cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrolyte and antiarrhythmic drug interaction

Abstract When one considers the complex interaction of antiarrhythmic drugs, either among the various groups or in the presence of altered electrolytes, the number of possible antagonistic and synergistic actions becomes almost infinite. This overview has attempted to amalgamate present information concerning drug and electrolyte interactions. Fortunately, in the clinical setting one is usually operating within the physiologic range for serum electrolytes, and many of these alterations shown in laboratory studies may not be pertinent. It should be remembered, however, that when serum electrolyte derangements are present, the usual or expected effects of antiarrhythmic drugs may be masked, leading to erroneous therapy or to the conclusion that the therapy is either inadequate or useless. This summary also points out that marked beneficial effects can be achieved, particularly by the use of digitalis and propranolol, in slowing AV conduction in the presence of supraventricular arrhythmias and that low potassium completely nullifies the action of the quinidine-like or Group 1 agents. The antagonism of bretylium to quinidine-like agents should alert the clinician to the possibility that the administration of Group 1 drugs in the wake of Group 3 or possibly other antiarrhythmic drugs may either nullify or aggravate certain pharmacologic actions. Although it is true that quinidine, lidocaine, and procainamide can be used with increased efficacy in the presence of propranolol, the opposite may be true when they are used in the presence of bretylium. Precise monitoring of serum electrolytes would appear essential before and during antiarrhythmic drug therapy.
Sudden variations in the speed of sound during inflation: features in the power spectrum and bispectrum

We employ the formalism of the effective field theory of inflation to study the effects of a sudden change in the speed of sound of the inflationary perturbations. Such an event generates a feature with high frequency oscillations both in the two- and in the three-point functions of the curvature fluctuations. We study, at first order in the magnitude of the change of the speed of sound, the dependence of the power spectrum and of the bispectrum on the duration of the change. In the limit of a very short duration, the oscillations in the power spectrum persist up to very large momenta and the amplitude of the feature in the bispectrum diverges while its location moves to increasing momenta.
Hierarchical decomposition and axial representation of shape

This paper addresses the problem of obtaining natural (intuitive) descriptions of planar shapes. Shape description is a major problem in machine perception and is the basis for recognition. Many approaches have been suggested, but none provide a complete and natural solution. This paper suggests a method for producing an axial representation of a shape based on a hierarchical decomposition of the shape into its parts. The novelty of this approach lies in the combination of several competing approaches and tools, into a unified scheme and an efficient implementation producing natural descriptions. Smooth local symmetries are used for the axial representation of parts. Parallel symmetries are used to provide information on global relationships within the shape. This information is used for parsing the shape. A tree of all possible parsings under our interpretation is generated. Currently it is assumed that the shape is a closed smooth curve. This approach uses both region and contour information, and addresses the issues of local and global information, the issue of scale, and the notion of part. This method is computationally efficient, parameter free, stable, and results show that it provides an intuitive shape description.
Scattering-theory sensitivity analysis for spatial Hamiltonian variations

An expression for the functional-derivative sensitivity density of the scattering matrix in parameter space is derived. This expression can be used to assess the effect on scattering observables of varying space-dependent quantities in the Hamiltonian (e.g., the interaction potential or the free-target portion of the Hamiltonian). This work represents the most general formulation of elementary sensitivity analysis for quantum scattering problems, and its use is demonstrated by a few sample calculations.
Naval communications and networks research thrusts and direction

We discuss ONR investment and research thrust subareas within Communications and Networks sciences that are enabling new net-centric capabilities for the naval fleet and the warfighter.
Electron scattering off atoms for excitations to valence and rydberg states

Differential cross sections for the atomic transitions 2p)ns) and 2p)np) are studied within the First Born Approximation by using a one-electron model based on hydrogen-like orbitals with appropriate effective nuclear charges. For single electron excitations, the related dimensionless quantity, the generalized oscillator strength, can be scaled to yield f(k) which depends upon the ratio of effective nuclear charges and reduced momentum transfer k. Calculations of f(k) versus k show that Rydberg series exhibit in f(k) extrema which are nearly the same for all members of the series, whereas excitations to different series exhibit a different number and positioning of the extrema. These trends suggest that patterns in generalized oscillator strengths can be used as an experimental tool to probe various types of transitions and to unravel Rydberg series. Comparison of theoretical values with available experimental results indicates close agreement.
A 3.4µW CMOS image sensor with embedded feature-extraction algorithm for motion-triggered object-of-interest imaging

