cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determining the Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in a Neuromuscular Clinic (P06.212)

OBJECTIVE: Determine prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in a neuromuscular disease clinic. BACKGROUND: Research has found that Vitamin D receptors are found throughout the body and play an important role in immune responses, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Over one billion people worldwide are estimated to have either a Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. Insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D have been associated with autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematous, depression, and multiple sclerosis. Our literature review found several case studies citing myopathy and treatment with Vitamin D supplementation; as well as one prospective study treating hypovitaminosis D in patients with myasthenia gravis. Currently, the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is unknown in patients with neuromuscular diseases. DESIGN/METHODS: This was a retrospective study of a neuromuscular clinic from May 2010 through May 2012 looking for patients that had had a plasma 25(OH)D level checked and determine the prevalence of a Vitamin D deficiency in a neuromuscular patient population. RESULTS: Of the 473 patients seen in clinic, 182 (112 females;70 males; mean age 54 years) patients were tested for plasma (OH)D level. 43% of those patients (87/182) were found to be deficient. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma 25(OH) levels were found to be deficient in 43% of patients in which the level was checked. The clinical significance of this is unclear and further investigation into the etiology for the deficiency and if certain neuromuscular diseases have a higher prevalence. Additional research is needed to determine the patient9s response to corrective treatment. Based on our results we recommend checking 25(OH) levels for patients with neuromuscular disease to help optimize their treatment. Disclosure: Dr. Ventura has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kahlon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vota has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sadeghian has nothing to disclose.
Therapeutic approaches to achieve desired blood pressure goals: focus on calcium channel blockers.

The new guidelines for blood pressure control recommended by the World Health Organisation, the International Society of Hypertension, and the JNC VI require that blood pressure be lowered to levels of <130/85 mmHg in persons with either diabetes or renal insufficiency. A review of over 20 clinical trials performed over the last two decades indicates that an average of 62% of the participants required more than two medications to achieve a goal of <140/90 mmHg. Thus, with the new guidelines it is clear that an even higher proportion of people will require at least two different medications to achieve this lower goal. Certain classes of antihypertensive medications are relatively more efficacious for lowering blood pressure in certain ethnic and racial groups, thus reducing the probability that two or more agents will be needed to achieve a stated blood pressure goal. This is exemplified by the effects of calcium channel blockers in African-Americans. However, even in these groups many require at least two different antihypertensive agents to achieve the blood pressure goal. The fixed-dose combinations of a calcium channel blocker and ACE inhibitor offer the advantages of complementary physiologic action, improved tolerability, lower side-effect profile, enhanced salutary effects on target organs, better compliance, and lower cost. Varieties of fixed-dose combination regimens for blood pressure lowering are available for clinical use. This article focuses on the subclasses of calcium channel blockers and their role in altering the natural history of both cardiovascular and renal disease. The article further discusses the role of fixed-dose agents with regard to their place in the antihypertensive armamentarium.
PILOT PLANT STUDIES OF METHYL IODIDE CLEANUP BY SPRAYS.

The removal of methyl iodide from containment atmospheres by reactive sprays proceeds by a simultaneous process of absorption and chemical reaction. A theoretical development is presented to show h...
Accurate Dictionary Learning with Direct Sparsity Control

Dictionary learning is a popular method for obtaining sparse linear representations for high dimensional data, with many applications in image classification, signal processing and machine learning. In this paper, we introduce a novel dictionary learning method based on a recent variable selection algorithm called Feature Selection with Annealing (FSA). Because FSA uses an $L_{0}$ constraint instead of the $L_{1}$ penalty, it does not introduce any bias in the coefficients and obtains a more accurate sparse representation. Furthermore, the $L_{0}$ constraint makes it easy to directly specify the desired sparsity level instead of indirectly through a $L_{1}$ penalty. Finally, experimental validation on real gray-scale images shows that the proposed method obtains higher accuracy and efficiency in dictionary learning compared to classical methods based on the $L_{1}$ penalty.
HDPE/EVOH Multilayered, High Barrier Films for Flexible Organic Photovoltaic Device Packaging

Transparent films composed of 65 alternating layers of high density polyethylene and ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer were produced and evaluated for their oxygen and water vapor barrier performanc...
Thermomagnetic Convection in Ferrofluids : Finite Element Approximation and Application to Transformer Cooling

