cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental demonstration of quantitation errors in MR spectroscopy resulting from saturation corrections under changing conditions

Abstract Metabolite concentration measurements in in vivo NMR are generally performed under partially saturated conditions, with correction for partial saturation performed after data collection using a measured saturation factor. Here, we present an experimental test of the hypothesis that quantitation errors can occur due to application of such saturation factor corrections in changing systems. Thus, this extends our previous theoretical work on quantitation errors due to varying saturation factors. We obtained results for two systems frequently studied by 31 P NMR, the ischemic rat heart and the electrically stimulated rat gastrocnemius muscle. The results are interpreted in light of previous theoretical work which defined the degree of saturation occurring in a one-pulse experiment for a system with given spin–lattice relaxation times, T1s, equilibrium magnetizations, M0s, and reaction rates. We found that (i) the assumption of constancy of saturation factors leads to quantitation errors on the order of 40% in inorganic phosphate; (ii) the dominant contributor to the quantitation errors in inorganic phosphate is most likely changes in T1; (iii) T1 and M0 changes between control and intervention periods, and chemical exchange contribute to different extents to quantitation errors in phosphocreatine and γ-ATP; (iv) relatively small increases in interpulse delay substantially decreased quantitation errors for metabolites in ischemic rat hearts; (v) random error due to finite SNR led to approximately 4% error in quantitation, and hence was a substantially smaller contributor than were changes in saturation factors.
Balancing the benefits and harms of low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer: Medicare's options for coverage.

On 30 April 2014, the Medicare Evidence Development&Coverage Advisory Committee issued a vote of low confi-dence about whether the benefits of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung...
BREEDING HABITAT REQUIREMENTS AND COLONY FORMATION BY ROYAL TERNS (THALASSEUS MAXIMUS) AND SANDWICH TERNS (T. SANDVICENSIS) ON BARRIER ISLANDS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

ABSTRACT. Restoration and maintenance of barrier islands to preserve structural integrity and protect against erosional forces is a common goal of coastal protection. An assessment of restored barrier islands for their suitability as wildlife habitat is crucial for improvement of restoration methods and conservation of barrier-island-dwelling species, especially ground-nesting waterbirds. During the 2008 and 2009 breeding periods, we conducted a quantitative assessment of colonial waterbird use of the Isles Dernieres Barrier Island Refuge (IDBIR), Louisiana, which has experienced several restoration projects since the early 1990s, to understand the breeding ecology of two terns in the genus Thalasseus and investigated why some restored areas have not been colonized. Our objectives were to determine hatching success of the two species, identify important habitat characteristics for their reproduction and colony formation, and evaluate the success of past restoration efforts in providing suitable nesting ha...
Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapies in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death. Advances in surgical therapies have paralleled advances in radiation therapy and chemotherapy for metastatic disease. There is a great interest in neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies for patients at intermediate and high risk of recurrence and prostate cancer-specific death. Because high-risk prostate cancer patients can be readily identified by clinical criteria, many studies have attempted to use local and systemic adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. This review discusses neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies in prostate cancer, including hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and postoperative radiotherapy.
Multiple-polymorphism associations of 7 matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase genes with myocardial infarction and angiographic coronary artery disease.

Background Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes may be associated with myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary artery disease (CAD), but studies of multiple MMP genes and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) are scarce. Furthermore, differentiation of predictive ability by end point (MI vs CAD) has not been addressed. This study evaluated the association with MI of SNPs in genes encoding MMPs 1, 2, 3, and 9 and TIMPs 1, 2, and 3. Methods Genotypes of patients (N = 5148) with MI (n = 1693) and angiographically defined CAD (≥1 lesion of ≥70% stenosis, n=1967) were compared with MI-free (n = 3455) and non-CAD patients (n = 1122), respectively. Because of linkage disequilibrium, MMP-1 and MMP-3 SNPs (chromosome 11) were combined, as were the 2 MMP-9 SNPs. Results For MI, only MMP-9 group CT/RQ (odds ratio [OR] 1.25, P = .007 vs wild-type CC/RR) had greater MI risk, with TT/QQ having a weak trend (OR 1.43, P = .10). These findings remained (CT/RQ) or were strengthened (TT/QQ) after full adjustment. For CAD, association was found for MMP-1/MMP-3 groups 2G1G/6A6A (OR 1.45, P = .022), 2G1G/6A5A (OR = 1.49, P = .001), 2G1G/5A5A (OR 1.64, P = .003), and 1G1G/5A5A (OR 1.35, P = .035) compared to wild type. Conclusions Composite MMP-9 genotypes but not other SNPs were associated with MI, whereas MMP-1/MMP-3 genotypes were CAD-associated. The largest MMP/TIMP gene study to date, this study suggests care in selection and definition of clinical phenotypes. Furthermore, this suggests that the evaluated SNPs only approximately account for intragenic variation in these genes and that comprehensive evaluation of all variations in these genes should better elucidate associations with MI and CAD phenotypes.
Thank you! Thank you, so smart i am

Students are then misled into thinking that they have pursued inquiry and possess understanding when they have, in fact, only used technical terms the meaning of which they did not comprehend and only dealt in vacuous generalizations devoid of genuine thought and substance. In such circumstances they are encouraged to embrace the all too widespread rationalization that ‘any opinion is just as good as any other opinion.’
Periodontal disease associated with Shigella flexneri in rhesus monkeys. Clinical, microbiologic and histopathologic findings.

