cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytic Reviews : Routine Intensive Care Unit Admission Is Not Indicated for Suspected Myocardial Contusion:

The clinical records of 72 patients with blunt chest trauma who were admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) exclusively to rule out myocardial contu sion were retrospectively reviewed. Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities were present on admission in 56% of patients, and all patients had negative creatine phos phokinase isoenzyme levels. Eight percent of patients required treatment for arrhythmias, all of whom were symptomatic at the time of initial presentation. Delayed cardiac complications developed in none. Patients with normal ECGs on admission had a benign hospital course. This study suggests that patients with blunt chest trauma who are admitted to the ICU solely to rule out myocardial contusion in the absence of initial ECG ab normalities or hemodynamic instability are unlikely to experience delayed cardiac complications. A policy of routine ICU admission is neither medically indicated nor cost effective. Observation in a monitored medical/ surgical ward may provide an acceptable alternative f...
Corporate Responsibility and Employee Relations: From External Pressure to Action

Research has traditionally portrayed voluntary corporate responsibility (CR) actions toward employees as episodic, discretionary activities that individual firms take in response to marginalized, fringe “gadflies.” In this study, which examines numerous external pressures from a firm’s institutional and task environment, our findings suggest more than simple episodic responses that vary from firm to firm, but rather a conformity of action with respect to a firm’s voluntary activities toward its employees. In the absence of explicit mandates, firms are voluntarily strengthening employee relations, especially if they are increasing employee-relations concerns. Overall, external pressures significantly affect the CR activities that firms direct toward employees.
Stability of shock waves for a single conservation law

is piecewise smooth, having jump discontinuities along a finite number of smooth shock curves. (We assume that f is C” and strictly convex.) In this paper we extend the result of [5] to show that generically the topological and differentiable structure of the shock set is unaffected by small perturbations of the initial data. As in [5] we consider initial data in the Schwartz space, although analogous results hold for periodic initial data. We shall call a solution U, corresponding to initial data 4, stable if there is a neighborhood N of 4 in 9(R) with the following property: for any r& EN there is a diffeomorphism of the halfspace 2 = R x [0, co) ‘which maps the shock set of ui onto that of U. The following theorem is our main result.
Measurement combining and progressive reconstruction in compressive sensing

Compressive sensing has emerged as an important new technique in signal acquisition due to the surprising property that a sparse signal can be captured from measurements obtained at a sub-Nyquist rate. The decoding cost of compressive sensing, however, grows superlinearly with the problem size. In distributed sensor systems, the aggregate amount of compressive measurements encoded by the sensors can be substantial, and the decode cost for all the variables involved can be large. In this paper we propose a method to combine measurements from distributed sensors. With our method we can transport and store a single combined measurement set, rather than multiple sets for all sensors. We show that via source separation and joint decoding, it is possible to recover an approximate to the original signal from combined measurements using progressive reconstruction which focuses on individual sensors. This results in a reduction in the number of variables used in decoding and consequently a reduced decoding time. We show that the computed approximation to the signal can still have sufficient accuracy for target detection. We describe the combining approach and the associated progressive reconstruction, and we illustrate them with image recovery for simple target detection examples.
The parafibromin tumor suppressor protein interacts with actin-binding proteins actinin-2 and actinin-3

Germline and somatic inactivating mutations in the HRPT2 gene occur in the inherited hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome, in some cases of parathyroid cancer and in some cases of familial hyperparathyroidism. HRPT2 encodes parafibromin. To identify parafibromin interacting proteins we used the yeast two-hybrid system for screening a heart cDNA library with parafibromin as the bait. Fourteen parafibromin interaction positive preys representing 10 independent clones encoding actinin-2 were isolated. Parafibromin interacted with muscle alpha-actinins (actinin-2 and actinin-3), but not with non-muscle alpha-actinins (actinin-1 and actinin-4). The parafibromin-actinin interaction was verified by yeast two-hybrid, GST pull-down, and co-immunoprecipitation. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that the N-terminal region of parafibromin interacted with actinins. In actin sedimentation assays parafibromin did not dissociate skeletal muscle actinins from actin filaments, but interestingly, parafibromin could also bundle/cross-link actin filaments. Parafibromin was predominantly nuclear in undifferentiated proliferating myoblasts (C2C12 cells), but in differentiated C2C12 myotubes parafibromin co-localized with actinins in the cytoplasmic compartment. These data support a possible contribution of parafibromin outside the nucleus through its interaction with actinins and actin bundling/cross-linking. These data also suggest that actinins (and actin) participate in sequestering parafibromin in the cytoplasmic compartment.
Environmentally preferable purchasing: Who is doing what in the united states?

