cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flavin nucleotides and flavoproteins.

Der vorliegende Uberblick ist eine kurze Zusammenfassung der gegenwartigen Entwicklung auf dem Gebiete der Flavinnukleotide und der Flavoproteine.
Stratigraphic controls on pool formation in a domed bog inferred from ground penetrating radar (GPR)

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and terrain conductivity measurements reveal a close correlation between the location of water-filled pools and stratigraphic/lithologic features in Caribou Bog, a 2200-hectare peatland in central Maine. The geophysical profiles, supported by coring, define the general peatland stratigraphy as till underlain by glacio-marine sediment overlain by organic-rich lake sediment transitioning into terrestrial peat. GPR measurements show that open pools coincide with abrupt thinning of lake sediment and glaciomarine clay such that elevated mineral soil surfaces are in direct contact with the base of terrestrial peat. The width of these features, the GPR reflection patterns, the anomalously low terrain conductivity and the core samples obtained support the interpretation of these elevated mineral surfaces as the extension of buried eskers that outcrop on the periphery of Caribou bog. The geophysical results indicate that two parallel esker ridges are orientated N‐S and dip towards the south. We suggest that the distribution of open pools is related to the distribution of depressions and beads associated with a beaded esker deposit, the pools possibly being maintained by local groundwater flow cells associated with the esker. GPR and EM31 surveys across Sphagnum pools (defined here as Sphagnum filled wet depressions) suggest a continuous sequence of underlying lake sediment and glacio-marine deposits devoid of elevated mineral surfaces. We suggest that Sphagnum pools developed after peatland formation (secondary features) due to changes in water table, peat accumulation and/or climatic controls. q 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The Problem with Reid's Direct Realism

There is a problem about the compatibility of Reid's commitment to both a sign theory of sensations and also direct realism. I show that Reid is committed to three different senses of the claim that mind independent bodies and their qualities are among the immediate objects of perception, and I then argue that Reid's sign theory conflicts with one of these. I conclude by advocating one proposal for reconciling Reid's claims, deferring a thorough development and defence of the proposal to another paper.
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding and human lactation. In this Physician Focus, we describe the mission and activities of the Academy. We also highlight opportunities for physicians to participate.
P18: Rapid determination of THC and THC-COOH in Oral Fluid by using LC/MS/MS technique in a “dilute & shoot” approach

Introduction Oral fluid (OF) is a new biological matrix for clinical and forensic drug testing, offering easy and non-invasive sample collection mainly accomplished with commercial disposable devices. Due to a stronger correlation than urine with blood concentrations, screening based on OF is greatly gaining value in DUID (Driving under the influence of drugs) programs worldwide (Strano-Rossi et al ., 2012). Furthermore, cannabinoids are usually the most prevalent analytes in illicit drug testing and for this reason application of OF testing requires sufficient reliable data to support sensitive and specific cannabinoid detection for forensic purposes (Lee et al ., 2013). Cannabinoids analysis has been historically performed using GC-MS technology, either with single quadrupole or triple quadrupole systems. However, in the last decade the role of LC-MS/MS in modern forensic toxicology laboratories has gained more relevance because of less extensive sample preparation, reliable results and versatility. Methods The present work describes a simple fully validated method for the determination of THC and THC-COOH in oral fluid by using liquid chromatography coupled to triple quad mass detection (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Chromatographic separations were carried out with a ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 RRHT (2,1 mm x 100 mm x 1,8 μm) column in less than 8 minutes. Chromatography and mass spectrometric instrumental conditions were optimized in order to keep minimal sample preparation. Oral fluid samples were centrifuged and diluted prior to LC-MS analysis. Conclusions The lower limit of quantifications (LLOQ), defined as the lowest concentration with an intraday and inter-day accuracy RSD
The effect of triparanol on calcium and cholesterol levels in the blood sera of laying hens.

Abstract INTRODUCTION ACCORDING to Blohm et al. (1959), triparanol (l-(4(diethyl-amino-ethoxy) pheny)-l-(p-tolyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-ethanol, or MER-29) reduced the cholesterol levels in some of the tissues of the rat. In rats fed 25 mg./kg./day of triparanol for three months, cholesterol was reduced 62% in the plasma, 40% in the erythrocytes, 40 % in the liver, 27% in the skeletal muscle, 33% in the lung, and 21% in the aorta. Cholesterol levels of the brain and adipose tissue did not change. Further research by Blohm and MacKenzie (1959) employing acetate-1-C14 indicated that triparanol inhibited the formation of cholesterol between the “higher-counting companions” of cholesterol and cholesterol itself. Kayser (1960) confirmed these results with an investigation in which the cholesterol levels of rats fed triparanol dropped, while the amount of desmosterol (thought to be a precursor of cholesterol) increased. Moore (1948), Brandt et al. (1951), and Clegg et al. (1956) have noted that when a hen begins …
Vagus nerve stimulation in children with refractory epilepsy: unusual complications and relationship to sleep-disordered breathing

