cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing Patients with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Low Back Pain Participating in an Outpatient Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program

Objectives: To compare baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients with fibromyalgia [FMS] and chronic low back pain [CLBP] participating in a cognitive-behavioral treatment program.Methods: Pretreatment and posttreatment data obtained by questionnaire from 53 participants with fibromyalgia syndrome and 57 patients with CLBP who completed a 10-session cognitive-behavioral treatment program and at one year were examined. Demographics, pain, distress, self-efficacy, disability, and symptoms of depression were measured.Results: At baseline patients with FMS and CLBP differed in a number of characteristics. Fibromyalgia syndrome patients were more likely to be female [P <. 001], have higher education [P <. 018], and were more self-efficacious in their ability to manage their pain [P <. 027]. The CLBP patients reported higher levels of pain sensation [P <. 049] and distress [P <. 014], were more often prescribed opiates [P <. 012], and more likely to be in litigation and receiving compensation [P <. 005]...
Variation of visual pigment amongst individuals of an american minnow, Notemigonus crysoleucas boscii

Digitonin extracts prepared from the dark-adapted retinae of single specimens of the Southeastern Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas boscii) were analysed by the Method of Partial Bleaching. All specimens were found to possess two visual pigments, one based on vitamin A2 with λmax at 529 mμ, the other based on vitamin A1 with λmax at 502 mμ. Although all the specimens came from the same isolated body of water, it was found that the proportions of these two pigments varied from fish to fish in any group netted at the same time. In one extreme case, the proportions in two fish were found to differ by as much as 44 per cent. No significant difference between the two eyes of any particular fish could be detected. It is concluded that environment cannot be the overriding factor in determining the retinal pigment composition of a given fish. It is suggested that the variability observed is related to the persistent schooling behaviour of the Golden Shiner, and might serve to broaden the spectral sensitivity’ of the school.
Separating the Attractant from the Toxicant Improves Attract-and-Kill of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The behavior of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), responding to three attract-and-kill devices was compared in flight tunnel experiments measuring attraction and duration of target contact. Placing a 7.6 by 12.6 cm card immediately upwind of a rubber septum releasing pheromone, dramatically increased the duration on the target to > 60 s. In this setting, nearly all the males flew upwind, landed on the card first, and spent the majority of time searching the card. In contrast, male codling moths spent 90% of males contacting the paper were knocked down 2 h after voluntary exposure. These findings suggest that past attempts to combine insecticide directly with sex pheromones into a small paste, gel, or other forms of dollops are ill-advised because moths are likely over-exposed to pheromone and vacate the target before obtaining a lethal dose of insecticide. It is better to minimize direct contact with the concentrated pheromone while enticing males to extensively search insecticide-treated surface nearby the lure.
Medical work Assessment in German hospitals: a Real-time Observation study (MAGRO) - the study protocol.

Background The increasing economic pressure characterizes the current situation in health care and the need to justify medical decisions and organizational processes due to limited financial resources is omnipresent. Physicians tend to interpret this development as a decimation of their own medical influence. This becomes even more obvious after a change in hospital ownership i.e. from a public to a private profit oriented organization. In this case each work procedure is revised. To date, most research studies have focused mainly on differences between hospitals of different ownership regarding financial outcomes and quality of care, leaving important organizational issues unexplored. Little attention has been devoted to the effects of hospital ownership on physicians' working routines. The aim of this observational real time study is to deliver exact data about physicians' work at hospitals of different ownership.
Effectiveness of an Interactive Learning Environment Utilizing a Physical Model

AbstractThe goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a physical desktop learning module and associated activities and assessments (DLM&A) implemented in an undergraduate engineering class. Preassessments and postassessments designed as part of this study were implemented within a control group that participated in 11 interactive lecture sessions covering open channel flow, and an experimental group that participated in nine lectures and two 50-minute sessions with the DLM&A. Student responses on assessments provide strong evidence to suggest students’ conceptual understanding increased significantly when the DLM&A is implemented. The experimental group registered a gain of 0.57 out of 1.0 possible, with 70% of the students achieving minimum competency, compared to a respective 0.26 gain and 39% competency for the control group. The average effect size for the experimental group was d=0.98. Qualitative assessments show experimental group students were much more likely to correct their concept...
Clinical Reasoning: A 61-year-old woman with a swollen optic nerve and progressive visual loss

A 61-year-old Caucasian woman was referred for evaluation of a nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) of the right eye. Two months before the referral, she experienced the acute onset of painless blurred vision in the right eye for which she sought the care of a local ophthalmologist. Visual acuity was recorded as 20/30 in the right eye with optic disc edema and multiple peripapillary flame hemorrhages. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were within normal limits. MRI of the brain with contrast was read as normal. Her medical history was notable for arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Her systemic medications included atorvastatin, diltiazem, and spironolactone. She denied alcohol, tobacco, and IV drug use. Her family history was unremarkable. A complete review of systems was negative except for the blurred vision in the right eye.
Two sex-chromosome-linked microsatellite loci show geographic variance among North American Ostrinia nubilalis.

