cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brucella species survey in polar bears (ursus maritimus) of northern Alaska.

We report on the presence of specific antibodies to Brucella spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from northern Alaska (southern Beaufort Sea) during 2003–2006. Based on numerous known stressors (e.g., climate change and loss of sea ice habitat, contaminants), there is increased concern regarding the status of polar bears. Considering these changes, it is important to assess exposure to potentially pathogenic organisms and to improve understanding of transmission pathways. Brucella or specific antibodies to Brucella spp. has been reported in marine mammals. Various assays were used to elucidate the pathway or source of exposure (e.g., “marine” vs. “terrestrial” Brucella spp.) of northern Alaska polar bears to Brucella spp. The standard plate test (SPT) and the buffered Brucella antigen card test (BBA) were used for initial screening for antibodies specific to Brucella. We then evaluated positive reactors (presence of serum antibody specific for Brucella spp.) using immunoblots...
Determining Minimum Printed Circuit Board Trace Dimensions for Transient Suppression Circuits

When designing transient suppression circuits housed on interface assemblies to protect internal circuits from power surges, there exists a need to accurately determine the minimum printed circuit board (PCB) trace width required to tolerate given transients without fusing due to overheating. This paper presents four different PCB trace models that may be used for this purpose. The predicted trace widths are compared with each other for validation by comparison. In addition, selected results are tested to further validate the accuracy of the models.
RECOGNITION OF BLADDER INSTABILITY ON VOIDING CYSTOURETHROGRAPHY IN INFANTS WITH URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Purpose: We evaluate voiding cystourethrography as a method for identifying bladder instability in infants.Materials and Methods: Cystometry was combined with voiding cystourethrography in 79 male and 64 female infants with first time urinary tract infection. Bladder wall irregularity, elongation of bladder shape, and filling of the posterior urethra were transient radiological signs occurring during bladder filling and were considered to reflect bladder instability. A pediatric radiologist looked for these signs on all 480 films exposed during bladder filling. The results were correlated to simultaneous detrusor pressure recordings. The analysis was repeated independently by a urologist to evaluate the reliability of the radiological signs used.Results: The sensitivity and specificity were both 90% in the evaluation of radiological signs of bladder instability. Filling of the posterior urethra was the least frequently reported radiological sign, which was seen at 53% of unstable contractions. However, wh...
An unusual macrourid larva (Gadiformes) from San Juan Island, Washington, USA

An unusual macrourid larva was collected in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, USA. This specimen is remarkable in appearance having very long anterior dorsal- and pelvic-fin rays, with flattened distal ends free of the fin membrane, and a long, whiplike, heavily pigmented caudal filament. It is similar to smaller Coryphaenoides pectoralis larvae reported from the California Current region, and different from larger specimens of C. pectoralis from the northern North Pacific. Counts and other morphological similarities suggest that this larva should be tentatively assigned to genus Coryphaenoides.
High-spin states in the direct 12, 13C(α, p)15, 16N reactions

Abstract The 12, 13 C(α, p) reactions at E α = 35 MeV are used to study high-spin states in 15 N and 16 N. Theoretical prescriptions are given for normalizing DWBA predictions in a semi-microscopic model and for comparing differential cross sections in the two reactions. Angular distributions are presented for many states, with DWBA analyses for those of high spin, from 10.7 to 15.4 MeV in 15 N and from 0 to 11.8 MeV in 16 N. The observed magnitudes are larger than predicted. In 16 N, a 4 − state is observed at 6.17 MeV, and theoretical comparisons indicate that a member of the strong triplet of states at 7.6 MeV, resolved in this study, has also a 4 − spin. Strong peaks are observed at 15.42 MeV in 15 N and at 11.75 MeV in 16 N, but neither peak can be explained by our theoretical analysis. The DWBA angular distributions depend sensitively on the choice of the α-particle optical potential.
Exclusion of a p53 germline mutation in a classic Li-Fraumeni syndrome family

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is characterized by a high risk of sarcomas, early onset of breast cancer, and a diversity of other cancers occurring as multiple primary tumors in multiple family members. In many families with LFS, germline mutations within the tumor-suppressor gene p53 have been identified. However, mutations in p53 have not been detected in approximately 30% of LFS families. To address the possibility either that p53 mutations were being missed or that another predisposing gene is altered in LFS, we used a variety of methods to accurately determine the p53 status in a large LFS kindred. A transcriptional activation assay on exons 4–10 of p53 excluded a mutation within the DNA-binding domain of p53. Single-stranded conformational-polymorphism analysis, using intronic primers and sequencing of all the coding exons and intron/exon junctions, also yielded no mutations. Finally, linkage analysis excluded potential mutations in the noncoding regions of p53. Our findings exclude the presence of a p53 germline mutation in a classic LFS family.
Magnetism of Extended Arrays in Inorganic Solids

