cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) Coding Variants Are Associated With Creatinine Rise After Cardiac Surgery.

Objective Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of cardiac surgery that is considerably more common in African Americans (1.5-fold). Although homozygous status for apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk alleles is associated with chronic kidney disease in individuals of African ancestry, whether these coding variants confer AKI risk is unknown. The present study examined whether APOL1 homozygous risk allele status was associated with AKI in African Americans after cardiac surgery. Design Retrospective analysis of a cohort. Setting Single-center university hospital. Participants African American patients from the CATHeterization GENetics study cohort who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Interventions Genotyping of APOL1 alleles. Measurements and Main Results Data from 125 African American patients included 12 APOL1 risk (ie, homozygous for risk alleles) patients and 113 APOL1 control (ie, wildtype or heterozygous for risk alleles) patients. The primary outcome to reflect AKI was peak serum creatinine rise after surgery relative to the preoperative creatinine (%ΔCr). The secondary outcome was Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI criteria. In the primary analysis, peak creatinine rise was higher in risk compared with control patients in both univariate (%ΔCr 69.1 v 29.6%; p = 0.005) and multivariate regression (%ΔCr 88.5 v 43.7%; p = 0.006) analyses. For the secondary outcome, a trend toward KDIGO AKI development was noted in APOL1 risk patients, but this was not statistically significant. Conclusions African American cardiac surgery patients homozygous for APOL1 chronic kidney disease risk variants averaged a more than 2-fold higher postoperative creatinine rise even after adjustment for other risk factors, suggesting these alleles also are independent risk factors for AKI.
Path to increasing the coincidence efficiency of integrated resonant photon sources

Silicon ring resonators are used as photon pair sources by taking advantage of silicon’s large third order nonlinearity with a process known as spontaneous four wave mixing. These sources are capable of producing pairs of indistinguishable photons but typically suffer from an effective 50% loss. By slightly decoupling the input waveguide from the ring, the desired photons generated in the ring can preferentially be directed to the drop port. Thus, the ratio between the coincidences from the drop port and the total number of coincidences from all ports (coincidence efficiency) can be significantly increased, with the trade-off being that the pump is less efficiently coupled into the ring. In this paper, ring resonators with this design have been demonstrated having coincidence efficiency of ∼ 96% but requiring a factor of ∼ 10 increase in the pump power. Through the modification of the coupling design that relies on additional spectral dependence, it is possible to achieve similar coincidence efficiencies without the increased pumping requirement. This can be achieved by coupling the input waveguide to the ring multiple times, thus creating a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. This coupler design can be used on both sides of the ring resonator so that resonances supported by one of the couplers are suppressed by the other. This is the ideal configuration for a photon-pair source as it can only support the pump photons at the input side while only allowing the generated photons to leave through the output side. This work realizes a device with preliminary results exhibiting the desired spectral dependence and with a coincidence efficiency as high as ∼ 97% while allowing the pump to be nearly critically coupled to the ring. The coincidence efficiency is measured to be near unity and reflects a significant reduction in the intrinsic losses typically associated with double bus resonators This device has the potential to greatly improve the scalability and performance of quantum computing and communication systems.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Online Educational Modules and Interactive Workshops in Alleviating Symptoms of Mild to Moderate Depression: A Pilot Trial

IntroductionDepression is a common health concern in primary care with barriers to treatment well documented in the literature. Innovative online psychoeducational approaches to address barriers to...
Stocking the Oral Surgery Office Emergency Cart

Clinicians must be prepared to deal adequately with acute emergencies that occur in the office setting. A critical aspect of successful treatment and positive outcome is preparation. This article outlines the basic drugs that should be readily available to treat the most commonly occurring office emergencies. Emergency kits should be kept simple because a kit that is complicated and crowded with various agents may only lead to confusion and a poor outcome. Constant vigilance is necessary to ensure that all drugs are up-to-date and not expired. Daily checks of emergency equipment are essential. Emergencies can and do occur when least expected, so clinicians must be prepared.
Short-Term Consequences of Sex: Contextual Predictors and Change Across College

Although sexual experiences are normative by young adulthood, individuals continue to explore and develop their sexual behaviors and cognitions across the college years. Thus, perceived consequences of sexual experiences may change. Similarly, characteristics of sexual experiences such as partner type, alcohol use, and sexual behavior type predict perceived consequences, and these associations may change over time. In this study, we addressed links between characteristics of sexual experiences (casual vs. committed partner, heavy alcohol use on sex days, and kissing/touching only vs. oral/penetrative sex) and short-term perceived consequences of sexual experiences (physical satisfaction, emotional intimacy, not satisfied, guilt, not ready), using daily data collected longitudinally across seven college semesters. We also examined whether perceived consequences of sex change across college and whether within-person daily associations between sexual experience characteristics and perceived consequences of sex change across college. An ethnically and racially diverse sample of traditionally aged first year university students (N = 566; 54% female; 98% heterosexual) completed online surveys, yielding 8,838 daily reports about sexual behaviors. Multilevel models indicated that partner type, heavy alcohol use, and sexual behavior type predicted within-person differences in perceived consequences of sex. Interactions between characteristics of sexual experiences and college semester indicated that differences in perceived consequences of sexual experiences with casual versus committed partners lessened over time. The likelihood of reporting physical satisfaction and guilt after only kissing/touching (but not oral/penetrative sex) decreased across college semesters. Findings inform understanding of normative sexual development by demonstrating that perceived consequences and their predictors change across time.
Integrating Graduates of a National Faculty Development Program Into a Community of Practice.

