cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multidisciplinary care of patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy is associated with improved clinical outcomes

Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure, a significant minority of patients do not respond adequately to this therapy. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of a 'multidisciplinary care' (MC) approach on the clinical outcome in CRT patients. Methods and results The clinical outcome in patients prospectively receiving MC (n ¼ 254) was compared with a control group of patients who received conventional care (CC, n ¼ 173). The MC group was followed prospectively in an integrated clinic setting by a team of subspecialists from the heart failure, electrophysiology, and echocardiography service at 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-implant. All patients had echocardiographic-guided optimization at their 1-month visit. The pro- portional hazards model (adjusting for all covariates) and Kaplan-Meier time to first event curves were compared between the two groups, over a 2-year follow-up. The long-term outcome was measured as a combined endpoint of heart failure hospitalization, cardiac transplantation, or all-cause mortality. The clinical characteristics between the MC and CC groups at baseline were comparable (age, 68+13 vs. 69+12; NYHA III, 90 vs. 82%; ischaemic cardio- myopathy 55 vs. 64%, P ¼ NS, respectively). The event-free survival was significantly higher in the multidisciplinary vs. the CC group (P ¼ 0.0015). A significant reduction in clinical events was noted in the MC group vs. the CC group (hazard ratio: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.46-0.83, P ¼ 0.001). Conclusion Integrated MC may improve 2-year event-free survival in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy. Prospective randomized studies are needed to validate our findings.
Probing the folding pathway of a β-clam protein with single-tryptophan constructs

Background: Cellular retinoic acid binding protein I (CRABPI) is a small, predominantly β -sheet protein with a simple architecture and no disulfides or cofactors. Folding of mutants containing only one of the three native tryptophans has been examined using stopped-flow fluorescence and circular dichroism at multiple wavelengths. Results: Within 10 ms, the tryptophan fluorescence of all three mutants shows a blue shift, and stopped-flow circular dichroism shows significant secondary structure content. The local environment of Trp7, a completely buried residue located near the intersection of the N and C termini, develops on a 100 ms time scale. Spectral signatures of the other two tryptophan residues (87 and 109) become native-like in a 1 s kinetic phase. Conclusions: Formation of the native β structure of CRABPI is initiated by rapid hydrophobic collapse, during which local segments of chain adopt significant secondary structure. Subsequently, transient yet specific interactions of amino acid residues restrict the arrangement of the chain topology and initiate long-range associations such as the docking of the N and C termini. The development of native tertiary environments, including the specific packing of the β -sheet sidechains, occurs in a final, highly cooperative step simultaneous with stable interstrand hydrogen bonding.
Controlled-source analogous circuits and SPICE models for piezoelectric transducers

Transmission line analogous circuits for piezoelectric transducers are developed which employ controlled sources rather than the traditional transformer to model the coupling between the electrical and the mechanical systems. A novel method is used to derive each model that consists of adding a term that is equal to zero to one of the device electromechanical equations. When this is done, it is shown that the equations can be cast into the form of the familiar telegraphist's equations for the voltage and current on an electrical transmission line. The circuits are derived for both the thickness-mode piezoelectric transducer and the side-electrode bar piezoelectric transducer. SPICE models of the analogous circuits are presented and an example simulation is given. >
Power fluctuation minimization during behavioral synthesis using ILP-based datapath scheduling

We model the power fluctuation as cycle-to-cycle power gradient and minimize the mean of the power gradients using ILP. We propose scheduling schemes for three modes of datapath design: single supply voltage and single frequency (SVSF), multiple supply voltages and dynamic frequency clocking (MVDFC), and multiple supply voltages and multicycling (MVMC). Various experiments are conducted on selected high-level synthesis benchmarks. Experimental results in terms of several parameters, such as mean power gradient, mean cycle power, peak power, and power delay product, are presented.
A wide bandwidth, dynamic hysteresis model for magnetization in soft ferrites

A wide bandwidth, dynamic model for the magnetization of the core material used in pulse transformers must be able to perform accurate circuit simulations involving such transformers. The authors have obtained such a model by combining the approaches used in the static hysteresis models of D.C. Jiles and D.L. Atherton (1983) and of B.D. Coleman and M.L. Hodgdon (1986), and adding two intuitively based dynamic parameters. This dynamic model gives reasonable simulations of experimental data for soft ferrite cores subjected to pulses with risetimes in the microsecond to nanosecond range. The parameters of the model are independent of the excitation. All but two dynamic parameters may be obtained from static hysteresis data. >
Behavior Analysis: The Science of Training

Behavior analysis is a data-driven science dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of behavior. Applied behavior analysis is a branch of this scientific field that systematically applies scientific principles to real-world problems in an effort to improve quality of life. The use of the behavioral technology provides a way to teach human and nonhuman animals more effectively and efficiently and offers those using this technology increased success in achieving behavioral goals.
Association between chronic urticaria and self-reported penicillin allergy

