While the four species of horseshoe crabs share many common reproductive traits with respect to their reproductive systems, they do differ with respect to their mating behavior (monogamy vs. polygynandry). Past rese...While the four species of horseshoe crabs share many common reproductive traits with respect to their reproductive systems, they do differ with respect to their mating behavior (monogamy vs. polygynandry). Past research has attributed these differences to a number of factors including: spawning densities, operational sex ratios (OSR's), male condition (or age), environmental and/or genetic factors, or a combination thereof. Mating behaviors in the three Asian horseshoe crab species (Tachy-pleus gigas, T. tridentatus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) with low spawning densities and 1:1 operational sex ratios are typically monogamous. In Limuluspolyphemus, mating behavior is more variable ranging fi'om monogamy to polygynandry. Here we provide evidence, through a long term behavioral study, that variation in mating behavior is influenced by population density in L. polyphemus. Our study population on two beaches in Connecticut (Long Island Sound) have a spawning density 400 times less than that found in Delaware Bay (0.002 females/m2 vs. 0.8 females/m2) but similar operational sex ratios. Between 90%-95% of all spawning females in CT were paired with only one male, thus exhibiting monogamous behavior. In contrast, between 30 and 60% of spawning females in Delaware Bay have more than one mate and produce clutches of eggs with multiple paternities. Male condition played no role in mating behavior in CT populations. We also observed that on average 18% of the females on the spawning beaches are single. These results suggest that population density is an important condition that determines mating behavior. Also, low population density may lead to decreased mate finding ability and lost opportunities for spawning展开更多
The purpose of this study is to examine optical spatial frequency spectroscopy analysis(SFSA)combined with visible resonance Raman(VRR)spectroscopic method,for thefirst time,to discriminate human brain metastases of l...The purpose of this study is to examine optical spatial frequency spectroscopy analysis(SFSA)combined with visible resonance Raman(VRR)spectroscopic method,for thefirst time,to discriminate human brain metastases of lung cancers adenocarcinoma(ADC)and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)from normal tissues.A total of 31 label-free micrographic images of three type of brain tissues were obtained using a confocal micro-Raman spectroscopic system.VRR spectra of the corresponding samples were synchronously collected using excitation wavelength of 532 nm from the same sites of the tissues.Using SFSA method,the difference in the randomness of spatial frequency structures in the micrograph images was analyzed using Gaussian functionfitting.The standard deviations,calculated from the spatial frequencies of the micrograph images were then analyzed using support vector machine(SVM)classifier.The key VRR biomolecularfingerprints of carotenoids,tryptophan,amide II,lipids and proteins(methylene/methyl groups)were also analyzed using SVM classifier.All three types of brain tissues were identified with high accuracy in the two approaches with high correlation.The results show that SFSA–VRR can potentially be a dual-modal method to provide new criteria for identifying the three types of human brain tissues,which are on-site,real-time and label-free and may improve the accuracy of brain biopsy.展开更多
Mendel, a survivor of Auschwitz who lives in Israel, remains silent for 40 years after his traumatic experiences. However, Mendel, for no reason that his daughter Bella, also a survivor, can discern, begins to testify...Mendel, a survivor of Auschwitz who lives in Israel, remains silent for 40 years after his traumatic experiences. However, Mendel, for no reason that his daughter Bella, also a survivor, can discern, begins to testify to his horrific ordeals during the Holocaust at putatively inopportune times, such as religious holidays and family celebrations. When his granddaughter Hayuta plans an engagement party, the social and historical incongruities of the Holocaust in the context of contemporary Israeli society become apparent. Ordinary pleasures are matters of moral obloquy in the face of the unfathomable black hole of the Holocaust. While critics have charged Mendel's daughter with preoccupation with invidious social climbing and his granddaughter Hayuta with moral reprehensible compartmentalization of her historical and familial existences, Liebrecht unwittingly implies that historical trauma has very diverse and inexplicable effects on different family members: Some, like the daughter Bella, eventually wish to hear more about the experiences of her father (while feeling that his words will “ruin” her social life), while Hayutaand Shifra his danghter-in-law react by shunning the speech of Mendel, which they experience as ruining their quotidian happiness.展开更多
Since the electronic resources and Internet Web sites became popular, distance education courses offered via the Internet could play an important role in providing global digital resources and teaching the knowledge o...Since the electronic resources and Internet Web sites became popular, distance education courses offered via the Internet could play an important role in providing global digital resources and teaching the knowledge of international library and information standards for bibliographic databases with electronic and web resources.This paper uses the example of the author's new online course: ILS 608 Cataloging and Development of a Digital Union Catalog for Ancient Chinese Books to demonstrate the global re...展开更多
Mendel, a survivor of Auschwitz who lives in Israel, remains silent for forty years after his traumatic experiences. However, Mendel, for no reason that his daughter Bella, also a survivor, can discern, begins to test...Mendel, a survivor of Auschwitz who lives in Israel, remains silent for forty years after his traumatic experiences. However, Mendel, for no reason that his daughter Bella, also a survivor, can discern, begins to testify to his horrific ordeals during the Holocaust at putatively inopportune times, such as religious holidays and family celebrations. When his granddaughter Hayuta plans an engagement party, the social and historical incongruities of the Holocaust in the context of contemporary Israeli society become apparent. Ordinary pleasures are matters of moral obloquy in the face of the unfathomable black hole of the Holocaust. While critics have charged Mendel's daughter with preoccupation with invidious social climbing and his granddaughter Hayuta with moral reprehensible compartmentalization of her historical and familial existences, Liebrecht unwittingly implies that historical trauma has very diverse and inexplicable effects on different family members: Some, like the daughter Bella, eventually wish to hear more about the experiences of her father (while feeling that his words will "'ruin" her social life), while Hayuta and Shifra his daughter-in-law react by shunning the speech of Mendel, which they experience as destroying their quotidian happiness.展开更多