Background Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is approved for use in patients with refractory epilepsy over the age of 12 years. While this procedure is widely used, there is little data on adverse events in young children.
X-ray diffraction from small-angle twist boundaries

Abstract It is demonstrated for the first time that grain boundaries can be studied using X-ray diffraction techniques. Thin film gold bicrystal specimens containing small-angle twist boundaries were examined with Cu Kα radiation, and arrays of extra reflections in the vicinity of f.c.c. reflections were detected. The relative intensities of the extra reflections were in qualitative agreement with structure factor calculations. The advantage of X-ray diffraction over electron diffraction for the study of the structure of grain boundaries is discussed
Planar device isolation for InP based DHBTs

Device isolation of InP based HBTs in the mesa technology, is done by etching down to the substrate; this process suffers from lack of planarity and does not lend itself well to high levels of integration. We report on two techniques for planar isolation of InP based HBTs using selective implantation. The first method involves Fe implantation to isolate the InP collector-subcollector layers. In the second approach, we have utilized selective Si implantation in SI InP to form an isolated, N++ subcollector.
Lifelong Learning with Digital Compendia

The Digital Compendium is a new concept in education, and is described here for the science of photobiology, a Digital Photobiology Compendium (DPC). Medical school is the start of a lifelong learning endeavor. Increasingly computer- and web-based resources will facilitate this process. Yet there are currently few resources that span the range of knowledge from student through practicing professional. To this end we are developing a technologically advanced, scientifically up-to-date learning tool, with the initial effort in the field of photobiology. Photobiology is a young interdisciplinary field that is growing in importance because of its relevance to laser/ light therapies and the biological consequences of increased UV radiation due to ozone depletion. The DPC will be web-based, consisting of a matrix of more than 100 instructional modules in all subdisciplines of photobiology. The modules will be mutually compatible to allow the user (learner or instructor) to connect a set of modules in a user-defined Work. Standard Works will also be predefined. The matrix will include modules suitable for learners at various levels from advanced undergraduate through practicing professional. Key words - Internet, web-based, digital compendium, photobiology, CAI
A Multi‐Ionic Continuum‐Based Model for C3S Hydration

A computationally efficient strategy for modeling tricalcium silicate hydration based on through-solution-phase kinetics is demonstrated. This study extends a recently introduced advanced continuum-based single particle model by including rigorous multi-ionic transport, nonlinear reversible reaction kinetics and portlandite precipitation. Model parameters were either fixed based on known values, estimated using experimental measures or extracted by model fitting to benchmark experimental datasets. The model is now able to generate calorimetric hydration and evolution of pore solution chemistry responses that are in good agreement with available experimental results and predictions of other multiphysical modeling platforms. Once calibrated, the model was tested to see if it could predict the effect of water to cement ratio (w/c) and particle size on hydration outcomes. The findings support the need for a mechanism that limits the volume into which product can form.
Structural Domains Required for Caenorhabditis elegans G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 2 (GRK-2) Function in Vivo

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are key regulators of signal transduction that specifically phosphorylate activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to terminate signaling. Biochemical and crystallographic studies have provided great insight into mammalian GRK2/3 interactions and structure. However, despite extensive in vitro characterization, little is known about the in vivo contribution of these described GRK structural domains and interactions to proper GRK function in signal regulation. We took advantage of the disrupted chemosensory behavior characteristic of Caenorhabditis elegans grk-2 mutants to discern the interactions required for proper in vivo Ce-GRK-2 function. Informed by mammalian crystallographic and biochemical data, we introduced amino acid substitutions into the Ce-grk-2 coding sequence that are predicted to selectively disrupt GPCR phosphorylation, Gαq/11 binding, Gβγ binding, or phospholipid binding. Changing the most amino-terminal residues, which have been shown in mammalian systems to be required specifically for GPCR phosphorylation but not phosphorylation of alternative substrates or recruitment to activated GPCRs, eliminated the ability of Ce-GRK-2 to restore chemosensory signaling. Disrupting interaction between the predicted Ce-GRK-2 amino-terminal α-helix and kinase domain, posited to stabilize GRKs in their active ATP- and GPCR-bound conformation, also eliminated Ce-GRK-2 chemosensory function. Finally, although changing residues within the RH domain, predicted to disrupt interaction with Gαq/11, did not affect Ce-GRK-2 chemosensory function, disruption of the predicted PH domain-mediated interactions with Gβγ and phospholipids revealed that both contribute to Ce-GRK-2 function in vivo. Combined, we have demonstrated functional roles for broadly conserved GRK2/3 structural domains in the in vivo regulation of organismal behavior.
A Revision of the Stilipedidae (Amphipoda)