Distributed sensor nodes typically operate under the constraint of limited energy source, and power consumption is an important factor to extend the lifetime of sensor systems. Several low-power imagers have been reported for application to wireless sensor networks [1,2]. However, the biggest power consumption comes from wireless signal transmission due to the large bandwidth of image signals [3]. One way to reduce the bandwidth is to generate signals only when an event happens, by monitoring temporal changes [3-5]. However, this event-based imaging has extraneous redundancy because the sensor may also respond to environmental conditions, such as change of illumination or background movement in addition to actual target objects.
Paracentric inversion polymorphism in the grasshopper Boonacris alticola

Paracentric inversion heterozygosity can be detected at pachytene by observation of frequent regions of asynapsis and reinforced by observation of the elimination of a chiasma in the region of the inversion at diplotene and by a low level of bridges and fragments at anaphase. We present evidence that paracentric inversion polymorphism can persist in a grasshopper population despite a low level of crossing over within the inverted region in heterozygotes. Lethality resulting from aneuploidy due to limited crossing over within the region of the inversion appears to be more than compensated for by heterosis.
Steering Image Generation with Wavelet Based Perceptual Metric

It is often the case that images generated by image synthesis algorithms are judged by visual examination. The user resorts to an iterative refinement process of inspection and rendering until a satisfactory image is obtained. In this paper we propose quantitative metrics to compare images that arise from an image synthesis algorithm. The intent is to be able to guide the refinement process inherent in image synthesis. The Mean-Square-Error (MSE) has been traditionally employed to guide this process. However, it is not a viable metric for image synthesis control. We propose the use of a wavelet based perceptual metric which incorporates the frequency response of the Human Visual System. A useful aspect of the wavelet based metric is its ability to selectively measure the changes to structures of different sizes and scales in specific locations. Also, by resorting to the use of wavelets of various degrees of regularity, one can seek different levels of smoothness in an image. It is rare that such level of control can be obtained from a metric other than a wavelet based metric. We show the usefulness of our metric by examining its effectiveness in providing insights for common operations of an image synthesis algorithm (e.g., blurring). We also provide some examples of its use in rendering algorithms frequently used in graphics.
A microfluidic fluorescence measurement system using an astigmatic diffractive microlens array

We demonstrate an opto-fluidic detection system based on an array of astigmatic diffractive microlenses integrated into a microfluidic flow focus device. Each astigmatic microlens produces a line excitation across the channel and collects fluorescence emission from the linear detection regions. The linear excitation spot results in uniform excitation across the channel and high time resolution in the direction of the flow. Collected fluorescence from each integrated microlens is relayed to a sub-region on a fast CMOS camera. By analyzing the signal from individual microlenses, we demonstrate counting and resolution of 500 nm and 1.1 μm beads at rates of up to 8,300 per second at multiple locations. In addition, a cross-correlation analysis of the signals from different microlenses yields the velocity dispersion of beads traveling through the channel at peak speeds as high as 560 mm/s. Arrays of specifically designed diffractive optics promise to increase the resolution and functionality of opto-fluidic analysis such as flow cytometry and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy.
A 4 k matrix esr study of the radical cations of methyl formate: The primary radical cation and its rearrangement

Abstract It is found that an oxygen-centred n π radical of HCOOCH 3 is produced radiolytically in CFCl 3 at 4.2 K without forming a σ* complex with a matrix molecule. This cation converts into the carbon-centred radical cation HC + (OH)OCH 2 by an intramolecular hydrogen-atom transfer upon warming to 77 K. This is clear experimental evidence for a McLafferty rearrangement of ester radical cations.
Inactivation of Penicillins G and K by Liver and Kidney

The inactivation of penicillin K is more rapid in the renal-ligated rabbit than in the renal-ligated, eviscerate preparation. Inactivation of penicillin K occurs in the presence of surviving liver and kidney slices. Small amounts of penicillin G were inactivated by liver slices; larger amounts disappeared in the presence of kidney slices. The inactivation of penicillin K in the presence of rabbit liver and kidney slices is demonstrable anaerobically as well as aerobically.
Prevalence of Enterococcus faecalis at multiple oral sites in endodontic patients using culture and PCR.

There are conflicting data on the occurrence of Enterococcus faecalis in the oral cavity of endodontic patients. This study investigated the prevalence of E. faecalis in multi-site oral samples (n = 136) from 41 endodontic patients using culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Additionally, culturable strains were investigated for virulence traits. Overall, E. faecalis was detected in at least one tongue, oral rinse, or gingival sulcus sample in 68% of patients and in the root canals only in 5% of patients. In 21 patients from whom samples were obtained from all four sites, E. faecalis was detected in more tongue than gingival sulcus, oral rinse, and root canal samples (43, 14, 10, and 10%, respectively; p = 0.0148, χ2), and in proportionally greater numbers of patients with gingivitis/periodontitis compared to healthy periodontium (73% versus 20%; p = 0.03, Fisher’s exact test). PCR was more sensitive than culture in detecting E. faecalis in oral samples (32% and 4%, respectively; p < 0.0001, McNemar’s test). Multiple virulence traits were identified in culturable strains.
Membrane alterations during cornification of mammalian squamous epithelia: A freeze‐fracture, tracer, and thin‐section study

