cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of crystals for oxygen analysis

A comparison is made between five acid phthalates and clinochlore as analyzer crystals for oxygen Kα emission. Thallium acid phthalate (TAP) is shown to be superior for quantitative analysis because it has high reflectivity, relatively smaller corrections to reflectivity for anomalous dispersion, relatively low high order reflectivities and relatively low fluorescence background. The interplanar 2d spacing for TAP is 25.7626 ± 0.001 A and its coefficent of thermal expansion α is 32.7 ± 1 K−1. At the oxygen Kα position its effective 2d spacing is 25.724 A and the mean reflection coefficient is 2.8 × 10−4 rad. For analysis of chemical state, where higher resolution is often desired to distinguish band shapes and satellites, rubidium acid phthalate (RAP) is the best choice. It has α = 37.0±3 K−1, an effective 2d spacing of 26.083 A and a mean reflection coefficient of 8.2 × 10−5 rad.
Risk aversion and asymmetry in procurement auctions: Identification, estimation and application to construction procurements

Abstract This article studies a model of asymmetric risk averse bidding within the independent private value paradigm. The inherent asymmetry in cost and risk aversion imposes an original restriction on the observed bid data, an exact equality which leads to the model semiparametric identification and estimation. The unobserved arguments of this equality need to be simulated in order to estimate the bidders’ Constant Relative Risk Aversion or Constant Absolute Risk Aversion parameters and their heterogeneous cost distributions. In the Los Angeles City Hall construction contracts offered between 1994 and 2003, the model and methodology help reveal that financial asymmetries affect the firms’ cost distribution, while experience influences their degree of risk aversion.
Old Age Dependency in Historical Perspective

In recent years much has been written about old age dependency and the need for greater emphasis on individual and familial responsibility for supporting elderly persons as opposed to state responsibility. We argue that old age dependency is not a new problem and that there was communal responsibility--as opposed to strictly privitized responsibility--for elderly persons in the past.
Bionomics of Dactylopius confusus (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae)

All life stages of the cochineal insect, Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell), were observed in the laboratory through several generations. Stadial lengths, adult longevity, and oviposition were recorded at constant 22 and 26°C. Laboratory life tables, fertility tables, and survivorship curves were constructed. Reproductive statistics (R Tc, r c, γc) were generated from the fertility-table data. Mean fecundity was 618 eggs per female at 26°C and 413 eggs per female at 22°C. Net reproductive rates, R values, were 201 and 141 at 26 and 22°C, respectively, and corresponding cohort generation times, Tc. values, were 61 and 83 d. Survivorship curves were intermediate between types I and II.
Do specialized distributed frameworks for bioinformatics applications obtain better performance over generic ones

The most popular approach to tackle the data deluge due to high throughput sequencing instruments is parallelizing applications and distributing the large datasets across cluster of computers to achieve scalability and performance. Hadoop is a generic and Shock-AWE is a customized platform for genomic data for development of such applications. In this work we compare and contrast performance of protein similarity search application based on these platforms.
Tearing Down Mountains: Using Spatial and Metabolic Analysis to Investigate the Socio-Ecological Contradictions of Coal Extraction in Appalachia

Mountaintop removal is the most profitable and efficient way to extract the low-sulfur, bituminous coal found in Appalachia. This form of mining involves the blasting and leveling of entire mountain ranges, which dismantles integrated ecosystems and communities. We employ a political-economy perspective in order to assess the uneven capitalist development and socio-ecological contradictions of mountaintop removal. In particular, we use theorization on spatial inequalities to employ and extend a metabolic analysis to coal extraction. This approach reveals how metabolic rifts are created in the nutrient, carbon, and water cycles, producing a myriad of social and ecological problems in the Appalachian region. Mountaintop removal embodies the unsustainable characteristics of an economic system predicated on the constant accumulation of capital.
Angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonists-a novel approach to augmenting posttraumatic stress disorder and phobia therapies?

