cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coordination of Transient-Voltage Characteristics of Electrical Systems

Each piece of equipment in an electrical system is a potential source of transient voltages. At the same time, it also has some degree of susceptibility to transient voltages. This paper discusses the allowable limits of transient voltages generated by each piece of equipment and the total system, and the susceptibility of each piece of equipment and the system. For satisfactory operation of a system, the allowable limits of the generated transient voltages should be coordinated with the specified susceptibility of each piece of equipment as well as the system. The coordinated protection of an electrical system is the joint responsibility of the equipment designer and the systems engineer. Techniques to measure susceptibility are also described.
Cell biology: a break in the chain?

How chains of proteins link transmembrane cell–cell adhesion molecules to the cell's inner scaffold was standard textbook material. But recent research challenges the accepted model, opening a new chapter in the field.
EFFECT OF TARGET GAS TEMPERATURE ON THE SCATTERING CROSS SECTION

If a beam of particles is scattered by a gas or plasma, the differential scattering cross section that is observed experimentally may, in some cases, be altered a discernible amount by the random thermal motion of the target particles. To explore the feasibility of using this effect as a means of measuring high temperatures, or to correct for the temperature of the target in the event that the desired cross section must be measured at high temperatures, a theoretical study was made of the temperature dependence of the cross section. A general expression was obtained for the observed differential scattering cross section in the laboratory frame in terms of the differential cross section in the center-of- mass frame for the general case of arbitrary initial motion of the target. Detailed results for the temperature dependence are given for hardsphere scattering (which is also applicable to low-energy neutron scattering) and for Coulomb scattering, in the approximation in which the projectiles are light and rapidly moving, compared to the targets. For hard-sphere scattering the case of equal projectile and target mass is also considered. (auth)
D-MOSFET Structure

The first power MOSFET structure commercially introduced by the power semiconductor industry was the double-diffused or D-MOSFET structure. The channel length of this device could be reduced to sub-micron dimensions by controlling the diffusion depths of the P-base and N+ source regions without resorting to expensive lithography tools [1]. The device fabrication process relied up on the available planar gate technology used to manufacture CMOS integrated circuits. These devices found applications in power electronic circuits that operated at low (<100 V) voltages. The fast switching speed and ruggedness of the D-MOSFET structure were significant advantages compared with the performance of the available bipolar power transistor.
Post transplant erythrocytosis in hypercalcemic renal transplant recipients.

In vitro data suggest that calcium plays an important role in normal and disordered erythropoiesis. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is an association between serum calcium, various hormone levels, and the development of post transplant erythrocytosis (PTE). Data were collected on 283 patients who underwent renal transplantation between 1994 and 1998. The relationship between serum calcium and PTE development was tested using the chi-square test. Univariate and multivariable adjusted models were employed to determine predictors of maximum hematocrit. Selected patients underwent measurement of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, and erythropoietin (EPO). Seventy-three patients (26%) developed PTE. Post transplant erythrocytosis was more common in patients with hypercalcemia compared with patients with normal serum calcium (34% vs. 18%, p = 0.002). In multivariable analyses, serum calcium was a strong independent predictor of maximum hematocrit post transplant, even after adjustment for renal function. A serum calcium of ≥10.2 mg/dL was associated with greater than two-fold increased odds of PTE. There were no differences in hormone levels between subjects with hypercalcemia and PTE, subjects with PTE alone, and subjects with hypercalcemia alone. Hypercalcemia is associated with the development of PTE in renal transplant recipients.
Sidelobe reduction for efficient detection of multiple radar targets

With multiple radar targets the sidelobe of matched filtering outputs from the stronger targets become the interferences for the detection of weaker targets. An effective approach based on traditional CLEAN algorithm is proposed for sidelobe reduction for the matched filtering output of binary coding radar signals. A novel multilevel sidelobe reduction method is also developed for closely located multiple targets of nearly equally strong scatterings. The effectiveness of the sidelobe reduction algorithms is demonstrated through the numerous processing results.
Fatigue damage in nickel and copper single crystals at nanoscale

Abstract Nanoscale fatigue damage simulations using molecular dynamics were performed in nickel and copper single crystals. Cyclic stress–strain curves and fatigue crack growth were investigated using a middle-tension (MT) specimen with the lateral sides allowing periodic boundary conditions to simulate a small region of material as a part of a larger component. The specimen dimensions were in the range of nanometers, and the fatigue loading was strain controlled under constant and variable amplitude. Four crystal orientations, [111], [100], [110] and [101] were analyzed, and the results indicated that the plastic deformation and fatigue crack growth rates vary widely from one orientation to another. Under increasing strain amplitude loading, nickel nanocrystals experienced a large amount of plastic deformation causing at least in one orientation, [101], out-of-plane crack deviation in a mixed mode I+ II growth. Under constant amplitude loading, the fatigue cracks were a planar mode I type. Double slip is observed for some orientations, while for others, many more slip systems were activated causing a more evenly distributed plastic region around the crack tip. A comparative analysis revealed that small cracks grow more rapidly in copper than in nickel single crystals.
INACCURACY OF BALLARD SCORES IN ESTIMATING GESTATIONAL AGE (GA) OF 24-27 WEEKS INFANTS OF WOMEN WITH KNOWN MENSTRUAL HISTORY. † 1219