Abstract Background Penicillin allergy is the most commonly reported drug allergy and often presents with cutaneous symptoms. Other common diagnoses, such as chronic urticaria, may be falsely attributed to penicillin allergy. Because chronic urticaria is fairly common in the general population, evaluation of its prevalence in patients with self-reported penicillin allergy was of interest. Similarly, the prevalence of self-reported penicillin allergy in patients with chronic urticaria is not well known and also becomes interesting in light of the high prevalence of self-reported penicillin allergy in the general population. Objectives To determine the prevalence of self-reported penicillin allergy in patients with chronic urticaria and the prevalence of chronic urticaria in patients with self-reported penicillin allergy. Methods This was a retrospective medical record review of 11,143 patients completed using the electronic health record of the University of Pennsylvania Allergy and Immunology clinic. Results The prevalence of self-reported penicillin allergy in patients with chronic urticaria was found to be approximately 3 times greater than in the general population. The prevalence of chronic urticaria in patients with self-reported penicillin allergy was also found to be approximately 3 times greater than in the population. Conclusion This link between chronic urticaria and self-reported penicillin allergy highlights the need for clinicians to inquire about self-reported penicillin allergy in patients with chronic urticaria and to consider penicillin skin testing. Furthermore, patients who report penicillin allergy might actually have chronic urticaria, indicating the importance of inquiring about chronic urticaria symptoms in patients with self-reported penicillin allergy.
Stylization and abstraction of photographs

Good information design depends on clarifying the meaningful structure in an image. We describe a computational approach to stylizing and abstracting photographs that explicitly responds to this design goal. Our system transforms images into a line-drawing style using bold edges and large regions of constant color. To do this, it represents images as a hierarchical structure of parts and boundaries computed using state-of-the-art computer vision. Our system identifies the meaningful elements of this structure using a model of human perception and a record of a user's eye movements in looking at the photo; the system renders a new image using transformations that preserve and highlight these visual elements. Our method thus represents a new alternative for non-photorealistic rendering both in its visual style, in its approach to visual form, and in its techniques for interaction.
Electrocardiographic Advanced Interatrial Block and Atrial Fibrillation Risk in the General Population.

Although advanced interatrial block (aIAB) is an established electrocardiographic phenotype, its prevalence, incidence, and prognostic significance in the general population are unclear. We examined the prevalence, incidence, and prognostic significance of aIAB in 14,625 (mean age = 54 ± 5.8 years; 26% black; 55% female) participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. aIAB was detected from digital electrocardiograms recorded during 4 study visits (1987 to 1989, 1990 to 1992, 1993 to 1995, and 1996 to 1998). Risk factors for the development of aIAB were examined using multivariable Poisson regression models with robust variance estimates. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios and 95% CIs for the association between aIAB, as a time-dependent variable, and atrial fibrillation (AF). AF was ascertained from study electrocardiogram data, hospital discharge records, and death certificates thorough 2010. A total of 69 participants (0.5%) had aIAB at baseline, and 193 (1.3%) developed aIAB during follow-up. The incidence for aIAB was 2.27 (95% CI 1.97 to 2.61) per 1,000 person-years. Risk factors for aIAB development included age, male gender, white race, antihypertensive medication use, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, and systolic blood pressure. In a Cox regression analysis adjusted for sociodemographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and potential confounders, aIAB was associated with an increased risk for AF (hazard ratio 3.09, 95% CI 2.51 to 3.79). In conclusion, aIAB is not uncommon in the general population. Risk factors for developing aIAB are similar to those for AF, and the presence of aIAB is associated with an increased risk for AF.
MS-01DEVELOPMENT OF MALIGNANT PERIPHERAL NERVE TUMOR MODEL FOR EVALUATING A TUMOR TARGETED LIPOSOME-BASED THERAPY

In our previous studies we demonstrated the expression of IL-13Rα2 receptor in several malignant and benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors. In a subsequent study we investigated the specific binding of the IL-13 conjugated liposomal doxorubicin (IL13LIPDXR) to the MPNST cells and their cytotoxic property in the monolayer and spheroid model. To demonstrate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy, a sciatic nerve tumor model was developed in nude mice using STS26T, a MPNST cell line. The STS26T cell line was stably transfected with a luciferase expressing plasmid using a nanoliposome technology developed in our laboratory. These luciferase transfected cells were injected in the sciatic nerve in NIH III nude mice and allowed to grow for 2-4 weeks. To confirm the tumor formation intravital imaging spectroscopy (IVIS) and MR imaging were performed after injection of luciferin-D, a substrate for the luciferase. For our pathological studies, the mice were sacrificed and the tumor along with the nerve was dissected and paraffin embedded. The tumor was sectioned and the sections were subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC) for the presence of IL-13Rα2 receptor protein, ki-67 a cell proliferation marker, heavy chain ferritin and S100 (myelin forming Schwann cells). Our experiment demonstrated the presence of IL-13R2 receptor, ki-67, H-ferritin and S100 at variable levels in the tumor. Experiments are in progress to develop an effective therapeutic strategy using IL-13 targeted liposomes.
Abstract 4718: Withaferin A, a potent and abundant component of Withania somnifera root extract, reduces myeloid-derived suppressor cell function.

