cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Educational Level and Insurance Impact Mid-Term Survival after Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation?

Purpose Patient selection is a key determinant of outcomes after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Educational level and insurance aspects may frequently influence the decision to implant LVAD. We evaluated the impact of insurance and education level on outcomes post-LVAD implantation. Methods and Materials Cardiac Surgery database from a single center was retrospectively reviewed for LVADs implanted between 2008 and 2011. Demographics (age, gender, insurance, race etc.) and perioperative clinical information were obtained from same database as well as hospital medical records. Univariate statistics and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze impact of education level and type of insurance on early post-operative outcomes and mid-term survival. Results Of 119 patients (55.1 + 12.7 years, 86 males) enrolled during the time period, 41 (34.5%) had commercial insurance, 65 (56.6%) Medicare and 8 (6.7%) had Medicaid. Of all, 56 (47.5%) were high school graduates, 21 (17.8%) were college graduates and 41 (34.7%) had less than high school/no education. Education level and type of insurance was not significantly different in patients having post-operative complications of driveline infection, bleeding and readmissions (p-values>0.05). Mid-term survival stratified by education level and type of insurance ( figure 1 ) was comparable (p>0.05). Conclusions Education level and type of insurance in LVAD patients were not predictors of early adverse post-operative outcomes and overall mid-term survival. Therefore, education level and type insurance should not be contraindications for referral or decision to proceed for LVAD implantation.
Thermogravimetric Analysis of Modified Hematite by Methane (CH4) for Chemical-Looping Combustion: A Global Kinetics Mechanism

Iron oxide (Fe2O3), known in its natural form as hematite, is potentially able to capture CO2 through the chemical-looping combustion (CLC) process. Magnesium (Mg) is an effective methyl-cleaving catalyst, and as such it was combined with hematite to assess any possible enhancement to the kinetic rate of the reduction of Fe2O3 with methane. Therefore, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of Mg as a hematite promoter, the behaviors of Mg-modified hematite samples (hematite–5% Mg(OH)2) were assessed for any enhancement to the kinetic rate of the CLC process. The Mg-modified hematite was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The reactivity experiments were conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer using a continuous stream of CH4 (at concentrations of 5, 10, and 20%) at temperatures ranging from 700 to 825 °C over 10 oxidation–reduction cycles. The mass spectroscopic analysis of the product gas indicated the presence of CO2, H2O, H2, and CO in the gaseous product. The kinetic data obtained by isothermal expe...
Axisymmetric tension fields

Finite deformations with wrinkling for isotropic elastic membranes of arbitrary initial shape are discussed. The shape of the deformed membrane in a wrinkled region is governed by a parabolic equation that does not involve material properties, and the stress field is governed by an elliptic system that involves the scalar force-stretch function. For axisymmetric deformations of surfaces of revolution, solution of these equations involves only integration and function inversion.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide variability in the community earth system model: evaluation and transient dynamics during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Changes in atmospheric CO_2 variability during the twenty-first century may provide insight about ecosystem responses to climate change and have implications for the design of carbon monitoring programs. This paper describes changes in the three-dimensional structure of atmospheric CO_2 for several representative concentration pathways (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5) using the Community Earth System Model–Biogeochemistry (CESM1-BGC). CO_2 simulated for the historical period was first compared to surface, aircraft, and column observations. In a second step, the evolution of spatial and temporal gradients during the twenty-first century was examined. The mean annual cycle in atmospheric CO_2 was underestimated for the historical period throughout the Northern Hemisphere, suggesting that the growing season net flux in the Community Land Model (the land component of CESM) was too weak. Consistent with weak summer drawdown in Northern Hemisphere high latitudes, simulated CO_2 showed correspondingly weak north–south and vertical gradients during the summer. In the simulations of the twenty-first century, CESM predicted increases in the mean annual cycle of atmospheric CO_2 and larger horizontal gradients. Not only did the mean north–south gradient increase due to fossil fuel emissions, but east–west contrasts in CO_2 also strengthened because of changing patterns in fossil fuel emissions and terrestrial carbon exchange. In the RCP8.5 simulation, where CO_2 increased to 1150 ppm by 2100, the CESM predicted increases in interannual variability in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes of up to 60% relative to present variability for time series filtered with a 2–10-yr bandpass. Such an increase in variability may impact detection of changing surface fluxes from atmospheric observations.
Bayesian Inference on Risk Differences: An Application to Multivariate Meta-Analysis of Adverse Events in Clinical Trials

Multivariate meta-analysis is useful in combining evidence from independent studies that involve several comparisons among groups based on a single outcome. For binary outcomes, the commonly used statistical models for multivariate meta-analysis are multivariate generalized linear mixed effects models which assume risks, after some transformation, follow a multivariate normal distribution with possible correlations. In this article, we consider an alternative model for multivariate meta-analysis where the risks are modeled by the multivariate beta distribution proposed by Sarmanov. This model has several attractive features compared to the conventional multivariate generalized linear mixed effects models, including simplicity of likelihood function, no need to specify a link function, and a closed-form expression of distribution functions for study-specific risk differences. We investigate the finite sample performance of this model through simulation studies and illustrate its use with an application to ...
Calcium Stimulation of Ammonium Absorption and Growth by Beet

