cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Empirical advances in the assessment of the capacity to consent to medical treatment: clinical implications and research needs.

Abstract The clinical evaluation of capacity to consent to treatment occurs in the medical setting and is based on legal foundations of informed consent and capacity. Clinical judgment is still the “gold standard” for capacity determination, although it can be unreliable. In the past 10 years the empirical basis for these assessments has been advanced considerably by the introduction of a number of instruments designed to assess capacity to consent to treatment. In this paper, we review studies, mostly with older adult populations, that consider the cognitive and non-cognitive correlates of consent capacity, rates of impaired capacity in various patient groups, the relation of instrument-based to clinician-based capacity assessment, and the inter-rater and test–retest reliability of consent capacity assessment. We also overview key research focusing on factors influencing, and procedural and processing variables involved in, medical decision-making. We conclude that these studies have yielded quite varied results, and promote no consensus regarding the reliability and validity of instrument-based consent capacity assessment. Overall, the results of these studies provide some guidance for clinicians, but, at present, practitioners should view these instruments as supplemental resources rather than benchmarks for assessment. However, this first generation of instruments provides a good foundation for future research, which should continue to systematically study aspects of reliability and validity, most especially construct validity, in well-defined patient populations.
Biomimetic self-assembling copolymer-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites with the nanocrystal size controlled by citrate

Citrate binds strongly to the surface of calcium phosphate (apatite) nanocrystals in bone and is thought to prevent crystal thickening. In this work, citrate added as a regulatory element enabled molecular control of the size and stability of hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocrystals in synthetic nanocomposites, fabricated with self-assembling block copolymer templates. The decrease of the HAp crystal size within the polymer matrix with increasing citrate concentration was documented by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the shapes of HAp nanocrystals were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Advanced NMR techniques were used to characterize the interfacial species and reveal enhanced interactions between mineral and organic matrix, concomitant with the size effects. The surface-to-volume ratios determined by NMR spectroscopy and long-range 31P{1H} dipolar dephasing show that 2, 10, and 40 mM citrate changes the thicknesses of the...
A high-speed, on-chip implementation of Teager Kaiser operator for in-band interference rejection

The Teager-Kaiser (T-K) energy operator has been proposed in the digital signal processing community for applications such as speech processing and AM-FM demodulation. Recently, it has also been proposed for narrowband interference rejection in ultra wide band (UWB) impulse radio (TR) systems. However, sampling the signal and performing the energy operation in the digital domain is impractical for high frequency signals. In this paper we present an analog implementation of the Teager-Kaiser operator using LC-delay lines and balanced multipliers. The fabricated circuit consumes 2.6mW and was measured to reject in-band interferers 17 times (∼25dB) larger the amplitude than the signal. The design works up to 4.5GHz, for a signal bandwidth of 500MHz-1.3GHz. The design was also measured to work well with up to 500Mbps BFSK demodulation and AM pulse demodulation.
The Effects of Positive Peer Reporting as a Class-Wide Positive Behavior Support

School-wide , selective , and individual positive behavioral supports are critical elements of a comprehensive , tiered model of service delivery. Positive peer reporting (PPR) involves brief highly structured sessions during which peers are provided the opportunity to praise the behavior of target students. PPR procedures were modified in this study to provide all children in a classroom the opportunity to provide or receive peer praise. The effects of class-wide PPR on teacher-recorded critical events were evaluated using a multiple baseline design across two classrooms. Results indicated marginal improvement across the two settings , as well as supplemental measures of behavior outside of the classroom and class-wide sociometric nominations. Implications for future research and emerging models of school-wide PBS are discussed. Class-wide positive behavior supports have tremendous appeal over interventions targeting individual students. Class-wide positive behavior supports target many more students in need of support (cost-effective), exclude no students from the benefits of the intervention (equity), and capitalize on the superior efficacy of prevention and early intervention efforts. More importantly, perhaps, class-wide positive behavior supports address a primary limitation of interventions that occur outside of the student's natural instructional environment, which is the failure to demonstrate generalization of effects to the student's system of peers and teachers (DuPaul & Eckert, 1994).
Bacteroides fragilis endocarditis in a patient with Crohn's disease

Bacteroides fragilis is an uncommon cause of endocarditis and its occurrence in Crohn's disease has never been reported. We present a case of a B fragilis bacteraemia and endocarditis caused by seeding of left ventricular thrombus formed secondary to severe left ventricular dysfunction. A 44-years-old man with a history of persistent bloody diarrhoea for many years presented with 1-month duration of generalised weakness, malaise, fever and chills. The patient also developed right foot pain associated with cyanotic discolouration. On examination, he was cachectic and his right foot was pulseless, cold and blue in colour. Echocardiogram showed three intraventricular echo densities. Colonoscopy revealed multiple fistulous openings and blood cultures grew B fragilis. He was treated with intravenous metronidazole and underwent a proctocolectomy with ileostomy. Biopsy of the specimen confirmed Crohn's disease. This case emphasises the importance of identifying anaerobic bacteria as an uncommon but important cause of endocarditis and recognise likely source.
Investigations relating to the absorption of precipitation and its penetration to the zone of saturation