The renin-angiotensin system system, which includes the renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme pathways, and its primary effector peptide angiotensin II (AII) acting through its two cognate receptors, AT1 and AT2 receptors, has been known for 70 years as a major regulator of vascular tone and fluid metabolism (1). Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), consisting of a group of orally active drugs such as losartan (the group is often referred to as the “sartans”), and angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors are currently mainstream treatments for essential hypertension and some aspects of diabetes. In addition to these peripheral effects, AII and AT1 receptors are widely distributed in the brain and are being implicated in the regulation of many brain functions, including cerebral circulation, inflammation, neuroendocrine responses, learning, and memory (2). Because many ARBs are already on the market and have a good safety record with long-term use, they would be particularly attractive candidates to be used as novel treatments for central nervous system disorders where current therapies are inadequate. The article by Marvar et al. (3) in this issue of Biological Psychiatry may provide a strong impetus to consider testing ARBs, particularly as an adjunct therapy to augment cognitive-behavioral therapy, in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias. The idea that ARBs may have some beneficial effects for patients with PTSD first arose from a correlational finding in an epidemiologic study, where veterans treated with ARBs for their medical conditions appeared to develop a less severe form of PTSD compared with veterans who were not taking ARBs (4). Although such correlations may turn out to be spurious, Marvar et al. decided to test whether the beneficial effect of ARBs is mechanistically demonstrable using preclinical models. There are robust animal models that can be used to study the basic circuits and phenotypes involved in PTSD symptoms. Using a standard auditory-cue paired conditioned fear model in mice, Marvar et al. tested the effects of single and multiple doses of selective AT1 antagonist losartan on fear extinction behavior, gene expression changes in the brain, and neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses. They found that losartan treatment enhanced the consolidation of fear extinction without affecting acquisition, baseline anxiety, blood pressure, and neuroendocrine stress measures. Mice treated with losartan for 2 weeks also demonstrated reduced amygdala AT1 receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. The authors concluded that AT1 receptor antagonism does have potential beneficial effects in a preclinical model of PTSD symptoms and could enhance the extinction of fear memories in PTSD.
A Biomechanical Analysis of Anterior Bankart Repair Using Suture Anchors

Background: Arthroscopic repair of anterior Bankart lesions is typically done with single-loaded suture anchors tied with simple stitch configuration.Hypothesis: The knotless suture anchor will have similar biomechanical properties compared with two types of conventional suture anchors.Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.Methods: Fresh-frozen shoulders were dissected and an anteroinferior Bankart lesion was created. For phase 1, specimens were randomized into either simple stitch (SSA) or knotless suture anchors (KSA) and loaded to failure. For phase 2, specimens were randomized into 1 of 4 repair techniques and cyclically loaded then loaded to failure: (1) SSA, (2) suture anchor with horizontal mattress configuration, (3) double-loaded suture anchor with simple stitch configuration, or (4) KSA. Data recorded included mode of failure, ultimate load to failure, load at 2 mm of displacement, as well as displacement during cyclical loading.Results: For phase 1, the load required to 2 mm displacement of...
An accurate discretization scheme for the numerical solution of time domain integral equations

Time-domain integral equation (TDIE) methods for the solution of electromagnetic scattering problems have steadily increased in popularity over the past few years. Despite the advances, accuracy enhancements for TDIE-based methods remain largely unstudied. While higher-order spatial discretizations can be accomplished with techniques designed for the frequency-domain method of moments (MoM), no basis has yet been reported for precision temporal modeling. Worse yet, because the stability properties of marching-on-in-time (MOT) schemes are not well understood, any accuracy gains made by purportedly high-order temporal bases are likely to be eradicated by incipient instability. To solve these problems, this study introduces a new band-limited interpolation function (BLIF) basis for temporal modeling, based on the Knab (1979) approximate prolate series. Because the highly noncausal nature of these functions precludes the application of standard MOT schemes, the approach used here is "fully-implicit", that is, the current on the entire scatterer for all times under consideration is solved at once. This method of moments time-domain (MoM-TD) approach also eliminates the stability question entirely. Higher-order spatial discretization is accomplished with the geometric mappings and divergence-conforming basis of Graglia et al. (1997).
Eight to Twelve Hertz Occipital EEG Training With Moderate and Severely Retarded Epileptic Individuals

Three retarded epileptic individuals, with a variety of seizure disorders, were provided with 8-12 Hz occipital EEG biofeedback training. While seizures were not totally eliminated in any of the subjects, the results of the study indicated that all subjects exhibited decreases in some aspect of their seizure activity. The inability of all of the subjects to increase 8-12 Hz activity may best be explained in terms of the differing degree of effectiveness of the feedback stimuli in terms of their functionality as reinforcers. The results of the study indicate that changes in procedures will be necessary in order to determine if 8-12 Hz occipital EEG training is effective in reducing epileptic seizures.
Host Cell Autophagy Modulates Early Stages of Adenovirus Infections in Airway Epithelial Cells

Human adenoviruses typically cause mild infections in the upper or lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or ocular epithelium. However, adenoviruses may be life-threatening in patients with impaired immunity and some serotypes cause epidemic outbreaks. Attachment to host cell receptors activates cell signaling and virus uptake by endocytosis. At present, it is unclear how vital cellular homeostatic mechanisms affect these early steps in the adenovirus life cycle. Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway for recycling intracellular components that is upregulated during periods of cell stress. Autophagic cargo is sequestered in double-membrane structures called autophagosomes that fuse with endosomes to form amphisomes which then deliver their content to lysosomes. Autophagy is an important adaptive response in airway epithelial cells targeted by many common adenovirus serotypes. Using two established tissue culture models, we demonstrate here that adaptive autophagy enhances expression of the early region 1 adenovirus protein, induction of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, and production of new viral progeny in airway epithelial cells infected with adenovirus type 2. We have also discovered that adenovirus infections are tightly regulated by endosome maturation, a process characterized by abrupt exchange of Rab5 and Rab7 GTPases, associated with early and late endosomes, respectively. Moreover, endosome maturation appears to control a pool of early endosomes capable of fusing with autophagosomes which enhance adenovirus infection. Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to induce autophagy in order to aid their own replication. Our studies reveal a novel role for host cell autophagy that could have a significant impact on the outcome of respiratory infections.
The macrodynamics of α-effect dynamos in rotating fluids