Inefficiency in N use by plants contributes to environmental degradation. We examined the use of Ca 2+ as a means of increasing NH 4 + absorption in beet (Beta vulgaris cv. Detroit dark red). Ammonium absorption was measured in greenhouse and field studies. In the greenhouse, beet plants received full-strength nutrient solutions with Ca 2+ : NH 4 + molar ratios (MR) of 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 (Ca 2+ :NH 4 + ) and a NO 3 − check. Absorption of 15 NH 4 + was monitored over a 30-h period. The field production trials occurred over 3 yr on a calcareous Saneli silty clay loam (clayey over sandy or sandy-skeletal, montmorillonitic (calcareous), thermic Vertic Torrifluvent]. The 15 NH 4 + absorption study showed the greatest plant weight at the molar ratio (MR) of 1.0 in tops (except in seedlings) and at 0.5 in bulbs
Labyrinthine and other supraspinal inhibitory controls over head-and-body ventroflexion

The vestibular head righting reflex can be demonstrated by holding an adult rat vertically downward, so that the snout points downward. In this situation, the animal dorsiflexes its head and neck, bringing the head towards its normal orientation in space. Bilateral labyrinthectomy not only blocks this response, but releases an actively maintained ventroflexion of the head and neck. Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the lateral hypothalamus (LH) exaggerate such ventroflexion in labyrinthectomized rats. By themselves, LH lesions had no such effect. Therefore, it is argued that there are vestibular and supraspinal inhibitory mechanisms which, in the intact adult animal, keep this ventroflexion response in check. In addition, when the rats were held with their heads down, and with gentle paw contact with the ground, they did not ventroflex. However, they ventroflexed immediately upon releasing this paw contact. These observations suggest that there are tactile mechanisms which can also inhibit this exaggerated ventroflexion released by labyrinthectomy.
Epithelial proliferation in periapical lesions.

Abstract Various endodontic procedures were performed on seventy-two teeth which had no periapical pathosis prior to endodontic treatment. From 6 to 360 days later the periapical tissues of these teeth were examined histologically. In eighteen such tissues (26 per cent), proliferation of cell rests of Malassez had occurred. The lowest incidence of epithelial growth appeared in cases in which the root canals had been instrumented short of the root apices of the teeth and then left unfilled (25 per cent) or filled short of the apices (17 per cent). The highest incidence of epithelial proliferation appeared in those cases in which the root canals were instrumented and filled beyond the apices of the teeth (46 per cent). Epithelium began to proliferate as early as 14 days after endodontic treatment. In six of fourteen lesions, there was evidence of entrapment and degeneration of epithelial strands in newly formed collagen fibers. Twenty-two teeth in which periapical lesions were present prior to endodontic therapy were examined histologically. In five of these teeth no endodontic therapy had been undertaken, and in seventeen teeth endodontic therapy had been performed 10 to 220 days prior to root resection. Epithelial proliferation was found in ten of the twenty-two lesions. Studies of the epithelium in seven specimens 56 to 220 days after endodontic therapy had been performed revealed that the epithelium was degenerating in three lesions. In four lesions no degenerative epithelium changes could be discerned.
Efficient Hybrid Photovoltaic-Photothermal Solar Conversion System With Cogeneration

A new type of concentrating photovoltaic-photothermal solar conversion system with output cogeneration is presented. This technique, called total solar cogeneration (TSC), converts the total solar spectrum directly and cogenerates the output into three energy components: high-temperature heat (HT), photovoltaic electricity (PV), and low-temperature heat (LT). A specially designed heat-mirror with a beam-splitting technique is used to direct a selected portion of the solar spectrum to a HT evacuated-tube receiver. This high-grade heat transfer is optimized, while effectively maintaining the integrity of the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. High-current A.S.E.C. silicon solar cells (nominally 18.3% efficient at 28°C and 35x) are used. An analysis of heat-mirror transmittance profiles has led to an optimized theoretical parametric model profile, that in a TSC system is capable of delivering HT heat with 39% efficiency, while reducing PV efficiency by only 3.4%. In an experimental TSC concentrating module using a dielectric-Au-dielectric multilayer heat-mirror with optical losses, the projected output is HT heat (150°-250°C) at 17.8% efficiency, 12 V d.c. PV electricity at 9.5%, and LT heat (50°-70°C) at 41.9%, with a total cogenerated output efficiency of 69%.
The distal esophageal sphincter and its relationship to gastroesophageal reflux.

