cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
18F-Fallypride PET/CT scanning in healthy and diabetic rodents

2098 Objectives Many efforts have been made to discover a non-invasive method of imaging beta cells in the pancreas. Human and rodent islets express the Dopamine 2 receptor (D2R). Previous binding studies with the D2R/D3R tracer 18F- fallypride have shown specific binding to islets in-vitro and to pancreas sections ex-vivo. Our goal was to extend these studies for in-vivo imaging of endogenous islets in healthy rodents and in a streptozotocin rodent model of diabetes. Methods Four (4) Fasted 8-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (≈280 g) were administered 18F-fallypride (50 MBq/Kg) by tail vein injection and imaged for 2 h in an Inveon PET scanner followed by high resolution CT for anatomical deliniation and attenuation correction. Rats were then administered streptozotocin at a dose of 55 mg/kg and classified as diabetic when non-fasting serum blood glucose levels rose above 350 mg/dL for 3 consecutive days. In vivo PET/CT was performed 4 days after establishing diabetes. At the end of the study, pancreata of diabetic rats were cryosectioned for immunostaining of insulin. Results Average specific binding ratios (SBR) in pancreas with respect to the erectile spinae muscle reference region was 4.86±0.48 in controls and 1.04±0.75 in diabetic rats. Percent decrease of 18F-fallypride binding in diabetic rats was found to be 79%. Immunostaining of insulin of STZ-treated rat pancreas confirmed the destruction of islets. Conclusions PET/CT scans of diabetic rodents showed a markedly reduced level of 18F-fallypride binding in pancreas as compared to controls. This reduction in binding paralleled the reduction in beta cells determined by immunostaining. 18F-Fallypride may be a useful diagnostic marker for evaluating T1DM, T2DM and related disorders of the pancreas
Isolated proximal femoral osteotomy for treatment of residua of congenital dysplasia or idiopathic osteoarthrosis of the hip : Five to ten-year results

We retrospectively reviewed the five to ten-year results of an isolated proximal femoral osteotomy in two groups of patients. One group consisted of seventeen patients (eighteen hips) who had a residual deformity resulting from congenital dysplasia of the hip; there were fifteen women and two men, and the mean age was thirty-three years (range, twenty-four to fifty-eight years). The other group included sixteen patients (sixteen hips) who had idiopathic osteoarthrosis ; there were three women and thirteen men, and the mean age was forty-eight years (range, thirty-eight to fifty-seven years). Both groups were evaluated clinically and radiographically, at a mean of 6.1 years (the patients who had residua of congenital dysplasia) and 6.7 years (the patients who had idiopathic osteoarthrosis). Of the seventeen patients who had residual deformity resulting from congenital dysplasia, eight (eight hips) were completely satisfied with the result of the osteotomy at least five years postoperatively; the joint space was improved in five of these patients (five hips) at the latest radiographic evaluation. Nine patients (ten hips) were not satisfied with the result of the osteotomy at the time of the most recent follow-up; four of them (four hips) had a subsequent total hip arthroplasty. Of the sixteen patients who had idiopathic osteoarthrosis, six were completely satisfied with the result of the osteotomy at least five years postoperatively. The joint space was improved in only two patients at the latest radiographic evaluation. The osteotomy did not provide lasting pain relief for seven patients, all of whom had a subsequent total hip arthroplasty. In both diagnostic groups, the most enduring clinical improvement occurred in hips that had the least evidence of osteoarthrotic changes on the preoperative radiographs. In addition, in the group that had residual deformity resulting from congenital dysplasia, the best outcomes were seen in hips with the least degree of acetabular dysplasia.
Variation in Species Density of North American Birds