The clinical, microbiologic, and histopathologic features of Shigella flexneri-associated periodontal disease of rhesus monkeys were examined. Eighteen subgingival plaque samples and 17 gingival biopsy specimens were taken from 8 rhesus monkeys harboring S. flexneri orally. All plaque samples and three of the biopsy specimens were processed aerobically and anaerobically on selective and nonselective media. The remaining biopsy specimens were prepared for light or electron microscopic observation. An additional 11 subgingival plaque samples from 6 monkeys not suspected of orally harboring S. flexneri were also processed microbiologically. In the monkeys harboring Shigella orally, S. flexneri serotype 4 was isolated from 16 of the 18 subgingival plaque samples. It constituted a minor plaque component in all 16 positive sites, usually less than 0.1 % of the recoverable flora. S. flexneri was not detected in any of the subgingival plaques from control monkeys. Gingival sites harboring S. flexneri were characterized by extremely intense clinical inflammation. Histopathologic observations included ulceration of the pocket wall and heavy lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration of the connective tissue. At the ultrastructural level, unidentified bacteria were occasionally observed between, and possibly within, intact epithelial cells adjacent to areas of ulceration. The results suggest that S. flexneri, though a numerically minor component of the plaque flora, may be important in the pathogenesis of the periodontal disease observed in this study.
A Behavioral Approach to Basic Design Education

(1974). A Behavioral Approach to Basic Design Education. Journal of Architectural Education: Vol. 28, Pedagogical Catalog 2, pp. 15-18.
The contribution of historical aerial and satellite photos to archaeological and geo-archaeological research: case studies in Italy and Turkey

Abstract. The paper evidences the importance of old aerial and satellite photos of ancient topography studies, with examples concerning archaeological and geo-archaeological research conducted in Italy and Turkey, during a cooperation between the Ancient Topography, Archaeology and Remote Sensing Laboratory (AnTAReS Lab) of the Institute for Archaeological and Monumental Heritage of the Italian National Research Council (IBAM-CNR) and the Ancient Topography and Photogrammetry Laboratory (LabTAF) of Salento University. The historical aerial photos, i.e. those before the big transformations of the 1950's and 1960's, and the space photos taken in the 1960's and 1970's, particularly useful for the Near East, represent a fundamental tool for the study of the territory. In many cases, in fact, they document landscapes that have been modified by urbanization, building of large infrastructures, transformations in the land use and diffusion of mechanized agricultural methods. Only through the detailed analysis of these aerial and space photos it is possible to recover a fundamental documentation concerning the existence, the location and the layout of archaeological evidence and paleo-environmental elements otherwise lost; so, their use during research is very important for the reconstruction of the ancient topography of urban and territorial contexts.
What Does Silence Signify? Investigating the Rhetoric of Silence in Berghuis v. Thompkins

This article uses the Supreme Court's opinions in Berghuis v. Thompkins (2010) to show the risks of silence in communication. Theories of rhetorical silence celebrate silences' communicative potential; yet, Berghuis v. Thompkins (2010) offers rhetorical studies scholars an opportunity to examine the value of silence in a new situation, custodial interrogation. In Berghuis v. Thompkins (2010) the Court ruled that, despite nearly three hours of silence during police interrogation, Thompkins's two short utterances constituted a confession, and waived his right to remain silent. This article analyzes Thompkins's silence, first, using rhetorical silence literature, which fails to explain why the Court did not recognize Thompkins's silence as communicative. Then, this article employs H. P. Grice's theory of conversational implicature, which examines ambiguous utterances, to explain how the Court interpreted Thompkins's silence. Reading the Court's opinions through Grice's theory of implicature demonstrates that...
Measurement and analysis of stress transfer and toughness at a fiber–matrix interface

The finite element method is used to investigate the axial fiber stress profiles and energy changes accompanying interfacial debonding and/or matrix cracking following a single fiber fragmentation event. Since the stress transfer along the fiber length changes over a long distance from the broken fiber end, a study was made of the effect of model size and material properties on calculated values of the stress profiles and energy changes. The radial dimension must extend to at least 10 fiber diameters and the half-fragment length must also be greater than approximately 20 fiber diameters, before a size independent calculated value of the strain energy release rate, G, can be attained. Some of the static-elastic analysis limitations, i.e. the elastoplastic behavior of the matrix, the transient dynamic events following filament fracture, and the frictional effects are also discussed.
The anatomy of Effigia okeeffeae (Archosauria, Suchia), theropod-like convergence, and the distribution of related taxa

