isocyanates in which there are methyl protons β to the isocyanate moiety, an elimination reaction took place to form the α, β olefin, competing with the nucleophilic addition reaction. The types of chemistry occurring and the tenacity with which the products are retained, suggests that zeolites may have practical applications in hazardous materials cleanup or controlling isocyanate vapor release.
A combined molecular dynamics and Raman spectroscopy approach for designing ice-metal interfaces

Understanding the structure and interatomic interactions of an ice-metal interface plays a fundamental role in the design of deicing coatings. This is demonstrated by a novel approach, combining vibrational results from laser Raman spectroscopy with molecular dynamics simulations to obtain insights into icing on solids which, in turn, lead to design criteria for minimizing adhesion. An atomistic model of ice-copper interaction is constructed based on electronic structure calculations and used to show that reasonable molecular geometry and binding energy at the interface can be obtained. Through molecular dynamics simulations we find that the ice layer adjacent to the copper surface is structurally more disordered than the layers further away, a result which is verified by the Raman spectra of vibrational frequencies. The primary adhesive bond is made by the adsorption of oxygen atoms at the lattice sites of the metal substrate. The information obtained by Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics is then exploited to arrive at specific recommendations for designing polymeric deicing coatings and materials.
A Study of Bare PC Web Server Performance for Workloads with Dynamic and Static Content

Bare PC applications do not use an operating system or kernel. The bare PC architecture avoids buffer copying, minimizes interrupts, uses a single thread of execution for processing network packets, and incorporates novel scheduling to minimize CPU utilization. We design a bare PC Web server that can serve both dynamic and static content. Measurements of response time, connection time and throughput for workloads containing requests for dynamic and static content indicate that the server has better performance than the Apache and IIS Web servers. For example, the bare PC server has a maximum request rate that is twice that of the Apache and IIS servers when serving dynamic content for small dataset sizes. Furthermore, at capacity the CPU utilization of the bare PC server is 1/5th that of the other servers. The bare PC server can also sustain a higher maximum request rate for dynamic pages with a given request rate for static pages. The studies demonstrate that the performance of the bare PC server when serving dynamic content is limited only by the latency of the database server.
Vietnamese Money Supply M1 and Stock Price Behavior

This study applies Enders and Siklos’ (2001) procedure to test for the long-run asymmetric co-integrating relationship and Granger causality between Vietnamese monthly money supply M 1 and monthly equity index over the period July 2000 to August 2010. The empirical results suggest a long-run asymmetric co-integration relationship between the narrowly defined money supply and equity index, indicating that the countercyclical monetary policies affect investors differently in different phases of business cycles. The empirical results further suggest that Vietnamese equity investors are more responsive to contractionary than expansionary monetary policy measures. Thus, the Vietnamese Central Bank countercyclical monetary policy is effective in influencing the equity markets. The empirical findings should be of special interest for the Central Bank in formulating and implementing its countercyclical monetary policy, for equity investors in designing their investment strategies, and corporate executives in determining their capital structures.
User-design in the creation of human learning systems

Systems theory and thinking are fundamental for the effective application of human performance technologies and instructional design to organizational and educational change efforts. One of the cornerstones of systemic change is the involvement of all stakeholders in what is termed participatory- or user-design. While the value of including the users in the creation of large systems of education and human performance (such as training, computer systems, and curriculum) is apparent, the reality of such inclusive efforts has a history of failure. Meeting the challenge of shifting power dynamics, empowering stakeholders and educating for design must, at some level, fall to the leaders of any dynamic organization. This paper describes systemic change as a context for user-design and defines user-design in that context. Approaches to user-design are explored, including ethnographic field methods, cooperative design, and action research-based user-design as applied to the creation and implementation of new technologies. A proposed research plan for the advancement of user-design practice concludes the work.
Sleep Complaints in Older Adults: A Racial Comparison

BACKGROUND Sleep complaints have been reported in epidemiologic studies to be more frequent in late life, among females, among the physically impaired, and among persons experiencing psychiatric disorders. To date, however, no studies have reported a racial difference in sleep complaints among older persons in the United States. METHOD The Duke EPESE (Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly) assessed 3,976 community-dwelling elders age 65+ for sleep complaints and relevant control variables. RESULTS In bivariate analyses, sleep complaints were associated with female gender, White race, older age, cognitive impairment, lower education, presence of chronic health conditions, poor self-rated health, and higher scores on a self-rated depression scale (the CES-D). In logistic regression analysis, the association of White race and more sleep complaints persisted (p < .001) when the above variables were simultaneously controlled. CONCLUSIONS Fewer reported sleep complaints in community-dwelling Black elders compared to White elders remains unexplained, though it may be secondary to a higher threshold for Black elders reporting complaints.
Independent and dependent contributions of advanced maternal and paternal ages to autism risk