Abstract Purpose The Educational Scholars Program (ESP) started as a national 3-year faculty development (FD) program for pediatric educators. Fourteen years later, the ESP has grown into a larger community of practice (CoP). The purpose of this study was to identify programmatic processes that serve as bridges or barriers to integrating ESP graduates into the CoP. Methods A cross-sectional survey was sent to 126 ESP graduates. Based on their self-reported level of engagement, graduates were categorized into 4 groups: Core, Active, Peripheral, and Outsider groups. Factors contributing to engagement with the ESP community, and the impact of varying levels of engagement on outcomes related to the organization and the graduate were ascertained. Results Half of the ESP graduates completed the survey. Thirty-five percent of the respondents were in the Core or Active groups. Almost all ESP graduates in the Core and Active groups felt a sense of belonging to the ESP community. Opportunities provided to network, collaborate, and receive mentorship were reported as highly significant influences on their decision to remain engaged. Conclusion Purposeful integration of graduates of an FD program within a CoP, by allowing varying levels of involvement, enhances engagement within the CoP.
'I can't leave everything in the hands of my husband': Economic constraints and gender roles in care-seeking in post-Ebola Guinea.

The 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa had enduring effects on health systems and healthcare utilisation. This study explores the intersection of economic constraints and gender roles in Guinea to understand delays in care-seeking post-Ebola. In-depth interviews (n = 45) and focus group discussions (n = 24) were conducted with mothers, male heads of household, grandmothers, and health workers in rural and urban areas in Basse-Guinee and Guinee Forestiere. A thematic analysis identified salient themes related to gender and economic constraints on health care-seeking. Participants, particularly men, emphasised the high cost of seeking care, which led to delays as women secured funds. Men's engagement in care-seeking included providing funds and permission, picking up medication, and giving appointment reminders. As principal actors when 'navigating' the healthcare system, women were intimately involved in economic decisions and responsible for securing funds for services - even when lacking direct financial control. Essentialist descriptions of men as 'providers' and women as 'navigators', therefore, masked nuances in care-seeking and economic responsibilities. Programmes must acknowledge men's engagement in care-seeking and address both the economic barriers women face when seeking care and their economic roles. Greater attention to the complex intersection of economic constraints and gender roles could address care-seeking delays.
Outcome of High-power Short-duration Radiofrequency Ablation in Combination with Half-Normal Saline Irrigation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Background Data regarding the use of high-power short-duration (HPSD) radiofrequency (RF) in combination with half-normal saline irrigation for catheter irrigation is limited. Objectives This study investigated the safety and efficacy of using HPSD RF ablation in combination with half-normal saline irrigation for the treatment of AF. Methods One hundred consecutive patients with AF underwent RF ablation using HPSD combined with half-normal saline for catheter irrigation. In addition, the following ablation strategies were used: 1 mm tags for the display of ablation lesions on the mapping system, high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), low contact force, pacing after ablation to verify areas of noncapture, atrial/ventricular pacing at 500 to 700 ms to aid in catheter stability, use of two skin electrodes to reduce impedance, and post-ablation adenosine infusion. Power was started at 40-45 W and was modulated manually based on impedance changes. Results The average age of patients was 65.2 years and 70% were male. Forty-seven percent had paroxysmal AF and the average CHA2 DS2 -VASc score was 2.1±1.6. The average power and lesion duration were 38.1 ± 3.3 W and 8.1 ± 2.3 seconds, respectively. During a median follow-up period of 321 ± 139 days, 89% of the patients remained free from any atrial arrhythmias after a single RF ablation procedure. No procedure-related death, stroke, pericardial effusion, or atrioesophageal fistula occurred during follow-up. Conclusions Catheter ablation using HPSD RF lesions in combination with half-normal saline irrigation and is safe and effective, and results in high rate of freedom from AF. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Scope of this Study

Before outlining the central issues underlying our investigation, let us clarify the concept of “capital” and “capital movements.” Economists distinguish two basic concepts of capital: capital goods, and purchasing power or title to wealth. In the first sense, capital is conceived of as tangible “producers’ goods.”1 Capital in the sense of monetary funds or purchasing power does not restrict itself to specific commodities, but implies the possibility of control over productive means in general. Schumpeter, bearing in mind the function of capital, succinctly defined it as “... that sum of means of payment which is available at any moment for transference to entrepreneurs.”2 But, regardless of the definition of capital, there needs to be abstention from consumption by someone in order to create capital disposal which is then transferred between the residents of the same country, or between the residents of different countries.3
Introduction to the Volume

The reader is introduced to the definition and diversity of noncovalent forces. The division of these interactions into various subtopics is explained by way of introducing each of the chapters. A brief exposition is provided of the typical means by which computational chemists study these forces, and the language that is commonly used.
Conversion of sterigmatocystin to aflatoxin B 1 by Aspergillus parasiticus.