The dominant magnetic interaction in insulators is magnetic exchange. This quantum mechanical effect arises from the overlap of wavefunctions of two different paramagnetic centers, either directly (direct exchange) or through an intervening ligand (superexchange). The associated exchange energy is electrostatic in origin but formally equivalent to the difference between the single and triplet states for the two interacting electrons. Magnetic exchange, plus other effects arising from the orientation of an electronic moment to the lattice through spin-orbit coupling, leads to a wide variety of magnetic behavior, as illustrated with examples of magnetically one-dimensional lattices. Keywords: magnetic exchange; Heisenberg-; Ising- and XY-systems; antiferromagnetism; ferromagnetism; ferrimagnetism
Bilateral infraorbital nerve blocks decrease postoperative pain but do not reduce time to discharge following outpatient nasal surgery

Purpose While infraorbital nerve blocks have demonstrated analgesic benefits for pediatric nasal and facial plastic surgery, no studies to date have explored the effect of this regional anesthetic technique on adult postoperative recovery. We designed this study to test the hypothesis that infraorbital nerve blocks combined with a standardized general anesthetic decrease the duration of recovery following outpatient nasal surgery.
Reticular telangiectatic erythema: case report and literature review.

Background Reticular telangiectatic erythema is a benign cutaneous reaction that may occur in patients who have received a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Reticular telangiectatic erythema is characterized by asymptomatic telangiectasias, blanchable erythematous patches, or both overlying and/or adjacent to the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Purpose We describe a man who developed reticular telangiectatic erythema after receiving a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and review the salient features of this condition. We also summarize the conditions that can mimic reticular telangiectatic erythema. Materials and methods The features of a man with reticular telangiectatic erythema are presented and the literature on reticular telangiectatic erythema is reviewed. Results Our patient developed reticular telangiectatic erythema within one month of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertion. The subcutaneous manifestations were asymptomatic. The patient concurred to have periodic clinical follow up and his condition will be monitored for any changes. Conclusion Reticular telangiectatic erythema is a benign condition characterized by the development of erythema, telangiectasia, or both following insertion of a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Other subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-related side effects, such as pressure dermatitis and contact dermatitis, can mimic the condition. Reticular telangiectatic erythema can also be observed following insertion of other devices or, rarely, in the absence of inserted devices. Local microcirculatory changes and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-related obstruction of blood flow have been suggested as possible mechanisms of pathogenesis. The diagnosis can usually be established by clinical presentation. Therefore, patch testing can usually be omitted. Reticular telangiectatic erythema is typically asymptomatic and thus removal of the device is not required.
A Power-Efficient Scheme for Securing Multicast in Hierarchical Sensor Networks

Hierarchical architectures are more and more widely adopted for organizing wireless sensor networks. In such architectures, middle-tier nodes take important roles, and pre- venting a malicious node from impersonating a middle-tier node and injecting falsified messages becomes critical. In this paper, we propose an energy efficient, distributed scheme to secure the multicast messages from the middle-tier nodes. Our scheme does not require a priori knowledge about the hierarchical relation between middle-tier nodes and lowest-tier nodes, and is adaptive to changes of this relation. Extensive simulations are conducted to evaluate our scheme, and the results show that the scheme is energy efficient.
A spectral magnitude analysis theorem and applications

Spectral magnitude analysis can be performed with identical results by computing the short-time Fourier transform magnitude ( mod STFT mod ) of a real signal, or by analyzing the signal with a filter/detector (F/D) bank. In the latter approach, analysis is performed by a bank of bandpass filters, each of which is followed by a detector consisting of a square law device. The equivalence between mod STFT mod and F/D bank analysis is extended to complex signals. New applications such as complex signal reconstruction from spectral magnitude and pulse-Doppler radar signal processors are discussed. A new equivalence between wavelet analysis and the generalized STFT is presented, and it is shown that speech spectrograms are not equivalent to the mod STFT mod . >
Pathogenesis of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale in egg-laying hens with coexisting infectious bronchitis virus and Escherichia coli infections

SUMMARY Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is recognized as an important respiratory pathogen in turkeys and chickens. The severity of the disease is worsened when birds have coexisting infections with other respiratory pathogens. The objectives of this study were to investigate the pathogenesis of ORT infection with exposure to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Escherichia coli, or both in laying chickens. A total of 160 eight-week-old specific pathogen-free White Leghorn chickens were exposed experimentally to 1 of 7 treatments: ORT alone; E. coli alone; IBV alone; ORT + E. coli; ORT + IBV; IBV + E. coli; or ORT + IBV + E. coli. The clinical signs and pathological changes were evaluated in birds from all groups. Birds exposed to ORT or E. coli alone did not show any overt clinical signs. Birds exposed to IBV, ORT + IBV, IBV + E. coli, and ORT + IBV + E. coli exhibited clinical signs that varied from depression and nasal discharge to mortality. The ORT + IBV + E. coli-infected birds exhibited gross lesions, which included hemorrhagic tracheitis, fibrinous pneumonia, airsacculitis, pericarditis, and peritonitis. Histopathological studies of this group revealed distinct pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated the presence of ORT antigens in the tracheas and lungs of the ORT + IBV + E. coli-infected birds. Mortality after ORT infection was noticed only in the ORT + IBV + E. coli group. We conclude that IBV and E. coli infections exacerbate ORT pathogenesis in adult laying hens. We also conclude that ORT persists in tissues such as the infraorbital sinuses for longer periods without causing significant respiratory disease by itself. This presence of ORT may predispose birds to the development of peritonitis and death with subsequent IBV and E. coli coinfections.
Josephson Junctions as Heterodyne Detectors

