cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of choroid plexus tumors in children.

A variety of lesions may present as intraventricular masses in children. We report quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of two intraventricular tumors of the choroid plexus: choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) and choroid plexus papilloma (CPP). Both lesions were characterized by high levels of choline-containing compounds and a complete absence of creatine and the neuronal/axonal marker N-acetyl aspartate. The CPC showed higher levels of choline compared to the CPP, and it also had elevated lactate. These preliminary results, if confirmed in a larger cohort of patients, indicate that proton MRS may have a role in the presurgical diagnosis of choroid plexus tumors in children, which may also have important implications for therapy and prognosis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:78–82. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of Surface Modification and Moisture on the Rates of Charge Transfer between Metals and Organic Materials

This report is a study of the kinetics of contact charging resulting from the rolling of millimeter-sized metallic spheres on flat surfaces of polystyrene (PS). Charging was studied (i) for different values of the relative humidity (RH) of the air in contact with the system, (ii) in acidic and basic atmospheres, and (iii) for a series of PS surfaces oxidized to different degrees. The rates of charging increased with increasing RH; they were higher in basic atmospheres than in neutral or acidic ones and correlated with the numbers of hydrophilic groups on the surface of the polymer. These findings are consistent with a mechanism that implicates a thin film of water on the surface of PS as an important element of tribocharging in this system.
Re-evaluation of some geophysical observations in the Caroline Basins

Well-identified magnetic anomalies in the Caroline Basins define a sequence 28 to 38 m.y. old; reflection profiles show fracture-zone offsets on the Eauripik Rise, and narrow, broad topographic ridges help identify two abandoned spreading centers and several fossil trenches. A combination of these geophysical parameters supports an interpretation of the evolution of the region in two phases. Two phases of sea-floor spreading are recognized in the East and West Caroline Basins. The West Caroline and Kiilsgaard troughs represent two disjointed segments of an extinct spreading center abandoned at 28 and 31 m.y. B.P., respectively. The spreading center then jumped into the Eauripik position and was active for the next 5 m.y.
Observational methods to measure behaviors of captive cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus).

The purpose of this study was to identify efficient sampling methods for establishing accurate activity budgets for zoo animals. Seven cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) from two zoos were videotaped for multiple 90 min sessions, 3 to 4 days per week for 12 weeks. An activity budget was constructed for each animal using a continuous sampling method to analyze 30 hr of video recording of each animal. These master datasets, reflecting actual behavior, were re-sampled using interval sampling lengths of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 min, and cluster sampling protocols (periodic sessions of continuous sampling) of 10 min×3, 15 min×2, 20 min×1, 15 min×1 and 10 min×1 (min×repetitions/90 min sample period) to construct additional activity budgets for each animal. The Canberra similarity index was used to determine the statistical relationship between these activity budgets and those based on the master datasets. As interval length increased, there was a consequent decrease in the accuracy of the associated activity budgets as compared with the master dataset. No cluster sampling protocols yielded activity budgets as accurate as the four shortest interval lengths, but all cluster sampling protocols were more accurate than the three longest interval lengths. All the tested protocols varied in ability to accurately portray animal behavior. Overall, interval sampling provided superior behavioral representations at lower observer input. Results from this study will potentially facilitate the standardization of behavior monitoring protocols at zoos. Zoo Biol 29:416–431, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Agonist-Specific Regulation of μ-Opioid Receptor Desensitization and Recovery from Desensitization

Agonist-selective actions of opioids on the desensitization of μ-opioid receptors (MORs) have been well characterized, but few if any studies have examined agonist-dependent recovery from desensitization. The outward potassium current induced by several opioids was studied using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings in locus ceruleus neurons. A brief application of the irreversible opioid antagonist β-chlornaltrexamine (β-CNA) was applied immediately after treatment of slices with saturating concentrations of opioid agonists. This approach permitted the measurement of desensitization and recovery from desensitization using multiple opioid agonists, including [Met]5enkephalin (ME), [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), etorphine, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, morphine-6-glucuronide, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. The results indicate that desensitization protects receptors from irreversible antagonism with β-CNA. The amount of desensitization was measured as the decrease in current during a 10-min application of a saturating agonist concentration and was a good predictor of the extent of receptor protection from irreversible inactivation with β-CNA. After desensitization with ME or DAMGO and treatment with β-CNA, there was an initial profound inhibition of MOR-induced current that recovered significantly after 45 min. There was, however, no recovery of MOR-mediated current with time after treatment with agonists that did not cause desensitization, such as oxycodone. These results demonstrate that desensitization prevents irreversible inactivation of receptors by β-CNA.
Foreign Media and Protest Diffusion in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of the 1989 East German Revolution