Tight junctions (zonulae occludentes) create a pericellular barrier to the diffusion of large molecules in non-keratinizing mammalian epithelia. However, in cornifying epithelia such as the epidermis, the importance of tight-junctional elements versus secreted intercellular lipid for barrier function is uncertain. In an attempt to resolve this question, we compared membrane structure in the stratum granulosum and stratum corneum of epidermis, esophagus, and vagina of newborn and adult humans and mice under both normal and various experimental conditions. We incubated pieces of epidermis in organ culture and infused tissues with lanthanum or horseradish peroxidase in vivo and in vitro. All were processed for electron microscopy of freeze-fracture replicas or thin sections. Lanthanum seeped outward to the stratum granulosum in all tissues examined--further apical migration was halted by lamellar-body contents in skin. A similar pattern of intercellular lamellar lipid deposition and membrane structure occurred in all epithelia studied. Freeze-fracture replicas of these obstructive regions revealed occasional, incomplete junctional strands (particularly in moist epithelia) and abundant lamellar material, but complete zonulae occludentes were never encountered. A possible relationship between moisture and tight junction formation was further suggested by organ culture experiments during which brief incubations stimulated an increase in the number of junctional strands and diminished numbers of lamellar bodies. We conclude that, in the epithelia studied, the deposition of secreted lamellar body contents forms the barrier to water-soluble tracer loss: tight-junctional elements are either absent or too fragmentary to constitute an effective barrier.
Carbon isotope stratigraphy of Upper Cambrian (Steptoean Stage) sequences of the eastern Great Basin: Record of a global oceanographic event

A large, global positive excursion in δ 13 C (from ∼0.5 to 4.5‰) during the Late Cambrian Pterocephaliid biomere/Steptoean Stage (Aphelaspis-Elvinia zones) is documented at high stratigraphic resolution in three sections in the eastern Great Basin. The excursion, which we refer to as the Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion, or SPICE excursion, began coincident with a world-wide extinction event. The δ 13 C data from the Great Basin reflect global seawater values in a wide range of lithologies, including oolitic grainstones, wackestones, thrombolitic boundstones, and flat-pebble conglomerates. We use a section at Shingle Pass in the southern Egan Range to divide the Pterocephaliid biomere into eight isotope steps that represent equal divisions of the δ 13 C rise and fall (±4‰). This provides a basis for recognition of a revised chronostratigraphic framework for the Pterocephaliid biomere/Steptoean Stage. Strata deposited during the beginning of the SPICE excursion record a major change in the pattern of sedimentation in the eastern Great Basin. This is reflected in a siliciclastic-carbonate transition at Shingle Pass, Nevada, and a carbonate-siliciclastic transition at the House Range and Lawson Cove sections in Utah. A regional siliciclastic influx recognized throughout the Great Basin occurs near the peak of the SPICE excursion. Carbon isotope analyses from cratonal sections in Wyoming provide independent evidence that a major sedimentary hiatus took place on the craton during the time of the SPICE excursion. The correlated changes in δ 13 C, relative sea level, and the marine biota during the SPICE excursion provide remarkably detailed records of a major paleoceanographic event. We speculate that changes in sea level, climate, or tectonics may have triggered the SPICE excursion and coeval extinction event. Subsequent burial of organic carbon caused the increase in δ 13 C and may have led to an interval of global cooling. The results of this study lend confidence to carbon-isotopic studies of pre-Mesozoic rocks.
Larger ATV engine size correlates with an increased rate of traumatic brain injury

Abstract Introduction Since the introduction of all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to the United States in 1971, injuries and mortalities related to their use have increased significantly. Furthermore, these vehicles have become larger and more powerful. As there are no helmet requirements or limitations on engine-size in the State of Alabama, we hypothesised that larger engine size would correlate with an increased incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in patients following an ATV crash. Methods Patient and ATV data were prospectively collected on all ATV crashes presenting to a level one trauma centre from September 2010 to May 2013. Collected data included: demographics, age of driver, ATV engine size, presence of helmet, injuries, and outcomes. The data were grouped according to the ATV engine size in cubic centimetres (cc). For the purposes of this study, TBI was defined as any type of intracranial haemorrhage on the initial computed tomography scan. Results There were 61 patients identified during the study period. Two patients (3%) were wearing a helmet at the time of injury. Patients on an ATV with an engine size of 350 cc or greater had higher Injury Severity Scores (13.9 vs. 7.5, p ≤ 0.05) and an increased incidence of TBI (26% vs. 0%, p ≤ 0.05) when compared to patients on ATV's with an engine size less than 350 cc. Conclusions Patients on an ATV with an engine size of 350 cc or greater were more likely to have a TBI. The use of a helmet was rarely present in this cohort. Legislative efforts to implement rider protection laws for ATVs are warranted.
The top 10 greatest screen legends and what their definitive roles demonstrate about management and organizational behaviour