Heterodyne detection with a point-contact Josephson junction has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The measured performance of the device at 36 GHz is in good agreement with the theory. By operating vanadium point contacts at 1.4 K, we have achieved a single-sideband (SSB) mixer noise temperature of 54K with a conversion gain of 1.35 and a signal bandwidth on the order of 1 GHz. From our results we can extrapolate a potentially impressive performance for these devices at submillimeter wavelengths.
Uncertainty analysis on simple mass balance model to calculate critical loads for soil acidity.

Simple mass balance equations (SMBE) of critical acid loads (CAL) in forest soil were developed to assess potential risks of air pollutants to ecosystems. However, to apply SMBE reliably at large scales, SMBE must be tested for adequacy and uncertainty. Our goal was to provide a detailed analysis of uncertainty in SMBE so that sound strategies for scaling up CAL estimates to the national scale could be developed. Specifically, we wanted to quantify CAL uncertainty under natural variability in 17 model parameters, and determine their relative contributions in predicting CAL. Results indicated that uncertainty in CAL came primarily from components of base cation weathering (BCw; 49%) and acid neutralizing capacity (46%), whereas the most critical parameters were BCw base rate (62%), soil depth (20%), and soil temperature (11%). Thus, improvements in estimates of these factors are crucial to reducing uncertainty and successfully scaling up SMBE for national assessments of CAL. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis serum antibody levels and orodigestive cancer mortality

Periodontitis, the progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth and the major cause of tooth loss in adults, is due to oral microorganisms, including Porphyromonas gingivalis. Periodontitis is associated with a local overly aggressive immune response and a spectrum of systemic effects, but the role of this condition in orodigestive cancers is unclear. We prospectively examined clinically ascertained periodontitis (N = 12,605) and serum IgG immune response to P.gingivalis (N = 7852) in relation to orodigestive cancer mortality among men and women in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. A detailed oral health exam was conducted from 1988 to 1994 in survey Phases I and II, whereas serum IgG for P.gingivalis was measured from 1991 to 1994 in Phase II only. One hundred and five orodigestive cancer deaths were ascertained through 31 December 2006. Periodontitis (moderate or severe) was associated with increased orodigestive cancer mortality [relative risks (RR) = 2.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17-4.45]; mortality risks also increased with increasing severity of periodontal disease (P trend = 0.01). Periodontitis-associated mortality was in excess for colorectal (RR = 3.58; 95% CI = 1.15-11.16) and possibly for pancreatic cancer (RR = 4.56; 95% CI = 0.93-22.29). Greater serum P.gingivalis IgG tended to be associated overall with increased orodigestive cancer mortality (P trend = 0.06); P.gingivalis-associated excess orodigestive mortality was also found for healthy subjects not exhibiting overt periodontal disease (RR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.23-4.14). Orodigestive cancer mortality is related to periodontitis and to the periodontal pathogen, P.gingivalis, independent of periodontal disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a biomarker for microbe-associated risk of death due to orodigestive cancer.
Recurrence of autoimmune hepatitis in children after liver transplantation

Background:Liver transplantation is recognized as the appropriate treatment for end-stage liver disease due to chronic active autoimmune hepatitis. While it was initially thought that the disease did not recur after transplant, it is now generally accepted that adult patients may develop recurrent d
Metaphor - A Key to Extensible Semantic Analysis

Interpreting metaphors is an integral and inescapable process in human understanding of natural language. This paper discusses a method of analyzing metaphors based on the existence of a small number of generalized metaphor mappings. Each generalized metaphor contains a recognition network, a basic mapping, additional transfer mappings, and an implicit intention component. It is argued that the method reduces metaphor interpretation from a reconstruction to a recognition task. Implications towards automating certain aspects of language learning are also discussed.
Herpes Zoster Related Glaucoma