PCR-based O. nubilalis population and pedigree analysis indicated female specificity of a (GAAAAT) n microsatellite, and male specificity of a CAYCARCGTCACTAA repeat unit marker. These loci were respectively named Ostrinia nubilalis W-chromosome 1 (ONW1) and O. nubilalis Z-chromosome 1 (ONZ1). Intact repeats of three, four, or five GAAAAT units are present among ONW1 alleles, and biallelic variation exists at the ONZ1 locus. Screening of 493 male at ONZ1 and 448 heterogametic females at ONZ1 and ONW1 loci from eleven North American sample sites was used to construct genotypic data. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and Fstatistics indicated no female haplotype or male ONZ1 allele frequency differentiation between voltinism ecotypes. Four subpopulations from northern latitudes, Minnesota and South Dakota, showed the absence of a single female haplotype, a significant deviation of ONZ1 data from Hardy-Weinberg expectation, and low-level geographic divergence from other subpopulations. Low ONZ1 and ONW1 allele diversity could be attributed either to large repeat unit sizes, low repeat number, reduced effective population (Ne) size of sex chromosomes, or the result of recent O. nubilalis introduction and population expansion, but likely could not be due to inbreeding. These sequences have been deposited in GenBank AF442958, and AY102618 to AY102620.
Determining lactococcal agglutination by ELISA

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to determine the susceptibility of Lactococcus cultures to bind bovine milk IgM, IgG and IgA. Agglutination susceptible (agg + ) cultures bound high (P<0.05) concentrations of IgM, IgG and IgA, whereas agglutination resistant (agg - ) strains bound less. The agglutination variable (agg v ) cultures differed from the agglutination resistant (agg - ) cultures only in their ability to bind IgG. The ELISA was a reliable indicator of agglutination susceptibility for mixed as well as single strain cultures. Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM) was used to verify results of ELISA. The IgG ELISA described here may provide a rapid, sensitive and a reliable method for identification and selection of agg- cultures.
Diabetic thoracic polyradiculopathy

Diabetic thoracic polyradiculopathy usually causes severe, chronic abdominal pain in patients with type 2 diabetes of variable duration. Other diabetic complications, weight loss and paretic abdominal wall protrusion are common. Sensory, motor and autonomic functions are affected. The diagnosis can be made from the characteristic history, physical examination findings, paraspinal electromyography, and other procedures. The differential diagnosis includes postherpetic neuralgia, abdominal wall pain, malignancy, and other spinal disorders. The pathology appears to be immune-mediated neurovasculitis resulting in ischemic injury. Traditional therapy is symptomatic, but recent pathological findings and clinical experience suggest that immunotherapy may be effective.
Protective Association between Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug Use and Measures of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

In 1990-2002, the authors conducted a population-based cohort study of 2,447 Caucasian men in Olmsted County, Minnesota, to determine whether daily users of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were at lower risk than nondaily NSAID users of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia. Participants completed validated questionnaires during a home visit, including information about daily NSAID use. A random subset of 634 men also participated in a clinical evaluation including transrectal ultrasonography and assessment of serum prostate-specific antigen levels. Examinations and questionnaires were repeated biennially through 2002. Benign prostatic hyperplasia measures included development of moderate/severe urinary symptoms (American Urological Association Symptom Index score >7), low maximum urinary flow rate ( 30 ml, or prostate-specific antigen level >1.4 ng/ml. After adjustment for age, daily NSAID use was inversely associated with onset of moderate/severe urinary symptoms (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64, 0.82), low maximum flow rate (HR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.61), increased prostate volume (HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.68), and elevated prostate-specific antigen level (HR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.68). In age-specific analyses, inverse associations between NSAID use and urinary measures tended to be stronger in the oldest age groups, although this interaction was statistically significant for only obstructive symptoms and treatment. Results suggest that NSAID use may prevent or delay development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Are expectations of inflation rational? or Is variation of the expected real interest rate unpredictable?