Myeloid cells play a crucial role in growth and metastasis of malignant tumors. Tumor infiltrating myeloid cells includes myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMS) and dendritic cells (DC). These cells infiltrate into tumor and suppress tumor immunity by their inherent immune suppressive activity which is enhanced by interactions with each other (cross-talk). Therapeutic strategies targeting manipulation of these cells are being developed. The root extract of the plant Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) (WRE) has been reported to reduce tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Whether the anti-tumor effects of WRE are due to direct effects on malignant cells, or whether WRE also impacts immune suppressive myeloid cells is unknown. We hypothesize that WRE or its constituents impact tumor infiltrating myeloid cells and thereby boost anti-tumor immunity. HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that Withaferin A (WA) is the most abundant constituent of Withania somnifera root powder (ChromaDex, Inc. Irvine, CA). In comparison with the other constituents, WA has the most potent effect on reducing suppressive functions of myeloid cells. A prominent effect of MDSC is their production of IL-10 which increases upon cross-talk with macrophages, thus polarizing immunity to a tumor promoting type-2 phenotype. WA reduces inherent and cross-talk induced IL-10 secretion from MDSC in a dose dependent manner. Macrophage secretion of IL-6 and TNFα cytokines that are characteristic of M1-type macrophages and that also increase MDSC accumulation and function, are also reduced by WA. Much of the T cell suppressive activity of MDSC is due to MDSC production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and WA significantly reduces MDSC production of ROS. Thus adjunctive treatment with WA has the potential to concomitantly reduce myeloid cell mediated immune suppression, to polarize immunity towards a tumor-rejecting type I phenotype, and to facilitate the development of anti-tumor immunity. Supported by NIH RO1CA115880, RO1CA84232, and American Cancer Society IRG-97-153-07 Citation Format: Pratima Sinha, Suzanne Ostrand-Rosenberg. Withaferin A, a potent and abundant component of Withania somnifera root extract, reduces myeloid-derived suppressor cell function. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4718. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4718
Strikebusting in St. Petersburg: Nelson Poynter's Postwar Assault on Union Printers

Abstract Labor-management conflict was commonplace in post-World War II America. One less-examined struggle took place within the U.S. newspaper industry. In the late 1940s newspaper publishers waged a campaign to challenge the powerful International Typographical Union (ITU). This included use of anti-labor laws alongside photoengraving printing technologies to sustain daily publication during strikes. This article examines a strike and legal battle that ensued from 1945 to 1947 between Nelson Poynter and union printers employed at Poynter's St. Petersburg Times and its local counterpart, the Evening Independent A result of this conflict included Poynter being singled out among newspaper publishers for national recognition “as the boss who broke the strike in St. Petersburg.” By using makeshift printing techniques, replacement workers, and the legal expertise of Thurman Arnold, Poynter won a noteworthy decision from the National Labor Relations Board against the ITU that called into question the then fun...
Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Protein Recovered from Fish Waste

ABSTRACTThis work aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and functional properties of proteins recovered from whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) and Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) residues obtained by the process of acid solubilization using HCl at pH = 2 and alkaline solubilization using NaOH at pH = 12 and isoelectric precipitation (pH = 5.5). The proximate composition and functional properties were determined. The solubilization and water holding capacity (WHC) of the recovered protein were studied in the pH range of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The high protein content and lowest lipid reduction presented by the protein recovered from the whitemouth croaker residue and obtained by the acid solubilizing process was 97.1 and 98.4%, respectively. The maximum solubilized protein was at pH 3 and 11, and the minimum solubilized protein was at pH 5 for both species. The greater ability to retain oil was observed for the alkaline solubilization process (8.3 and 7.3). The lower WHC was at pH 5. The acid...
Surgical adjuvant therapy for malignant melanoma.