Those interested in using multimedia films for the purpose of illustrating, critiquing and even correcting behaviour in organizations face a daunting array of choices from training films to television to full length movies. The authors suggest that the top screen 'legends' of Hollywood and their definitive roles should be considered as an alternative for accomplishing this task. To assist in this endeavour, a table is constructed summarizing the top legends based on a recent survey conducted by the American Film Institute. In this paper the 'best films' are specified. Links from the literature on organizational behaviour and management are provided and an application is given.
The Ethics of Self-Care

The medical academy's primary ethical imperative may be to care for others, but this imperative is meaningless if divorced from the imperative to care for oneself. How can we hope to care for others if we, ourselves, are crippled by ill health, burnout, or resentment? The self-care imperative, however, is almost entirely ignored by medical academicians and professional ethicists. Indeed, biomedical ethics focuses almost exclusively on the application of universal ethi- cal principles to the treatment of patients and the protection of research subjects, discounting, even hindering, the introspection essential to the practice of ethical self-care. If we are to heed the self-care imperative, medical academicians must turn to an ethics that not only encourages, but even demands care of the self. We must turn to narrative ethics. Since narrative is central to the understanding, crea- tion, and recreation of ourselves, we can truly care for ourselves only by attending to our self-creating stories. Narrative ethics brings these stories to our attention; so doing, it allows us to honor the self-care imperative.
An all purpose dispersive multiconductor interconnect model compatible with PRIMA

This paper describes a new, transmission line-based discrete model for interconnects with per-unit-length, frequency-dependent resistance and inductance. The proposed model is developed in such a manner that the resulting discrete form of Telegrapher's equations constitutes a passive system, and is compatible with passive, reduced-order macromodeling algorithms. The validity of the proposed model is demonstrated through numerical examples.
Homopolar Micromotor with Liquid Metal Rotor

In this paper, we present fabrication, test, and simulation results of a homopolar micromotor with liquid metal rotor. The micromotor's stator is fabricated in a highly doped silicon wafer in which a droplet of liquid metal (rotor) is placed. The stator-rotor assembly is attached on top of the neodymium magnet. A DC current in the x-y plane in the presence of the magnetic field in the z direction generates an electromagnetic force which rotates the liquid metal. Using liquid rotor simplifies electrical connection to the rotating part and reduces friction and power loss in the micromotor. A 4times4times5 mm3 prototype of such a homopolar micromotor was fabricated. A rotation speed of 100 rpm was measured at 0.5 V (14 mA current consumption).
Mentorship in the Context of Interdisciplinary Geriatric Research: Lessons Learned from the RAND/Hartford Program for Building Interdisciplinary Geriatric Research Centers

In light of the growing trend toward formalized research mentorship for effectively transmitting the values, standards, and practices of science from one generation of researchers to the next, this article provides the results of an exploratory study. It reports on research mentorship in the context of interdisciplinary geriatric research based on experiences with the RAND/Hartford Program for Building Interdisciplinary Geriatric Research Centers. At the end of the 2-year funding period, staff from the RAND Coordinating Center conducted 60- to 90-minute open-ended telephone interviews with the co-directors of the seven centers. Questions focused on interdisciplinary mentorship activities, barriers to implementing these activities, and strategies for overcoming them, as well as a self-assessment tool with regard to programs, policies, and structures across five domains, developed to encourage research mentorship. In addition, the mentees at the centers were surveyed to assess their experiences with interdisciplinary mentoring and the center. According to the interviewees, some barriers to successful interdisciplinary mentoring included the mentor's lack of time, structural support, and the lack of a clear definition of interdisciplinary research. Most centers had formal policies in place for mentor identification and limited policies on mentor incentives. Mentees uniformly reported their relationships with their mentors as positive. More than 50% of mentees reported having a primary mentor from within their discipline and had more contact with their primary mentor than their secondary mentors. Further research is needed to understand the complexity of institutional levers that emerging programs might employ to encourage and support research mentorship.
Technological frames: making sense of information technology in organizations

In this article, we build on and extend research into the cognitions and values of users and designers by proposing a systematic approach for examining the underlying assumptions, expectations, and knowledge that people have about technology. Such interpretations of technology (which we call technological frames) are central to understanding technological development, use, and change in organizations. We suggest that where the technological frames of key groups in organizations—such as managers, technologists, and users— are significantly different, difficulties and conflict around the development, use, and change of technology may result. We use the findings of an empirical study to illustrate how the nature, value, and use of a groupware technology were interpreted by various organizational stakeholders, resulting in outcomes that deviated from those expected. We argue that technological frames offer an interesting and useful analytic perspective for explaining an anticipating actions and meanings that are not easily obtained with other theoretical lenses.
Ignorance, error, and information in the classic theory of decision