I have presented an analysis of the species density of the breeding birds of continental Canada, the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Mexico following the method of Simpson (1964) in his analysis of North American mammals; seabirds were not analysed. A map of species density was constructed using a 153 mile square-quadrant grid system super-imposed upon the range data of each species. Many of the same trends that Simpson found for mammals-latitudinal gradient, topographic effect, east-west gradient, peninsula effect-were also displayed in the avian species density pattern. There appeared to be a greater decrease in species density in southeastern United States in birds, and it is suggested that this may reflect historical factors in the form of repeated glaciation. A family density map and a species/family ratio map were also constructed, and shown to reflect trends similar to the species density map. Species density maps were constructed for the seven largest families of birds; these were the Anatidae, Accipitridae, Scolopacidae, Trochilidae, Tyrannidae, Parulidae, and Fringillidae. The characteristic pattern of each family is discussed in relation to historical factors and present ecological conditions. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the growing number of species diversity studies that have become frequent in the literature of the last ten years (Fischer, 1960; Simpson, 1964; MacArthur, 1965; Pianka, 1966a). I have analysed the species density of the birds of continental Canada, the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Mexico during the breeding season, and have constructed several species density maps to dem.onstrate this analysis graphically. This study was inspired by the excellent analysis of mammals by Simpson (1964), and the reader is referred to his paper for an introduction and for comparative purposes. In analyzing the distributional ranges of avian species my method follows his very closely.
Factors Influencing Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Degradation in Aqueous Solution Using Pulsed Wave Ultrasound

Continuous wave (CW) and pulsed wave (PW) ultrasound were used to degrade pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin), and personal care products ...
The loss of growth vitality of human lymphoid cell lines derived from healthy adults.

SummaryUnder the culture conditions described in this report, 20 lines of cells morphologically similar to the lymphoid cells were derived from the blood of eight healthy adults. Four of the 20 lines have undergone 85 to 107 serial divisions and are still growing vigorously. Fifteen lines showed an unexplained loss in growth vitality after the 3rd to 48th serial division. One line was contaminated by fungi in the 8th serial division.
Evaluation of Measurement Error for the Calibration System of Electronic Current Transformer

The measurement accuracy is the most important function for the calibration system of electronic current transformer.According to the correlative industrial standards and aiming at the accuracy grade of 0.05,this article designs the calibration system technical scheme and analyzes the error component of each section.With the measurement uncertainty theory of the metrology,the uncertainty sources are analyzed and the evaluation method for uncertainty of calibration system is given.
Reformation Effect of Hydrocarbon Alkali Fluid on Volcanic Reservoir in First Member of Yingcheng Formation in Xingcheng Region

The volcanic gas reservoir of Yingcheng formation in Xushen gas field in Xingcheng region is dominated by acidic volcanic rocks with reservoir spaces like primary pore,secondary pore and fissure. The reformation effect of hydrocarbon alkali fluid on the volcanic rocks appears in the formation and development of secondary pore zone,which lies on the scale of material inflow and outflow in the reservoir caused by this fluid. The volcanic reservoir reformation by the fluid under open system includes primary mineral metasomatic alteration and dissolution,which leads to damage of inner structure of the rocks,such as mechanical strength reducing,porosity increasing. The structure is very favorable for structural fragmentation,attracting hydrothermal liquids and mineral enrichment. The hydrocarbon alkali fluid can not only cause porosity and permeability increasing by the alteration and dissolution of primary minerals,but also make porosity and permeability decreasing by packing or filling pores. The study shows that the particular lithology and lithofacies as well as structural factors in this region lead to that the outflow rate is larger than the inflow rate by hydrocarbon alkali fluid,the developed secondary pores could be connected into secondary pore zones,which can be as good migration channels and reservoir spaces.
Macroeconomics in Emerging Markets: The Benchmark Model with Floating Exchange Rates

As shown in Chapter 1, most emerging-market and developing economies maintain some type of officially determined exchange rate regime. Accordingly, the benchmark model of Part 2 was built on the assumption of a fixed exchange rate. However, as also shown in Chapter 1, a substantial number of emerging-market economies – and a few developing economies as well – operate exchange rate regimes that are best described as managed or free floats. To examine how the economy behaves in the short run under this alternative exchange rate regime, in this chapter we will revisit the benchmark model of Part 2 and investigate how it would need to be modified to describe an economy with floating exchange rates. This extension will not only allow us to study the macroeconomics of some important emerging economies but will also give us a frame of reference for analyzing optimal exchange rate regimes in Chapter 18. The structure of this chapter is as follows: the first section spells out the analytical framework that we will use to study a floating exchange rate economy. Section II takes the first step in analyzing such an economy by examining how the equilibrium nominal exchange rate is determined when the central bank does not intervene in the foreign exchange market. Section III assembles the complete short-run model under floating rates, building on the groundwork laid out in the two preceding sections.
A retrospective analysis of laser endartherectomy assisted balloon angioplasty for popliteal and infrapopliteal peripheral arterial disease