Past study of the large-scale consequences of forced small-scale motions in electrically conducting fluids has led to the ‘α-effect’ dynamos. Various linear kinematic aspects of these dynamos have been explored, suggesting their value in the interpretation of observed planetary and stellar magnetic fields. However, large-scale magnetic fields with global boundary conditions can not be force free and in general will cause large-scale motions as they grow. I n this paper the finite amplitude behaviour of global magnetic fields and the large-scale flows induced by them in rotating systems is investigated. In general, viscous and ohmic dissipative mechanisms both play a role in determining the amplitude and structure of the flows and magnetic fields which evolve. In circumstances where ohmic loss is the principal dissipation, it is found that determination of a geo- strophic flow is an essential part of the solution of the basic stability problem. Nonlinear aspects of the theory include flow amplitudes which are independent of the rotation and a total magnetic energy which is directly proportional to the rotation. Constant a is the simplest example exhibiting the various dynamic balances of this stabilizing mechanism for planetary dynamos. A detailed analysis is made for this case to determine the initial equilibrium of fields and flows in a rotating sphere.
Question-and-answer session

Dr. Mary McGowan: I have a quick question for Dr. Defesche:My partner, Dr. Susan Lynch, who is here in the audience and, I have begun initiating statin treatment in kidswith familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) according to the new American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. We are beginning treatment in children at 8 years of agewho cannot achieve low-density lipoprotein (LDL) less than 160 mg/dL. Are you doing the same? Dr. Defesche: Yes. I am. Tom Whayne: Tom Whayne, University of Kentucky. I just have two comments. The speakers can then respond. First, in terms of your guest, Dr. McGowan, that is an appalling problem. To me as a cardiologist, any young woman, no matter how young, her chest pain has to be explained, and most likely, she will end up with a stress test unless it is definitely chest tenderness. If she is a little bit older, if I can’t explain it, a cath as indicated. Dr. McGowan: Let’s see, over here? Dr. J. Ross Tanner: Hi,my question is regarding qualifying patients for LDL apheresis. I live in Anchorage, Alaska. We are the only center in the state that provides apheresis patients. We seem to live and die by standards that are set by somebody else, and one of the difficulties that I have is that wewill havepatients thatmaybeonmaximumtherapy,maybe combination therapy, we may take an LDL of, say, 250 to 350 mg/dL down to 180 mg/dL, or maybe they may be a patient that has an LDL of 250 and they don’t have coronary disease, ormaybe they have highLP(a). These people don’t qualify for LDL apheresis. How do we get the standards changed? Was this set by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with the 200-mg/dL and 300-mg/dL mark? Or I mean, how did that evolve and what can we do as an organization to change
THE INFLUENCE OF THE CALIFORNIA MARINE LAYER ON BILL SIZE IN A GENERALIST SONGBIRD

The hypothesis is tested that birds in hotter and drier environments may have larger bills to increase the surface area for heat dissipation. California provides a climatic gradient to test the influence of climate on bill size. Much of California experiences dry warm/hot summers and coastal areas experience cooler summers than interior localities. Based on measurements from 1488 museum skins, song sparrows showed increasing body-size-corrected bill surface area from the coast to the interior and declining in the far eastern desert. As predicted by Newton's convective heat transfer equation, relative bill size increased monotonically with temperature, and then decreased where average high temperatures exceed body temperature. Of the variables considered, distance from coast, average high summer temperature, and potential evapotranspiration showed a strong quadratic association with bill size and rainfall had a weaker negative relationship. Song sparrows on larger, warmer islands also had larger bills. A subsample of radiographed specimens showed that skeletal bill size is also correlated with temperature, demonstrating that bill size differences are not a result of variation in growth and wear of keratin. Combined with recent thermographic studies of heat loss in song sparrow bills, these results support the hypothesis that bill size in California song sparrows is selected for heat dissipation.
Treatment of Clostridium difficile infection in older adults

The approach to treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in older adults presents unique challenges, and selection of an effective treatment regimen is often not straightforward. The observation that older patients have more severe disease, more treatment failures and a higher relapse rate is well established; however, there is little published data on CDI management that is specific to older adults. As the burden of CDI in older adults continues to grow, so too does the need to improve our understanding of infection in this highly vulnerable population. Larger, prospective studies are needed to develop better paradigms for CDI treatment for older adults, including identifying those patients who may benefit from extended treatment courses. In this review, we offer an overview of currently available CDI therapies along with a discussion of important side effects and drug–drug interactions.
Magnetic field assisted assembly of highly ordered percolated nanostructures and their application for transparent conductive thin films