Varicella-zoster virus causes two distinct syndromes. Primary infection presents as varicella (or chickenpox), a contagious and usually benign childhood illness that occurs in epidemics among susceptible children. The reactivation of the virus, usually associated with decline in cell-mediated immunity, occurs as herpes zoster (HZ) (shingles). Varicella is spread through droplet infection with an initial viremia, and subsequent viral spread to the skin and the eye. It is easily disseminated to susceptible individuals. Ninety-five percent of the population has serological evidence of prior VZV infection with or without symptomatic varicella. The incidence of varicella has diminished 70% after implementation of the varicella vaccine in 1995.
Contamination, acquisition, and transmission of pathogens: implications for research and practice of infection control.

t Lo une 1 In this issue of the journal, Snyder et al.1 report on the measured incidence of and the risk factors associated with contamination of protective gloves and gowns during healthcare worker (HCW) encounters with intensive care unit (ICU) patients colonized or infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The investigators detected either MRSA or VRE on gloves or gowns of HCWs in 24 (17.5%) of 137 encounters and, in regression analyses, identified specific ICU encounters associated with a high risk of glove and/or gown contamination.1 This study fills a key gap in the evidence for the risks of transmission of drug-resistant pathogens. Evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcareassociated infections recommend hand hygiene, combined with protective glove and gown use, by HCWs during encounters with patients colonized or infected with drugresistant organisms.2,3 Modification of such recommendations permits institutions to adopt tailored, specific policies and practices based on estimates of risks, benefits, and resources. Until now, a key gap in the evidence for the benefits of protective glove and gown use has been the paucity of data that would facilitate a detailed understanding of how these protective barriers avert the transmission of drugresistant organisms. Several noteworthy findings by Snyder et al.1 contribute evidence for the generation and testing of hypotheses that will continue to refine our understanding of contamination, acquisition, and transmission of drugresistant organisms in ICU and non-ICU healthcare settings. First of all, hand hygiene practices remain intuitively straightforward, broadly endorsed, and yet behaviorally complex.4 With task in hand, Snyder et al.1 initially identified and excluded 2.1% of potential HCW participants (3 of 141) because they had either MRSA or VRE hand contamination prior to donning gloves and gowns. This low, yet detectable, point prevalence of MRSA or VRE hand colonization among HCWs
Occlusion of a clival dural arteriovenous fistula using a novel approach through the foramen ovale

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are abnormal connections between arteries and veins that are classified by location, morphology or direction of venous drainage. Treatment of DAVFs is undertaken in patients with severe symptoms or those with retrograde cortical venous drainage and/or venous ectasia. Much is written regarding the treatment of DAVFs involving the transverse sigmoid sinuses, cavernous sinus and tentorium, but little is written concerning the treatment of clival DAVFs. We demonstrate a novel transforaminal percutaneous approach through the foramen ovale as a viable method to occlude a clival vein. Specialised software was used to create a safe trajectory to the DAVF via the foramen ovale. The patient then underwent successful occlusion of the clival DAVF, thus further increasing the neurointerventionalist9s armamentarium when attempting to treat difficult to reach clival DAVFs.
The future of wireless telecommunications: Spectrum as a critical resource☆

Abstract The area of opportunity in telecommunications has been shifting for the past decade from wireline to wireless systems. To accommodate this outpouring of technical and market creativity, wireless systems need access to the electromagnetic spectrum. Unfortunately, the US (and the world) is stuck in a system of allocating this spectrum by government bureaucracy. There are several competing views of how we may free up spectrum by moving away from this “command and control” system: a property rights regime and a commons regime. In this paper, I review the promise of wireless and compare the proposed alternative regimes.
Parasitization Site on the Host of the Parasitoid Wasp Spalangia endius (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Spalangia endius Walker, a parasitoid wasp, parasitizes both young and old Musca domestica L. pupae, but parasitization site differed with host age. With young hosts, a mother's first drill attempt was about equally likely to be on either half of the host; and host half did not affect the number of drill attempts, the proportion of those attempts that were successful, or the duration of the first successfully completed drill. In contrast, with old hosts, mothers tended to attempt drilling sooner and more often on the posterior versus anterior half of hosts; and a greater proportion of drills were successful on the posterior half. Offspring head width did not differ significantly between offspring oviposited on the posterior versus anterior half of hosts, regardless of host age. Once adult, most offspring chewed out through the anterior half of the host, regardless of host age.
Recommendations for Producing a High Quality Meta-analysis

This chapter provides a set of recommendations based on prior chapters in the book for improving the quality of meta-analyses.
Developmental Stages and Spiritual Coping Responses among Economically Impoverished Women Living with HIV Disease

Identifies environmental markers, situational appraisals, perceived ability to mediate situations and outcomes, primary coping strategies, and purposes served by religion and spirituality in 10 HIV-positive women recruited from a regional health care clinic. Findings indicated that the women experienced a disintegration of family during their early developmental years, yielding feelings of hopelessness and isolation; that their sexual development was marked by rape and incest, and their early adulthood was characterized by failed relationships, pregnancies, drugs, and alcohol. Reports that the women's religious influences were predominantly maternal and provided a model for intercessory prayer. Notes that prior to their diagnosis of HIV, participants described their coping as escapist, while after diagnosis they believed there was a divine intercession renewing their spiritual growth and connectedness with others. Reports that the women's personal spirituality was greatly influenced by prayer, television ...
Unstable multipulsing can be invisible to some ultrashort pulse measurement techniques