Abstract The joint hypothesis developed and tested in this paper is that the nominal interest rate is a rational expectation of the real interest rate plus the inflation rate and that variation of the expected real interest rate is unpredictable on the basis of information used in the test. This test is applied to quarterly data on three-month United States Treasury bills of 1954 to 1973. The information used in the tests includes, besides past interest rates and inflation rates, past growth rates of the source base, the money supply, and real GNP. Some of the tests allow for a positive marginal tax rate, which changes the results little. The hypothesis is generally consistent with the data, which provides support for the proposition that predictable changes of the money supply do not affect expected real interest rates over periods as short as a quarter.
Mineralization of the methoxyl carbon of isolated lignin by brown-rot fungi under solid substrate conditions.

The objectives of this work were to begin developing an experimental system for studying the demethylation of lignin by brown-rot fungi and to examine the influence of selected culture parameters. As substrate for demethylation, we used partially 3-O-demethylated lignin that had been isolated earlier from brown-rotted spruce wood; we remethylated with14CH3I, giving a lignin with both [3-14C]methoxyl and [4-14C]methoxyl groups. This lignin was added to pine wood flakes, which were incubated with selected brown-rot fungi, and the evolved14CO2 was trapped and measured. Of eight fungi examined,Gloeophyllum trabeum andWolfiporia cocos gave the highest rates of mineralization of the14C-methoxyl carbons. With the former but not the latter fungus, methoxyl mineralization was over twice as fast in an atmosphere of O2 than in air. Amending the cultures with ammonium tartrate suppressed mineralization to some extent. Further studies withG. trabeum showed that glutamate lowered the rate of mineralization and that glucose and glycerol sharply suppressed it. Addition of Fe2+ and Mn2+ slightly increased the rate of mineralization. Our results suggest that in unsupplemented cultures the rate-limiting step in methoxyl mineralization is the initial demethylation. Thus the two likely initial C1 products, methanol and formaldehyde (as14C compounds), were mineralized much more rapidly than the methoxyl carbon of the lignin (as was formic acid), and no low molecular weight labeled intermediates from the [14C]-methoxyl lignin accumulated in the cultures. Our results also provide evidence that the spruce lignin was partially polymerized byG. trabeum. Mineralization of the methoxyl carbon of a synthetic [3-14C]-methoxyl lignin was slower than that of the spruce lignin, suggesting either that the synthetic lignin was more recalcitrant or that the [4-14C]methoxyl group in the [3,4-14C]-methoxyl spruce lignin was attacked more readily.
In Vitro Pharmacodynamics of Polymyxin B and Tigecycline Alone and in Combination against Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is increasing in prevalence. Polymyxin B and tigecycline are among the most active antibiotics used against this pathogen in vitro. Past in vitro studies, however, neglected the importance of simulating exposures observed in humans to determine their antibacterial effects. In this study, four carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates were evaluated using an in vitro pharmacodynamic model. Free-drug exposures using 1 mg/kg of body weight of polymyxin B every 12 h (q12h), 100 and 200 mg tigecycline q12h, and the combination of these regimens were simulated. The microbiological responses to these treatments were measured by the change in log10 CFU/ml over 24 h and the area under the bacterial killing and regrowth curve (AUBC). Resistance was assessed by a population analysis profile (PAP) conducted after 24 h of treatment. Polymyxin B achieved a reduction on the order of -2.05 ± 0.68 log10 CFU/ml against these A. baumannii isolates, while all isolates grew to control levels with tigecycline monotherapy. Combination therapy with polymyxin B plus 200 mg tigecycline q12h achieved a greater reduction in bacterial density than did therapy with polymyxin B alone (-3.31 ± 0.71 versus -2.05 ± 0.68 log10 CFU/ml, P < 0.001) but not significantly different than combination therapy with 100 mg tigecycline q12h (-2.45 ± 1.00 log10 CFU/ml, P = 0.370). Likewise, combination therapy with polymyxin B plus 200 mg tigecycline q12h significantly reduced the AUBC compared to that with polymyxin B alone (62.8 ± 8.9 versus 79.4 ± 10.5 log10 CFU/ml, P < 0.05). No changes in the PAP from baseline were observed for either antibiotic alone. In this study, combination therapy with simulated exposures of polymyxin B and tigecycline at an aggressive dose of 200 mg q12h produced synergistic or additive effects on humans against these multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains.
Thailandepsins are new small molecule class I HDAC inhibitors with potent cytotoxic activity in ovarian cancer cells: a preclinical study of epigenetic ovarian cancer therapy