Magnetic field assisted assembly is used to fabricate aligned single nanowire mesh-like nanostructured films. Inhomogeneous magnetic field is applied to translocate high aspect ratio silver nanowires from suspensions to the surface of solid supports. The tangential component of the magnetic field vector is rotated in two consecutive steps to arrange the rectangular mesh-like structure of orthogonally oriented nanowires with minimal fractions of loops and bent structures. This work demonstrates highly ordered nanowire films with superior properties to randomly deposited structures- specifically one order of magnitude greater conductivity and more than ten percent higher transparency. This method is simple, scalable and can be used for the directed assembly of magnetic and nonmagnetic highly ordered, percolated structures.
Sites of Alkylation of Human Keap1 by Natural Chemoprevention Agents

Under basal conditions, the interaction of the cytosolic protein Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1) with the transcription factor nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) results in a low level of expression of cytoprotective genes whose promoter region contains the antioxidant response element (ARE). Alkylation of one or more of the 27 cysteine sulfhydryl groups of human Keap1 is proposed to lead to Nrf2 nuclear accumulation, to upregulation of cytoprotective gene expression by the ARE, and to prevention of degenerative diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, identification of the most reactive of these cysteine residues toward specific electrophiles should help clarify this mechanism of cancer prevention, also known as chemoprevention. To address this issue, preliminary analyses of tryptic digests of Keap1 alkylated by the model electrophile 1-biotinamido-4-(4′-[maleimidoethyl-cyclohexane]-carboxamido) butane were carried out using liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a cylindrical ion trap mass spectrometer and also using LC-MS/MS with a hybrid linear ion trap FT ICR mass spectrometer. Because the FT ICR instrument provided more complete peptide sequencing coverage and enabled the identification of more alkylated cysteine residues, only this instrument was used in subsequent studies of Keap1 alkylation by three electrophilic natural products that can upregulate the ARE, xanthohumol, isoliquiritigenin, and 10-shogaol. Among the various cysteine residues of Keap1, C151 was most reactive toward these three electrophiles. These in vitro results agree with evidence from in vivo experiments, and indicate that C151 is the most important site of alkylation on Keap1 by chemoprevention agents that function by activating the ARE through Nrf2.
Substrate Dependent Bonding of Chemisorbed 1,1'-Biphenyl-4,4'-Dimethanethiol

We compare the adsorption of 1,1’-biphenyl-4,4’-dimethanethiol (BPDMT) on gold and cobalt surfaces. The molecular orbitals, identified from combined photoemission and inverse photoemission studies, exhibit shifts in binding energies with different deposition methods and substrates. These shifts indicate that this potential molecular dielectric exhibits stronger bonding to cobalt surfaces than gold surfaces.
Explaining Party Formation and Nonformation in Russia: Actors, Institutions, and Chance

A decade after the collapse of communism, Russia still lacks a robust party system. Most institutions of the state are immune from party influence. However parties play a central role in the lower house of parliament, the State Duma. Why? Why have parties been successful in organizing and influencing the work of the State Duma but enjoyed only very limited success elsewhere? This article argues that parties in Russia are weak in general because the most powerful politicians in Russia have made choices to make them weak. Cultural, historical, and socioeconomic factors play a role in impeding party emergence, but individual decisions—especially decisions about institutional design—are the more proximate and more salient causes of poor party development. The privileged position of parties in the State Duma also resulted from individual choices, but those choices had unintended consequences that did not represent the preferences of the most powerful.
MANAGMENT OF PHENTOLAMINE-RESISTANT PHAEOCHROMOCYTOMA WITH BETA-ADRENERGIC BLOCKADE

SUMMARY Tachyphylaxis following repeated administration of alpha-adrenergic-receptor blocking agents is a troublesome complication, especially during the management oo phacochromocytoma. Although it has been indicated that tachycardia is a manifestation heta-adrenergic-receptor blocking agent such as propranolol effective in preventing arrhythmias, but it is also of significant value in overcoming tachyphylaxis following repeated adminisration of alpha-adrenergic-receptor blocking agents.
Clustering in community structure across replicate ecosystems following a long-term bacterial evolution experiment

Experiments to date probing adaptive evolution have predominantly focused on studying a single species or a pair of species in isolation. In nature, on the other hand, species evolve within complex communities, interacting and competing with many other species. It is unclear how reproducible or predictable adaptive evolution is within the context of a multispecies ecosystem. To explore this problem, we let 96 replicates of a multispecies laboratory bacterial ecosystem evolve in parallel for hundreds of generations. Here we find that relative abundances of individual species vary greatly across the evolved ecosystems and that the final profile of species frequencies within replicates clusters into several distinct types, as opposed to being randomly dispersed across the frequency space or converging fully. Our results suggest that community structure evolution has a tendency to follow one of only a few distinct paths.
The guard‐cell apoplast as a site of abscisic acid accumulation in Vicia faba L.