We propose to make use of thermomagnetic convection, a characteristic phenomenon of ferrofluids, to improve heat transfer in transformers. The governing equations consist in the Navier-Stokes equations under the Boussinesq approximation, the energy conservation equation and the magnetostatics equations. The simulations are performed with the in-house parallel code SFEMaNS (Spectral/Finite Element for Maxwell and Navier-Stokes) for axisymmetric geometries, using a spectral decomposition in the azimuthal direction and Lagrange finite elements in the meridian plane. In order to solve this specific problem, various developments are brought to SFEMaNS, such as the implementation of the Kelvin and Helmholtz magnetic forces. The code is first applied to the cooling of a coil in a cylindrical tank containing either transformer oil or transformer oil-based ferrofluid. The results show that the use of the ferrofluid reduces the maximum temperature in the system due to thermomagnetic convection and the change of the fluid thermophysical properties. The influence of different parameters (volume fraction of nanoparticles, presence of a ferromagnetic core, nanoparticle magnetic properties) is investigated. In particular, the simulations confirm the benefit of magnetic nanoparticles with a low Curie temperature. We also show on this example that two magnetic body forces equal up to a gradient, such as the Kelvin and Helmholtz forces, give the same flow. A good qualitative agreement is found between the numerical and experimental results using transformer oil or ferrofluid. The code is then applied to the cooling of an electromagnetic system close to a 40 kVA (20 kV/400 V) transformer. The results show again a reduction of the maximum temperature when using ferrofluid.
Draft Genome Sequences of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates from U.S. Wastewater Treatment Plants.

ABSTRACT The spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is a major public health concern. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of three Escherichia coli isolates from primary effluent collected from geographically dispersed U.S. wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Genomic analysis confirms the presence of genes encoding resistance to a broad spectrum of antibiotics.
Implementation Science Training and Resources for Nurses and Nurse Scientists.

Purpose The purpose of this article is to describe the differences between quality improvement and implementation science, the urgency for nurses and nurse scientists to engage in implementation science, and international educational opportunities and resources for implementation science. Organizing construct There is a push for providing safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable health care. Implementation science plays a key role in adoption and integration of evidence-based practices to improve quality of care. Methods We reviewed implementation science programs, organizations, and literature to analyze the roles of nurses and nurse scientists in translating evidence into routine practice. Findings Implementation-trained nurses and nurse scientists are needed as part of multidisciplinary teams to advance implementation science because of their unique understanding of contextual barriers within nursing practice. Likewise, nurses are uniquely qualified for recognizing what implementation strategies are needed to improve nursing care across practice settings. Conclusions Many international clinical and training resources exist and are supplied to aid interested readers in learning more about implementation science. Clinical relevance Half of research evidence never reaches the clinical setting, and the other half takes 20 years to translate into clinical practice. Implementation science-trained nurses are in a position to be excellent improvers for meaningful change in practice.
Water chemistry influences on long-term dissolution kinetics of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots.

Abstract Widespread usage of engineered metallic quantum dots (QDs) within consumer products has evoked a need to assess their fate within environmental systems. QDs are mixed-metal nanocrystals that often include Cd2+ which poses a health risk as a nanocrystal or when leached into water. The goal of this work is to study the long-term metal cation leaching behavior and the factors affecting the dissolution processes of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) capped CdSe/ZnS QDs in aphotic conditions. QD suspensions were prepared in different water conditions, and release of Zn2+ and Cd2+ cations were monitored over time by size exclusion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In most conditions with dissolved O2 present, the ZnS shell degraded fairly rapidly over ~1 week, while some of the CdSe core remained up to 80 days. Additional MPA, Zn2+, and Cd2+ temporarily delayed dissolution, indicating a moderate role for capping agent detachment and mineral solubility. The presence of H2O2 and the ligand ethylenediaminetetraacetate accelerated dissolution, while NOM had no kinetic effect. No dissolution of CdSe core was observed when O2 was absent or when QDs formed aggregates at higher concentrations with O2 present. The shrinking particle model with product layer diffusion control best describes Zn2+ and Cd2+ dissolution kinetics. The longevity of QDs in their nanocrystal form appears to be partly controlled by environmental conditions, with anoxic, aphotic environments preserving the core mineral phase, and oxidants or complexing ligands promoting shell and core mineral dissolution.
Lifetime history of traumatic brain injury is associated with increased loneliness in adults: A US nationally representative study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES An estimated 55 million individuals worldwide live with chronic disability associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), which may include cognitive, behavioral, and social impairments. Reduced participation in social activities is common after TBI; however, few studies have evaluated loneliness among survivors of TBI. The current study aimed to evaluate the association between history of TBI and loneliness and to identify mediators of this association. METHODS/DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. Nationally representative sample of N = 724 adults over age 50 years (Health and Retirement Study). Loneliness was evaluated using the 11-item Revised University of California Los Angeles (R-UCLA) Loneliness Scale (range 11-33). Lifetime history of TBI evaluated retrospectively using the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method. We included the following covariates: age, sex, race, and education; and mediators: depressive symptoms, number of comorbidities, chronic pain, difficulty with activities of daily living, and social network index. RESULTS History of TBI was associated with a 1.28-point (95% CI, 0.46-2.11; P < .05; Cohen's D = 0.284) increase in R-UCLA Loneliness Scale scores after covariate adjustment. Individuals with more recent injuries (within 10 years) and multiple lifetime TBIs reported the highest loneliness scores. In the structural equation model, depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship between TBI and loneliness. All models were adjusted for US population sampling weights. CONCLUSIONS History of TBI was associated with greater loneliness compared with individuals without TBI in a representative sample of US adults. Managing depressive symptoms and medical consequences of TBI may be a target to ameliorate reporting of loneliness in this population.
Steering an intense relativistic electron beam in a linear induction accelerator