A COMPLETE CORRELATION between gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and distal esophageal sphincter (DES), pH, and manometric measurement has been claimed by several authors [4, 5, 8, 91. This has given rise to the impression that it is only necessary to measure a sphincter pressure below 10 mm Hg or a pH of less than 4 a given distance above the sphincter or the point of respiratory reversal to determine if reflux is occurring. We were not convinced of the completeness of this correlation since we have observed patients with symptoms of reflux and normal pH and manometric measurements. Furthermore, Skinner and Booth [6] have also reported that symptoms are an unreliable guide to the presence or absence of gastroesophageal reflux as determined by the standard acid reflux test (SART) , an objective measurement of reflux, described by Kantrowitz and associates [3], In this study pH and manometric measurements across the DES were obtained on 159 patients. Traditionally, pH evaluation of the DES has been performed by withdrawing a catheter assembly from the stomach into the esophagus. It has recently been stated that this method leads to an
Stability of lithium silicate gels

Abstract Lithium silicate gels with 15 mol% Li2O were prepared by combining a lithium nitrate solution with partially hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Using low pH and high water levels, samples were cast, gelled, and dried to form cylinders 30 mm in length and 5 mm in diameter in about a week. The dried gels had a uniform lithium content throughout. Lithium disilicate crystals and quartz crystals appeared in samples heated above 600°C.
In silico force-induced unbending of αvβ3 integrin

Integrins are type I transmembrane heterodimers that consist of two noncovalently associated α- and β-subunits. They mediate cell-cell, cell-extracellular matrix, and cell-pathogen adhesions in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes [1].Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Modern management of diabetes mellitus

This handy book is a new, revised, and updated edition of a classic in the area of manuals on diabetes care that was originally written with the intent of providing a useful reference textbook for healthcare professionals providing care for patients with diabetes. This new edition, now edited for the first time by Anne Peters-Harmel and Ruchi Mathyur, incorporates the recent multiple advances in care for diabetes and its vascular complications in an easy-to-follow format that focuses predominantly on therapy.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, but not AT(1) receptor blockade, in the solitary tract nucleus improves baroreflex sensitivity in anesthetized transgenic hypertensive (mRen2)27 rats.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, but not AT 1 receptor blockade, in the solitary tract nucleus improves baroreflex sensitivity in anesthetized transgenic hypertensive (mRen2)27 rats
X-RAY CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF A MONOMERIC TRIS(ARSINO)GALLANE, [(Me3Si)2As]3Ga

Abstract The solid-state structure of [(Me3Si)2As]3Ga (1) has been established by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Triclinic crystals of 1 belong to the space group P1, with a = 10.7529(23), b = 10.7899(23), c = 17.55(6) A, α = 88.077(23)°, β = 84.537(23)°, γ = 60.282(16)° for Z = 2. Refinement of atomic parameters converged at R = 0.058 (Rw = 0.064) for 2378 observed reflections with I>2.5σ(I). The monomeric molecule adopts a trigonal planar configuration with Ga-As = 2.4171(23), 2.4250(22) and 2.4213(24) A, and As-Ga-As (av.) = 120.00(1)°. Compound 1 is only the second example of a monomeric tris(arsino)gallane to be structurally characterized in this manner.
Evaluation of NASS-CDS Side Crash Delta-V Estimates Using Event Data Recorders

Objective: Planar crash severity is most commonly defined by delta-V (ΔV), which is the change in a vehicle's velocity vector during a crash. All ΔV estimates contained in the NASS-CDS are generated using a damage-based program called WinSMASH. WinSMASH ΔV accuracy in side crashes has not previously been validated against real-world crash data. This study will investigate the accuracy of WinSMASH ΔV estimates in real-world side crashes.Methods: This study uses biaxial ΔV data from event data recorders (EDRs) to assess the accuracy of side crash ΔV estimates in NASS-CDS crash cases. Single-event side crashes were identified in the NASS-CDS for which (a) WinSMASH ΔV had been coded and (b) biaxial EDR data were available. For these crashes, the WinSMASH-estimated resultant ΔV was compared with the EDR-recorded resultant ΔV to assess the accuracy of the former. EDR ΔV values were adjusted for an assumed average restitution value of 10 percent, based on values reported in the literature. Principal direction of...
Interaction of α1D-Adrenergic and P2X7 Receptors in the Rat Lacrimal Gland and the Effect on Intracellular [Ca2+] and Protein Secretion

Purpose. To determine whether α1D-adrenergic receptors (α1D-AR) and P2X7 receptors interact by determining their effect on ATP release, intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i), and protein secretion in rat lacrimal gland acini.
Polymeric Implants for the Delivery of Green Tea Polyphenols