This paper introduces an additional dimension of incompleteness or inaccuracy of information held by the decision maker. Up to this time decision theory, applicable to any level of living system, most usually the organism, has looked at situations in which there were varying degrees of ignorance about the connections between actions selected by the decision maker and the occurrence of states of affairs which the decision maker values to varying degrees. Here are introduced two notions relating to the decision maker's knowledge of states of affairs which may develop. The first is ignorance. A decision maker is ignorant if there are states of affairs which may come about as a consequence of actions open to him, but about whose possibility he is ignorant. The second is error. A decision maker commits error if he makes decisions in the belief that there is a set of outcomes which may occur, but which, in fact, includes some states of affairs which can not occur. The effects of these two types of divergence between the actual and perceived state of the world are examined under some reasonable assumptions. Under conditions of certainty, risk, and uncertainty, the probability of making mistakes and the expected cost of these mistakes are investigated. The notion of irrationality, it is suggested, can be replaced by the behavioral notion of being in a state of error or ignorance.
Towards a Verifiable Real-Time, Autonomic, Fault Mitigation Framework for Large Scale Real-Time Systems

Designing autonomic fault responses is difficult, particularly in large-scale systems, as there is no single ‘perfect’ fault mitigation response to a given failure. The design of appropriate mitigation actions depend upon the goals and state of the application and environment. Strict time deadlines in real-time systems further exacerbate this problem. Any autonomic behavior in such systems must not only be functionally correct but should also conform to properties of liveness, safety and bounded time responsiveness. This paper details a real-time fault-tolerant framework, which uses a reflex and healing architecture to provide fault mitigation capabilities for large-scale real-time systems. At the heart of this architecture is a real-time reflex engine, which has a state-based failure management logic that can respond to both event- and time-based triggers. We also present a semantic domain for verifying properties of systems, which use this framework of real-time reflex engines. Lastly, a case study, which examines the details of such an approach, is presented.
Exploring the utility of institutional theory in analysing international health agency stasis and change

Of recent interest is the capacity of international health agencies to adapt to changes in the global health environment and country needs. Yet, little is known about the potential benefits of using social science institutional theory, such as path dependency and institutional change theory, to explain why some international agencies, such as the WHO and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, fail to adapt, whereas others, such as the World Bank and UNAIDS, have. This article suggests that these institutional theories can help to better understand these differences in international agency adaptive capacity, while highlighting new areas of policy research and analysis.
Learning essays and the reflective learner: supporting assessment in engineering design education

Assessment in experience-based engineering design education can be difficult. Learning essays are short compositions in which students make observations on their experiences, explore the implications of the observations, and articulate the lessons they are learning. The Reflective Learner is a Web-based environment created in order to support both learner and instructors, with the overhead and difficulties that can be associated with the learning essay task. Georgia Tech instructors of Mechanical Engineering design have been using learning essays for over 10 years to support goals of individual assessment of students and getting students to reflect on their learning. The author has been studying the unsupported activity for over a year and studying the activity as supported by the Reflective Learner for several months. In the process of studying the types of information present in the essays, it has become apparent that learning essays can support other classroom goals. In particular, information present in learning essays about students emerging understandings of design and learning from experience can support teachers in expanding their pedagogical domain knowledge and subsequently in making critical teaching decisions. In this paper, the author illustrates these themes using passages taken from learning essays written during the Fall, 1996 academic term.
Modeling male reproductive strategies and optimal mate number in an orb-web spider

It is widely accepted that males maximize their reproductive success by maximizing their number of mates. However, empirical evidence shows that males, like females, may use complex strategies to allocate their reproductive investment, and optimize, rather than maximize, their mate number. We use a dynamic state model to evaluate male mating strategies and mate number in the golden orb-web spider Nephila clavipes. In this spider, males move among female webs and compete to copulate with the web owner. Pre- and postcopulatory competition for fertilizations is a function of female age and mated status. Thus, males experience a heterogeneous mating environment. In addition, because males have very limited sperm, there is strong selection on males to optimize their mating strategies. We determine the major factors that limit male mate number and assess whether males use size-based strategies to maximize their reproductive success. Results suggest that there is more than one mate number optimum for males. Male reproductive success from mating monogynously with a virgin female is similar to reproductive success from mating promiscuously. Mean reproductive success decreases over the course of the season. Mate guarding and mating multiply are traded-off by males depending on potential reproductive rate and male size. Variation in female quality favors multiple mating but not choosiness unless the costs of reproduction are extreme. Finally, males of different sizes achieve similar reproductive success but employ size-dependent strategies Key words: body size, male mate choice, multiple mating, sperm depletion. [Behav Ecol]
Quality Control for Bacteriological Analyses