INACCURACY OF BALLARD SCORES IN ESTIMATING GESTATIONAL AGE (GA) OF 24-27 WEEKS INFANTS OF WOMEN WITH KNOWN MENSTRUAL HISTORY. † 1219
Region I controversy in superplastic Zn-22 wt% Al

In all recent studies on Zn-22 wt% Al, a low strain-rate Region I with n approx. = 3 has been observed. Correcting for concurrent grain growth will change n approx. = 4.1, as reported by Mohamed et al., to n approx. = 3.4, consistent with other work. Possible premature measurement of strain rate in the work of Vaidya et al. does not invalidate their n = 1 findings, since n approx. = 3 has been observed in other studies at the same strain levels. Recent reports of n = 1 in Zn-22 wt% Al at constant torsional velocity must be questioned because of the extremely small loads involved.
High surface area activated carbon prepared from cassava peel by chemical activation

Cassava is one of the most important commodities in Indonesia, an agricultural country. Cassava is one of the primary foods in our country and usually used for traditional food, cake, etc. Cassava peel is an agricultural waste from the food and starch processing industries. In this study, this solid waste was used as the precursor for activated carbon preparation. The preparation process consisted of potassium hydroxide impregnation at different impregnation ratio followed by carbonization at 450-750 degrees C for 1-3 h. The results revealed that activation time gives no significant effect on the pore structure of activated carbon produced, however, the pore characteristic of carbon changes significantly with impregnation ratio and carbonization temperature. The maximum surface area and pore volume were obtained at impregnation ratio 5:2 and carbonization temperature 750 degrees C.
Alterations in integrity of goldfish membrane induced by edetate disodium.

The effect of the chelating agent edetate disodium on the integrity of the goldfish membrane was examined. The time to produce death in goldfish exposed to secobarbital sodium was used as a reflection of membrane integrity. Although a minimum edetate disodium concentration was necessary to induce alterations in integrity, no direct relationship between the effect and concentration of the chelating agent was evident. The chelating agent's effect appeared to be an enhancement of the transport of the ionized drug form. The change in membrane integrity existed at least 24 hr after theoretical exposure to edetate disodium, but cyclic alterations in integrity could not be ruled out. The effect on integrity was also demonstrated to be nonpermanent, and the apparent loss in integrity was partially restored by calcium but not by magnesium.
Lactate-induced retinal vasodilation implicates neuronal nitric oxide synthesis in minipigs

Purpose To investigate the role of neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in the retinal vasodilatory response to lactate in minipigs Methods Ten eyes of 10 minipigs were evaluated.After 1 hour of intravenous infusion of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME),an intravitreal juxta-arteriolar microinjection of 30µl of L-lactate 0.5 mol/l (pH= 7.4) was performed through a micropipette.Ten minutes later, an intravitreal juxta-arteriolar microinjection of 30µl of L-NAME 0.01 mol/l (pH= 7.4) was performed in all eyes but one which received balanced saline solution (BSS).Retinal arteriolar diameter changes were measured in vivo using a Retinal Vessel Analyzer.The animals’ vital signs were monitored and systemic arterial pressure was maintained stable Results Retinal arteriolar diameter decreased by 4.1% 1 hour after intravenous L-NAME infusion compared to baseline but the difference did not reach significance.Juxta-arteriolar injection of L-lactate induced a significant increase in retinal arteriolar diameter of 22.7% and 28.7% at 5 and 10 minutes respectively(p<0.01). This was followed by a significant decrease of 8.6% 10 min after juxta-arteriolar injection of L-NAME(p<0.01).Injection of BBS had no effect in the control eye and retinal arterioles remained dilated under the effect of L-lactate Conclusion Juxta-arteriolar administration of L-lactate induced vasodilation despite inhibition of endothelial-derived NO by the continuous intravenous infusion of L-NAME. Moreover,juxta-arteriolar L-NAME microinjection significantly suppressed the vasodilatory effect of L-lactate.These data suggest that neuronal-derived NO is an important mediator of the lactate-induced vasodilation in minipigs
Radioimniunologic Detection and Measurement of Nonapeptides in the Pineal Gland