Reports on autism and parental age have yielded conflicting results on whether mothers, fathers, or both, contribute to increased risk. We analyzed restricted strata of parental age in a 10-year California birth cohort to determine the independent or dependent effect from each parent. Autism cases from California Department of Developmental Services records were linked to State birth files (1990-1999). Only singleton births with complete data on parental age and education were included (n=4,947,935, cases=12,159). In multivariate logistic regression models, advancing maternal age increased risk for autism monotonically regardless of the paternal age. Compared with mothers 25-29 years of age, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for mothers 40+ years was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.35-1.70), or compared with mothers 30, the aOR was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.01-1.27) for fathers 40+ vs. 25-29 years of age, almost identical to the aOR for fathers <25 years. Based on the first examination of heterogeneity in parental age effects, it appears that women's risk for delivering a child who develops autism increases throughout their reproductive years whereas father's age confers increased risk for autism when mothers are <30, but has little effect when mothers are past age 30. We also calculated that the recent trend towards delayed childbearing contributed approximately a 4.6% increase in autism diagnoses in California over the decade.
WATER BINDING OF MACROMOLECULES DETERMINED BY PULSED NMR

Pulsed NMR was applied to measure the spin-lattice (T1) and the spin-spin (T1) relaxation times of the water adsorbed on sodium alginate, pectin, corn starch, casein and cellulose. T1 was determined by means of repeated 90°-90° pulse sequences and T2 by the spin-echo method. T1 relaxation time curves for all the samples studied showed simple exponential, i.e., single phase, behavior. Plots of T1 as a function of moisture content showed minima at 0.15–0.258 water/g dry matter; plots of T1 vs water activity (Aw) yielded minima at Aw of 0.65. T2 relaxation time curves for corn starch containing more than 0.56g water/g DM exhibited two-phase behavior, indicating the existence of two water fractions of different mobility. The amount of water in the bound fraction showed a remarkable consistency (0.194 ± 0.011g water/g DM) among six samples of high moisture content. T2 was found to increase with moisture content for all the macromolecules. Cellulose showed exceptionally long T2 values compared to the other materials at the same moisture content, whereas pectin and sodium alginate showed short T2 values. These results indicated that T2 value is a measure of strength of water binding. Break points were observed in the T2-moisture curve. The moisture contents at these points corresponded to the bound water content determined by freezing and to the equilibrium moisture content at Aw of 0.9. T2 increased exponentially with Aw.
Social Skills of Children With Specific Language Impairment

The social skills of 19 elementary school children with specific language impairment (SLI) and 19 chronological age-matched peers were examined. Children in both groups were selected from those chi...
Shc is a substrate of the rat intestinal epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase

Abstract Background & Aims: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to induce intestinal proliferation and maturation; however, little information is available regarding substrates of the intestinal EGF receptor tyrosine kinase. The purpose of this study was to determine if src homologous collagen-like protein (Shc) was an in vivo substrate of the intestinal EGF receptor. Methods: Ten-day-old rats were treated with EGF or were breast-fed. In some experiments, IEC-6 cells were treated with EGF. Intestinal tissue and cell fractions were studied by immunodetection to compare the tyrosine phosphorylation state and the subcellular localization of intestinal proteins. Results: The total tyrosine phosphorylation state of intestinal proteins was increased threefold by EGF. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and Shc were rapidly increased by EGF. The association of Grb2 with Shc increased fourfold and fivefold. Plasma membrane translocation of Shc and associated phosphotyrosyl proteins was increased within 30 seconds of EGF treatment. Conclusions: Shc is a substrate of the intestinal EGF receptor in vivo. EGF-induced association of Shc with the adapter protein Grb2 may have implications for activation of the p21 ras signaling pathway in the intestine. The EGF-induced membrane association of Shc with two other phosphotyrosyl proteins suggests involvement of Shc in additional aspects of EGF-receptor signaling in the intestine.
FtsH-Dependent Degradation of Phage Shock Protein C in Yersinia enterocolitica and Escherichia coli

