cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron spectroscopy of condensed multilayers: Line shape changes due to beam damage and excitation mode

Abstract Auger line-shape analysis, photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermal desorption spectroscopy have been used to study the effects of electron bombardment on condensed multilayers of (CH 3 ) 2 O, CH 3 OH, and H 2 O. The data show that electron doses as low as 5 × 10 −4 C/cm 2 (a 0.5 mm diameter, 1 μA beam for 1 sec) can cause detectable damage. New chemical species are created in the condensed layer by this electron beam interaction, and the data suggest that water and hydrocarbons are the most abundant. Auger spectra excited by X-rays and by electrons were shown to be different both before and after electron damage. This difference probably results from shake-up or shake-off processes which are sensitive to the specific mode of core-level excitation.
Local Casimir energies for a thin spherical shell

The local Casimir energy density for a massless scalar field associated with step-function potentials in a 3+1 dimensional spherical geometry is considered. The potential is chosen to be zero except in a shell of thickness $\delta$, where it has height $h$, with the constraint $h\delta=1$. In the limit of zero thickness, an ideal $\delta$-function shell is recovered. The behavior of the energy density as the surface of the shell is approached is studied in both the strong and weak coupling regimes. The former case corresponds to the well-known Dirichlet shell limit. New results, which shed light on the nature of surface divergences and on the energy contained within the shell, are obtained in the weak coupling limit, and for a shell of finite thickness. In the case of zero thickness, the energy has a contribution not only from the local energy density, but from an energy term residing entirely on the surface. It is shown that the latter coincides with the integrated local energy density within the shell. We also study the dependence of local and global quantities on the conformal parameter. In particular new insight is provided on the reason for the divergence in the global Casimir energy in third order in the coupling.
Synthesis ofcis-[Ru{4,4′-(t-Bu)2bpy}2(PPh3)Cl+][ClO 4 − ] and the crystal structure of its disordered hemiacetonitrile, hemitoluene solvate

The complexcis-[Ru{4,4′-(t-Bu)2bpy}2(PPh3)Cl+][ClO 4 − ·0.5(toluene)·0.5(MeCN), where 4,4′-(t-Bu)2bpy=4,4′-di(t-butyl)-2,2′-bipyridyl crystallizes with an ordered racemic mixture of the chiral cations in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group $$P\bar 1$$ (No. 2). The structure was refined toR=4.42% for those 6426 reflections with 20=5–50o and |F o|>6σ(F). Ruthenium ligand distances are Ru−Cl=2.423(2)A, Ru−PPh3=2.346(2)A and Ru−N=2.056(4)–2.098(4)A. Both the Ru(II)-containing cation and the perchlorate anion are ordered, but the toluene and acetonitrile exhibit an interesting type of scrambled disorder about the inversion center atx=1,y=1/2,z=0.
Spontaneous conformational changes in the E. coli GroEL subunit from all-atom molecular dynamics simulations.

The Escherichia coli chaperonin GroEL is a complex of identical subunit proteins (57 kDa each) arranged in a back- to-back stacking of two heptameric rings. Its hallmarks include nested positive intra-ring and negative inter-ring cooperativity in adenosine trisphosphate (ATP) binding and the ability to mediate the folding of newly transcribed and/or denatured substrate proteins. We performed unbiased molecular dynamics simulations of the GroEL subunit protein in explicit water both with and without the nucleotide KMgATP to understand better the details of the structural transitions that enable these behaviors. Placing KMgATP in the equatorial domain binding pocket of a t state subunit, which corresponds to a low ATP-affinity state, produced a short-lived (6 ns) state that spontaneously transitioned to the high ATP-affinity r state. The important feature of this transition is a large-scale rotation of the intermediate domain's helix M to close the ATP binding pocket. Pivoting of helix M is accompanied by counterclockwise rotation and slight deformation of the apical domain, important for lowering the affinity for substrate protein. Aligning simulation conformations into model heptamer rings demonstrates that the t/r transition in one subunit is not sterically hindered by t state neighbors, but requires breakage of Arg 197 -Glu 386 intersubunit salt bridges, which are important for inter-ring positive cooperativity. Lowest-frequency quasi-harmonic modes of vibration computed pre- and post-transition clearly show that natural vibrations facilitate the transition. Finally, we propose a novel mechanism for inter-ring cooperativity in ATP binding inspired by the observation of spontaneous insertion of the side chain of Ala 480 into the empty nucleotide pocket.
Thermodynamics modeling of the Mg–Sr and Ca–Mg–Sr systems