Do foreign media facilitate the diffusion of protest in authoritarian regimes? Apparently for the first time, the author tests this hypothesis using aggregate and survey data from communist East Ge...
Design and implementation of an electronics laboratory simulator

This paper describes the design and implementation of a computer-simulated laboratory for use in undergraduate engineering education. The simulated laboratory is implemented in a Windows environment. Several forms of tutorials and other assistance are available to the user to complete the laboratory. Evaluations indicate that when the simulation is used with class lectures, there is a significant improvement in both theory and lab knowledge. Use of the simulation significantly cuts subsequent time and requests for assistance in the physical lab.
Mathematica packages for simulation of experimental genetics

Summary: This note describes add-on packages for the Mathematica software system (Wolfram, 1996) which allow simulation and analysis of both Mendelian and complex genetic traits in experimental crosses of plants or animals. Availability: The add-on packages are freely available at http://www.mathsource.com/cgi-bin/msitem?0209-304. Contact: mailto:kmanly@mcbio.med.buffalo.edu Supplementary Information: A tutorial notebook file is included with the packages at the mathsource site. Text Genetic traits are called Mendelian traits when they are controlled by one gene and are not greatly influenced by environmental (non-genetic) effects; they are called quantitative traits when they are affected by more than one gene and/or affected significantly by non-genetic factors. In experimental genetics, inbred strains of plants or animals are crossed to create populations which are the equivalent of large families. These Mathematica (Wolfram, 1996) packages allow a user to simulate the results of such experimental crosses involving hypothetical genes specified by the user, including both Mendelian and quantitative traits. Conversely, they also allow the user to analyze the results of such crosses, inferring genes and their relationships from the real or simulated traits in progeny populations. The principal functions in these packages are summarized in Table 1. The Simulation package includes the ability to simulate the multi-generation breeding designs called advanced intercross, advanced backcross, and recombinant inbred lines. Advanced intercrosses are useful for precise mapping of genes controlling quantitative traits (Darvasi and Soller, 1995). Advanced backcrosses are useful for transferring a useful trait from one strain to another and simultaneously mapping the gene or genes controlling that trait (Tanksley and Nelson, 1996). Recombinant inbred lines are a permanent mapping resource which allow the integration of mapping results from many laboratories
Behavioural plasticity may compensate for climate change in a long-lived reptile with temperature-dependent sex determination

How are organisms responding to climate change? The rapidity with which climate is changing suggests that, in species with long generation times, adaptive evolution may be too slow to keep pace with climate change, and that alternative mechanisms, such as behavioural plasticity, may be necessary for population persistence. Species with temperature-dependent sex determination may be particularly threatened by climate change, because altered temperatures could skew sex ratios. We experimentally tested nest-site choice in the long-lived turtle Chrysemys picta to determine whether nesting behaviour can compensate for potential skews in sex ratios caused by rapid climate change. We collected females from five populations across the species′ range and housed them in a semi-natural common garden. Under these identical conditions, populations differed in nesting phenology (likely due to nesting frequency), and in nest depth (possibly due to a latitudinal cline in female body size), but did not differ in choice of shade cover over the nest, nest incubation regime, or in resultant nest sex ratios. These results suggest that choice of nest sites with particular shade cover may be a behaviourally plastic mechanism by which turtles can compensate for change in climatic temperatures during embryonic development, provided that sufficient environmental variation in potential nest microhabitat is available.
Interannual Variations in the Southern Hemisphere Winter Circumpolar Vortex: Relationships with the Semiannual Oscillation

Abstract Several studies of Southern Hemisphere circulation report changes in the late 1970s and 1980s through the mid- and high latitudes that are associated with a weakening in the semiannual oscillation (SAO) of sea level pressure and geopotential height. This weakening is thought to reflect changes in the amplitude of zonal wavenumber 3, a deepening of the subantarctic trough, intensification of subtropical ridging, and an increase in the strength of the westerlies. These conclusions suggest an equatorial expansion of the circumpolar vortex in high latitudes and a poleward contraction of the vortex in the midlatitudes. The goal of this study is to examine the size and spatial variation of the Southern Hemisphere circumpolar vortex in winter for evidence of such change. The size of the 500-hPa vortex was calculated for the mid- and high latitudes in 5° longitude sectors from both the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalysis dataset (1...
Ginzburg-Landau theory of the superheating field anisotropy of layered superconductors