The best electron beam transport through a linear induction accelerator (LIA) is achieved when the beam is well centered on the magnetic axis of the focusing solenoids. Since the beam may be injected offset from, or at an angle to, the centerline, dipole magnets are usually provided as a means to steer the beam and center it. Steering may be accomplished by trial and error, but this is very time consuming, especially for accelerators with a low repetition rate for beam position measurements and dipole adjustments. This article presents a steering method requiring a minimal number of measurements and adjustments to position the beam at any desired location, including positioning on the centerline.
Investigation of Data Size Variability in Wind Speed Prediction Using AI Algorithms

Electricity generation from burning fossil fuel is one of the major contributors to global warming. Renewable energy sources are a viable alternative to produce electrical energy and to reduce the ...
A heterologous in-cell assay for investigating intermicrovillar adhesion complex interactions reveals a novel protrusion length-matching mechanism

Solute transporting epithelial cells build arrays of microvilli on their apical surface to increase membrane scaffolding capacity and enhance function potential. In epithelial tissues such as the kidney and gut, microvilli are length-matched and assembled into tightly packed "brush borders," which are organized by ∼50-nm thread-like links that form between the distal tips of adjacent protrusions. Composed of protocadherins CDHR2 and CDHR5, adhesion links are stabilized at the tips by a cytoplasmic tripartite module containing the scaffolds USH1C and ANKS4B and the actin-based motor MYO7B. Because several questions about the formation and function of this "intermicrovillar adhesion complex" remain open, we devised a system that allows one to study individual binary interactions between specific complex components and MYO7B. Our approach employs a chimeric myosin consisting of the MYO10 motor domain fused to the MYO7B cargo-binding tail domain. When expressed in HeLa cells, which do not normally produce adhesion complex proteins, this chimera trafficked to the tips of filopodia and was also able to transport individual complex components to these sites. Unexpectedly, the MYO10-MYO7B chimera was able to deliver CDHR2 and CDHR5 to distal tips in the absence of USH1C or ANKS4B. Cells engineered to localize high levels of CDHR2 at filopodial tips acquired interfilopodial adhesion and exhibited a striking dynamic length-matching activity that aligned distal tips over time. These findings deepen our understanding of mechanisms that promote the distal tip accumulation of intermicrovillar adhesion complex components and also offer insight on how epithelial cells minimize microvillar length variability.
Resting-State Posterior Alpha Power Changes with Prolonged Exposure in a Natural Environment.

Exposure to environments that contain natural features can benefit mood, cognition, and physiological responses. Previous research proposed exposure to nature restores voluntary attention – attention that is directed towards a task through top down control. Voluntary attention is limited in capacity and depletes with use. Nature provides unique stimuli that do not require voluntary attention; therefore, the neural resources needed for attention to operate efficiently are theorized to restore when spending time in nature. Electroencephalography reflects changes in attention through fluctuations in power within specific frequencies. The current study (N = 29) measured changes in averaged resting state posterior alpha power before, during, and after a multiday nature exposure. Linear mixed-effects models revealed posterior alpha power was significantly lower during the nature exposure compared to pre-trip and post-trip testing, suggesting posterior alpha power may be a potential biomarker for differences related to exposure to natural and urban environments.
Impact of Commodity Networks on Storage Disaggregation with NVMe-oF

NVMe-based storage is widely used for various data-intensive applications due to their high bandwidth and low access latency. The NVMe-over-Fabrics (NVMe-oF) protocol specification provides efficient remote access to NVMe-SSDs over storage networking fabrics. NVMe-oF provides the opportunity to make storage disaggregation practical by reducing the cost of remote access. Unfortunately, the performance characteristics of different NVMe-oF networking protocols are not well understood. In this paper, we propose a four dimensional (network protocol, I/O pattern, I/O size, and number of cores) evaluation methodology to understand NVMe-oF performance over various commodity networks. We conduct comprehensive microbenchmark analyses using the user-space Intel SPDK library to compare the TCP, IPoIB, RoCE, and RDMA transports. Our analysis reveals interesting, and often counter-intuitive insights and performance tradeoffs among the different transports. We find that InfiniBand with native RDMA is able to deliver the best performance among all tested networking protocols in most experiments. Contrary to expectation, IPoIB could achieve better CPU utilization and lower tail-latency for large I/O operations in some of our experiments. We believe that our analysis helps gain insight into the deployment implications of NVMe-oF in datacenters.
The View from the Benches: Scientists' Perspectives on the Uses and Governance of Human Gene-Editing Research