Abscisic acid (ABA) integrates the water status of a plant and causes stomatal closure. Physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood, however, because guard cells flanking stomata are small and contain only attomol quantities of ABA. Here, pooled extracts of dissected guard cells of Vicia faba L. were immunoassayed for ABA at sub-fmol sensitivity. A pulse of water stress was imposed by submerging the roots in a solution of PEG. The water potentials of root and leaf declined during 20 min of water stress but recovered after stress relief. During stress, the ABA concentration in the root apoplast increased, but that in the leaf apoplast remained low. The ABA concentration in the guard-cell apoplast increased during stress, providing evidence for intra-leaf ABA redistribution and leaf apoplastic heterogeneity. Subsequently, the ABA concentration of the leaf apoplast increased, consistent with ABA import via the xylem. Throughout, the ABA contents of the guard-cell apoplast, but not the guard-cell symplast, were convincingly correlated with stomatal aperture size, identifying an external locus for ABA perception under these conditions. Apparently, ABA accumulates in the guard-cell apoplast by evaporation from the guard-cell wall, so the ABA signal in the xylem is amplified maximally at high transpiration rates. Thus, stomata will display apparently higher sensitivity to leaf apoplastic ABA if stomata are widely open in a relatively dry atmosphere.
Midline and laterality defects: left and right meet in the middle.

The aim of this review is to summarize some of the recent advances in molecular embryology that help to explain the pathogenesis of holoprosencephaly (HPE), or its related malformation in model organisms, cyclopia, and laterality defects in humans, derived from detailed analysis of similar malformations in animal models. Recently, defects in several developmental pathways including those operated by the Sonic hedgehog and Nodal signaling factors have been implicated as causes of HPE or laterality defects in humans. Here we summarize the findings in animal models that indicate that both defects can be explained by mechanisms that relate to the proper development of the axial midline in vertebrates. BioEssays 23:888–900, 2001. Published 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Brodalumab and suicidal ideation in the context of a recent economic crisis in the United States.

Brodalumab is a human monoclonal antibody developed by Amgen, Inc. to treat inflammatory diseases. In May 2015, Amgen announced that it was ending its participation in co-development of the compound because of reports of patients having "events of suicidal ideation and behavior"... Language: en
The Progressivity of the Federal Family Benefit System: A Ten Year Analysis -- 1985 to 1994

The family benefit system underwent a major change in 1993. The three separate programs -- family allowance, the refundable child tax credit and the nonrefundable dependent child tax credit -- were repealed and the new Child Tax Benefit program was introduced. One of the aims of the new program was to give increased benefits to the lower income taxpayers and no benefits to higher income taxpayers, that is to increase progressivity. Progressivity in a benefit system entails that the lower income taxpayers should receive a disproportionately greater transfer than the higher income taxpayers. Over the years, governments have amended the transfers under the family benefit system. This paper analyzes the changes in progressivity following the various amendments. It analyzes the "old" family benefit system as a whole and also its constituent elements as well as the new Child Tax Benefit. Progressivity is measured using the Kakwani index. It was found that the various changes made to the elements of the pre-1993 system generally increased progressivity. The 1987 tax reform had a major influence in increasing progressivity. However, the change to the Child Tax Benefit in 1993 did not affect overall progressivity, although it did have differential effects on progressivity for the higher and lower income taxpayers. Overall, progressivity increased substantially between 1985 and 1994.
Determination of the natural periods of buildings

abstract Random wind excitation has been used to find the first three modes of vibration of a nineteenstory building about the two major translational axes and the torsional axis of the building. Vibration records were obtained with Willmore electromagnetic seismometers feeding into a multichannel magnetic tape recorder. A harmonic analysis was then performed with the aid of an analogue computer to determine the first few vibration modes. Concurrently with the experimental program the building modes were computed two ways using different simplifying assumptions regarding the lateral stiffness of the structure.
Hematologic Markers Better Predict Left Ventricular Assist Device Thrombosis than Echocardiographic or Pump Parameters

Background Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) thrombosis is a life-threatening complication that remains a major clinical problem. Consensus diagnostic criteria do not exist. We investigated whether hematologic, echocardiographic, or pump parameters reliably change during LVAD thrombosis. Methods A retrospective analysis of 20 consecutive cases of continuous-flow LVAD thrombosis (Thoratec HeartMate II n = 16, HeartWare HVAD n = 4) was performed. Hematologic markers (lactate dehydrogenase, plasma-free hemoglobin, hemoglobin, creatinine), echocardiographic parameters (left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic diameter, mitral regurgitation, aortic insufficiency, inflow-cannula velocity), and pump characteristics (speed, power, estimated flow, pulsatility index) were analyzed with one-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post-test or paired Student t -tests. Results Lactate dehydrogenase and plasma-free hemoglobin were significantly ( p Conclusion Hematological markers of hemolysis, but not echocardiographic or pump parameters, reliably changed during LVAD thrombosis. Markers of hemolysis are the best early predictors of LVAD thrombosis.
Urinary excretion of N-nitroso compounds in rats fed sodium nitrite and/or hot dogs.