Abstract Objectives To describe our single center experience with the use of laser endartherectomy assisted balloon angioplasty in popliteal and infrapopliteal arterial disease. Background Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) carries significant morbidity to patients. Some patients may have multiple comorbid conditions potentially limiting therapeutic options for PAD. Endovascular interventions are aimed at decreasing arterial disease symptoms, improve wound healing and ultimately limb salvage. There is limited data on below the knee PAD and simultaneous laser endartherectomy use in this anatomic location. Methods The cohort comprised 41 patients that underwent laser assisted balloon angioplasty from 2010 to 2013. All patients had popliteal and infrapopliteal arterial disease. Outcomes evaluated were limb salvage and symptom relief 12months following the procedure. A comparison between the patients that underwent amputation and those with limb salvage was also performed. Results All the patients had TASC II (Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus) type D lesions. Most patients reported persistent PAD symptoms by six months, with 17% remaining symptom free by 12months. Affected limb salvage was 69%. Five patients (12%) died and one third of the patients had a new peripheral angiogram. In the repeat angiogram, most patients showed initial target vessel occlusion. No statistically significant differences were found between the patients that preserved their limb to those who underwent amputation. Conclusions Laser assisted balloon angioplasty use for complex popliteal and infrapopliteal arterial disease is a therapeutic option when limb salvage is the goal. Despite this, symptom recurrence and the need for repeated angiography continue to be high.
Women, Workers, and Race in LIFE Magazine: Hansel Mieth's Reform Photojournalism, 1934–1955

Hansel Mieth is an overlooked contributor to American photojournalism. A German emigre photographer, Mieth captured a wide range of topics and was the second woman staff photographer at Life magazi...
XVA in the Wake of the Financial Crisis

In the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, it has become standard in practice to introduce and implement a serious of valuation adjustments for counterparty credit (CVA), one’s own credit (DVA), funding costs (FVA), regulatory capital (KVA), and initial margin (MVA). This chapter explains the major insights of these valuation adjustments.
TNFα alters occludin and cerebral endothelial permeability: Role of p38MAPK

Occludin is a key tight junction (TJ) protein in cerebral endothelial cells (CECs) playing an important role in modulating blood-brain barrier (BBB) functions. This protein (65kDa) has been shown to engage in many signaling pathways and phosphorylation by both tyrosine and threonine kinases. Despite yet unknown mechanisms, pro-inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) may alter TJ proteins in CECs and BBB functions. Here we demonstrate the responses of occludin in an immortalized human cerebral endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3) to stimulation by TNFα (10 ng/mL), IL-1β (10 ng/mL) and LPS (100 ng/mL). Exposing cells to TNFα resulted in a rapid and transient upward band-shift of occludin, suggesting of an increase in phosphorylation. Exposure to IL-1β produced significantly smaller effects and LPS produced almost no effects on occludin band-shift. TNFα also caused transient stimulation of p38MAPK and ERK1/2 in hCMEC/D3 cells, and the occludin band-shift induced by TNFα was suppressed by SB202190, an inhibitor for p38MAPK, and partly by U0126, the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 inhibitor. Cells treated with TNFα and IL-1β but not LPS for 24 h resulted in a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the expression of occludin, and the decrease could be partially blocked by SB202190, the inhibitor for p38MAPK. Treatment with TNFα also altered cell morphology and enhanced permeability of the CEC layer as measured by the FITC-dextran assay and the trans-endothelial electrical resistances (TEER). However, treatment with SB202190 alone could not effectively reverse the TNFα -induced morphology changes or the enhanced permeability changes. These results suggest that despite effects of TNFα on p38MAPK-mediated occludin phosphorylation and expression, these changes are not sufficient to avert the TNFα-induced alterations on cell morphology and permeability.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF INTENSIVE BLOOD PRESSURE GOALS IN PATIENTS WITH PRIOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Background: In the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), patients with prior cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline experienced a smaller relative reduction in fatal or non-fatal CVD events with an intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) goal <120 mmHg compared to a standard SBP
Compounding of stimuli maintaining opposing response tendencies in an instrumental avoidance situation