The results of trials of three adjuvant treatments, bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG), Corynebacterium parvum, and DTIC alone and with Pseudomonas vaccine are reported. Although none of the treatments improved the outcome that could be expected from surgery alone, the body of data generated is a firm foundation with which new therapies can be compared.
Cytologic–histologic concordance in the diagnosis of neoplasia in canine and feline lymph nodes: a retrospective study of 367 cases

Lymph nodes are frequently sampled in dogs and cats for the diagnosis of primary and metastatic neoplasia. We determined the accuracy of cytologic diagnosis in lymph nodes using histology as the gold standard. Lymph node reports (2001-2011) were retrospectively evaluated and diagnoses were categorized as neoplastic or non-neoplastic. Lymph nodes from 296 dogs and 71 cats included 157 (42.7%) non-neoplastic lesions, 62 (16.9%) lymphomas and 148 (40.3%) metastatic neoplasms. Cytology had a sensitivity of 66.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 60.0-72.8%], specificity of 91.5% (CI 86.3-95.2%), and accuracy of 77.2% (CI 72.6-81.3%) for neoplasia. Likelihood of malignancy with a positive cytologic diagnosis of neoplasia was 93.0%. High proportions of false-negative results were found in mesenteric T-cell lymphoma (22/35, 63%, mainly cats), metastatic sarcoma (8/14, 57%) and metastatic mast cell tumour (15/48, 31%, mainly dogs). Factors contributing to discrepancies included well-differentiated lymphocyte morphology, focal distribution of metastases and poorly defined criteria for metastatic mast cell tumours.
A Markov Chain Monte Carlo Alternating Minimization Algorithm for Asynchronous Relay Network Localization

This letter proposes an algorithm to locate an object by an asynchronous relay network using time of arrival (TOA) measurements. It applies the alternating minimization approach that iterates between measurement association and TOA localization. It solves the highly complex association problem between measurements and relays efficiently using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. Simulations show that the proposed method has high accuracy for measurement association and yields a localization accuracy near the Cramer Rao lower bound before the measurement noise becomes large.
Patterns of antidepressant use in cancer patients (pts): An analysis from SOAPP (ECOG E2Z02: Symptom Outcomes and Practice Patterns).

9016 Background: Antidepressant (AD) use is common in outpatient oncology, but the pattern and determinants of prescribing for commonly used AD are unknown. Methods: 3106 pts with cancer of the bre...
Embedded Software Debug in Simulation and Emulation Environments for Interface IP

This chapter presents an overview of different embedded software debug techniques enabled by recent advances in the EDA tools allowing either interactive or playback type debug of software and hardware (RTL) in a simulation of a complete system. Most of the methods and ideas described here present a summary of different approaches applied within our day-to-day work at Cadence\({\textregistered }\) Design Systems. With growing complexity of software and hardware solutions and an increasing push at reducing the time-to-market, it has become very important to simulate or run as much of the target system and software, as early as possible in order to enable system-level validation of the complete design and evaluation of any potential risks or limitations, that may not be obvious at unit level (e.g., considering the CPU and each piece of hardware IP in isolation). New SoC systems bring increasing integration level of both software and hardware elements and the final product requires all of the components to interact as designed, in order to satisfy the growing user expectations for speed, efficiency, and reliability. Furthermore software complexity in the embedded systems has recently exploded as more functionality is driven by microcontrollers with reprogrammable firmware allowing addition of features to products after release.
Optoacoustic diagnostic modality: from idea to clinical studies with highly compact laser diode-based systems

Optoacoustic (photoacoustic) diagnostic modality is a technique that combines high optical contrast and ultrasound spatial resolution. We proposed using the optoacoustic technique for a number of applications, including cancer detection, monitoring of thermotherapy (hyperthermia, coagulation, and freezing), monitoring of cerebral blood oxygenation in patients with traumatic brain injury, neonatal patients, fetuses during late-stage labor, central venous oxygenation monitoring, and total hemoglobin concentration monitoring as well as hematoma detection and characterization. We developed and built optical parametric oscillator-based systems and multiwavelength, fiber-coupled highly compact, laser diode-based systems for optoacoustic imaging, monitoring, and sensing. To provide sufficient output pulse energy, a specially designed fiber-optic system was built and incorporated in ultrasensitive, wideband optoacoustic probes. We performed preclinical and clinical tests of the systems and the optoacoustic probes in backward mode for most of the applications and in forward mode for the breast cancer and cerebral applications. The high pulse energy and repetition rate allowed for rapid data acquisition with high signal-to-noise ratio from cerebral blood vessels, such as the superior sagittal sinus, central veins, and peripheral veins and arteries, as well as from intracranial hematomas. The optoacoustic systems were capable of automatic, real-time, continuous measurements of blood oxygenation in these blood vessels.
Modeling task scheduling in complex healthcare environments: Identifying relevant factors

Multiple task coordination involves scheduling tasks, completing tasks, and integrating tasks into a workflow. Task scheduling can influence outcomes of safety, satisfaction, and efficiency when co...
Wideband monostatic spiral array for full-duplex applications

A novel co-polarized wideband monostatic antenna array for full-duplex or simultaneous transmit and receive (FD/STAR) applications is proposed. The developed approach incorporates antenna elements orientation and beam-forming network (BFN) to theoretically eliminate the interference from the TX to RX. The array is composed of four dual function TX/RX balun-fed two-arm Archimedean spiral antennas. Measured isolation with the RF enhancement layer of 40dB-60dB, VSWR<2, and TX BFN power loss <10% are achieved over 2:1 bandwidth. Good correlation between the TX and RX co-polarized radiation patterns is also demonstrated.
Equity and Inclusion: Expanding the Urban Ecosystem

