cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microstructural development from interdiffusion and reaction between U–Mo and AA6061 alloys annealed at 600° and 550 °C

The U.S. Material Management and Minimization Reactor Conversion Program is developing low enrichment fuel systems encased in Al-alloy for use in research and test reactors. Monolithic fuel plates have local regions where the Usingle bondMo fuel plate may come into contact with the Al-alloy 6061 (AA6061) cladding. This results in the development of interdiffusion zones with complex microstructures with multiple phases. In this study, the microstructural development of diffusion couples, U–7 wt%Mo, U–10 wt%Mo, and U–12 wt%Mo vs. AA6061, annealed at 600 °C for 24 h and at 550 °C for 1, 5, and 20 h, were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. The microstructural development and kinetics were compared to diffusion couples U–Mo vs. high purity Al and binary Al–Si alloys. As a result, the diffusion couples developed complex interaction regions where phase development was influenced by the alloying additions of the AA6061.
Low molecular weight proteinuria exacerbates experimental ischemic renal injury.

To determine whether tubular reabsorption of low molecular weight proteins (LMWPs) alters ischemic tubular injury, rats were infused with 25 mg of lysozyme (isoelectric point (pI) 11.3), cytochrome C (pI 10.6), ribonuclease (pI 8.7), or myoglobin (pI 7.0), and during this time 25 minutes of bilateral renal artery occlusion (RAO) was induced. RAO control rats received either saline or 25 mg of albumin. Renal injury was assessed 24 hours later by blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and histology. Lysozyme, ribonuclease, and myoglobin each exacerbated ischemic damage (increased tubular necrosis, cast formation, azotemia), but to comparable degrees (e.g., blood urea nitrogen range 75 +/- 8 to 100 +/- 5 mg/dl versus controls, 29 +/- 2 to 36 +/- 7; p less than 0.01). Rendering lysozyme anionic (pI 4.5) by succinylation did not diminish its acute renal failure-potentiating effect. Cytochrome C which is freely filtered but poorly reabsorbed had a minimal impact on the ischemic process. Infusion of LMWPs did not alter blood pressure, renal blood flow, or induce renal injury in the absence of RAO. During a sublethal ischemic event (10 minutes of RAO) LMWP infusion exacerbated proximal tubular luminal membrane damage before an adverse effect on other critical determinants of cell integrity were apparent (adenine nucleotide pools, oxidant stress). We conclude that endocytic LMWP reabsorption by proximal tubules can exacerbate superimposed ischemic tubular necrosis independent of any direct nephrotoxic protein effect. This action is not influenced by protein isoelectric point and appears to be mediated by a primary intensification of ischemic luminal membrane damage.
Steady-state pharmacokinetic simulation of intermittent vs. continuous infusion valproic acid therapy in non-critically ill and critically ill patients.

Objectives: Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug used for a variety of neurologic disorders. The relatively short half-life seen with intermittent intravenous bolus doing may lead to serum concentration variability. Continuous infusion VPA therapy is an approach to mitigate these effects. The objective of this study is to characterize the pharmacokinetics of continuous infusion of VPA in acutely ill patients and to determine dosing regimens that most frequently obtain goal steady-state serum concentrations.Methods: This is a retrospective pharmacokinetics study in adult patients receiving continuous infusion VPA per institutional protocol for seizure or status migrainosus. Pharmacokinetic parameters were reviewed for 234 patients (25 critically ill) and compared between the two groups (non-critically ill vs. critically ill). Intermittent and continuous infusion dosing strategies were modeled utilizing Monte Carlo simulations for both cohorts. Frequencies of serum concentration attain...
TU-H-207A-01: Development of Conversion Factors to Account for Different CTDI Phantom Setups On a Wide-Beam CT Scanner

Purpose: A fundamental measure performed during an annual physics CT evaluation confirms that system displayed CTDIvol nearly matches the independently measured value in phantom. For wide-beam (z-direction) CT scanners, AAPM Report 111 defined an ideal measurement method; however, the method often lacks practicality. The purpose of this preliminary study is to develop a set of conversion factors for a wide-beam CT scanner, relating the CTDIvol measured with a conventional setup (single CTDI phantom) versus the AAPM Report 111 approach (three abutting CTDI phantoms). Methods: For both the body CTDI and head CTDI, two acquisition setups were used: A) conventional single phantom and B) triple phantom. Of primary concern were the larger nominal beam widths for which a standard CTDI phantom setup would not provide adequate scatter conditions. Nominal beam width (160 or 120 mm) and kVp (100, 120, 140) were modulated based on the underlying clinical protocol. Exposure measurements were taken using a CT pencil ion chamber in the center and 12 o'clock position, and CTDIvol was calculated with ‘nT’ limited to 100 mm. A conversion factor (CF) was calculated as the ratio of CTDIvol measured in setup B versus setup A. Results: For body CTDI, the CF ranged from 1.04 up to 1.10, indicating a 4–10% difference between usage of one and three phantoms. For a nominal beam width of 160 mm, the CF did vary with selected kVp. For head CTDI at nominal beam widths of 120 and 160 mm, the CF was 1.00 and 1.05, respectively, independent of the kVp used (100, 120, and 140). Conclusions: A clear understanding of the manufacturer method of estimating the displayed CTDIvol is important when interpreting annual test results, as the acquisition setup may lead to an error of up to 10%. With appropriately defined CF, single phantom use is feasible.
Impact of Intent-Based Maneuver Constraints on Alert Rates