We investigate the effects of material anisotropy on the superheating field of layered superconductors. We provide an intuitive argument both for the existence of a superheating field, and its dependence on anisotropy, for $\ensuremath{\kappa}=\ensuremath{\lambda}/\ensuremath{\xi}$ (the ratio of magnetic to superconducting healing lengths) both large and small. On the one hand, the combination of our estimates with published results using a two-gap model for ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$ suggests high anisotropy of the superheating field near zero temperature. On the other hand, within Ginzburg-Landau theory for a single gap, we see that the superheating field shows significant anisotropy only when the crystal anisotropy is large and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ is small. We then conclude that only small anisotropies in the superheating field are expected for typical unconventional superconductors near the critical temperature. Using a generalized form of Ginzburg Landau theory, we do a quantitative calculation for the anisotropic superheating field by mapping the problem to the isotropic case, and present a phase diagram in terms of anisotropy and $\ensuremath{\kappa}$, showing type I, type II, or mixed behavior (within Ginzburg-Landau theory), and regions where each asymptotic solution is expected. We estimate anisotropies for a number of different materials, and discuss the importance of these results for radio-frequency cavities for particle accelerators.
XX.— On the Anatomy and Histology of Pleurochæta Moseleyi

Two specimens of the worm which forms the subject of this memoir were brought to Professor Moseley, in 1872, by a coolie trained for the purposes of collecting by Dr. Thwaites, F.R.S., the distinguished curator of the Peradeniya Gardens at Kandy; each was found at the bottom of a deep burrow, in company with a single egg-case, in the neighbourhood of that town. Professor Moseley entrusted me with them for study and description, and I have to thank him for much valuable assistance during the course of my work, which was carried on in the Oxford Natural History Museum.
Mixing and chemical reactions: A contrast between fast and slow reactions

Abstract The effect of fluid mixing on chemical reactions is analyzed by means of a model which treats simultaneously the complex interactions of mechanical mix diffusion and reaction. The model assumes that reactants diffuse from adjacent sheets of fluid undergoing a stretching motion, contact one another and This stretching motion causes deformation of the intermaterial surface and is designated mechanical mixing. A history of striation thickness s ( t ) contains all information about fluid mechanical mixing. Numerical methods were employed to solve the simultaneous partial differential equations of the model for mixing and single-step irreversible reactions. A criterion is established for limits of reaction control of bimolecular reactions by mixing, including diffusion, and by chemical kinetics in terms of a single dimensionless group φ  kC B 0 S 2 / D A . The present model can be applied to reactions in both laminar and turbulent flows.
Correlation of Surface Pressure and Vortical Flow Structures in an Unsteady Separating Flow

Controlling flow in an unsteady separating flow requires accurate information about the surface forces and the effect that vortical structures in the flow field have on those surface forces. A correlation between vortex passage and surface pressure is defined to determine appropriate locations for sensors on the surface of a square cylinder for control feedback. Data are generated using a large eddy simulation of flow over a square cylinder at Reynolds number of 21; 000. The flow is decomposed using proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) based on the frequency and energy content of the velocity and pressure fields around the square cylinder. Two data sets are reconstructed from the POD: (i) the first two modes containing approximately 75% of the energy of the flow and representing the large scale wake oscillation, and (ii) higher order modes containing the remainder of the energy of the flow representing smaller scale features in the flow, such as those shed from the leading edge. Vortex detection using the G function is performed on both data sets, where the G function is an area-averaged measure of the swirl around each point in the flow. Vortices in the data set composed of the first two modes tend to be large scale features and oscillate with the same frequency as the bluff body wake oscillation. The vortices detected in the higher order modes are smaller and tend to be the vortical structures shed from the leading edge of the square cylinder and convected downstream. In both data sets, the correlation values increase from the leading edge to the trailing edge, indicating that the downstream half of the square cylinder is most affected by vortical structures in the flow. Based on the correlation values, the segments of the square cylinder surface closest to the trailing edge would be best for sensor location to provide input for flow control.
Cholinesterase-inhibiting properties of two vinyl-substituted phosphates.

Summary1. Comparative cholinesterase-inhibiting activity of 2 new vinyl-substituted phosphates and parathion was studied in respect to their cumulative inhibitory properties, the rate of regeneration of the enzyme following single administration, and their inhibitory action in vitro. 2. While qualitatively resembling parathion in inhibitory action against cholinesterase, quantitatively the diethyl 2-chlorovinyl phosphate was found to be more active both in vitro and in vivo than parathion; and the dimethyl 1-carbomethoxy-l-propen-2-yl phosphate was less active in vivo. 3. By examination of the cumulative inhibitory properties of these 3 phosphates, the observation of others has been confirmed, that on increasing the dosage or duration of exposure to the cholinesterase inhibitor, remarkably low levels of enzyme activity can occur without fatal termination. 4. Erythrocyte cholinesterase was usually depressed to a greater extent than that of brain or plasma. There was some indication of a tolerance developin...
Susceptibility of the Immature and Adult Stages of the Sweetpotato Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to Selected Insecticides