ABSTRACT Polymeric implants (millirods) have been tested for local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment. Modeling of drug release profiles is critical as it may provide theoretical insights on rational implant design. In this study, a biodegradable poly ( e -caprolactone) (PCL) polymeric implant delivery system was tested to deliver green tea polyphenols (GTPs), both in vitro and in vivo . Factors including polymer compositions, supplements, drug loads, and surface area of implants were investigated. Our data showed that GTPs were released from PCL implants continuously for long durations, and drug load was the main determining factor of GTPs release. Furthermore, rates of in vitro release and in vivo release in the rat model followed similar kinetics for up to 16 months. A mathematical model was deduced and discussed. GTP implants have the potential to be used systemically and locally at the tumor site as an alternative strategy.
The doctor needs to see you now: accelerating the care of patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Despite compelling evidence that hypertension treatment prevents adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes [1] and is cost effective [2], barely half of hypertensive adults in the USA and even fewe...
Keeping Bisexuality Alive: Maintaining Bisexual Visibility in Monogamous Relationships

This article draws on data from focus group interviews with bisexual-identified women who are in long-term monogamous relationships with men, and it explores the ways one can attempt to be visible as a bisexual through the creation of a ‘bisexual display.’ The focus here is on such displays for a limited audience—a small group of people, close friends and family, or even just within intimate relationships. Through these limited displays, the actor often has more control over how the message is perceived and if it is perceived correctly, and this can be a significant way of keeping bisexuality ‘alive’ for the individual who is not ‘behaviorally’ bisexual in terms of current sexual activity.
Effect of a Raman co-pump's RIN on the BER for signal transmission using ON-OFF keying modulation format

This paper theoretically studies the effect of the relative intensity noise (RIN), which is transferred to the signal from a Raman co-pump, on the bit-error rate (BER). We show that a given amount of the transferred RIN degrades the BER by about an order of magnitude more than does the same amount of the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) added to the signal. We investigate how this effect depends on such parameters as the duty ratio of the signal pulses and on the amount of the ASE that has been added to the output signal along the transmission line.
Soil moisture surpasses elevated CO2 and temperature as a control on soil carbon dynamics in a multi-factor climate change experiment

Some single-factor experiments suggest that elevated CO2 concentrations can increase soil carbon, but few experiments have examined the effects of interacting environmental factors on soil carbon dynamics. We undertook studies of soil carbon and nitrogen in a multi-factor (CO2 × temperature × soil moisture) climate change experiment on a constructed old-field ecosystem. After four growing seasons, elevated CO2 had no measurable effect on carbon and nitrogen concentrations in whole soil, particulate organic matter (POM), and mineral-associated organic matter (MOM). Analysis of stable carbon isotopes, under elevated CO2, indicated between 14 and 19% new soil carbon under two different watering treatments with as much as 48% new carbon in POM. Despite significant belowground inputs of new organic matter, soil carbon concentrations and stocks in POM declined over four years under soil moisture conditions that corresponded to prevailing precipitation inputs (1,300 mm yr−1). Changes over time in soil carbon and nitrogen under a drought treatment (approximately 20% lower soil water content) were not statistically significant. Reduced soil moisture lowered soil CO2 efflux and slowed soil carbon cycling in the POM pool. In this experiment, soil moisture (produced by different watering treatments) was more important than elevated CO2 and temperature as a control on soil carbon dynamics.
Headache characteristics in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

To investigate the nature of the headache accompanying aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, a retrospective study was conducted. Fifty-four patients and 54 controls completed questionnaires regarding headache, medical history, and family history, in an attempt to derive further information regarding symptoms and factors that might be predictive of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Factors that appear to be of importance in evaluating headache caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage include ominously severe headache, a history of vigorous physical activity precipitating headache, syncope or transient lethargy accompanying headache, previous medical attention for headache, a family history of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, or catastrophic central nervous system event at an early age. An algorithm for the management of serious headache is suggested.
Guilt by association: paradigm for detecting a silent killer (thoracic aortic aneurysm)

Recent studies have confirmed a close association between various medical conditions (intracranial aneurysm, abdominal aortic aneurysm, temporal arteritis, autoimmune disorder, renal cysts), certain aortic anatomic variants (bovine aortic arch, direct origin of left vertebral artery from aortic arch, bicuspid aortic valve), and family history of aneurysm disease with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. This paper reviews these associations. We propose to capitalise on these associations as powerful and expanding opportunities to diagnose the virulent but silent disease of thoracic aortic aneurysm. This can be accomplished by recognition of this ‘guilt by association’ with the other conditions. Thus, patients with associated diseases and anatomic variants should be investigated for silent aortic aneurysms. Such a paradigm holds substantial potential for reducing death from the silent killer represented by thoracic aortic aneurysm disease.
Thermogravimetric Investigation of the Influence of Colloidal Phase on the Processing Properties of Crude Oil Residues