In the ultimate Free Flight environment, aircraft will experience restrictions on their flight paths only when such restrictions are required to preserve safe separation. The frequency with which s...
Class E low dvD/dt rectifier

The paper presents a new Class E low dvD/dt rectifier, its analysis and experimental results. The rectifier circuit contains a capacitor connected in parallel with a rectifying diode. The capacitor sets the conduction angle of the diode current, and the output-filter capacitor independently sets the AC ripple on the DC output voltage. The diode-junction capacitance is included in the parallel capacitance and threrefore does not adversely affect circuit operation at high operating frequencies. The diode turns on and off at low dvD/dt, yielding low switching losses and low switching noise. Moreover, the absolute value of diD/dt at turn-off is limited by an external circuit, significantly reducing the reverse-recovery effect. For these reasons, the rectifier is especially suitable for high-frequency operation. Basic parameters of the circuit are derived, using time-domain analysis. The experimental and theoretical results were in good agreement.
Using the Benefits Continuum, Enterprise Funds, and Cost Finding to Implement Best Pricing Practices

The paper reports how best practices in pricing recreation and aquatic facilities and services suggested by the research literature were implemented in a city of 100,000. The process had three core elements. First, in order to price each service at a level that was fair and equitable to both participants and nonparticipants, a benefits continuum was developed. This categorized each service into one of five categories. Services perceived to provide communitywide benefits were fully subsidized from taxes, so no price was charged for them. At the other extreme, when all benefits were perceived to accrue to users a price was set that covered all of its costs. The magnitude of spillover benefits that a community receives varies among services, so three position points were shown on the continuum reflecting services where benefits accrued primarily to the community (25% cost recovery), equally to users and the community (50%), and primarily to the users (75%). The second element was the implementation of enterprise-like funds for all services that generated revenues. However, the technical definition of enterprise funds as being self-financing was qualified by the council, because it approved transfer of money from the general fund which was intended to subsidize economically disadvantaged users of the enterprise services. Prices designed to produce revenues that achieve rationally derived cost-recovery targets and create viable enterprise funds are dependent upon there being reasonably accurate estimates of service costs, since revenue goals without accurately estimating costs are meaningless. Accordingly, a cost finding exercise was undertaken which involved taking available financial data and recasting and adjusting it to derive cost estimates. Full absorption costing was used that embraced four types of costs: citywide administration indirect costs, department indirect costs, division indirect costs, and direct variable costs. The resultant cost based prices were then adjusted to reflect the going rate for each service charged by other suppliers in the area. The perceived advantages and challenges encountered in this process are discussed along with the managerial implications. Agencies tend to make price changes reactively in response to an emergent financial or political imperative. However, strategic pricing requires proactively developing a policy. This case study describes a proactive approach that provides strong conceptual scaffolding upon which to construct an effective pricing policy.
A Simple Combinatorial Codon Mutagenesis Method for Targeted Protein Engineering

Directed evolution is a powerful tool for optimizing enzymes, and mutagenesis methods that improve enzyme library quality can significantly expedite the evolution process. Here, we report a simple method for targeted combinatorial codon mutagenesis (CCM). To demonstrate the utility of this method for protein engineering, CCM libraries were constructed for cytochrome P450BM3, pfu prolyl oligopeptidase, and the flavin-dependent halogenase RebH; 10-26 sites were targeted for codon mutagenesis in each of these enzymes, and libraries with a tunable average of 1-7 codon mutations per gene were generated. Each of these libraries provided improved enzymes for their respective transformations, which highlights the generality, simplicity, and tunability of CCM for targeted protein engineering.
Neuroleptic (Antipsychotic) Drugs: An Epidemic of Tardive Dyskinesia and Related Brain Injuries Afflicting Tens of Millions

Neuroleptic (antipsychotic) drugs affect the individual more like a viral brain disease called lethargic encephalitis than like any medical treatment. The neuroleptic pioneers saw how these drugs caused emotional indifference, disinterest, and apathy similar to lethargic encephalitis. They realized the drugs also produced neurological syndromes similar to those associated with the epidemic encephalitis, including Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia (TD). They predicted the new drugs could cause an epidemic of brain injury similar to the viral encephalitis. Given the severe adverse reactions TD can produce, even if the drugs brought enormous benefit, the cost would be too high. Yet the drugs have no curative value whatsoever and can only work by imposing encephalitis-like lethargy, disinterest, and apathy upon individuals, making them seemingly less troublesome to themselves and others. It is time to reconsider their use.
Urinary biomarkers and obstructive sleep apnea in patients with Down syndrome.