We determined the toxicity of malathion, methyl parathion, monocrotophos, sulprofos, permethrin, and neem seed extract to various life stages of susceptible and resistant populations of sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), in the greenhouse. All insecticides were most active against first-stage larvae, with the lowest LC50's ranging from 0.001 to 0.014 mg/ml for the synthetic insecticides and 1.44 mg/ml for neem seed extract. Toxicities decreased between successive stages. LC50's were always higher for the egg and pupal stages. Adults of the resistant strain were the most tolerant regardless of the insecticide tested, with LC50's ranging from 2.824 to 25.50 mg/ml. First-stage larvae were the least resistant to all the insecticides (resistance ratio [RR] = >2-fold), with resistance increasing to moderate levels in pupae (RR = 5.5-12.3-fold) and to high levels (RR = 46.3-108.6-fold) in adults. Neem seed extract was the least toxic material to any of the stages; however, no resistance to neem was detected in any stage.
“A Grain of Salt in a Pepper Shaker”: Interviewing Whites, Blacks, and Latinos about Their Neighborhood Preferences

Several perspectives dominate as explanations for neighborhood preferences: pure race, racial proxy, race-based neighborhood stereotyping, and race-associated neighborhood factors. This analysis extends and supports the pure race and race-associated neighborhood factors arguments by showing that these theories are applied differently depending on respondents' social class, race and ethnicity, and whether they are talking about white, black, or Latino neighborhoods. Race-associated factors are emphasized for white and black neighborhoods, but pure race serves as a better theoretical framework for understanding people's preferences for Latino neighborhoods. I analyze qualitative interview data, using maps of real neighborhoods and hypothetical neighborhood show cards, to examine the neighborhood preferences of 65 white, black, and Latino residents in Ogden, Utah, and Buffalo, New York.
Health Education of Urinary Incontinence among Females

Objective To discuss the effect of health education on the enhancement of cognition on urinary incontinence in females.Methods 1 943 adult females voluntarily participated in health education of urinary incontinence.Related test were carried out before and after the education.Results All participants got obviously higher scores in the test after the education(P0.01).Conclusion Health education is beneficial to the improvement of cognition on urinary incontinence,and it cultivates positive attitude toward urinary incontinence among females,which eventually improves their quality of life.
The Affordable Care Act, State Policies and Demand for Primary Care Physicians

The Affordable Care Act is designed to increase healthcare access nationwide. Such foreseeable new demand in the face of a fixed supply of physicians could lead to greater, and/or more intensive, recruitment of primary care physicians. We analyzed all primary care advertisements on three important national physician recruitment websites by ‘scraping’ all content on two days one year apart and parsed the content using text analytic tools. We expected greater increases in recruitment activity in those states expanding Medicaid and which partnered with the federal government to construct insurance exchanges. Contrary to hypothesis, physician labor markets did not consistently respond to foreseeable increases in patient demand by increased recruitment activities.
The management of hernia: all ages.

Although the management of hernias may not represent the most glamorous phase of medicine today, it remains one of the most common problems and as such deserves the very best efforts of every physician. Recommendations are presented for the management of hernia from infancy to senility. Special reference is made to the ways hernia may alter employment potential and armed-forces obligations.
DNA polymerase μ gene expression in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: An analysis utilizing in situ hybridization