14C-Sterigmatocystin isolated from cultures of Aspergillusversicolor supplemented with (1-14C)acetate was shown to be efficiently converted to aflatoxin B1 by the resting mycelium of A. parasiticus. The experimental results may indicate a biosynthetic pathway leading from 5-hydroxysterigmatocystin to sterigmatocystin and then to aflatoxin B1.
Tryptophan hydroxylation in mammalian systems.

Publisher Summary The development of a quantitative assay system and appropriate assay conditions for mammalian tryptophan hydroxylase has permitted a preliminary characterization of this enzyme. Tryptophan hydroxylase from brainstem and pineal tissue is either soluble or easily solubilized from mitochondrial fraction and exhibits the characteristics of a typical aromatic ring hydroxylase. This rate-limiting enzyme is extremely useful in understanding the hydroxyindole pathway of tryptophan metabolism and eventually the role of 5-HT in tissues. Hydroxylation of tryptophan at the 5-position is the first step in the hydroxyindole pathway of tryptophan metabolism. This pathway leads to the formation of physiologically active substances such as 5-HT and melatonin. The tryptophan hydroxylating enzyme activity shows complete dependence on the presence of oxygen, a reduced pteridine, and ferrous iron. Relatively high levels of 2-mercaptoethanol (0.05 M) are also required for optimal in vitro enzyme activity. With the availability of this reproducible source of tryptophan hydroxylating enzyme, it has been possible to develop a sensitive radioassay, which now has been successfully applied to normal mammalian tissues.
Anyone But Blacks

Toni Morrison famously argued in Time magazine that immigrants become Americans by disassociating themselves with the black nemesis. Few would have questioned how her “anything but black” observation would occur not just in contrast with African Americans, but also within a burgeoning population (Latin@s) with many Afro-descendant members. In this article, I use the term “El Nuevo Blanqueamiento” (neo-whitening), a re-application of Latin America's infamous colonial-era “whitening” policy, to discuss the extent of “anti-black” assimilation processes occurring amongst and within the racially diverse U.S. Latin@ population. While Latin@s have sometimes been projected as redeemers who bridge racial difference and represent the possibility of transcending race, I illustrate how the elastic privileges of “whiteness” extended to many members of the group only reinforces racial disparities, and underscore how “cultural” arguments have been used to further complicate the necessity of justice-oriented alliances be...
Redemption Fees: Reward for Punishment

Short-term redemption fees may prevent investors from frequently trading in and out of mutual funds, which results in an implicit wealth transfer from long- to short-term fund investors. This paper studies determinants and implications of short-term redemption fees. We find that the probability of redemption fee initiation is increasing in operating expenses and recent returns and decreasing in the liquidity of portfolio stockholding. In the cross-section of mutual funds, those with redemption fees outperform their counterparts by 1.0 to 1.4 percent a year. Moreover, we observe this increase within a given fund such that the estimate is not simply a proxy for managerial quality. Instead, portfolio characteristics change with the introduction of a redemption fee. Most notably cash holdings decrease by 77 to 102 basis points after fee initiation.
Results of ambulatory pH monitoring do not reliably predict response to therapy in patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis.

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35: #–# Summary Background The consensus statements for eosinophilic oesophagitis recommend that ambulatory pH monitoring is one means of determining if gastro-oesophageal reflux is the cause of oesophageal eosinophilia and should guide pharmacological therapy. Aim To evaluate prospectively the accuracy of pH monitoring as a predictor of endoscopic, histological and symptomatic response in patients with oesophageal eosinophilia. Methods We conducted a prospective trial in which patients with oesophageal eosinophilic infiltration with ≥15 eos/hpf underwent a 24-h pH study and were placed in one of two treatment arms for 6 weeks based on positive or negative results. Patients with abnormal acid exposure were treated with esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily and others were treated with oral viscous budesonide 1 g twice daily. Response to treatment was assessed by oesophageal histology (<5 eos/hpf) and symptoms. Results A total of 51 patients were enrolled in the study. The average patient age was 39 years and 31 patients (61%) were male. The average number of eosinophils per hpf, prior to study enrolment was 41.2 (range 15–140, s.d. 27.7). Nineteen (37%) had positive pH studies and 32 (63%) had negative pH studies. Eighteen patients completed treatment with esomeprazole. Only eleven (61%) had histological response and, of these eleven, five (46%) had symptomatic improvement. A total of 28 patients with normal acid exposure completed treatment with budesonide. Only 16 (57%) had histological and 11 (69%) had symptomatic improvement. Conclusion In this prospective trial of pH-guided treatment, neither positive nor negative results of initial pH monitoring accurately predicted response to therapy.
Functional materials: electronics, information and sensors