Yaakov Shabtai's "Departure" seems, at first glance, only to chronicle the illness and death of an unnamed grandmother living in Tel Aviv, as witnessed through the eyes of her grandson. The grandmother, an observan...Yaakov Shabtai's "Departure" seems, at first glance, only to chronicle the illness and death of an unnamed grandmother living in Tel Aviv, as witnessed through the eyes of her grandson. The grandmother, an observant Jewish woman with socialist politics, liberal social views, and many friends, differs strikingly from her Israeli family. They are wholly secular Jews who disavow belief in religion. They observe yahrzeits, Jewish religious festivals, and holy days only as long as grandmother lives. They discontinue all Jewish observance the moment the grandmother dies, thus allegorizing a complete intergenerational break in Jewish identity. The story ends with the melancholic narrator realizing that he has no memory of the date of his grandmother's death. This article contends that this seemingly simple narrative has profound historical and referential meanings. The story functions as an allegorical critique of escalating social and religious divisions in Israel, as well as the implications of the loss of Jewish religion on Jewish identity. "Departure" reveals that the process of dis-identification and post-Zionism begins with the family: symbolically with the figure of the grandmother, whose peaceful, sociable identity stands in peril of becoming removed from the possibilities of her mode of Jewish being influencing future generations.展开更多
The purpose of this paper is to show that autobiographical works like Gabrielle Roy's Enchantment and Sorrow (1988) and R6gine Robin's La Qudbdcoite (1983), do not succeed in anchoring the self and eliminating p...The purpose of this paper is to show that autobiographical works like Gabrielle Roy's Enchantment and Sorrow (1988) and R6gine Robin's La Qudbdcoite (1983), do not succeed in anchoring the self and eliminating past traumatic experiences. These writers realize that they cannot reincarnate their former 'T' as time has passed and their lives have changed. The self does not let itself be reduced to a definite being but on the contrary mirrors itsef in all its surroundings. Writing the fragmentation of the self makes these authobiographies appear on one hand, fictional as the "I" always eludes itself. But on the other hand, they best describe the postmodern 'T' who is conscious of the permeability of one's own self as well inwards by the influences, the collages of others on the Self as outwards by the projection of the self onto others, like rhizome connecting to others and forming a web of exchanges like in cyberspace展开更多
The purpose of this research is to evaluate clinical and cost effectiveness of total knee replacement surgery (TKA) for adults hospitalized in the United States between 2010 and 2013. We tried to answer the question t...The purpose of this research is to evaluate clinical and cost effectiveness of total knee replacement surgery (TKA) for adults hospitalized in the United States between 2010 and 2013. We tried to answer the question that whether lower length of stay and higher utilization of post-op facilities would be helpful to control the overall costs. Using the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) database and cost data from Blue Cross Blue shield, this study seeks to identify which U.S. region renders the highest quality patient care during a three-year span of 2008-2010. Using length of stay and discharge disposition (2010) as input factors, and regional TKA costs (2013) as output factors, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a non-parametric method, illustrated the efficiency ranking of four regions in the US on TKA expenditures. The result shows the West is the most efficient region on controlling the overall cost by shrinking the length of stay and increasing the utilization of short-term/long-term care facilities.展开更多
The emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia, also referred to as COVID-19 in New York City in March 2020, has put an overwhelming strain on the healthcare system in the city. Man...The emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia, also referred to as COVID-19 in New York City in March 2020, has put an overwhelming strain on the healthcare system in the city. Many local hospitals have reported a surge of cases, with most cases presenting with severe respiratory complications. We aim to present a comprehensive surge filter protocol for outpatient programs to mitigate the surge of cases admitted in the emergency rooms and intensive care units (ICUs) of local hospitals in our community. Our surge filter protocol was developed based on a detailed review of how South Korea and Spain mounted their outpatient surge responses. Our preliminary findings revealed that our Four-Ts approach (<em>i.e.</em>, Test, Treat, Track, and Teach) has resulted in none of our patients reaching a clinical requirement for inpatient care.展开更多
Sports equipment such as athletic footwear is designed to prevent injury and/or improve performance. There is limited research about the effects of foot orthoses or shoe insoles on performance improvement via enhanced...Sports equipment such as athletic footwear is designed to prevent injury and/or improve performance. There is limited research about the effects of foot orthoses or shoe insoles on performance improvement via enhanced energetics. One possible solution to improve the energy storage and return of athletic footwear is to utilize a carbon fiber shoe insole (CFI) optimally tuned for the human body-footwear system. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a CFI on athletic performance. Thirty-four (15 males, 19 females) collegiate athletes performed a vertical jump, a pro agility test, and a 10-yard sprint while wearing normal athletic footwear and footwear incorporating a CFI. Vertical jump height was measured using a commercial Vertec device; pro agility test and 10-yard sprint times were measured using a laser timing system. The use of a CFI resulted in significant improvements in the vertical jump (+2.5%, p = 0.012) and the 10-yard sprint (+1.5%, p = 0.020), but not in the pro agility test. These results demonstrated a CFI can enhance speed/acceleration and power in collegiate athletes. Individual anatomical and biomechanical differences may influence the appropriate CFI stiffness required for each athlete to achieve maximal performance in sports involving running, jumping, and change-of-direction.展开更多