DNA polymerase μ (pol μ) is a novel error-prone DNA repair enzyme bearing significant structural homology with terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase. Whereas other human error-prone DNA polymerases identified thus far show no preferential lymphoid tissue distribution, the highest levels of pol μ mRNA have been detected in peripheral lymphoid tissues, particularly germinal center B cells. Conceivably, up-regulation of the pol μ gene may be biologically significant in lymphomagenesis, especially in the development of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (B-NHLs), because of enhanced error-prone DNA repair activities. To explore this possibility, we generated a digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe to pol μ mRNA and used the probe and in situ hybridization to examine the expression pattern of the pol μ gene in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 37 B-NHLs. This included eight chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphomas, six mantle cell lymphomas, seven follicular lymphomas, nine diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, three splenic marginal zone lymphomas, two Burkitt’s lymphomas, and two precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphomas. We also correlated the pol μ mRNA expression levels with the tumor proliferation index, which was assessed in each case by image analysis of Ki-67 immunostained slides. Nineteen of 21 (90%) B-NHLs arising from postgerminal center B cells (follicular lymphomas, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, splenic marginal zone lymphomas, and Burkitt’s lymphomas) exhibited high expression of pol μ mRNA. In contrast, only 2 of 16 (13%) B-NHLs arising from pregerminal center B cells (chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphomas, mantle cell lymphomas, and precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphomas) expressed significant levels of pol μ mRNA. Pol μ gene expression did not seem to correlate with the proliferation index, especially because a significant level of pol μ mRNA was not detected in either case of precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphomas. In conclusion, pol μ gene expression is highly associated with B-NHLs of postgerminal center B-cell derivation. Furthermore, the expression level is independent of the proliferation rate and thus is unrelated to the biological aggressiveness of the tumors. These findings, along with the error-prone nature of the enzyme, suggest that up-regulation of pol μ gene expression may be a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of a subset of B-NHLs through DNA repair-associated genomic instability.
Rifapentine for the treatment of latent tuberculosis.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The goal of this article is to review the use of rifapentine in the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Controlling LTBI is an important part of the global strategy to end the spread of tuberculosis. Rifapentine’s potent sterilizing effect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis combined with its long half-life make it an attractive LTBI treatment option.Areas covered: A systematic literature search of Pubmed using the terms ‘rifapentine’ and ‘tuberculosis’ was performed. Articles identified were cross-referenced for other relevant publications. The mechanisms of action and resistance, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics, potential drug interactions and side effects are discussed.Expert commentary: Rifapentine in combination with isoniazid for twelve weeks is the best available option for treating latent TB in the majority of patients in the United States due to its favorable safety profile and the increased likelihood of completing therapy. Currently, rifapentine is not r...
National Health Care Systems: Conflicting Visions

Choosing the proper health care system1 is difficult, for such decisions bear on life and death issues. The problem is complicated by Western culture’s transition from a period of wide-spread belief in an after-life to wide-spread skepticism. For many it is unclear how one ought to choose among alternative levels of health care, if this life is the only life we shall possess. As belief in a Deity wanes, it becomes more difficult “to play God” and to shoulder choices that have implications for differential morbidity and mortality rates. It is hard to compare probabilities of marginal increases in life expectancy with different qualities of life, or to decide that a life of a particular quality does not merit further extension. Decisions regarding the proper character of a health care system depend on our views of the worth of a life. Different lives are saved with different qualities of outcome, depending on whether one invests resources in prenatal care or in intensive-care units for very defective, low-weight neonates. Different levels of investment in health care and different apportionments of health care budgets have implications not only for morbidity and mortality rates, but for the character and quality of living and dying.
Configurationality and Phrase Structure

This chapter presents a variety of theoretical and empirical arguments to claim that in spite of the apparent freedom of word order, the syntactic structure of Kashmiri is not nonconfigurational as previously analyzed by Raina (1991). The implicit argument is that the freedom of word order is not necessarily synonymous with nonconfigurationality. The result of this investigation is significant in that it provides support for Speas’ (1990) claim that, universally, all languages project their arguments configurationally. Specifically, it is suggested that (1) below is the structure of the Kashmiri clause.
Orthoptic Evaluation in Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia

(1985). Orthoptic Evaluation in Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia. American Orthoptic Journal: Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 108-117.
Direction of trade and changing pattern of indian marine products exports

The present study was initiated with the objective of analyzing the export performance of marine products in India. The study is based on the secondary data i.e., quantity of export of marine products from 2005-06 to 2014-15 compiled from official website of Marine Products Export Development Authority of India. The structural change and direction of trade in marine products was analyzed using Markov Chain approach. The Cumulative Annual Growth Rate of export of marine products from India in volume and value terms is positive with 8.67 and 19.58 per cent during the period from 2005-06 to 2014-15. The increased export growth in marine products is mainly attributed its increasing demand from animal and human consumption, food processing as well as alternative purposes such as cosmetics, fishmeal and fish oil, bio active compounds, pharmaceuticals, marine protein and food processing aids and bi-products are used for valuable ornamentals. European Union, South East Asia and China are the stable importer of Indian marine products as reflected by the highest probability of retention was 79, 78 and 74 per cent respectively. Therefore, efforts are needed to promote exports to these countries by stabilizing the markets by supplying quality marine products and make its price competitive in the international market.
Religious Epistemology with a Focus on the Ramayana

The complexity of the Hindu epics is beyond the neat categories of history or mythology, fact or fiction, philosophy or religion. Yet, Orientalists attempt to rewrite the history of the Hindu epics to meet Western expectations, especially to fit into Western genres of literature, and destroy the religious epistemological framework of Indians, whether these Indians were Hindu or non-Hindu.
Preventing the Post-Antibiotic Era by Training Future Pharmacists as Antimicrobial Stewards.