Background: New treatment strategies are emerging to target DNA damage response pathways in ovarian cancer. Our group has previously shown that the class I biased HDAC inhibitor romidepsin (FK228) induces DNA damage response and has potent cytotoxic effects in ovarian cancer cells. Here, we investigated newly discovered HDAC inhibitors, thailandepsin A (TDP-A) and thailandepsin B (TDP-B), to determine the effects on cell viability, apoptosis and DNA damage response in ovarian cancer cells. Methods: FK228, TDP-A and TDP-B were tested in five ovarian cancer cell lines. Cellular viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Immunofluorescence assays were used to assess activated caspase 3. Western blots were performed to detect protein expression of PARP cleavage, pH2AX, P-glycoprotein and tubulin acetylation. Results: Treatment with TDPs decreased cell viability at nanonomolar concentrations in four of the five ovarian cancer cell lines studied. Similar to FK228, both TDP compounds exerted minimal effects on NCI/ADR-RES ovarian cancer cells. Across the four cell lines sensitive to the TDPs, TDP-B consistently had a greater inhibitory effect than TDP-A on cell viability. TDP-B also had relatively greater effects on promoting cell apoptosis and induction of pH2AX (a mark of DNA damage response), than TDP-A. These antitumor effects of TDP-B were of similar magnitude to those induced by an equal concentration of FK228. Similar to FK228, the nanomolar concentrations of the TDPs had little effect on tubulin acetylation (a mark of class II HDAC6 inhibition). Conclusions: The new small molecule HDAC inhibitors TDP-A and TDP-B are FK228 analogues that suppress cell viability and induce apoptosis at nanomolar drug concentrations. TDP-B showed the most similarity to the biological activity of FK228 with greater cytotoxic effects than TDP-A in vitro. Our results indicate that FK228-like small molecule class I HDAC-biased HDAC inhibitors have therapeutic potential for ovarian cancer.
Polyvictimization: Children’s exposure to multiple types of violence, crime, and abuse

A Message from OJJDP: Children are exposed to violence every day in their homes, schools, and communities. Such exposure can cause them significant physical, mental, and emotional harm with long-term effects that can last well into adulthood. The Attorney General launched Defending Childhood in September 2010 to unify the Department of Justice’s efforts to address children’s exposure to violence under one initiative. Through Defending Childhood, the Department is raising public awareness about the issue and supporting practitioners, researchers, and policymakers as they seek solutions to address it. A component of Defending Childhood, OJJDP’s Safe Start initiative continues efforts begun in 1999 to enhance practice, research, training and technical assistance, and public education about children and violence. Under Safe Start, OJJDP conducted the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence, the most comprehensive effort to date to measure the extent and nature of the violence that children endure and its consequences on their lives. This is the first study to ask children and caregivers about exposure to a range of violence, crime, and abuse in children’s lives. As amply evidenced in this bulletin series, children’s exposure to violence is pervasive and affects all ages. The research findings reported here and in the other bulletins in this series are critical to informing our efforts to protect children from its damaging effects
The Cosmic Microwave Background

This review summarizes recent observational work on the cosmic microwave background, or 3 K radiation. Recent measurements of its spectrum and large-scale angular distribution are described, as well as searches for small angular scale fluctuations on arcsecond to degree scales. A few of the consequences of these measurements and upper limits for cosmology, astrophysics, and theories of galaxy formation are touched on here.
Minocycline-Induced Pancreatitis in Cystic Fibrosis

We report two cases of acute pancreatitis secondary to minocycline use in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). This minocycline complication has not previously been reported. Given the increased use of minocycline in the adult CF population to treat resistant bacteria, awareness of this potential adverse effect is imperative. As both of these individuals with CF had class IV genotypes and pancreatic sufficiency, close observation is warranted in the future to determine if persons with pancreatic-sufficient CF are at an increased risk for minocycline-induced pancreatitis.
Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma: How Have Histologic Diagnoses Changed in the Last Half-Century and What Are the Prognostic Implications?

Background: Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) comprises 10% of differentiated thyroid cancers. Diagnostic controversy and interobserver variability render the practical diagnosis of FTC difficult. Overall survival rates vary (46–97%). The aims of this study were to review FTC histologically at the authors' tertiary care institution and to evaluate long-term survival and recurrence. Methods: Diagnostic slides from 66 FTC cases (1965–2007) were reviewed by three pathologists from two institutions (blinded to clinical outcomes), and consensus was obtained. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment, survival, and recurrence data were collected. Thyroid cancer–specific and recurrence-free survival were calculated by original and reclassified diagnoses. Results: Forty-seven cases (71%) were reclassified: 24 (36%) to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 18 (27%) to follicular adenoma (FA), and five (8%) to poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC). Nineteen (29%) maintained a diagnosis of FTC. The ex...
Resolution of male-female conflict in an hermaphroditic flower.