Bacteriological analyses in environmental biology laboratories differ from those performed in their clinical counterparts in that quantitative results are commonly required.
Event-related distress in kidney disease patients

Background. Non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis-dependent Stage 5 CKD (CKD5) are associated with a significant physical and psychosocial burden. Little is known, however, about the impact of stressful life events on CKD and CKD5 patients. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stressful life events in CKD and CKD5 patients and identify the factors correlated with high levels of event-related distress. Methods. This cross-sectional study’s sample consisted of 181 patients (91 with non-dialysis-dependent CKD Stages 4 and 5, 90 with CKD5) who filled out the Impact of Event Scale (IES), which measures subjective distress related to stressful life events. Other measures included scores from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI). Results. One hundred and three subjects reported stressors on the IES. Almost half the stressors (49.5%) related to personal health; the rest fell into other categories. There were significant differences between the no stressor, low event-related distress and high event-related distress groups in age (P < 0.001), PHQ-9 score (P < 0.001) and DSI score (P ¼ 0.002). After adjustment, PHQ-9 score was associated with high event-related distress [odds ratio (OR) 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.32], as was DSI score (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.07) in a separate model. Conclusions. Event-related distress is common in CKD and CKD5 patients. High event-related distress is associated with worse depressive symptoms and greater somatic and emotional symptom burden, even with adjustments for age and gender. The renal practitioner may need to address patients’ event-related distress in order to provide optimal care.
Hippocampal–medial prefrontal circuit supports memory updating during learning and post-encoding rest

Learning occurs in the context of existing memories. Encountering new information that relates to prior knowledge may trigger integration, whereby established memories are updated to incorporate new content. Here, we provide a critical test of recent theories suggesting hippocampal (HPC) and medial prefrontal (MPFC) involvement in integration, both during and immediately following encoding. Human participants with established memories for a set of initial (AB) associations underwent fMRI scanning during passive rest and encoding of new related (BC) and unrelated (XY) pairs. We show that HPC-MPFC functional coupling during learning was more predictive of trial-by-trial memory for associations related to prior knowledge relative to unrelated associations. Moreover, the degree to which HPC-MPFC functional coupling was enhanced following overlapping encoding was related to memory integration behavior across participants. We observed a dissociation between anterior and posterior MPFC, with integration signatures during post-encoding rest specifically in the posterior subregion. These results highlight the persistence of integration signatures into post-encoding periods, indicating continued processing of interrelated memories during rest. We also interrogated the coherence of white matter tracts to assess the hypothesis that integration behavior would be related to the integrity of the underlying anatomical pathways. Consistent with our predictions, more coherent HPC-MPFC white matter structure was associated with better performance across participants. This HPC-MPFC circuit also interacted with content-sensitive visual cortex during learning and rest, consistent with reinstatement of prior knowledge to enable updating. These results show that the HPC-MPFC circuit supports on- and offline integration of new content into memory.
Does welfare reduce poverty

Abstract The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 made fundamental changes in the federal system of public assistance in the United States, and specifically limited the eligibility of immigrant households to receive many types of aid. Many states chose to protect their immigrant populations from the presumed adverse effects of welfare reform by offering state-funded assistance to these groups. I exploit these changes in eligibility rules to examine the link between welfare and poverty rates in the immigrant population. My empirical analysis documents that the welfare cutbacks did not increase poverty rates. The immigrant families most affected by welfare reform responded by substantially increasing their labor supply, thereby raising their family income and slightly lowering their poverty rate. In the targeted immigrant population, therefore, welfare does not reduce poverty; it may actually increase it.
Tetra­aqua­bis{μ2-2,7-bis­[(2,6-diisopropyl­phen­yl)imino­meth­yl]naphthalene-1,8-diolato}di-μ3-hydroxido-di-μ2-hydroxido-bis­(trimethyl­phosphine oxide)tetra­nickel(II)–trimethyl­phosphine oxide–diethyl ether–water (1/2/2/2)

The title complex, [Ni4(C36H40N2O2)2(OH)4(C3H9OP)2(H2O)4]·2C4H10O·2C3H9OP·2H2O, is centrosymmetric with a central core that can be described as a defect double cubane. The four metal ions in the cluster are held together by four bridging hydroxide groups. Each NiII atom adopts a distorted octa­hedral geometry.
Arabidopsis: An Adequate Model for Dicot Root Systems?