RIAs have been developed for the nonapeptide hormones arginine vasotocin (AVT), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and oxytocin (OT). The AVP RIA can detect as little as 2 pg hormone and shows essentially no cross-reactivity with AVT or OT. The OT RIA is sensitive to 7 pg and shows no significant cross-reactivity with AVP or AVT. The AVT RIA is sensitive to about 5 pg; some cross-reactivity occurs with OT and AVP, but the RIA is suitable for assaying AVT levels in biological samples containing OT and/or AVP in concentrations up to 5 times greater than that of AVT. Using these RIAs, we found large amounts of AVT (up to 1.48 μg/gland) in the chicken pituitary but no AVP or OT. The chicken pineal also contained AVT (about 300 pg/gland) and lacked AVP and OT. Bovine pineal glands appeared to contain all three peptides in roughly similar amounts (200–400 pg/gland). Pineal glands from a variety of rodents (including the rat) contained only very small amounts of AVT-like immunoreactivity (about 10 pg/gland) and no AVP ...
Quercetin prevents progression of disease in elastase/LPS-exposed mice by negatively regulating MMP expression

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic bronchitis, emphysema and irreversible airflow limitation. These changes are thought to be due to oxidative stress and an imbalance of proteases and antiproteases. Quercetin, a plant flavonoid, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. We hypothesized that quercetin reduces lung inflammation and improves lung function in elastase/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed mice which show typical features of COPD, including airways inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia, and emphysema. Mice treated with elastase and LPS once a week for 4 weeks were subsequently administered 0.5 mg of quercetin dihydrate or 50% propylene glycol (vehicle) by gavage for 10 days. Lungs were examined for elastance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Effects of quercetin on MMP transcription and activity were examined in LPS-exposed murine macrophages. Quercetin-treated, elastase/LPS-exposed mice showed improved elastic recoil and decreased alveolar chord length compared to vehicle-treated controls. Quercetin-treated mice showed decreased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, a measure of lipid peroxidation caused by oxidative stress. Quercetin also reduced lung inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia, and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and muc5AC. Quercetin treatment decreased the expression and activity of MMP9 and MMP12 in vivo and in vitro, while increasing expression of the histone deacetylase Sirt-1 and suppressing MMP promoter H4 acetylation. Finally, co-treatment with the Sirt-1 inhibitor sirtinol blocked the effects of quercetin on the lung phenotype. Quercetin prevents progression of emphysema in elastase/LPS-treated mice by reducing oxidative stress, lung inflammation and expression of MMP9 and MMP12.
Laser transformation hardening of Ti–6Al–4V in solid state with accompanying kinetic model

Laser transformation hardening in the solid state is shown to successfully provide a surface hardness increase of almost 40% for Ti–6Al–4V with a case depth over 2.5 mm while reducing surface damag...
Transcription Factor CHF1/Hey2 Regulates Neointimal Formation In Vivo and Vascular Smooth Muscle Proliferation and Migration In Vitro

Objective— To determine the role of the cardiovascular-restricted, hairy-related bHLH transcription factor, CHF1/Hey2, in the biological response to vascular injury. Methods and Results— We investigated the response of CHF1/Hey2-deficient mice to vascular injury in vivo and the response of primary cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from these mice to growth factors in vitro. Neointima formation after arterial wire injury is decreased in knockout (KO) compared with wild-type (WT) mice (0.025±0.011 mm 2 in WT [n=13]) versus 0.016±0.008 mm 2 in KO (n=12; P P P Conclusions— CHF1/Hey2 is an important regulator of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) accumulation during vascular remodeling and responsiveness to growth factors in vitro.
Loss of Compliance in Small Arteries, but Not in Conduit Arteries, After 6 Weeks Exposure to High Fat Diet

Arterial stiffness is a key marker in metabolic diseases and can be evaluated by arterial compliance. Most compliance measurements are performed in large conduit arteries in advanced stage of metabolic diseases, which may not provide information on mechanisms associated with the initiation of the pathology. For this reason, we compared arterial compliance of two different size arteries: carotid and a smaller artery (thoracodorsal artery, TDA). The arterial compliance was compared between control and high fat-fed mice for 6 weeks. We show that the compliance of the TDAs was dramatically reduced in high fat-fed mice whereas the compliance of the carotids remained unchanged. An abundance of collagen deposition in the media/adventitia of the carotids and TDAs was observed in high fat-fed mice. These results demonstrate that the structural and mechanical properties of small arteries are rapidly altered even after only 6 weeks of high fat feeding.
A Complementarity Approach to Solving Computable General Equilibrium Models

Computable general equilibrium (CGE) models play a central role in modern economic modeling, bearing on a wide range of important applications in international climate and trade policies, growth and development of countries, national income distribution and equality studies. We formulate a canonical CGE model as a complementarity problem and introduce CIM-EARTH, a collection of open-source extended mathematical programming (EMP) frameworks written in AMPL and C++ for automatically generating and solving the resultant complementarity problems.
Electromagnetic analysis and modeling of the coax-to-triplate transition for the pulse-compression section the ZR accelerator

Transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wave analysis is used to estimate the efficiencies of the coax to triplate transition in Sandia's Z-20 test module. The structure of both the TEM mode and higher order TE modes in the triplate transmission line are characterized. In addition, three dimensional time domain simulations are carried out and used in conjunction with the modal analysis to provide insight into the wave structure excited in the triplate transmission line.
Remarks on an Exact Solution of a Universal Instability

Wentzel-Kramer-Brillouin calculation of exact solution of universal instability and drift approximation problem
PROSPECT OF THE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

Even though transit-oriented development (TOD) concept remains disputable in the United States (U.S.), it is almost universally accepted by the Chinese planning community. This is largely attributed to China’s national policy on prioritizing the public transit development. It should be recognized that, due to the existence of substantial differences between the U.S. and China in population density, land use intensity, personal income level, urban spatial structure, and propensity to use public transit, it is inappropriate for China to directly utilize the U.S. TOD-related planning parameters without making a proper adjustment. China needs to develop its own TOD-related planning parameters based on its concrete circumstances. At present, China has achieved great strides in TOD research and practices, yet still lacking a nationwide TOD inventory data base. Additionally, this paper makes several improvement recommendations for the TOD implementation in China.
Parent-Child Relations and Peer Associations as Mediators of the Family Structure-Substance Use Relationship

Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Survey of 1988, the authors assess the extent to which adolescents' levels of parental attachment and opportunities for participating in delinquent activities mediate the family structure—substance use relationship. A series of hierarchical regressions supported the hypotheses that high levels of substance use among adolescents residing with stepfamilies would be explained by low parental attachment, whereas heightened opportunities for participating in deviant activities would account for the substance use behaviors of individuals living in single-parent households. More generally, the findings suggest that family structure has a moderate effect on youth substance use; that parental and peer relations are better predictors than family structure of levels of alcohol and marijuana consumption; and that variations in parental attachment, parenting style, and peer relations across family types explain some, but not all, of the effects of family structure on...
Valproate for the treatment of medication-induced impulse-control disorders in three patients with Parkinson’s disease

Impulse-control disorders (ICDs) are becoming more commonly recognized in the Parkinson disease (PD) population. To date, there are no definitive methods of treating dopamine dysregulation syndromes in PD patients. We sought to uncover an effective treatment option for future study. We report a series of 3 PD patients with ICDs who were effectively treated with valproate. Based on these encouraging preliminary observations, future controlled clinical trials investigating the efficacy of valproate for ICDs in PD are recommended.
Self-Management and Social Skills Training for Persons With Developmental Disabilities: Tools for the Rehabilitation Counselor to Facilitate Success in Community Settings: A Literature Review

People with developmental disabilities often display, deficiencies in self-management and social skills in community based settings. Difficulties with self-management and social skills tend to pose particular difficulties for performing valued adult roles. Tools from behavior therapy have the potential to assist rehabilitation counselors in their work with consumers with developmental disabilities to overcome the negative impacts of functional limitations on expressing behaviors needed for success in community-based settings. This article presents a review of the behavior therapy literature regarding self-management and social skills training techniques rehabilitation counselors can use in their work with consumers with developmental disabilities in areas including high school transition and supported employment.
Anatomically based ablation of atrial flutter in an acute canine model of the modified Fontan operation

Abstract Background: Lateral tunnel total cavopulmonary connection, also called the modified Fontan operation, uses a baffle through the right atrium. We established, in an acute canine model, that atrial flutter after total cavopulmonary connection revolves around a line of conduction block imposed by the free wall lateral tunnel suture line. We hypothesized that a line of conduction block between the free wall total cavopulmonary connection suture line and the tricuspid anulus would interrupt atrial flutter in this model. Objective: Our objective was to determine whether a cryolesion placed between the free wall total cavopulmonary connection suture line and the tricuspid anulus would terminate atrial flutter in an acute canine model. Methods: Seven adult dogs underwent median sternotomy and institution of cardiopulmonary bypass. A suture line was placed through a right atriotomy to simulate total cavopulmonary connection lateral tunnel construction. Form-fitting 253-point biatrial endocardial mapping electrodes were placed via bilateral ventriculotomies. Atrial flutter was induced by atrial burst pacing. A cryothermal lesion was then placed between the free wall total cavopulmonary connection suture line and the tricuspid anulus in the low lateral right atrium (i.e., CRYO 1 procedure), and reinduction of atrial flutter was attempted. If atrial flutter was reinduced, the cryolesion was modified superiorly to include the caudal portion of the atriotomy (i.e., CRYO 2 procedure). Activation sequence maps were generated for sinus rhythms before and after the cryolesions were placed and for induced arrhythmias. Results: In all seven cases, atrial flutter was inducible after suture line placement, before placement of a cryolesion. The reentrant circuit incorporated both caval orifices in five of seven cases and was successfully ablated by the CRYO 1 approach in each case. Atrial flutter was not inducible after placement of the CRYO 2 lesion in the remaining two cases, in which breakthrough of the wave front occurred across the lateral tunnel suture line in the intercaval region. Activation sequence maps of sinus rhythm after placement of the cryolesions demonstrated a conduction block at the site of the lesion. Conclusions: A linear cryothermal lesion placed between the free wall aspect of the total cavopulmonary connection suture line and the tricuspid anulus created a line of conduction block that successfully ablates atrial flutter in the canine model. (J T HORAC C ARDIOVASC S URG 1996;112:898-907)
The role of E2A-PBX1 in leukemogenesis.