Abstract Effigia okeeffeae is named based on a well-preserved nearly complete skeleton from the Upper Triassic (?Rhaetian) “siltstone member” at Ghost Ranch, northern New Mexico. The skull is described and compared to other suchian and basal archosaurs. The maxilla and premaxilla are edentulous, and a rhamphotheca was possibly present in life. Effigia conclusively indicates that the skull of Shuvosaurus and the postcrania of “Chatterjeea” belong to the same taxon. Furthermore, the close relationship between Shuvosaurus and Effigia indicates that both taxa are nested within the suchian clade and not within Ornithomimisauria. However, the similarity in features in the skull and postcrania of Effigia and ornithomimids suggests extreme convergence occurred between the two clades. A clade containing Arizonasaurus, Bromsgroveia, Poposaurus, Sillosuchus, Shuvosaurus, and Effigia is suggested based solely on shared derived character states. Additionally, a clade (Clade Y) containing Sillosuchus, Shuvosaurus, and ...
Modulated pairs in superconducting cuprates.

High-temperature cuprate superconductors are well known to the general science community for the simple reason that their transition temperature, T c, is much higher than that of other superconductors. Perhaps less well known is the fact that T c varies dramatically from one family of cuprates to the next. Understanding this dependence of T c on crystalline structure would obviously be key to designing even higher temperature superconductors, but the origin of this variation is still not well understood, even after two decades of study. In this issue of PNAS, Slezak et al. (1) take an important step toward such understanding by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to find a direct correlation between the size of the energy gap characterizing the superconducting state and a modulation of the atomic positions in the material. In doing so, they have also made the first definitive observation at zero magnetic field of a modulated superconducting state known as a “pair density wave” (2).
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura of Childhood

Immune mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a common manifestation of autoimmune disease in children. Although patients often present with bruises, petechiae, and some mucosal bleeding, the incidence of life-threatening hemorrhage is rare (0.2-0.9%) but can be fatal when presenting in vital organs. A wide range of therapeutic regimens are currently in use, including observation alone, as the majority of children recover within 4-6 months regardless of treatment. A growing understanding of the pathophysiology of acute ITP in children has not impacted the controversy surrounding treatment, but has clarified the mechanism of action of the most frequently used agents in chronic ITP. Newer monoclonal antibodies such as Rituxan have proved very useful in chronic or refractory ITP and studies are ongoing to determine the best regimens using this form of immune modulation. Splenectomy and newer agents to boost platelet production are also under study in chronic ITP. Neonates may also have a form of immune thrombocytopenia with extensive bruising and thrombocytopenia called neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (NATP). Rather than autoantibodies, the platelet destruction is secondary to transplacental maternal IgG alloantibodies. During pregnancy mothers may become sensitized to platelet membrane antigens present on fetal platelets. These antibodies may result in serious bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage in the perinatal period. Once identified, these mothers may require treatment during future pregnancies to minimize serious bleeding in the fetus and neonate. Treatment in utero and immediately following delivery is focused on restoring neonatal platelets to a safe level and preventing life-threatening bleeding.
Predicting Streamflows in Snowmelt-Driven Watersheds Using the Flow Duration Curve Method

Predicting streamflows in snow-fed watersheds in the Western United States is important for water alloca- tion. Since many of these watersheds are heavily regulated through canal networks and reservoirs, predicting expected natural flows and therefore water availability under limited data is always a challenge. This study investigates the appli- cability of the flow duration curve (FDC) method for pre- dicting natural flows in gauged and regulated snow-fed wa- tersheds. Point snow observations, air temperature, precipi- tation, and snow water equivalent were used to simulate the snowmelt process with the SNOW-17 model, and extended to streamflow simulation using the FDC method with a mod- ified current precipitation index. For regulated watersheds, a parametric regional FDC method was applied to recon- struct natural flow. For comparison, a simplified tank model was used considering both lumped and semi-distributed ap- proaches. The proximity regionalization method was used to simulate streamflows in the regulated watersheds with the tank model. The results showed that the FDC method is capa- ble of producing satisfactory natural flow estimates in gauged watersheds when high correlation exists between current pre- cipitation index and streamflow. For regulated watersheds, the regional FDC method produced acceptable river diver- sion estimates, but it seemed to have more uncertainty due to less robustness of the FDC method. In spite of its simplicity, the FDC method is a practical approach with less computa- tional burden for studies with minimal data availability.
Surface Proteome of “Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis” during the Early Stages of Macrophage Infection

"Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis" is a robust and pervasive environmental bacterium that can cause opportunistic infections in humans. The bacterium overcomes the host immune response and is capable of surviving and replicating within host macrophages. Little is known about the bacterial mechanisms that facilitate these processes, but it can be expected that surface-exposed proteins play an important role. In this study, the selective biotinylation of surface-exposed proteins, streptavidin affinity purification, and shotgun mass spectrometry were used to characterize the surface-exposed proteome of M. avium subsp. hominissuis. This analysis detected more than 100 proteins exposed at the bacterial surface of M. avium subsp. hominissuis. Comparisons of surface-exposed proteins between conditions simulating early infection identified several groups of proteins whose presence on the bacterial surface was either constitutive or appeared to be unique to specific culture conditions. This proteomic profile facilitates an improved understanding of M. avium subsp. hominissuis and how it establishes infection. Additionally, surface-exposed proteins are excellent targets for the host adaptive immune system, and their identification can inform the development of novel treatments, diagnostic tools, and vaccines for mycobacterial disease.
Design and subspace system identification of an ex vivo vascular perfusion system.