In recent years, concerns over environmental degradation and environmental sustainability have pushed governments to search for new ways to combat environmental problems. One such approach, which is gaining in popularity, is environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP). EPP attempts to address environmental challenges by taking advantage of government's vast purchasing power to create strong markets for environmentally friendly products and services. This article reviews governments’ experience with EPP in the United States. Specifically, the article describes the development of EPP in the federal government and reviews EPP activities at both the national and subnational levels. Next, the article presents several broad strategies that governments and procurement professionals can pursue in implementing EPP. The article concludes by identifying several challenges facing EPP.
Ternary blends containing slag and interground/blended limestone: Hydration, strength, and pore structure

Abstract The influence of high volume cement replacement using a combination of slag and limestone, on the hydration, reaction products and pore structure, and strength of cementitious systems is reported in this paper. Total replacement levels vary from 20% to 50% by volume. Slag is blended with: (i) Portland-limestone cement (PLC) that contains limestone interground with cement, or (ii) OPC and limestone of four different sizes in such a way that the resulting particle size distribution of the composite matches that of the corresponding PLC-based mixture. The hydration response of cement and cement–slag mixtures are found to be modified in the presence of limestone. It is observed from calorimetric and thermogravimetric analysis that a favorable slag–limestone synergy exists, that enables high volume replacement of cement without concomitant loss in properties. The early-age compressive strengths are beneficially impacted by the presence of limestone whereas the clinker factor does not play a significant role in later-age strengths in both the blended and interground systems. The study paves the way for development of multiple-material binders containing higher levels of cement replacement that demonstrate early and later age properties that are comparable to or better than that of traditional straight cement systems.
Genome-wide assessment of differential effector gene use in embryogenesis

Six different populations of cells were isolated by FACS from disaggregated late blastula and gastrula stage sea urchin embryos according to the regulatory states expressed in these cells, as reported by recombineered BACs producing fluorochromes. Transcriptomes recovered from these embryonic cell populations revealed striking, early differential expression of large cohorts of effector genes. The six cell populations were presumptive pigment cells, presumptive neurogenic cells, presumptive skeletogenic cells, cells from the stomodeal region of the oral ectoderm, ciliated band cells, and cells from the endoderm/ectoderm boundary that will give rise both to hindgut and to border ectoderm. Transcriptome analysis revealed that each of these domains specifically expressed several hundred effector genes at significant levels. Annotation indicates the qualitative individuality of the functional nature of each cell population, even though they were isolated from embryos only 1 to 2 days old. In no case was more than a tiny fraction of the transcripts enriched in one population also enriched in any other of the six populations studied. As was particularly clear in the cases of the presumptive pigment, neurogenic, and skeletogenic cells, all three of which represent precociously differentiating cell types of this embryo, most specifically expressed genes of given cell types are not significantly expressed at all in the other cell types. Thus at the effector gene level a dramatic, cell type specific pattern of differential gene regulation is established well before any significant embryonic morphogenesis has occurred.
Fraud Detection: The Effect of Client Integrity and Competence and Auditor Cognitive Style

This research studies the influence of client integrity and competence and auditor cognitive style on fraud detection. The study was supported by five Big Six auditing firms with 152 managers and 342 seniors. The case study used in the research involves a restaurant client that materially overstated ending inventory (Pincus 1990). The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups for the client integrity and competence manipulation (high, low, and control). This research provides three important findings for the practice and theory of auditing. First, client integrity and competence did not affect the auditors' fraud detection ability except for high-moral-development managers. Second, managers outperformed seniors, but this difference was moderated by the manager's level of moral development. That is, high-moral-development managers detected fraud at a higher rate. Finally, the research validates Pincus (1990); fraud detection increases directly with an auditor's prior beliefs concerning the existence of fraud.
Constrained Choice and Climate Change Mitigation in US Agriculture: Structural Barriers to a Climate Change Ethic

This paper examines structural barriers to the adoption of climate change mitigation practices and the evolution of a climate change ethic among American farmers. It examines how seed corn contracts in Michigan constrain the choices of farmers and allow farmers to rationalize the over-application of fertilizer and associated water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Seed corn contracts use a competitive “tournament” system where farmers are rewarded for maximizing yields. Interviews and a focus group were used to understand fertilizer over-application and barriers to participating in a climate change mitigation program. Results indicate that farmers agree that they over-apply fertilizer but would be unlikely to participate in a mitigation program due to their contracts and lack of support from seed corn companies. Because only a few companies control access to the seed corn market, farmers feel they have few choices. Farmers rationalized their practices as their only option given the competitive nature of their contracts and blamed other sources of pollution. Despite increasing efforts to educate farmers about climate change, structural barriers will continue to constrain participation in mitigation efforts and the development of a climate change ethic.
PO-0331 The Effects Of Increased Awareness On Medication Error Disclosures