This paper deals briefly with the methods and results from three separate investigations that are in progress as to the quantity of rain-water that percolates downward to the water-table in the localities where it falls. 1. Workers in the Department of Agriculture, under the direction of W. W. McLaughlin and in cooperation with the California State Department of Public Works, have used several related methods to intercept and measure the rainfall-penetration. H. F. Blaney and C. A. Taylor have conducted these tests near Los Angeles. A report covering this work, with H. F. Blaney, C. A. Taylor, and A. A. Young as co-authors, will be published in the near future as a bulletin by the State of California, Department of Public Works, Division of Water Resources. Rough sketches of some of the apparatus used are shown in Figures 1 and 2.
MOCVD-Grown AlGaN Buffer GaN HEMTs With V-Gates for Microwave Power Applications

We report the performance of AlGaN buffer GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. GaN HEMTs on high-quality AlGaN buffer were grown on SiC substrates. The incorporation of an AlGaN buffer into the GaN HEMT significantly improves channel confinement and suppresses the short-channel effect. Advanced deep-recess V-gate structures were employed to optimize the device for better microwave power performance. With a 10- nm GaN channel layer sandwiched between the AlGaN barrier and buffer, excellent power performance was achieved. The output power density is 13.1 W/mm, and the associated power-added efficiency is 72% at 4-GHz frequency and 48- V drain bias. This power performance is comparable to the state-of-the-art GaN HEMTs grown on GaN buffers, indicating that the AlGaN buffer in our optimized device structure does not introduce any noticeable trapping.
Quantitative photoacoustic microscopy of optical absorption coefficients from acoustic spectra in the optical diffusive regime

Photoacoustic (PA) microscopy (PAM) can image optical absorption contrast with ultrasonic spatial resolution in the optical diffusive regime. Conventionally, accurate quantification in PAM requires knowledge of the optical fluence attenuation, acoustic pressure attenuation, and detection bandwidth. We circumvent this requirement by quantifying the optical absorption coefficients from the acoustic spectra of PA signals acquired at multiple optical wavelengths. With the acoustic spectral method, the absorption coefficients of an oxygenated bovine blood phantom at 560, 565, 570, and 575 nm were quantified with errors of <3%. We also quantified the total hemoglobin concentration and hemoglobin oxygen saturation in a live mouse. Compared with the conventional amplitude method, the acoustic spectral method provides greater quantification accuracy in the optical diffusive regime. The limitations of the acoustic spectral method was also discussed.
Yawning and Stretching-a Behavioral Syndrome Associated with Transcranial Application of Electromagnetic Fields in Multiple Sclerosis

Intracerebral administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) elicits in experimental animals a yawning stretching behavior which is believed to reflect an arousal response mediated through the septohippocampal cholinergic neurons. A surge in plasma ACTH levels at night and just prior to awakening from sleep is also associated in humans with yawning and stretching behavior. Recurrent episodes of uncontrollable yawning and body stretching, identical to those observed upon awakening from physiological sleep, occur in a subset of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) during transcranial therapeutic application of AC pulsed electromagnetic fields of picotesla flux density. This behavioral response has been observed exclusively in young female patients who are fully ambulatory with a relapsing remitting course of the disease who also demonstrate a distinctly favorable therapeutic response to magnetic stimulation. ACTH is employed for the treatment of MS due to its immunomodulatory effects and a surge in its release in response to AC pulsed magnetic stimulation could explain some of the mechanism by which these fields improve symptoms of the disease.
Entomologic and Agronomic Evaluations of 18 Sweet Sorghum Cultivars for Biofuel in Florida

ABSTRACT Sweet sorghum [(Sorghum bicolor L. Moench); Cyperales: Poaceae] is a summer annual crop suitable for use as a biofuel feedstock. The juice from harvested sweet sorghum stalks can be readily converted into ethanol. The purpose of this study was to identify potential arthropod pests of promising sweet sorghum cultivars grown for biofuel on Histosols (muck soil) in southern Florida. This field study was conducted at the Everglades Research and Education Center at Belle Glade, Florida in 2010. Eighteen sweet sorghum cultivars planted at 3 dates were evaluated for insect feeding. Foliar damage was measured during the whorl stage and boring within stalks was measured at harvest. Seedling damage caused by Elasmopalpus lignosellus Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reduced the stand of most of the cultivars tested. Foliar feeding by Spodoptera frugiperda L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae was significantly affected by cultivar and plantin...
Use of pertussis toxin encoded by ptx genes from Bordetella bronchiseptica to model the effects of antigenic drift of pertussis toxin on antibody neutralization