Abstract Numerical algorithms for subspace system identification (N4SID) are a powerful tool for generating the state space (SS) representation of any system. The purpose of this work was to use N4SID to generate SS models of the flowrate and pressure generation within an ex vivo vascular perfusion system (EVPS). Accurate SS models were generated and converted to transfer functions (TFs) to be used for proportional integral and derivative (PID) controller design. By prescribing the pressure and flowrate inputs to the pumping components within the EVPS and measuring the resulting pressure and flowrate in the system,_four TFs were estimated;_two for a flowrate controller (H(RP,f) and H(RPP,f)) and two for a pressure controller (H(RP,p) and H(RPP,p)). In each controller,_one TF represents a roller pump (H(RP,f) and H(RP,p)),_and the other represents a roller pump and piston in series (H(RPP,f) and H(RPP,p)). Experiments to generate the four TFs were repeated five times (N=5) from which average TFs were calculated. The average model fits, computed as the percentage of the output variation (to_the_prescribed_inputs) reproduced by the model, were 94.93+/-1.05% for H(RP,p), 81.29+/-0.20% for H(RPP,p), 94.45+/-0.73% for H(RP,f), and 77.12+/-0.36% for H(RPP,f). The simulated step, impulse, and frequency responses indicate that the EVPS is a stable system and can respond to signals containing power of up to 70_Hz.
Bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, life threatening disease process characterized by intraparenchymatous or perirenal gas produced by lactose fermenting bacteria. We report a case of bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis in a man with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
Adaptive semiconductor/electrocatalyst junctions in water-splitting photoanodes

High-efficiency photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices require the integration of electrocatalysts (ECs) with light-absorbing semiconductors (SCs), but the energetics and charge-transfer processes at SC/EC interfaces are poorly understood. We fabricate model EC-coated single-crystal TiO2 electrodes and directly probe SC/EC interfaces in situ using two working electrodes to independently monitor and control the potential and current at both the SC and the EC. We discover that redox-active ion-permeable ECs such as Ni(OH)2 or NiOOH yield 'adaptive' SC/EC junctions where the effective Schottky barrier height changes in situ with the oxidation level of the EC. In contrast, dense, ion-impermeable IrOx ECs yield constant-barrier-height 'buried' junctions. Conversion of dense, thermally deposited NiOx on TiO2 into ion-permeable Ni(OH)2 or NiOOH correlated with increased apparent photovoltage and fill factor. These results provide new insight into the dynamic behaviour of SC/EC interfaces to guide the design of efficient SC/EC devices. They also illustrate a new class of adaptive semiconductor junctions.
Porting a vector library: a comparison of MPI, Paris, CMMD and PVM

The paper describes the design and implementation in MPI of the parallel vector library CVL, which is used as the basis for implementing nested data-parallel languages such as NESL and Proteus. We outline the features of CVL, and compare the ease of writing and debugging the portable MPI implementation with our experiences writing previous versions in CM-2 Paris, CM-5 CMMD, and PVM 3.0. We give initial performance results for MPI CVL running on the SP-1, Paragon, and CM-5, and compare them with previous versions of CVL running on the CM-2, CM-5, and Cray C90. We discuss the features of MPI that helped and hindered the effort, and make a plea for better support for certain primitives. Finally, we discuss the design limitations of CVL when implemented on current RISC based MPP architectures, and outline our plans to overcome this by using MPI as a compiler target. >
A forced torsional oscillator for dynamic mechanical measurements

A forced torsional oscillator (FTO) for measuring dynamic properties from 0.01 to 30 Hz and −190 to +250°C is described. It uses a digital transfer function analyzer to determine G′ and G″ directly. Errors such as clamping corrections, phase angle resolution, and instrument phase shift are evaluated. FTO measurements vs temperature on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate compare well with free torsion pendulum data. Measurements on a silicone liquid vs frequency compare well to eccentric rotating disks data. The frequency sensitivity of the dynamic mechanical response of PMMA and polycarbonate is evaluated at 0.1, 1 and 10 Hz. The frequency dependence of the transitions is fit to an Arrhenius relation and activation energies calculated. A dimensionless transition temperature shift, ΔT*, giving the shift for a one decade frequency change divided by the temperature, is found to be approximately 0.01 for the glass transition and 0.07 for several secondary transitions in glassy polymers.
Comparative Study of Larval Transport and Gene Flow in Darters