As our nation grows ever more diverse, the need to ensure that our educational institutions are truly equitable and inclusive becomes more and more urgent. This sense of urgency plays out across a social and political terrain that threatens the very core of our identity as a nation. Our growing diversity is seen by some as a threat to our national security and as the primary cause behind the displacements and angers being created by the ever growing differences that are dividing our country. Our authors see our growing diversity as a much needed and valued source of energy, creativity and a vital contribution to our capacity to thrive in an especially challenging period in our history and are committed to creating educational environments where people of all backgrounds can thrive.
The effects of Twitter users' gender and weight on viral behavioral intentions toward obesity-related news.

In this study, male and female participants were exposed to identical news stories covering obesity topics paired with tweets from Twitter users. Our study aimed at understanding how obesity-related news combined with user-generated social media posts (i.e., tweets) affect consumers' evaluations of online content and viral behavioral intentions (the intentions to like, share, and comment). An experiment (N = 316) explored how gender and weight of a Twitter user (tweeter) affect participants' evaluations and viral behavioral intentions toward news stories. Participants differed in their evaluations of and viral behavioral intentions for news stories as a function of Twitter users' gender and weight, as well as participants' gender. While participants expressed more favorable attitudes toward news stories paired with tweets by overweight than healthy females (with the opposite true for tweets by male users), participants expressed greater viral behavioral intentions for news stories paired with tweets by healthy weight than overweight user. These effects were more pronounced among male than female participants. Findings are discussed within the context of social media posts and their persuasive effects in relation to attitude and behavior changes.
David Oliver: What’s wrong with being honest with the public about NHS pressures?

In December I was on a conference panel discussing “How to save the NHS.” I said that we needed to be far more honest with the public and realistic about what the service can currently offer, given unprecedented demand, unfilled posts, and a widening gap in funding. We must make it clear to patients, I said, that they will often face longer waits in GP surgeries, emergency departments, and hospital clinics, and that they will be admitted to understaffed wards and often rushed out of hospital sooner than they might like, to free scarce beds for others. The Daily Mail picked up on my comments, the subsequent headline screaming, “Top …
Transdifferentiation in animals. A model for differentiation control.

Transdifferentiation may be generally defined as the change of one recognizable cell type to another different cell type. The term was first used by Selman and Kafatos (1974) to denote the change of the cuticular cells of the moth larval silk gland to those producing HCO3 during metamorphosis/development and has since been used in many different contexts. So as not to produce a welter of semantics to replace the term already in use, I shall instead categorize the phenomenon of transdifferentiation by levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary transdifferentiation. Primary (or true) transdifferentiation would include the cell-type conversion or cell metaplasia that is so well documented to occur in some amphibian eye tissues in vitro and in amphibian (newt) eye tissues in situ (Fig. 1). This level is characterized by verifiably postmitotic cells, terminally differentiated and producing a specific cell product, transforming into a completely different cell type with differing cell product(s). Secondary transdifferentiation is marked by the conversion of those cells or tissues not definitely demonstrable as terminally differentiated, i.e., from an embryonic or possible stem-cell source. Also included is the concept of transdetermination (Hadorn, 1965), in which certain groups of cells in Drosophila occasionally become determined or committed to a developmental fate different from that expected. Tertiary transdifferentiation would encompass other purported/ reported changes of tissue types, e.g., that of muscle to cartilage (Namenwirth, 1974), and of striated to smooth muscle in Anthomedusa as reported by Schmid and Alder (1984) and Weber et al (1987). The well-known plasticity of plant tissues, especially in vitro, is the rule, rather than the exception, and as a topic of transdifferentiation is beyond the scope of this chapter.
Diffusion of Responsibility: An Interorganizational Analysis 1)

Three topics of scholarship that are insufficiently studied in conjunction with one another are moral philosophy, public administration, and interorganizational relations.
Electron-electron interactions in GaAs-Al x Ga 1-x As heterostructures