Background Communicating medication errors is a crucial part of patient care. Children are exposed up to three times the rate of potentially dangerous adverse drug events. A previous evaluation of disclosure of medication errors identified barriers in communicating these errors. Methods Two presentations on medication errors and how to improve their communication with patient/family were presented to the PICU team. A Medication Error Data Entry Form was used to collect the number and type of medication errors (only type C through I require immediate notification to the MD). Communication to family was documented in a separate form. Results Thirty-four medication errors were recorded over a 4-month period (2 months before and 2 months after education). Fifty-three percent were type A errors (circumstances or events that have the capacity to cause error) while the remaining were type C (an error occurred that reached the patient but did not cause patient harm) (Table 1). While the fellows did not participate in the communication of errors to patient/family before education, they did in 60% of the notifications afterwards. The two barriers to communication were “family was not available” (43%) and "error did not cause side effects" (57%). Conclusion This study demonstrates that despite the effort to increase awareness of medication errors disclosure there was not an improvement in communicating of medication errors to the patient/family. A more systematic and aggressive approach to education on communication may be required to properly address and improve the disclosure of medication errors.
Is a mid-level dental provider model acceptable to potential patients?

Objective This study aims to assess patient attitudes toward mid-level dental providers, known as dental therapists (DTs), by surveying those likely to be their patients. The recent adoption of accreditation standards by the Commission on Dental Accreditation has reignited a debate surrounding the state-by-state legalization of DTs in the United States; while the dental profession is divided on DTs, it is important to understand how potential patients may view the DT model. Methods A questionnaire that asks about oral health experience, and comfort with the model of a dually trained dental therapist–hygienist, based on a provided definition, was administered to 600 patients and their waiting room companions at a large urban university-based dental clinic. Results Forty percent of respondents indicated they would be comfortable being treated by a DT for all 7 of the procedures referenced, and over 75% were comfortable with each of 5 procedures. Having caps or crowns placed was the only treatment about which respondents were evenly divided. Factors associated with greater odds of comfort with various procedures include being uninsured and being under the age of 65. Uninsured patients were 1.5 to 2 times more likely than privately insured patients to accept a DT. Conclusions The introduction of mid-level dental providers is a strategy that those lacking regular care appear on the whole to be comfortable with.
Measles supplemental vaccination immunization activity in Development Zone of Nantong City,2009

Objective To know the implementation and the effect of measles supplemental vaccination immunization activity in Development Zone of Nantong.Methods After supplemental immunization activity was implemented on March 23 to April 15,2009,children ages ranged from 8 months to 14-year-old were vanccinated,100 children were selected in every town with rapid assessment survey.Descriptive analysis was used for data of reporting and assessment on supplemental immunization from different towns.Results There were total 18 578 children should be vaccinated in terms of the real situation of the whole region.Of which,295 of them were zero vaccinated,which accounted for 1.6% of the real number of the children.Reporting vaccination rates and the rapid assessment of vaccination rates were greater than 96%,From May to December in 2009,there were 4 cases of measles occurred;by comparison of the same period in 2008,it decreased by 66.7%.Conclusion Implementation of measles supplemental immunization not only improves the immune level of the population,but reduces or eliminates measles vulnerable populations.Therefore,it can achieve the effect of control and the gradual elimination of measles.
Parameterizing microphysical effects on variances and covariances of moisture and heat content using a multivariate PDF

Microphysical processes, such as the formation, growth, and evaporation of precipitation, interact with variability and fluxes in moisture and heat content. For instance, evaporation of rain may produce cold pools, which in turn may trigger fresh convection and precipitation. These effects are usually omitted or else crudely parameterized at subgrid scales in weather and climate models. A more formal approach is pursued here, based on predictive, horizontally averaged equations for the variances, covariances, 5 and fluxes of moisture and heat content. These higher-order moment equations contain microphysical source terms. The mi- crophysics terms can be integrated analytically, given a suitably simple warm-rain microphysics scheme and an approximate assumption about the multivariate distribution of cloud-related and precipitation-related variables. Performing the integrations provides exact expressions within an idealized context. A large-eddy simulation (LES) of a shallow precipitating cumulus case is performed here, and it indicates that the micro- 10 physical effects on variances and fluxes can be large. In some budgets and altitude ranges, they are dominant terms. The analytic expressions for the integrals are implemented in a single-column, higher-order closure model. Interactive single-column sim- ulations agree qualitatively with the LES. The analytic integrations form a parameterization of microphysical effects in their own right, and they also serve as benchmark solutions that can be compared to non-analytic integration methods.
Zen of the plains: experiencing wild western places

Set within the vast grasslands sprawling across the heart of the North American continent, Zen of the plains offers a compelling, intimate exploration of the connections between landscape and human...
Can a managed care market work? It's time for physicians to 'get real'.