Abstract Early life histories of stream fishes are thought to influence dispersal biology and have potentially important consequences for gene flow. Documenting links of life history, larval dispersal, and gene flow is difficult because larvae of closely related species often cannot be confidently identified. In this study, field-caught darter larvae were identified to species by screening individuals for single-stranded conformational polymorphisms (SSCPs) in the control region of the mitochondrial (mt) DNA. A larval transport index (T) was compared among eight coexisting species of darters and tested for associations with adult life-history patterns and gene flow. Comparative analysis indicated that larval transport tendency was negatively associated with egg size, a result consistent with previous laboratory studies. Current velocity was also related to larval transport patterns. Etheostoma zonale larvae were more abundant than expected in high-flow habitats, whereas Etheostoma caeruleum larvae were mo...
Orders Of Healthier Children's Items Remain High More Than Two Years After Menu Changes At A Regional Restaurant Chain.

In a previous study we showed that customers ordered healthier food following the April 2012 implementation of a healthier children’s menu at Silver Diner, a regional restaurant chain. In this study we used newly available data to assess orders of children’s menu items both one and two years after our last assessment. Previous assessments took place in September 2011–March 2012 and in September 2012–March 2013, before and after implementation of the new menu, respectively. Orders were abstracted from the restaurant’s central database. We found that the overarching changes from the previous study were sustained during the two follow-up periods, with some small fluctuations (for example, the prevalence of healthy side dish orders changed from 38 percent of children’s meals ordered to 74 percent, then 76 percent, and then 75 percent in the successive study periods). Ordering patterns at follow-up remained healthier than before the menu change and in some cases continued to improve. Similar interventions have...
Gas Chromatography–Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry in Food and Environmental Analysis

Abstract This chapter provides a general overview of gas chromatography (GC)–time-of-flight mass spectrometry basic features, highlighting its advantages and limitations compared to GC using conventional mass analyzers. Examples of results obtained for food and environmental contaminants, aroma and flavor components, and food authenticity assessment are described to illustrate the potential of this technique.
Silent Tax Changes: The Political Economy of Indexing for Inflation

The federal income tax adjusts many but not all of its dollar components automatically to account for inflation. In this article I analyze the benefits and burdens this process confers on some taxpayers and the political logic behind them. I discuss the choice of the proper index for making the adjustments, as well as the effects of the failure to adjust specific dollar amounts. I conclude that some adjustments have become overly generous, while unadjusted provisions suffer slow repeal, sometimes intentionally. Indexation thus can have the effect of tax legislation by stealth.
Repos, Bailouts, and Instability in the Shadow Banking System

We study a model in which a risk-pooling intermediary such as a money market mutual fund (MMMF) is exposed to runs. In addition to providing risk-pooling services to investors, the MMMF lends funds to borrowers secured by collateral as in security repurchase transactions which are frequently used by intermediaries in the shadow banking system. Inspired by events during the financial crisis, we show that bailouts of such risk-pooling intermediaries are part of an efficient social insurance scheme in the event that a run emerges. Moreover, bailouts can help minimize the costs of "runs on repos" in which there would be large-scale liquidation of collateral as a result of the liquidity crisis. However, this observation does not imply that optimal intervention completely isolates shadow-banking intermediaries from a crisis. In fact, optimal public sector intervention imposes costs on money market funds by requiring them to liquidate some collateral. On the other hand, a commitment to no bailouts contributes to financial instability as the repo market collapses in the wake of a run without a public safety net.
Inactivation by Na+,K+-ATPase of cytosol glucocorticoid receptors from rat brain and liver

We have examined the effect of Na+,K+-ATPase on 3H-triamcinolone acetonide binding capacity of cytosol glucocorticoid receptors from rat brain and liver. Preincubation of the brain or liver cytosol with Na+,K+-ATPase (10 units/ml) at 30 degrees C resulted in a rapid loss of specific 3H-triamcinolone acetonide binding, with a half-life of approximately 7 min. The ATPase effect could be prevented by the addition of 10(-5) M ouabain, or substantially reduced by the omission of Na+,K+ or Mg+2. The cytosol receptor bound with 3H-triamcinolone acetonide was totally resistant to the inactivation by the ATPase. Since there is some evidence that ATP may bind to glucocorticoid receptor, our findings indicate that an ATP-receptor complex may be essential for steroid binding. The effects of the ATPase in the inactivation of the receptor are very similar to those of alkaline phosphatase reported by others. This raises doubts about the proposal based on the phosphatase inactivation that the cytosol glucocorticoid receptor may be phosphorylated.
Surface Hardening of Ceramic Oxide and Metal Alloy Single Crystals by Ultrasonic Cavitation