Multiple pulsing is a feature of most mode-locked ultrafast laser systems at very high pump powers, and slight variations in the pump power around certain regimes can cause sinusoidally-varying or even chaotic separations among pulses. The impact of this type of unstable multipulsing on modern pulse measurement methods has not been studied. We have performed calculations and simulations and find that allowing only the relative phase of a satellite pulse to vary causes the satellite to wash out of the SPIDER measurement completely. Although techniques like FROG and autocorrelation cannot accurately determine the precise properties of satellite pulses, they do succeed in seeing them. © (2016) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Probing the safety of central venous catheters.

How are devices regulated? Since 1976, the Food and Drug Administration has been charged with ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) evaluates and approves all new medical devices, including diagnostic, laboratory, and radiological equipment. In addition to approving new devices, CDRH is responsible for postmarketing surveillance to identify serious incidents and act on recur-
MeV Ion Implantation in Electronic Materials

Using MeV ions for the modification of electronic materials offers a number of advantages: minimizing surface damage; implantation into completed devices – for example, through contacts or photoresist layers; producing controlled radiation damage for flux pinning where the ions pass completely through the sample and thus do not modify its chemical nature; and enhancing the electronic excitation of the target material versus collisional damage, as in adhesion enhancement processes. In all cases, however, one requires a detailed understanding of the new damage mechanisms that occur and how they can be modified in a controlled way by annealing. In this report I shall present examples from a number of our experiments: resistivity and index of refraction modification in semiconductors; adhesion enhancement; mixing of multilayer structures; and modification of the electronic properties of insulators and superconductors.
Screening of selective inhibitors of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase using recombinant human enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli.

High-level heterologous expression of human 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) in Escherichia coli was attained via a fusion construct by appending the mature CYP24A1 without the leader sequence to the maltose binding protein (MBP). Facile purification was achieved efficiently through affinity chromatography and afforded fully functional enzyme of near homogeneity, with a kcat of 0.12 min−1 and a KM of 0.19 μM toward 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. A convenient and reliable cell-free assay was established and used to screen vitamin D analogues with potential inhibitory properties toward CYP24A1. Some of the compounds exhibited potent inhibition with KI values as low as 0.021 μM. Furthermore, TS17 and CPA1 exhibited superior specificity toward CYP24A1 over 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), with selectivities of 39 and 80, respectively. Addition of TS17 or CPA1 to a mouse osteoblast culture sustained the level of 1,25(OH)2D3 in the medium. Their activities in vitamin D ...
Variance decomposition of the country, industry, firm, and firm-year effects on dividend policy

Abstract Why some firms distribute generous cash dividends while others are reluctant to do so remains an unanswered question despite decades of scholarly examination. Although the extant literature on dividend policy has explored the effects of determinants at the country, industry, firm, and firm-year levels, it remains unclear whether and how much each level of analysis matters to dividend policy. Consequently, this study seeks to move the literature forward by decomposing the variance at each level associated with dividend policies in a global sample of 8903 firms over an 11-year time period. We employ hierarchical linear modeling and find that all four levels of analysis help to explain dividend policy, but the firm and firm-year effects account for the majority of variance. Furthermore, decomposing the variance within each year reveals that the firm level has the strongest effect on dividend policy. Finally, while the variance in dividend policy explained by each level varies according to the dividend policy measure used, it is largely stable over our study period. We discuss implications of these findings for future research on dividend policy and for the field of comparative corporate governance.
Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom; clinical, laboratory and anatomic features.

In macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom, there appears to be a questionably malignant involvement of the lymphatic reticuloendothelial system which causes bleeding, anemia and infections. The etiology is unknown and the outcome is eventually fatal. Various clinical features and laboratory findings help to differentiate this disease from multiple myeloma, chronic lymphatic leukemia, lymphosarcoma and purpura hyperglobulinemia.Treatment is symptomatic, consisting of blood transfusions and administration of adrenocortical steroids and adrenocorticotropic hormones.
Overweight and Obesity: Prevention and Weight Management

Overweight/obesity represents a global public health problem as prevalence has reached alarmingly high levels in developed countries and continues to increase in developing countries. This article explores obesity trends and the causes of obesity focusing on the social environment, but also reviewing the evidence concerning biology and recent research detailing the importance of the fetal environment. A review of recent prevention efforts is provided focusing on population level interventions such as changes in nutrition labeling, subsidies for healthy eating, and school-based interventions.
Commentary: The Tyranny of Time and the Reality Principle.