An atmospheric residue, a vacuum residue, a visbreaking residue, the maltene fractions of the residues, mixtures of the atmospheric residue with the vacuum residue and the residue from the supercritical extraction of the vacuum residue as well as residues mixed with dispersing agents were investigated by thermogravimetry at three different heating rates. From that, the activation energies of the weight loss were estimated. At temperatures up to about 400°C the activation energy corresponds to the evaporation enthalpy, above 400°C to the cracking energy. Comparing the results the strenght of the interactions between colloid disperse phase and the components of dispersion medium was evaluated. It was found that besides the content of colloid disperse phase its stability has a significant influence on the properties of the residues, especially on the evaporation enthalpy. The stability of residues was investigated by the flocculation point determination. The obtained dependencies of evaporation enthalpies are also reflected in the yields of distillates and in the thermogravimetric residues at 500°C. Thermogravimetry proves to be an effective method for the determination of important parameters of processing of crude oil residues considering the influence of the colloidal character of these complex mixtures.
A revision of the world species of the genus Neotelmatoscopus Tonnoir (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract The moth-fly genus Neotelmatoscopus Tonnoir (Diptera: Psychodidae) has been revised to include 13 species. Three new species are described: N. aurulentussp.n. from northern Thailand, and N. acutussp.n. and N. rotundussp.n. from Sri Lanka. Previously unknown life stages of N. horai Tonnoir and N. inachus Quate are described, and redescriptions of larvae, pupae and adults of N. horai, N. indicus (Feuerborn), N. bifidens Quate and N. inachus are given. Five described species are transferred from Telmatoscopus Eaton to Neotelmatoscopus: N. longiceps (Quate), N. digitoides (Quate), N. sagittalis (Quate), N. parsilobus (Quate) and N. canlaonis (Quate). Keys to instar IV larvae, pupae and adults of all known species of Neotelmatoscopus and a phylogenetic analysis of Neotelmatoscopus are provided.
Drosophila PS2 integrin mediates RGD-dependent cell-matrix interactions

Integrins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions. We have transfected cultured Drosophila cells with genes that express the Drosophila PS2 integrin. We demonstrate that this integrin is expressed on the surface of the cells and can mediate cell spreading on an undefined component of fetal calf serum or on the purified vertebrate matrix molecules vitronectin and fibronectin. Additionally, PS2 integrin can cause cell spreading on RGD peptide. The spreading on matrix components or RGD peptide can be inhibited by soluble RGD peptide and is dependent on divalent cations.
Development of perceptual context-sensitivity in unsupervised neural networks: parsing, grouping, and segmentation

A simple self-organizing neural network model, called an EXIN network, that learns to process sensory information in a context-sensitive manner is described. Exposure to a perceptual environment during a developmental period configures the network to perform appropriate organization of sensory data. An anti-Hebbian learning rule causes some lateral inhibitory connection of sensory data. An anti-Hebbian learning rule causes some lateral inhibitory connection weights to weaken, thereby letting multiple neurons become simultaneously active. The rule lets other inhibitory weights remain strong; these enforce specific simultaneous contextual consistency constraints on allowable combinations of activations. EXIN networks perform near-optimal parallel parsing of multiple superimposed patterns, by simultaneous distributed activation multiple neurons. EXIN networks implement a form of credit assignment. >
The Unconvincing Case for Resale Royalties

The American Royalties Too Act (known as the ART Act) is now pending in Congress. If passed, it will grant visual artists a right, known as droite de suite, to collect royalties when their works are resold. The proponents of the bill partly rely on a comprehensive report, published by the U.S. Copyright Office in December 2013, urging Congress to consider such resale royalty rights. The essay questions whether our legal system needs to provide additional compensation to visual artists. It considers the purported rationales for this legislation and finds them misguided. Therefore, because visual artists are neither poor nor in a weak bargaining position vis-a-vis their buyers, and because the Copyright Act does not disfavor these artists in any way, there is no convincing justification to enact resale royalties and to force society to incur their significant costs. In addition, the essay argues that in its current form the proposed ART Act is especially harmful because its drafters chose to reject some of the recommendations of the Copyright Office and to make resale royalties transferable and retroactive.
Did you see a horse at Foxfield? A social norms approach for targeting the negative consequences of hazardous drinking

Using survey results that measured college student drinking norms and related behaviors at the 2007 Spring Foxfield Races, marketing materials based on the social norms approach were developed. To ensure credibility of the message source and effectiveness of the posters, focus group sessions were conducted to measure student reaction and collect feedback. Graduate students in a human factors class and representatives of the Foxfield Races Strategy Group (Foxfield Racing Association, law enforcement and community groups) also provided feedback. Students responded well to the transportation and medical information posters. Students, along with other stakeholders, did not respond well to the posters created to reflect healthier drinking norms. The final posters therefore highlighted safety information with the goal of decreasing negative consequences experienced at Foxfield.
Silica Sol-Gel Supported Nickel Nano-Catalyst for Hydrogen Production Using Microreactors