The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between occurrence of malaria infection with that of human blood group in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania. The study was based on data collected randomly from ...The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between occurrence of malaria infection with that of human blood group in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania. The study was based on data collected randomly from the patients who were screened for malaria of all age groups for a period of three months at Mission Mikocheni Hospital. During this time period, a total of 430 blood samples were collected. From the study findings, it is clear that more than 50% of the patients tested were positive for malaria. Further analysis revealed that about 50% of malaria positive patients were type “O” blood group.展开更多
Purpose: Aortic augmentation index (AIx) and cardiovagal tone (CVT) are indicators of cardiovascular health. Associations between these variables provide information about their roles in cardiovascular disease. Howeve...Purpose: Aortic augmentation index (AIx) and cardiovagal tone (CVT) are indicators of cardiovascular health. Associations between these variables provide information about their roles in cardiovascular disease. However, evaluating these associations from a gender perspective and gaining an understanding of the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and AIx based on gender can provide additional information. Therefore, we examined the relationships between CVT, measured as the log transformed high-frequency power of R-R intervals from electrocardiogram measurements (lnHFR-R);cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max);and AIx at a heart rate of 75 beats·min-1(AIx@75). We hypothesized that the relationships between CVT, cardiorespiratory fitness, and AIx@75 would differ based on gender. Methods: We examined the associations between lnHFR-R, VO2max, and AIx@75 in 41 women and 39 men. Power spectral density analysis of heart rate variability determined lnHFR-R, radial tonometry determined AIx@75 and the Bruce Treadmill Protocol determined VO2max. Results: In men, lnHFR-R positively correlated with and significantly predicted AIx@75 (P = 0.005) but not in women (P = 0.49). For every unit increase in lnHFR-R, there was a 4.6 unit increase in AIx@75 in men versus a 1.0 unit increase in women. There was a significant inverse relationship between VO2max and AIx@75, with VO2max being a significant predictor of AIx@75 in men (P = 0.01). For every unit increase in VO2max, there was a 0.60 unit decrease in AIx@75 in men versus a 0.2 unit decrease in women. Conclusions: The associations between CVT and AIx@75 and between cardiorespiratory fitness and AIx@75 differ by gender. CVT and cardiorespiratory fitness are significant predictors of AIx@75 in men but not in women.展开更多
This study investigates the aftermath of a significant train derailment and vinyl chloride release incident in East Palestine, Ohio, with a particular focus on the analysis of precipitation acidity changes and the con...This study investigates the aftermath of a significant train derailment and vinyl chloride release incident in East Palestine, Ohio, with a particular focus on the analysis of precipitation acidity changes and the concentration of vinyl chloride in samples. The research seeks to elucidate the complex relationship between industrial accidents, atmospheric chemistry, and their potential implications for human health and the environment. Through meticulous examination of variations in precipitation acidity patterns, this study provides valuable insights into the dispersion and impact of toxic agents in the environment following industrial mishaps. The results underscore the intricate interplay between these factors, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach that bridges the realms of environmental science and biomedical concerns. This research contributes to a growing body of knowledge that addresses the broader consequences of industrial incidents on public health. It underscores the importance of proactive measures, such as enhanced monitoring and surveillance, risk assessment, public education, and regulatory reform, to mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with industrial activities involving hazardous materials. By fostering collaboration between experts and stakeholders, this study advocates for a holistic approach to safeguarding both our environment and the well-being of communities affected by industrial accidents.展开更多
Purpose: African-American men (AAM) have a greater risk of hypertension (HTN) than Caucasian men (CM). To reduce this risk, determining the differences in mechanisms involved in HTN and understanding the relationship ...Purpose: African-American men (AAM) have a greater risk of hypertension (HTN) than Caucasian men (CM). To reduce this risk, determining the differences in mechanisms involved in HTN and understanding the relationship between these mechanisms and factors affecting blood pressure (BP) in AAM and CM is necessary. One such mechanism is spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (sBRS) and two factors are cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and arterial stiffness (AS). The aims of this study were to determine, firstly, whether there are differences in sBRS between young, normotensive AAM and CM, and secondly, to determine if CRF and AS are significant predictors of sBRS in young, normotensive AAM and CM. Methods: Twenty-three normotensive AAM and 36 CM were recruited from Southern Connecticut State University. Measures included anthropometric, sBRS (alpha-index), and CRF (maximal oxygen consumption [VO2max]), as well as AS (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [Cf-PWV]). Independent t-tests were used to determine differences between groups and multiple regression analysis was used to determine how much of the variation in sBRS was explained by CRF and AS. Results: The sBRS was significantly lower in AAM (10.3 ± 3.8 ms/mmHg) vs. CM (13.3 ± 5.7 ms/ mmHg), P = 0.03. CRF and AS were not significant predictors of sBRS in AAM (P = 0.25) and CM (P = 0.30). There was no relationship between, sBRS, CRF and AS;CRF was significantly reduced in AAM vs. CM (45.1 ± 6.3 vs. 52.1 ± 7.5 mL·kg?1·min?1, P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Young normotensive AAM demonstrated significantly lower sBRS vs. CM, irrespective of having fair CRF and normal BP. CRF and AS are not significant predictors of sBRS in young, normotensive AAM and CM. The attenuation in sBRS in AAM did not result in AAM having higher BP versus CM. This finding underscores the need for more detailed examination of the role of sBRS in the etiology of HTN in AAM.展开更多