Antimicrobials enable modern medicine, but their efficacy is a limited resource. In the past 20 years, antimicrobial development has slowed dramatically while antimicrobial resistance continues to rise. In response to this, there has been an increased focus on strategically managing antimicrobial use with an approach called “antimicrobial stewardship.” Antimicrobial stewardship programs have been endorsed by health systems, professional societies, regulators, and government. These programs have been shown to reduce antimicrobial use, slow the growth of antimicrobial resistance, and improve patient outcomes. This commentary will discuss recent mandates for antimicrobial stewardship, compare current approaches to teaching infectious diseases pharmacotherapy with the skills and knowledge required for antimicrobial stewardship, and provide recommendations for and examples of best practices in training student pharmacists to become antimicrobial stewards.
Ultra-short pulses of coherent millimeter-wave radiation from a prebunched FEL

A high power (10 MW), ultra-short pulse (10 ps to 1 ns), millimeter-wave (35 GHz to 100 GHz) Free-Electron Laser (FEL) ex- periment is currently underway at UCLA. The device is energized by a 11/2 cell S-band photocathode RF linac which produceselectron bunches in the 3-4 MeV energy range, with pulse FWHMs ranging between 3 and 10 ps and charges up to 1 nC. Thecopper photocathode is driven by a 1 ps HVVHM frequency-quadrupled Nd:YAG laser. The electron bunch is transversally ac- celerated by a 8.4 cm-period, helically polarized wiggler. Because the electron bunch is much shorter than the FEL wavelength,all electrons coherently radiate spontaneously in the free-space limit, where slippage is important. In the TE11 grazing limit,where the axial bunch velocity matches the electromagnetic wave group velocity, the device behaves as a superradiant high- gain Compton FEL amplifier, seeded by the coherent spontaneous radiation produced at the wiggler entrance. Since the beamis prebunched, efficiencies are very high. Detailed studies of the temporal, spectral, power and phase characteristics of the radi- ation produced in both regimes are planned.
Occurrence of Diplodia corticola, including new oak host records, in Wisconsin, USA.

In the United States, diseased oaks (Quercus species) exhibit tip blight, branch and stem cankers, and dieback often attributed to Diplodia species or related fungi. Emergence of Diplodia corticola as a pathogen of European oaks, and reports of this fungus in the eastern and western United States, prompted re‐examination of strains from Wisconsin. These had been obtained in the late 1990s and early 2000s and previously identified only as Diplodia species. Nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences were obtained from the Wisconsin strains and analysed with other sequences from GenBank. Wisconsin strains confirmed as D. corticola were from northern red oak (Q. rubra), black oak (Q. velutina), white oak (Q. alba) and bur oak (Q. macrocarpa). Other strains from oaks in Wisconsin were D. mutila and D. seriata. Wound inoculation of northern red, white and bur oak seedlings with D. corticola in a greenhouse resulted in shoot death and stem lesions, from which the pathogen was reisolated. We conclude that D. corticola has been present in the northcentral United States for at least two decades and report two previously unrecognized hosts of this pathogen: white oak and bur oak. The roles of D. corticola, related fungi and influences of other environmental factors in deterioration of oak health in North America merit additional investigation.
An expectation–maximization algorithm for the matrix normal distribution with an application in remote sensing

Abstract Dramatic increases in the size and dimensionality of many modern datasets make crucial the need for sophisticated methods that can exploit inherent structure and handle missing values. In this article we derive an expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm for the matrix normal distribution, a distribution well-suited for naturally structured data such as spatio-temporal data. We review previously established maximum likelihood matrix normal estimates, and then consider the situation involving missing data. We apply our EM method in a simulation study exploring errors across different dimensions and proportions of missing data. We compare these errors to those from three alternative methods and show that our proposed EM method outperforms them in all scenarios. Finally, we implement the proposed EM method in a novel way on a satellite image dataset to investigate land-cover classification separability.
Promoting Oral Health in Childhood: A Quality Improvement Project

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends periodic oral health risk assessments (OHRAs) for young children to prevent early childhood caries and promote oral health. The objective of this quality improvement project was to incorporate OHRAs, including documentation of the oral screening examination, into well-child visits for patients aged 12 to 47 months to drive (1) improved rates of preventive fluoride varnish (FV) application and (2) improved dental referrals for children at high risk for caries. METHODS: We identified a quality gap in our OHRAs, oral examination completion, FV application rates, and dental referral rates via retrospective data collection. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles targeted modification of electronic medical record templates, oral health education, and standardization of work processes. Process and outcome measures were analyzed with statistical process control charts. RESULTS: At baseline, OHRAs and oral screening examinations were documented in CONCLUSIONS: A systematic, evidence-based approach to improving oral health, including electronic medical record–based interventions, resulted in improved documentation of oral health risks and oral screening, improved rates of FV application in young children, and increased identification and referral of high-risk patients.
The Production and Function of Ovarian Relaxin