The Arabidopsis root system is frequently considered to have only three classes of root: primary, lateral, and adventitious. Research with other plant species has suggested up to 8 different developmental/functional classes of root for a given plant root system. If Arabidopsis has only three classes of root, it may not be an adequate model for eudicot plant root systems. Recent research, however, can be interpreted to suggest that pre-flowering Arabidopsis does have at least five (5) of these classes of root. This then suggests that Arabidopsis root research can be considered an adequate model for eudicot plant root systems.
Two Cases of Unusual Development of Fruit Bodies

Those who are familiar with fleshy Agaricales know that the geotropic response which results in an orientation of pores, gills, or other spore bearing surfaces perpendicular to the surface of the earth, sometimes goes awry, especially if fruit bodies are diseased or mechanically injured. Fruit bodies produced in unnatural environments, as on agar cultures or on wood in jars, sometimes exhibit a capricious orientation of pores or gills, indicating that forces other than gravity are involved in such orientation. Following will be described two interesting cases of such nongeotropic development. The first case involves an agaric (Russula sp., tentatively identified as R. atropurpurea Peck) observed at Itasca Park, Minnesota, in September, 1937. More than a decade before that time several pits about 5 feet square and 4 to 5 feet deep had been dug for experimental purposes in the level ground in a Jack pine stand. During a rainy spell in September, 1937, when fleshy fungi were rather abundant, the writer observed 2 fruit bodies of this species of Russula growing out of the vertical walls of one of the pits. One appeared about a foot from the surface of the ground, the second about 2 feet from the surface and on an adjoining wall. The stem of each, although short, extended straight out from the vertical wall, no upward curve being visible. The cap in each case was parellel to the wall. The gills were normal, although the free edges of those on the upper side bent over as they lost their turgidity with age, as can be seen in figure 1. In other words, the fruit bodies were oriented in the same way to the perpendicular surface from which they grew, as fruit bodies growing on approximately
Ab initio continuum model for the influence of local stress on cross-slip of screw dislocations in fcc metals

We develop a model of cross-slip in face-centered cubic (fcc) metals based on an extension of the Peierls-Nabarro representation of the dislocation core. The dissociated core is described by a group of parametric fractional Volterra dislocations, subject to their mutual elastic interaction and a lattice-restoring force. The elastic interaction between them is computed from a nonsingular expression, while the lattice force is derived from the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ surface obtained directly from ab initio calculations. Using a network-based formulation of dislocation dynamics, the dislocation core structure is not restricted to be planar, and the activation energy is determined for a path where the core has three-dimensional equilibrium configurations. We show that the activation energy for cross-slip in Cu is $1.9\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\text{eV}$ when the core is represented by only two Shockley partials, while this value converges to $1.43\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\text{eV}$ when the core is distributed over a bundle of 20 Volterra partial fractional dislocations. The results of the model compare favorably with the experimental value of $1.15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.37\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\text{eV}$ [J. Bonneville and B. Escaig, Acta Metall. 27, 1477 (1979)]. We also show that the cross-slip activation energy decreases significantly when the core is in a particular local stress field. Results are given for a representative uniform ``Escaig'' stress and for the nonuniform stress field at the head of a dislocation pileup. A local homogeneous stress field is found to result in a significant reduction of the cross-slip energy. Additionally, for a nonhomogeneous stress field at the head of a five-dislocation pileup compressed against a Lomer-Cottrell junction, the cross-slip energy is found to decrease to $0.62\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\text{eV}$. The relatively low values of the activation energy in local stress fields predicted by the proposed model suggest that cross-slip events are energetically more favorable in strained fcc crystals.
The Leaving Group Strongly Affects H2O2-Induced DNA Cross-Linking by Arylboronates

We evaluated the effects of the benzylic leaving group and core structure of arylboronates on H2O2-induced formation of bisquinone methides for DNA interstrand cross-linking. The mechanism of DNA cross-linking induced by these arylboronates involves generation of phenol intermediates followed by departure of benzylic leaving groups leading to QMs which directly cross-link DNA via alkylation. The QM formation is the rate-determining step for DNA cross-linking. A better leaving group (Br) and stepwise bisquinone methide formation increased interstrand cross-linking efficiency. These findings provide essential guidelines for designing novel anticancer prodrugs.
Quantum electrodynamics near a photonic bandgap

Using a superconducting transmon qubit coupled to a microwave photonic crystal one can study intriguing strong-coupling effects such as the emergence of localized cavity modes within the photonic bandgap.
Application of Supersonic Active Arc Spraying Technique to Corrosion Protection of Grounding Net

Based on analyzing the corrosion mechanism of ground network,it is proposed that conductive anticorrosion coating be prepared by supersonic active arc spraying technique to solve the poor corrosion resistance problem of ground network material at present.The working principles of the supersonic active arc spraying technique and its application feasibility on corrosion protection of ground network are analyzed.The design ideas of conductive anticorrosion coating for ground network in the future are also put forward.
Pain modulation effect of breathing-controlled electrical stimulation (BreEStim) is not likely to be mediated by deep and fast voluntary breathing