Functional materials are those that have properties enabling them to preform a specific functional purpose, e.g. electrical, magnetic or optical. The rapid development of the technology of transistors and intergrated circuits will continue into the future with design incorporating new materials, notably gallium arsenide. Silica glass is finding increasing application in photonics, light emitting diodes and optical fibres for telephone cables. Optical–fibre technology depends on reliable and durable lasers which now use compound semiconductors such as indium–gallium–arsenide phosphide. It is anticipated that new materials application (indium–gallium–arsenide phosphide) will contribute towards progress in photovoltaics. Interest in superconducting material has heightened during 1980s with the promise that high–temperature superconductivity offers for more–efficient power generation and transmission. In future advantage will come from developing economic and reliable ways of producing functional materials to meet increasing demand.
Klostersturm and Secularization in Central Europe: What Happened to the Libraries?

Unlike the secularization of church property--including libraries--in England during the Reformation, the far greater secularization of church and monastery libraries that took place in Catholic Europe between 1773 and the early-to-mid 1800s has received little attention in Anglo-American historiography. This essay presents an overview of mostly German-language scholarship, including many older studies, dealing with the dissolution and disposition of monastery libraries across German-speaking Europe during these decades. It also considers research suggesting that modern library science arose from efforts to manage the flood of books that came into state possession during these years.
Two-dimensional layered transition-metal dichalcogenides for versatile properties and applications

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are compounds consisting of a transition-metal M (Ti, Hf, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Tc, Re, Pd, Pt) and chalcogen atoms X (S, Se, Te). There are approximately 60 compounds in the metal chalcogenide family, and two-thirds of them are in the form of layered structures where the in-plane bonds are strong (covalent), and the out-of-plane bonds are weak (van der Waals). This provides a means to mechanically or chemically thin (exfoliate) these materials down to a single atomic two-dimensional (2D) layer. While graphene, the 2D form of graphite, is metallic, the layered metal chalcogenides cover a wide range of electrical properties, from true metals (NbS2) and superconductors (TaS2) to semiconductors (MoS2) with a wide range of bandgaps and offsets. Multiple techniques are currently being developed to synthesize large-area monolayers, including alloys, and lateral and vertical heterostructures. The wide range of properties and the ability to tune them on an atomic scale has led to numerous applications in electronics, optoelectronics, sensors, and energy. This article provides an introduction to TMDCs, serving as a background for the articles in this issue of MRS Bulletin.
Trace elements in the interstitial waters of marine sediments

Abstract Phosphate and eleven elements were determined in the interstitial waters of four piston cores from the continental borderland area off the coast of Southern California. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and strontium were determined directly by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Phosphate was determined colorimetrically and the trace elements: cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel and zinc, were determined by extraction of the chelate complexes with ammonium pyrollidine dithiocarbamate into methylisobutyl ketone and subsequent analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Correlation coefficients for various pairs of variables are given. Decrease of Eh and increase of phosphate with depth was attributed mainly to bacterial activity and in the case of phosphate, partly due to release from metal phosphates. Calcium and strontium showed decreases with depth probably due partly to precipitation of carbonate by excess bicarbonate ions produced as a result of bacterial activity and partly to precipitation as phosphate. Potassium levels were higher and magnesium values were slightly lower than in sea water, probably due to interaction with the solid phase of the sediments. Copper showed no overall trends, but zinc showed moderate decrease with depth and correlated well with cadmium. Enrichment of cobalt, zinc, cadmium and copper at the surface of the sediments was attributed to biological concentration, and release, since there is more than sufficient organic matter present to account for such a source. Iron and nickel concentrations were greater in reducing sediments and showed an overall trend to increase with depth.
Morphology of the shoulder musculature of the American kestrel,Falco sparverius (Aves), with implications for gliding flight

The shoulder morphology of the American kestrel,Falco sparverius, was dissected with an emphasis on the morphological requirements for gliding flight. Kestrels are being used as a model for the study of gliding flight in a non-specialized gliding bird. The kestrel forelimb is relatively generalized in its construction, and does not appear to have any remarkable specializations for gliding. However, several structures found in specialized gliders/soarers which may contribute to gliding were also found in kestrels; these include the presence of a scapular anchor and pectoral muscle fibers inserting onto the tendon of the biceps brachii muscle. This paper is the prelude to an experimental study on the gliding flight in this species and may serve as a basis for future functional or taxonomic comparisons.
Clostridium difficile-associated disease in New Jersey hospitals, 2000-2004.