Magnetoresistance measurements are made on the two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs-${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$As heterostructures as a function of the sample width (W) and the potential probe spacing (L) to study the electron-electron interactions. The temperature- (T) dependent parabolic magnetoresistance, observed above 0.1 T, clearly shows the effect of electron-electron interactions. When W is large compared with ${L}_{T}$\ensuremath{\equiv}\ensuremath{\pi}(\ensuremath{\Elzxh}D/kT${)}^{1/2}$, the magnetoresistance agrees quantitatively with the two-dimensional (2D) interaction theory proposed by Altshuler and Aronov, confirming the earlier observations by Paalanen, Tsui, and Hwang. When W\ensuremath{\approxeq}${L}_{T}$, a 2D-to-1D crossover is observed. For W${L}_{T}$, the magnetoresistance agrees quantitatively with the 1D interaction theory, if boundary scattering is negligible. When L is decreased and is less than 1.8${L}_{T}$, the zero-dimensional (0D) behavior is observed, confirming the 0D interaction theory. In the narrow channels, with W less than the elastic mean-free path (${l}_{e}$), the orbital effects are greatly reduced by the boundary scattering, showing the precursor of the extremely 1D behavior. When the magnetic field is less than 0.1 T, a new size-dependent magnetoresistance is observed. This T-insensitive magnetoresistance is attributed to boundary scattering. In addition, when L\ensuremath{\approxeq}${L}_{T}$, irregular conductance fluctuations of order ${e}^{2}$/h are observed, consistent with the recent theory of Lee and Stone on universal conductance fluctuations.
Intraventricular bleeding from cerebral aneurysmal rupture.

Aneurysms rupturing into the ventricles have been shown at postmortem but rarely during angiography. Factors incriminated have been the high pressure during injection, the amount of contrast material, the proximity of site of injection to the aneurysm or a combination of more than one factor. We personally think it is unrelated to any of these factors, but rather a coincidental happening. The value of early angiography and delayed films is emphasized.
Hyperglycemia and Blood Sugar Management: Implications for Infection

The nature of the relationship between‘critical illness hyperglycemia’ and nosocomial infection is confounded by a dearth of randomized controlled trials examining the impact of good versus poor glycemic control on infection rates. It has long been clear that hyperglycemia may be a consequence of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and thereby serve as a marker of severity of stress. However, evidence is emerging that hyperglycemia early in the postoperative period can be a significant risk factor for the subsequent development of nosocomial infection. Many patients with uncontrolled hyperglycemia in the intensive care unit (ICU) have underlying diabetes mellitus, either on the basis of insulin deficiency (type 1) or insulin resistance in combination with insulin deficiency (type 2) [1]. However, catabolic illness alone may produce sufficient insulin resistance that temporary hyperglycemia (‘stress diabetes’) can develop [2]. The major risk factors for insulin resistance in critical illness are:
A Social Security “Annuity Purchase”: Is Delaying Social Security More Effective than Purchasing a Deferred Income Annuity?

This article analyzes a retirement strategy of delaying Social Security commencement past Social Security “normal retirement age” to effectively increase annuity income. Using Monte Carlo simulations for returns on a pre-tax retirement portfolio and simplified tax, marriage, and Social Security benefit assumptions, I compare three retirement strategies: 1) following the “4% rule” with retirement at Social Security normal commencement age (66), 2) delayed commencement to age 70 with forgone Social Security income replaced by portfolio withdrawals, and 3) following the 4% rule with normal retirement age commencement and purchase of deferred life annuity of equivalent expected actuarial value to the increase in Social Security that would occur if commencement were delayed to age 70. Results for the scenarios analyzed generally support delaying Social Security as a preferred method to annuitize assets over the direct purchase of a deferred annuity, particularly under the married scenario. Compared with Strategy 1, delaying Social Security increases portfolio fail rates by year 30 (age 96) by 10 percentage points (to about 20%) and results in reduced portfolio values across outcomes. The trade-off is increased inflation-protected income under portfolio failure scenarios by 32% of the primary benefit.
Diplogastrellus nematodes are sexually transmitted mutualists that alter the bacterial and fungal communities of their beetle host.

A recent accumulation of studies has demonstrated that nongenetic, maternally transmitted factors are often critical to the health and development of offspring and can therefore play a role in ecological and evolutionary processes. In particular, microorganisms such as bacteria have been championed as heritable, symbiotic partners capable of conferring fitness benefits to their hosts. At the same time, parents may also pass various nonmicrobial organisms to their offspring, yet the roles of such organisms in shaping the developmental environment of their hosts remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that the nematode Diplogastrellus monhysteroides is transgenerationally inherited and sexually transmitted by the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus . By manipulating artificial chambers in which beetle offspring develop, we demonstrate that the presence of D. monhysteroides nematodes enhances the growth of beetle offspring, empirically challenging the paradigm that nematodes are merely commensal or even detrimental to their insect hosts. Finally, our research presents a compelling mechanism whereby the nematodes influence the health of beetle larvae: D. monhysteroides nematodes engineer the bacterial and fungal communities that also inhabit the beetle developmental chambers, including specific taxa known to be involved in biomass degradation, possibly allowing larval beetles better access to their otherwise recalcitrant, plant-based diet. Thus, our findings illustrate that nongenetic inheritance can include intermediately sized organisms that live and proliferate in close association with, and in certain cases enhance, the development of their hosts’ offspring.
Corrosion of stainless steel 316L in molten LiCl-Li2O-Li