Voluntary breathing-controlled electrical stimulation (BreEStim), a novel non-invasive and non-pharmacological treatment protocol for neuropathic pain management, was reported to selectively reduce the affective component of pain possibly by increasing pain threshold. The underlying mechanisms involved in the analgesic effect of BreEStim were considered to result from combination of multiple internal pain coping mechanisms triggered during BreEStim. Findings from our recent studies have excluded possible roles of acupuncture and aversiveness and habituation of painful electrical stimulation in mediating the analgesia effect of BreEStim. To further investigate the possible role of voluntary breathing during BreEStim, the effectiveness of fast and deep voluntary breathing-only and BreEStim on experimentally induced pain was compared in healthy human subjects. Results showed no change in electrical pain threshold after Breathing-only, but a significant increase in electrical pain threshold after BreEStim. There was no statistically significant change in other thresholds after Breathing-only and BreEStim. The findings suggest that the analgesic effect of BreEStim is not likely attributed to fast and deep voluntary breathing. Possible mechanisms are discussed.
Modulation of Cell Death in Neural Cell Lines and Transplants

The majority of transplanted neural cells fail to survive for more than a few days or weeks, and in many transplants, 90 to 98% of transplanted cells undergo cell death within this time period. Therefore, the study of the mechanisms controlling neural cell death is of relevance to the optimization of neural transplants. The predominant mode of neural cell death following trophic factor withdrawal is apoptosis. Gene products controlling neural apoptosis in both a positive and negative way have been discovered and characterized. Some of these gene products also control non-apoptotic cell death; therefore, an investigation of the role(s) of pro-apoptotic genes in limiting transplant survival is warranted. In addition, an evaluation of the effects of expressing anti-apoptotic genes in limiting transplant survival is also warranted. An evaluation of the effects of expressing anti-apoptotic genes in neural transplants is, thus, appropriate, and preliminary results in this area have been obtained.
Discrete-time implementations of sliding mode control

Sliding mode control is a framework which offers guarantees of stability robustness and asymptotic convergence, but the theory which provides these guarantees assumes a continuous-time controller capable of instantaneous change in control action once the sliding manifold is crossed. This immediate change in control action cannot be realized in real-world digital controllers, decreasing system performance and making the robust stability guarantees not strictly applicable. A variety of approaches have been proposed for the discrete-time implementation of sliding-type controllers, and here their robustness and convergence are investigated at varying sampling rates in control of a nonlinear, continuous-time system. The stability of a discrete sliding mode controller for an uncertain system is then investigated.
Intramolecular Diels–Alder Reactions

The Diels–Alder reaction, first described in 1928,1 has enjoyed widespread use in organic synthesis.2 This [4 + 2] cycloaddition is particularly valuable in that it forms two bonds in a cyclohexenyl system with simultaneous creation of up to four new stereocenters. Curiously, the intramolecular version in which the diene and dienophile are tethered by a connecting chain was not investigated for many years. Alder and Schumaker reported the first example of the intramolecular reaction in 1953,3 but it was not until the early 1960s that additional examples began to appear in the literature.4 Since the mid-1970s, however, a virtual explosion of interest in this reaction has occurred.5 The increased reactivity (due to favorable entropy considerations) and heightened regioselectivity (due to constraints posed by the connecting chain), as well as the potential for the synthesis of stereochemically complex polycyclic ring systems, account for the growth of applications of this reaction in organic and particularly natural products synthesis.
Model-based fault diagnosis and prognosis for Electric Power Steering systems

Electric Power Steering (EPS) is an advanced steering system that consists of two subsystems: electrical and mechanical subsystems. EPS systems not only provide steering assist to drivers but they are also actuators for recently developed active safety features, such as lane keeping and lane changing assist. Failure of some component of the EPS system can lead to walk-home situations and increased warranty costs. Hence, for the improvement of reliability, safety, and efficiency of EPS systems, fault detection, diagnosis, and prognosis become increasingly important. This paper provides fault detection for EPS systems through model-based techniques using parameter estimation to determine the current electric parameters of the EPS motor. In addition, by monitoring the deviation of the self-aligning torque (SAT) estimated from two different methods, changes in EPS mechanical parameters can be detected. The progression of this deviation can be fed into a health state estimator which can give an indication of state of health and remaining useful life. Computer simulations as well as hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experiments are provided to illustrate this method. Finally, for integrated system diagnosis and fault isolation, a fault signature table is constructed based on estimations of motor parameters, calculations of road SAT, and residuals of parity equations. This table can be used to detect and isolate considered electrical, mechanical, and sensor faults in the EPS system and simulation results are shown to verify the developed ideas.