La famille des Stilipedidae (Amphipodes) est elargie afin d'y inclure les Astyridae et trois sous-familles sont definies: les Stilipedinae, les Alexandrellinae et les Astyrinae. Une revision a l'interieur des Alexandrellinae inclut la description de deux nouvelles especes, l'incorporation et la redefinition du genre Bathypanoploea, des Acanthonotozomatidae, et enfin la resurrection du genre Astyroides.
Fighting Spam on Social Web Sites: A Survey of Approaches and Future Challenges

In recent years, social Web sites have become important components of the Web. With their success, however, has come a growing influx of spam. If left unchecked, spam threatens to undermine resource sharing, interactivity, and openness. This article surveys three categories of potential countermeasures - those based on detection, demotion, and prevention. Although many of these countermeasures have been proposed before for email and Web spam, the authors find that their applicability to social Web sites differs.
Socioeconomic environment and race as predictors of mothers’ and daughters’ nutrition knowledge†

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between socio‐economic and ethnic characteristics and the level of nutrition knowledge of mothers and their preadolescent daughters. A second interest was the relationship between mothers’ nutrition knowledge and their daughters. One hundred and fifty‐one preadolescent girls and their mothers were interviewed in North Carolina for general family background characteristics and nutrition knowledge. Special sampling efforts were made to include significant numbers of black and low income families by over‐sampling in these categories. Standardized regressions and partial correlations were used to determine the relative degree to which family social, economic, and ethnic characteristics contribute to differences in nutrition knowledge test scores. Findings indicate that neither mother's higher education, age, employment, nor nutrition knowledge predict positively her daughter's nutrition knowledge. Family income, small size and father's education do...
Understanding the relationship between health care quality and the renal mass.

Quality is increasingly important to all stakeholders of the U.S. health care system. Endeavors to measure and improve quality have moved forward in cardiovascular disease [1], diabetes care [2], and surgical wound infections [3]. However, in urology, such efforts have lagged. As a specialty, we are now faced with pressures, exerted primarily by payors, to roll out performance measures, or quality indicators, in the absence of science to support them. In this review, we discuss the broad concepts of health care quality and describe their relationships with small renal tumors.
Adhesion and reliability of copper interconnects with Ta and TaN barrier layers

With the advent of copper metallization in interconnect structures, new barrier layers are required to prevent copper diffusion into adjacent dielectrics and the underlying silicon. The barrier must also provide adequate adhesion to both the dielectric and copper. While Ta and TaN barrier layers have been incorporated for these purposes in copper metallization schemes, little quantitative data exist on their adhesive properties. In this study, the critical interface fracture energy and the subcritical debonding behavior of ion-metal-plasma sputtered Ta and TaN barrier layers in Cu interconnect structures were investigated. Specifically, the effects of interfacial chemistry, Cu layer thickness, and oxide type were examined. Behavior is rationalized in terms of relevant reactions at the barrier/dielectric interface and plasticity in adjacent metal layers.
Weak Simulated Extratropical Responses to Complete Tropical Deforestation

The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory atmosphere–land model version 2 (AM2/LM2) coupled to a 50-m-thick slab ocean model has been used to investigate remote responses to tropical deforestation. Magnitudes and significance of differences between a control run and a deforested run are assessed through comparisons of 50-yr time series, accounting for autocorrelation and field significance. Complete conversion of the broadleaf evergreen forests of South America, central Africa, and the islands of Oceania to grasslands leads to highly significant local responses. In addition, a broad but mild warming is seen throughout the tropical troposphere (0.2°C between 700 and 150 mb), significant in northern spring and summer. However, the simulation results show very little statistically significant response beyond the Tropics. There are no significant differences in any hydroclimatic variables (e.g., precipitation, soil moisture, evaporation) in either the northern or the southern extratropics. Small but statistically significant local differences in some geopotential height and wind fields are present in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Use of the same statistical tests on two 50-yr segments of the control run show that the small but significant extratropical differences between the deforested run and the control run are similar in magnitude and area to the differences between nonoverlapping segments of the control run. These simulations suggest that extratropical responses to complete tropical deforestation are unlikely to be distinguishable from natural climate variability.
Neutron depth profiling technique for studying aging in Li-ion batteries

During operation of a Li-ion cell, lithium diffuses in and out of the solid phase anode and cathode. Measuring the lithium concentration within the electrodes of the cell over its operational life could provide key information for understanding the loss of active lithium and the associated aging mechanisms. Concentration profiles of lithium in a cell are difficult to measure with traditional spectroscopic techniques. Here, neutron depth profiling was used to measure lithium near-surface concentration profiles along the anode and cathode strips in off-the-shelf cylindrical Li-ion batteries as a function of the aging process. A buildup of the surface concentration of lithium was found in graphite anode as well as a general decrease in the intercalation efficiency in lithium iron phosphate cathode material with aging.
Conductive polymer bump interconnects