Has private practice medicine already died? Would government price controls on physician fees and hospital budgets contain medical costs? Should insurance coverage be reserved for catastrophic medical expenses? Dr Berenson gives his views on these questions and takes a realistic look at managed competition.
Who Is Not a Candidate for a 1-Day Hospital-Based Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Abstract Background Short-stay total knee arthroplasty (TKA), defined as a 1-day length of stay (LOS), is feasible in many patients, yet variables identifying who are candidates for a short stay are not well described in literature. With an emphasis on cost-efficiency, we examined preoperative patient characteristics and perioperative hospital factors that correlated with a longer LOS. Methods A retrospective review of 381 primary TKAs was performed. Clinical measures differentiating a 1-day LOS group from that of a ≥2-day LOS group were identified. Results Multiple logistic regression demonstrated older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-2.77; P P P = .046), atrial fibrillation (OR, 8.87; 95% CI, 1.81-43.47; P = .007), and prior TKA on the contralateral side (OR, 3.57; 95% CI, 1.27-10.05; P = .016) as significant preoperative characteristics correlating with the ≥2-day LOS group. The most significant hospital perioperative factor associated with longer stays was patients not ambulating on the day of surgery (OR, 4.09; 95% CI, 1.77-9.48; P = .001). Walking 150 ft (93% sensitive, 35% specific) on the day of surgery was predictive of patients in the 1-day LOS group. Hospital costs were US$1873 ( P Conclusion Shorter stays decrease costs associated with TKA, and more refined predictive models are needed to optimize discharge protocols. Preoperative data help allocate limited healthcare resources toward patients more likely to leave in 1 day, while perioperative data facilitate learning to create a more efficient hospital process.
Interprofessional immersion: Use of interprofessional education collaborative competencies in side-by-side training of family medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and counselling psychology trainees.

While supported by the Affordable Care Act, in the United States, interprofessional training often takes place after healthcare providers graduate and are practicing in the field. This article desc...
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 inhibitors: a patent review (2014-2016).

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a member of the Tyrosine Kinase-Like (TKL) branch of the kinome tree and is a multi-domain protein that includes GTPase and kinase activity. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has linked LRRK2 with Crohn’s disease and leprosy, it has received the greatest attention due to it being implicated as one of the genetic loci associated with autosomal dominant inheritance in Parkinson’s disease (PD).Areas covered: In this review, the small molecule patent literature from 2014–2016 with a focus on composition of matter and use patents was surveyed. Scifinder was primarily searched using ‘LRRK2ʹ as the query to identify all relevant literature and then triaged for small molecule patents.Expert opinion: The patent landscape around LRRK2 continues to develop. The early patents covered using existing kinase inhibitors for use against LRRK2. This evolved to compounds specifically designed for selectivity against LRRK2, but key exemplified compounds...
Sodium silicate treatment for the attenuation of U(VI) by iron-bearing sediments in acidic groundwater plumes

BACKGROUND Anthropogenic activities, such as uranium mining and the nuclear industry, have resulted in groundwater contamination and the creation of uranium impacted acidic plumes. In situ immobilization through base injection is a favorable way of uranium attenuation. The present study explores the use of sodium silicate for the restoration of neutral pH of the impacted zone and consequently, uranium immobilization under circumneutral conditions. RESULTS 70 mg L−1 sodium silicate restore the pH of uranium bearing, acidic groundwater to neutral in batch experiments consisting of Savannah River Site (SRS) soil and the aqueous phase. SRS soil main components are quartz, kaolinite and goethite and the U(VI) removal was found ~60%. Identical experiments consisting only of quartz and kaolinite showed only 19% U(VI) removal. Binding of uranium may be contributed to inner-sphere complexation and is not affected by the presence of competitive cations, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. Recovery of uranium under acidic conditions (pH 3.5) was ~60%, whereas sorption is not reversible under circumneutral conditions. CONCLUSION Sodium silicate restores the pH of acidic groundwater systems to circumneutral conditions, where uranium retention by iron bearing sediments is favored. Goethite is the soil's most reactive phase and contributes to stronger binding of uranium through inner-sphere complexation.
Interactions of the manganese hyperaccumulator Phytolacca americana L. with soil pH and phosphate