The flowers of most angiosperm species are hermaphroditic. Spatial separation of male and female organs within a flower (hercogamy) is a common character traditionally interpreted as an adaptation to reduce intrafloral self–fertilization, one potential cost of hermaphroditism. Another possible cost that may lead to selection for hercogamy is physical interference between male and female floral functions. Here, I present evidence demonstrating the role of a floral character in reducing female interference with male function. The bi–lobed stigma of the bush monkeyflower closes after receiving pollen, causing increased spatial separation of the anthers and stigma (‘movement’ hercogamy). Experimental manipulations show that flowers with closed stigmas export more than twice as much pollen to other flowers as those in which the stigma is prevented from closing. However, stigma closure only minimally reduces the potential for intrafloral self–pollination. This study provides the first experimental evidence that selection to reduce intrafloral male–female interference can be a strong selective force and can drive the evolution of floral characters usually interpreted as mechanisms to reduce self–fertilization.
Ageism and Body Esteem: Associations With Psychological Well-Being Among Late Middle-Aged African American and European American Women

Objectives. Social expectancy theory posits that cultural values shape how individuals perceive and evaluate others, and this influences how others evaluate themselves. Based on this theory, ageism may shape older individuals’ selfevaluations. Given the cultural focus on beauty and youth, perceptions of age discrimination may be associated with lower body esteem, and this may be associated with poor psychological well-being. Because discrimination has been associated with poor health, and perceptions of health can affect body perceptions, subjective health status may also contribute to lower body esteem. Method. These associations are assessed in a structural equation model for 244 African American and European American women in their early 60s. Results. Perceptions of age discrimination and body esteem were associated with lower psychological well-being for both ethnic groups. Body esteem partially mediated the association between age discrimination and psychological wellbeing among European American women but not among African American women. Discussion. Age-related discrimination is one source of psychological distress for older adults, though ageism’s associations with body esteem, health, and psychological well-being vary significantly for European American and African American women. Examining body perceptions and health in the contexts of ageism and ethnicity is necessary when considering the psychological well-being of older women.
Modification of dielectric characteristics of cells by intense pulsed electric fields

The immediate charging response of a biological cell to pulsed electric field exposure depends strongly on the dielectric properties of its cellular components. Conversely, pulsed electric fields above a certain threshold of amplitude and duration will change these properties. Hence, an understanding of dielectric membrane phenomena is necessary to explain the underlying interaction mechanisms between a pulsed electric field and cells. Furthermore, different electrical characteristics of cells might also allow devising exposure conditions for pulsed electric field treatments that can preferentially target specific cells, such as cancer cells. We have investigated the dielectric properties of Jurkat cells (a malignant human T-cell line) before and after exposure to either: 8 consecutive 1.1-kV/cm electroporation pulses of 100 µs, or 8 consecutive 20-kV/cm pulses of 300 ns, with a repetition rate of about 1 Hz. Measurement results show that conductivities of the cell suspensions increased significantly following microsecond or nanosecond exposure. Further analysis, based on the combination of a Maxwell-Wagner mixture model and a double shell cell model, shows increases in the plasma membrane conductivity, indicating that membrane poration has occurred. Significant changes in cytoplasm conductivity and nucleoplasm conductivity after nanosecond pulsed electric field exposure were also observed, indicating that nanosecond pulses had affected intracellular structures The induced changes were significantly different for different regimens, suggesting different membrane-charging and pore-forming mechanisms.
Frequency-agile bandstop filter with tunable attenuation

A frequency-agile bandstop filter technology with tunable stopband attenuation and constant absolute bandwidth is described. The technology is demonstrated by a six-resonator planar microstrip filter with simultaneous varactor-diode tuning of stopband attenuation from 30dB to 50dB and of operating frequency from 1.8 GHz to 2.2 GHz, with a stopband bandwidth of 60 MHz and absolute 3dB bandwidth of less than 390 MHz.
Contractile properties of muscles used in sound production and locomotion in two species of gray tree frog