The goal of this research is to investigate the activities of a non-noble nano-catalyst (Ni/SiO2) using Si-microreactors for steam reforming of methanol to produce hydrogen for fuel cells. The supported catalyst was synthesized by sol-gel method using Ni (II) salts and Si(C2H5O)4 as starting materials. EDX results indicate that the actual loading of Ni (5-6%) is lower than the intended loading of 12 %. The specific surface area of the silica sol-gel encapsulated Ni nano-catalyst is 452 m2/g with an average pore size of ∼ 3 nm. Steam reforming reactions have been carried out in a microreactor with 50 µm channels in the temperature range of 180-240 °C and atmospheric pressure. Results show 53% conversion of methanol with a selectivity of 74 % to hydrogen at 5 l/min and 200 °C. The magnetic properties of the catalysts were performed using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) to study the activity of the catalysts before and after the steam reforming reactions. The VSM results indicate much higher activity in the microreactor compared to macro-reactor and Ni forms non-ferromagnetic species faster in the microreactor.
Microparticulate focal drug delivery to the peripheral and central nervous systems

Focal drug delivery using microparticles holds great promise in treating specific disorders in the peripheral and central nervous systems. In the peripheral nervous system, controlled release technology is readily applicable to providing prolonged nerve blockade, while in the central nervous system there is increasing interest in its uses for epilepsy and movement disorders.
Attribute identification in children as a function of stimulus dimensionality

Abstract Thirty-two four-year-old and 32 six-year-old children were presented a conjunctive concept that involved either two values from within a single dimension (unidimensional condition) or two values from different dimensions (bidimensional condition). As predicted, the results showed that the uni- vs bidimensional factor had no effect upon the performance of the younger children, while the older children solved more rapidly in the unidimensional than in the bidimensional condition. The results were interpreted to suggest that the younger children's responding is not under dimensional control and that a major source of difficulty for older children solving the conjunctive concept is the necessity of responding to two dimensions, not to two values.
Surgical reconstruction of severe forefoot derangement in a patient with traumatically acquired contralateral limb-length discrepancy: a case report.

Limb-length discrepancy is a very common condition. A severe debilitating forefoot deformity resulting from a post-traumatic limb length discrepancy is quite rare. This case study discusses the surgical reconstruction of a forefoot deformity of a 64-year-old male following a post-traumatic limb-length discrepancy from a motor vehicle accident that caused compensatory biomechanical changes in the unaffected lower extremity. These changes resulted in a severe hallux abducto valgus deformity with subluxated metatarsophalangeal joints of the second and third digits, leaving the patient with a severe symptomatic forefoot deformity that closely mimics the radiographic appearance of a rheumatoid forefoot. The forefoot deformity was corrected using the Mckeever and Hoffman procedures with Kirschner-wire fixation. Seven months following the corrective procedures, the patient was able to obtain an asymptomatic plantigrade foot and can now wear regular footwear. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(4): 324–329, 2012)
Effect of glyphosate on soil microbial activity and biomass

Abstract Herbicides applied to soils potentially affect soil microbial activity. Quantity and frequency of glyphosate application have escalated with the advent of glyphosate-tolerant crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing glyphosate application rate on soil microbial biomass and activity. The soil used was Weswood silt loam. The isopropylamine salt of glyphosate was added at rates of 47, 94, 140, and 234 µg ai g−1 soil based on an assumed 2-mm glyphosate–soil interaction depth. Glyphosate significantly stimulated soil microbial activity as measured by C and N mineralization but did not affect soil microbial biomass. Cumulative C mineralization, as well as mineralization rate, increased with increasing glyphosate rate. Strong linear relationships between mineralized C and N and the amount of C and N added as glyphosate (r2 = 0.995, 0.996) and slopes approximating one indicated that glyphosate was the direct cause of the enhanced microbial activity. An increase in C mi...
Simultaneous identification and adaptive control of unknown systems over finite parameter sets

The problem considered is one of simultaneously identifying an unknown system while adequately controlling it. The system can be any fairly general discrete-time system and the cost criterion can be either of a discounted type or of a long-term average type, the chief restriction being that the unknown parameter lies in a finite parameter set. For a previously introduced scheme of identification and control based on "biased" maximum likelihood estimates, it is shown that 1) every Cesaro-limit point of the parameter estimates is "closed-loop equivalent" to the unknown parameter; 2) for both the discounted and long-term average cost criteria, the adaptive control law Cesaro-converges to the set of optimal control laws; and 3) in the case of the long-term average cost criterion, the actual cost incurred by the use of the adaptive controller is optimal and cannot be bettered even if one knew the value of the unknown parameter at the start.
An exploratory study of black male college athletes’ perceptions on race and athlete activism

This qualitative pilot case study focuses on black male athletes at a major university in the United States of America (USA) and utilizes critical race theory (CRT) to understand their perspectives...
K-16 Computationally Rich Science Education: A Ten-Year Review of the Journal of Science Education and Technology (1998–2008)