Abstract Study objectives The study aimed to compare urinary biomarkers in patients with Down syndrome (DS) with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to those of age- and sex-matched neurotypically developing healthy controls (HC). We further investigated whether we could predict OSA in patients with DS using these biomarkers. Methods Urine samples were collected from 58 patients with DS the night before or the morning after their scheduled overnight polysomnogram or both, of whom 47 could be age- and sex-matched to a sample of 43 HC. Concentrations of 12 neurotransmitters were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Log-transformed creatinine-corrected assay levels were normalized. Normalized z -scores were compared between patients with DS vs. HC, between patients with DS with vs. without OSA, and to derive composite models to predict OSA. Results Most night-sampled urinary biomarkers were elevated among patients with DS relative to matched HC. No urinary biomarker levels differed between patients with DS with vs. without OSA. A combination of four urinary biomarkers predicted AHI > 1 with a positive predictive value of 90% and a negative predictive value of 68%. Conclusions Having DS, even in the absence of concurrent OSA, is associated with a different urinary biomarker profile when compared to that of HC. Therefore, while urinary biomarkers may be predictive of OSA in the general pediatric population, a different approach is needed in interpreting urinary biomarker assays in patients with DS. Certain biomarkers also seem promising to be predictive of OSA in patients with DS. No clinical trial was indicated in the undertaking of this work.
Rate of and Factors Associated with Ambulation After Unilateral Major Lower-Limb Amputation at an Urban US Tertiary-Care Hospital with a Multidisciplinary Limb Salvage Team.

Background: One relatively universal functional goal after major lower-limb amputation is ambulation in a prosthesis. This retrospective, observational investigation sought to 1) determine what percentage of patients successfully walked in a prosthesis within 1 year after major limb amputation and 2) assess which patient factors might be associated with ambulation at an urban US tertiary-care hospital. Methods: A retrospective medical record review was performed to identify consecutive patients undergoing major lower-limb amputation. Results: The overall rate of ambulation in a prosthesis was 29.94% (50.0% of those with unilateral below-the-knee amputation [BKA] and 20.0% of those with unilateral above-the-knee amputation [AKA]). In 24.81% of patients with unilateral BKA or AKA, a secondary surgical procedure of the amputation site was required. In those with unilateral BKA or AKA, statistically significant factors associated with ambulation included male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.50) and at least 6 months...
Functional Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Moderating Effects of Panic

The present study investigated the relationship between functional status and panic disorder in patients with pulmonary disease. Functional status is a broad term used to describe the impact of pulmonary disease on activities of daily life. Researchers have shown that functional status is influenced not only by physiological variables but also by psychological factors. Given the increased prevalence rates of panic disorder and other psychiatric disorders reported in pulmonary patients, the functional status of pulmonary patients may become increasingly compromised by the presence of a psychological disorder such as panic disorder. Thus, we hypothesized that panic symptomatology played an important role in the functional status of pulmonary patients beyond the physiological effects of pulmonary disease. In this sample of pulmonary patients (N = 28), relative to non-panic-disordered participants, panic-disordered patients did not report significantly greater levels of dyspnea (p > .05). However, these groups did show significant differences on measures of functional status (p < .017). The results also indicated that anxiety and depression continued to correlate positively with functional status even after controlling for the effects of dyspnea. These findings suggest that although patients with panic symptoms report no differences in physiological functioning relative to patients without panic symptoms, individuals with panic experience greater disruption in their lives due to psychological factors than do individuals without panic symptoms. These findings highlight the need for the consideration of mental health concerns in patients with chronic pulmonary disease.
Minorities’ Views and Minorities Viewed: Embracing Minorities in the Classroom and Visual Culture (Swan)

This chapter is a teaching narrative supported by references to pedagogical scholarship that discusses approaches to the artistic production of minority groups. The chapter begins with a personal narrative about the struggles Dr. Swan experienced while learning to effectively present and discuss works made by racial minorities to which she did not belong. In addition to addressing systemic issues of inequality, the need for multiple views and perspectives on works of art is emphasized so that no member of a minority group is reduced to a single perspective. The importance of attacking stereotypes is addressed, along with ideas about handling charged subject matter in a respectful manner. The chapter concludes with a defense of the “single-group” course as still potentially relevant and effective in creating understanding and inclusiveness.
Eastern European Studies: Economics