A light and a buzzer each maintained an opposing directional response that avoided shock in a shuttlebox. When the light was combined with the buzzer on the side on which Ss avoided to the buzzer, latency of avoidance was greater than was latency to the buzzer alone. When the buzzer was combined with the light on the side on which Ss avoided to the light, latency was less than it was to the light alone. The results were interpreted in terms of response summation and differential stimulus control.
A Review of the Effects of Surface Moisture Content on Aeolian Sand Transport

Over the past several decades, a number of studies have shown that intergranular cohesion associated with the presence of moisture significantly increases the critical shear velocity required to initiate motion in sand grains, and decreases transport rates. This paper examines currently available models of moisture effects and compares model predictions for several hypothetical situations. Model predictions exhibit considerable disagreement regarding the magnitude of moisture effects. For 0.27-mm sands, predicted increases in threshold shear velocity associated with a 1% moisture content ranged from about 8% to 148% of the expected dry threshold velocity, and with 4% moisture increased to 47%–206% of the dry value. Based on the predicted threshold shear velocities, the expected transport rates at a 1% moisture content under a 0.50 m s−1 shear velocity range from no transport to more than 100 kg m−1 hr−1.
Non-immunologic allograft loss in pediatric kidney transplant recipients

Non-immunologic risk factors are a major obstacle to realizing long-term improvements in kidney allograft survival. A standardized approach to assess donor quality has recently been introduced with the new kidney allocation system in the USA. Delayed graft function and surgical complications are important risk factors for both short- and long-term graft loss. Disease recurrence in the allograft remains a major cause of graft loss in those who fail to respond to therapy. Complications of over immunosuppression including opportunistic infections and malignancy continue to limit graft survival. Alternative immunosuppression strategies are under investigation to limit calcineurin inhibitor toxicity. Finally, recent studies have confirmed long-standing observations of the significant negative impact of a high-risk age window in late adolescence and young adulthood on long-term allograft survival.
Maxillomandibular Advancement for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Until recently surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has been uvulopalato-pharyngoplasty (UPPP) or tracheostomy. These procedures are not without significant complications, and UPPP results are not always satisfactory. Frequently an improvement in the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) is achieved but rarely a cure [9]. Fiberoptic [2], computed-tomographic [10], and cephalometric [4] studies fail to show one single anatomic obstruction. Therefore treatment should address increasing the posterior airway space in the hypo-, meso-, and epipharynx. Mandibular advancement increases posterior airway space and also changes hyoid position, which may be abnormal in OS AS [1, 8]. Cephalometric analysis of patients with OSAS demonstrates mandibular as well as maxillary deficiency, which may contribute to the reduction in posterior airway space [5, 6] Dentofacial deformities such as these can be treated by orthognathic surgery. Rigid fixation in orthognathic surgery circumvents long-term maxillomandibular fixation, which would cause an intolerable risk to breathing problems.
Behaviorism, private events, and the molar view of behavior.

Viewing the science of behavior (behavior analysis) to be a natural science, radical behaviorism rejects any form of dualism, including subjective–objective or inner–outer dualism. Yet radical behaviorists often claim that treating private events as covert behavior and internal stimuli is necessary and important to behavior analysis. To the contrary, this paper argues that, compared with the rejection of dualism, private events constitute a trivial idea and are irrelevant to accounts of behavior. Viewed in the framework of evolutionary theory or for any practical purpose, behavior is commerce with the environment. By its very nature, behavior is extended in time. The temptation to posit private events arises when an activity is viewed in too small a time frame, obscuring what the activity does. When activities are viewed in an appropriately extended time frame, private events become irrelevant to the account. This insight provides the answer to many philosophical questions about thinking, sensing, and feeling. Confusion about private events arises in large part from failure to appreciate fully the radical implications of replacing mentalistic ideas about language with the concept of verbal behavior. Like other operant behavior, verbal behavior involves no agent and no hidden causes; like all natural events, it is caused by other natural events. In a science of behavior grounded in evolutionary theory, the same set of principles applies to verbal and nonverbal behavior and to human and nonhuman organisms.
Various Subsystem and System Construction Examples