Nitrite-treated meat is a reported risk factor for colon cancer. Mice that ingested sodium nitrite (NaNO2) or hot dogs (a nitrite-treated product) showed increased fecal excretion of apparent N-nitroso compounds (ANC). Here, we investigated for the first time whether rats excrete increased amounts of ANC in their urine after they are fed NaNO2 and/or hot dogs. Rats were treated for 7 days with NaNO2 in drinking water or were fed hot dogs. Their 24 h urine samples were analyzed for ANC by thermal energy analysis on days 1–4 after nitrite or hot dog treatment was stopped. For two rats fed 480 mg NaNO2/L drinking water, mean urinary ANC excretion on days 1–4 was 30, 5.2, 2.5, and 0.8 nmol/day, respectively. For two to eight rats/dose given varied NaNO2 doses, mean urinary ANC output on day 1 increased from 0.9 (for no nitrite) to 37 (for 1000 mg NaNO2/L drinking water) nmol ANC/day. Urine samples of four rats fed 40–60% hot dogs contained 12–13 nmol ANC on day 1. Linear regression analysis showed highly sign...
Hematocrit analysis through the use of an inexpensive centrifugal polyester-toner device with finger-to-chip blood loading capability.

Hematocrit (HCT) measurements are important clinical diagnostic variables that help physicians diagnose and treat various medical conditions, ailments, and diseases. In this work, we present the HCT Disc, a centrifugal microdevice fabricated by a Print, Cut and Laminate (PCL) method to generate a 12-sample HCT device from materials costing <0.5 USD (polyester and toner or PeT). Following introduction from a drop of blood (finger stick), whole blood metering and cell sedimentation are controlled by centrifugal force, only requiring a CD player motor as external hardware and, ultimately, a cell phone for detection. The sedimented volume from patient blood in the HCT Disc was analyzed using a conventional scanner/custom algorithm for analysis of the image to determine a hematocrit value, and these were compared to values generated in a clinical laboratory, which correlated well. To enhance portability and assure simplicity of the HCT measurement, values from image analysis by a cell phone using a custom application was compared to the scanner. Fifteen samples were analyzed with cell phone image analysis system and were found to be within 4% of the HCT values determined in the clinical lab. We demonstrate the feasibility of the PeT device for HCT measurement, and highlight its uniquely low cost (<0.5 USD), speed (sample-to-answer <8 min), multiplexability (12 samples), low volume whole blood requirement (<3 μL), rotation speeds (<4000 rpm) needed for effective measurement as well as the direct finger-to-chip sample loading capability.
Evaluation of Australian merino and U.S. sheep breeds for growth and carcass traits.

One hundred twenty 4-mo-old wether lambs born to Targhee ewes and sired by six rams each from Merino (Finewool, FM and Strongwool, SM), Rambouillet (Dubois, DR and Texas, TR), and Targhee (T) breeds were randomly assigned to predetermined slaughter weight groups of 43, 48, 52, and 57 kg and evaluated for growth and carcass traits. Overall mean ADG and feed conversion rate (FC, kilograms of feed/kilogram of gain) were .28 and 6.4 kg, respectively; T grew the fastest (.31 kg) and FM grew the slowest (.23 kg). Targhee and SM had the best FC (6.2), whereas FM (6.8) had the poorest FC (P < .05). Overall mean backfat thickness (BT) and carcass fat (CF) were 4.8 mm and 25.6%, respectively. Targhee had the lowest (24%) and FM the highest (27.8%) CF percentage (P < .05). Differences (P < .05) were observed for BT and CF among slaughter weight groups; overall means for both traits gradually increased from the 43- to the 57-kg groups. Separate analysis of the 43- and the 48-kg groups indicated nonsignificant breed differences for feed traits, whereas significant differences still existed for CF. It was concluded that Merino strains grew more slowly, were less efficient in postweaning growth, and had higher carcass fat content than U.S. breeds at a constant slaughter weight; SM were more comparable to U.S. breeds than were FM. Merino-cross lambs should be slaughtered at lighter BW to avoid excessive carcass fat.
Analysis on food poison of students caused by aldicarb