The widely conserved phage shock protein (Psp) extracytoplasmic stress response has been studied extensively in Escherichia coli and Yersinia enterocolitica. Both species have the PspF, -A, -B, and -C proteins, which have been linked to robust phenotypes, including Y. enterocolitica virulence. PspB and PspC are cytoplasmic membrane proteins required for stress-dependent induction of psp gene expression and for bacterial survival during the mislocalization of outer membrane secretin proteins. Previously, we reported that Y. enterocolitica PspB functions to positively control the amount of PspC by an uncharacterized posttranscriptional mechanism. In this study, we have discovered that the cytoplasmic membrane protease FtsH is involved in this phenomenon. FtsH destabilizes PspC in Y. enterocolitica, but coproduction of PspC with its binding partner PspB was sufficient to prevent this destabilization. In contrast, FtsH did not affect any other core component of the Psp system. These data suggested that uncomplexed PspC might be particularly deleterious to the bacterial cell and that FtsH acts as an important quality control mechanism to remove it. This was supported by the observation that toxicity caused by PspC production was reduced either by coproduction of PspB or by increased synthesis of FtsH. We also found that the phenomenon of FtsH-dependent PspC destabilization is conserved between Y. enterocolitica and E. coli.
Symplectic Landau-Ginzburg fixed points and the localization problem☆

Abstract The symplectic σ-model formulation of the localization problem suggests that a fixed point of Sp(n+ + n−)/Sp(n− symmetry describes the localization transition. We find such a fixed point in a 4 - ϵ expansion of a Landau-Ginzburg theory of symplectic symmetry. However, it is generally unstable, indicating a breakdown of universality, the σ-model, or smoothness in critical behavior as a function of spatial dimension.
Population densities and tree diameter effects associated with verbenone treatments to reduce mountain pine beetle-caused mortality of lodgepole pine

Mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is among the primary causes of mature lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta variety latifolia mortality. Verbenone is the only antiaggregant semiochemical commercially available for reducing mountain pine beetle infestation of lodgepole pine. The success of verbenone treatments has varied greatly in previous studies because of differences in study duration, beetle population size, tree size, or other factors. To determine the ability of verbenone to protect lodgepole pine over long-term mountain pine beetle outbreaks, we applied verbenone treatments annually for 3 to 7 yr at five western United States sites. At one site, an outbreak did not develop; at two sites, verbenone reduced lodgepole pine mortality in medium and large diameter at breast height trees, and at the remaining two sites verbenone was ineffective at reducing beetle infestation. Verbenone reduced mountain pine beetle infestation of lodgepole pine trees in treated areas when populations built gradually or when outbreaks in surrounding untreated forests were of moderate severity. Verbenone did not protect trees when mountain pine beetle populations rapidly increase.
Statistical Contrail Forecasting

Abstract The current operational Air Force Weather Agency condensation trail (contrail) forecast technique is based on the Appleman algorithm, developed in the 1950s, with minor modifications. The Appleman algorithm requires accurate measurements or forecasts of ambient flight-level temperature, relative humidity, and pressure, as well as the amount of heat and water vapor added by an aircraft to its exhaust to determine accurately the critical temperature for contrail formation. Several factors contribute to the relatively poor contrail forecasts produced by the Air Force Weather Agency contrail forecast technique, including insufficiently accurate atmospheric measurements and numerical weather prediction forecasts of temperature and humidity at flight level, as well as some of the procedures used in the Air Force Weather Agency’s implementation of the Appleman algorithm. The Contrail Field Program was conducted in eastern Massachusetts during a 10-day period in September 1995. Radiosonde data and aircra...
Molecular and Fossil Evidence on the Origin of Angiosperms

Molecular data on relationships within angiosperms confirm the view that their increasing morphological diversity through the Cretaceous reflected their evolutionary radiation. Despite the early appearance of aquatics and groups with simple flowers, the record is consistent with inferences from molecular trees that the first angiosperms were woody plants with pinnately veined leaves, multiparted flowers, uniovulate ascidiate carpels, and columellar monosulcate pollen. Molecular data appear to refute the hypothesis based on morphology that angiosperms and Gnetales are closest living relatives. Morphological analyses of living and fossil seed plants that assume molecular relationships identify glossopterids, Bennettitales, and Caytonia as angiosperm relatives; these results are consistent with proposed homologies between the cupule of glossopterids and Caytonia and the angiosperm bitegmic ovule. Jurassic molecular dates for the angiosperms may be reconciled with the fossil record if the first angiosperms were restricted to wet forest understory habitats and did not radiate until the Cretaceous.
CHARACTERISTICS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF A FLOUR PREPARED FROM SODIUM BICARBONATE SOAKED AND STEAMED SOYBEANS