Conductive polymer bonded flip chip interconnect systems can provide an attractive alternative flip chip technology in terms of cost and manufacturability. This work examines the feasibility of application of such a technology. A mathematical model for stencil printing of conductive adhesive paste is developed to demonstrate some of the factors affecting the print quality. Designed experiments is used to optimize bump dimensional uniformity. The electrical performance of conductive polymer flip chip interconnects is evaluated through both GaAs and Si devices. The microwave insertion loss (S/sub 21/) of a coplanar waveguide test vehicle showed a loss rate of 0.031 dB/GHz for non-underfilled flip chip assembly and 0.065 dB/GHz for those with underfill encapsulation. These S/sub 21/ data are almost identical to a device with same test structure and a Au ball bumped flip chip assembly. Additional test using a CT-2 antenna switch GaAs device flip chip bonded on a FR4 board showed an identical performance (up to 2 GHz frequency) to the same assembly using Au-Sn eutectic bumps. Reliability of conductive polymer bumps was evaluated using Si die flip chip bonded on FR4 substrates. Results showed no failures on temperature cycle, humidity, vibration, and mechanical shock tests. There were 8.6% failures on HAST and 6% failures on thermal shock tests on test conditions stated in the text.
Electric signaling behavior and the mechanisms of electric organ discharge production in mormyrid fish.

Mormyrid fish communicate and navigate using electric organ discharges (EODs). The EOD is highly stereotyped and provides information on sender identity, including species, sex, reproductive condition, and possibly relative status and individual identity. By contrast, the sequence of pulse intervals (SPI)is variable and plays more of a role in signaling behavioral states. Various types of SPI displays may be produced, including tonic patterns such as ‘random’ and ‘regularized’, and phasic patterns such as ‘bursts’ and ‘cessations’. Certain displays have been linked to specific behaviors such as aggression, submission, courtship and active exploration. In addition, interacting pairs of fish may produce stereotyped displays involving the relative timing of their EODs. The EOD waveform is controlled by the morphological and physiological properties of cells in the electric organ termed electrocytes. Differences in the innervation, morphology, size and membrane characteristics of electrocytes have been directly linked to species and sex differences in the EOD. The generation of each EOD is initiated in the medullary command nucleus (CN), which thereby determines the timing of EOD output. CN does not have any properties of a pacemaker, but rather appears to integrate descending inputs that affect the probability of EOD production. The precommand nucleus (PCN)provides a major source of excitatory input to CN and is itself inhibited by corollary discharge feedback following the production of each EOD. Changes in the activity of PCN and its inhibitory feedback neurons modify EOD output, and therefore drive the generation of SPI patterns. Current studies are addressing the mechanisms underlying the generation of these patterns and preliminary results suggest that different types of signals may be controlled by distinct components of the electromotor system. This is similar to findings in other electrogenic teleosts, suggesting that it may be a general feature in the motor control of signaling behavior. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
How stiff and thin can an engineered extracellular matrix be? Modeling molecular forces at the cell-matrix interface

The function of tissue cells can be significantly modulated by changes in the local mechanical environment, including the stiffness of the substrata to which these cells adhere. To engineer surfaces that maintain or induce cell functions, it is important to understand the force, length, and timescales over which cell surface receptors probe the local mechanical environment. Here we show how simplified continuum and atomistic simulations of the nanoscale forces between cell surface receptors and extracellular matrix molecules help define the critical features of materials designed to recapitulate the cell's in vivo mechanical environment for tissue engineering applications.
CXC-chemokine regulation and neutrophil trafficking in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in P-selectin/ICAM-1 deficient mice

Neutrophil adhesion and migration are critical in hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R). P-selectin and the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 can mediate neutrophil-endothelial cell interactions, neutrophil migration, and the interactions of neutrophils with hepatocytes in the liver. Despite very strong preclinical data, recent clinical trials failed to show a protective effect of anti-adhesion therapy in reperfusion injury, indicating that the length of injury might be a critical factor in neutrophil infiltration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the role of P-selectin and ICAM-1 in neutrophil infiltration and liver injury during early and late phases of liver I/R. Adult male wild-type and P-selectin/ICAM-1-deficient (P/I null) mice underwent 90 minutes of partial liver ischemia followed by various periods of reperfusion (6, 15 h, and a survival study). Liver injury was assessed by plasma level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and histopathology. The plasma cytokines, TNF-α, IL-6, MIP-2 and KC, were measured by ELISA. Reperfusion caused significant hepatocellular injury in both wild-type and P/I null mice as was determined by plasma ALT levels and liver histopathology. The injury was associated with a marked neutrophil infiltration into the ischemic livers of both wild-type and P/I null mice. Although the levels of ALT and neutrophil infiltration were slightly lower in the P/I null mice compared with the wild-type mice the differences were not statistically significant. The plasma cytokine data of TNF-α and IL-6 followed a similar pattern to ALT data, and no significant difference was found between the wild-type and P/I null groups. In contrast, a significant difference in KC and MIP-2 chemokine levels was observed between the wild-type and P/I null mice. Additionally, the survival study showed a trend towards increased survival in the P/I null group. While ICAM-1 and P-selectin does not appear to be critical for neutrophil infiltration and I/R injury in the liver, they may regulate CXC-chemokine production. Blockage of these adhesion molecules may improve survival and remote organ injury that often accompanies liver I/R injury, through chemokine regulation.
Integration of triangular finite elements containing corrective rational functions