In 2018,the STAR collaboration collected data from^(96)_(44)Ru+^(96)_(44)Ru and^(96)_(40)Zr+^(96)_(40)Zr at√^(S)NN=200 Ge V to search for the presence of the chiral magnetic effect in collisions of nuclei.The isobar ...In 2018,the STAR collaboration collected data from^(96)_(44)Ru+^(96)_(44)Ru and^(96)_(40)Zr+^(96)_(40)Zr at√^(S)NN=200 Ge V to search for the presence of the chiral magnetic effect in collisions of nuclei.The isobar collision species alternated frequently between 9644 Ru+^(96)_(44)Ru and^(96)_(40)Zr+^(96)_(40)Zr.In order to conduct blind analyses of studies related to the chiral magnetic effect in these isobar data,STAR developed a three-step blind analysis procedure.Analysts are initially provided a"reference sample"of data,comprised of a mix of events from the two species,the order of which respects time-dependent changes in run conditions.After tuning analysis codes and performing time-dependent quality assurance on the reference sample,analysts are provided a species-blind sample suitable for calculating efficiencies and corrections for individual≈30-min data-taking runs.For this sample,species-specific information is disguised,but individual output files contain data from a single isobar species.Only run-by-run corrections and code alteration subsequent to these corrections are allowed at this stage.Following these modifications,the"frozen"code is passed over the fully un-blind data,completing the blind analysis.As a check of the feasibility of the blind analysis procedure,analysts completed a"mock data challenge,"analyzing data from Au+Au collisions at√^(S)NN=27 Ge V,collected in 2018.The Au+Au data were prepared in the same manner intended for the isobar blind data.The details of the blind analysis procedure and results from the mock data challenge are presented.展开更多
Plant growth promoting bacteria(PGPB)directly and indirectly influence the fitness of their host plants.While much of the work on plant growth promoting bacteria is from various plant rhizospheres,less is known about ...Plant growth promoting bacteria(PGPB)directly and indirectly influence the fitness of their host plants.While much of the work on plant growth promoting bacteria is from various plant rhizospheres,less is known about the strains that inhabit the internal spaces of plant tissues.Conversely,Clavicipitalean fungal endophytes of cool season grasses have been intensely investigated for the past few decades.Like plant growth promoting bacteria,the fungal endophytes also promote the health of their hosts.This paper highlights the current knowledge of plant growth promoting bacterial and fungal endophytes of tall fescue(Lolium arundinaceum=Schedonorus arundinaceaus=Festuca arundinacea)which protect the plant from both abiotic and biotic stresses.Much of the work presented indicates just how little is known about the inter-relationships between the multiple endophytic microbial colonizers of turf grasses.展开更多
The chiral magnetic effect(CME)is a novel transport phenomenon,arising from the interplay between quantum anomalies and strong magnetic fields in chiral systems.In high-energy nuclear collisions,the CME may survive th...The chiral magnetic effect(CME)is a novel transport phenomenon,arising from the interplay between quantum anomalies and strong magnetic fields in chiral systems.In high-energy nuclear collisions,the CME may survive the expansion of the quark-gluon plasma fireball and be detected in experiments.Over the past two decades,experimental searches for the CME have attracted extensive interest at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider(RHIC)and the Large Hadron Collider(LHC).The main goal of this study is to investigate three pertinent experimental approaches:the$\gamma$correlator,the R correlator,and the signed balance functions.We exploit simple Monte Carlo simulations and a realistic event generator(EBE-AVFD)to verify the equivalence of the core components among these methods and to ascertain their sensitivities to the CME signal and the background contributions for the isobar collisions at the RHIC.展开更多
Aim: The aim of the study is to test visible resonance Raman (VRR) spectroscopy for rapid skin cancer diagnosis,and evaluate its effectiveness as a new optical biopsy method to distinguish basal cell carcinoma (BCC) f...Aim: The aim of the study is to test visible resonance Raman (VRR) spectroscopy for rapid skin cancer diagnosis,and evaluate its effectiveness as a new optical biopsy method to distinguish basal cell carcinoma (BCC) from normal skin tissues.Methods: The VRR spectroscopic technique was undertaken using 532 nm excitation. Normal and BCC human skin tissue samples were measured in seconds. The molecular fingerprints of various native biomolecules as biomarkers were analyzed. A principal component analysis - support vector machine (PCA-SVM) statistical analysis method based on the molecular fingerprints was developed for differentiating BCC from normal skin tissues.Results: VRR provides a rapid method and enhanced Raman signals from biomolecules with resonant and nearresonant absorption bands as compared with using a near-infrared excitation light source. The VRR technique revealed chemical composition changes of native biomarkers such as tryptophan, carotenoids, lipids and proteins.The VRR spectra from BCC samples showed a strong enhancement in proteins including collagen type I combined with amide I and amino acids, and a decrease in carotenoids and lipids. The PCA-SVM statistical analysis based on the molecular fingerprints of the biomarkers yielded a 93.0% diagnostic sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 94.5%accuracy compared with histopathology reports.Conclusion: VRR can enhance molecular vibrational modes of various native biomarkers to allow for very fast display of Raman modes in seconds. It may be used as a label-free molecular pathology method for diagnosis of skin cancer and other diseases and be used for combined treatment with Mohs surgery for BCC.展开更多