The changes in the Eastern European economies during the transition to capitalism have been, without exaggeration, momentous. Beginning in the late 1980s, the countries in the region emerged from a system based on communist party rule, state ownership, and central planning, and adopted in its place a system based on multiparty democracy, private ownership, and markets. Although the break with the past was radical, and notwithstanding that the region is poised for period of rapidly improving living standards, the first decade of transition was difficult. Most countries suffered deep recessions, experienced massive redistributions of income and wealth, and struggled with the slow process of building supporting institutions for a market economy. And even for the countries that have advanced furthest, the transition is not over. The next decade will bring further momentous changes as countries prepare for accession to the European Union.
On Hopf Galois extensions of fields and number rings

This paper is a summary of some results on the problem of determining the H-Galois extensions of a commutative ring R, where H is a finite abelian Hopf R-algebra.
Intentional Foreign Body Ingestion: A Complex Case of Pica

Intentional ingestion of foreign objects, a form of self-injurious behavior, is rarely discussed in the medical literature but often requires extensive evaluation, management, and resources. It can be especially problematic for gastroenterologists, who are often consulted for removal of the foreign body. Pica is the psychiatric diagnosis for intentional ingestion of nonnutritive objects and is most commonly seen in prison inmates and those diagnosed with intellectual disability or psychiatric illness. This case report presents a challenging case of pica, highlighting the complexity involved in diagnosis and the need for early psychiatric intervention. It also aims to provide a general review of the literature and practical recommendations to assist with managing this form of self-injurious behavior in the inpatient setting. Collaborative efforts among specialties in addition to primary prevention are vital to successful management of these patients.
CO2 plume migration and dissolution in layered reservoirs

Abstract In carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, the presence of layered permeability heterogeneity can strongly affect the migration of the supercritical CO2 plume and CO2 dissolution. By conducting a systematic study of plume migration in layered reservoirs with a wide range of permeability contrast between the layers, we show that the relationship between CO2 plume footprint and permeability contrast has three distinct regimes. For moderate permeability contrasts from 1 to 5, the presence of different layers has little impact on plume migration. As the contrast increases from 5 to 50, the plume footprint decreases progressively. In the event of extreme contrast (>50), the footprint is smallest and independent of the heterogeneity. Overall, the footprint of the plume can vary by more than 2-fold, with large implications for monitoring, access to sites, and regulatory issues. The mass fraction of CO2 dissolution can vary up to 2-fold depending on the degree of heterogeneity. We also show that the common practice of using permeability anisotropy to simulate multiphase flows in layered reservoirs works quite well in terms of plume footprint for permeability anisotropy ratios of up to 25, but large errors occur at more extreme contrasts.
Insights into Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity: Molecular Mechanisms, Preventive Strategies, and Early Monitoring

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most effective anticancer drugs to treat various forms of cancers; however, its therapeutic utility is severely limited by its associated cardiotoxicity. Despite the enormous amount of research conducted in this area, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying DOX toxic effects on the heart are still an area that warrants further investigations. In this study, we reviewed literature to gather the best-known molecular pathways related to DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). They include mechanisms dependent on mitochondrial dysfunction such as DOX influence on the mitochondrial electron transport chain, redox cycling, oxidative stress, calcium dysregulation, and apoptosis pathways. Furthermore, we discuss the existing strategies to prevent and/or alleviate DIC along with various techniques available for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in cancer patients treated with DOX. Finally, we propose a stepwise flowchart for TDM of DOX and present our perspective at curtailing this deleterious side effect of DOX.
The impact of decision quality on mental health following periviable delivery

To assess the relationship between decision quality and mental health outcomes for women and their important others (IO) 3 months following periviable birth. Mental health outcomes were assessed prior to delivery and at 3 months postpartum using depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (IES-22) scales. Decision quality was measured in terms of Decisional Conflict, Control, Regret, and Satisfaction with Decision. Descriptive analyses and linear regression modeling were conducted using SAS version 9.4. We recruited 30 eligible women and 16 IOs. Participants had mild anxiety and depression, and symptoms of PTSD were among bereaved parents. Participants with lower decision control had higher levels of depression (women: p = 0.014; IOs: p = 0.059) and anxiety (women: p = 0.053; IOs: p = 0.032). Depression was also associated with higher decisional regret (women: p = 0.073; IOs: p = 0.023). Our findings suggest that decision quality is associated with mental health outcomes for families who experience periviable delivery.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): a comprehensive review