Rational corrective functions are often supplemented to complete polynomials in order to create conforming triangular finite elements for plate bending. Although such elements containing complete polynomials of degree 3 or 4 have long been known, conforming triangular elements for plate bending, which contain complete polynomials of arbitrary degree p ⩽ 5 and new corrective rational functions, have been given only recently. Integration of rational functions usually requires numerical quadrature. It is shown here that these new corrective rational functions fall into two classes. For those in one class, explicit closed form integration formulas are available. For those in the other class, integration can be performed very efficiently by summing series whose general term is O(kd) for large k, where d ⩽ 5. These formulas also apply to the older third and fourth order elements.
Structure and Reactivity of Lithium Diisopropylamide Solvated by Polyamines: Evidence of Monomer- and Dimer-Based Dehydrohalogenations

6Li and 15N NMR spectroscopic studies show that hexane solutions of LDA containing 1.0 equiv of PMDTA per lithium, monomer is the dominant species. Addition of PMDTA to LDA in toluene affords open dimer at low [PMDTA] and a mixture of LDA monomer and benzyllithium (resulting from toluene deprotonation) at high [PMDTA]. The results are compared and contrasted with previous investigations of LDA solvated by N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) and (±)-trans-N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylcyclohexanediamine (TMCDA). The reactivities of LDA solvated by TMEDA, TMCDA, and PMDTA were probed by investigating the dehydrohalogenation of (±)-2-exo-bromonorbornane. All three ligands afford qualitatively similar behavior: (1) a maximum reactivity at low ligand concentrations ascribed to monosolvated LDA dimers and (2) ligand-concentration-in...
TAG: a Tiny AGgregation service for Ad-Hoc sensor networks

We present the Tiny AGgregation (TAG) service for aggregation in low-power, distributed, wireless environments. TAG allows users to express simple, declarative queries and have them distributed and executed efficiently in networks of low-power, wireless sensors. We discuss various generic properties of aggregates, and show how those properties affect the performance of our in network approach. We include a performance study demonstrating the advantages of our approach over traditional centralized, out-of-network methods, and discuss a variety of optimizations for improving the performance and fault tolerance of the basic solution.
Optimum Spanloads Incorporating Wing Structural Weight

The classic minimum induced drag spanload is not necessarily the best choice for an aircraft. Here, a discrete vortex method which finds the minimum induced drag in the Trefftz plane has been used to calculate optimum spanloads for non-coplanar multisurface configurations. The method includes constraints for lift coefficient, pitching moment coefficient and wing root bending moment. The wing root bending moment constraint has been introduced so that by holding wing geometry fixed, changes in wing weight can be related to variations in spanload distributions. Changes in wing induced drag and weight were converted to aircraft total gross weight and fuel weight benefits, so that the spanloads that give maximum take-off gross weight reduction can be found. Results show that a reduction in root bending moment from a lift distribution that gives minimum induced drag leads to more triangular spanloads, where the loads are shifted towards the root, reducing wing weight and increasing induced drag. A slight reduction in root bending moment is always beneficial, since the initial increase in induced drag is very small compared to the decrease in wing weight. Total weight benefits were studied for a B-777 type configuration, obtaining take-off gross weight improvements of about 1% for maximum range missions. When performing reduced-range missions, improvements can almost double. A long range, more aerodynamically driven aircraft like the B-777 will experience lower benefits as a result of increasing drag. Short to medium range aircraft will profit the most from more triangular lift distributions.
Evolutionary optimization of user intent recognition for transfemoral amputees

Lower-limb prosthetic legs help amputees regain their walking ability. User intent recognition is utilized to infer human gait mode (fast walk, slow walk, etc.) so the controller can be adjusted depending on the detected gait mode. In this paper, mechanical sensor data is collected from an able-bodied subject and used for user intent recognition. Feature extraction, principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and K-nearest neighbor methods are used, modified, and optimized with an evolutionary algorithm for improved performance. The optimized system successfully classifies four different walking modes with an accuracy of 96%.
Evaluating Financial Support of Research Programs

This study concerns the estimation of discounted, probable cost savings of undeveloped harvesting machinery as a means of determining the maximum financial support warranted for a particular research program. Production and cost standards for future mechanization are synthesized from engineering data. The probability of developing such machinery is estimated through use of the Pascal distribution for a population where variables can take on one of two values: success (1) or failure (0). The particular problem involved is development of mechanical harvesting for olives.
Pharmacy-Initiated Transitions of Care Services: An Opportunity to Impact Patient Satisfaction.