High transverse momentum(pT)particle production is suppressed owing to the parton(jet)energy loss in the hot dense medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.Redistribution of energy at low-to-modest pT has b...High transverse momentum(pT)particle production is suppressed owing to the parton(jet)energy loss in the hot dense medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.Redistribution of energy at low-to-modest pT has been difficult to measure,owing to large anisotropic backgrounds.We report a data-driven method for background evaluation and subtraction,exploiting the away-side pseudorapidity gaps,to measure the jetlike correlation shape in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV in the STAR experiment.The correlation shapes,for trigger particles pT>3GeV/c and various associated particle pT ranges within 0.5<pT<10GeV/c,are consistent with Gaussians,and their widths increase with centrality.The results indicate jet broadening in the medium created in central heavy-ion collisions.展开更多
基金supported in part by the CT Sea Grant and the Undergraduate Research Initiative of the College of Arts and Sciences, Sacred Heart University
文摘While the four species of horseshoe crabs share many common reproductive traits with respect to their reproductive systems, they do differ with respect to their mating behavior (monogamy vs. polygynandry). Past research has attributed these differences to a number of factors including: spawning densities, operational sex ratios (OSR's), male condition (or age), environmental and/or genetic factors, or a combination thereof. Mating behaviors in the three Asian horseshoe crab species (Tachy-pleus gigas, T. tridentatus, and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) with low spawning densities and 1:1 operational sex ratios are typically monogamous. In Limuluspolyphemus, mating behavior is more variable ranging fi'om monogamy to polygynandry. Here we provide evidence, through a long term behavioral study, that variation in mating behavior is influenced by population density in L. polyphemus. Our study population on two beaches in Connecticut (Long Island Sound) have a spawning density 400 times less than that found in Delaware Bay (0.002 females/m2 vs. 0.8 females/m2) but similar operational sex ratios. Between 90%-95% of all spawning females in CT were paired with only one male, thus exhibiting monogamous behavior. In contrast, between 30 and 60% of spawning females in Delaware Bay have more than one mate and produce clutches of eggs with multiple paternities. Male condition played no role in mating behavior in CT populations. We also observed that on average 18% of the females on the spawning beaches are single. These results suggest that population density is an important condition that determines mating behavior. Also, low population density may lead to decreased mate finding ability and lost opportunities for spawning
基金This research is supported by The Air Force Medical Center,China and in part of The Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers(IUSL),the City College of the City University of New York.The authors would like to thank Mr.C.Y.Zhang,Mr.M.Z.Fan and Dr.X.H.Ni for their assistance in the experiments and suggestions concerning this paper.
文摘The purpose of this study is to examine optical spatial frequency spectroscopy analysis(SFSA)combined with visible resonance Raman(VRR)spectroscopic method,for thefirst time,to discriminate human brain metastases of lung cancers adenocarcinoma(ADC)and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)from normal tissues.A total of 31 label-free micrographic images of three type of brain tissues were obtained using a confocal micro-Raman spectroscopic system.VRR spectra of the corresponding samples were synchronously collected using excitation wavelength of 532 nm from the same sites of the tissues.Using SFSA method,the difference in the randomness of spatial frequency structures in the micrograph images was analyzed using Gaussian functionfitting.The standard deviations,calculated from the spatial frequencies of the micrograph images were then analyzed using support vector machine(SVM)classifier.The key VRR biomolecularfingerprints of carotenoids,tryptophan,amide II,lipids and proteins(methylene/methyl groups)were also analyzed using SVM classifier.All three types of brain tissues were identified with high accuracy in the two approaches with high correlation.The results show that SFSA–VRR can potentially be a dual-modal method to provide new criteria for identifying the three types of human brain tissues,which are on-site,real-time and label-free and may improve the accuracy of brain biopsy.
文摘Mendel, a survivor of Auschwitz who lives in Israel, remains silent for 40 years after his traumatic experiences. However, Mendel, for no reason that his daughter Bella, also a survivor, can discern, begins to testify to his horrific ordeals during the Holocaust at putatively inopportune times, such as religious holidays and family celebrations. When his granddaughter Hayuta plans an engagement party, the social and historical incongruities of the Holocaust in the context of contemporary Israeli society become apparent. Ordinary pleasures are matters of moral obloquy in the face of the unfathomable black hole of the Holocaust. While critics have charged Mendel's daughter with preoccupation with invidious social climbing and his granddaughter Hayuta with moral reprehensible compartmentalization of her historical and familial existences, Liebrecht unwittingly implies that historical trauma has very diverse and inexplicable effects on different family members: Some, like the daughter Bella, eventually wish to hear more about the experiences of her father (while feeling that his words will “ruin” her social life), while Hayutaand Shifra his danghter-in-law react by shunning the speech of Mendel, which they experience as ruining their quotidian happiness.
文摘Since the electronic resources and Internet Web sites became popular, distance education courses offered via the Internet could play an important role in providing global digital resources and teaching the knowledge of international library and information standards for bibliographic databases with electronic and web resources.This paper uses the example of the author's new online course: ILS 608 Cataloging and Development of a Digital Union Catalog for Ancient Chinese Books to demonstrate the global re...