Recently, concern has been voiced about the potential effect that antigenic divergence of circulating strains of Bordetella pertussis might have on the efficacy of pertussis vaccines. In order to model antigenic drift of pertussis toxin, a critical component of many pertussis vaccines, and to examine the effects of such drift on antibody neutralization, we engineered a strain of B. pertussis to produce a variant pertussis toxin molecule that contains many of the amino acid changes found in the toxin encoded by Bordetella bronchiseptica ptx genes. This altered form of the toxin, which is efficiently secreted by B. pertussis and which displays significant biological activity, was found to be neutralized by antibodies induced by vaccination as readily as toxin produced by wild-type B. pertussis. These findings suggest that significant amino acid changes in the pertussis toxin sequence can occur without drastically altering the ability of antibodies to recognize and neutralize the toxin molecule.
Cyclic diguanosine monophosphate represses bacterial flagella synthesis by interacting with the Walker A motif of the enhancer-binding protein FleQ

The transcription factor FleQ is a bacterial AAA+ ATPase enhancer-binding protein that is the master activator of flagella gene expression in the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Homologs of FleQ are present in all Pseudomonas species and in many polarly flagellated gamma proteobacteria. Cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a second messenger that controls the transition between planktonic and biofilm modes of growth in bacteria in response to diverse environmental signals. C-di-GMP binds to FleQ to dampen its activity, causing down-regulation of flagella gene expression. This action is potentiated in the simultaneous presence of another protein, FleN. We explored the effect of c-di-GMP and FleN on the ATPase activity of FleQ and found that a relatively low concentration of c-di-GMP competitively inhibited FleQ ATPase activity, suggesting that c-di-GMP competes with ATP for binding to the Walker A motif of FleQ. Confirming this, a FleQ Walker A motif mutant failed to bind c-di-GMP. FleN, whose gene is regulated by FleQ, also inhibited FleQ ATPase activity, and FleQ ATPase activity was much more inhibited by c-di-GMP in the presence of FleN than in its absence. These results indicate that FleN and c-di-GMP cooperate to inhibit FleQ activity and, by extension, flagella synthesis in P. aeruginosa. The Walker A motif of FleQ is perfectly conserved, opening up the possibility that other AAA+ ATPases may respond to c-di-GMP.
Current Status of Measuring Clinical Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Are We Good Enough?

Assessment of clinical outcome is necessary to determine the benefits of advances in ACL reconstruction. Evaluation of clinical outcome should include measurements of structure and function of the ACL and knee joint, as well as measures of activity and participation of the individual. This should include measurements of anatomical structure of the ACL, laxity, range of motion, symptoms, ability to perform high-demand activities and participate in sports, and in the long-term, development of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this paper is to review the current status and limitations of existing clinical outcome measures that should be used to evaluate the effects of ACL reconstruction.
Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of a 99m/99Tc-DADT-Benzovesamicol: a potential marker for cholinergic neurons

Abstract The diaminodithiol (DADT) ligand has been conjugated to the neuromuscular blocking agent benzovesamicol (BVM) in the 5-position. DADT-BVM 1 was synthesized by coupling of 5-aminomethylbenzovesamicol with a BCA thiolactone reagent. 99m Tc radiolabeling of 1 with [ 99m Tc]glucoheptonate gave a 4.7:1 mixture of two 99m Tc complexes as determined by HPLC. Biodistribution data of the major [ 99m Tc]- 1 complex in CD-1 mice ( n = 4–5) showed very little uptake and no regional selectivity in the mouse brain. At all time points examined, the lung and liver showed the highest uptake. For whole brain, the % injected dose values were 0.27, 0.12, 0.04 and 0.01% at t = 1, 5, 30 and 240 min. The major [ 99m Tc]- 1 product exhibited a log P = 3.13 ± 0.06 (SD) with an IC 50 = 140–280 nM for the corresponding [ 99 Tc]- 1 vs ( − )- N -[ 3 H]methyl-5-aminobenzovesamicol. The low brain uptake of [ 99m Tc]- 1 vs 5-iodobenzovesamicol is attributed to its higher molecular weight (752) and lower binding affinity.
GERONTOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES IN ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN HOME ECONOMICS IN THE UNITED STATES

Some 360 home economics units throughout the U.S. were surveyed in an effort to obtain information concerning the extent to which gerontology has been incorporated into home economics programs. Looked at were such factors as number of courses taught with geron‐tological content, number of qualified instructors and their respective academic backgrounds, and the number of active research programs in which gerontology is a focus. Of the 164 respondents, 141 (86%) reportedly offer academic courses with some gerontological content. Approximately one‐half of the responding institutions offer graduate programs and about 60% were state supported. Eighty‐five of the respondents have at least one faculty member with a minimum of gerontology background, and a total of 57 active research endeavors were listed. Results indicate that gerontology and its related areas are being taught to a large extent in'home economics programs. The diverse nature of gerontology and its applicability to home economics are discussed.
Use of new technology in endourology and laparoscopy by American urologists: Internet and postal survey