The advent of human gene editing has stimulated international interest in how best to govern this research. However, research on stakeholder views has neglected scientists themselves. We surveyed 212 scientists who use gene editing in their work. Questions captured views on oversight and use of somatic and germline human gene editing for treatment, prevention, and enhancement. More respondents were supportive of somatic than germline editing, and more supported gene editing for treatment compared to prevention. Few supported its use for enhancement. When presented with specific conditions, levels of support for somatic editing differed by type of condition. Almost all respondents said scientists and national government representatives should be involved in oversight, but only 28% said scientists are best positioned to oversee gene-editing research. These results can inform the development of sound approaches to research governance, demonstrating the importance of identifying specific gene-editing uses when considering oversight.
What controls the duration and intensity of ocean anoxic events in the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic

Abstract The sedimentological and geochemical expression of Mesozoic ocean anoxic events (OAEs) in the geologic record is reasonably well-characterized and the causal mechanisms driving these events are generally agreed upon. By contrast, OAE-type intervals in the Paleozoic are relatively understudied and less well constrained. Here, we review literature published on three intervals that may be termed OAEs in the Paleozoic: the Late Cambrian Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion (SPICE) event, the Late Ordovician – Early Silurian Hirnantian Ocean Anoxic Event (HOAE), and the Late Devonian Frasnian-Famennian, or Kellwasser events. Comparing them to Mesozoic OAEs reveals that Paleozoic OAEs are typically longer in duration than Mesozoic OAEs, and it is also likely that anoxic waters were more areally extensive during these Paleozoic events. With the traditional framework for OAEs the potential for a very extended timeframe of anoxia is problematic, given that more extensive bottom-water anoxia should accelerate reoxygenation of the atmosphere-ocean by promoting more efficient phosphorous recycling in the ocean and therefore boosting primary productivity. However, benthic phosphorous retention could have been enhanced under anoxic and iron-rich (ferruginous) marine conditions. Therefore, we propose a role for ferruginous conditions with more widespread anoxia in driving longer OAEs. Ultimately, a protracted increase in atmospheric oxygen concentrations through the Phanerozoic may have been a key factor controlling the expression of OAEs through time.
Unusual Melting Trend in an Alkali Asymmetric Sulfonamide Salt Series: Single-Crystal Analysis and Modeling.

Developing low-melting alkali salts is of interest for both battery electrolytes and inorganic ionic liquids. In this study, we report a series of asymmetric alkali-metal sulfonamide salts based upon the (3-methoxypropyl)((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)amide (MPSA) anion. This family of salts features an unusual melting point trend, where the melting point of the salts decreases as the cation increases in size from Li to K but then the melting point increases as the cation further increases in size from K to Cs. Analyses of single crystals reveal that the unusual higher melting points of RbMPSA and CsMPSA in comparison to KMPSA can be attributed to the greater cation-cation distances as well as the increased rigidity of anion-cation coordination due to an increase in cyclic structures in comparison to KMPSA. Exceptionally, KMPSA features a very low melting point of only 50.79 ± 0.31 °C. This low melting point can be attributed to a relatively high degree of disorder, an unusual uncoordinated ether moiety, and a very short K-K distance of only 3.4348(7) A among other factors, which is supported by the low cohesive energy and small elastic moduli among the rest according to density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The low melting point of KMPSA makes it interesting for low-temperature ionic liquids.
Burrough, Bryan, Jason Stanford, and Chris Tomlinson, Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth

In Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth, Texan journalists Bryan Burrough, Chis Tomlinson, and Jason Stanford attempt to debunk their home state’s cherished creation myths surrou...
Association and predictive value of biomarkers with severe outcomes in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

This study analyzed the levels at admission of biomarkers for their association with and ability to predict risk of severe outcomes, including admission to the ICU, need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), need for vasopressor use (VU), and in-hospital mortality (IHM) in 700 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Biomarker data split by outcomes was compared using Mann-Whitney U tests; frequencies of biomarker values were compared using Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to look at the impact of biomarkers by outcome. Patients that suffered IHM were more likely to have reduced platelet numbers and high blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels among patients admitted to the ICU. Risk factors for mortality were related to hyper-coagulability (low platelet count and increased D-dimer) and decreased respiratory (PaO2/FiO2 ratio) and kidney function (BUN). Association with risks of other severe outcomes were as follows: ICU with hyper-inflammation (IL-6) and decreased respiratory function; IMV with low platelet count, abnormal neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio with reduced respiratory function, VU with inflammatory markers (IL-6), and low platelet count with respiratory function. Our studies confirmed the association of biomarkers of hematological, inflammatory, coagulation, pulmonary and kidney functions with disease severity. Whether these biomarkers have any mechanistic or causal role in the disease progress requires further investigation.
Challenges and Countermeasures for Medical Social Workers when Serving Low-income Patients