文摘Mendel, a survivor of Auschwitz who lives in Israel, remains silent for forty years after his traumatic experiences. However, Mendel, for no reason that his daughter Bella, also a survivor, can discern, begins to testify to his horrific ordeals during the Holocaust at putatively inopportune times, such as religious holidays and family celebrations. When his granddaughter Hayuta plans an engagement party, the social and historical incongruities of the Holocaust in the context of contemporary Israeli society become apparent. Ordinary pleasures are matters of moral obloquy in the face of the unfathomable black hole of the Holocaust. While critics have charged Mendel's daughter with preoccupation with invidious social climbing and his granddaughter Hayuta with moral reprehensible compartmentalization of her historical and familial existences, Liebrecht unwittingly implies that historical trauma has very diverse and inexplicable effects on different family members: Some, like the daughter Bella, eventually wish to hear more about the experiences of her father (while feeling that his words will "'ruin" her social life), while Hayuta and Shifra his daughter-in-law react by shunning the speech of Mendel, which they experience as destroying their quotidian happiness.
文摘Yaakov Shabtai's "Departure" seems, at first glance, only to chronicle the illness and death of an unnamed grandmother living in Tel Aviv, as witnessed through the eyes of her grandson. The grandmother, an observant Jewish woman with socialist politics, liberal social views, and many friends, differs strikingly from her Israeli family. They are wholly secular Jews who disavow belief in religion. They observe yahrzeits, Jewish religious festivals, and holy days only as long as grandmother lives. They discontinue all Jewish observance the moment the grandmother dies, thus allegorizing a complete intergenerational break in Jewish identity. The story ends with the melancholic narrator realizing that he has no memory of the date of his grandmother's death. This article contends that this seemingly simple narrative has profound historical and referential meanings. The story functions as an allegorical critique of escalating social and religious divisions in Israel, as well as the implications of the loss of Jewish religion on Jewish identity. "Departure" reveals that the process of dis-identification and post-Zionism begins with the family: symbolically with the figure of the grandmother, whose peaceful, sociable identity stands in peril of becoming removed from the possibilities of her mode of Jewish being influencing future generations.
文摘The purpose of this paper is to show that autobiographical works like Gabrielle Roy's Enchantment and Sorrow (1988) and R6gine Robin's La Qudbdcoite (1983), do not succeed in anchoring the self and eliminating past traumatic experiences. These writers realize that they cannot reincarnate their former 'T' as time has passed and their lives have changed. The self does not let itself be reduced to a definite being but on the contrary mirrors itsef in all its surroundings. Writing the fragmentation of the self makes these authobiographies appear on one hand, fictional as the "I" always eludes itself. But on the other hand, they best describe the postmodern 'T' who is conscious of the permeability of one's own self as well inwards by the influences, the collages of others on the Self as outwards by the projection of the self onto others, like rhizome connecting to others and forming a web of exchanges like in cyberspace
文摘The purpose of this research is to evaluate clinical and cost effectiveness of total knee replacement surgery (TKA) for adults hospitalized in the United States between 2010 and 2013. We tried to answer the question that whether lower length of stay and higher utilization of post-op facilities would be helpful to control the overall costs. Using the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) database and cost data from Blue Cross Blue shield, this study seeks to identify which U.S. region renders the highest quality patient care during a three-year span of 2008-2010. Using length of stay and discharge disposition (2010) as input factors, and regional TKA costs (2013) as output factors, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a non-parametric method, illustrated the efficiency ranking of four regions in the US on TKA expenditures. The result shows the West is the most efficient region on controlling the overall cost by shrinking the length of stay and increasing the utilization of short-term/long-term care facilities.
文摘The emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia, also referred to as COVID-19 in New York City in March 2020, has put an overwhelming strain on the healthcare system in the city. Many local hospitals have reported a surge of cases, with most cases presenting with severe respiratory complications. We aim to present a comprehensive surge filter protocol for outpatient programs to mitigate the surge of cases admitted in the emergency rooms and intensive care units (ICUs) of local hospitals in our community. Our surge filter protocol was developed based on a detailed review of how South Korea and Spain mounted their outpatient surge responses. Our preliminary findings revealed that our Four-Ts approach (<em>i.e.</em>, Test, Treat, Track, and Teach) has resulted in none of our patients reaching a clinical requirement for inpatient care.
文摘Sports equipment such as athletic footwear is designed to prevent injury and/or improve performance. There is limited research about the effects of foot orthoses or shoe insoles on performance improvement via enhanced energetics. One possible solution to improve the energy storage and return of athletic footwear is to utilize a carbon fiber shoe insole (CFI) optimally tuned for the human body-footwear system. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a CFI on athletic performance. Thirty-four (15 males, 19 females) collegiate athletes performed a vertical jump, a pro agility test, and a 10-yard sprint while wearing normal athletic footwear and footwear incorporating a CFI. Vertical jump height was measured using a commercial Vertec device; pro agility test and 10-yard sprint times were measured using a laser timing system. The use of a CFI resulted in significant improvements in the vertical jump (+2.5%, p = 0.012) and the 10-yard sprint (+1.5%, p = 0.020), but not in the pro agility test. These results demonstrated a CFI can enhance speed/acceleration and power in collegiate athletes. Individual anatomical and biomechanical differences may influence the appropriate CFI stiffness required for each athlete to achieve maximal performance in sports involving running, jumping, and change-of-direction.