Abstract Thermodynamic modeling of the Mg–Sr binary system and the prediction of the Ca–Mg–Sr ternary system were carried out using the CALPHAD technique and a computerized optimization procedure. The thermodynamic descriptions of pure Mg, Ca, and Sr elements were taken from the literature. The first-principles calculations were performed using the computer code VASP based on the pseudo-potentials and a plane wave basis set for the ground state total energies of fcc-Ca, hcp-Mg, fcc-Sr, and all intermetallic compounds in Ca–Mg–Sr ternary system including the nine end-members of the laves C14 phase. Based on the experimental phase diagram and thermodynamic information, a set of parameters describing the Gibbs energies of the individual phases in this ternary system was obtained. The complete thermodynamic descriptions of the Mg–Sr binary system and the Ca–Mg–Sr ternary system were evaluated by this combined computational thermodynamics/first-principles calculations approach and shown good agreement with experimental data in the literature.
Transcriptome resources for the frogs Lithobates clamitans and Pseudacris regilla, emphasizing antimicrobial peptides and conserved loci for phylogenetics.

We developed genetic resources for two North American frogs, Lithobates clamitans and Pseudacris regilla, widespread native amphibians that are potential indicator species of environmental health. For both species, mRNA from multiple tissues was sequenced using 454 technology. De novo assemblies with Mira3 resulted in 50 238 contigs (N50 = 687 bp) and 48 213 contigs (N50 = 686 bp) for L. clamitans and P. regilla, respectively, after clustering with CD-Hit-EST and purging contigs below 200 bp. We performed BLASTX similarity searches against the Xenopus tropicalis proteome and, for predicted ORFs, HMMER similarity searches against the Pfam-A database. Because there is broad interest in amphibian immune factors, we manually annotated putative antimicrobial peptides. To identify conserved regions suitable for amplicon resequencing across a broad taxonomic range, we performed an additional assembly of public short-read transcriptome data derived from two species of the genus Rana and identified reciprocal best TBLASTX matches among all assemblies. Although P. regilla, a hylid frog, is substantially more diverged from the ranid species, we identified 56 genes that were sufficiently conserved to allow nondegenerate primer design with Primer3. In addition to providing a foundation for comparative genomics and quantitative gene expression analysis, our results enable quick development of nuclear sequence-based markers for phylogenetics or population genetics.
Production of experimental edema in dog tongue with dilute hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract Prolonged application of dilute hydrogen peroxide results in severe edema of the tongue and frenulum. The edema is probably a result of capillary leakage. This method of production is a very gentle one, and it may provide a model system for future evaluation of treatment techniques directed toward reducing or preventing edema.
A magnetically driven PDMS micropump with ball check-valves

In this paper, we present a low-cost, PDMS-membrane micropump with two one-way ball check-valves for lab-on-a-chip and microfluidic applications. The micropump consists of two functional PDMS layers, one holding the ball check-valves and an actuating chamber, and the other covering the chamber and holding a miniature permanent magnet on top for actuation. An additional PDMS layer is used to cover the top magnet, and thereby encapsulate the entire device. A simple approach was used to assemble a high-performance ball check-valve using a micropipette and heat shrink tubing. The micropump can be driven by an external magnetic force provided by another permanent magnet or an integrated coil. In the first driving scheme, a small dc motor (6 mm in diameter and 15 mm in length) with a neodymium–iron–boron permanent magnet embedded in its shaft was used to actuate the membrane-mounted magnet. This driving method yielded a large pumping rate with very low power consumption. A maximum pumping rate of 774 µL min−1 for deionized water was achieved at the input power of 13 mW, the highest pumping rate reported in the literature for micropumps at such power consumptions. Alternatively, we actuated the micropump with a 10-turn planar coil fabricated on a PC board. This method resulted in a higher pumping rate of 1 mL min−1 for deionized water. Although more integratable and compact, the planar microcoil driving technique has a much higher power consumption.
Household ventilation may reduce effects of indoor air pollutants for prevention of lung cancer: a case-control study in a Chinese population.

Background: Although the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified various indoor air pollutants as carcinogenic to humans, few studies evaluated the role of household ventilation in reducing the impact of indoor air pollutants on lung cancer risk. Objectives: To explore the association between household ventilation and lung cancer. Methods: A population-based case-control study was conducted in a Chinese population from 2003 to 2010. Epidemiologic and household ventilation data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression was employed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Among 1,424 lung cancer cases and 4,543 healthy controls, inverse associations were observed for good ventilation in the kitchen (ORadj=0.86, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.98), bedroom (ORadj=0.90, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.03), and both kitchen and bedroom (ORadj=0.87, 95% CI: 0.75, 1.00). Stratified analyses showed lung cancer inversely associated with good ventilation among active smokers (ORadj=0.85, 95% CI: 0.72, 1.00), secondhand smokers at home (ORadj=0.77, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.94), and those exposed to high-temperature cooking oil fumes (ORadj=0.82, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.99). Additive interactions were found between household ventilation and secondhand smoke at home as well as number of household pollutant sources. Conclusions: A protective association was observed between good ventilation of households and lung cancer, most likely through the reduction of exposure to indoor air pollutants, indicating ventilation may serve as one of the preventive measures for lung cancer, in addition to tobacco cessation.
Structure determination of tetrahydroquinazoline antifolates in complex with human and Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase: correlations between enzyme selectivity and stereochemistry.