Available evidence suggests that the source of circulating relaxin in primates is the corpus luteum. Since the sources and secretion patterns of relaxin is rather variable among different mammalian species, this manuscript will be limited, whenever possible, to primates.
Precambrian Tidal Facies

The Precambrian stratigraphic record dating back to 3.2 billion years is replete with examples of interpreted tidal facies. This chapter discusses relevant qualitative as well as quantitative criteria that support tidal interpretations. Qualitative criteria include herringbone cross bedding, bimodal-bipolar paleocurrent patterns, tidal bedding and modified ripples. Quantitative criteria in the form of tidal rhythmites which display semidiurnal, fortnightly and monthly hierarchical bundling patterns provide the best evidence for tidal processes during the Precambrian Era. Banded iron-formations (BIF’s), which are unique to the Precambrian rock record, may record evidence of tidal modulation in the form of Earth-tidal rather than ocean-tidal rhythms. Preservation of tidal and particularly tidal-flat facies in the Precambrian was enhanced by sediment stabilization as recorded in microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS). Tidal facies in the Precambrian record are preserved in both transgressive and highstand systems tracts, the latter as progradational delta front-prodelta deposits. Data from the Precambrian record reveal that despite a closer Earth-Moon distance, at the least in the Archean Era, bedforms were of comparable scale to those existing today and tidal ranges were probably mostly macrotidal but not extreme.
From When and Where I Enter: Theoretical and Empirical Considerations of Minority Students’ Transition to College

The focus of this chapter is the transition to college for students of color (Asian American, Latina/o, African American, and Native American students). The dominant thrust of much of the scholarship examining the transition to college for students comes from Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure and research using the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ). While such theories have been important for understanding transition, recent theories particular to the experiences of students of color (e.g., acculturation, theory of validation) shed light on future areas for theory and research on transition to college. We discuss other areas of first-year college experiences (financial matters, academic preparation, family and community support) and factors that support such students’ positive acclimation to campus, which include on-campus mentoring, family and/or community support, first-year experience programming, academic support, adequate financial aid, and amelioration of a negative racial climate. We conclude the chapter with recommendations for future directions of theory development and for practice, especially the need for additional research within racial/ethnic groups and by gender.
Prdx1 regulation of LOX-dependent ECM remodeling in breast cancer

Breast cancer progression and metastasis includes not only cell-autonomous properties of cancer epithelial cells, but also the influence of the neighboring tumor stromal cells. In breast cancer, almost 80% of stromal associated fibroblasts (SAFs) acquire a cancer associated fibroblast (CAF)-like “activated phenotype”. This CAF activated phenotype is associated with elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are linked with tumor remodeling and spreading. Members of the lysyl oxidase (LOX) family of enzymes participate in tumor remodeling through the promotion of collagen crosslinking and collagen fibril production. We hypothesize that stromal Prdx1 regulates ROS dependent metastasis/migration of cancer cells through effects on LOX activity. Our preliminary data reveal that Prdx1 prevents CAF-induced malignant phenotypes in breast cancer (epithelial) cells in an H2O2-dependent manner. When compared to wild-type mice, Prdx1-/- SAFs show a marked increase in CAF-specific characteristics, including increased expression of CAF-specific markers, motility and invasiveness of SAFs and SAF-induced chemotactic migration and invasion by breast cancer epithelial cells in vitro. Lack of Prdx1 in mammary SAFs results in the upregulation of markers of the activated phenotype, such as collagen, vimentin and α-SMA leading to an increase in co-migration and invasion. As shPrdx1 SAFs show CAF-like mesenchymal properties in vitro, we tested in vivo if Prdx1 suppresses migration of breast cancer cells by generating a syngeneic mouse model to image BALB/c derived SAFs shPrdx1/SAFs pLKO1 (expressing iRFP).
Telephone health survey estimates: Effects of nonresponse and sample limitations.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess nonresponse error in telephone health survey data based on an address-based sample. Data sources Telephone and in-person interviews in Greater Boston. Study design/data collection Interviewers attempted telephone interviews at addresses that were matched to telephone numbers using questions drawn from federal health surveys. In-person household interviews were carried out with telephone nonrespondents and at addresses without matching telephone numbers. Principal findings After adjusting for demographic differences, only eight of 15 estimates based on the telephone interviews lay within two standard errors of the estimates when data from all three groups were included. Conclusions For health surveys of address-based samples, many estimates based on telephone respondents differ from the total population in ways that cannot be corrected with simple demographic adjustments.
Obesity Disease Pandemic on Joint Disease and Longevity.