A team of researchers from the Center for Space Microelectronics Technology of Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Pasadena, CA and from Irvine Sensors Corp. at Costa Mesa, CA have developed the technology for possible 3-dimensional neurocomputing [1]. In conventional approaches, the size of VLSI networks are often limited by the silicon area restricted by production yield consideration. As the die size increases, fabrication cost increases and the achievable yield rate decreases. There are some possible methods to increase the computing capability of VLSI: wafer-scale integration (WSI) [2, 3], multi-chip module (MCM) packaging [4]–[6], or die stacking. The die stacking approach is particularly attractive because extremely compact systems of around 1-inch cube can be implemented. In addition, test of chips is performed before packaging. Hence, the system success rate is greatly enhanced.
To Win and Keep the Peace

Naturally we are all deeply interested in the future, in the outcome of the present war and of the peace that will follow. We are all confident that the United Nations will come out completely victorious in our common war against our common enemies. But we are also interested in the kind of peace, the kind of future world, that will come after this war.
The molecular and cellular biology of HER2/neu gene amplification/overexpression and the clinical development of herceptin (trastuzumab) therapy for breast cancer.

Proto oncogenes represent a family of genes which when activated have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of a number of malignancies in vertebrate species including humans.1,2 In physiologic states these same genes are known to play a role in the normal cell growth control and differentiation. The HER2/neu gene is a member of the Type I receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) group which is one of the subfamilies in the proto oncogene family and encodes a 185kD surface membrane receptor protein. This gene has been localized to chromosome 17q21,1 and the encoded protein is expressed in a wide variety of tissues including the skin, oral mucera, breast, ovary, endometrium, lung, liver, pancreas, small and large bowel, kidney, bladder and the central nervous system as well as some connective tissues.4–5 The exact physiological role of the HER2/neu protein in these tissues is not completely understood, but like other proto oncogenes it is believed to play an important signaling role in cellular proliferation and differentiation processes. Current data suggests that it forms hetero-dimers with other members of the RTKI family (such as HER 1, HER3 and HER4 in response to various ligands known as heregulins.6–8 Activation of HER2/neu results in an increase its kinase activity which in turn initiates signal transduction resulting in either cellular proliferation and/or differentiation, depending on the ligand as well as the conditions.9–14 In human breast cancers, a non-inherited alteration occurs in this gene in 25–30% of cases.
Vaccination With Mitoxantrone-Treated Primary Colon Cancer Cells Enhances Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Responses in Colorectal Liver Metastases.

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Metastases to the liver are often present at initial presentation and will form in most patients during their course of disease. We have previously demonstrated that enhanced trafficking and activation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) may improve antitumor immune responses. Thus, development of novel mechanisms to increase lymphocyte infiltration and activation are needed to improve patient outcomes. Methods CT26 murine colorectal cancer cells were treated with physiologic levels of the potent inducer of immunogenic cell death mitoxantrone (MTX). An in situ vaccine was created with treated cells in an established model of CRLM. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry for cell cycle evaluation and calreticulin expression. Splenic and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were isolated for phenotypic studies. Results MTX-treatment of colon cancer cells resulted in a sub-G1 peak, inhibition of G1 cell cycle progression, and increased G2/M cell fractions while simultaneously increasing dynamic exposure of calreticulin on the cell surface (P Conclusions Vaccination with MTX-treated primary colon cancer cells enhances tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and clinical responses in CRLM.
An Exploration of Coping with Childhood Sexual Abuse in Arab American Women