Objectives. To assess the use of new technology by American urologists. Methods. Using the American Urological Association directory, surveys were sent via the U.S. postal service to 1000 randomly selected American urologists and 3065 urologists who had an Internet address listed in the directory. Results. Responses were received from 601 urologists (415 postal, 186 Internet). Overall, 81% of survey respondents reported performing fewer or the same number of percutaneous procedures as compared with 3 to 4 years ago and 84% reported carrying out more or the same number of ureteroscopic procedures in the treatment of patients with stone disease. Open dismembered pyeloplasty (43%) and Acucise endopyelotomy (42%) were most frequently reported as the preferred treatment for adult patients with symptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Although 60% of respondents reported that they have taken a laparoscopy course, 67% currently do not perform any laparoscopy in their practice. In addition, only 7% of urologists stated that laparoscopy comprises more than 5% of their practice. When stratified by the number of years in practice, those in practice less than 10 years were more likely than those in practice 10 to 20 years and those in practice longer than 20 years to have performed an endopyelotomy (77%, 60%, and 48%, respectively, P <0.001) and to be currently performing laparoscopy (49%, 36%, and 18%, respectively, P <0.001). Conclusions. Compared with 3 to 4 years ago, American urologists are performing more ureteroscopy and fewer percutaneous stone procedures. Although most urologists have taken laparoscopy courses, this modality has not been widely incorporated into their practices at present.
Family Education and Family Therapy: Tools for Relational Change

In this paper, I wish to outline the substantive base for family education and family therapy in the necessary interaction of family members to secure uniquely human needs -to create a secure and safe base, to belong, to communicate, to have choices within an ethical, relational framework, to grow, to interact, to care for others and to love. Family interaction, if it is successful, creates the context for human development and human care of vulnerable persons -all of us. I will use these reflections on the substance of family interaction briefly to discuss family therapy and family education and raise questions for further work in this area.
Quenchml: A semantics-preserving markup language for knowledge representation in quenching

Knowledge representation KR is an important area in artificial intelligence AI and is often related to specific domains. The representation of knowledge in domain-specific contexts makes it desirable to capture semantics as domain experts would. This motivates the development of semantics-preserving standards for KR within the given domain. In addition to the storage and analysis of information using such standards, the effect of globalization today necessitates the publishing of information on the Web. Thus, it is advisable to use formats that make the information easily publishable and accessible while developing KR standards. In this article, we propose such a standard called Quenching Markup Language QuenchML. This follows the syntax of the eXtensible Markup Language and captures the semantics of the quenching domain within the heat treating of materials. We describe the development of QuenchML, a multidisciplinary effort spanning the realms of AI, database management, and materials science, considering various aspects such as ontology, data modeling, and domain-specific constraints. We also explain the usefulness of QuenchML in semantics-preserving information retrieval and in text mining guided by domain knowledge. Furthermore, we outline the significance of this work in software tools within the field of AI.
Modelling architectural features with Petri nets

In this paper we consider the use of Petri nets and extensions to describe features of existing architectures. Because the main attraction of Petri nets is in their ability to express synchronization and concurrency, our modelling is directed towards high-performance architectures. In particular, we show models for look-ahead processing schemes and the cache coherence problem.
Comparing pelletization and torrefaction depots: optimization of depot capacity and biomass moisture to determine the minimum production cost.

Abstract In the present study, the biomass upgrading depot capacity and biomass feedstock moisture were optimized to obtain the minimum production cost at the depot gate for the production of woody biofuels. Three technology scenarios are considered in this study: (1) conventional pellets (CP), (2) modestly torrefied pellets (TP1) and (3) severely torrefied pellets (TP2). TP1 has the lowest cost of $7.03/GJLHV at a moisture of 33 wt.% and a depot size of 84 MWLHV. The effects of climatic conditions and biomass field conditions were also studied for three scenarios. In humid regions of Michigan, TP2 is more economical than other scenarios because of the increased production of combustible gas. The three scenarios have similar sensitivities to biomass field conditions.
Capsaicin abolishes lipoprivic but not glucoprivic feeding in rats

To assess the contribution of visceral sensory neurons to feeding induced by blockade of glucose and fatty acid metabolism, adult rats were anesthetized and treated systemically with capsaicin, a toxin that destroys fine-diameter unmyelinated primary sensory neurons, including many visceral sensory neurons. Rats were maintained on a fat-supplemented diet throughout experimentation. For feeding tests, intake of this diet was measured hourly for 6 h after systemic blockade of fatty acid or glucose utilization with mercaptoacetate (MA) or 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), respectively, after simultaneous administration of MA and 2-DG and after saline injection. 2-DG stimulated a dose-related feeding response that was similar in magnitude in both capsaicin and vehicle-treated rats. MA also stimulated a dose-related feeding response in vehicle-treated rats. However, capsaicin-treated rats did not eat in response to MA. In addition, 2-DG and MA were additive in their stimulation of feeding in vehicle-treated controls, but capsaicin-treated rats ate the same amount after 2-DG plus MA as they did in response to 2-DG alone. Thus glucoprivation and lipoprivation activate anatomically and chemically distinct receptors for the metabolic control of feeding.
Redistribution of villin to proximal tubule basolateral membranes after ischemia and reperfusion