Medical social work is increasingly recognized for their importance in hospital, while challenges arise when serving different groups, this study identified four main challenges when serving low-income patients: low awareness of medical social work, low acceptance of medical social work, single demand and inadequate knowledge of the policy. After a detailed analysis of the causes as well as the psychological state of the patients and their families, this study summarized the previous experience and put forward the corresponding countermeasures. This paper argues that empathy, respect and understanding are the core principles when serving low-income group, providing reference for medical social workers when they encounter similar situations.
A Tool Also for Linguists: A Review of Paul Sullivan's Qualitative Data Analysis Using a Dialogical Approach

Paul Sullivan (2013) introduces a method of speech analysis that uses a dialogical approach, which is distinguished from critical discourse analysis, phenomenological analysis, and grounded theory by its hermeneutic of trust. In this approach, data is analyzed using a pairing of bureaucratic and theoretical methods that indicates in the speech where the key moments are and where intonation expresses meaning. In the evaluation process subjectivity is defined and described. The types of data that would be especially suited to this approach include interviews, focus group speech, and conversation. This dialogic approach also has applications in the field of linguistics.
The Effect of Antagonist Muscle Sensory Input on Force Regulation

The purpose of this study was to understand how stretch-related sensory feedback from an antagonist muscle affects agonist muscle output at different contraction levels in healthy adults. Ten young (25.3 ± 2.4 years), healthy subjects performed constant isometric knee flexion contractions (agonist) at 6 torque levels: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of their maximal voluntary contraction. For half of the trials, subjects received patellar tendon taps (antagonist sensory feedback) during the contraction. We compared error in targeted knee flexion torque and hamstring muscle activity, with and without patellar tendon tapping, across the 6 torque levels. At lower torque levels (5%, 10%, and 15%), subjects produced greater knee torque error following tendon tapping compared with the same torque levels without tendon tapping. In contrast, we did not find any difference in torque output at higher target levels (20%, 30%, and 40%) between trials with and without tendon tapping. We also observed a load-dependent increase in the magnitude of agonist muscle activity after tendon taps, with no associated load-dependent increase in agonist and antagonist co-activation, or reflex inhibition from the antagonist tapping. The findings suggest that at relatively low muscle activity there is a deficiency in the ability to correct motor output after sensory disturbances, and cortical centers (versus sub-cortical) are likely involved.
To What Extent Does the Federal Tax Regime in Nigeria Represent Good Practice in Mineral and Petroleum Taxation

Mineral and petroleum resources account for about 90-95 percent of Nigeria’s export revenues and 80 percent of government revenues which shows the heavy reliance of the economy on revenues from the sector, primarily through taxation. Therefore an effective tax regime is vital to the survival of its economy as well as national development. The paper thus analyses the Mineral and Petroleum Tax (MPT) regime in Nigeria under relevant national legislations and subsidiary instruments to determine the extent to which it complies with global “good” practice in MPT. It lays down the benchmark of what represents good practice in MPT in federal regimes using necessary indices and examples of other effective federal taxation regimes and then reviews the Nigerian MPT in light of the outlined criterion. It finds the regime to be stable, clear and sufficient in terms of investment incentives. However, the regressive nature and lack of fiscal decentralization of the regime combine to make it internationally non-competitive.
Yeast telomerase RNA: A flexible scaffold for protein subunits

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, distinct regions of the 1.2-kb telomerase RNA (TLC1) bind to the catalytic subunit Est2p and to accessory proteins. In particular, a bulged stem structure binds the essential regulatory subunit Est1p. We now show that the Est1p-binding domain of the RNA can be moved to three distant locations with retention of telomerase function in vivo. We present the Est1p relocation experiment in the context of a working model for the secondary structure of the entire TLC1 RNA, based on thermodynamic considerations and comparative analysis of sequences from four species. The model for TLC1 has three long quasihelical arms that bind the Ku, Est1p, and Sm proteins. These arms emanate from a central catalytic core that contains the template and Est2p-binding region. Deletion mutagenesis provides evidence that the Sm arm exists in vivo and can be shortened by 42 predicted base pairs with retention of function; therefore, precise positioning of Sm proteins, like Est1p, is not required within telomerase. In the best-studied ribonucleoprotein enzyme, the ribosome, the RNAs have specific three-dimensional structures that orient the functional elements. In the case of yeast telomerase, we propose that the RNA serves a very different function, providing a flexible tether for the protein subunits.
The Current Revision of the Solar Spectrum Table λ 2935 Å to λ 8770 Å

The current edition of The Solar Spectrum Table is nearing completion. All wavelengths have been corrected to conform to the 1928 scale of International Standards. For some 6500 lines, new measurements have been used in deriving the final weighted means recorded in the Solar Table.
Effects of Classroom Ventilation Rate and Temperature on Students' Test Scores.