Hyperaccumulators are plants that store exceptionally high concentrations of heavy metals or metalloids in their leaves. Phytolacca americana is one of the few species known to hyperaccumulate manganese (Mn); however, it is a common weedy species and has no specific association with high-Mn soils. Neither the mechanism by which P. americana hyperaccumulates Mn nor the ecological significance of this trait are well understood. It has recently been suggested that P. americana secretes acids into the rhizosphere as a means of acquiring phosphate, which might coincidentally increase Mn uptake. To determine whether P. americana acidifies the surrounding soil, plants were grown in rhizoboxes providing access to living roots. A thin layer of agar containing bromocresol green pH indicator dye was placed on the roots to observe color changes indicating acidification. Comparative studies showed that P. americana acidifies the rhizosphere significantly more than the non-accumulating plant Acalypha rhomboidea. A second experiment studied whether adjustment of soil pH and phosphate affect foliar Mn concentrations of P. americana. Concentrations of Mn in leaves were highest when plants were grown in acidified soils but were significantly lower in soils that were alkaline and/or enriched with phosphate. These results suggest that Mn hyperaccumulation may be a side effect of rhizosphere acidification as a phosphorus-acquisition mechanism, rather than an adaptation in its own right. The findings provide fundamental information about hyperaccumulator physiology and evolution, and may be relevant to attempts to utilize P. americana for phytoremediation.
Reflections on a New Tool for Protecting the Rights of the Child

The March 2015 thematic report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan E. Mendez, regarding the torture and ill-treatment of children deprived of their liberty, presented to the Human Rights Council in its twenty-eighth session, is a significant contribution to the children’s rights movement. It provides a new tool for advocacy to promote the recognition and protection of the rights of children in the context of deprivation of liberty: showing how the right to be free from torture and ill-treatment can be used to protect children from mistreatment in custody and otherwise limit the deprivation of liberty of children. This chapter will first highlight a few of the report’s general contributions to the corpus of human rights law protecting the rights of the child. Then, this chapter will discuss some of the ways in which the report promotes the progressive development of this law in specific areas. In particular, it will discuss the deprivation of liberty in the contexts of the migration of children and of children in conflict with the law. Finally, this chapter will discuss the detention landscape in the United States and ways in which States and civil society can make use of the report to promote changes in law and practice and reduce the deprivation of liberty of children and promote improvements in conditions of confinement for those in detention.
Systematic comparison of 2A peptides for cloning multi-genes in a polycistronic vector

Cloning of multiple genes in a single vector has greatly facilitated both basic and translational studies that require co-expression of multiple factors or multi-units of complex protein. Many strategies have been adopted, among which 2A “self-cleaving” peptides have garnered increased interest for their polycistronic nature, small size and high “cleavage” efficiency. However, broad application of 2 A peptides is limited by the lack of systematic comparison of different 2As alone or in combination. Here we characterized the effect of varying gene position and 2As on the expression of proteins encoded in bi-, tri-, or quad-cistronic constructs. Using direct cardiac reprogramming as an example, we further determined the effect of varied 2As on the efficiency of fluorescent cell labeling and cell fate conversion. We found that the expression of fluorophores decreased as it was moved towards the end of the construct while reprogramming was most efficient with the fluorophore at the second position. Moreover, quad-cistronic TPE2A constructs resulted in more efficient reprogramming than 3P2A or PTE2A constructs. We expect that the bi-, tri-, and quad-cistronic vectors constructed here and our results on protein expression ratios from different 2A constructs could serve to guide future utilization of 2A peptides in basic research and clinical applications.
Individual Versus Group Learning: Developmental and Social Differences in Two Selected Mouse Lines

The intent of this study was to evaluate whether differences in brain excitability would influence learning. Two selectively bred lines of mice hypothesized to be different for this trait were employed, and a unique apparatus was used to evaluate learning in these animals when trained and retested in groups as well as individually. The results of Experiment 1 clearly demonstrate that short-sleep (SS) mice learn better than long-sleep (LS) mice and that adult animals learn better than young animals for both lines. Additionally, it was demonstrated that animals trained and tested in groups performed worse than individual animals. Experiment 2 was designed to ascertain whether the detrimental effect of grouping animals occurred on acquisition or retention. The results surprisingly show that the animals had to be grouped during both acquisition and retention for a deficit to appear. Experiment 3 analyzed how a “plant” animal affected the other animals in the group during retention. It was discovered that for LS mice the experience of the plant animal did not matter, but for SS mice only an animal naive to the shock experience could disrupt performance. These results are discussed in the context of social learning in animals.
Visual framing effects on emotion and mental health message effectiveness

Background: Framing used in health communication makes certain perspectives salient in order to persuade viewers of healthy behavior to improve mental health. Visuals used in these messages, howeve...
Body Image in Dance and Aesthetic Sports