A soyflour was prepared by soaking the beans in 9 volumes of 0.5% NaHCO3 overnight (pH 8.5), steamed at 100°C for 30 min, dried at 50–60°C under vacuum, then ground to flour. The flour had a light tan color and no objectional beany odor. The composition of the flour was 48% protein, 19% flour, 5% ash, and 3.5% moisture. No lipoxygenase nor antitrypsin activity was detected in the flour. The phytate content was 0.75%. Protein solubility, emulsifying capacity, foaming capacity, oil and water absorption of the flour was determined. The results showed that the flour prepared from biocarbonate soaked and steamed soybeans possessed desirable functional characteristics except protein solubility was decreased. Two products, noodles and bread, were prepared by using the soyflour as an ingredient. Sensory evaluation of the products revealed that both products were well accepted. This study was supported in part by the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station, (USDA/CSRS Grant No. Al X-3JYL-05). The authors acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Leo G. Holmes, U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Command, Natick, Mass., in conducting amino acid analysis of soyflour.
Bernard Chazelle: Natural Algorithms

This chapter describes Chazelle’s concept of “Natural Algorithms” amid other uses of “natural” in mathematics and computer science. A theorem of his about equilibria in Nature exposes some of the ideas.
Nonclassical devices in SOI: Genuine or copyright from III-V

The combination of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrates with ultrathin Si (or Ge) channel and gate insulator layers opens new opportunities for nonclassical CMOS-compatible devices and possibly optical sources. Unlike their III–V counterparts, which often came first, SOI-based devices have the crucial advantage of potential integrability with dominant silicon technology. We discuss the examples of lateral and vertical tunneling transistors, as well as a tunneling-based SOI intersubband laser. None of these devices has progressed beyond either proof-of-concept demonstrations or, in the case of the intersubband laser, a purely theoretical concept. Still, the unique characteristics deriving from quantum mechanical tunneling make such devices an interesting playground for innovative device research, especially as standard Si CMOS heads towards the rapidly approaching end of scaling. � 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Negative and Positive Regulatory Epitopes in the C-Terminal Domains of the Human B1 and B2 Bradykinin Receptor Subtypes Determine Receptor Coupling Efficacy to G9/11-Mediated Phospholipase Cβ Activity

The human B1 bradykinin (BK) receptor (B1R) is more efficacious than the human B2 BK receptor (B2R) in both ligand-independent and agonist-dependent coupling to Gq/11-mediated phospholipase Cβ activity. In fact, B1R is constitutively active, whereas B2R exhibits little if any constitutive activity. To evaluate the role of the C-terminal domain in receptor Gq/11 coupling, we constructed chimeric and C-terminally truncated receptors. The slopes of the increase in basal and agonist-dependent cellular phosphoinositide hydrolysis as a function of receptor density in transiently transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells provided parameters of receptor coupling. Exchanging the C-terminal domains between the two receptors revealed that these domains are largely responsible for the difference in coupling. B1R truncation showed that this receptor does not directly depend on the C-terminal domain for efficient coupling, although coupling is dramatically augmented by residues in the membrane-distal portion of the domain downstream from Tyr327. On the other hand, coupling of B2R is absolutely dependent on a membrane-proximal epitope in the C-terminal domain upstream from Lys315. This epitope is adjacent to a basic residue, Arg311, which exerts an inhibitory effect on coupling. Arg311 is not conserved in B1R, and complementary mutations in B2R and B1R showed that this residue, together with previously identified serines and threonines, acts to attenuate the coupling efficacy of B2R. Therefore, the C-terminal domain participates intimately in the efficacy of B1R and B2R Gq/11 coupling by contributing both positive and negative regulatory epitopes.
On the Pseudospectral Covector Mapping Theorem for Nonlinear Optimal Control

In recent years, a large number of nonlinear optimal control problems have been solved by pseudospectral (PS) methods. In an effort to better understand the PS approach to solving control problems, we present convergence results for problems with mixed state and control constraints. A set of sufficient conditions are proved under which the solution of the discretized optimal control problem converges to the continuous solution. Conditions for the convergence of the duals are described and illustrated. This leads to a clarification of Covector Mapping Theorem and its connections to constraint qualifications.
Cell Surface Localization of ABCG1 Does Not Require LXR Activation