Cavitation effects have long been considered to be undesirable phenomena that resulted in the damage and failure of metallic components. In the present work, we establish that, in fact, controlled applications of ultrasonic cavitation phenomena can be used to enhance the surface properties of both ceramics and metals. Polished (100) surfaces of single-crystal MgO and single crystals of 70%Fe-15%Ni-15%Cr (stainless-steel) were subjected to ultrasonically induced cavitation by exposure to 20 kHz excitations (at ∼ 100 W/cm2) in isopropanol. Knoop micro-indentation hardness measurements on untreated and ultrasonically treated areas of the surfaces revealed a hardening that increased with the duration of the ultrasonic treatment up to a saturation level. Relative increases in the surface hardness of up to 30% in the case of MgO and ∼250% in the case of Fe-Ni-Cr were obtained. It was found that the rate of hardening was not uniform over the surface but was more rapid on those portions of the surface that were directly under the edge of the ultrasonically vibrating horn tip.
Is there a best transplant conditioning regimen for acute myeloid leukemia

The outcome of marrow transplantation is largely determined by the effectiveness of the transplant preparative regimen. Nonetheless, there have been startlingly few randomized trials attempting to identify optimal regimens for specific conditions and, at present, no single approach has emerged as superior for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the few trials that have been performed. Newer approaches that appear encouraging in phase II studies include substituting etoposide for cyclophosphamide, adding thiotepa to the traditional cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation combination in the setting of T cell depletion, and using antibody-based targeted radiotherapy as part of the transplant regimen. The ability to obtain allogeneic engraftment with nonablative regimens may open the door to additional innovative approaches, combining very specific antileukemia therapy with relatively nontoxic measures to ensure engraftment.
Method Research of Measuring Soluble Protein Contents of Animal Material Rough Extraction Using Coomassie Brilliant Blue

Objective To study the stability of the Bradford method for determination of soluble protein in animal materials. Method The absorption of CBB G-250 combined with proteins was determined by the UV-Spectrophotometry method with the detection wavelength at 595 nm,and the dried bufo was selected as sample,BSA as control. Results The method showed a good linear relationship between absorption and protein content (r =0.996). The sample was stable with in 10 min (RSD=5.0%). Conclusion This method was reliable,simple and rapid.
A Hardware Interface for Hashing Algorithms.

The submissions to the SHA-3 competition include a reference implementation in C, built on top of a standard programmer's interface (API). This greatly improves the evaluation process: it enables portability across platforms, and it makes performance comparison of the algorithms easy. For hardware crypto-implementations, such a standard interface does not exist. As a result, the evaluation and comparison of hardware hashing algorithms becomes complex and error prone. The first step to improve the evaluation process for hardware is the definition of an interface. This document describes a general hardware interface for hashing algorithms. The operation of the interface is discussed, and the appendix lists a SHA-256 reference implementation that uses the interface.
Quantitative determination of four antihistamines in combination by high-pressure liquid chromatography

A procedure used to assay four antihistamines--brompheniramine maleate, chlorpheniramine maleate, pheniramine maleate and pyrilamine maleate in combination--is discussed. The method requires a high-pressure liquid chromatograph and an intermediate polarity column. The method is accurate and appears to be stability-indicating. The four antihistamines can be separated and assayed accurately. There is no interference from the two commonly used decongestants, phenylephrine hydrochloride and phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride, from the expectorant potassium guaiacolsulfonate, from the preservative propyl paraben or from two other antihistamines, diphenhydramine hydrochloride and bromdiphenhydramine hydrochloride. Guaifenesin, methylparaben and sodium benzoate interfere only with pheniramine maleate. Methapyrilene hydrochloride interferes only with pyrilamine maleate.
Ocular structure changes during vacuum by the Hansatome microkeratome suction ring.

PURPOSE To evaluate whether the vacuum of a microkeratome suction ring induces ocular structure changes. METHODS A prospective case series using A-scan ultrasonography to measure anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, vitreous body, and axial length was performed. Measurements before and during application of a Hansatome microkeratome suction ring were performed on 69 eyes of 39 consecutive patients scheduled to undergo a first-time LASIK procedure with mechanical creation of a corneal flap. RESULTS Mean patient age was 43 +/- 12.1 years. Of the 69 eyes, 63 (91.3%) had refractive myopia with a mean spherical equivalent refraction of -2.93 +/- 1.56 diopters (D) and 6 (8.7%) had refractive hyperopia with a mean spherical equivalent refraction of 1.37 +/- 0.31 D. Overall, the mean spherical equivalent refraction of all eyes was -2.56 +/- 1.94 D. Ultrasound measurements during suction revealed a decrease in the anterior chamber depth of -0.06 +/- 0.36 mm (P < .05) and lens thickness by -0.14 +/- 0.45 mm (P < .05) whereas the vitreous body increased 0.25 +/- 0.36 mm (P < .05). Although insignificant, a trend toward increasing axial length was noted. No measurements changed over time during the application of vacuum. CONCLUSIONS Vacuum by a microkeratome suction ring induced a compression of the anterior chamber and lens with commensurate expansion of the vitreous body. The assessment of vacuum effects during LASIK suggests that measurements of intraocular compartments are more informative than axial length.
Impact of a Respiratory Therapy Assess-and-Treat Protocol on Adult Cardiothoracic ICU Readmissions