Structural data are reported for the first examples of the tetrahydroquinazoline antifolate (6R,6S)-2,4-diamino-6-(1-­indolinomethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazoline (1) and its trimethoxy analogue (6R,6S)-2,4-diamino-6-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxy­benzyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazoline (2) as inhibitor complexes with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from human (hDHFR) and Pneumocystis carinii (pcDHFR) sources. The indoline analogue (1) was crystallized as ternary complexes with NADPH and hDHFR (1.9 A resolution) and pcDHFR (2.3 A resolution), while the trimethoxy quinazoline analogue (2) was crystallized as a binary complex with hDHFR in two polymorphic rhombohedral R3 lattices: R3(1) to 1.8 A resolution and R3(2) to 2.0 A resolution. Structural analysis of these potent and selective DHFR–inhibitor complexes revealed preferential binding of the 6S-equatorial isomer in each structure. This configuration is similar to that of the natural tetrahydrofolate substrate; that is, 6S. These data also show that in both the hDHFR and pcDHFR ternary complexes with (1) the indoline ring is partially disordered, with two static conformations that differ between structures. These conformers also differ from that observed for the trimethoxybenzyl ring of tetrahydroquinazoline (2). There is also a correlation between the disorder of the flexible loop 23 and the disorder of the cofactor nicotinamide ribose ring in the pcDHFR–NADPH–(1) ternary complex. Comparison of the Toxoplasma gondii DHFR (tgDHFR) sequence with those of other DHFRs provides insight into the role of sequence and conformation in inhibitor-binding preferences which may aid in the design of novel antifolates with specific DHFR selectivity.
Identification of oxidized proteins based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunochemical detection, isoelectric focusing, and microsequencing.

It has been demonstrated that an age-associated increase in protein oxidation is a highly selective rather than random phenomenon. Addition of carbonyl groups is a widely used marker for the detection of oxidative damage to the proteins. Carbonyls can be detected immunochemically using antibodies against dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), a reagent that specifically reacts with protein carbonyl groups. In this paper, a procedure for the identification of oxidized proteins during aging or under pathological conditions is described. Protein samples were treated with DNPH and then separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), followed by immunochemical detection. Proteins exhibiting positive immunostain were then purified by SDS-PAGE followed by isoelectric focusing. The focused protein band was further concentrated by another run of SDS-PAGE and transferred onto Immobilon-P membrane. The identity of the protein was revealed by automated Edman microsequencing and a computer database search. This method is successfully demonstrated for the identification of housefly arginine kinase, a cytosolic protein that is involved in the energy metabolism of insect muscle cells.
Electrophysiological changes precede morphological changes to frontal cortical pyramidal neurons in the rTg4510 mouse model of progressive tauopathy

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and high-resolution morphometry were used to assess functional and structural properties of layer 3 pyramidal neurons in early ( 8 months) stages of tauopathy in frontal cortical slices prepared from rTg4510 tau mutant (P301L) mice. In early tauopathy, dendritic architecture is preserved. In advanced tauopathy, neurons can be categorized as either “atrophic” (58 %)—exhibiting marked atrophy of the apical tuft, or “intact” (42 %)—with normal apical tufts and, in some instances, proliferative sprouting of oblique branches of the apical trunk. Approximately equal numbers of atrophic and intact neurons contain neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) or are tangle-free, lending further support to the idea that NFTs per se are not toxic. Spine density is decreased due to a specific reduction in mushroom spines, but filopodia are increased in both atrophic and intact neurons. By contrast to these morphological changes, which are robust only in the advanced stage, significant electrophysiological changes are present in the early stage and persist in the advanced stage in both atrophic and intact neurons. The most marked of these changes are: a depolarized resting membrane potential, an increased depolarizing sag potential and increased action potential firing rates—all indicative of hyperexcitability. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents are not reduced in frequency or amplitude in either stage. The difference in the time course of functionally important electrophysiological changes versus regressive morphological changes implies differences in pathogenic mechanisms underlying functional and structural changes to neurons during progressive tauopathy.
Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is often a catastrophic clinical syndrome causing respiratory failure. Recognition of DAH often requires BAL as symptoms are nonspecific, hemoptysis is absent in up to one-third of patients, and radiographic imaging is also nonspecific and similar to other acute alveolar filling processes. Once the diagnosis is established, the underlying cause must be established in order to initiate treatment. This review discusses the diagnosis of the underlying histologies and the clinical entities that are responsible for DAH as well as treatment options.
Impact of increased spatio-temporal radar data resolution on forecaster wind assessments