In Response: Xie et al suggest that an alternative interpretation may explain the observation that LXR activation in macrophage preferentially presents ABCG1 at cell surface.1 They indicate that the newly synthesized ABCG1 on LXR activation may reach the cell surface through Golgi apparatus in macrophage, rather than via redistribution of preexisting ABCG1 from intracellular pools. Our interpretation that LXR activation facilitates redistribution of ABCG1 from an intracellular pool to …
Graphlet alignment in protein interaction networks

With the increased availability of genome-scale data, it becomes possible to study functional relationships of genes across multiple biological networks. While most previous approaches for studying conservation of patterns in networks are through the application of network alignment algorithms or the identification of network motifs, we show that it is possible to exhaustively enumerate all graphlet alignments, which consist of subgraphs from each network that share a common topology and contain homologous proteins at the same position in the topology. We show that our algorithm is able to cover significantly more proteins than previous network alignment algorithms while achieving comparable specificity and higher sensitivity with respect to functional enrichment.
Consequences and correlates of adolescent depression.

Objective To examine the correlates and consequences of high levels of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Design Secondary analysis of the 1997 Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Girls, a survey of a nationally representative sample of 4648 adolescent boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years, inclusive, conducted in school settings. The self-administered questionnaire contains a screening instrument for depression based on the Children's Depression Inventory. Outcome Days of school missed, performance at grade level, alcohol use, drug use, smoking, and bingeing. Results After controlling for sociodemographics, life events, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and exposure to violence, relative to other children, children and adolescents with high degrees of depressive symptoms missed about 1 day more of school in the month preceding the survey (P Conclusion High levels of depressive symptoms are correlated with serious and significant consequences, even after controlling for life circumstances.
Measurement of cystatin C functional activity in the cerebrospinal fluid of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and control subjects

Cystatin C is a constitutively expressed and abundant cysteine protease inhibitor within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recent studies have reported a significant reduction in cystatin C concentration in the CSF of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and several other neurodegenerative diseases, relative to healthy controls. Cystatin C can exhibit both neuroprotective and neurotoxic properties, suggesting that altered CSF cystatin C concentrations could potentially impact the pathogenesis or progression of these disorders. However, it is unclear if alterations in cystatin C concentration result in physiologically relevant differences in its functional activity within the CSF. Measurements of the cysteine protease inhibitory activity of cystatin C within the CSF have not been reported, and the relationship between CSF cystatin C concentration and activity levels in different disease contexts has not been investigated. We used a papain inhibition assay to evaluate the total cystatin C activity in CSF samples from 23 ALS patients, 23 healthy controls, and 23 neurological disease controls. Cystatin C concentrations in these samples were previously measured by ELISA. Correlations between cystatin C concentration and activity were assessed with nonparametric statistics. Activity ratios were compared among diagnostic groups using both one-way ANOVA and repeated measures statistics. Total cystatin C activity was found to be directly proportional to its protein concentration in all subjects, and cystatin C activity was not altered in ALS patients. In addition, our data suggest that cystatin C is the predominant cysteine protease inhibitor in human CSF. Our data demonstrate the successful measurement of the functional activity of cystatin C in the CSF, and show that total cystatin C activity can be inferred from its total protein concentration. Our results also suggest that cystatin C is the major cysteine protease inhibitor in human CSF and altered CSF cystatin C concentration may play a role in the pathobiology of ALS and other neurological diseases.
Factors influencing change behavior: risk reduction for HIV infection.

Theoretically informed models are estimated that specify main and interaction effects of a general change to safer/healthier behavior. The subjects of this study are participants in an ongoing longitudinal panel study of adaptations to stress. The sample consists of a portion of those identified in their mid-twenties (Time 4) as at high risk for HIV infection and successfully reinterviewed. A matched group of those at Time 4 who were at low risk for HIV infection were also reinterviewed as part of this analysis. One Ordinary Least Square regression model was estimated in which five independent variables, six control variables, and ten interaction terms are regressed on the dependent variable. In general, the results support many of the factors of the Health Belief Model (HBM), but provide other factors, including interaction effects, which are also relevant to a general change in behavior.
Buying results? Contracting for health service delivery in developing countries.