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this retrospective medical record review was to report on recidivism to the ICU among adult postoperative cardiac and thoracic patients managed with a respiratory therapy assess-and-treat (RTAT) protocol. Our primary null hypothesis was that there would be no difference in all-cause unexpected readmissions and escalations between the RTAT group and the physician-ordered respiratory care group. Our secondary null hypothesis was that there would be no difference in primary respiratory-related readmissions, ICU length of stay, or hospital length of stay. METHODS: We reviewed 1,400 medical records of cardiac and thoracic postoperative subjects between January 2015 and October 2016. The RTAT is driven by a standardized patient assessment tool, which is completed by a registered respiratory therapist. The tool develops a respiratory severity score for each patient and directs interventions for bronchial hygiene, aerosol therapy, and lung inflation therapy based on an algorithm. The protocol period commenced on December 1, 2015, and continued through October 2016. Data relative to unplanned admissions to the ICU for all causes as well as respiratory-related causes were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the all-cause unplanned ICU admission rate between the RTAT (5.8% [95% CI 4.3–7.9]) and the physician-ordered respiratory care (8.8% [95% CI 6.9–11.1]) groups (P = .034). There was no statistically significant difference in respiratory-related unplanned ICU admissions with RTAT (36% [95% CI 22.7–51.6]) compared with the physician-ordered respiratory care (53% [95% CI 41.1–64.8]) group (P = .09). The RTAT protocol group spent 1 d less in the ICU (P CONCLUSIONS: RTAT protocol implementation demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in all-cause ICU readmissions. The reduction in respiratory-related ICU readmissions did not reach statistical significance.
Reaction: Earth-Abundant Metal Catalysts for Energy Conversions

Morris Bullock is a laboratory fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and director of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the Department of Energy. He is a fellow of the AAAS, American Chemical Society, and Royal Society of Chemistry. He received his PhD while working for Prof. Charles Casey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as a postdoc for Prof. Jack Norton at Colorado State University. He edited the book Catalysis Without Precious Metals (Wiley-VCH, 2010). He has been a cheapskate for a long time and is glad to have an excuse to practice that habit in his research.
A Low Mass Power Electronics Unit to Drive Piezoelectric Actuators for Flying Microrobots

This paper presents a power electronics design for the piezoelectric actuators of an insect-scale flapping-wing robot, the RoboBee. The proposed design outputs four high-voltage drive signals tailored for the two bimorph actuators of the RoboBee in an alternating drive configuration. It utilizes fully integrated drive stage circuits with a novel highside gate driver to save chip area and meet the strict mass constraint of the RoboBee. Compared with previous integrated designs, it also boosts efficiency in delivering energy to the actuators and recovering unused energy by applying three power saving techniques, dynamic common mode adjustment, envelope tracking, and charge sharing. Using this design to energize four 15 nF capacitor loads with a 200 V and 100 Hz drive signal and tracking the control commands recorded from an actual flight experiment for the robot, we measure an average power consumption of 290 mW.
Mathematical Modeling with Middle School Students: The Robot Art Model-Eliciting Activity

Internationally mathematical modeling is garnering more attention for the benefits associated with it. Mathematical modeling can develop students' communication skills and the ability to demonstrate understanding through different representations. With the increased attention on mathematical modeling, there is a need for more curricula to be developed, implemented, and assessed. This study details the mathematical understandings that a diverse class of urban middle school students demonstrated on a mathematical modeling activity focused on geometry and measurement. At times students had difficulties in communicating clearly but based on the structure of the activity students were able to self-assess the quality of their communication and work towards improvement. The groups in the class were able to develop methods for how to program a robot to recreate a picture, though improvements could be made to the design of the activity. Teachers can use MEAs and mathematical modeling as formative assessment to build on students' understandings and further develop ideas that the teacher has in mind to pursue. Such assessment provides a rich basis for identifying evolving mathematical understandings that can be further developed.
Non-invasive detection of bladder cancer via expression-targeted gene delivery.