This study examines the impact of increased spatio-temporal resolution weather radar data on the judgment accuracy and warning decisions of forecasters. In a static part-task setting, weather forecasters were provided with high resolution radar data in addition to conventional radar data and asked to forecast ground level winds two to five minutes into the future. When given these additional data, subjects significantly increased wind speed assessments, decreased absolute error, increased confidence ratings, and changed the number of affirmative warning decisions.
Local Field Potential in Cortical Area MT: Stimulus Tuning and Behavioral Correlations

Low-frequency electrical signals like those that compose the local field potential (LFP) can be detected at substantial distances from their point of origin within the brain. It is thus unclear how useful the LFP might be for assessing local function, for example, on the spatial scale of cortical columns. We addressed this problem by comparing speed and direction tuning of LFPs obtained from middle temporal area MT with the tuning of multiunit (MU) activity recorded simultaneously. We found that the LFP can be well tuned for speed and direction and is highly correlated with that of MU activity, particularly for frequencies at and above the gamma band. LFP tuning is substantially poorer for lower frequencies, although tuning for direction extends to lower frequencies than does tuning for speed. Our data suggest that LFP signals at and above the gamma band reflect neural processing on the spatial scale of cortical columns, within a few hundred micrometers of the electrode tip. Consistent with this notion, we also found that frequencies at and above the gamma band measured during a speed discrimination task exhibit an effect known as "choice probability," which reveals a particularly close relationship between neural activity and behavioral choices. In the LFP, this signature of the perceptual choice comprises a shift in relative power from low-frequency bands (alpha and beta) to the gamma band. It remains to be determined how LFP choice probability, which is a temporal signature, is related to conventional choice probability effects observed in spike rates.
Virtual Manufacturing for Machining Process Monitoring

This paper presents an overall framework of the machining process monitoring system based on virtual manufacturing and does research on its key technology and validates the system with a engraving machine tool. By using of tabletop virtual reality platform Quest 3D, a virtual environment of the machine tool has been created and the machining simulation combined with VC++ has been realized. It has been proved that the simulation and the actual processing interface of monitoring interface are consistent, and the effect is very good. What's more, Using the network module of the virtual reality platform Quest 3D and the additional functions of the database operation, the communications among the machine tools, the server and the client is finished and the manufacturing process monitoring system based on virtual manufacturing is also realized.
The association of medical student debt on choice of primary care specialty and rural practice location.

iv LIST OF TABLES xiv LIST OF FIGURES xv CHAPTER I. STUDY RATIONALE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1 CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 6 Problem Scope 6 Supply and Demand Issue of Physicians (in General) 8 Physician Supply Issues 9 Supply of Primary Care Physicians 10 Demand for Physicians 12 Health Reform and the 2010 Affordable Care Act 13 Issues of Primary Care Physician and Rural Maldistributions in Kentucky 16 The Importance of Understanding the Medical Students Specialty Selection Process . 17 The Importance of Understanding the Medical Student Location Process 23 Specific Literature Review of Covariates Analyzed for this Study 26
What Is Training All About

This article compares “training” to “education” generally and, specifically, with respect to the question of how this distinction plays a role in teaching negotiation and the possible emergence of a “second generation” of negotiation theory and practice.
ANALYZING EVIDENCE FOR THE STRUCTURAL THEORY OF HOMELESSNESS

Structuralists believe that increased homelessness over the past two decades was caused by loss of affordable rental housing and increasing numbers of poor people in large cities. This viewpoint re...
HIV-1 Integrase–DNA Interactions Investigated by Molecular Modelling

HIV-1 integrase is the viral enzyme responsible for the insertion of the viral DNA into the host cell chromosome. This process occurs through two distinct biochemical reactions: the 3′-processing of the viral DNA and the transesterification reaction. Because experimental structural information on the reaction intermediate is not available, several molecular models have been developed. Unfortunately, none of the models of the enzyme–substrate complex is fully consistent with the available molecular biological data. We have constructed a new theoretical model based on mutagenesis experiments and cross-linking data, using a relatively accurate computational setup. The structural features of the model along with its limitations are discussed here.
Group development and history in GSS research: a new research perspective

The psychology, speech communications, and management literature is rich with theory on the topic of group history and development. Three general categories of developmental models have been proposed: progressive, cyclical, and non-sequential. These models suggest that group performance, member behavior, and task focus change as the group matures and develops. Group support systems (GSS) have been created to assist groups in performing their tasks and activities. Several studies of key variables that influence group performance have produced mixed, and in some cases conflicting, results. This may be partially due to a lack of attention to the issue of group history and development. Only two known GSS studies address the effects of group development on group process, performance, and efficiency. To facilitate additional research into this area, a research framework that represents this development process is proposed along with several propositions implied by this framework. >
The Ethics and Politics of Asylum: Liberal Democracy and the Response to Refugees