Purpose: A transitions of care program at an academic teaching hospital was designed to reengineer the fragmented discharge process. The team included a pharmacy technician, called a transition specialist, who coordinated the medication needs of discharging patients. This study intends to assess the impact of the transitions of care program on patient satisfaction scores. Methods: Two datasets of Press Ganey and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers (HCAHPS) were analyzed. Patients eligible for inclusion were age 18 years or older and successfully discharged from the study facility. All participants received usual care by a servicebased pharmacist, medication counseling by a nurse prior to discharge, and other standard of care services by the inpatient medical team. The intervention group received the previously stated usual care plus services by the transitions of care program. Results: The results from HCAHPS scores proved inconclusive. The results from the Press Ganey dataset found that ...
Bounding US electricity demand in 2050

Abstract Limiting climate change requires a radical shift in energy supply and use. Because of time lags in capital investments, the political process, and the climate system, potential developments decades from now must be considered for energy policy decisions today. Traditionally, scenario analysis and forecasting are used to conceptualize the future; however, past energy demand forecasts have performed poorly displaying overconfidence, or a tendency to overly discount the tails of a distribution of possibilities under uncertainty. This study demonstrates a simple analytical approach to bound US electricity demand in 2050. Long-term electricity demand is parsed into two terms — an expected, or “business-as-usual,” term and a “new demand” term estimated explicitly to account for possible technological changes in response to climate change. Under a variety of aggressive adaptation and mitigation conditions, low or high growth in GDP, and modest or substantial improvements in energy intensity, US electricity demand could be as little as 3100 TWh or as much as 17,000 TWh in 2050. Electrification of the US transportation sector could introduce the largest share of new electricity demand. Projections for expected electricity demand are most sensitive to assumptions about the rate of reduction of US electricity intensity per unit GDP.
Innovative Scaffold Design for Soft Tissue-to-Bone Interface Tissue Engineering

Soft tissue-based ACL reconstruction grafts are limited by their inability to reestablish a functional interface with bone tissue[1–2]. The native ACL-bone interface consists of three regions: ligament, fibrocartilage, and bone[3–5]. Graft integration is a critical factor governing its clinical success, and the regeneration of an anatomic interface on synthetic or biological ACL grafts will improve clinical outcome. Our interface tissue engineering effort has focused on biomimetic scaffold design to recapitulate the inherent complexity of the ligament-to-bone interface and ultimately, to guide interface regeneration. To this end, we have designed a tri-phasic scaffold comprised of three distinct yet continuous phases, each designed for the formation of a specific tissue type found at the ACL-to-bone interface, as well as a bi-phasic collar to promote the formation of fibrocartilage on ACL reconstruction grafts and also enhance osteointegration.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Weights and Efficiencies of Electric Components of a Turboelectric Aircraft Propulsion System

The benefits that turboelectric propulsion may offer transport aircraft due to the flexibility of electrical distribution of power have been discussed by various authors and are briefly summarized. Estimates of the weights and efficiencies of the electric components, based on approximate sizing models for fully superconducting motors and generators and on aggressive estimates for cryocoolers and inverters, were presented at ASM2009 in a baseline turboelectric system study. An SBIR study has since predicted that the apparently aggressive cryocooler weight and performance estimates (5 lb/input-hp at 30% of Carnot efficiency) can be met. Another SBIR study has predicted that a cryogenically cooled inverter can exceed the 10 hp/lb specific power (including cooler) and the 98.8% efficiency (including cooler) that were assumed in the baseline study. The inverter with its cooler constituted half of the baseline electrical system weight. On the other hand, new estimates for the superconducting motors and generators, based upon inclusion of additional components in the sizing models and more complete ac loss models, predict somewhat heavier and slightly less efficient motors and generators. The lighter, more efficient inverter roughly offsets the adverse motor and generator changes for machines wound with a hypothetical future high temperature superconductor with low ac losses. For such a material, the weight of the entire electric system changes very little, and the already high efficiency improves slightly, from the ASM2009 estimates. For machines wound with the intermediate temperature superconductor MgB2, the system weight increases about 25%, because MgB2 must operate much colder. The modeling and performance estimates of each component are discussed and compared to the baseline estimates and to the current state-ofthe-art. The dependence of motor and generator weights and efficiencies upon some important design parameters are presented in an appendix. These results quantify the benefits of technology development of lighter cryocoolers and of superconductors with lower ac loss. A zero-th order estimate of the benefits of lower fan pressure ratio and of boundary layer ingestion, offset by the electric system weight and inefficiency penalties from the added components, gives a net fuel burn reduction of about 9%, before iterating and resizing.
Cyclic adenylate and hypothalamic regulatory functions.