Each of the five articles in this special issue gets "into the weeds" in terms of studying actual classroom or school implementation of evidence-based or promising practices. Virtually all confront the issue of logistics and establishing an infrastructure for ensuring adequate implementation. In general, those studies that ask teachers to change their practice, be it core classwide instruction (Wanzek & Vaughn, this issue) or the whole-class adolescent literacy interventions described in LaRusso et al. (this issue) experienced a good deal more in the way of implementation challenges than those that provided schools with extra services and were able to hire their own personnel to train and oversee as part of an efficacy trial. Yet, as anyone who has ever conducted an efficacy trial in the schools discovers, and Foorman et al. (this issue) remind us, research teams confront challenges never even mentioned in most research methods courses.
A Case of Clopidogrel Induced TTP Recurring After Four Years

Abstract Abstract 4678 Case description - A 61 year old woman was started on clopidogrel after having PTCA with stent placement in February 2006. Four weeks after starting clopidogrel she developed thrombocytopenia with platelet nadir of 17,000. Her LDH was 700 IU/L and she was anemic with hemoglobin of 7.4 gm/dl with elevated reticulocyte count. Peripheral blood smear showed schistocytes and diagnosis of TTP secondary to clopidogrel was made. She did not have renal insufficiency. Clopidogrel was discontinued and patient was started on plasmapheresis with recovery of platelet counts. Early attempts in weaning plasmapheresis resulted in drop in platelet count and Rituximab was given to the patient weekly for four weeks. Subsequently, patient was weaned off plasmapheresis. For four years patient was followed periodically with CBC showing platelet counts greater than 250,000. In May 2010, four years after initial event patient was admitted to hospital for abdominal pain and found to have splenic infarcts. Subsequently, she also developed bilateral cerebral infarcts. Platelet count had decreased to less than 100,000. Her LDH was elevated at 419 IU/L. Reticulocyte count was 2.3%. Peripheral blood smear revealed significant number of schistocytes. There was no renal insufficiency or fever. Trans-esophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was done that did not reveal any vegetations. Patient was diagnosed as having recurrence of TTP and started on plasmapheresis with recovery in platelet counts. Pt was also treated with Rituximab. Discussion- We describe a case of TTP initially occurring within weeks of starting clopidogrel. Patient was treated with plasmapheresis and Rituximab and clopidogrel was discontinued. Patient had recurrence after four years as manifested by infarcts in multiple organs, with mild thrombocytopenia, elevated LDH and significant number of schistocytes on peripheral blood smear. It is very uncommon for clopidogrel associated TTP to recur after such a prolonged period of 4 years. Most cases of clopidogrel associated TTP have mild thrombocytopenia. This patient had severe thrombocytopenia on first presentation of TTP but had mild thrombocytopenia on recurrence. This case illustrates the importance of extended follow up and high index of suspicion for TTP as delays in initiation of plasmapheresis has a poor clinical outcome. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Diffusion-induced bending of viscoelastic beams

Abstract The contribution of local volumetric change due to the diffusion/migration of solute atoms to viscoelastic deformation is incorporated in the theory of linear viscoelasticity, following the elastic theory of diffusion-induced stress. Three-dimensional constitutive relationship in differential form for diffusion-induced stress in linear viscoelastic materials is proposed. Using the correspondence principle between linear viscoelasticity and linear elasticity and the results from the diffusion-induced bending of elastic beams, the radii of curvature of the centroidal plane of viscoelastic beams of single layer and bilayer with top layer being viscoelastic in the transform domain are obtained. For viscoelastic beams of single layer, closed-form solution of the radius of curvature of the centroidal plane is derived, and the radius of curvature is inversely proportional to the diffusion moment created by non-uniform distribution of solute atoms. For the condition of constant concentration on free surface, there is overshoot behavior; for the condition of constant flux on free surface, there is no overshoot behavior. For viscoelastic beams of bilayer with top layer being the Maxwell-type standard material, the numerical results show the presence of the overshoot behavior for a very compliant elastic layer under the condition of constant concentration on free surface, and there is no overshoot behavior under the condition of constant flux on free surface.
Bendamustine hydrochloride in patients with B-cell malignancies who have comorbidities - is there an optimal dose?