The Ethics and Politics of Asylum: Liberal Democracy and the Response to Refugees. By Matthew J. Gibney. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 298p. 27.99 paper.This book is an important contribution at the interface of contemporary political theory and international relations. Political asylum is a defining issue of our time because of the scope and impact of the refugee crisis and its roots in deepening global inequities. Matthew Gibney addresses the conflict between the ethical and political claims of refugees and the claims of citizens that are embodied in asylum issues. In the process, he demonstrates the intellectual and policy value of treatments that interactively engage normative political theory and international relations.
Genetic influences on cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease

The role of genetic factors in cognitive decline associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) is unclear. We examined whether variations in apolipoprotein E (APOE), microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), or catechol-O-methytransferase (COMT) genotypes are associated with cognitive decline in PD. We performed a prospective cohort study of 212 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PD. The primary outcome was change in Mattis Dementia Rating Scale version 2 score. Linear mixed-effects models and survival analysis were used to test for associations between genotypes and change in cognitive function over time. The e4 allele of APOE was associated with more rapid decline (loss of 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-4.1) of more points per year; P < 0.001) in total score and an increased risk of a ≥ 10 point drop during the follow-up period (hazard ratio, 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4-5.4; P = 0.003). MAPT haplotype and COMT genotype were associated with measures of memory and attention, respectively, over the entire follow-up period, but not with the overall rate of cognitive decline. These results confirm and extend previously described genetic associations with cognitive decline in PD and imply that individual genes may exert effects on specific cognitive domains or at different disease stages. Carrying at least one APOE e4 allele is associated with more rapid cognitive decline in PD, supporting the idea of a component of shared etiology between PD dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Clinically, these results suggest that genotyping can provide information about the risk of future cognitive decline for PD patients.
Will the rest of the world live like America

Living like America means producing and consuming at or near the level of the present top consumer. For material well-being as well as equity, many wish and workfor a world in which high economic activity pervades. Others fear environmental harm from the product of global population times the affluence of America. I ask: Has the world ever had uniform income at the level of the top consumer? Do swift, cheap transport and communication equalize income? Historically, incomes vary for the reason that income crowns the successful completion of a series of multiplicative tasks, causing a skewed distribution. Despite lessening physical obstacles, social wrinkles maintain distributions broad and skewed, as the diffusion of railroads, cars, and electricity shows. As incomes rise, however, economic, social, and environmental requirements and capacities grow to lessen harm. We are likely to live in a cleaner world, with sustained inequalities. # 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Coloration of Anuran Tadpoles (Amphibia): Development, Dynamics, Function, and Hypotheses

Colorations of anuran tadpoles surely function in many of the same ways that have been ascribed to color and pattern in other animals, but the paucity of data forces one to look to other groups to generate hypotheses. Such an action often occurs because of the difficulty of defining specific fitness parameters to larval forms. The commonly muted colorations of tadpoles are typically considered to function only in some form of crypsis, but we discuss other functions in the particular context of behavioral ecology and changes induced by various kinds of coinhabitants. We review the development, terminology, diversity, and functions of coloration in tadpoles and then pose various questions for future research. We strongly support a broad-based perspective that calls for an integration of several fields of research.
CHANGES IN PLASMA PROTEIN-BOUND IODINE AND THYROXINE-LIKE ACTIVITY OF FECES OF DAIRY COWS BEING FED L-THYROXINE

The effect of l-thyroxine, in relation to dose-level and length of time fed, upon plasma PBI and fecal thyroxine was determined in lactating cows. Two cows were fed varying daily dosages of l-thyroxine, with the level changed weekly. They were started at 60 mg. per day for the first week, with SO, 100, 120, 140, 160, 100, 80, and 80 mg. following in consecutive weeks. PBI concentration in both cows reached a maximum above initial levels the second week when 80 mg. were fed. The actual excretion of equivalent l-thyroxine in the feces generally increased as dose-level increased. However, the percentage of dose excreted decreased until 120 mg. of thyroxine were fed daily and then tended to remain constant through the 160 mg. daily dose. The changes of PBI concentration in two cows fed 110 mg. of l-thyroxine dailjr for 15 weeks followed parallel patterns, with a declining trend as treatment continued. In one cow the actual excretion of thyroxine and the percentage of dose excreted decreased as treatment progr...
California pharmacy student perceptions of confidence and curricular education to provide direct pharmacy access to hormonal contraception