This research used a descriptive qualitative approach to explore coping with childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and to identify long-term psychological outcomes among Arab American women. Ten Arab American women participated in the study. Data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis. Five categories emerged for CSA experience among the participants: CSA characteristics, social support, Arabic culture, coping, and long-term psychological outcomes. Most of the women had experienced familial and contact CSA . and had disclosed their CSA and received different reactions from family and friends. Arabic cultural values influenced the women's experience of CSA and their coping strategy, especially regarding the CSA disclosure and seeking mental health services. The women used a spectrum of strategies to cope with their abuse including seeking support, positive reappraisal,,, accepting responsibilities, avoidance and protective coping. All women experienced negative long-term psychological outcomes of CSA such as flashbacks and low self-esteem. Prior to this research, no known studies have explored coping with CSA experience among Arab American women. Thus, this study can be used to inform practice guidelines to minimize the stigma of CSA and to promote help-seeking behavior for Arab American female CSA survivors and their families.
The unmeasured quality metric: Burn out and the second victim syndrome in healthcare

Physician Burn Out has become endemic as Healthcare has become increasingly complex and challenging to physicians who provide care to critically ill patients. Physicians are more prone to make errors when burnt out. Most Healthcare institutions have not been responsive to support physicians when burned out or when disturbing outcomes occur. Peer support has evolved as the preferred way to help a physician recover after the loss of a patient or a medical error. Best practices are evolving as awareness increases and better research questions arise. Individuals providers, surgical leaders and institutions can all be influential as we address this problem.
The response of Plasmodium falciparum to isoleucine withdrawal is dependent on the stage of progression through the intraerythrocytic cell cycle

A previous study reported that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum enters an altered growth state upon extracellular withdrawal of the essential amino acid isoleucine. Parasites slowed transit through the cell cycle when deprived of isoleucine prior to the onset of S-phase. This project was undertaken to study at higher resolution, how isoleucine withdrawal affects parasite growth. Parasites were followed at regular intervals across an extended isoleucine deprivation time course across the cell cycle using flow cytometry. These experiments revealed that isoleucine-deprived parasites never exit the cell cycle, but instead continuously grow at a markedly reduced pace. Moreover, slow growth occurs only if isoleucine is removed prior to the onset of schizogony. After S-phase commenced, the parasite is insensitive to isoleucine depletion and transits through the cell cycle at the normal pace. The markedly different response of the parasite to isoleucine withdrawal before or after the onset of DNA replication is reminiscent of the nutrient-dependent G1 cell cycle checkpoints described in other organisms.
Early Childhood Nature Play: A Needs Assessment of Minnesota Licensed Childcare Providers

Due to a growing body of evidence suggesting nature play experiences support the healthy development of young children, a needs assessment of licensed childcare providers in Minnesota was conducted...
Chatting in a mobile chamber: effects of instant messenger use on tolerance toward political misinformation among South Koreans

Amid growing scholarly interest in identifying potential explanations for the persistence of fake news from an international context, this study explores the relationship between instant messaging ...
Network structure and dynamics of effective models of non-equilibrium quantum transport

Across all scales of the physical world, dynamical systems can often be usefully represented as abstract networks that encode the system's units and inter-unit interactions. Understanding how physical rules shape the topological structure of those networks can clarify a system's function and enhance our ability to design, guide, or control its behavior. In the emerging area of quantum network science, a key challenge lies in distinguishing between the topological properties that reflect a system's underlying physics and those that reflect the assumptions of the employed conceptual model. To elucidate and address this challenge, we study networks that represent non-equilibrium quantum-electronic transport through quantum antidot devices -- an example of an open, mesoscopic quantum system. The network representations correspond to two different models of internal antidot states: a single-particle, non-interacting model and an effective model for collective excitations including Coulomb interactions. In these networks, nodes represent accessible energy states and edges represent allowed transitions. We find that both models reflect spin conservation rules in the network topology through bipartiteness and the presence of only even-length cycles. The models diverge, however, in the minimum length of cycle basis elements, in a manner that depends on whether electrons are considered to be distinguishable. Furthermore, the two models reflect spin-conserving relaxation effects differently, as evident in both the degree distribution and the cycle-basis length distribution. Collectively, these observations serve to elucidate the relationship between network structure and physical constraints in quantum-mechanical models. More generally, our approach underscores the utility of network science in understanding the dynamics and control of quantum systems.
Pepsinogens and Gastrin Demonstrate Low Discrimination for Gastric Precancerous Lesions in a Multi-Ethnic United States Cohort