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The majority of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) present with comorbidities. Many of them are poor candidates for intensive chemo-immunotherapy regimens, such as FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab). Still, most clinical trials aim to enroll ‘fit’ patients, who poorly represent the community oncology population.Areas covered: In the past decade, bendamustine hydrochloride, a cytotoxic agent with structural similarities to both alkylating agents and purine analogs, has received widespread use in therapy of NHL and CLL, and has demonstrated a relatively favorable toxicity profile. However, bendamustine has not been well studied in patients with hematologic malignancies who have comorbidities. Here we review the clinical data on use of bendamustine in older and unfit patients with NHL and CLL, and analyze whether there is an optimal dose of bendamustine in patients who have significant comorbidities, including renal dysfunction.Ex...
STRENGTH: A System of Integration of Solution-Oriented and Strength-Based Principles

The STRENGTH acronym denotes a systematic approach to the integration of solution-oriented and strength-based counseling principles and provides a mnemonic for mental health counselors, counselor educators, and students. Foundational ideas from leading theorists and practitioners in various strength- and solution-oriented therapies are organized under representative letters of the acronym. Checklists to assess the focus of counseling sessions are part of the model. The acronym is a practice tool to guide the counselor in promoting positive, collaborative change strategies that emphasize client strengths rather than clinical pathology.
Split-transistor compensation: Analytical model

Split-transistor compensation (STC) is introduced as a new compensation technique applicable to power management of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. An extension of the split-length compensation (SLC) technique [1]-[3], STC significantly reduces the area of the required on-chip compensation capacitor, while maintaining the two major benefits of SLC: reduced minimum supply voltage and no additional power consumption. We develop equations to model split-transistor behavior in a compensation network and verify the proposed novel analytical model via simulations using foundry transistor models.
Communication Activity as a Predictor of the Fit Between Worker Motivation and Worker Productivity

(1981). Communication Activity as a Predictor of the Fit Between Worker Motivation and Worker Productivity. Annals of the International Communication Association: Vol. 5, Communication Yearbook 5, pp. 473-503.
Focal Onset Seizure Prediction Using Convolutional Networks

Objective: This paper investigates the hypothesis that focal seizures can be predicted using scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) data. Our first aim is to learn features that distinguish between the interictal and preictal regions. The second aim is to define a prediction horizon in which the prediction is as accurate and as early as possible, clearly two competing objectives. Methods: Convolutional filters on the wavelet transformation of the EEG signal are used to define and learn quantitative signatures for each period: interictal, preictal, and ictal. The optimal seizure prediction horizon is also learned from the data as opposed to making an a priori assumption. Results: Computational solutions to the optimization problem indicate a 10-min seizure prediction horizon. This result is verified by measuring Kullback–Leibler divergence on the distributions of the automatically extracted features. Conclusion: The results on the EEG database of 204 recordings demonstrate that (i) the preictal phase transition occurs approximately ten minutes before seizure onset, and (ii) the prediction results on the test set are promising, with a sensitivity of 87.8% and a low false prediction rate of 0.142 FP/h. Our results significantly outperform a random predictor and other seizure prediction algorithms. Significance: We demonstrate that a robust set of features can be learned from scalp EEG that characterize the preictal state of focal seizures.
Multicultural Teams—Some Considerations for Present and Future

The previous chapters provided a comprehension discussion of theory and practice of multicultural teams. Our aim was to provide a bridge between emerging theory and practice-based knowledge in intellectually challenging and practically engaging and useful ways. It is not necessary to attempt a meta-summary of our previous discussions. However, it is important and useful to offer some overall questions and considerations as the readers proceed with their thinking and practice of multicultural teams.
Global Microbiome for Agroecology, Industry, and Human Well-Being: Opportunities and Challenges in Climate Change

Microbiome demonstrates tremendous functional diversity and thus it drives numerous services (e.g., nutrient cycling, plant and animal/human host fitness, biodegradation of contaminants, industrial processes such as the production of biofuel and other products, etc.). Despite some correlational survey type reports, it has been challenging to link microbiome species diversity to microbiome-driven specific services, especially in the context of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research (BDEF). Theoretical, methodological, and practical limitations represent numerous challenges to extend the implications of microbiome diversity in ecosystem nutrient management, plant growth promotion, bioremediation, host fitness and industrial processes, etc. Though the recent implications of ecology theory in microbiome ecology, the pros and cons of classical ecology theory may not be enough for full comprehension of microbiome diversity–services relationship. Meanwhile, a silent loss of microbiome diversity could potentially reduce the multifunctionality and capacity of global ecosystem to buffer the adverse consequences of climate and land use changes. Developing new insights, hypotheses, and theories keeping in mind the tremendous species or traits diversity of global microbiome and empirically analyzing the merits and demerits of classical ecological theory may advance the implications of microbiome diversity—functioning research in environmental, agroecological, industrial, and medical fields. Moreover, it may help to predict the functional responses of global microbiome diversity to climate and land use changes, which is instrumental for developing strategies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of microbiome natural resources for human well-being.
Airway Mucin Genes and Gene Products

MUC genes and their MUC gene products have been the subject of several reviews in the last few years [1-4] as expected in a field where the molec­ular tools to address fundamental and disease-related questions are becom­ing available. A description and analysis of human mucin genes MUC/through MUC7 and of porcine canine murine rat and bovine mucin geneswere published in 1995 [4]. In this review, we have focused on MUC genes and gene products expressed in human airways and highlighted our current limited understanding of their role in health and disease. We have summarized the available information on MUC8 and updated the available information on MUC5/5AC, MUC5B and animal mucin genes.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS AND BASINS OF THE ARABIAN SHIELD AND THEIR EVOLUTION

Proterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Arabian Shield consist of three depositional phases. Phase I (the oldest) includes the Baish, Bahah, and Jiddah Groups, which consist of an immature assemblage dominated by fine-grained meta-graywacke, graphitic schist, chert, marble, and subordinate polymictic conglomerate and meta-siltstone. Clastic rocks of Phase I are composed solely of volcanic material and do not contain plutonic or sialic detritus. Meta-sandstone, polymictic conglomerate, coarse-grained meta-graywacke, and abundant marble (stromatolitic in places) characterize Phase II, the Ablah, Halaban, and Murdama Groups. Plutonic and volcanic components are abundant in the clastic suite; K-feldspar detrital fragments are common in the Halaban and Murdama. The Shammar and Jubaylah Groups form Phase III. Sedimentary rocks of this phase are fine- to coarse-grained terrigenous clastic rocks, boulder conglomerate, and stromatolitic limestone and dolomite. All phases include abundant eruptive volcanic rocks.
Frequency and load mode dependence of Vibrothermography

Vibrothermography is a method for finding cracks based on the heat generation due to vibration-induced rubbing of the crack surfaces. This technique has shown substantial promise for industrial use finding flaws in gas turbine parts, but the underlying physics remains unclear. Two long standing questions are the dependence of crack heating on excitation frequency, and the dependence of crack heating on loading mode (normal vs shear). With our broadband excitation system, we are able to excite the specimen at different resonances, and correlate the heating with dynamic vibrational stress and frequency of vibration. By exciting the specimen in different modes that load a particular crack either in pure normal stress or pure shear stress, we can measure how crack heating depends on loading mode. Our data shows that similar amount of heating occurs due to normal and shear stresses. In addition, when we fit a simple power law to the heating versus dynamic stress, we found that characteristics of different types of loading seem to be quite similar. A more general physical model is then proposed, which incorporates the dependence of vibrational frequency and dynamic loading types.
Positive Bias Instability in ZnO TFTs with Al 2 O 3 Gate Dielectric

Positive bias instability stress (PBI) was done on ZnO thin-film transistors (TFTs) with Al 2 O 3 deposition at 100°C and 250°C. The threshold voltage (VT), transconductance (gm), and subthreshold slope (SS) were monitored where the 100°C samples demonstrated a “turn-around” phenomenon in the ΔV T compared to the 250°C samples. The 250°C samples show consistent ΔV T , suggesting a higher Al 2 O 3 deposition temperature results in the absence of the defect responsible for the “turn-around” effect. Both sets also demonstrate negligible degradation in Δg m and ASS -suggesting little to no influence on the V T shift by interfacial state generation.
A new method for the stereoselective synthesis of alpha-substituted serine amino acid analogues.

A new method was developed for the stereoselective synthesis of α-substituted serine amino acids. The strategy utilizes a common enantiomerically enriched intermediate obtained through an enzymatic desymmetrization. A variety of amino acids were synthesized in good ee's through nucleophilic acetylide addition reactions and palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira couplings.
Was the Democratic Nomination Rigged? A Reexamination of the Clinton-Sanders Presidential Race

This article examines one of the lingering controversies of the 2016 presidential race: whether the Democratic Party’s leaders corrupted the election process to ensure that Hillary Clinton secured the party’s presidential nomination. In May 2016, Bernie Sanders complained that his path to the nomination was blocked by a “rigged system” of superdelegates, party officials free to vote for any candidate at the presidential convention. In November 2017, former DNC Chair Donna Brazile revealed the existence of a fundraising agreement between the Clinton campaign and the national party that pre-dated the primary campaign. Amid the uproar over Brazile’s book, Senator Elizabeth Warren, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2020, asserted that the 2016 Democratic primary was “rigged” in Clinton’s favor. The controversy over the 2016 race raised fundamental questions about the health of the nation’s democratic institutions. For American voters, no decision is more consequential than the selection of the president. As both commander-in-chief of the armed forces and chief executive, the president exercises more power than any other single individual in the American system of government. The question of whether the Democratic Party’s senior leadership subverted the nomination process thus bears directly on the integrity of the presidential election system. Do ordinary voters choose the party nominee, or do elites secretly control the process? This article makes three central points. First, it contends that the overwhelming weight of evidence makes clear the 2016 Democratic nomination process was not rigged in favor of Hillary Clinton. Second, this article argues that the Democratic Party rules and state election laws actually hurt Clinton and benefited Sanders. Third, the article concludes that the controversy over the Democratic nomination race reflects a broader, bipartisan decline in public confidence in the integrity of American elections.