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as fatty infiltration of the liver exceeding 5% to 10% by weight. It is a spectrum of disorders ranging from simple fatty liver (steatosis without liver injury), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (steatosis with inflammation), and fibrosis/cirrhosis that resembles alcohol-induced liver disease but which develops in individuals who are not heavy drinkers. NAFLD is likely the most common cause of chronic liver disease in many countries. NAFLD may also potentiate liver damage induced by other agents, such as alcohol, industrial toxins and hepatatrophic viruses. The lack of specific and sensitive noninvasive tests for NAFLD limits reliable detection of the disease. It is often diagnosed on a presumptive basis when liver enzyme elevations are noted in overweight or obese individuals without identifiable etiology for liver disease, or when imaging studies suggest hepatic steatosis. NAFLD is now considered to be a component of the insulin resistance syndrome (metabolic syndrome X). Controversy exists relative to optimal recognition, diagnosis and management of these conditions, and treatment recommendations are evolving.
Evolution of the androgen receptor: Perspectives from human health to dancing birds

Abstract Androgenic hormones orchestrate the development and activation of diverse reproductive phenotypes across vertebrates. Although extensive work investigates how selection for these traits modifies individual elements of this signaling system (e.g., hormone or androgen receptor [AR] levels), we know less about natural variation in the AR sequence across vertebrates. Our knowledge of AR sequence mutations is largely limited to work in human patients or cell-lines, providing a framework to contextualize single mutations at the expense of evolutionary timescale. Here we unite both perspectives in a review that explores the functional significance of AR on a domain-by-domain basis, using existing knowledge to highlight how and why each region might evolve. We then examine AR sequence variation on different timescales by examining sequence variation in clades originating in the Cambrian (vertebrates; >500 mya) and Cretaceous (birds; >65 mya). In each case, we characterize how the receptor has changed over time and discuss which regions are most likely to evolve in response to selection. Overall, domains that are required for androgenic signaling to function (e.g., DNA- and ligand-binding) tend to be conserved. Meanwhile, areas that interface with co-regulatory molecules can exhibit notable variation even between closely related species. We propose that accumulating mutations in regulatory regions is one way that AR structure might act as a substrate for selection to guide the evolution of reproductive traits. By synthesizing literature across disciplines and highlighting the evolutionary potential of specific AR regions, we hope to inspire new avenues of integrative research into endocrine system evolution.
All Paths Leading to the Library: Youth Mobility and Community-Based Planning:

In the context of a community-based planning process to relocate a neighborhood public library in Madison, Wisconsin, this research examines youth’s everyday mobility to improve their access to pub...
Response to Acid Loading in Patients on Hemodialysis and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Responses to a standard acid load (Ammonium Chloride 1.87 mM/ Kgm) were studied in 9 patients on hemodialysis (HD) and 16 on CAPD. There was a significant increase in H+ concentration (maximum 8.1 ...
The SpineBox: A Freely Available, Open-access, 3D-printed Simulator Design for Lumbar Pedicle Screw Placement

Background The recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for innovation in cost-effective and easily produced surgical simulations for trainee education that are not limited by physical confines of location. This can be accomplished with the use of desktop three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. This study describes the creation of a low-cost and open-access simulation for anatomical learning and pedicle screw placement in the lumbar spine, which is termed the SpineBox. Materials and methods An anonymized CT scan of the lumbar spine was obtained and converted into 3D software files of the L1-L5 vertebral bodies. A computer-assisted design (CAD) software was used to assemble the vertebral models into a simulator unit in anatomical order to produce an easily prototyped simulator. The printed simulator was layered with foam in order to replicate soft tissue structures. The models were instrumented with pedicle screws using standard operative technique and examined under fluoroscopy. Results Ten SpineBoxes were created using a single desktop 3D printer, with accurate replication of the cortico-cancellous interface using previously validated techniques. The models were able to be instrumented with pedicle screws successfully and demonstrated quality representation of bony structures under fluoroscopy. The total cost of model production was under $10. Conclusion The SpineBox represents the first open-access simulator for the instruction of spinal anatomy and pedicle screw placement. This study aims to provide institutions across the world with an economical and feasible means of spine surgical simulation for neurosurgical trainees and to encourage other rapid prototyping laboratories to investigate innovative means of creating educational surgical platforms in the modern era.
Cosmological tension of ultralight axion dark matter and its solutions

A number of proposed and ongoing experiments search for axion dark matter with a mass nearing the limit set by small scale structure [$\mathcal{O}({10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{eV})$]. We consider the late universe cosmology of these models, showing that requiring the axion to have a matter-power spectrum that matches that of cold dark matter constrains the magnitude of the axion couplings to the visible sector. Comparing these limits to current and future experimental efforts, we find that many searches require axions with an abnormally large coupling to Standard Model fields, independently of how the axion was populated in the early Universe. We survey mechanisms that can alleviate the bounds, namely, the introduction of large charges, various forms of kinetic mixing, a clockwork structure, and imposing a discrete symmetry. We provide an explicit model for each case and explore their phenomenology and viability to produce detectable ultralight axion dark matter.
Deep Neural Network for Foreign Object Detection in Chest X-Rays