After ischemia and reperfusion, severe alterations in the cytoskeletal organization of renal tubular epithelial cells have been reported. These effects, accompanied by a modification in the polarized distribution of some membrane transport proteins, are especially evident in the proximal tubule. In normal proximal tubule cells, actin is concentrated in apical brush border microvilli, along with the actin-binding protein villin. Because villin plays an important role in actin bundling and in microvillar assembly but can also act as an actin-fragmenting protein at higher calcium concentrations, we examined the effects of ischemic injury and reperfusion on the distribution of villin and actin in proximal tubule cells of rat kidney. Using specific antibodies against villin and actin, we show that these proteins redistribute in parallel from the apical to the basolateral plasma membrane within 1 h of reperfusion after ischemia. Ischemia alone had no effect on the staining pattern. Repolarization of villin to the apical membrane begins within hours after reperfusion with enhanced apical localization over time during the period of regeneration. This apical repolarization of villin is accompanied by the migration of actin back to the apical membrane. These results show not only that villin may be involved in the initial disruption of the actin cytoskeleton during reperfusion injury but also that its migration back to the apical domain of these cells accompanies the reestablishment of a normal actin distribution in the brush border.
Small-amplitude Langmuir pulse excited by a planar grid electrode in a flowing plasma

The generation and propagation of a small-amplitude Langmuir pulse excited by a planar grid electrode in a spatially uniform collisionless plasma with a constant flow velocity is studied by solving the linearized Vlasov–Poisson equations. The electrode is transparent to the flow of particles, like a screen or a wire mesh. The particles are assumed to have a Kappa velocity distribution, a reasonable approximation for electron distribution functions in the solar wind. Exact, closed-form solutions are obtained for , the Lorentzian distribution, and for . The explicit form of the solution in the case has not, to our knowledge, appeared in the literature before. The properties of the solutions are investigated and a practical technique for measuring the bulk flow velocity in plasma experiments is proposed that may be useful for high-accuracy, high-time-resolution measurements of the bulk flow velocity in the solar wind.
Implementing real-time collaboration in TouchDevelop using AST merges

Collaborating on a piece of code is notoriously difficult when the number of people involved goes above 1. In particular, every computer programmer dreads the "merge conflict", a brutal, unforgiving experience, where they must reconcile their changes with someone else's. If offline collaboration is already so painful, real-time collaboration seems even less of an option. It turns out, though, that by reasoning on changes at the level of the program AST, rather than the program text, we can devise a new conflict-free merge algorithm. The algorithm is particularly well-suited to real-time collaboration: we implemented it in the TouchDevelop web programming environment and dub the algorithm diffTree.
Chi-Square Contingency Table Analysis

This note describes the chi-square statistic as applied to independence tests using contingency table data. The independence test checks to see if two (or more) categorical variables are independent. This is the same thing as checking to see if the rows share a common set of column probabilities (and vice versa).
Optimization of scan duration and image smoothing for obese patients in PET imaging

1983 Objectives Recently we derived functions correlating PET image noise to scan duration (SD) and image smoothing (IS) for patient studies with different BMI (Med Phys, 2010; 37:3139P). These functions can be used to optimize PET SD and IS for a preset image noise. Our aim is to validate the derived functions using phantom studies and to find the optimal SD and IS that result in a lower image noise for different BMIs while maintaining ≥90% SUVmax calculated when using our clinical settings of SD/IS = 3min/6mm. Methods An IEC phantom containing 6 spheres (1-3.7 cm) was scanned on a GE DVCT PET/CT scanner. The sphere to background ratio was 5.1:1. A uniform water phantom injected with 37 MBq was placed behind the IEC phantom to represent a scatter source. PET data was acquired in 3D for 20 min using LIST mode. The same acquisition was repeated while 8 saline bags (250ml each) were attached to the IEC phantom to increase its BMI from 27 (low) to 32 (high). The acquired PET data was rebinned and processed using different combinations of SD/IS for the low and high BMI phantom studies. To validate the previously derived functions, image noise was calculated from 300 randomly selected voxels in the IEC background and compared to that from the derived functions. Optimal SD and IS was then determined from the settings that result in lower image noise for each BMI while maintaining ≥90% SUVmax for each sphere compared to our clinical settings. Results Noise from phantom scans was on average 9±5% different from that predicted by the derived functions. SD/IS that result in 90% and 95% SUVmax of the clinical settings for low (high) phantom BMI were 4/7.6 and 5/6.8 (8/8.3 and 12/6.9 min/mm) respectively. Conclusions Our previously derived functions based on patient data were validated by this phantom study. A SD/IS of 4/7.6 and 8/8.3 (min/mm) can be used for patients with BMI of 25-30 and 30-35 respectively to obtain an image with lower noise than that derived when using our clinical settings while maintaining an SUVmax ≥90%
Production of Naproxen Nanoparticle Colloidal Suspensions for Inkjet Printing Applications