Background: Pharmacist provision of reproductive health services has grown drastically and is being expanded to include direct pharmacy access to hormonal contraception (HC). Aims: Assess pharmacy students’ perceptions of confidence and curricular education to provide pharmacy access to HC in their near future practices. Method: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was administered to California pharmacy students who had completed their therapeutics curriculum but had not begun advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Results: Over 65% of pharmacy students felt they have been adequately educated by their curricula to prescribe HC. Almost all reported they would like more education on appropriate product selection and switching between products. Students had the least confidence in safely prescribing HC for minors. Conclusions: This study demonstrates pharmacy students’ educational needs relating to the future provision of HC services. Schools should evaluate curricula and possibly expand training in family planning due the growing interest and need in providing these services.
Extrusion Processing: Opportunities and Challenges Toward Biofuel

Extruders are mainly used in the plastic industry and in the snack food industry, but they can also be extended to the biofuel industry. In this chapter the use of extruders for biomass pretreatment is discussed in depth, including extruder parameters such as type (single-screw and twin-screw extrusion), barrel temperature, screw speed, compression ratio, screw configuration, and torque; feedstock parameters such as type, moisture content, particle size, and the addition of different chemicals; and mass balance and mechanisms of pretreatment.
Evaluation of Novel EMG Biofeedback for Postural Correction During Computer Use

Postural correction is an effective rehabilitation technique used to treat chronic neck and shoulder pain, and is aimed toward reducing the load on the surrounding muscles by adopting a neutral posture. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of real-time high-density surface EMG (HDsEMG) biofeedback for postural correction during typing. Twenty healthy participants performed a typing task with two forms of postural feedback: (1) verbal postural coaching and (2) verbal postural coaching plus HDsEMG biofeedback. The interface used activity from two HDsEMG arrays placed over the trapezius designed to shift trapezius muscle activity inferiorly. The center of gravity across both arrays was used to quantify the spatial distribution of trapezius activity. Planar angles taken from upper extremity reflective markers quantified cervicoscapular posture. During the biofeedback condition, trapezius muscle activity was located 12.74 ± 3.73 mm more inferior, the scapula was 2.58 ± 1.18° more adducted and 0.23 ± 0.24° more depressed in comparison to verbal postural coaching alone. The results demonstrate the short-term effectiveness of a real-time HDsEMG biofeedback intervention to achieve postural correction, and may be more effective at creating an inferior shift in trapezius muscle activity in comparison to verbal postural coaching alone.
Hetero-oligomer nanoparticle arrays for plasmon-enhanced hydrogen sensing.

This paper describes how the ability to tune each nanoparticle in a plasmonic hetero-oligomer can optimize architectures for plasmon-enhanced applications. We demonstrate how a large-area nanofabrication approach, reconstructable mask lithography (RML), can achieve independent control over the size, position, and material of up to four nanoparticles within a subwavelength unit. We show how arrays of plasmonic hetero-oligomers consisting of strong plasmonic materials (Au) and reactant-specific elements (Pd) provide a unique platform for enhanced hydrogen gas sensing. Using finite-difference time-domain simulations, we modeled different configurations of Au–Pd hetero-oligomers and compared their hydrogen gas sensing capabilities. In agreement with calculations, we found that Au–Pd nanoparticle dimers showed a red-shift and that Au–Pd trimers with touching Au and Pd nanoparticles showed a blue-shift upon exposure to both high and low concentrations of hydrogen gas. Both Au–Pd hetero-oligomer sensors displaye...
Reactivity of Treponemal and Nontreponemal Tests with Cerebrospinal Fluid from Syphilitic Chimpanzees

Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum collected over a period of approximately four years from four chimpanzees infected with Treponema pallidum were studied. The VDRL slide test, the Treponema pallidum immobilization-200 (TPI-200) test, and several fluorescent-antibody procedures were used in the examination of the spinal fluid. Sera were examined with the VDRL slide and fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) tests. None of the animals showed reactivity in the CSF before inoculation. The immunofluorescence techniques usually detected reactivity in the CSF before the VDRL slide test. The TPI-200 test was considerably less reactive with CSF than either the immunofluorescence procedures or the VDRL slide test. Reactivity of the immunofluorescence and VDRL slide tests with the CSF was delayed and weaker than reactivity of these tests with serum. Results suggest that evaluation of the FT A technique with CSF of humans might lead to use of an FTA test in diagnosis of syphilis of the central nervous system of humans.
How to think about the evolution of the ratio of Mg to Ca in seawater