Dance and aesthetic sports, such as gymnastics or figure skating, are physical activities with a focus on appearance that have a complex relationship with body image. They can both enhance and undermine body image. Often people assume the negative holds across all dance and aesthetic sport experiences, yet evidence exists that these pursuits can positively impact participants. This article will explore these negative and positive relationships and provide several possible moderating or explanatory factors. These factors include situational, personal, and psychological factors.
Parental Decision Making: The Best Interest Principle, Child Autonomy, and Reasonableness

On what basis should we judge whether a parent's medical decision for their child is morally acceptable? In a recent article, Johan Bester attempts to answer this question by defending a version of the Best Interest Standard (BIS) for parental decision making. The purpose of this paper is to identify a number of problems faced by Bester's version of BIS and to suggest ways to redress these problems. Accordingly, we intend to advance the project of formulating a method for guiding parents' medical decision making for their children. We argue that Bester's standard fails to accommodate the autonomy of the child and that his criteria for assessing the reasonableness of the parents' argument for their decision is too weak. We conclude that properly addressing these worries renders his test otiose and that it ought to be replaced with the three commonly held principles of bioethics-the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence-and a standard of reasonableness.
ANALYZING UNAMPLIFIED GENE SEQUENCES WITH HIGH DENSITY OPTICAL FIBER ARRAYS

We have developed rapid, selective, and extremely sensitive assays for labeled and unlabeled oligonucleotides utilizing high-density fiber-optic microarrays. Microarrays are prepared by randomly distributing DNA-functionalized 3 µm-diameter microspheres in an array of wells etched in a 500 µm diameter optical imaging fiber. The fluorescence responses of the individual microsphere elements in the array are monitored by an imaging fluorescence microscope system. With labeled targets, hybridization was observed with a detection limit of 10 zmol DNA in 10 µL. With unlabeled targets, distinction between amplified genomic WT507 and AF508 Cystic Fibrosis samples was observed.
Electrowetting-based enhancement of droplet growth dynamics and heat transfer during humid air condensation

Abstract Condensation heat transfer can be significantly enhanced by condensing vapor as droplets (instead of a film), which rapidly roll-off. This work studies the use of electrowetting to enhance coalescence, growth and roll-off dynamics of condensed droplets, thereby enhancing the condensation rate and associated heat transfer. This enhancement depends on the nature of fluid motion (translation of droplets, oscillations of the three phase line), which in turn depends on the magnitude and frequency of the applied electrical actuation waveform. Experiments are conducted to study early-stage droplet growth dynamics, as well as steady state condensation under the influence of an electric field. It is seen that droplet growth is enhanced as the voltage and frequency of AC electric fields is increased, with AC electric fields seen to be more effective than DC electric fields. Roll-off dynamics also depends on the frequency of the AC field. Overall, electric fields alter the droplet size distribution and move the condensate to more favorable states for removal from the surface. The condensation rate depends on the roll-off diameter of the droplet, frequency of roll-off events, and on the interactions of the rolled-off droplets with the remainder of the droplets. An analytical heat transfer model is utilized to relate the measured condensation rate with condensation heat transfer. It is noted that this study deals with condensation of humid air, and not pure steam. Overall, this study reports more than 30% enhancement in condensation rate resulting from the applied electric field, which highlights the attractiveness of electrowetting for condensation heat transfer enhancement.
Influence of performance running footwear on muscle soreness and damage

The Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4% shoe has been suggested to significantly improve running economy and thus greatly attenuate the metabolic perturbation and physiological constraint associated with maratho...
Innate Immunity: Recognition and Effector Functions

The ability to recognize the presence of a pathogen and respond appropriately is a fundamental aspect of innate immunity. This chapter describes the types of receptors and their ligands that are used to detect microbes that have entered the body as well as responses. Some receptors recognize conserved structures unique to microbes and not present in mammalian cells, called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Other receptors recognize nucleic acids that are unique to the microbe or are in the cytoplasm where nucleic acids are not normally found. Interestingly, certain disruptions to the cell, such as microbial invasion or cell stress, can be detected and are called danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The host makes multiple types of responses appropriate for eliminating the type of pathogen. The inflammatory response consists of fluid and cells entering tissues to fight the infection and secretion of cytokines and chemokines for cell–cell communication. The complement system is an ancient system of proteins for fighting infections. Once activated, complement proteins promote inflammation and directly kill pathogens. Other effector mechanisms such as the secretion of antimicrobial peptides are discussed. The breadth of receptors and responses reflects how important it is to recognize an invading microbe, make an appropriate response for the type of pathogen, and destroy it before being harmed. However, in some cases, it is not possible to eliminate the microbe or inducer of inflammation. A state of chronic inflammation is an adaption by the host to this situation.
Scalable Translation Validation of Unverified Legacy OS Code