Nanoparticulate drugs show promise for a variety of reasons, including novel targeted delivery mechanisms, enhanced in vitro diagnostics, and increased bioavailability. However, there are often practical limitations to using nanoparticles, such as nanoparticle agglomeration and processing. Inkjet printing provides a viable method to produce nanocomposites from nanoparticles. A simple technique for producing and processing naproxen nanoparticle colloids for use in inkjet printing is presented in this report. Naproxen nanoparticles predominantly 50 nm in diameter and coated in polyvinylpyrrolidone were produced using a supercritical solution-based method, the rapid expansion of a supercritical solution into a liquid solvent (RESOLV) process. The viscosity and surface tension of the RESOLV suspensions were then modified to 10.6 cSt and 34.2 mN/m, respectively, to demonstrate the feasibility of turning the RESOLV suspension into a printable ink. The results suggest that combining the RESOLV and inkjet platfor...
A systematic program of quality control in clinical microbiology.

A quality control program in clinical microbiology was instituted. The program was designed to parallel quality control systems in other laboratory disciplines. A stable reference material was provided in the form of either lyophilized or frozen bacteria. Control charts were prepared by dividing positive from negative reactions and then separating the known correct from the incorrect reactions. A total of 128 cultures representing 14 different organisms was used to evaluate 25 media and nine reagents, for a total of 1,275 tests in a 12-month period. In addition, 900 antibiotic sensitivity disks were evaluated. There were 35 errors involving media and reagents and 48 errors in antibiotic sensitivity testing. The system evaluated media, reagents, and biological materials as they were used. It permitted rapid identification of problems and provided an educational tool for identification of less common organisms.
Bilateral drug (ipilimumab)-induced vitritis, choroiditis, and serous retinal detachments suggestive of vogt-koyanagi-harada syndrome.

Purpose:To report a case of bilateral drug (ipilimumab)-induced vitritis, choroiditis, and serous retinal detachments suggestive of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada syndrome.Methods:This is a single case report.Results:A 43-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma reported a 1-day history of blurry vision after
Navier-Stokes-Based Dynamic Simulations of Sling Loads

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to resolve the unsteady Navier Stokes equations for prediction of aerodynamic forces and moments acting on dynamic helicopter sling loads. The six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) rigid-body equations are tightly coupled with CFD to simulate body motion, and a model of the cables is developed to provide constraint forces and moments. This work presents the methodology and results of the coupled simulations with validation against experimental data. In addition, integration schemes for the 6-DOF equations are evaluated, and the effect of feature-based grid adaptation is investigated. Results of the simulations demonstrate good correlation with available experimental data and also show that the cable model assumptions are important in the dynamic behavior of the sling load.
Decay of near-critical currents in superconducting nanowires

We consider decay of supercurrent via phase slips in a discrete one-dimensional superconductor (a chain of nodes connected by superconducting links), aiming to explain the experimentally observed power-3/2 scaling of the activation barrier in nanowires at currents close to the critical. We find that, in this discrete model, the power-3/2 scaling holds for both long and short wires even in the presence of bulk superconducting leads, despite the suppression of thermal fluctuations at the ends. We also consider decay via tunneling (quantum phase slips), which becomes important at low temperatures. We find numerically the relevant Euclidean solutions (periodic instantons) and determine the scaling of the tunneling exponent near the critical current. The scaling law is power 5/4, different from that of the thermal activation exponent.
ACOUSTIC EMISSION DURING FATIGUE DAMAGE OF STEEL WIRE

Acoustic emission (AE) behaviors of steel wire have been studied firstly during high- cycle fatigue damage. Results showed that AE process consists of three distinct stages, corresponding to plastic deformation, fatigue crack nucleation and crack propagation, respectively. It can be seen from this that the period of fatigue crack nucleation and initiation was approximately 70% of entire fatigue life, and that of crack propagation was only 30%.
Evolutionary Analysis on Vertical Control Structures for Competing Closed-loop Supply Chains

The evolution of vertical control structures for competing closed-loop supply chains(CLSCs),in which decision makers are with bounded rationality,are investigated based on evolutionary game theory.Firstly,optimal strategies for competing CLSCs under different channel structures are deduced.Then,the evolution process of vertical control structures for CLSCs is analyzed by the replicated dynamic equation.Finally,insightful references for the macro-policy making are provided for the sake of a multi-win situation.Result shows that the Evolutionary Stable Strategy(ESS) is determined by the competing intensity between CLSCs,the hardness of collection and the saved cost by remanufacturing.Therefore,the government can promote the evolution of vertical control structures of CLSCs to the centralized structure by controlling competing intensity,strengthening propaganda of environmental protection and making subsidies for remanufacturing activities,and ultimately achieves the multi-win situation.
Effect of Pre-Tapping on Rubber Latex Physiology