Measurements on fluid inclusions (Timofeeff and others, 2006) indicate that over the last 110 million years, the Mg to Ca ratio in seawater has risen by at least a factor of four. Those by Zachos and others (2003) on planktic foraminifera suggest that about half of this rise occurred during the last 55 million years. Although Coggon and others9 (2010) measurements on ridge-flank basalts are consistent with a rise of this magnitude, they indicate that it occurred after 46 million years ago and perhaps even as recently as the last 15 million years. Based on the Mg to K trend in 36 million-year-old halite-hosted fluid inclusions, Brennan and others (2013) confirm Zimmerman9s (2000) conclusion that the Mg content of sea salt was about 35 percent lower than now at that time. Hence, if the Coggon and others9 (2010) results are to be believed, then the rise in Mg must have been accompanied by a drop in calcium. When account is taken that the CO2 content of the atmosphere 35 million years ago was about five times larger than it is today, then perhaps at that time, the dissolution rate of limestone was greater than today9s. If so, then the large increase in Mg to Ca ratio could be explained by a combination of a decrease in sea level which slowed the rate of dolomite formation and a drop in atmospheric CO2 content which slowed the delivery by rivers to the sea of Ca derived from limestone weathering. Unfortunately, as the deposition of gypsum prior to halite formation removed virtually all the calcium from the brine pools in which the halite subsequently formed, there is no record of Ca in Cenozoic-age fluid inclusions. Hence, in order to resolve the difference between the large Mg/Ca rise over the last 40 million years suggested by ridge-plank calcites and, the smaller one suggested by planktic foraminifera, an additional proxy for Ca is needed. As I suggested many years ago (Broecker, 1970), one such candidate is the uranium content of corals.
Exercise: a cause of osteoarthritis

Regular exercise has become an international pastime, and physicians question if regular exercise will accelerate the development of osteoarthritis (OA). I review current literature about the effect of regular exercise on the risk of developing OA in normal and abnormal joints. With low impact activities, the risk of developing OA in normal joints is not increased. Individuals who participate in sports with abnormal or injured joints or at a highly competitive (elite) level appear to be at increased risk of developing OA. Longitudinal studies of young athletes after elite level performance or after joint injuries will allow us to substantiate these findings.
Real-Time Physiological Measurement and Visualization Using a Synchronized Multi-camera System

Remote physiological measurement has widespread implications in healthcare and affective computing. This paper presents an efficient system for remotely measuring heart rate and heart rate variability using multiple low-cost digital cameras in real-time. We combine an RGB camera, monochrome camera with color filter and a thermal camera to recover the blood volume pulse (BVP). We show that using multiple cameras in synchrony yields the most accurate recovery of the BVP signal. The RGB combination is not optimal. We show that the thermal camera improves performance of measurement under dynamic ambient lighting but the thermal camera alone is not enough and accuracy can be improved by adding more spectral channels. We present a real-time prototype that allows accurate physiological measurement combined with a novel user interface to visualize changes in heart rate and heart rate variability. Finally, we propose how this system might be used for applications such as patient monitoring.
The Association between Warning Label Requirements and Cigarette Smoking Prevalence by Education-Findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS).

Introduction: The Guidelines for the implementation of Article 11 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) require that cigarette health warning labels should include pictures and take up 50% or more of the principal display area. This study examined how the association between large pictorial warnings, those covering ≥50% of the front and back of the package, and the prevalence of cigarette smoking varies by educational attainment. Methods: We pooled individual-level tobacco use data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in 18 countries between 2008 and 2013 and linked them with warning label requirements during the same period from the MPOWER database and reports regarding warnings. The respondents’ self-reported exposure to warnings was examined according to education. Logistic regressions were further employed to analyze education-specific associations between large pictorial warnings and smoking prevalence, and whether such association differed by education was examined using an interaction test. Results: At the time of the survey, eight out of 18 countries had imposed graphic warning labels that covered ≥50% of the package. These warnings were associated with a 10.0% (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.97; p ≤ 0.01) lower cigarette smoking prevalence among adults with less than a secondary education or no formal education, but not among respondents with at least a secondary education. Less educated respondents were also less likely to be exposed to warnings in all 18 countries. The association between strong warnings and lower smoking prevalence among less educated respondents could be greater if their exposure to warnings increases. Conclusions: Prominent pictorial warning labels can potentially reduce health disparities resulting from smoking across different education levels.
Resting state neural networks and energy metabolism

The human brain is an energy hungry organ. How that brain manages its energy consumption in maintaining its health and executing sensori-motor and cognitive functions is an important but overlooked research area in contemporary cognitive neuroscience. It is argued here that the principal method whereby the human brain manages its energy utilization is through maintaining a relatively elevated level of activity in what can be referred to as “resting state networks” (RSN). The elevated energy consumption in the human brain's varied RSNs is driven and maintained by a physiological mechanism we call the Frame-Formation Energy Cycle (FFEC). Running the FFEC cycle is metabolically expensive and therefore offers a mechanism to explain the increased energy consumption in human-brain RSNs as compared to regions not involved in such networks.
Investigating native and non-native English classification and transfer effects using Legendre polynomial coefficient clustering