Background Because of the time and expense associated with the procedures and possible distress to the patient, cystoscopy or other imaging techniques are typically not used for bladder cancer detection before symptoms become present. Alternatively, commercial assays for urinary tumor markers exist but are marred by low sensitivity and high cost. There is a need for a simple and sensitive means of tumor detection, such as via the analysis of urine. Methods Plasmids encoding the secretable reporter Gaussia luciferase (G.LUC), under the control of cmv, cox2, or opn promoters, were delivered via polyethylenimine into bladder tumor cells in culture and into the bladders of mice. Expression profiles of the reporter were recorded, the optimal times for reporter detection were determined, and the relation of reporter expression to tumor size was calculated. Results In vitro results showed that both the cox2 and opn promoters can drive significant expression of G.LUC in bladder carcinoma cells in a targeted fashion. In vivo results demonstrated that the cox2 promoter caused expression of G.LUC at detectable levels in the urine, with local signal maxima occurring at 48- and 72-hours post-transfection. G.LUC levels in the urine had a 24-hour periodicity, with the periodicity being due, in part, to an agent secreted by tumor cells that served to mask the luciferase signal. Conclusions The detection system, having shown tumor specificity, and having been calibrated to circadian expression patterns, shows great promise for future investigation of tumor presence both in the urinary bladder and other models of cancer.
School Enrolment and Attendance for Children with Disabilities in Kenya: An Examination of Household Survey Data

While evidence confirms that children with disabilities face significant obstacles to schooling, especially in low-income countries like Kenya, there is limited empirical research on which to develop policy. The government of Kenya has long neglected the plight of people with disabilities. Despite numerous policy recommendations from the various education commissions, few, if any, have been fully implemented. Despite the rich information that may inform policy, household surveys are an overlooked source of data on children with disabilities. Therefore, using two sources of household survey data, this paper examines school enrolment and attendance patterns for children with disabilities in Kenya. The evidence suggests lower school participation for children with disabilities. This may be due to the limited availability of educational services. Despite the need for educational services, the analysis also shows that the majority of children with disabilities were not aware of any of the services offered by the government. The full text of the article can be found at 10.18275/fire201704011133
Genie: An interactive real-time simulation for teaching genetic drift

Background: One of the most challenging topics for students in Evolution courses is that of non-adaptive evolution, particularly genetic drift. Novel teaching techniques and software have been implemented to facilitate student understanding of this and other evolution related topics; nonetheless, some of them still present certain disadvantages. Here we introduce Genie, a web-based application designed to demonstrate population genetics and evolutionary concepts. Results: We used Genie as a tool to teach 203 students taking Arizona State University9s Evolution course. Students freely used Genie during recitation session after having learned about genetic drift and other mechanism of non-adaptive evolution during lectures. Student performance and comprehension of genetic drift, and other evolutionary concepts, was tested with the Genetic Drift Inventory before and after using Genie. We found that Genie was an efficient tool for teaching genetic drift, mutation, the effects of barrier formation, and gene flow, across a variety of student demographics. Specifically, we found that with our implementation of Genie, students had significantly improved understanding of concepts such as: changes in alleles frequencies due to genetic drift and the difference between adaptive and non-adaptive evolutionary mechanisms. Conclusions: We believe that the easy usage, creativity, and real-time nature of Genie makes it an accessible tool for both teachers and students learning non-adaptive evolution, as well as a means for student development of creative and critical thinking. Genie is freely available (https://cartwrig.ht/apps/genie/) and can be easily accessed across different operating systems.
SONIC BOOMS IN BLANCHOT

Blanchot’s rejection of vision as the fundamental philosophical metaphor is well known: “Seeing is not speaking” (The Infinite Conversation (Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 1993) 25). Furthermore, h...
Terminology for Librarian Help on the Home Page

A usability study was run to validate terminology (labels) for seeking librarians from the UTA Libraries homepage. Seven new labels were proposed by librarians. They hoped these labels would help users in finding them and discovering librarians various skills to meet users' needs. Students were presented with a paper prototype of the library's homepage that included the seven proposed labels. They were asked to find information using two search goals as it related to seeking assistance from a librarian.
Social media data as a proxy for hourly fine-scale electric power consumption estimation:

Accurate forecasting of electric demand is essential for the operation of modern power system. Inaccurate load forecasting will considerably affect the power grid efficiency. Forecasting the electr...
Development of Drugs for Alzheimer Therapy: A Decade of Progress

We have reached the third publication of the series on Advances in Alzheimer Therapy (Giacobini and Becker, 1988; Becker and Giacobini, 1991), therefore, some comparisons seem both useful and appropriate. In the seven years (1988–1994) since our first volume (Giacobini and Becker, 1988) we have identified approximately 100 compounds proposed for use in Alzheimer disease (AD) therapy. We have found reference to over 300 studies conducted in humans. These studies have involved a total of about 3,000 patients.
Women Like Me: Reflections on Health and Hormones from Women Treated for Breast Cancer

Abstract Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) traditionally has been withheld from women with breast cancer to minimize their risk of recurrence. However, the benefits of HRT include relief from menopausal symptoms and protection against osteoporosis and possibly heart disease. Focus groups were conducted among women diagnosed with breast cancer to explore how the women approached health decisions, especially regarding HRT, and to identify factors that influenced their decision-making process. Factors identified included relief of symptoms, fear of cancer, side effects of treatment, attitudes toward risk, perception of risk and mastery, and physicians' recommendations. The article discusses these factors and provides suggestions, such as the following, to care providers who counsel women concerning menopause and HRT: Help patients understand areas in which the evidence is solid, address their possibly unrealistic expectations, and help them articulate their feelings and fears.