Abstract Epidemiologic trends and recent literature reports indicate that the combination of bariatric surgery as a first step followed by orthopedic interventions as a second stage is beneficial for our patients. Bariatric interventions have proven to be safe and efficacious, offering a bridge to patients affected by severe obesity and osteoarthritis to undergoing a successful and long-lasting joint arthroplasty. In addition, the combination of joint arthroplasty after bariatric interventions will help patients resume their normal activities while introducing lifestyle changes that will, in turn, enable them to maintain weight loss.
An integrated technical-economic model for evaluating CO2 enhanced oil recovery development

Abstract Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has been proved to effectively reduce CO2 emissions by storing industrial CO2 underground while increasing oil production. An integrated assessment model was developed to evaluate the technical and economic performance of CO2-EOR based on data from more than 40 historical field projects. Unlike previous models, the model comprehensively assesses economic potential and greenhouse gases (GHG) emission of CO2-EOR together and is based on a large amount of field data. The technical model estimates incremental oil production based on CO2 injection. The model also estimates the net CO2 emissions by considering the emissions from oil production and CO2 utilization. The economic model simulated the net present value (NPV) of six scenarios under different design requirements. The breakeven oil price for small scale CO2 pipeline project was $46.4/barrel. The porosity, net pay, CO2 injection, depth, oil formation factor, and oil saturation are the critical parameters affecting the economic performance based on the sensitivity analysis. The breakeven price of carbon tax scenario was $64.10/barrel, of which CO2 injection and carbon tax contributed 52% of the NPV variations. The study provides operators, investors, and even policymakers the sufficient and important information to fully understand CO2-EOR developments with various external and internal parameters before making the right decisions.
Prognostic markers for immunodeficiency-associated primary central nervous system lymphoma

Immunodeficiency is a major risk factor for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), but data on the disease in immunocompromised hosts are scarce. We aimed to define clinical and imaging features and determine prognostic factors for immunodeficiency-associated PCNSL. All PCNSL cases seen at Yale-New Haven Hospital between 2002 and 2017 were retrospectively screened for immunodeficiency. For patients with immunosuppression, biopsies were evaluated and clinical data were collected. Predictors of survival were identified using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test. p values 60 years at diagnosis (p 60 years, clonal IgHR, heterogeneous DWI pattern and peripheral enhancement on MRI may serve as predictors of less favorable outcome.
Implantable venous access devices in children with severe hemophilia: a tertiary pediatric institutional experience.

Clotting factor replacement forms the pillar of treatment for children with hemophilia. Most children can be treated using peripheral venipuncture, but very young children and children with poor venous access might require a central venous catheter. Short-term and long-term complications of implantable venous access device placement (also known as port placement) can result in important morbidity and mortality in children with hemophilia. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience with port placement in children and adolescents with severe hemophilia (<1% of the Factors VIII or IX). We performed a retrospective review over a 10-year period to identify port placement in pediatric patients with severe hemophilia. We reviewed demographic and procedural information, access frequency, mechanical complications, and central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Eighteen males were included, with median age at insertion of 3.9 years (0.7–22.7 years). Fifteen of the 18 patients had hemophilia Type A and 3/18 had Type B. Thirteen had high neutralizing inhibitor titers. Technical success in port placement was achieved in 26/27 (96.3%) patients, with 1 port failure caused by venous occlusion from prior catheter placement. Port catheter size ranged from 5 French (Fr) to 7.5 Fr. All were single-lumen and placed via right (76.9%) or left (23.1%) internal jugular vein; 59.3% were placed during general anesthesia, and all had factor replacement prophylaxis. A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was placed concurrently in 69.2% of the cases; per hospital policy, the port was only accessed 15 days post-placement to reduce the risk of site hematoma. Two patients were lost to follow-up. The total catheter days was 15,893. Ports were removed in 14/24 cases, most commonly because of CLABSI (7/24; 29.2%) and transition to peripheral infusion (3/24; 12.5%). Bleeding was the most common complication in the first 30 days after placement. There were nine CLABSI events (0.57 per 1,000 catheter days), all in patients with high neutralizing inhibitor titers. A higher frequency of port access (more or equal to daily vs. less than daily) correlated with higher infection rates (P=0.02). Median time from port insertion to first infection was 348 days (range 167–1,055 days). There were four fibrin-sheath-related catheter occlusions (0.25 per 1,000 catheter days): three catheters were salvaged with intra-catheter tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) instillation resulting in a salvage of an additional 1,214 catheter days, and one catheter was removed after tPA failure (0.06 per 1,000 catheter days). Port maintenance in boys with severe hemophilia is challenging given the need for long-term frequent device access that is associated with catheter-related infections. The rate of bleeding or infection did not differ in patients whether the device was accessed immediately or 15 days post placement. With appropriate pre- and post-procedural factor replacement, immediate and early term severe complications are not common.