Computing is anticipated to have an increasingly expansive impact on the sciences overall, becoming the third, crucial component of a “golden triangle” that includes mathematics and experimental and theoretical science. However, even more true with computing than with math and science, we are not preparing our students for this new reality. It is appropriate and compelling therefore to consider how computer science can be fundamentally integrated into science education. This study is a ten-year review (1998–2008) of the Journal of Science Education and Technology, with the following research questions in mind: What are the intersections at the K-16 level between science and computing? What do K-16 science educators already know about the newly emerged field, computational science?
Design and implementation of a nonlinear speed control for a PM synchronous motor using the synergetic approach to control theory

This paper presents a novel nonlinear speed control for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) using the synergetic approach to control theory (SACT). Recent research has reported that the PMSM is being increasingly used in high-performance applications, such as robots and industrial machines, which require speed controllers that provide not only accuracy and high performance, but also flexibility and efficiency in the design process and implementation. It has also been reported that the best approach to achieve high-performance in a PMSM drive is to consider the whole nonlinear motor dynamics in the controller synthesis. Many control schemes using varied nonlinear strategies have been presented; however, most of them are very complex to design and implement, even when they show good performance. We propose a nonlinear control scheme based on the SACT, which allows the designer to generate the required control laws by following a direct method. This scheme is also well suited for digital control implementation. An interesting outcome of the application of the SACT on the PMSM is the natural linearization and order reduction to a second-order system on the invariant manifold. This result allows the designer to set the desired dynamic behavior of the controlled system by selecting two system poles, as if employing a linear control strategy. The proposed SACT controller is implemented on a PMSM using a DSP-based platform and its performance is verified through the comparison of the experimental and simulation results.
Making Cultural Connections Across the Professions

Due to globalization, more opportunities exist for U.S.–based speech-language pathologists and audiologists to provide services to clients from a variety of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. These opportunities can be a consequence of increasing groups of diverse people migrating to the United States, as well as the availability of more possibilities for members of the communication sciences and disorders professions to travel and provide services in other countries. This article focuses on a study abroad component of a transdisciplinary, transnational curriculum development program designed to explain the effects of global economic and cultural processes on health care, education, language and literacy practices, migration, and food systems in West Africa and in the U.S. Midwest.
Trypsinogen activation in acute and chronic pancreatitis: is it a prerequisite?

Trypsinogen activation is sufficient to induce acute pancreatitis in an experimental model. However, whether it is a requirement for the pathogenesis of acute and chronic pancreatitis remains to be explored.
Measurement of high-sensitivity troponin T in noncardiac medical intensive care unit patients. Correlation to mortality and length of stay.

Objectives: To assess the frequency, magnitude, and prognostic significance of elevations in cardiac troponin T in noncardiac critically ill patients, including elevations at levels below the limit of detection of traditional assays. Methods: Using a high-sensitivity assay, we measured troponin T (high-sensitivity troponin T [hsTnT]) in 451 unique patients within 12 hours of their admission to a noncardiac medical intensive care unit. Outcomes of patients, grouped by hsTnT level, were compared. Results: Overall, 98% of the study patients had detectable levels of hsTnT (>3 ng/L), and 33% had levels above the diagnostic cutoff of a traditional fourth-generation cardiac troponin T assay. Patient groups with higher hsTnT levels had markedly higher rates of in-hospital mortality ( P < .001) and longer stays in the hospital and intensive care unit ( P < .01). Conclusions: In noncardiac critically ill patients, cardiac troponin T elevations are common but often at levels undetectable by traditional assays. hsTnT elevations predict a more complex clinical course and an increased risk of death.
Discrete convolution in generating capacity reliability evaluation-LOLE calculations and uncertainty aspects

The authors present a practical and general method based on discrete convolution techniques for evaluating the expectations and variance of the loss of load indices for a single-area power system by treating forced outage rates and peak load forecasts as random variables with specified means and variances. The proposed method easily accounts for partial forced outage rates associated with unit derated states, without any restrictions. The proposed algorithm is applied to typical generating systems, including the IEEE Reliability Test System and the Brazilian South/Southeast System planned for completion in 1991. >
Splicing of Rhesus Rhadinovirus R15 and ORF74 Bicistronic Transcripts during Lytic Infection and Analysis of Effects on Production of vCD200 and vGPCR

Rhesus macaque rhadinovirus (RRV) is the rhesus macaque homologue of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Here we examine expression of RRV R15 and ORF74, homologues of K14 and ORF74 of HHV-8, respectively. As in HHV-8, transcripts encoding RRV R15 and ORF74 are bicistronic. However, unlike what has been suggested for HHV-8, RRV R15- and ORF74-encoding transcripts are expressed late during lytic infection and undergo unique splicing events that result in the production of transcripts capable of encoding vGPCR, as well as membrane-associated and secreted forms of vCD200. The alternative splicing for vCD200 has implications for viral pathogenesis.
Enzymes as Chemotherapeutic Agents