Summary To achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals, the delivery of health services will need to improve. Contracting with non-state entities, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has been proposed as a means for improving health care delivery, and the global experience with such contracts is reviewed here. The ten investigated examples indicate that contracting for the delivery of primary care can be very effective and that improvements can be rapid. These results were achieved in various settings and services. Many of the anticipated difficulties with contracting were either not observed in practice or did not compromise contracting's effectiveness. Seven of the nine cases with sufficient experience (greater than 3 years' elapsed experience) have been sustained and expanded. Provision of a package of basic services by contractors costs between roughly US$3 and US$6 per head per year in low-income countries. Contracting for health service delivery should be expanded and future efforts must include rigorous evaluations.
The effects of copper on the efficacy of phytase, growth, and phosphorus retention in broiler chicks

Copper is often added to broiler diets at prophylactic concentrations as an antimicrobial despite purported chelation with and reduced utilization of phytin phosphorus. Therefore, male chicks were fed 0, 62.5, 125, 250, or 375 ppm Cu from Cu sulfate in combination with 600 phytase units (FTU)/kg phytase from 9 to 22 d of age (6 cages/diet, 8 birds/cage). Nonphytate phosphorus (NPP) and Ca were formulated to 0.2 and 0.7% of the diet, respectively. Three additional control diets were formulated to contain 0.27, 0.34, and 0.40% NPP, each with 0.7% Ca. Birds fed increasing concentrations of Cu with 600 FTU phytase/kg had linear reductions in performance characteristics (P ≤ 0.05). Birds fed increasing concentrations of Cu with 600 FTU phytase/kg had linear increases in toe ash percentage (P ≤ 0.027), but tibia ash percentage was not affected (P > 0.05). Birds fed increasing Cu concentrations with 600 FTU phytase/kg had linear reductions in apparent P retention as a percentage of total P (P ≤ 0.0005). Supplementation with increasing concentrations of Cu to a diet containing 600 FTU phytase/kg resulted in decreases in 21 d BW, BW gain, feed consumption, feed conversion, tibia and toe ash weights, and apparent P retention as a percentage of total P. In this experiment, Cu supplementation did not reduce the efficacy of phytase (i.e., improvement in apparent P retention with phytase supplementation) but did decrease apparent P retention, BW gain, feed consumption, feed conversion, and tibia ash and toe ash weights.
Prolonged Extreme Thrombocytosis in a Postsplenectomy Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis

We report a case of prolonged extreme reactive thrombocytosis in a post-splenectomy patient with hereditary spherocytosis. A 29-year-old female patient presented with gall stones detected incidentally by abdominal ultrasonography. Her laboratory findings showed hemolytic anemia with spherocytosis on the peripheral blood smear and increased osmotic fragility. She was diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis and underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and splenectomy. After undergoing surgery, the hemolytic anemia was resolved but thrombocytosis was newly detected. Nineteen months after the splenectomy, the thrombocytosis was still persistent and extremely high. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a prolonged extreme reactive thrombocytosis after a splenectomy in Korea.
Oat Avenanthramide-C (2c) Is Biotransformed by Mice and the Human Microbiota into Bioactive Metabolites

Background Avenanthramides (AVAs), which are found exclusively in oats, may play an important role in anti-inflammation and antiatherogenesis. Although the bioavailability of AVAs has been investigated previously, little is known about their metabolism. Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the metabolism of avenanthramide-C (2c), one of the major AVAs, in mice and by the human microbiota, as well as to elucidate the bioactivity of its major metabolites with the goal of finding new exposure markers to precisely reflect oat consumption. Methods For the mouse study, 10 CF-1 female mice were divided into control (vehicle-treated) and 2c intragastrically treated (200 mg/kg) groups (5 mice/group). Twenty-four-hour urine and fecal samples were collected with use of metabolic cages. For the batch culture incubations, 2c was cultured with fecal slurries obtained from 6 human donors. Incubated samples were collected at various time points (0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h). Metabolites were identified via HPLC with electrochemical detection and LC with electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry. To investigate whether 2c metabolites retain the biological effects of 2c, we compared their effects on the growth of and induction of apoptosis in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells. Results Eight metabolites were detected from the 2c-treated mouse urine samples. They were identified as 5-hydroxyanthranilic acid (M1), dihydrocaffeic acid (M2), caffeic acid (M3), dihydroferulic acid (M4), ferulic acid (M5), dihydroavenanthramide-C (M6), dihydroavenanthramide-B (M7), and avenanthramide-B (M8) via analysis of their MS(n) (n = 1-3) spectra. We found that the reduction of 2c's C7'-C8' double bond and the cleavage of its amide bond were the major metabolic routes. In the human microbiota study, 2c was converted into M1-M3 and M6. Moreover, interindividual differences in 2c metabolism were observed among the 6 human subjects. Subjects B, C, E, and F could rapidly metabolize 2c to M6, whereas subject D metabolized little 2c, even up to 120 h. In addition, only subjects A, B, and F could cleave the amide bond of 2c or M6 to form the cleaved metabolites. Furthermore, we showed that 2c and its major metabolite M6 are bioactive compounds against human colon cancer cells. M6 was more active than 2c with the half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 158 μM and could induce apoptosis at 200 μM. Conclusion To our knowledge, the current study demonstrates for the first time that avenanthramide-C can be extensively metabolized by mice and the human microbiota to generate bioactive metabolites.
Simultaneous scaling for MIMO controller certification