In automated Chest X-Ray (CXR) screening process, foreign objects, such as coins/buttons, medical tubes and devices, and jewelries can adversely impact the performance. In an automated process, conventional machine learning algorithms did not separately consider them into account, and as a consequence, they results in false positive cases. In this paper, we address the use of Deep Neural Network (DNN) to detect circle-like foreign objects of difference sizes in CXRs. We present faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN) for foreign object detection on a set of 400 publicly available CXR images hosted by LHNCBC, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). The proposed DNN achieved 97% precision, 90% recall, and 93% F1-score. The results are comparable with the existing techniques.
Intersections of Identity and Education: The Native American Experience

This chapter explores the intersections between Indigenous identity and educational experiences. The material presented draws on research and theory as well as the author’s own experiences as a Lakota woman dealing with various educational institutions. The chapter begins with an examination of some of the facets of, and influences on, contemporary Native American identity. This is followed by reflections on the confluence of education and identity, both for youth and adult learners. The chapter reviews some of the struggles experienced by Native Americans in their educational endeavors and elaborates on what is needed in order for education to be more culturally responsive and respectful. The chapter concludes with reflections on what it is like to be a Native American parent with children in the public school system.
Comparison of Complication Risk Following Trigger Digit Release Performed in the Office Versus the Operating Room: A Population-Based Assessment.

Purpose Trigger digit release (TDR) performed in an office-based procedure room (PR) setting minimizes surgical costs compared with that performed in an operating room (OR); yet, it remains unclear whether the rates of major complications differ by setting. We hypothesized that surgical setting does not have an impact on the rate of major complications after TDR. Methods Adult patients who underwent isolated TDR from 2006 to 2015 were identified from the MarketScan commercial database (IBM) using the provider current procedural terminology code 26055 with a concordant diagnosis on the same claim line (International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, clinical modification 727.03). The PR cohort was defined by presence of a place-of-service code for an in-office procedure without OR or ambulatory center revenue codes, or anesthesiologist claims, on the day of the surgery. The OR cohort was defined by presence of an OR revenue code. We identified major medical complications, surgical site complications, as well as iatrogenic neurovascular and tendon complications within 90 days of the surgery using International Classification of Diseases , ninth revision, clinical modification diagnosis and/or current procedural terminology codes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the risk of complications between the PR and OR groups while controlling for Elixhauser comorbidities, smoking, and demographics. Results For 7,640 PR and 29,962 OR cases, the pooled rate of major medical complications was 0.99% (76/7,640) and 1.47% (440/29,962), respectively. The PR setting was associated with a significantly lower risk of major medical complications in the multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.60–0.98). The pooled rate of surgical site complications was 0.67% (51/7,640) and 0.88% (265/29,962) for the PR and OR cases, respectively, with no difference between the surgical settings in the multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio 0.81; 95% confidence interval 0.60–1.10). Iatrogenic complications were infrequently observed (PR 5/7,640 [0.07%]; OR 26/29,962 [0.09%]). Conclusions Compared with performing TDR in the OR using a spectrum of commonly used anesthesia types, performing TDR in the PR using local-only anesthesia was associated with a comparably low risk of major medical complications, surgical complications, and iatrogenic complications. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
Leveraging Trust in Buyer-Seller Relationships to Battle Market Turbulence

The differences between business trust and personal trust are often overlooked as the underlying mechanisms of social capital, which firms and their customers can draw upon to navigate a turbulent marketplace. Specifically, the authors find business and personal trust have distinct positive effects on building satisfaction and loyalty in buyer-seller relationships. However, the relative importance of business and personal trust on relationship performance changes when both types of trust are combined, especially as perceived market turbulence increases. These results support tenets of social capital theory and relationship marketing literature that suggest the personal side of buyer-seller relationships plays an important role in generating positive performance. As B2B buyers and sellers collaborate to navigate rapid changes in the business environment, perceived market turbulence exacerbates the relative effects of business and personal trust on relationship performance.
Satisfaction with and recommendations to improve telehealth visits among adolescents and young adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

280Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted morbidity, mortality, and economic status globally. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs, age 15-39) with cancer may experience disparitie...
Stearoyl-Coa Desaturases Sustain Cholinergic Excitation and Copulatory Robustness in Metabolically Aging C. elegans Males

Regulated metabolism is required for behavior during adult aging. To understand how lipid usage affects motor coordination, we study male C. elegans copulation as a model of energy-intensive behavior. Copulation performance drops after 48 hours of adulthood. Interestingly, we found that ~12-24 hours before behavioral decline, males prioritize exploring and copulation behavior over feeding, suggesting that catabolism of lipid stores occurs during this period. To investigate how over-catabolizing consumed fats and perturbing lipid storage affects mating, we studied the copulation behavior and neural calcium transients of fat-6(lf); fat-7(lf) stearoyl-CoA desaturase mutant males. In wild-type males, intestinal and epithelial fat-6/7 expression increases during the first 48 hours of adulthood. The fat-6(lf); fat-7(lf) behavioral and metabolic defects indicate that in aging wild-type males, the increased expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturases in the epidermis modulates the levels of EAG- family K+ channels in the reproductive cholinergic neurons and muscles to sustain behavior.
Bacteriophages Encoding Botulinum and Diphtheria Toxins