Objective To determine thetoxins and its contentsin food poisoningrapid and accurate,and to provide a scientific basis for emergency response. Methods According to the epidemiological investigation guide of food safety accidents and the trade standard of watermelon( NY / T 584- 2002),multiple methods were used for three suspected watermelon samples sent by local CDC. Results High concentration of aldicarb including aldicarb sulfone and aldicarb sulfoxide were detected in watermelon. Conclusion This food safety accident was caused by aldicarb.
Epidemiology and etiology of hand-foot-mouth disease in Hubei in 2011

Objective To analyze the epidemiological features of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD) in Hubei province,and to determine its etiological factors.Methods A total of 63767 cases of HFMD were reported in 2011 and their clinical data were analyzed by a descriptive epidemiological method.Results The overall incidence rate of HFMD was 111.41/100,000.Among these cases,159 were severe and 24 were fatal.Children aged from 6 months old to 3 years were the most susceptible population.One of the two epidemic seasons was from April to July in which most severe and fatal cases appeared,and another was from October to December.Etiological analysis revealed that enterovirus 71(EV71) and Coxsackie virus A16(CoxA16) were the major pathogens of HFMD with the positive rates of 53.02% and 28.59% respectively,while the positive rate of other enterovirus was 18.38%.EV71 was found to be predominantly responsible for most of the severe and fetal cases.Conclusions The epidemic of HFMD was still in a high level in Hubei province in the year of 2011.It is critical to control efficiently for the first peak endemics especially in high-risk regions.
An event-related potential investigation of pattern separation and pattern completion processes

Long-term declarative memory depends on pattern separation and pattern completion to maintain memory specificity. Previous studies aimed at evaluating the underlying neuronal substrates of these computational processes have used a mnemonic discrimination paradigm and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). An alternative method is electroencephalography and event-related potentials (ERPs), which have a superior time resolution to fMRI. Here, we use ERP analysis to examine neuronal activity during performance of a mnemonic discrimination task. We examined both the late positive component and FN400 components, which have previously been shown to demonstrate an old-new effect. We hypothesized that pattern separation processes would be reflected in correct rejection of similar lures while pattern completion processes would be reflected in falsely categorizing lures as repeated. We did not observe differences between the ERPs associated with these two processes.
Confirming the appearance of excess success: Reply to van Boxtel and Koch (2016).

van Boxtel and Koch (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. doi: 10.3758/s13423-016-1010-0 , 2016) reported finding problems in the Test for Excess Success (TES) analysis in Francis (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 21, 1180–1187, 2014). They argued that their findings undermined the general analysis and the conclusions of the specific TES analysis for their article (van Boxtel & Koch in Psychological Science, 23(4), 410–418, 2012). As shown in this paper, their reported problems reflect misunderstandings about both the general properties of a TES analysis and how it was applied to their specific set of findings. Another look at the findings and theoretical claims in van Boxtel and Koch (Psychological Science, 23(4), 410–418, 2012) confirms the appearance of excess success.
Psychotherapy for Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder A Pediatrician’s Guide

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents with high levels of inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. ADHD starts in childhood and results in impairments that continue into adulthood. ADHD symptoms lead to decreased functionality in various life domains and result in poor academics, behavioral challenges, delayed independence, and strained relationships. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, persistent residual symptoms are common, highlighting the need for novel treatment strategies. This article aims to provide a review of the psychotherapeutic interventions available for teens that receive pharmacotherapy but continue to struggle with the residual symptoms of ADHD that interfere with academic function, relationship formation, and psychological development.
Accellera’s Support for ESL Verification and Stimulus Reuse

During its 16-year existence Accellera has created 19 industry standards or methods, nine of which are IEEE standards. Its Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) standard was donated to the IEEE 1800.2 Working Group, while its Portable Stimulus standard is approaching balloting within the organization.
Friedrich Koch, Heinrich von Kleist. Bewußtsein und Wirklichkeit: Stuttgart: Metzler, 1958. Pp. viii, 364.

(1960). Friedrich Koch, Heinrich von Kleist. Bewustsein und Wirklichkeit. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 307-311.
On the present and future economic viability of stand-alone pressure-retarded osmosis

Abstract Pressure-retarded osmosis is a renewable method of power production from salinity gradients which has generated significant academic and commercial interest but, to date, has not been successfully implemented on a large scale. In this work, we investigate lower bound cost scenarios for power generation with PRO to evaluate its economic viability. We build a comprehensive economic model for PRO with assumptions that minimize the cost of power production, thereby conclusively identifying the operating conditions that are not economically viable. With the current state-of-the art PRO membranes, we estimate the minimum levelized cost of electricity for PRO of US$1.2/kWh for seawater and river water pairing, $0.44/kWh for reverse osmosis brine and wastewater, and $0.066/kWh for nearly saturated water (26% wt) and river water, all for a 2 MW production system. Only a pairing of extremely high salinity (greater than 18%) water and freshwater has the potential to compete with wind power currently at $0.074/kWh. We show two methods for reducing this cost via economies of scale and reducing the membrane structural parameter. We find that the latter method reduces the levelized cost of electricity significantly more than increasing the membrane permeability coefficient.
One-pot synthesis of soy protein (SP)-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) superabsorbent hydrogels via facile preparation of SP macromonomer