The sound-producing muscles of frogs and toads are interesting because they have been selected to produce high-power outputs at high frequencies. The two North American species of gray tree frog, Hyla chrysoscelis and Hyla versicolor, are a diploid-tetraploid species pair. They are morphologically identical, but differ in the structure of their advertisement calls. H. chrysoscelis produces very loud pulsed calls by contracting its calling muscles at approximately 40 Hz at 20 degrees C, whereas, H. versicolor operates the homologous muscles at approximately 20 Hz at this temperature. This study examined the matching of the intrinsic contractile properties of the calling muscles to their frequency of use. I measured the isotonic and isometric contractile properties of two calling muscles, the laryngeal dilator, which presumably has a role in modulating call structure, and the external oblique, which is one of the muscles that provides the mechanical power for calling. I also examined the properties of the sartorius as a representative locomotor muscle. The calling muscles differ greatly in twitch kinetics between the two species. The calling muscles of H. chrysoscelis reach peak tension in a twitch after approximately 15 ms, compared with 25 ms for the same muscles in H. versicolor. The muscles also differ significantly in isotonic properties in the direction predicted from their calling frequencies. However, the maximum shortening velocities of the calling muscles of H. versicolor are only slightly lower than those of the comparable muscles of H. chrysoscelis. The calling muscles have similar maximum shortening velocities to the sartorius, but have much flatter force-velocity curves, which may be an adaptation to their role in cyclical power output. I conclude that twitch properties have been modified more by selection than have intrinsic shortening velocities. This difference corresponds to the differing roles of shortening velocity and twitch kinetics in determining power output at differing frequencies.
A complete L(2,1) span characterization for small trees

An L(2,1) labeling of a graph G is a vertex labeling such that any pair of vertices vi and vj must have labels at least 2 apart if d(vi,vj)=1 and labels at least 1 apart if d(vi,vj)=2. The span of ...
Quality Control for Approximate Accelerators by Error Prediction

How to ensure the output quality is one of the most critical challenges in approximate computing. This paper presents an online quality management system in an approximate-accelerator-based computing environment that can effectively detect and correct large approximation errors.
Uncovering Aberrant Mutant PKA Function with Flow Cytometric FRET.

Biology has been revolutionized by tools that allow the detection and characterization of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based methods have become particularly attractive as they allow quantitative studies of PPIs within the convenient and relevant context of living cells. We describe here an approach that allows the rapid construction of live-cell FRET-based binding curves using a commercially available flow cytometer. We illustrate a simple method for absolutely calibrating the cytometer, validating our binding assay against the gold standard isothermal calorimetry (ITC), and using flow cytometric FRET to uncover the structural and functional effects of the Cushing-syndrome-causing mutation (L206R) on PKA's catalytic subunit. We discover that this mutation not only differentially affects PKAcat's binding to its multiple partners but also impacts its rate of catalysis. These findings improve our mechanistic understanding of this disease-causing mutation, while illustrating the simplicity, general applicability, and power of flow cytometric FRET.
Orientation-specific amorphization and intercalated recrystallization at ion-irradiated SrTiO3/MgO interfaces

Oxide composites are a class of materials with potential uses for nuclear, space, and coating applications. Exploiting their promise, however, requires a detailed understanding of their interfacial structure and chemistry. Using analytical microscopy, we have examined the radiation damage behavior at the interface of a model oxide bilayer, SrTiO3/MgO. The as-synthesized SrTiO3 thin film contained both (100) and (110) oriented domains. We found that after ion beam implantation the (110) domains amorphized at a lower radiation fluence than the (100) domains. Further, a persistent crystalline layer of SrTiO3 forms at the interface even as the rest of the SrTiO3 film amorphizes. We hypothesize that the enhanced amorphization susceptibility of the (110) domains is a consequence of how charged irradiation-induced defects at the interfaces interact with the charged planes of the (110) domains. These results demonstrate the complex relationship between interfacial structure and radiation damage evolution at oxide interfaces.
Enduring Temptation: The Structure and Coherence of the Letter of James:

The extent to which there is a deliberate compositional structure governing the letter of James is an open question among contemporary interpreters. This article argues that a complementary consideration of formal textual features, thematic content and rhetorical function shows that the letter was composed as a uniﬁed, coherent treatment of the ethical implications of its underlying logos/desire dichotomy. Framed generally as a matter of enduring temptation in humble dependence on a provident deity, the letter presents the practical consequences of birth with logos under three headings: doing the works of the ‘law of freedom’, bridling the tongue, and manifesting a gentle disposition.
Analysis on Harmonic Transfer Characteristics of Electronic Voltage Transformers

Compared with the traditional Electromagnetic Transformer,the electronic transformer has advantages on bandwidth,insulation structure,size,etc. It has become a research hotspot among the electrical equipment for measurement. With the loads in the grid accrues,the harmonics pollution in the grid is increasingly serious,so it has great significance to measure harmonics accurately. In this contest,It's necessary to explore harmonic transfer Character istics of electronic transformer. Based on the operation principles of various electronic voltage transformers(EVTs), the harmonic and DC transfer characteristics of EVTs are analysed. The problem whether different kinds of EVTs can be used to measure harmonic voltage is answered theoretically. This study may lay the foundation for test and measurement of EVTs' harmonic transfer characteristics.
The Effect of Blood Cardioplegia with TAD on Myocardial Protection in Patients following Open Heart Surgery

OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical effects of cardioplegia with TAD in open heart surgery.METHODS In this study,30 patients with open heart surgery were divided randomly into two groups:TAD group(n=15)received TAD in cardioplegia solution,control group(n=15)did not receive TAD.The rate of heart spontaneous rebeating,defibrilation,arrhyarnia and cardiac inotropic agents used and its duration were recorded.RESULTS The ratio of myocardial auto-resuscitation in TAD group(93.3%)was significantly higher than that in control group(60.0%),and the period of post-operative mechanical ventilate in TAD group was shorter than that in control group.CONCLUSION Antegrade intermittent blood cardioplegia with TAD shows effective myocardial protection in open heart surgery.
A Model of Customer Participation in the Health Care Industry

This paper focuses on consumer participation as being an important component in the production of perceived health care value. As such, this study will develop a 2 by 2 matrix (the relationship between consumer participation and the complexity of the health care offering) for understanding consumer participation in the health care industry. The consumer participation matrix is integrated into an initial conceptualization of the overall health care process.
Pastoral, Progressive and Postmodern Ideas in Environmental Political Thought: Restoring Agency to Nature

AbstractThe pastoral and progressive traditions have played an integral role in shaping ideas about nature. Both traditions have contributed to an antidualistic view of the relationship between nature and culture; however, the linguistic turn in political theory appears to limit our relationship to nature to that of a social construction. What has been lost in the social constructionist perspective is the idea of “agency” in nature that was an essential feature of identity, as captured in Hegel’s synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and Romantic expressivism. An environmental ethic that restores agency to nature justifies efforts to rehabilitate nature by supporting its capacity for self-healing.
Decoding China’s Political Future and Foreign Policy: An Operational Code Analysis of Hu’s and Wen’s Belief Systems

Is China a status quo power? This is a highly debated question in international relations. Some suggest that China’s strategic culture dictates that China is a state oriented towards realpolitik, and that it will challenge the international order when its military capabilities become strong enough (e.g., Johnston, 1995). Others argue that Chinese leaders’ belief systems have evolved across generations and that the new generation of Chinese leadership holds defensive beliefs, which make China a status quo power by nature if the external environment is benign (e.g., Feng, 2007 and 2009). The debate over China’s future foreign policy orientation is a timely topic given China’s rapid ascent on the global stage. However, neither strategic culture nor leadership beliefs alone directly determines a country’s foreign policy. China’s domestic political system, whether democratic or authoritarian, plays at least as important a role in shaping China’s foreign policy behaviour. On the one hand, a democratic political system might modify China’s strategic culture, even if it is offensive in nature, through institutional constraints or public opinion mechanisms. On the other hand, an authoritarian political system may distort Chinese leaders’ belief systems, even if they are oriented towards maintaining the status quo, because of severe and brutal political struggles inside an authoritarian political environment. Although it may be going too far to argue with certainty that a democratic China would be more peaceful than an authoritarian one, a democratic political system could at least ensure greater credibility and accountability for China’s foreign policy behaviour towards the outside world.
An approach to estimating flame radiation in combustion chambers containing suspended-particles

Abstract Thermal radiation often plays a key role in heat transfer between flames and the surrounding environment. Therefore, reliable measurement of flame radiation is indispensable in the study of combustion. While the measurement of radiative flux from flames is straightforward in an open environment, it is challenging to do so in a confined chamber, due to the influence of the walls. Radiation emitted by the walls and the reflection of flame radiation off the walls can interfere with measurements of flame radiation. For wall surfaces that are at high temperature or highly reflective, the error in the flame radiation measurement can be significant. In this paper, a theoretical analysis was carried out to study the contribution of wall emission and wall reflection to the incident radiation measured by radiometers. The results reveal that for a typical lab-scale air-fired flame, the contribution of wall emission and wall reflection to the measured incident radiation can be as high as 55% for a refractory-lined wall and 40% for a water-cooled wall. A convenient approach is proposed to distinguish flame radiation from the measured incident radiation. The approach is based on measurements of surface incident radiation and net radiative heat flux through the wall. The approach can be applied to optically thin systems (most lab-scale and some pilot-scale atmospheric pressure combustion systems) and optically dense systems (typically pressurized large-scale combustion systems). CFD simulations were also performed for two coal-fired combustors, one which represents optically thin and the other optically thick systems, to validate the theoretical model and the approach to estimating flame radiation. Good agreement was observed between CFD results and the theoretical model results, and the proposed approach to estimation of flame radiation was found to have reasonable accuracy.
La réalité virtuelle au service de la performance chez AREVA Projets