文摘The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between occurrence of malaria infection with that of human blood group in Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania. The study was based on data collected randomly from the patients who were screened for malaria of all age groups for a period of three months at Mission Mikocheni Hospital. During this time period, a total of 430 blood samples were collected. From the study findings, it is clear that more than 50% of the patients tested were positive for malaria. Further analysis revealed that about 50% of malaria positive patients were type “O” blood group.
文摘Purpose: Aortic augmentation index (AIx) and cardiovagal tone (CVT) are indicators of cardiovascular health. Associations between these variables provide information about their roles in cardiovascular disease. However, evaluating these associations from a gender perspective and gaining an understanding of the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and AIx based on gender can provide additional information. Therefore, we examined the relationships between CVT, measured as the log transformed high-frequency power of R-R intervals from electrocardiogram measurements (lnHFR-R);cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max);and AIx at a heart rate of 75 beats·min-1(AIx@75). We hypothesized that the relationships between CVT, cardiorespiratory fitness, and AIx@75 would differ based on gender. Methods: We examined the associations between lnHFR-R, VO2max, and AIx@75 in 41 women and 39 men. Power spectral density analysis of heart rate variability determined lnHFR-R, radial tonometry determined AIx@75 and the Bruce Treadmill Protocol determined VO2max. Results: In men, lnHFR-R positively correlated with and significantly predicted AIx@75 (P = 0.005) but not in women (P = 0.49). For every unit increase in lnHFR-R, there was a 4.6 unit increase in AIx@75 in men versus a 1.0 unit increase in women. There was a significant inverse relationship between VO2max and AIx@75, with VO2max being a significant predictor of AIx@75 in men (P = 0.01). For every unit increase in VO2max, there was a 0.60 unit decrease in AIx@75 in men versus a 0.2 unit decrease in women. Conclusions: The associations between CVT and AIx@75 and between cardiorespiratory fitness and AIx@75 differ by gender. CVT and cardiorespiratory fitness are significant predictors of AIx@75 in men but not in women.
文摘This study investigates the aftermath of a significant train derailment and vinyl chloride release incident in East Palestine, Ohio, with a particular focus on the analysis of precipitation acidity changes and the concentration of vinyl chloride in samples. The research seeks to elucidate the complex relationship between industrial accidents, atmospheric chemistry, and their potential implications for human health and the environment. Through meticulous examination of variations in precipitation acidity patterns, this study provides valuable insights into the dispersion and impact of toxic agents in the environment following industrial mishaps. The results underscore the intricate interplay between these factors, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach that bridges the realms of environmental science and biomedical concerns. This research contributes to a growing body of knowledge that addresses the broader consequences of industrial incidents on public health. It underscores the importance of proactive measures, such as enhanced monitoring and surveillance, risk assessment, public education, and regulatory reform, to mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with industrial activities involving hazardous materials. By fostering collaboration between experts and stakeholders, this study advocates for a holistic approach to safeguarding both our environment and the well-being of communities affected by industrial accidents.
文摘Purpose: African-American men (AAM) have a greater risk of hypertension (HTN) than Caucasian men (CM). To reduce this risk, determining the differences in mechanisms involved in HTN and understanding the relationship between these mechanisms and factors affecting blood pressure (BP) in AAM and CM is necessary. One such mechanism is spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (sBRS) and two factors are cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and arterial stiffness (AS). The aims of this study were to determine, firstly, whether there are differences in sBRS between young, normotensive AAM and CM, and secondly, to determine if CRF and AS are significant predictors of sBRS in young, normotensive AAM and CM. Methods: Twenty-three normotensive AAM and 36 CM were recruited from Southern Connecticut State University. Measures included anthropometric, sBRS (alpha-index), and CRF (maximal oxygen consumption [VO2max]), as well as AS (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [Cf-PWV]). Independent t-tests were used to determine differences between groups and multiple regression analysis was used to determine how much of the variation in sBRS was explained by CRF and AS. Results: The sBRS was significantly lower in AAM (10.3 ± 3.8 ms/mmHg) vs. CM (13.3 ± 5.7 ms/ mmHg), P = 0.03. CRF and AS were not significant predictors of sBRS in AAM (P = 0.25) and CM (P = 0.30). There was no relationship between, sBRS, CRF and AS;CRF was significantly reduced in AAM vs. CM (45.1 ± 6.3 vs. 52.1 ± 7.5 mL·kg?1·min?1, P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Young normotensive AAM demonstrated significantly lower sBRS vs. CM, irrespective of having fair CRF and normal BP. CRF and AS are not significant predictors of sBRS in young, normotensive AAM and CM. The attenuation in sBRS in AAM did not result in AAM having higher BP versus CM. This finding underscores the need for more detailed examination of the role of sBRS in the etiology of HTN in AAM.
文摘In 2018,the STAR collaboration collected data from^(96)_(44)Ru+^(96)_(44)Ru and^(96)_(40)Zr+^(96)_(40)Zr at√^(S)NN=200 Ge V to search for the presence of the chiral magnetic effect in collisions of nuclei.The isobar collision species alternated frequently between 9644 Ru+^(96)_(44)Ru and^(96)_(40)Zr+^(96)_(40)Zr.In order to conduct blind analyses of studies related to the chiral magnetic effect in these isobar data,STAR developed a three-step blind analysis procedure.Analysts are initially provided a"reference sample"of data,comprised of a mix of events from the two species,the order of which respects time-dependent changes in run conditions.After tuning analysis codes and performing time-dependent quality assurance on the reference sample,analysts are provided a species-blind sample suitable for calculating efficiencies and corrections for individual≈30-min data-taking runs.For this sample,species-specific information is disguised,but individual output files contain data from a single isobar species.Only run-by-run corrections and code alteration subsequent to these corrections are allowed at this stage.Following these modifications,the"frozen"code is passed over the fully un-blind data,completing the blind analysis.As a check of the feasibility of the blind analysis procedure,analysts completed a"mock data challenge,"analyzing data from Au+Au collisions at√^(S)NN=27 Ge V,collected in 2018.The Au+Au data were prepared in the same manner intended for the isobar blind data.The details of the blind analysis procedure and results from the mock data challenge are presented.