Clostridium difficile, a gram-positive organism, is the most common cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea in the United States (1). In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on a new, epidemic, toxin gene–variant strain of C. difficile on the basis of a study of isolates collected from hospitals in multiple states, including New Jersey. CDC recommended that inpatient healthcare facilities track the incidence of C. difficile–associated disease (CDAD), including the clinical outcomes of patients (2).
Forging New Labor Activism in Global Commodity Chains in Latin America

International industrial restructuring has fomented a decline in unionization in Latin America and has forced labor organizations to pursue new forms of activism. Due to the segmentation of the production process and the dispersion of the locations of production sites, the coordination of collective action has become more difficult. At the same time, labor law reforms have failed to respond to the challenges presented by market-oriented industrial reforms. As a result, labor activists are resorting to new or modified forms of labor organizing, ranging from domestic cross-class collaboration to international alliances and sporadic campaigns with labor and nongovernmental organizations. The sources of this variation in new labor actions can be found not only in contemporary political and economic contexts, but also in labor histories and ideational influences. An exploration of labor actions in the Salvadoran export apparel sector and the Brazilian automobile industry illustrates these processes.
The BTNL2 Gene and Sarcoidosis Susceptibility in African Americans and Whites

The BTNL2 gene is a member of the B7 receptor family that probably functions as a T-cell costimulatory molecule. It resides in the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region of chromosome 6p and has recently been associated with sarcoidosis susceptibility in a white German population. We sought to replicate the BTNL2 association in an African American family-based study population (n=219 nuclear families) and two case-control populations—one African American (n=295 pairs) and one white (n=366 pairs). Ten SNPs were detected within a 490-bp region spanning exon/intron 5 of BTNL2. Haplotype variation within this region was significantly associated with sarcoidosis in all three study populations but more so in whites (P=.0006) than in the African American case-control (P=.02) or family-based (P=.03) samples. The previously reported BTNL2 SNP with the strongest sarcoidosis association, rs2076530, was also the SNP with the strongest association in our white population (P<.0001). The A allele of rs2076530 results in a premature exon-splice site and increases risk for sarcoidosis (odds ratio=2.03; 95% confidence interval 1.32–3.12). Although rs2076530 was not associated with sarcoidosis in either African American sample, a three-locus haplotype that included rs2076530 was associated with sarcoidosis across all three study samples. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that BTNL2 effects are independent of human leukocyte antigen class II genes in whites but may interact antagonistically in African Americans. Our results underscore the complexity of genetic risk for sarcoidosis emanating from the MHC region.
Do HEDIS measures reflect cost-effective practices?

Abstract Purpose Whether the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) performance measures for managed care plans encourage a cost-effective use of society's resources has not been quantified. Our study objectives were to examine the cost-effectiveness evidence for the clinical practices underlying HEDIS 2000 measures and to develop a list of practices not reflected in HEDIS that have evidence of cost effectiveness. Data sources Two databases of economic evaluations (Harvard School of Public Health Cost-Utility Registry and the Health Economics Evaluation Database) and two published lists of cost-effectiveness ratios in health and medicine. Study selection For each of the 15 "effectiveness of care" measures in HEDIS 2000, we searched the data through 1998 for cost-effectiveness ratios of similar interventions and target populations. We also searched for important interventions with evidence of cost-effectiveness ( not included in HEDIS. All ratios were standardized to 1998 dollars. The data were collected and analyzed during fall 2000 to summer 2001. Data extraction Cost-effectiveness ratios reporting outcomes in terms of cost/LY or cost/QALY gained were included if they matched the intervention and population covered by the HEDIS measure. Data synthesis Evidence was available for 11 of the 15 HEDIS measures. Cost-effectiveness ranges from cost saving to $660,000/LY gained. There are numerous non-HEDIS interventions with some evidence of cost effectiveness, particularly interventions to promote healthy behaviors. Conclusions HEDIS measures generally reflect cost-effective practices; however, in a number of cases, practices may not be cost effective for certain subgroups. Data quality and availability as well as study perspective remain key challenges in judging cost effectiveness. Opportunities exist to refine existing measures and to develop additional measures, which may promote a more efficient use of societal resources, although more research is needed on whether these measures would also satisfy other desirable attributes of HEDIS.
Decarbonylation of 2-germaacetic acid in aqueous solutions