Using a multilevel approach, we estimated the effects of classroom ventilation rate and temperature on academic achievement. The analysis is based on measurement data from a 70 elementary school district (140 fifth grade classrooms) from Southwestern United States, and student level data (N = 3109) on socioeconomic variables and standardized test scores. There was a statistically significant association between ventilation rates and mathematics scores, and it was stronger when the six classrooms with high ventilation rates that were indicated as outliers were filtered (> 7.1 l/s per person). The association remained significant when prior year test scores were included in the model, resulting in less unexplained variability. Students’ mean mathematics scores (average 2286 points) were increased by up to eleven points (0.5%) per each liter per second per person increase in ventilation rate within the range of 0.9–7.1 l/s per person (estimated effect size 74 points). There was an additional increase of 12–13 points per each 1°C decrease in temperature within the observed range of 20–25°C (estimated effect size 67 points). Effects of similar magnitude but higher variability were observed for reading and science scores. In conclusion, maintaining adequate ventilation and thermal comfort in classrooms could significantly improve academic achievement of students.
An energy balance climate model with cloud feedbacks

The present two-level global climate model, which is based on the atmosphere-surface energy balance, includes physically based parameterizations for the exchange of heat and moisture across latitude belts and between the surface and the atmosphere, precipitation and cloud formation, and solar and IR radiation. The model field predictions obtained encompass surface and atmospheric temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, and cloudiness. In the model integrations presented, it is noted that cloudiness is generally constant with changing temperature at low latitudes. High altitude cloudiness increases with temperature, although the cloud feedback effect on the radiation field remains small because of compensating effects on thermal and solar radiation. The net global feedback by the cloud field is negative, but small.
School Boys on White

Damp brick, dark brownstone frame a square of light Cornered by the long November street. Late sun brightens the snow where two boys fight. My view of them from here is so complete, It seems a painting called "School Boys on White." The bully who has won but isn't done Becomes a silhouette, abstract and small, Well balanced by the placement of the sun, The iron gate that breaks the small boy's fall. A cry to fifth floor windows travels slow, As slow as we are slow to make a call, Who watch paramedics closing up the show, And come forth after lights and wail retreat, To witness blood like mittens on the snow.
Coding and Iterative Detection for Magnetic Recording Channels

List of Figures. List of Tables. Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction to Magnetic Recording Channels. 2. Turbo Codes and Turbo Equalization. 3. Low-Density Parity-check Codes. 4. Turbo Decision Aided Equalization. 5. Interleaved Parity Check Codes and Reduced Complexity Detection. 6. Interpolated Timing Recovery. 7. Summary and Discussion. References. Index.
Particle orbits in field-reversed mirrors

The particle orbits in field-reversed mirrors (FRM) are studied. It is found that the orbit can be expressed in terms of the first and third kind of elliptic integral for particles moving in the centre plane of the Hill vortex configuration. Requirements for absolute confinement are obtained, and four distinct classes of orbits are identified that are bounded by limits on the canonical angular momentum Pθ. The improvement in confinement over a simple mirror as well as natural divertor properties of the FRM are illustrated by these results.
Femtosecond studies of nonequilibrium electronic processes in metals.

High-intensity femtosecond laser pulses are used to induce non- equilibrium electron heating in gold metal. The thermal relaxation of the electronic distribution is studied through pump and continuum probe measurements of transient reflectivity. Measurements are performed for different heating-pulse fluences and probe-photon energies. The observed reflectivity line shape demonstrates the generation of nonequilibrium electron temperatures which cool to the lattice on a 2--3 ps time scale.
EPR power saturation techniques and spectral differentiation are used to isolate and simulate radical species in UHMWPE

Abstract In this study, we found that the linear growth with the square of the power of each radical species in X-irradiated ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has a different slope than the other radicals present. We used this fact to isolate radicals, which are known to be in the crystalline regions of polyethylene (alkyl) from the signals due to radicals in the amorphous regions (allyl, polyenyl, peroxyl). A process to eliminate oxidation of irradiated polyethylene was also studied and is discussed at the end. Recording of the radical’s spectra was conducted at power settings as low as 10 μW and as high as 100 mW. Once the species were seen to be differentiated by using power saturation techniques (PST), various processing methods and spectral differentiation were used to verify the parameters used in performing simulations of selected spectra. The simulation parameters can be used to give a reasonable picture of the percentage of allyl, alkyl, peroxyl and polyenyl radicals present in UHMWPE EPR spectra. For example, simulation of a composite spectrum, obtained following the decay of the primary alkyl radicals, suggests the presence of allyl (n = 1), dienyl (n = 2), trienyl (n = 3) and polyenyl (n > 3) radicals (–C*–[CH CH–]n).
Marked Increase in the Ability of the β-Cells to Secrete Insulin in Response to Glucose and FFA Occurs Post-Puberty

Marked Increase in the Ability of the β-Cells to Secrete Insulin in Response to Glucose and FFA Occurs Post-Puberty
The Effects of Population on the Depletion of Fresh Water