Early identification of gastric precancerous lesions, including atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM), may improve gastric cancer detection and prevention. Because AG and IM are generally asymptomatic, many of the estimated 15 million Americans who carry these lesions remain undiagnosed.1 AG and IM are associated with either active or prior Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. Hp infection leads to perturbations in the serum concentration of gastric hormones pepsinogen I (PGI), pepsinogen II, the pepsinogen I/II ratio (PGR), gastrin-17 (G-17), and Hp IgG.2,3 In East Asia and other regions with high burden of Hp infection and gastric cancer, these biomarkers have been used as screening tools for AG and IM.4 However, there exists limited data on the sensitivity and discrimination of these serologic markers in low-Hp-prevalence populations, such as the United States.
Firearm Violence in the Pediatric Population: An International Perspective

Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem for children and adolescents in the United States and even more of a problem in some low- and middle-income countries. A number of countries in Central and South America report extremely high rates of firearm death, though data in these countries are less reliable than data from high-income countries. Globally, there were more firearm homicides than firearm suicides among those 0–24 years old in 2016. Among high-income countries, the United States has the highest pediatric firearm death rates. It appears that a main reason for our relatively high firearm death rate is widespread firearm availability. Unfortunately, pediatric firearm injury prevention is still a topic about which little is known, not only for low- and middle-income countries but also for high-income nations. More research is needed on risk and protective factors specific to children and adolescents, and better data are needed especially for nonfatal gun injuries.
Optoelectronic Effects of Chemical and Thermal Treatments on CuSbS2 Nanocrystal Thin Films

The use of nanocrystalline materials in optoelectronic devices has been studied extensively over the last decade. Their size-dependent properties, low cost, low energy solution processing, and the ...
Health Savings Plans and Disparities in Access to Care by Race and Ethnicity.

Introduction High-deductible health plans are often touted to motivate patients to become informed healthcare purchasers; however, racial/ethnic minorities report that high deductibles prevent them from seeking the needed care. One proposed way to mitigate the financial burden of high-deductible health plans is the use of health savings plans. This cross-sectional study investigates whether chronically ill Blacks and Hispanics enrolled in high-deductible health plans experience greater access to care difficulties than non-Hispanic Whites and whether racial/ethnic disparities are mitigated by the use of health savings plans. Methods Weighted, multivariate, linear probability regression models were estimated (analyses were conducted in December 2020), adjusting for individual attributes and contextual factors that may explain the variation in health care access. Chronically ill, U.S.-born Black, Hispanic, and White adults enrolled in a high-deductible health plan from the National Health Interview Survey in 2011–2018 were included. Associations were tested among 3 independent variables—being Black, being Hispanic, and health savings plan utilization (and their interaction)—and access to healthcare outcomes of interest, including affordability-related access, provider-related access, and delayed care. Results Blacks and Hispanics were less likely to use health savings plans, and Blacks were more likely to experience problems with access to health care. Although the use of health savings plans was found to have a minimal effect on reducing racial/ethnic disparities in affordability-related access, there was also evidence that health savings plans compounded racial/ethnic disparities in provider-related access. Conclusions Understanding how health savings plans function to improve access to care within racial/ethnic minority groups may help to inform policy approaches related to their use.
Association of White Matter Hyperintensities With Pathology and Progression of Parkinsonism in Aging.