AREVA Projets est l’une des six business unit de New AREVA. Au sein du groupe recentre sur les activites du cycle du combustible, la business unit AREVA Projets concentre les activites d’ingenierie pour le compte des installations du groupe et de clients externes. Ses domaines d’intervention concernent l’ensemble des activites de New AREVA, a savoir les mines, la chimie de l’uranium, l’enrichissement, le recyclage des combustibles uses, le demantelement et la gestion des dechets, mais aussi le nucleaire hors cycle et les applications hors nucleaire.AREVA Projets porte l’ambition d’etre une ingenierie competitive, agile et internationale au service du developpement de ses clients et de New AREVA. Cette ambition se traduit par la volonte de mettre l’innovation au cœur des activites et au service de la performance des projets et des clients.Outil d’innovation par excellence, la realite virtuelle a connu ses premieres utilisations au sein d’AREVA Projets en 2012 par la creation d’une salle de realite virtuelle dediee installee a Equeurdreville (Manche) sur l’un des trois sites francais de la societe d’ingenierie. Pour Frederic Bernasconi, responsable Qualite methodes outils inspection de la direction Performance assurance au sein d’AREVA Projets, la realite virtuelle est un outil collaboratif qui sert la performance des projets, reinventant les modes de travail et permettant un gain de temps et une communication plus fluide entre les acteurs d’un meme projet incites a collaborer pour « faire bien du premier coup » et au moindre cout.
Determinants of Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Long-Term and Acute Care Settings: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Background Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are widely used in institutionalized older adults, yet the key determinants that drive their use are incompletely characterized. Methods We systematically searched published literature within MEDLINE and Embase from January 1998 to March 2017. We searched for studies conducted in the United States that described determinants of PIM use in adults ≥60 years of age in a nursing home or residential care facility, in the emergency department (ED), or in the hospital. Paired reviewers independently screened abstracts and full-text articles, assessed quality, and extracted data. Results Among 30 included articles, 12 examined PIM use in the nursing home or residential care settings, 4 in the ED, 12 in acute care hospitals, and 2 across settings. The Beers criteria were most frequently used to identify PIM use, which ranged from 3.6% to 92.0%. Across all settings, the most common determinants of PIM use were medication burden and geographic region. In the nursing home, the most common additional determinants were younger age, and diagnoses of depression or diabetes. In both the ED and hospital, patients receiving care in the West, Midwest, and South, relative to the Northeast, were at greater risk of receiving a PIM. Very few studies examined clinician determinants of PIM use; geriatricians used fewer PIMs in the hospital than other clinicians. Conclusions Among older adults, those who are on many medications are at increased risk for PIM use across multiple settings. We propose that careful testing of interventions that target modifiable determinants are indicated to assess their impact on PIM use.
Scalable Dry Printing Manufacturing to Enable Long-Life and High Energy Lithium-Ion Batteries

Slurry casting method dominates the electrode manufacture of lithium-ion batteries. The entire procedure is similar to the newspaper printing that includes premixing of cast materials into solvents homogeneously, and continuously transferring and drying the slurry mixture onto the current collector. As a market approaching US $80 billion by 2024, the optimization of manufacture process is crucial and attractive. However, the organic solvent remains irreplaceable in the wet method for making slurries, even though it is capital-intensive and toxic. Here, an advanced powder printing technique is demonstrated that is completely solvent-free and dry. Through removing the solvent and related procedures, this method is anticipated to statistically save 20% of the cost at a remarkably shortened production cycle (from hours to minutes). The dry printed electrodes outperform commercial slurry cast ones in 650 cycles (80% capacity retention in 500 cycles), and thick electrodes are successfully fabricated to increase the energy density. Furthermore, microscopy techniques are utilized to characterize the difference of electrode microstructure between dry and wet methods, and distinguish dry printing's advantages on controlling the microstructure. In summary, this study proves a practical fabrication method for lithium-ion electrodes with lowered cost and favorable performance, and allows more advanced electrode designs potentially.
Materials and processing issues in vertical GaN power electronics

Abstract Silicon-based power devices are reaching their fundamental performance limit. The use of wide-bandgap semiconductors with superior material properties over silicon offers the potential for power electronic systems with much higher power densities and higher conversion efficiency. GaN, with a high critical electric field and carrier mobility, is considered one of the most promising candidates for future high-power, high frequency and high temperature applications. High voltage transistors and diodes based on both lateral and vertical structures are of great interest for future power electronics. Particularly, vertical GaN power devices have recently attracted increasing attention due to their many unique properties. This paper reviews recent progress and key remaining challenges towards the development of high-performance vertical GaN transistors and diodes with emphasis on the materials and processing issues related to each device architecture.