The most immediate environmental problem in major regions of the world is probably the scarcity of fresh water for agriculture. Insufficiency and irregularity of rainfall require the use of stored water. Both major compartments for fresh water storage -- glaciers and groundwater -- are being depleted rapidly and at similar rates. Drawdown of groundwater is primarily the result of irrigation required to supply the food needs of large populations. Glacier melt is an effect of global warming chiefly caused by high levels of industrial production and transport. However an important fraction of glacier melt is caused by food chain emissions (agricultural greenhouse gases and black carbon or cooking soot). In toto the loss of water resulting from food and agriculture may be significantly greater than that resulting from industrial production and transport the factors more commonly cited. This suggests that the role of population closely linked to food and agriculture is central to the depletion of fresh water.
An Improved Assay of Urinary Catecholamine Metabolites, 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylglycol and Vanillylmandelic Acid, Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography With Electrochemical Detection

Abstract An improved method for the measurement of norepinephrine metabolites, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylgycol (MHPG) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), in urine using High Performance liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detector is described. An aliquot of urine was charged with an internal standard, dihydroxybenzylamine (DHBA), and the conjugated metabolites were hydrolyzed enzymatically. The hydrolysed and the free metabolites were extracted in ethyl acetate, dried, and dissolved in an aqueous buffer. An aliquot of appropriately diluted extract was injected into reverse phase C18 Nova-Pack, 4u column. Metabolites were eluted with a mobile phase containing citric acid-acetate buffer, sodium octyl sulfate and 5% methanol. Peaks were detected with an electrochemical detector. Integration and calculations were performed by a preprogrammed data module. The concentrations were determined using the ratio of the areas of peaks of metabolites to that of internal standard. A linear relationship was observed ...
The Elastodynamic Green's Function for a Torsional Ring Source

The elastodynamic Green's function for a torsional ring source in a homogeneous, linear elastic medium is derived using the Fourier-Hankel transform. The Green's function is found to possess the same logarithmic singularity as the Legendre function of half-degree of the second kind.
Abnormal frontal white matter tracts in bipolar disorder: a diffusion tensor imaging study.

Objectives: Prefrontal white matter has been hypothesized to be integral to the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Recent morphometric studies however, have not observed changes in white matter in bipolar patients. We hypothesized that changes in prefrontal function in bipolar disorder, widely reported in the literature, may be related to a loss of white matter tract integrity with a resultant dysconnectivity syndrome. In this study we utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine prefrontal white matter in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: Nine patients with bipolar disorder and nine healthy controls were recruited. DTI and localizing anatomic data were acquired, and regions of interest (ROIs) identified in the prefrontal white matter at 15, 20, 25, and 30 mm superior to the anterior commissure (AC). Fractional anisotropy (FA) and trace apparent diffusion coefficient (TADC) were compared by ROI between study groups. Results: The FA of ROIs 25 and 30 mm above the AC was significantly reduced in patients with bipolar disorder; FA of all ROIs showed high-medium to large effect sizes. No significant group differences were identified in TADC. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a loss of bundle coherence is present in prefrontal white matter. This loss of coherence may contribute to prefrontal cortical pathology in patients with bipolar disorder.
Plasma levels of immunoreactive mesotocin and vasotocin during oviposition in chickens: relationship to oxytocic action of the peptides in vitro and peptide interaction with myometrial membrane binding sites.

Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive vasotocin (AVT) and mesotocin (MT) were measured periodically before and subsequent to spontaneous oviposition in conscious chickens. The concentrations of AVT and MT approximately an hour prior to oviposition were 5.2 ± 1.1 μU/ml and 14.7 ± 5.1 pg/ml, respectively. Plasma AVT levels increased abruptly at oviposition (25.1 ± 3.3 μU/ml) and decreased to 5.0 ± 0.6 μU/ml within 30 min postoviposition. Significant changes in MT were not observed. The data indicate that AVT is selectively released during oviposition. The uterus was removed immediately after oviposition and the oxytocic potencies of several peptides were tested on muscle strips in vitro. The order of oxytocic potencies was AVT ≥ arginine vasopressin (AVP) ⪢ MT = pressinoic acid. Partially purified membranes were prepared from separate portions of the uteri used in the oxytocic assay. [3H]arginine8 vasopressin, [3H]AVP, bound to membranes saturably (Bmax = 17 fmol/mg protein) and with high affinity (Kd = 0.7 nM). The rank order of potency of the peptides in displacing [3H]AVP from the binding sites was the same as in the oxytocic assay which suggests that the [3H]AVP binding sites in uterine membranes represent physiological receptors that interact with AVT during oviposition.
Ontogeny of rolipram-sensitive, low-Km, cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase in rat brain