Bacteriophages have long been recognized to harbor genes that encode various classes of virulence factors, including protein toxins. Some classic examples of phage conversion of grampositive hosts to toxinogenesis are the production of diphtheria toxin (DT) in Corynebacterium diphtheriae and the production of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in types C and D of Clostridium botulinum. DT has generally been considered mainly responsible for the gross symptoms of diphtheria, and the lack of genetic systems for C. diphtheriae has prevented the identification of other virulence factors associated with its pathogenicity. The association of DT with phages provides a classic example of lysogenic conversion, whereby the bacterial cell acquires traits as a consequence of phage infection. C. botulinum has attracted much interest in recent years, largely due to advances in the study of the structure, function, and genetics of the neurotoxins it encodes and in the therapeutic applications of these toxins for the treatment of several neurologic disorders. BoNTs and tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) act by selectively blocking the neurotransmission of presynaptic nerve terminals in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The characterization of genes for BoNT and associated proteins of the toxin complexes indicated that these genes are located on the chromosome, on pseudolysogenic bacteriophages, or on plasmids, depending on the serotype. Converting and nonconverting phages from C. botulinum types C and D have been isolated and partially characterized.
SU‐E‐T‐445: Gross Error Detection Based On EPID‐Image‐Extracted MLC‐Leaf‐Position Monitoring

Purpose: To develop a robust real-time, log-file independent MLC position validation metric capable of preventing gross treatment delivery errors. Methods: MLC leaf positions are identified on individual during-treatment EPID images acquired in real time at 10 Hz during VMAT/IMRT patient treatments. MLC positions are identified as follows: (1) the image is rotated counterclockwise by 90°-collimatorAngle so that MLC motion direction is vertical; (2) pixel-columns corresponding to individual leaves are assigned based upon the imager SDD and known leaf positions on the isocenter plane; (3) inflection points are identified and averaged across pixel-column intensity-profiles for all central (50 % of total) pixel-columns of each leaf; (4) an empirical position-based offset is added to each leaf’s average inflection point to arrive at its final estimated position. These leaf positions are appropriately interpolated between EPID images and compared to their planned positions at every control point and statistically analyzed for in-field active (moving) leaves on image. Machine log and planned positions were compared for the same deliveries. Results: The mean EPID-detected leaf offset from 51 fractions was 0.03±0.25 cm. 90.3 % of EPID-detected leaves were within 3 mm. Machine-log-based analysis found an average of 0.0002±0.02 cm and 100% within.7 mm. Large (>3mm) EPID-detected deviations resulted from algorithm failure in cases where multiple inflection points persisted in the profiles. Conclusions: Real-time EPID-based quality control can provide an independent validation of MLC leaf positions with sufficient resolution for gross error detection. Although further algorithmic improvements are required to match log-file-based accuracy, the current EPID-based leaf position algorithm is suitable for clinical gross error detection.
The termination of adolescent out-of-wedlock pregnancies and the prospects for their primary prevention.

Abstract Interviews were carried out with about 200 single adolescents who had undergone an elective abortion at a municipal hospital in the Metropolitan Area of New York City. The purpose of these interviews was to identify the special psychosocial problems encountered with adolescents in this situation and to establish the dynamic configuration of their behavior, their attitudes, and their responses to an elective abortion. In the course of these contacts (lasting about 15 to 20 minutes on the average), it was established that attitudes toward abortion are secondary phenomena in that they are governed by, or are derivatives of, what is tentatively being called vectors of orientation. Seven of these vectors are listed and described. The central problem emerging from these interviews is the issue of the primary prevention of the need for abortion. In the current cultural climate, this is tantamount to ensuring systematic contraceptive practice by adolescents. Among the difficulties that seem to obstruct the attainment of this goal is a limitation of the adolescent's still developing cognition, which results in his predominant concern with the immediate effects of his doings to the exclusion of their potential effects. This fact has been largely ignored in practice. It has only recently been identified in the scientific literature as figurative thinking. This limitation of cognition has implications for all preventive health care.
Automatic Design of Cascaded Classifiers

Cascades of boosted classifiers have become increasingly popular in machine vision and have generated a lot of recent research. Most of it has focused on modifying the underlying Adaboost method and far less attention has been given to the problem of dimensioning the cascade, i.e. determining the number and the characteristics of the boosted classifiers. To a large extent, the designer of a cascade must set the parameters in the cascade using ad-hoc methods.
The Issue of Expertise in Clinical Ethics