In dilute aqueous acid solutions (0.05 to 0.5 M H/sup +/), 2-germaacetic acid decomposes to form carbon monoxide, an orange-yellow solid of approximate composition GeH/sub 0/./sub 6/, and small amounts of germane. The rate law for the reaction is -d(GeH/sub 3/COOH)/dt = k(H/sup +/)(GeH/sub 3/COOH); k = (5.59 +- 0.14) x 10/sup -4/M/sup -1/s/sup -1/ at 22.5/sup 0/C and ionic strength 1.0 M. From rate measurements in the temperature interval 0 to 39.5/sup 0/C, the activation energy was determined to be 16.9 kcal/mol. When the reaction is carried out in strongly acidic solutions (e.g., greater than 6 M HCl, greater than 4 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, or greater than 6 M HClO/sub 4/), carbon monoxide is evolved quantitatively, but no solid hydride or germane forms. The resulting solution contains the GeH/sub 3//sup +/ group, probably stabilized in the form of the germyloxonium ion, GeH/sub 3/OH/sub 2//sup +/. The data implicate GeH/sub 2/ as an intermediate of the reaction in dilute acid solutions. 2 figures, 2 tables.
Importance of High Time Resolution in Flare Star Observations

PHOTOELECTRIC observations of UV Ceti type flare stars, almost all dMe, have been widely reported1–4. The typical flare phenomenon reported shows a rapid rise of brightness followed by a quasi-exponential decay. This work has been done with time resolution of several seconds at best and large numbers of flare curves have been published showing smooth curves connecting a few observational points.
Low density particleboard from wheat straw and corn pith

Abstract Agricultural residuals, such as wheat straw and corn stalks, are the renewable resources that can be utilized as raw materials for making particleboard. The objective of this research was to characterize the tensile strength (TS) and compressive strength (CS) of low-density particleboard made from wheat straw and corn stalk pith as affected by soy protein-based adhesive, press time, straw particle size, and particleboard density. A particleboard derived from 70% of wheat straw blended with 4% of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and 30% of corn stalk pith blended with 10% of sodium hydroxide (NaOH)-modified soy protein isolate (SPI) had the highest TS and CS. The results showed that NaOH-modified SPI increased the TS and CS of the particleboard. The TS and CS values of the particleboard with larger straw particles were greater than those of the particleboard with small and large straw particles together. The TS and CS of the particleboard increased as density increased. TS and CS increased from 2.11 MPa and 3.01 MPa to 3.24 MPa and 4.29 MPa, respectively, and the density increased from 0.30–0.34 g/cm 3 . The changes in the equilibrium moisture content and dimension of particleboard were less than 9.0% and 0.25%, respectively, at conditions of the temperature from 27 to 50 °C and relative humidity from 35–90%.
Size and Shape of Protein Molecules at the Nanometer Level Determined by Sedimentation, Gel Filtration, and Electron Microscopy

An important part of characterizing any protein molecule is to determine its size and shape. Sedimentation and gel filtration are hydrodynamic techniques that can be used for this medium resolution structural analysis. This review collects a number of simple calculations that are useful for thinking about protein structure at the nanometer level. Readers are reminded that the Perrin equation is generally not a valid approach to determine the shape of proteins. Instead, a simple guideline is presented, based on the measured sedimentation coefficient and a calculated maximum S, to estimate if a protein is globular or elongated. It is recalled that a gel filtration column fractionates proteins on the basis of their Stokes radius, not molecular weight. The molecular weight can be determined by combining gradient sedimentation and gel filtration, techniques available in most biochemistry laboratories, as originally proposed by Siegel and Monte. Finally, rotary shadowing and negative stain electron microscopy are powerful techniques for resolving the size and shape of single protein molecules and complexes at the nanometer level. A combination of hydrodynamics and electron microscopy is especially powerful.
Fractal dimensions, Lyapunov exponents, and predictability of human EEG signals

The author presents several developments in the application of nonlinear science to diagnostic problems. These include estimation of Lyapunov characteristic exponents, the temporal evolution of local dimensional complexity and divergence rates, and their relationship to the temporal predictability of the EEG. These measures allow the estimation of state changes based on alteration of the complexity of the EEG due to loss of coherence or due to bifurcations to higher chaotic states. Results are presented which show the variability of the nonlinear complexity of the EEG during different stages of anesthesia and sleep. Questions of robustness of the method and data requirements are discussed. >
Children and adolescents with autism exhibit reduced MEG steady-state gamma responses