Abstract Exposure testing of Stainless Steel 316L was performed in LiCl-Li2O-Li solutions at 650 °C for periods of 500 and 1000 h to investigate the effect of metallic Li on corrosion of materials used to contain the LiCl-Li2O electrolyte for the electrolytic reduction of used nuclear fuel. Melt compositions studied consisted of LiCl containing 1 or 2 wt% Li2O and 0, 0.3, 0.6, or 1 wt% Li. Post exposure surface analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Focused ion beam and mechanical cross sections of the samples and gravimetric analyses were performed to determine the time-averaged corrosion rate for each sample. Lithium metal induced attack rates were found to be as high as 2.91 mm/y. In the absence of solvated Li in the LiCl-Li2O system, LiCrO2, Li2CrO4, and NiFexCr2-xO4 were observed to be the primary corrosion products. When Li was present in the melt, the oxidized alloying elements were only detectable via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the surface was primarily comprised of bare metal.
Designing and scheduling a multi-disciplinary integrated practice unit for patient-centred care

This paper presents the design and analysis of a newly proposed form of care delivery called an integrated practice unit (IPU) in which a multi-disciplinary team of providers and staff work togethe...
P cycle cannot be a general mechanism for energy production, and it does not sensitize bacteria toward aminoglycosides

In PNAS, Su et al. (1) claim that the pyruvate cycle or “P cycle,” which adds three enzymes—phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinase, pyruvate kinase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase—to the TCA cycle, “operates routinely as a general mechanism for energy production” in Escherichia coli , and that glutamate generates more energy through the P cycle and sensitizes bacteria toward aminoglycosides, “resulting in improved elimination of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.” I find that none of these claims is convincing. First, the P cycle, as presented by Sue et al. (1), has several fundamental problems: [↵][1]1Email: nhiroshi{at}berkeley.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Structural Determinants of Kv7.5 Potassium Channels That Confer Changes in Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate (PIP2) Affinity and Signaling Sensitivities in Smooth Muscle Cells

Smooth muscle cells express Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 voltage-dependent potassium channels, which have each been implicated as regulators of smooth muscle contractility, though they display different sensitivities to signaling via cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC). We expressed chimeric channels composed of different components of the Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 α-subunits in vascular smooth muscle cells to determine which components are essential for enhancement or inhibition of channel activity. Forskolin, an activator of the cAMP/PKA pathway, increased wild-type Kv7.5 but not wild-type Kv7.4 current amplitude. Replacing the amino terminus of Kv7.4 with the amino terminus of Kv7.5 conferred partial responsiveness to forskolin. In contrast, swapping carboxy-terminal phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) binding domains, or the entire C terminus, was without effect on the forskolin response, but the latter conferred responsiveness to arginine-vasopressin (an inhibitory PKC-dependent response). Serine-to-alanine mutation at position 53 of the Kv7.5 amino terminus abrogated its ability to confer forskolin sensitivity to Kv7.4. Forskolin treatment reduced the sensitivity of Kv7.5 channels to Ciona intestinalis voltage-sensing phosphatase (Ci-VSP)-induced PIP2 depletion, whereas activation of PKC with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate potentiated the Ci-VSP–induced decline in Kv7.5 current amplitude. Our findings suggest that PKA-dependent phosphorylation of serine 53 on the amino terminus of Kv7.5 increases its affinity for PIP2, whereas PKC-dependent phosphorylation of the Kv7.5 carboxy terminus is associated with a reduction in PIP2 affinity; these changes in PIP2 affinity have corresponding effects on channel activity. Resting affinities for PIP2 differ for Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 based on differential responsiveness to Ci-VSP activation and different rates of current rundown in ruptured patch recordings. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 channels are known signal transduction intermediates and drug targets for regulation of smooth muscle tone. The present studies identify distinct functional domains that confer differential sensitivities of Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 to stimulatory and inhibitory signaling and reveal structural features of the channel subunits that determine their biophysical properties. These findings may improve our understanding of the roles of these channels in smooth muscle physiology and disease, particularly in conditions where Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 are differentially expressed.
Voice-Controlled Flexible Exotendon (FLEXotendon) Glove For Hand Rehabilitation

In this work, we propose a voice-controlled hand rehabilitation device driven by exotendons. A smartphone-based voice recognition system interprets user intention and is utilized for various grasping tasks. A bio-inspired tendon routing mechanism provides four-degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) across the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. A novel thumb sleeve design is presented for stable thumb movement. The exoskeleton is fabricated from polyurethane rubber and rigid 3D-printed parts to provide form-fitting properties while constraining tendon motion. Twisted string actuators and spring units provide active flexion and passive extension, respectively. The compact nature of the actuation unit allows for placement on the forearm, improving the portability of the system. The voice control system allows for easy user manipulation and accessibility and may improve rehabilitation efficiency. The performance of the tendon routing and thumb sleeve design were experimentally evaluated and voice control system was evaluated with various grasping tests.
A preliminary study on Norovirus variant for GII.4 in Guiyang regions