We consider methods for the computation of; maximal MIMO stability margins bpc, minimal V-gap metrics zetav, and the maximal difference between these two values, through the use of scaling and weighting functions. We propose simultaneous scaling selections that maximize the generalized stability margin and minimize the V-gap. The minimization of the V-gap by scaling involves a non-convex optimization. We modify the XY-centering algorithm to handle this non-convexity. This is done for applications in controller certification, where the experimentally tested performance of one controller is used to provide guarantees on other controllers' performance without the need for additional tests.
Are Free Maternity Services Completely Free of Costs

Abstract Objectives The Government of Nepal revised free maternity health services, “Aama Surakshya Karyakram”, beginning at the start of Fiscal Year 2012/13, which specifies the services to be funded, the tariffs for reimbursement, and the system for claiming and reporting on free deliveries each month. This study was designed to investigate the amount of monetary expenditure incurred by families using apparently free maternity services. Methods Between August 2014 and December 2014, a hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Manipal Teaching Hospital and Western Regional Hospital. Nepalese women were not involved with family finances and had very little knowledge of income or expenditures. Therefore, face-to-face interviews with 384 postpartum mothers with their husbands or the head of the family household were conducted at the time of discharge by using a pre-tested semi-structural questionnaire. Results The average monthly family income was 19,272.4 NRs (189.01 US$), the median duration of hospital stay was 4 days (range, 2−19 days), and the median patient expenditure was equivalent to 13% of annual family income. The average total visible cost was 3,887.07 NRs (38.1 US$). When the average total hidden cost of 27,288.5 NRs (267.6 US$) was added, then the average total maternity care expenditure was 31,175.6 NRs (305.76 US$), with an average cost per day of 7,167.5 NRs (70.29 US$). The mean patient expenditure on food and drink, clothes, transport, and medicine was equivalent to 53.07%, 9.8%. 7.3%, and 5.6% of the mean total maternity care expenditure, respectively. The earnings lost by respondent women, husbands, and heads of household were 5,963.7 NRs (58.4 US$), 7,429.3 NRs (72.9 US$), and 6,175.9 NRs (60.6 US$), respectively. Conclusion The free maternity service in Nepal has high out-of-pocket expenditures, and did not represent a system completely free of costs. Therefore, arrangements should be made by hospitals free of cost to provide medicine that is not included as essential during the hospital stay and at discharge time. Similarly, arrangements for liquid, food, and hot water, as well as clothes for mothers and newborns, should be made by the hospital in order to enhance hospital attendance.
Strategies to make bureaucrats responsive

Delbert A. Taebel, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Urban Affairs and. Government, and Assis tant Director for Graduate Studies, Institute of Urban Studies, University of Texas at Arling ton, Arlington, Texas. Since the early 1960s vast segments of American society have become more active politically. This has been a striking char acteristic of the nation's politics in the past decade. No longer are groups and organiza tions content to let formal governmental bodies monopolize political decision-mak ing. Minority groups, especially blacks, were the first to become involved in po litical action at the beginning of the sixties, and others—such as student organizations, churches, and neighborhood groups—later became active. Even local garden clubs now participate in politics and make loud demands for protection of the environment. Yet, there is growing awareness that these efforts have been largely fruitless, that the political system remains unresponsive. The governmental bureaucracy has been among the most unresponsive components. Both scholars and practitioners have offered a plethora of recommendations and exhorta tions to remedy this deficiency. Approaches have been espoused that either focus on the bureaucracy itself or on client groups. In general, the former approach is viewed as more propitious. Indeed, the advocacy role of the bureaucrat is now a highly fash ionable concept in the scholarly com munity, especially in schools of public ad ministration, social work, public health, and the like. Within the last several years, a body of literature has developed that pre scribes ways in which the governmental bu reaucrat can play a truly meaningful and relevant role in ameliorating serious prob lems of the poor and disfranchised. For ex ample, instead of the traditional bureau cracy, White posits a "dialectical organiza tion" that would devote itself, even at the risk of self-destruction, totally to the client.1 This dialectical organization of course would operate by an ethical code quite con trary to that of the traditional bureaucracy. The second approach focuses on organ izing client groups to make the bureaucracy
Poster Abstract: Contextual Air Conditioning Disaggregation with Probabilistic Soft Logic