Background Recent neuroimaging studies of autism have indicated reduced functional connectivity during both cognitive tasks and rest. These data suggest long-range connectivity may be compromised in this disorder, and current neurological theories of autism contend disrupted inter-regional interactions may be an underlying mechanism explaining behavioral symptomatology. However, it is unclear whether deficient neuronal communication is attributable to fewer long-range tracts or more of a local deficit in neural circuitry. This study examines the integrity of local circuitry by focusing on gamma band activity in auditory cortices of children and adolescents with autism. Methods Ten children and adolescents with autism and 10 matched controls participated. Both groups listened to 500 ms duration monaural click trains with a 25 ms inter-click interval, as magnetoencephalography was acquired from the contralateral hemisphere. To estimate 40 Hz spectral power density, we performed time-frequency decomposition of the single-trial magnetic steady-state response data using complex demodulation. Results Children and adolescents with autism exhibited significantly reduced left hemispheric 40 Hz power from 200-500 ms post-stimulus onset. In contrast, no significant between group differences were observed for right hemispheric cortices. Conclusions The production and/or maintenance of left hemispheric gamma oscillations appeared abnormal in participants with autism. We interpret these data as indicating that in autism, particular brain regions may be unable to generate the high-frequency activity likely necessary for binding and other forms of inter-regional interactions. These findings augment connectivity theories of autism with novel evidence that aberrations in local circuitry could underlie putative deficiencies in long-range neural communication.
On the Optimality of the Dimensionality Reduction Method

We investigate the optimality of (1+\in )-approximation algorithms obtained via the dimensionality reduction method. We show that: --Any data structure for the (1+\in )-approximate nearest neighbor problem in Hamming space, which uses constant number of probes to answer each query, must use n^{\Omega \left( {1/ \in ^2 } \right)} space. --Any algorithm for the (1+\in )-approximate closest substring problem must run in time exponential in 1/ \in ^{2 - \gamma } for any \gamma > 0 (unless 3SAT can be solved in subexponential time) Both lower bounds are (essentially) tight.
Loop Effects in AdS/CFT and Beyond

Double-trace operators which are relevant deformations of large N conformal field theories give rise to renormalization group flows that can be studied on both sides of the AdS/CFT duality. One-loop calculations in AdS can be compared successfully to results derived in field theory using the Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation. The calculations do not rely on supersymmetry, and they apply in any dimension, provided the original conformal field theory and its AdS dual are well-defined. A speculative idea is proposed for solving the cosmological constant problem based on non-gravitational strings that become light as the universe expands. This is a summary of my talk presented at the Nishinomiya-Yukawa Symposium in Nishinomiya, Japan. It is based primarily on [S. S. Gubser and I. Mitra, hep-th/0210093; S. S. Gubser and I. R. Klebanov, hep-th/0212138].
The Relationship between Parental Involvement and Adequate Yearly Progress among Urban, Suburban, and Rural Schools.

Using national data from the 2007–08 School and Staffing Survey, we compared the relationships between parental involvement and school outcomes related to adequate yearly progress (AYP) in urban, suburban, and rural schools. Parent-initiated parental involvement demonstrated significantly positive relationships with both making AYP and staying off the category of schools in need of mandatory improvement across urban, suburban, and rural schools, whereas school-initiated parental involvement demonstrated significantly negative relationships with both outcomes across urban and suburban schools. We tested school website as a way of communication with parents. Frequency of updates of school website was significantly positive across both outcomes but for urban schools only. We also tested school support for involvement of parents with limited English proficiency (LEP). Provision of translators to parents with LEP was not statistically significant. Provision of translated materials to parents with LEP was signi...
Cadmium (Cd2+) disrupts intercellular junctions and actin filaments in LLC-PK1 cells.

Abstract Studies reported in the literature suggest that cadmium (Cd 2+ ) may disrupt the junctions between cells in some tissues and cell culture systems. In order to examine this possibility in more detail, we have studied the effects of Cd 2+ on the integrity of intercellular junctions in the established porcine renal epithelial cell line, LLC-PK 1 . Junctional integrity was assessed by monitoring the collapse of domes and by measuring changes in the transepithelial electrical resistance in confluent cell monolayers. Exposure to Cd 2+ caused a rapid decrease in transepithelial resistance and the concomitant collapse of domes. These effects occurred at Cd 2+ concentrations (20–60 μ m ) and durations of exposure (as little as 1 hr) that did not alter levels of ATP or kill the cells. Electron microscopic studies showed that Cd 2+ caused time-dependent changes in adhering and occluding junctional complexes, which eventually resulted in the complete separation of the cells. Additional studies, in which rhodamine-coupled phalloidin was used to visualize F-actin, showed that Cd 2+ altered the structure of actin filaments in the cells; there was a significant reduction in the amount of junction-associated F-actin and in the number of stress fibers. These results indicate that Cd 2+ has relatively specific damaging effects on the adhering and occluding junctions between LLC-PK 1 cells and that these effects may involve the disruption of cytoskeletal actin filaments.
Effects of a conditioning lesion on bullfrog sciatic nerve regeneration: Analysis of fast axonally transported proteins

Abstract We have shown that bullfrog sciatic nerves respond to a conditioning lesion similarly to goldfish optic nerve and rat or mouse sciatic nerve; that is, following a crush the rate of regeneration is faster in nerves that have received a conditioning lesion compared to nerves that have not. Also, damaged nerve fibres show initial growth or sprouting earlier in a previously conditioned nerve compared to nerves that have not received a prior conditioning lesion. We have not detected changes in the transport of fast axonally transported proteins with the conditioning lesion paradigm, other than those changes seen in regenerating nerves after receiving a single lesion. However, more label was present in a few axonally transported proteins at the lesion site in conditioned nerves compared to nonconditioned nerves, and this difference is not apparently due to increased transport. It seems that changes in fast axonally transported proteins probably do not contribute directly to the mechanism underlying the conditioning lesion effect of higher out growth rates, although some of the fast transported proteins may be involved in functions, possibly at the growing tip of damaged fibres, which promote or result from the conditioning effect.
From spoken narratives to domain knowledge: mining linguistic data for medical image understanding.