Typical chemotherapeutic agents act by disrupting the flow of biochemical information (Fig. 1). The most common strategy uses small organic molecules to inhibit the function of a protein. Information flow can be disrupted at earlier stages. For example, an antisense oligonucleotide (Vitravene; Isis Pharmaceuticals) acts at the RNA level to treat eye infections caused by cytomegalovirus.
Discrepancies between optic axial angles of olivines measured over different bisectrices

More than 100 measurements of 2V were made on forsteritic olivines from two picrite sills in Soay, Scotland, using both double and single axis conoscopic methods. The mean of double axis measurements agrees closely with the mean of single axis measurements, but a significant difference exists between the means of double axis measurements made over different bisectrices. Measurements of (-)2Vα are smaller than (-)2Vγ by about 2.5° The difference can be explained if the recorded angles are smaller than the true angles when high radial angles are measured on the universal stage, and calculations show that refraction and displacement of light within the central layers of the sphere could produce this effect. Optical measurements of minerals with 2V near 90° may be unreliable unless corrections are made for the errors introduced by the high angles of tilt which are involved in the measurements.
Effective large scale computing software for parallel mesh generation

Scientists commonly turn to supercomputers or Clusters of Workstations with hundreds (even thousands) of nodes to generate meshes for large-scale simulations. Parallel mesh generation software is then used to decompose the original mesh generation problem into smaller sub-problems that can be solved (meshed) in parallel. The size of the final mesh is limited by the amount of aggregate memory of the parallel machine. Also, requesting many compute nodes on a shared computing resource may result in a long waiting, far surpassing the time it takes to solve the problem. These two problems (i.e., insufficient memory when computing on a small number of nodes, and long waiting times when using many nodes from a shared computing resource) can be addressed by using out-of-core algorithms. These are algorithms that keep most of the dataset out-of-core (i.e., outside of memory, on disk) and load only a portion in-core (i.e., into memory) at a time. We explored two approaches to out-of-core computing. First, we presented a traditional approach, which is to modify the existing in-core algorithms to enable out-of-core computing. While we achieved good performance with this approach the task is complex and labor intensive. An alternative approach, we presented a runtime system designed to support out-of-core applications. It requires little modification of the existing in-core application code and still produces acceptable results. Evaluation of the runtime system showed little performance degradation while simplifying and shortening the development cycle of out-of-core applications. The overhead from using the runtime system for small problem sizes is between 12% and 41% while the overlap of computation, communication and disk I/O is above 50% and as high as 61% for large problems. The main contribution of our work is the ability to utilize computing resources more effectively. The user has a choice of either solving larger problems, that otherwise would not be possible, or solving problems of the same size but using fewer computing nodes, thus reducing the waiting time on shared clusters and supercomputers. We demonstrated that the latter could potentially lead to substantially shorter wall-clock time.
Blended learning within an undergraduate exercise physiology laboratory

In physiological education, blended course formats (integration of face-to-face and online instruction) can facilitate increased student learning, performance, and satisfaction in classroom settings. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of using blending course formats in laboratory settings. We evaluated the impact of blended learning on student performance and perceptions in an undergraduate exercise physiology laboratory. Using a randomized, crossover design, four laboratory topics were delivered in either a blended or traditional format. For blended laboratories, content was offloaded to self-paced video demonstrations (∼15 min). Laboratory section 1 (n = 16) completed blended laboratories for 1) neuromuscular power and 2) blood lactate, whereas section 2 (n = 17) completed blended laboratories for 1) maximal O2 consumption and 2) muscle electromyography. Both sections completed the same assignments (scored in a blinded manner using a standardized rubric) and practicum exams (evaluated by two independent investigators). Pre- and postcourse surveys were used to assess student perceptions. Most students (∼79%) watched videos for both blended laboratories. Assignment scores did not differ between blended and traditional laboratories (P = 0.62) or between sections (P = 0.91). Practicum scores did not differ between sections (both P > 0.05). At the end of the course, students' perceived value of the blended format increased (P < 0.01) and a greater percentage of students agreed that learning key foundational content through video demonstrations before class greatly enhanced their learning of course material compared with a preassigned reading (94% vs. 78%, P < 0.01). Blended exercise physiology laboratories provided an alternative method for delivering content that was favorably perceived by students and did not compromise student performance.
Electrical Characterization of Aluminum Nitride Films on Silicon Grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Aluminum nitride (AlN) films were grown on silicon (Si) substrates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The refractive index of the AlN films was determined by ellipsometry. Current-voltage and current-temperature characteristics were performed on metal-AlN-p+ Si structures with Pt, Au and Al as metal electrodes. The characteristics showed that at high field and high temperature the carrier conduction mechanism in the film was dominated by Frenkel-Poole emission. The relative dielectric constant of the AlN films was estimated to be 9.66+0.3 from capacitance-voltage-frequency (C-V-f) measurements on Au-AlN-p+ Si.