Abstract A soy protein (SP)-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) superabsorbent hydrogel was synthesized from soy protein isolate and potassium acrylate. Alkali-treated SP was turned into macromonomer through the functionalization of its primary amine groups using methacrylic anhydride. The SP-PAA hydrogel was formed by free radical copolymerization of the SP macromonomer and potassium acrylate monomer. It was demonstrated that the SP macromonomer acted as a macro-crosslinker and no additional crosslinker was needed. The whole synthesis was conducted in a one-pot process. The chemical structure and degree of functionalization of the SP macromonomer were characterized by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and UV–vis spectrophotometry, respectively. The SP to acrylic acid weight ratio at the preparation of the hydrogel was 1/3 and the SP content in the final product was 11–19%. As a result of the functionalization of SP, compressive gel strength was significantly improved, gel content was increased and extractable SP was reduced. Free swelling in distilled water was reduced for SP macromonomer gels due to increased crosslink density. The SP-PAA hydrogels displayed a stable swelling performance in buffer solutions with pH ranging from 6 to 11.5.
ON DIRECT CONVERSION OF SUNLIGHT TO ELECTRICITY

ABSTRACT A new physical theory for homojunction and heterojunction solar cells is presented. The theory relates the voltage-current characteristics of such cells to the device physical parameters and the spectral distribution of the incident radiation. The derived formula is shown to be accurately in agreement with experiment for Si solar cells. In the treatment, we consider the photon-generated electron-hole pairs and determine their transport through the device and its battery (or load). The analysis is based on this author's thermodynamic theory of generalyzed fields (TTGF). The TTGF is a theory particularly developed for interfacial phenomena and more generally for all systems which have gradients of any physical parameters, when the particle fluxes are vanishing in the system.
Design of high-speed low-power polar BP decoder using emerging technologies

With the provable asymptotically optimal property in the sense of channel capacity, polar codes have emerged as one of the potential channel code candidates for the next-generation wireless communication systems. To date, numerous works have been reported on VLSI implementation of polar decoders. However, the efficient hardware design of polar decoders that can be used in the real-time energy-constraint mobile devices is still a huge challenge. This paper, for the first time, investigates high-speed low-power polar decoder design using FinFET and near-threshold computing (NTC) technologies. Specifically, the hardware performance of polar decoder with belief propagation (BP) decoding approach is studied and evaluated. Synthesis results show that the joint use of these two emerging technologies can lead to significant reduction in both power consumption and decoding delay at the same time.
Experimental formation enthalpies for intermetallic phases and other inorganic compounds

The standard enthalpy of formation of a compound is the energy associated with the reaction to form the compound from its component elements. The standard enthalpy of formation is a fundamental thermodynamic property that determines its phase stability, which can be coupled with other thermodynamic data to calculate phase diagrams. Calorimetry provides the only direct method by which the standard enthalpy of formation is experimentally measured. However, the measurement is often a time and energy intensive process. We present a dataset of enthalpies of formation measured by high-temperature calorimetry. The phases measured in this dataset include intermetallic compounds with transition metal and rare-earth elements, metal borides, metal carbides, and metallic silicides. These measurements were collected from over 50 years of calorimetric experiments. The dataset contains 1,276 entries on experimental enthalpy of formation values and structural information. Most of the entries are for binary compounds but ternary and quaternary compounds are being added as they become available. The dataset also contains predictions of enthalpy of formation from first-principles calculations for comparison. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data (ISA-Tab format)
Outcomes of flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon transfer in the treatment of Achilles tendon disorders

Abstract Background In patients with chronic Achilles tendon disorders, Achilles tendon debridement can be supplemented with a tendon transfer, with the flexor hallucis longus tendon (FHL) transfer representing the most common used technique. Our study describes clinical and functional results of patients treated with flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon transfer in the treatment of patients with chronic Achilles tendon disorders. Methods Retrospective study of prospectively collected data of thirteen patients (15 feet) that underwent FDL tendon transfer as part of the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon disorders. Preoperative and postoperative assessment included visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, SF-36 survey and lower extremity functional scale (LEFS). The average follow-up was 26.4 (range, 14–56) months. Patients were also assessed for ability to perform single leg heel rise test, muscle power for plantar flexion of the lesser toes, surgical scar condition and associated complications. Results At final follow-up, we found significant postoperative improvement in VAS score (6.6 ± 2.99 vs 1.06 ± 1.43; p Conclusions FDL tendon transfer represent an operative alternative in the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon disorders. Our study showed good clinical outcomes with low complications and donor site morbidity. Level of evidence Observational study, case series – level IV.