Formally verifying functional and security properties of a large-scale production operating system is highly desirable. However, it is challenging as such OSes are often written in multiple source languages that have no formal semantics – a prerequisite for formal reasoning. To avoid expensive formalization of the semantics of multiple high-level source languages, we present a lightweight and rigorous verification toolchain that verifies OS code at the binary level, targeting ARM machines. To reason about ARM instructions, we first translate the ARM Specification Language that describes the semantics of the ARMv8 ISA into the PVS7 theorem prover and verify the translation. We leverage the radare2 reverse engineering tool to decode ARM binaries into PVS7 and verify the translation. Our translation verification methodology is a lightweight formal validation technique that generates large-scale instruction emulation test lemmas whose proof obligations are automatically discharged. To demonstrate our verification methodology, we apply the technique on two OSes: Google’s Zircon and a subset of Linux. We extract a set of 370 functions from these OSes, translate them into PVS7, and verify the correctness of the translation by automatically discharging hundreds of thousands of proof obligations and tests. This took 27.5 person-months to develop.
A survey of pediatric degree option program graduates in a doctor of pharmacy curriculum: Confidence and initial employment position

Abstract Background and purpose Graduates from the pediatric degree option program (PDOP) were tracked to identify confidence with pediatric pharmacotherapy and categorize initial employment following graduation. Educational activity and setting The PDOP was established in 2011 and requires 16 credits of pediatric-focused didactic coursework and advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Thirty PDOP graduates completed a 30-item questionnaire to assess confidence in pediatric pharmacotherapy knowledge and skill statements and employment position following graduation. Responses were compared between those completing post-graduate pediatric pharmacy training and those who did not. Findings Nineteen (63.3%) graduates responded. All expressed “very high” or “high” confidence with dose calculations, first-line treatment selection for otitis media, and counseling caregivers on medications. However, Summary Overall, PDOP graduates noted high confidence in pediatric pharmacotherapy skills and knowledge. Most felt that the PDOP influenced their initial career plans and made them more competitive for their initial position following graduation. The PDOP was well received and provided an opportunity for additional knowledge and skill development for students interested in pediatrics.
Travel Time Estimation Methods for Mode Tomography

Abstract : The long term goals of this project are to investigate statistical models for signals propagating in long-range underwater channels and to design signal processing techniques to mitigate signal fluctuations due to random disturbances such as internal waves. At long ranges, broadband receptions consist of early ray-like arrivals and a finale that is best described in terms of the low order modes. The energetic low mode signals are more strongly affected by internal wave scattering than the ray arrivals. By focusing on the low modes, this project seeks to develop a better understanding of internal wave effects. The first objective of this project is to derive range-dependent mode statistics from experimental data obtained during the SPICE04 and LOAPEX experiments. The second objective of this project is to develop new robust signal processing techniques to estimate the travel times of the modes based on the derived statistical channel model.
Realtime Behavior-Based Continual Authentication of Users in Virtual Reality Environments

In this work, we present a realtime interactive system that uses the trajectories of the device controllers and headset of a virtual reality (VR) system to perform continual authentication of users interacting in VR. Our system identifies a user within .21 +/- .04 seconds of provision of a trajectory for a ball-throwing application. Given an interaction session authorized for a user within an organization, our system continually authenticates the current user by computing matches for the positions and orientations of the points on trajectories of the right hand controller, left hand controller, and headset for the user against controller and headset trajectories in a library of users. The system combines the position and orientation matches using a neural network pre-trained to predict confidences on matches computed within the library, and provides a speech interface to output the identified user as the library user with the maximum value of predicted confidence. The system uses the identity of the user authorized to use a session and a confidence threshold to detect if the user is genuine, a malicious user internal to the organization, or an external intruder. Our system can be readily ported into virtual reality applications that require realtime behavioral authentication of users for secure access.
Driving toward precision medicine for B cell lymphomas: Targeting the molecular pathogenesis at the gene level