A signi®cant number of the malignancies of the immune system are the result of nonrandom chromosomal translocations that cause either the overexpression of endogenous genes or the production of novel chimeric factors that can promote uncontrolled cell growth and block dierentiation. Translocations which fuse the gene encoding the basic helix ± loop ± helix transcription factor E2A with either the gene encoding the homeodomain protein PBX1 or the bZIP protein HLF result in the generation of chimeric proteins that can cause preand pro-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL), respectively. What is currently known about the E2A-HLF fusion protein is reviewed elsewhere in this issue. This review focuses on the mechanisms and models of E2A-PBX1-mediated pre-B cell transformation.
Structural Equation Modeling Approaches for Analyzing Partially Nested Data

Study designs involving clustering in some study arms, but not all study arms, are common in clinical treatment-outcome and educational settings. For instance, in a treatment arm, persons may be nested in therapy groups, whereas in a control arm there are no groups. Methodological approaches for handling such partially nested designs have recently been developed in a multilevel modeling framework (MLM-PN) and have proved very useful. We introduce two alternative structural equation modeling (SEM) approaches for analyzing partially nested data: a multivariate single-level SEM (SSEM-PN) and a multiple-arm multilevel SEM (MSEM-PN). We show how SSEM-PN and MSEM-PN can produce results equivalent to existing MLM-PNs and can be extended to flexibly accommodate several modeling features that are difficult or impossible to handle in MLM-PNs. For instance, using an SSEM-PN or MSEM-PN, it is possible to specify complex structural models involving cluster-level outcomes, obtain absolute model fit, decompose person-level predictor effects in the treatment arm using latent cluster means, and include traditional factors as predictors/outcomes. Importantly, implementation of such features for partially nested designs differs from that for fully nested designs. An empirical example involving a partially nested depression intervention combines several of these features in an analysis of interest for treatment-outcome studies.
Light-to-electron converting panchromatic supramolecular solar cells of phthalocyanine–porphyrin heterodimers adsorbed onto nanocrystalline SnO2 electrodes

Broadband capturing supramolecular solar cells are constructed by layer-by-layer deposition of oppositely charged phthalocyanine and porphyrin dyes onto the SnO2 surface.
Nonnoradrenergic mechanism of reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction in men

We tested for a nonnoradrenergic mechanism of reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction with whole body progressive cooling in seven men. Forearm sites (<1 cm2) were pretreated with:1) yohimbine (Yoh; 5 mM...
Economics as Allegory

The paper consists of an investigation of Donald McCloskeyâ€™s proposition that economic journals contain both metaphors and allegory. The first section consists of a definition of allegory where it is shown that the defining trait of allegory is that it can be read on two levels, the literal and the figurative or allegory. This definition is then used to show (in the second section) that while narrative economic allegories can certainly be written, such economics narratives as the typical â€œRobinson Crusoe Allegoryâ€ are not, in fact, allegory. An example of an economic narrative which is allegory is provided. The second section concludes by demonstrating that mathematical economic models are allegory, and an example is given. In the third section it is shown that both the literal and figurative levels of mathematical economic models are abstract, and that this fact has important implications for the use of empirical data in economics.
Relationship between alcohol dependence and new detected hypertension in adult residents of Xuzhou city

Objective To observe the relationship between alcohol dependence and new detected hypertension in adult residents of Xuzhou city. Methods Participants were sampled by stratified multi-stage randomly cluster sampling method from February 2013 to June 2013 among permanent residents aged 18 and more in Xuzhou city. The alcohol dependence was defined with Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST). Other information was obtained by questionnaire. Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the relationship between alcohol dependence and new detected hypertension. Results The alcohol dependence rate was 11.56% on the whole cohort (n=36 157), and 22.02%(3 854/17 501) for male and 1.74%(324/18 656) for female(P<0.01). The new detected hypertension rate was 9.46%(3 422/36 157) in the whole cohort. The new detected hypertension rate increased in proportion with the severity of alcohol dependence (P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that alcohol dependence was positively correlated with systemic blood pressure(r=0.071, P<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.077, P<0.01). After adjusting for gender, age, marital status, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity level, educational level, income level and region, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that alcohol dependence was an independent risk factor for hypertension (low alcohol dependence: OR=1.44, 95%CI 1.14-1.81, P<0.01; light alcohol dependence: OR=1.35, 95%CI 1.11-1.64, P<0.01; medium alcohol dependence: OR=1.83, 95%CI 1.40-2.41, P<0.01). Conclusions The alcohol dependence is an independent risk factor for new detected hypertension in adult residents of Xuzhou city. Intensive hypertension prevention and treatment strategies should be performed on this population based on our results. Key words: Alcohol drinking; Hypertension
Persuasion as Reinforcement: Strengthening the Pro-Environmental Attitude-Behavior Relationship through Ecotainment Programming