As advanced metering infrastructure(AMI) installations increase worldwide there is a pressing need to utilize the information they provide, by creating actionable feedback for consumers. Disaggregating a coarse, hourly energy reading, into the appliances which were on for that hour, and the amount of energy they consumed, would enable personalized recommendations for energy reduction. We propose a contextual model for energy signal disaggregation and demonstrate its ability to predict the amount of energy consumed by an air conditioner.
Temporal binning of time-correlated single photon counting data improves exponential decay fits and imaging speed

Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) enables acquisition of fluorescence lifetime decays with high temporal resolution within the fluorescence decay. However, many thousands of photons per pixel are required for accurate lifetime decay curve representation, instrument response deconvolution, and lifetime estimation, particularly for two-component lifetimes. TCSPC imaging speed is inherently limited due to the single photon per laser pulse nature and low fluorescence event efficiencies (<10%) required to reduce bias towards short lifetimes. Here, simulated fluorescence lifetime decays are analyzed by SPCImage and SLIM Curve software to determine the limiting lifetime parameters and photon requirements of fluorescence lifetime decays that can be accurately fit. Data analysis techniques to improve fitting accuracy for low photon count data were evaluated. Temporal binning of the decays from 256 time bins to 42 time bins significantly (p<0.0001) improved fit accuracy in SPCImage and enabled accurate fits with low photon counts (as low as 700 photons/decay), a 6-fold reduction in required photons and therefore improvement in imaging speed. Additionally, reducing the number of free parameters in the fitting algorithm by fixing the lifetimes to known values significantly reduced the lifetime component error from 27.3% to 3.2% in SPCImage (p<0.0001) and from 50.6% to 4.2% in SLIM Curve (p<0.0001). Analysis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide–lactate dehydrogenase (NADH-LDH) solutions confirmed temporal binning of TCSPC data and a reduced number of free parameters improves exponential decay fit accuracy in SPCImage. Altogether, temporal binning (in SPCImage) and reduced free parameters are data analysis techniques that enable accurate lifetime estimation from low photon count data and enable TCSPC imaging speeds up to 6x and 300x faster, respectively, than traditional TCSPC analysis.
Structure of MgO Films Prepared by Ion Beam Sputtering

Preferred orientation and microstructure of MgO films prepared by ion beam sputtering were investigated. The crystallographic orientation of MgO films was a function of the substrate angle (δ), O2 gas partial pressure (PO2) and the substrate temperature (Ts). As δ changed from 90° to 0°, the transmission electron diffraction (TED) pattern of the films deposited in PO2 of 1×10-4 Torr at Ts=R. T. changed from a random orientation to the (111) preferred orientation in which the crystallographic (111) plane was parallel to the substrate surface. An increase in PO2 from 0.1×10-4 to 10×10-4 Torr caused the (111) preferred orientation. At Ts>100°C, the TED pattern of the films on NaCl (200) deposited with δ=90° showed epitaxial growth in contrast with a random orientation at Ts<100°C. Annealing below 500°C did not change the orientation and size of the crystallite. Annealing above 1000°C for 30min, however, caused crystallite growth from 5nm to 20nm without any change in orientation. This size is still smaller than that of the crystallites deposited on a heated substrate. The origin of the crystallographic preferred orientation of the MgO thin film deposited by ion beam sputtering was explained in terms of the growth competition. The (111) preferred orientation becomes predominant in the growth competition over others with decreasing the arrival ratio of Mg/O.
Disaster risk reduction and sustainable development for small island developing states

In contrast to continental nations, the world's 52 small island developing states (SIDS) are recognized as a collective of countries that experience disproportionate challenges for sustainable development related to their geography, small size, and physical isolation. These same states also face elevated risks for disaster incidence and consequences particularly in the realms of climate change, sea level rise, natural disasters (tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes), and marine hazardous materials spills. Cyclone Winston's direct impact on Fiji in 2016 and Cyclone Pam's landfall over Vanuatu in 2015 provide case examples illustrating the special vulnerabilities of the SIDS.
Neonatal adrenal cortical response to stress and vasopressin.

SummaryThe adrenal cortical response to electric shock stress was studied in rats of various ages. Measurements of both adrenal corticosterone and ascorbic acid changes in the same gland indicated ...