Lymphomas are a diverse group of hematologic malignancies that arise from either T cell, B cell or the natural killer cell lineage. B cell lymphomas arise from gene mutations with critical functions during normal B cell development. Recent advances in the understanding of molecular pathogenesis demonstrate that many different recurrent genomic and molecular abnormalities and dysregulated oncogenic regulatory pathways exist for many subtypes of B cell lymphomas, both across and within histological subtypes. Pathogenetic processes such as (1) chromosomal aberrations, for example, t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma, t(11;14) in mantle cell lymphoma, t(8;14) in Burkitt lymphoma; dysregulations in signaling pathways of (2) nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB); (3) B cell receptor (BCR); (4) Janus kinase/signal transducers and transcription activators (JAK-STAT); (5) impaired apoptosis/cell cycle regulation due to mutated, rearranged or amplified MYC, BCL-2, BCL-6 proto-oncogenes; (6) epigenetic aberrations may contribute to pathogenesis. More studies are under way to elucidate the molecular heterogeneity underlying many types of lymphomas that account for variable responses to treatment, generation of subclones and treatment resistance. Although significant research is still needed, targeted therapy promises to provide new options for the treatment of patients with lymphomas. This article provides a non-exhaustive overview on the current understanding on the genetics of pathogenesis of B cell lymphomas and their therapeutic implications.
On the internet of medical things

In this article the author, a vice president and the Chief Internet Evangelist at the technology company Google, goes into detail about and advocates for the Internet of Medical Things;which describes medical devices and practices that use real-time monitoring and diagnosis through the Internet These include but are not limited to pacemakers, defibrillators, and videoconferencing The entire subject is examined through the lens of the 2020 Coronavirus / Covid-19 outbreak, which has prevented many from seeing their doctors in person
Daily and situational reports of substance use and dating violence among college students: A 10-week prospective study.

Abstract Introduction Although the association between substance use and dating violence is well-established in the research literature, there is limited research establishing the temporal co-occurrence of these variables. The primary objective was to examine the temporal relationship between alcohol and drug use and subsequent dating violence using a proximal effects model. Methods This prospective study obtained daily diary data and weekly situational reports on abusive relationship events and substance use from 72 college women in dating relationships over a 10-week interval. Results Significant day-to-day associations were found between substance use and dating violence for women’s reports of their own behavior, and that of their male partners. The odds of dating violence were approximately 2.0 times higher on days when perpetrators drank alcohol. Women were approximately 2.0 times more likely to perpetrate dating violence when using drugs, and men were approximately 1.4 times more likely when they used drugs. Estimated blood alcohol concentration levels and binge drinking were associated significantly with dating violence perpetration for women’s reports of men’s behavior as well as for women’s reports of their own aggression. These findings held when examining severe versus minor dating violence as well as any versus no dating violence. Conclusions These results further support an association between substance use and partner aggression at daily and situational levels of analysis, extending prior clinical findings to a college dating sample. Taken with previous research findings, our results suggest the need for college sexual assault and dating violence prevention programs to target reductions in substance use.
Resident perspectives on local food system performance and development priorities: A pilot analysis of the local food vitality index

Resident interest in local food has been growing across all areas of the supply chain in the United States. To continue this surge in interest, local food system stakeholders should strengthen area...
Richard E. Rubin and Rachel G. Rubin. Foundations of Library and Information Science. 5th ed. Chicago, IL: ALA Neal-Schuman, 2020. 656p. Paper.

One of the tenets of a book review is a discussion of how well the book meets the needs of its intended audience, and, as far as target audience goes, this book was written for me. I teach a foundations course in a school of information and it is the likes of me that need to adopt this as our textbook as the final step in the production-consumption cycle. And so, it is in light of my needs that I set out to examine Richard E. Rubin and Rachel G. Rubin’s Foundations of Library and Information Science . The two questions I asked myself throughout were: Do I agree with the authors on what the foundations of the field are, and does their treatment of topics satisfy my teaching needs?
Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of in-situ V-V3B2 Composites

A series of binary V-B alloys, with compositions spanning the eutectic, were produced by arc melting and drop casting. Microstructural examination revealed that the fully eutectic structure occurs at V-11B rather than V-15B as reported in the V-B phase diagram (all compositions in at.%). The V-11B eutectic was directionally solidified in an optical floating zone furnace, resulting in a composite microstructure consisting of a V matrix and flake or trigonal shaped V3B2 phase. The boride flake spacing (e) decreases with increasing growth rate (R), following the relation e2.56R=C, where C is a constant. TEM observations showed that the orientation relationship between the V and V3B2 phases is given by: [001]V // [001]V3B2 and (100)V // (100)V3B2. The growth direction and the V/V3B2 interface are parallel to the [001] direction and (100) planes in the two phases, respectively. Tensile tests were used to investigate the temperature dependence of the strength and ductility of the composite. At temperatures to 600°C, the yield strength of the eutectic is about 140 MPa higher than that of a commonly used vanadium solid-solution alloy, V-4Cr-4Ti. Surprisingly, the eutectic shows 5% tensile ductility at room temperature which increases to 10% as the test temperature is raised to 800°C.