This study investigated whether the effects of viewing pro-environmental messages within a narrative context affected intention to perform ecofriendly behaviors through the accessibility of participants’ (N = 332) environmental attitudes. One week after an online pretest, participants viewed one of two television clips that either included or did not include pro-environmental messages. Participants then completed attitude accessibility latency measures and reported behavioral intent to perform several ecofriendly behaviors. Reinforcement of pro-environmental attitudes by the pro-environmental messages occurred through the accessibility of the attitudes, which, in turn, predicted intention to engage in the depicted ecofriendly behaviors. Consistent with a category activation hypothesis, accessible attitudes toward the specific behaviors depicted in the program predicted the accessibility of attitudes toward ecofriendly behaviors that were not depicted or explicitly discussed in the program, and these acces...
Development of functional trait biomarkers for trace metal exposure in freshwater clams (Musculium spp.)

Exposure to trace metals typically causes oxidative stress; these consequences are better-characterized in estuarine and marine species than in freshwater species. How cellular-level responses to metal pollution influence whole-organism and population-level traits is poorly understood. We tested whether exposure to single metals (zinc and cadmium) and to metal mixtures (water in equilibrium with sediment from a highly polluted lake) alters two ecologically-relevant traits in freshwater clams, locomotion and reproduction. Fingernail clams (Musculium spp.) from unimpacted habitats were exposed to single metals and the metal mixture for up to 49days. The single metal doses (≤5mg/L Zn and ≤20μg/L Cd) were not toxicologically meaningful as clam survival, burial, and climbing activity did not differ across treatments. Water in equilibrium with the lake sediment contained cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc. Clams exposed to this metal mixture had decreased climbing activity but no change in burial activity. Metal-exposed clams had lower fecundity (number of shelled juveniles extruded by adult clams) and patterns in metal accumulation corresponded with lake sediment dose and clam activity. In contrast to the functional traits, stress protein expression and whole-clam glycogen content did not vary across treatment groups. These results indicate that fingernail clams of the genus Musculium are appropriate for development as sentinel species for metal pollution and can serve as a model for determining how metal pollution alters metabolic allocation patterns in freshwater organisms.
Variable Structure Control for Aircraft Engine Manipulating System Simulator with Motor Load

Variable structure control was discussed for aircraft engine manipulating system simulator with motor loading.Due to some typical characteristics of extra torque load disturbance and time-varying in linear model,the sliding model controller was designed.Simulation results show that the variable structure control scheme is effective and achieves favorable tracking performance.
Decision support and outcomes of nurses' care planning.

One hundred forty-three nurses served as their own controls in planning care for hypothetical patients under three different manipulated conditions of decision support: (A) use of traditional resources; (B) use of a printout of a computerized protocol for care planning (NPC); and (C) use of an NPC protocol and a self study guide. A series of 3 x 5 repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to evaluate the main effects and interactions of the experimental treatment conditions and the two nurse attribute variables of education and experience (each with five levels). The case problems and conditions were counterbalanced to control for extraneous variables. The repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated significantly higher mean ratings of quality for care planned under both computerized decision support conditions than the traditional condition on all three patient problem situations F(2, 270) = 7.9, p less than .01. Time on task was also significant F(2, 272) = 5.8, p less than .01 with use of the decision support consultants tending to increase time in planning.
Characterization of Ribozymes Targeting a Congenital Night Blindness Mutation in Rhodopsin Mutation

The G90D mutation in the rhodopsin gene leads to autosomal dominant congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) in patients. This occurs because the G90D mutant protein cannot efficiently bind chromophore and is constitutively active. To combat this mutation, we designed and characterized two different hammerhead ribozymes to cleave G90D transcript. In vitro testing showed that the G90D1 ribozyme efficiently and specifically cleaved the mutant transcript while G90D2 cleaved both WT and mutant transcript. AAV-mediated delivery of G90D1 under the control of the mouse opsin promoter (MOP500) to G90D transgenic eyes showed that the ribozyme partially retarded the functional degeneration (as measured by electroretinography [ERG]) associated with this mutation. These results suggest that with additional optimization, ribozymes may be a useful part of the gene therapy knockdown strategy for dominant retinal disease.
Potentiation of the erythropoietin response by dimethyl sulfoxide priming of erythroleukemia cells: evidence for interaction of two signaling pathways.