The effect of pre-tapping on rubber latex physiology was carried out. The results showed that the yield of dry rubber goes down slightly while the content of inorganic phosphorus(Pi) rises under the treatment of pre-tapping. There is no obvious change in the content of thiols, but sugar in latex goes down , too. Compared with control, it`found that pre-tapping can strength the metabolization of rubber tree.
Reliability and Validity of "Question Base of Knowledge and Behavior of Schistosomiasis Control "

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of "Question Base of Knowledge and Behavior of Schistosomiasis Control".Method Based on the questionnaire data from 283 persons and Test-retest data from 150 persons who are from schistosomiasis epidemic area,the internal reliability,test-retest reliability,impersonality reliability and construct reliability were calculated.Result The Spearman correlation coefficient of impersonality reliability and test-retest reliability of each item is higher than 0.6,P value is less than 0.01,the Cronbach'S α coefficient is 0.776 1.15 items are evaluated by factor analysis,and 2 common factors obtained can explained 61.24% of overall variance,and each item on the corresponding factor burden was more than the limited value 0.4.Conclusion The "Question Base of Knowledge and Behavior of Schistosomiasis Control" has good reliability and validity.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and assessment of maxillary and mandibular arc measurements.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) comprise a range of physical differences and neurologic deficits from prenatal alcohol exposure. Previous studies suggest that relative maxillary growth deficiency can accompany FASD. Using the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Epidemiologic Research (FASER) database, we investigated how maxillary and mandibular arcs and the ratio between them differ between FASD and non-FASD individuals. First, we established normative values for maxillary and mandibular arcs and maxillary-to-mandibular arc ratio. In our control group (545 males, 436 females), mean maxillary and mandibular arcs for males/females were 24.98/24.52 cm and 25.91/25.35 cm, respectively. The ratio was 0.9643 and 0.9676 for males and females, respectively. We then evaluated the effect of microcephaly, short stature, and low weight (<10th centile), individually on arcs in controls. Generally, arcs were reduced significantly but the ratio did not differ. We compared our controls to 138 male and 135 female FASD cases. We noted a significant difference in arcs in male and female groups, but not the ratio. We compared non-FAS controls with reduced growth parameters to similar cases with FASD. We did not find a significant difference in arc or ratio measurements. Therefore, we conclude the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on maxillary and mandibular arc measurements is primarily on overall facial growth and less on asymmetric growth of the maxilla relative to the mandible, at least using this technique. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reversibility of platelet thrombosis in vivo : Quantitative analysis in porcine carotid arteries

Reversibility in vivo of acute platelet thrombosis in response to specific anticoagulants is analyzed with thrombi that develop in segments (1 cm) of porcine carotid arteries externally crushed with a hemostat. Most thrombi fill the lumens of the injured segments (ca. 1 cm x 3 mm, 1 x w) within 30 min and comprise masses of platelets interpenetrated with neutrophil-lined seepage channels of blood. Continuous quantitative assay of thrombus mass is provided by a gamma detector placed over the injured segments to collect counts from 111In-labeled platelets. Thrombi established 30 min after injury, otherwise stable for 6 h, clear during 30-60 min of continuous infusion of either hirudin, tick anticoagulant or activated porcine protein C, or intermittent activation of endogenous protein C with a latent thrombin reagent. Anticoagulant dose-dependence of thrombus clearance is established for hirudin between 0.01 and 1.0 mg/kg/min. Thrombi become progressively refractory to hirudin between 0.5 and 6 h after injury. Neither heparin no low-molecular-weight heparin in full (clinical) anticoagulant doses yield significant dethrombosis. It is concluded that, within time limits, controlled thrombin generation in platelet thrombi maintains platelet cohesion without catalyzing irreversible platelet aggregation or clotting of fibrinogen.
An update on endoscopic orbital decompression.

Purpose of review Endoscopic orbital decompression is an ever-evolving surgical procedure with modifications as well as new indications for the procedure. The purpose of this review is to update the reader on optimizing patient selection, surgical timing, highlight the latest modifications to surgical technique and to evaluate surgical outcomes that can be achieved. Recent findings Patient selection, disease pathology, and optimization of technology can lead to improved outcomes. Changes in technology continue to modify surgical techniques and surgical training, working towards decreased surgical complications with improved outcomes. Historically multiple approaches have been used for orbital decompression and this highlights that a balanced orbital decompression usually leads to the best outcome. Summary Orbital decompression has evolved significantly since its inception over 100 years ago. Identifying the right patient, the ideal timing, and the indication for the procedure with utilization of technology can lead to improved outcomes and decreased complications.
Performance of steers grazing rhizomatous and nonrhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil in pure stands and in tall fescue mixtures