SummaryN6, O2–dibutyryl adenosine 3′,-5′-monophosphate implanted into various hypothalamic sites in immature rats results in hyperthermia, hyperphagia, and increased locomotor activity. Prolongation of the estrous cycle occurs in adult female rats. The cyclic nucleotide does not substitute for estradiol in inducing sexual receptivity.
Modeled Near-Field Environment Porosity Modification due to Coupled Thermohydrologic and Geochemical Processes

Heat deposited by waste packages in nuclear waste repositories can modify rock properties by instigating mineral dissolution and precipitation along hydrothermal flow pathways. Modeling this reactive transport requires coupling fluid flow to permeability changes resulting from dissolution and precipitation. Modification of the NUFT thermohydrologic (TH) code package to account for this coupling in a simplified geochemical system has been used to model the time- dependent change in porosity, permeability, matrix and fracture saturation, and temperature in the vicinity of waste-emplacement drifts, using conditions anticipated for the potential Yucca Mountain repository. The results show, within a few hundred years, dramatic porosity reduction approximately 10 m above emplacement drifts. Most of this reduction is attributed to deposition of solute load at the boiling front, although some of it also results from decreasing temperature along the flow path. The actual distribution of the nearly sealed region is sensitive to the time- dependent characteristics of the thermal load imposed on the environment and suggests that the geometry of the sealed region can be engineered by managing the waste-emplacement strategy.
Boll Weevils: Field Populations Controlled by Sterilizing Emerging Overwintered Females with a TH-6040 Sprayable Bait

A spray able invert sugar bait containing Thompson-Hayward TH-6040 ( N- (4-chlorophenyl)-N′-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea) was applied in the field (as a coarse spray with maximum droplet size in the 3- to 4-mm-diam range) to sterilize female Anthonomus grandis Boheman. Weevil infestations were determined 3 times weekly from June 14 to July 10. Adult emergence from all infested squares was reduced 98%. This experiment demonstrated that the field population of boll weevils was drastically suppressed by sterilizing the females so as to prevent the development of the F1 generation.
MANAGEMENT OF POST-MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT

Patients with an acute myocardial infarction (MI) can have mechanical complications such as a ventricular septal defect (VSD). It can lead to angina, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, and death. Management involves percutaneous or surgical repair but the method and timing of repair is
Mechanisms of human vertical visual-vestibular interaction.

1. The purpose of this study was to infer the properties of the mechanisms contributing to visual-vestibular interaction (VVI) of human beings during vertical motion. Predictable trains of single-f...
Improved Method of Detecting Harmonic Currents Based on Instantaneous Reactive Power Theory

Harmonic and reactive currents' highly precise and real-time detecting make important influence on active power filter's performance.An improved ip,iq method is presented on harmonic and reactived currents detection,using LMS adaptive filter as a low-pass filter in detection system,make the detection system obtain better precise and higher response speed,then get a better effect on the compensations of harmonic current.Computer simulation based on MATLAB results confirms the validity of the proposed harmonic detecting method.
Hygiene Survey on Catering Industry and Tableware in Jinnan District of Tianjin City

[Objective]To understand the hygiene status of tableware in catering industry in Jinnan District of Tianjin City,and provide evidence for further developing effective management measures.[Methods]Tableware of 734 restaurants were detected in Jinnan District in 2008.Rapid coli form testing was adopted according to "Tableware Disinfection Hygiene Standards" issued by Ministry of Health.[Results] Of the 734 test reports,68 restaurants' tableware were unqualified,accounting for 9.26%;among which 15 were collective canteens in school and kindergarten,accounting for 2.04%.[Conclusion]The hygiene status of catering tableware was not optimist.It is necessary to strengthen supervision and monitoring on tableware disinfection in catering units.
Thrombocytopoietic response to immunothrombocytopenia in nude mice.

Thrombocytopoiesis was evaluated in T cell-deficient nu/nu mice and in T cell-replete nu/+ controls to determine if abnormalities would be associated with the deficiency of T cells. Mice were studied in the unperturbed steady state and after acute immunothrombocytopenia was induced by an injection of guinea pig antimouse platelet serum (APS). The state of thrombocytopoiesis was determined from platelet counts, megakaryocyte size, megakaryocyte number, and numbers of Meg-CFC. Splenic lymphocytes were evaluated by response to the mitogens bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and concanavalin A (Con A). Hematocrits, reticulocyte counts, leukocyte counts, marrow cellularity, GM-CFC, and BFU-E also were measured. Steady state thrombocytopoiesis was identical in nu/nu and nu/+ mice. In response to an injection of APS, acute thrombocytopenia was followed by macromegakaryocytosis and rebound thrombocytosis in mice of both genotypes. Splenic Meg-CFC increased in nude mice after APS or an injection of normal guinea pig serum (NGpS), and splenic GM-CFC increased after APS. Neither Meg-CFC nor GM-CFC increased in the spleens of nu/+ mice, but they showed early transient increases in bone marrow that did not occur in nu/nu mice. Sporadic, but weak, mitogenic responses to PHA or Con A were occasionally observed with nu/nu spleen cells, but these did not correlate with the state of thrombocytopoiesis. The results demonstrated that platelet production was normal in nu/nu mice and that megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production responded to the stimulus imposed by acute immunothrombocytopenia. Increases in megakaryocyte size and platelet production occurred independently of changes in numbers of Meg-CFC, GM- CFC, or BFU-E. A normal complement of T cells appears to be unnecessary for normal platelet production and its augmentation in response to the stimulus of acute immunothrombocytopenia in vivo.
Predictors of severe long-term toxicity after re-irradiation for head and neck cancer