The proliferation of ethics committees and ethics consultation services has engendered a discussion of the issue of the expertise of those who provide clinical ethics consultation services. In this paper, I discuss two aspects of this issue: the cognitive dimension or content knowledge that the clinical ethics consultant should possess and the practical dimension or set of dispositions, skills, and traits that are necessary for effective ethics consultation. I argue that the failure to differentiate and fully explicate these dimensions contributes to the confusion over the issue of expertise and fuels, at least partly, the controversies about expertise (or authority) in ethics and the legitimacy of the use of ethical knowledge in clinical ethics consultation.
A time-multiplexed pulse-shaping system for generating multiple high-bandwidth, low-jitter optical waveforms

A time-multiplexed fiber-based system that can deliver eight low-jitter optical waveforms to eight distinct laser systems using a single Mach-Zehnder pulse-shaper driven by an arbitrary waveform generator and a low-loss, high-extinction demultiplexer is described.
1V, 10mW, 10Gb/s CMOS optical receiver front-end

A 1 V, 10 mW CMOS optical receiver front-end that achieves 10 Gb/s operation is presented. The linear gain is 65.6 dB/spl Omega/ (1.9 k/spl Omega/) and the optical sensitivity is -13.1 dBm for a BER of 1e/sup -12/. The receiver is implemented in a 0.12 /spl mu/m digital CMOS process with a core size of 175 /spl mu/m/spl times/250 /spl mu/m.
Inquiry-Learning with WebLab: Undergraduate Attitudes and Experiences

The Microelectronics WebLab at MIT allows students to do actual (not simulated) laboratory research on state-of-the art equipment through the Internet. This study assesses the use of WebLab in a junior-level course on microelectronic devices and circuits in 2004–05 and 2005–06. In quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, students and faculty reported that WebLab was effective as an instrument of learning, and grew more so with refinements of the program. WebLab allowed undergraduates to learn at their own pace and on their own schedules. It enabled them to use different processes of learning (intuitive, visual, abstract), and it gave them an opportunity to link individual and collaborative effort in creative combinations. Online laboratories on this model have broad applications in the experimental sciences and in other research-oriented disciplines.
Tobacco lines with high copy number of replicating recombinant geminivirus vectors after biolistic DNA delivery

Summary The feasibility of obtaining clonal lines with replicating, multicopy geminivirus vectors by direct DNA trans-formation of cultured tobacco cells was studied. The replicating vectors pTGA32 and pST31 are based on the tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) A genome and encode the neomycin phosphotransferase type II (NPT-II) enzyme that confers kanamycin resistance to plant cells. Following introduction into plant cells, unit-length viral genomes were released from the tandem repeats and replicated. In protoplasts, replication of unit-length pTGA32 and pST31 was about as efficient as replication of unit-length DNA A from plasmid pTGA26, which contains 1.5 copies of wild-type DNA A. Tobacco suspension culture cells were bombarded with the recombinant DNA A constructs and selected for kanamycin resistance. The number of kanamycin-resistant clones per bombardment was about the same when the TGMV DNA A vectors or a non-replicating plasmid (pLC14) which also encodes NPT-II was used. Replicating, unit-length DNA A in up to approximately 1000 copies per cell was found in about 10% of the kanamycin-resistant clones selected following bombardment of cells with TGMV vectors. The results suggest that geminiviruses may serve as useful multicopy vectors in cultured cells.
Ignition of exothermic solid-phase reactions by a laser pulse

A focused laser pulse of 5 × 10 −4 sec duration and less than 2 cal energy output was used to ignite titanium powder compacts in oxygen. A mathematical model based on energy transport in a disk source was formulated to obtain a temperature profile by numerical integration, A nondecreasing sensible heat content of the solid phase was used as the ignition criterion. The model was found valid for porosity within 0.214–0.32 and for pulse energy flux below 20,000 cal/cm 2 -sec.
Biology, Ethology, and Impact on the Host byConiatus tamarisci(F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a Natural Enemy ofTamarixspp. (Tamaricaceae, saltcedar) in France

Abstract The biology, ethology, and impact on saltcedar of Coniatus tamarisci (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Hyperini) were studied in southern France, in nature and in a field laboratory, at each developmental stage. Adults and larvae fed on saltcedar buds, leaves, and stems during the entire vegetative phase of the host plant. The adults began ovipositing 4–5 days after emergence and laid an average of 100–200 eggs per female. Development from egg to adult required less than 1 month during the summer. Adults lived 8–10 months and mortality was low. In the area studied, three or four generations developed per year depending on climatic conditions. The adults overwintered and survived periods with temperatures below 0°C. This weevil is a promising candidate for biological control of saltcedar in North America.