Erythropoietin (Epo) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are believed to induce the differentiation of transformed erythroid cells by different signal transduction pathways. We have now obtained evidence for the interaction of these pathways. We used a Rauscher murine erythroleukemia cell line with a relatively low (8% to 10%) hemoglobinization response to Epo alone. Pretreatment of these cells for 1 day with DMSO followed by its removal and the addition of Epo resulted in a marked enhancement of the Epo specific hemoglobinization. We have designated this effect “DMSO priming.” This priming effect of DMSO on the Epo response was both time-dependent and DMSO concentration- dependent. DMSO priming potentiated the Epo response in three ways. Firstly, DMSO priming increased the total number of Epo responsive cells from 8% to 10% to 40% to 60%. Secondly, DMSO priming reduced the time required to reach the optimal Epo-induced response from 4 days to 2 days. Thirdly, the Epo dose-response curve was left-shifted approximately 20-fold. DMSO priming was also associated with a marked increase in Epo receptor density characterized by an apparently new receptor population and by the appearance of positive cooperativity between receptors. Our results suggest that the DMSO priming effect is due to potentiation of the Epo signaling pathway, thus resulting in a much more rapid and dramatic Epo-induced hemoglobinization response.
“New” Evidence on the Zhou Conquest

The inscription on the Li gui, a vessel unearthed in 1976 in Qishan county of Shaanxi province, by substantiating certain key assertions of traditional Chinese historiography, has once again focused attention on King Wu’s conquest of the Shang and his consequent establishment of the Zhou dynasty. It is the expectation, and ever increasing reality, of discovering ancient records, usually in the form of bone or bronze inscriptions, that makes the study of early China so vibrant and open to new interpretations.
Effects of scaphoid fractures on the biomechanics of the wrist

Scaphoid fractures are the most commonly fractured carpal bone. They most often occur from a fall on dorsiflexed, radially deviated wrist. The severity of the fall and position of the wrist influence the fracture pattern and the extent of ligamentous damage. Recent studies have correlated fracture pattern stability and any associated ligamentous disruption with the degree of alternation of wrist biomechanics. It is well documented that instability and altered kinematics can lead to nonunion and abnormal joint loads, which then can accelerate the onset of arthritis. Understanding these biomechanical consequences is critical when managing scaphoid fractures.
Shared-Reality Development in Childhood.

Many significant changes occur during human childhood, including cognitive, social-cognitive, and socioemotional changes. This article reviews some key phenomena associated with some of these changes and attempts to capture them within a single conceptual umbrella—changes in children’s shared realities with others. Shared reality is the experience that you have an inner state about something (e.g., a feeling or belief or concern about something) that is shared by others (a person or group). Four phases of shared-reality development are proposed: Phase 1 (6–12 months) shared feelings; Phase 2 (18–24 months) shared practices; Phase 3 (3–5 years) shared self-guides; Phase 4 (9–13 years) shared coordinated roles. In each phase, a new way that children interact with and relate to others emerges, and the emergence of each new shared-reality mode has significant self-regulatory and social consequences. These consequences include both major benefits for children and potential costs—trade-offs of being human.
Modified frailty index associated with Clavien-Dindo IV complications in robot-assisted radical prostatectomies: A retrospective study

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of frailty on patient outcomes including any complication, Clavien-Dindo IV (CDIV) (intensive care unit-level) complications, and 30-day mortality for robotic-assisted radical prostatectomies (RARP) patients in comparison to other predictive indices using the modified frailty index (mFI). Material and methods Patients undergoing RARP from 2008 to 2014 for a prostate cancer–related diagnosis were queried using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. The mFI was developed using the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Frailty Index as a model. The mFI was compared with other associative indices such as the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification and the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Rates of CDIV complications and 30-day mortality were analyzed based on mFI score using SAS version 9.22. Results A total of 23,104 patients undergoing RARP were queried. RARP patients with the highest frailty score (≥3) had an adjusted odds for CDIV complications of Odds ratio of 12.107 (CI: 2.800–52.351, P 0.005) in comparison with nonfrail RARP patients. These odds were higher than the ASA and Charlson comorbidity index. Additionally, a variable combining mFI and ASA had fair sensitivity and specificity for predicting 30-day mortality in RARP patients (C-statistic = 0.7097, P Conclusion Increasing mFI scores are associated with worsening outcomes for patients undergoing RARP. A combined mFI and ASA variable can be used to predict 30-day mortality for RARP patients better than mFI or ASA alone.
Design and evaluation of microwave absorber - metamaterial approach

a microwave absorber is designed with a given absorbing material whose relative permittivity and permeability are already known. In this design process, impedance matching between absorber and free space is performed by metamaterial approach where metal strips of specific dimension are inserted into the absorbing material periodically to achieve desired effective permittivity calculated from impedance matching equation. Finally, a microwave absorber along with designed metal strip is modeled in 3D electromagnetic simulation software HFSS. Simulated frequency response of reflection coefficient verifies impedance matching at design frequency and matches with experimental result conducted by another researcher.
G269 Down’s Arthropathy – Clinical and Radiological Features of Arthritis in Children with Trisomy 21