Abstract Objective To identify predictive factors of severe long-term toxicity after re-irradiation of recurrent/persistent or second-primary head and neck cancer. Methods Outcomes and treatment plans of patients who underwent modern IMRT based re-irradiation to the head and neck from 2008–2015 were reviewed. Co-variables including demographic, clinical and oncologic factors, as well as interval to re-irradiation and re-irradiated planning tumor volume (PTV) were analyzed as predictors of developing severe (CTCAE grade ⩾ 3) long-term toxicity with death as a competing risk. Results A total of 66 patients who met inclusion criteria were eligible for analysis. A median re-irradiation dose of 70 Gy was delivered at a median of 37.5 months after initial radiotherapy. Re-irradiation followed surgical resection in 25 (38%) patients, and concurrent chemotherapy was delivered to 41 (62%) patients. Median follow-up after re-irradiation was 23 months and median overall survival was 22 months (predicted 2 year overall survival 49%). Of the 60 patients who survived longer than 3 months after re-irradiation, 16 (25%) patients experienced severe long-term toxicity, with the majority (12 of 16) being feeding tube -dependent dysphagia. In multivariable analysis, shorter intervals to re-irradiation ( 100 cm 3 ) were independent predictors of developing severe long-term toxicity. Patients with longer disease-free intervals and smaller PTVs had a 94% probability of being free of severe toxicity at two years. Conclusion Selection of patients with longer re-irradiation intervals and requiring smaller re-irradiated PTVs can independently predict avoidance of severe long-term toxicity.
Brain MRI and motor function in leukodystrophies

There is a need to develop clinical outcome measures for future treatment trials, particularly for pediatric studies and for studies of rare disorders for which such outcome metrics are neither currently well-defined nor validated.1 Patient-reported outcome measures should reflect outcomes that are meaningful to patient-perceived quality of life and sensitive to patient-identified change over time. Physician-reported outcome measures are typically quantifiable and consistently applied across multiple study sites by different investigators, which requires that the metrics be well-defined and that investigator training be rigorous. While clinically relevant outcomes are considered the “gold standard,” and are often the mandated primary outcome of federally funded research, many slowly progressive disorders do not demonstrate clinically apparent change over the time course of a clinical trial. Thus, there is a need for biomarkers, such as neuroimaging measures, that may be more sensitive to change over the typical 2- to 5-year period of a trial. Key to the applicability of such surrogate measures, however, is that they ultimately correlate with changes in neurologic function.
Obesity as a Public Health Issue and the Effects of Amino Acid Supplementation as a Prevention Mechanism

This manuscript serves to examine the increasing obesity trend and the harmful medical conditions such as the chronic diseases that can develop as a result of obesity. Probable causes of obesity are discussed, along with suggestions of how to combat the epidemic. Past and present attempts to resolve the issue are compared with further suggestions that could potentially be effective in the future. This manuscript will review several treatment recommendations including the use of amino acid therapy, along with decreased daily caloric intake and increased daily activity. Additionally, there is an emphasis to take preventative measures while simultaneously helping already obese individuals. By implementing new strategies, the increasing obesity trends may be slowed and eventually reversed. If the number of obese individuals decreases, the chronic diseases associated with them will likely decline as well.
Estimating the Effect of Casino Loyalty Program Offers on Slot Machine Play

Annual investment in casino free-play campaigns is usually great, yet little is known about its ability to generate increased gaming expenditures/behavioral loyalty. A method and model are advanced...
Comment on “Single-inclusive jet production in electron–nucleon collisions through next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD” [Phys. Lett. B 763 (2016) 52–59]

Abstract In the cross section for single-inclusive jet production in electron–nucleon collisions, the distribution of a quark in an electron appears at next-to-next-to-leading order. The numerical calculations in Ref. [1] were carried out using a perturbative approximation for the distribution of a quark in an electron. We point out that that distribution receives nonperturbative QCD contributions that invalidate the perturbative approximation. Those nonperturbative effects enter into cross sections for hard-scattering processes through resolved-electron contributions and can be taken into account by determining the distribution of a quark in an electron phenomenologically.