Abstract The postnatal development of rolipram-sensitive, low-Km, cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE4) was investigated in discrete regions of rat brain using a PDE4 activity assay and immunoblot analyses with K116, a PDE4 antibody. The Vmax for cyclic AMP hydrolysis by PDE4 was lower at birth when compared to adult levels in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and neostriatum. Km values for cyclic AMP hydrolysis by PDE4, in contrast, did not change throughout the observed period in any brain region tested. The developmental patterns for PDE4 were significantly different among the examined brain regions. PDE4 activity in olfactory bulb and hippocampus also was found to be lower at birth in comparison to adult levels. Immunoblot analyses showed that developmental patterns of PDE4 were significantly different for the various subtypes, and also varied substantially across brain regions. The results suggest that PDE4 might be differentially regulated by different ontogenetic events.
Intimate combination of low‐ and high‐resolution image data: I. real‐space PET and 1H2O MRI, PETAMRI

Two different types of (co-registered) images of the same slice of tissue will generally have different spatial resolutions. The judicious pixel-by-pixel combination of their data can be accomplished to yield a single image exhibiting properties of both. Here, axial (18)FDG PET and (1)H(2)O MR images of the human brain are used as the low- and high-resolution members of the pair. A color scale is necessary in order to provide for separate intensity parameters from the two image types. However, not all color scales can accommodate this separability. The HSV color model allows one to choose a color scale in which the intensity of the low-resolution image type is coded as hue, while that of the high-resolution type is coded as value, a reasonably independent parameter. Furthermore, the high-resolution image must have high contrast and be quantitative in the same sense as the low-resolution image almost always is. Here, relaxographic MR images (naturally segmented quantitative (1)H(2)O spin-density components) are used. Their essentially complete contrast serves to effect an apparent editing function when encoded as the value of the color scale. Thus, the combination of (18)FDG PET images with gray-matter (GM) relaxographic (1)H(2)O images produces visually "GM-edited" (18)FDG PETAMR (positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance) images. These exhibit the high sensitivity to tracer amounts characteristic of PET along with the high spatial resolution of (1)H(2)O MRI. At the same time, however, they retain the complete quantitative measures of each of their basis images. Magn Reson Med 42:345-360, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Minimally invasive saphenous vein harvesting.

Abstract Background . Minimally invasive techniques to harvest the saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass grafting continue to improve and evolve. Smaller cutaneous incisions have been shown to decrease postoperative discomfort and improve healing. We describe a technique involving carbon dioxide insufflation and endoscopic dissection to allow easier and atraumatic dissection. Methods . The VasoView endoscope system (Origin Medsystems, Inc) was used to harvest the saphenous vein for coronary artery bypass grafting in 27 patients. This group was compared with 24 patients having traditional saphenous vein harvesting. Wounds were examined for complications daily. Pain and postoperative mobility were quantified independently by physical therapists. Results . Comparison of patients in the two groups revealed greater edema in the legs with traditional harvesting. Patients with endoscopic removal also had less pain and increased mobility postoperatively. On average, minimally invasive harvesting allowed patients to ambulate to a predischarge goal of 300 ft 2 days earlier. Conclusions . Minimally invasive harvesting of the saphenous vein by insufflation techniques is safe, effective, and atraumatic to the conduit. Discomfort is minimized, promoting earlier and improved ambulation.
The color of innovative and sustainable leadership: Learning from teacher leaders

In this article, I address how teachers in urban and suburban U.S. schools with multicultural and multilingual student populations demonstrate leadership both within their classrooms and schools as well as outside of them. Based on research with U.S. public school teachers in two projects (Nieto What keeps teachers going? New York: Teachers College Press 2003, Why we teach. New York: Teachers College Press 2005), various roles that teachers have in initiating, putting into practice, and sustaining change in schools are described. Implications for policymakers and administrators are then briefly explored.
Effect of direct irradiation on the course of pulmonary tuberculosis (using cancerocidal doses).

1. In this study, cases of inoperable lung cancer coexistent with pulmonary tuberculosis were irradiated with cancerocidal doses. 2. Seven patients in whom neoplasm developed in an area of tuberculosis were treated. The dose of irradiation at the central lung varied from 4000 r to 6800 r given in 37 to 104 days. 3. All patients received antituberculosis drugs. 4. The total period of observation after irradiation varied from seven weeks to thirty-two and one-half months. 5. In only one of the seven patients was there x-ray film evidence of change that could possibly be due to relapse of tuberculosis. In this patient (Case 7) the changes might be due to radiation necrosis (8800 r). This patient, moreover, had discontinued antituberculosis drug treatment after irradiation. 6. The experience in this small series of patients would indicate that irradiation of pulmonary neoplasms coexistent with pulmonary tuberculosis with cancerocidal doses can be accomplished without danger of deterioration of the tuberculosis if proper antituberculosis drug coverage is provided. In the presence of considerable drug resistance it would be desirable to add another antituberculosis drug to which the microorganism is sensitive to avoid any possible hazard of irradiation.