Introduction Down’s Arthropathy (DA) was first reported in the literature in 1984. Crude estimates suggest higher incidence and prevalence rates of DA compared with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), (JIA prevalence 1/1000, estimated DA prevalence 8.7/ 1000). Despite this fact, there remains a paucity of data on this condition. DA is rarely recognised at onset, and remains underdiagnosed. As a direct consequence children with DA are presenting with significant joint damage and disability at diagnosis. Objectives Perform a musculoskeletal examination on children with Trisomy 21 (T21) aged 0–20 years Methods Children with T21 were invited to attend a screening clinic. Screening involved completion of a health questionnaire and a comprehensive musculoskeletal examination. DA cases detected were investigated and managed as per normal clinical practice. Data on a convenience sample of 33 newly diagnosed children with JIA was collected to create a comparison group. Results 503 children with T21 have been screened for DA, 22 new cases have been diagnosed. In total, we now have 33 children attending our centre with DA (combining cases attending pre-dating the start of the study). This suggests the point prevalence of DA in Ireland is 18–21/1000. The majority of children presented with a polyarticular pattern of disease. 88% of the DA cohort had small joint involvement of the hands, significantly higher than that observed in the JIA comparison group. Erosive changes were reported on X-Ray in 29.2% of the DA cohort (9.5% in the JIA Cohort). Methotrexate-associated nausea was a significant barrier to treatment with this DMARD in DA. There was a significant delay in diagnosis of DA, 1.7 years v 0.7 years in the JIA cohort. Conclusion Children with T21 are at increased risk of developing arthritis. There is a lack of awareness of this risk among health care professionals and the general public at large. This almost certainly contributes to poor recognition of the disease and a delay in diagnosis. The predominant pattern of disease is polyarticular small joint arthritis. Treatment with standard protocols used in JIA is complicated by drug-associated side effects in children with T21. Our study has raised a number of questions. Future research to accurately define this disease and identify best practice with regards to treatment would be invaluable. We advocate that all children with T21 should have annual musculoskeletal examination as part of their health surveillance programme.
A surprising treatment response in a patient with rare isolated growth hormone deficiency, type IB.

Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency (IGHD) is a rare cause of short stature, treated with the standard regimen of subcutaneous synthetic growth hormone (GH). Patients typically achieve a maximum height velocity in the first year of treatment, which then tapers shortly after treatment is stopped. We report a case of a 9-year-old male who presented with short stature ( 95th percentile for age and race. In conclusion, this is a case of primary hypopituitarism with differential diagnosis of IGHD vs Idiopathic Short Stature vs Constitutional Growth Delay. This case supports two objectives: Firstly, it highlights the importance of confirmatory genetic testing in patients with suspected, though diagnostically uncertain, IGHD. Secondly, it demonstrates a novel secondary growth pattern with implications for better understanding the tremendous variability of GH treatment response. Learning points: GHD is a common cause of growth retardation, and IGHD is a specific subtype of GHD in which patients present solely with short stature. The standard treatment for IGHD is subcutaneous synthetic GH until mid-parental height is reached, with peak height velocity attained in the 1st year of treatment in the vast majority of patients. Genetic testing should be strongly considered in cases of diagnostic uncertainty prior to initiating treatment. Future investigations of GH treatment response that stratify by gene and specific mutation will help guide treatment decisions. Response to treatment in patients with IGHD is variable, with some patients demonstrating little to no response, while others are ‘super-responders.’ Background GHD is a well-documented cause of growth retardation in both males and females, and affects 1/3800 children in the USA. It typically occurs with panhypopituitarism, presenting with low growth rate, hypoglycemia, microphallus, lethargy, and congenital blindness (1, 2). IGHD is a rare, specific subtype with deficiency only in GH; therefore, patients present exclusively with short stature. The majority of cases are idiopathic, though 3–30% of cases have shown traceable familial etiology. Mainstay treatment is subcutaneous synthetic GH injection until mid-parental height is reached. Because of the variability in clinical presentation and neurohormonal profile, clinical differentiation can be difficult. Further, the response to therapy ranges dramatically between patients. This case supports the use of confirmatory genetic testing in patients with suspected IGHD. Moreover, response to treatment is a key element to better understanding the pathogenesis of IGHD.
Different Cutpoints for Transient Elastography Lead To Different Associations with Cirrhosis

Our results illustrate the sensitivity of odds ratios to the transient elastography cutpoint used to define cirrhosis. Given problems with cutpoints, we recommend regression analysis with a continuous or ordinal-outcome model to obtain a summary across the variation.