Objective To study the composition of variant and point mutations of Norovirus GⅡ.4 in Guiyang regions.Methods From June to November 2010,cases information and fecal specimens were collected from guard-hospitals in Guiyang regions,who had caught the acute-gastroenteritis.Noroviruses in specimens were detected by a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(real-time RT-PCR),and then partial genotyped norovirus-positive clinical samples (in random) were cloned and sequenced in VP1 gene code.Furthermore,the gene sequences were compared with the published variants at home and abroad of norovirus(GⅡ.4),including the phylogenetic analyses of genomes and variation of amino acids within individual sites.Results Those 267 specimens were GⅡ-norovirus-positive(62.68％) in 426 clinical samples.There were nine GⅡ.4-norovirus-positive VP1 gene-sequences available,and two subtype-norovirus variants (GⅡ.4 2008a and G Ⅱ.4 2008b variant) were epidemic in 2010,Guizhou province.The homology between and in subgroups were 95.90％-96.72％ and 99.45％-100％.Two amino acids within individual sites were apt to mutate.Conclusion Norovirus GⅡ genotype were predominant in summer and fall acute gastroenteritis in 2010 for Guiyang regions,and the variants were diversity. Key words: Norovirus(NoVs); GⅡ.4 genotype; VP1 gene; Variant
Skeletal tissue regulation by catalase overexpression in mitochondria

Accumulation of oxidative damage from excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) may contribute to skeletal aging and mediate adverse responses to physiological challenges. Wild-type (WT) mice and transg...
Incidence of Invasive Privet (Ligustrum spp.) on Swainson's Warbler Breeding Territories in the Gulf Coastal States

Limnothlypis swainsonii (Swainson's Warbler) readily colonizes novel habitat formations that meet basic requirements for understory stem density and visual screening. Little is known about the warbler's behavioral response to naturalized populations of introduced plants. I surveyed the incidence of introduced invasive Ligustrum spp. (privet) and native Arundinaria spp. (cane) on breeding territories (n = 590) of Swainson's Warbler in the southeastern United States. Privet occurred frequently on territories in Mississippi (65.0%), Alabama (55.7%), Louisiana (52.8%), and Texas (39.5%). Territories with privet (49.6% of total) were observed in 90 counties and parishes. The survey revealed numerous instances of warbler territories located in near-monocultures of Ligustrum sinense (Chinese Privet). Territories with cane (33.1% of total) were observed in 72 counties and parishes. In a broader context, the survey data suggest that Swainson's Warbler populations have rapidly adapted to invasive privets, which are physiognomically similar to several native thicket-forming shrubs.
Obesity and Social Marketing an AID Approach to Segmentation

This paper deals with the use of the accepted market segmentation technique of measuring life style in terms of activities, interests, and opinions in order to detect differences in the life styles of obese and non­obese subjects. These differences were found to exist and could be used to identify and isolate market segments for the effective development of social marketing programs concerned with treatment and/or prevention of obesity.
Summer, an Elegy

HIS NAME WAS SHELBY after the town where his mother was born, and he was eight years old and all that summer he had to wear a little black sling around the index finger of his right hand. He had to wear the sling because his great-granddaddy had been a famous portrait painter and had paintings hanging in the White House. Shelby was so high-strung his mother was certain he was destined to be an artist like his famous ancestor. So, when he broke his finger and it grew back crooked, of course they took him to a specialist. They weren't taking any chances on a deformity standing in his way. All summer long he was supposed to wear the sling to limber up the finger, and in the fall the doctor was going to operate and straighten it. While he waited for his operation Shelby was brought to Bear Garden Plantation to spend the summer with his grandmother and as soon as he got up every morning he rode over to Esperanza to look for Matille. He would come riding up in the yard and tie his saddle pony to the fence and start talking before he even got on the porch. He was a beauti ful boy, five months younger than Matille and a head shorter, and he was the biggest liar she had ever met in her life. Matille was a lonely little girl, the only child in a house full of widows. She was glad of this noisy companion fate had delivered to Issaquena County right in the middle of a World War. Shelby would wait for her while she ate breakfast, helping himself to pinch-cake, or toast, or cold cornbread, or muffins, walking around the kitchen touching everything and talking a mile a minute to anyone who would listen, talking and eating at the same time. "My daddy's a personal friend of General MacArthur's," he would be saying. "They were buddies at Auburn. General MacArthur wants him to come work in Washington but he can't go because what he does is too important." Shelby was standing in the pantry door making a pyramid out of the Campbell's Soup cans. "Every time my daddy talks about going to Washington my momma starts crying her head off and goes to bed with a backache." He topped off the pyramid with a can of tomato paste and returned to the present. "I don't know how anyone can sleep this late," he said. "I'm the first one up at Bear Garden every single morning."