In this paper, we investigate similarities and differences in pitch contours among native English speakers and non-native English speakers (whose first language is Mandarin). In particular, we investigate if there are particular prosodic contours that are predictive of native and non-native English speech in the area of question intonation contours. We also look to see if we find evidence of negative transfer effects or second language learning effects around native Mandarin speakers who may be using Mandarin prosody when speaking English. To investigate these questions, we explore prosodic contour modeling techniques for native and non-native English speech by clustering Legendre polynomial coefficients. Our results show evidence of non-native English speakers using unexpected contours in the place of expected English prosody. We additionally find support that speakers in our corpus may be experiencing negative language transfer effects, as well as second language learning effects.
The Maximization Assumption, Profit Maximization and Not-for-Profit Hospitals

This chapter reviews two distinct critiques of the maximizing assumption: (i) the world is too complex for firms to understand sufficiently to be able to solve any type of maximizing problem; and (ii) while firms can be viewed as maximizing entities, the object of their maximization problem is not (solely) profits. We argue that these objections often miss the point and that the profit maximization assumption can frequently be justified on methodological grounds. Only when the simplified objective of profit maximization does not yield sufficiently accurate predictive power, is a case made for a more complex multiple objective function. We discuss some empirical evidence that suggests that a multiple objective function, including both profits and patients treated, is necessitated in the analysis of behavior of U.S. not-for-profit hospitals.
Enlargement of a vestibular schwannoma after stereotactic radiotherapy.

Background: Radiosurgery has been increasingly advocated as a primary treatment for vestibular schwannoma (VS), and recently fractionation of the dose has been proposed as a method to decrease the risk of radiation injury when treating larger tumors. Method: The authors describe a 48-year-old woman who presented with right-sided hearing loss and new-onset tinnitus, with a progressive decrease in facial sensation. The diagnosis of a large right cerebellopontine angle VS was made on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was treated with a course of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) (5 treatments of 4 Gy to the 90% isodose line over a 3-week period). Findings: Six months after the initiation of therapy, her symptoms increased, and a repeat MRI scan demonstrated that her tumor had increased in size, producing significant brainstem compression. She then underwent complete surgical resection of the tumor, with resolution of her symptoms. Interpretation: Stereotactic radiosurgery has been effective in controlling small VSs with low complication rates. Larger tumors pose a risk for increasing in size and producing symptoms from mass effect with SRT. There are at present limited data demonstrating safety and efficacy of fractionated SRT for the treatment of larger tumors.
Age-Related Changes in Gestation and Pregnancy Outcome

Various segments of the medical community, as well as women contemplating pregnancy, have long been concerned about what risks the older gravida and her infant may be subject to during gestation. Although somewhat difficult to quantitate, it is clear from numerous studies that this population represents a special group, requiring medical attention to unique problems that may develop with respect to advanced reproductive age.
Hypotheses from Recent Assessments of Climate Impacts to Biodiversity and Ecosystems in the United States

Climate change poses multiple threats to biodiversity, and has already caused demonstrable impacts. We summarize key results from a recent national assessment of observed climate change impacts to terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems in the United States, and place results in the context of commonly articulated hypotheses about ecosystem response to climate change for global implications. Specific impacts we consider include: range shifts; phenological shifts; phenotypic changes; primary production changes; biological invasions; and novel communities. Significant effort has been made recently to incorporate adaptation measures into land and water management at both national and international scales, but the scale of impacts and associated uncertainties pose challenges to existing management institutions. Using commonly articulated hypotheses about climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem response can provide context for informed decisions at multiple scales and can help to provide a clearer understanding of the ecological and mechanistic linkages between climate change and biodiversity.
Peer assessment practices in nurse education: An integrative review

Abstract Objectives The aim of this review was to explore how nurse education prepares students to participate in the peer review process and to deal with the benefits and challenges of giving and receiving peer feedback. Design Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) five-step strategy for integrated literature reviews served as a framework for this analysis. Data Sources Relevant online university databases (CINAHL, ERIC, Medline, etc.) were searched using a combination of keywords, yielding 24 studies from peer-reviewed journals between 1988 and 2018 that fit inclusion criteria after initial screening. Review Methods Data were organized in a summary table by author, year, title, country, methodology, student level, sample size, and setting. Qualitative data analysis software facilitated identification of themes and systematic coding of content. The data were compared across the didactic, clinical, and laboratory settings and then analyzed and synthesized globally for general conclusions. Results The predominant themes that emerged were benefits and challenges of peer assessment in nurse education, strategies to prepare students to provide supportive feedback, anonymous vs. non-anonymous peer assessment practices, and recommendations for instructional strategies related to peer assessment. Conclusions Peer assessment provides multiple sources of feedback, guides students to think critically about course content, and engages them in advanced self-assessment. However, if students are not well prepared to participate in peer assessment, it can lead to a sense of incompetence, anxiety, and a hostile learning environment. Well-designed peer assessment is an important instructional strategy to prepare future nurses to participate in peer review in professional nursing practice.