Abstract Objectives Extracting useful visual clues from medical images allowing accurate diagnoses requires physicians' domain knowledge acquired through years of systematic study and clinical training. This is especially true in the dermatology domain, a medical specialty that requires physicians to have image inspection experience. Automating or at least aiding such efforts requires understanding physicians' reasoning processes and their use of domain knowledge. Mining physicians' references to medical concepts in narratives during image-based diagnosis of a disease is an interesting research topic that can help reveal experts' reasoning processes. It can also be a useful resource to assist with design of information technologies for image use and for image case-based medical education systems. Methods and materials We collected data for analyzing physicians' diagnostic reasoning processes by conducting an experiment that recorded their spoken descriptions during inspection of dermatology images. In this paper we focus on the benefit of physicians' spoken descriptions and provide a general workflow for mining medical domain knowledge based on linguistic data from these narratives. The challenge of a medical image case can influence the accuracy of the diagnosis as well as how physicians pursue the diagnostic process. Accordingly, we define two lexical metrics for physicians' narratives—lexical consensus score and top N relatedness score—and evaluate their usefulness by assessing the diagnostic challenge levels of corresponding medical images. We also report on clustering medical images based on anchor concepts obtained from physicians' medical term usage. These analyses are based on physicians' spoken narratives that have been preprocessed by incorporating the Unified Medical Language System for detecting medical concepts. Results The image rankings based on lexical consensus score and on top 1 relatedness score are well correlated with those based on challenge levels (Spearman correlation >0.5 and Kendall correlation >0.4). Clustering results are largely improved based on our anchor concept method (accuracy >70% and mutual information >80%). Conclusions Physicians' spoken narratives are valuable for the purpose of mining the domain knowledge that physicians use in medical image inspections. We also show that the semantic metrics introduced in the paper can be successfully applied to medical image understanding and allow discussion of additional uses of these metrics.
Intelligent Approach to Robotic Respiratory Motion Compensation for Radiosurgery and other Interventions

Radiosurgery involves delivering a precise, high dose of radiation to diseased tissue. In radiosurgery for cancer treatment, the radiation dose must optimally fit the shape of the tumor while minimizing the destruction of normal tissue. One of the challenges in precision radiosurgery is treating tumors that move with respiration such as those in the lung and pancreas. Intelligent methods that employ fuzzy logic and neural networks have great potential for respiration compensation in medicine. This paper explores at the system level the application of intelligent approaches for radiosurgery, especially for respiration compensation. The CyberKnife radiosurgery system from Accuray Inc. is used as an example system to focus the discussion.
Particle Adhesion to Highly Compliant Substrates: Anomalous Power-Law Dependence of the Contact Radius on Particle Radius

The adhesion-induced contact radius and meniscus height between soda-lime glass particles and three highly compliant polyurethane substrates (Young's modulus between 4 kPa and 0.7 MPa) were measured using scanning electron microscopy as a function of particle radius. Two distinct power-law exponents were found. A value of about 2/3, which is in good agreement with the predictions of the JKR theory (Johnson, K. L.; Kendall, K.; Roberts, A. D. Proc. R. Soc., London Ser. A 1971, 324, 301), was found for larger particles. However, the experimentally obtained exponent for smaller particles was found to be approximately 3/4. The present results are compared with the predictions of the large-scale deformation model of Maugis (Maugis, D. Langmuir 1995, 11, 679) as well as a self-consistent surface-energy model. Although both models contain some interesting features, neither theory can fully account for the observed behavior.
Change point detection methodology used for segmenting bird songs

A bird phrase segmentation method using entropy-based change point detection is proposed. Spectrograms of bird calls are usually sparse while the background noise is relatively white. Therefore, considering the entropy of a sliding time-frequency block on the spectrogram, the entropy dips when detecting a signal and rises when the signal ends. Rather than applying a hard threshold on the entropy to determine the beginning and ending of a signal, a Bayesian change point detection is used to detect the statistical changes in the entropy sequence. Tests on a database of Cassin's Vireo (Vireo cassinii), our proposed segmentation method with spectral subtraction or a novel spectral whitening method as the front-end generates more accurate time labels, lower the false alarm rate than the conventional time-domain energy detection method and achieves high phrase classification rate.