基金This work was made possible through a Connecticut State Colleges and University Grant-AAUP Research Grant and a USDA-NIFA Education and Learning Initiative(Grant No.2017-67032-26013)。
文摘Plant growth promoting bacteria(PGPB)directly and indirectly influence the fitness of their host plants.While much of the work on plant growth promoting bacteria is from various plant rhizospheres,less is known about the strains that inhabit the internal spaces of plant tissues.Conversely,Clavicipitalean fungal endophytes of cool season grasses have been intensely investigated for the past few decades.Like plant growth promoting bacteria,the fungal endophytes also promote the health of their hosts.This paper highlights the current knowledge of plant growth promoting bacterial and fungal endophytes of tall fescue(Lolium arundinaceum=Schedonorus arundinaceaus=Festuca arundinacea)which protect the plant from both abiotic and biotic stresses.Much of the work presented indicates just how little is known about the inter-relationships between the multiple endophytic microbial colonizers of turf grasses.
基金Supported by the US Department of Energy(DE-AC02-98CH10886,DE-FG02-89ER40531,DE-FG02-92ER40713,DE-FG02-88ER40424,DE-SC0012910,DE-SC0013391,DE-SC0020651)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12025501,11905059,12075085)+6 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Science with(XDB34030200)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(CCNU19ZN019)the Ministry of Science and Technology(MoST)(2016YFE0104800)the China Scholarship Council(CSC),Join Large-Scale Scientific Facility Funds of NSFC and CAS(U2032110)the U.S.Department of Energy,Office of Science,Office of Nuclear Physics,within the framework of the Beam Energy Scan Theory(BEST)Topical Collaborationthe U.S.National Science Foundation(PHY-1913729)the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada,the Fonds de recherche du Québec-Nature et technologies(FRQNT)through the Programmede Bourses d'ExcellencepourÉtudiantsÉtrangers(PBEEE)。
文摘The chiral magnetic effect(CME)is a novel transport phenomenon,arising from the interplay between quantum anomalies and strong magnetic fields in chiral systems.In high-energy nuclear collisions,the CME may survive the expansion of the quark-gluon plasma fireball and be detected in experiments.Over the past two decades,experimental searches for the CME have attracted extensive interest at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider(RHIC)and the Large Hadron Collider(LHC).The main goal of this study is to investigate three pertinent experimental approaches:the$\gamma$correlator,the R correlator,and the signed balance functions.We exploit simple Monte Carlo simulations and a realistic event generator(EBE-AVFD)to verify the equivalence of the core components among these methods and to ascertain their sensitivities to the CME signal and the background contributions for the isobar collisions at the RHIC.
基金This preliminary work was supported in part by a seed grant from Sinai hospital of Detroit medical staff foundation
文摘Aim: The aim of the study is to test visible resonance Raman (VRR) spectroscopy for rapid skin cancer diagnosis,and evaluate its effectiveness as a new optical biopsy method to distinguish basal cell carcinoma (BCC) from normal skin tissues.Methods: The VRR spectroscopic technique was undertaken using 532 nm excitation. Normal and BCC human skin tissue samples were measured in seconds. The molecular fingerprints of various native biomolecules as biomarkers were analyzed. A principal component analysis - support vector machine (PCA-SVM) statistical analysis method based on the molecular fingerprints was developed for differentiating BCC from normal skin tissues.Results: VRR provides a rapid method and enhanced Raman signals from biomolecules with resonant and nearresonant absorption bands as compared with using a near-infrared excitation light source. The VRR technique revealed chemical composition changes of native biomarkers such as tryptophan, carotenoids, lipids and proteins.The VRR spectra from BCC samples showed a strong enhancement in proteins including collagen type I combined with amide I and amino acids, and a decrease in carotenoids and lipids. The PCA-SVM statistical analysis based on the molecular fingerprints of the biomarkers yielded a 93.0% diagnostic sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 94.5%accuracy compared with histopathology reports.Conclusion: VRR can enhance molecular vibrational modes of various native biomarkers to allow for very fast display of Raman modes in seconds. It may be used as a label-free molecular pathology method for diagnosis of skin cancer and other diseases and be used for combined treatment with Mohs surgery for BCC.
文摘High transverse momentum(pT)particle production is suppressed owing to the parton(jet)energy loss in the hot dense medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions.Redistribution of energy at low-to-modest pT has been difficult to measure,owing to large anisotropic backgrounds.We report a data-driven method for background evaluation and subtraction,exploiting the away-side pseudorapidity gaps,to measure the jetlike correlation shape in Au+Au collisions at √sNN=200 GeV in the STAR experiment.The correlation shapes,for trigger particles pT>3GeV/c and various associated particle pT ranges within 0.5<pT<10GeV/c,are consistent with Gaussians,and their widths increase with centrality.The results indicate jet broadening in the medium created in central heavy-ion collisions.