This study investigated the performance of steers grazing rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (RBFT) compared to nonrhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) in pure stands or when interseeded with endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; TF). Five forage treatments of RBFT, BFT, TF, RBFT+TF, and BFT+TF (four replicate paddocks per treatment) were continuously stocked in spring and fall of 1998 and spring of 1999. Grazing for individual treatments was terminated when pasture mass fell below 900 kg/ha. Average daily gain was greatest (P < 0.10) in pure stands of BFT and RBFT, but total forage production, and thus grazing days, for these treatments was low. Average daily gain for steers grazing BFT+TF and RBFT+TF treatments was not different from (spring and fall 1998) or greater (P < 0.10) (spring 1999) than that for TF. Total forage production of BFT+TF and RBFT+TF was greater (P < 0.10) than that of TF in spring 1998. In fall 1998, BFT+TF produced more (P < 0.10) total forage than either RBFT+TF or TF, and in spring 1999, RBFT+TF had less (P < 0.10) total forage than TF or BFT+TF. Total steer days on mixed pastures were greater (P < 0.10) than that for TF in spring and fall 1998 but not different from those for TF in spring 1999. In all three trials total weight gain/hectare was greater (P < 0.10) for RBFT+TF and BFT+TF than for TF. The RBFT+TF and BFT +TF had greater (P < 0.05) CP than TF in spring and fall 1998 and less (P < 0.05) NDF and ADF in fall 1998. We concluded that either RBFT or BFT could be interseeded with tall fescue to enhance ADG and total steer days.
A CASE OF BRUGADA SYNDROME PRESENTING AS SEIZURE DISORDER

Brugada syndrome is a genetic disease that is characterized by abnormal ECG findings and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). It is named for the Spanish cardiologists Pedro and Josep Brugada. It is the major cause of sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUDS) and the most common cause of
Use of pine-dominated forests by female eastern wild turkeys immediately after prescribed fire

Abstract Prescribed fire is used in southeastern pine forests to maintain desirable forest conditions and provides herbaceous understory plant communities for wildlife. However, it is unclear how time-since-fire affects the short-term response of wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ) to prescribed fire. We examined use of recently burned pine stands by female eastern wild turkeys ( M. g. silvestris ) immediately following prescribed fire in a pine-dominated landscape managed with frequent fire. We developed several models to best predict the influence of time-since-fire and month of fire application on turkey use of burned areas. We also assessed the spatial behavior of turkeys when using recent burns to determine if distance to escape cover affected turkey use of recently burned areas. Female turkeys used burned areas immediately after fire and probability of use increased until 141 days post-fire and then declined until 250 days post-fire when data collection stopped. Response of turkeys to recent burns depended on the month of prescribed fire application; probability of use was greater for areas burned in February and during the growing season (April and May). Turkey use of space within burned areas declined as distance to surrounding unburned areas increased, suggesting that turkeys favor the edge of burned and unburned areas which could serve as escape cover. However, the effect of distance to the perimeter of burned stand decreased as time-since-fire increased. Our findings suggest that turkeys are less likely to use areas burned in early winter (e.g., December) than late winter (e.g., February), and are more likely to use space near edges of burned areas than the interior. We recommend managers in southeastern pine-dominated ecosystems apply dormant season fires in late winter and apply early spring growing season fires as needed to meet forest management objectives. Turkeys used burned areas immediately following prescribed fire, but traded-off exploitation of foraging opportunities by using space near escape cover. Applying prescribed fire on smaller patches in checkerboard fashion may enhance turkey use of the entirety of a burn unit, and future research should seek to delineate other variables influencing how turkeys use recently burned areas. We recommend applying prescribed fire to patches smaller than those burned on our study sites at frequent (2–3) year fire-return intervals to increase usable space for female turkeys throughout the reproductive period.
Introduction to Shine

This chapter introduces Shine, a performance experience for youth that is designed to engage participants in resilience planning. It weaves climate science and artistic expression into a story that spans 300 million years of geological time to convey how energy, humanity, and climate are interrelated. Through humor, music, and movement, Shine physically engages youth and leads participants to embody aspects of climate science and human development that ultimately led to this current moment—where our use of fossil fuels is impacting our climate. This chapter provides the background in the Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities Initiative, the theoretical foundation for this examination of Shine, and a synopsis of the story.
Optimizing Delivery of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis for Women in the United States

Abstract Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective HIV prevention method; however, it is underutilized among women who are at risk for acquisition of HIV. Women comprise one in five HIV diagnoses in the United States, and significant racial disparities in new HIV diagnoses persist. The rate of new HIV diagnoses among black and African American women in 2015 was 16 times greater than that of white women. These disparities highlight the importance of HIV prevention strategies for women, including the use of PrEP. PrEP is the first highly effective HIV prevention method available to women that is entirely within their control. However, because so few women who may benefit from PrEP are aware of it, few women's healthcare providers offer PrEP to their patients, PrEP has not yet achieved its potential to reduce HIV infections in women. This article describes individual and systemic barriers for women related to the uptake of PrEP services; explains how providers can identify women at risk for HIV; r...