Importance Progressive parkinsonism is common in older adults without a diagnosis of Parkinson disease and is associated with adverse health outcomes, but its pathologic basis is controversial. Objective To examine if the burden of cerebral white matter hyperintensity (WMH), a common manifestation of cerebrovascular disease pathologies, is associated with the rate of progressive parkinsonism. Design, Setting, and Participants This community-based cohort study included participants recruited in 3 ongoing cohorts that began enrollment in 1994, 1997, and 2004. Prior to death, participants were observed for a mean of 7.5 years, with annual clinical assessments. From 4427 participants enrolled in the 3 cohorts, 2134 died. Postmortem autopsy was performed in 1725 decedents, and 598 also had ex vivo brain magnetic resonance imaging. Participants were excluded if they were missing any of the 9 postmortem pathology indices (n = 22) or repeated parkinsonism assessment (n = 41) or had received a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease at any point before or during the study (n = 19). Data were analyzed from April 2020 to August 2021. Exposures WMH burden was assessed using a modified Fazekas rating scale. Main Outcomes and Measures Parkinsonism was assessed annually using 26 items of a modified motor portion of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. A summary score was developed from the item scores, with higher scores indicating more severe parkinsonism. Results Of 516 included decedents, 364 (70.5%) were female, and the mean (SD) age at death was 90.2 (6.4) years. Higher WMH was associated with faster progressive parkinsonism (estimate, 0.024; SE, 0.008;P = .002). The attenuation of this association was greater when controlling for indices of cerebrovascular disease pathologies than when controlling for neurodegenerative pathologies (cerebrovascular disease: estimate, 0.019; SE, 0.008;P = .02; neurodegenerative: estimate, 0.022; SE, 0.008;P = .003), but both remained significant. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, higher levels of both WMH and indices of cerebrovascular disease pathologies in aging brains were associated with more rapid progressive parkinsonism. Further studies are needed to determine if in vivo brain imaging of older adults for evidence of WMH and aggressive medical treatment of vascular risk factors and diseases can reduce the occurrence or severity of late-life parkinsonism.
Providing Strategies for Education in Engineering for Virtual Team Development

The globalization of the new product development workforce is a growing trend as companies search to improve their effectiveness. This paper examined the education foundation necessary for engineering students to work effectively in virtual teams, especially new product groups. The paper suggests how small changes in group assignments may benefit students and eliminate potential problems in the organization. Implications include curriculum changes to increase team effectiveness and enhance collaboration among team members.
The Enterprise IT Use Case Scenario

In the following we assume a virtualisation-enabled data centre style configuration of server capacity, and a broad range of services in terms of relative priority, resource requirement and longevity.
Disorganization and Disorientation in Infant Strange Situation Behavior

The Ainsworth Strange Situation is a brief, structured observational procedure in which one-year-old infants are exposed to two brief separations from the parent in an unfamiliar laboratory environment (Ainsworth and Wittig, 1969). The infant’s response to this moderately stressful experience appears to reflect the history of the caregiving it has experienced, and three traditional patterns of infant-mother “attachment organization” have been identified, each related to a particular pattern of maternall care (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters and Wall, 1978). Infants who explore the room and the toys in the parent’s presence, show signs of missing the parent on separation, seek proximity and contact on reunion, and then return to play are termed secure. The mothers of these infants have repeatedly been observed to be relatively “sensitive and responsive” to their signals and communications across the first year of life. Infants who focus almost exclusively on the toys, actively avoiding and ignoritig the parent on reunion, are termed insecure-avoidant, a response linked to the mother’s consistent rejection of infant attachment behavior. Finally, infants who seem distressed, angry, and preoccupied with the mother throughout the procedure, and fail to settle by the end of the final reunion episode are termed insecure-resistant/ambivalent (hereafter, insecure-resistant). This behavior pattern has been found linked to inconsistent and unpredictable maternal responsiveness. Each of these three traditional patterns of attachment are considered to represent organized strategies for dealing with the stress of separation from the parent in a strange environment (Main, 1990), although attachment to the mother has repeatedly been found to predict less favorable outcomes than does secure attachment in later childhood (see Cassidy and Berlin, 1994, and Main, 1995, for an overview of the foregoing studies).
Inferring superposition and entanglement in evolving systems from measurements in a single basis

We discuss what can be inferred from measurements on evolving one- and two-qubit systems using a single measurement basis at various times. We show that, given reasonable physical assumptions, carrying out such measurements at quarter-period intervals is enough to demonstrate coherent oscillations of one or two qubits between the relevant measurement basis states. One can thus infer from such measurements alone that an approximately equal superposition of two measurement basis states has been created during a coherent oscillation experiment. Similarly, one can infer that a near-maximally entangled state of two qubits has been created part way through an experiment involving a putative SWAP gate. These results apply even if the relevant quantum systems are only approximate qubits. We discuss applications to fundamental quantum physics experiments and quantum-information processing investigations.
Approximate MRF inference using bounded treewidth subgraphs

Graph cut algorithms [9], commonly used in computer vision, solve a first-order MRF over binary variables. The state of the art for this NP-hard problem is QPBO [1,2], which finds the values for a subset of the variables in the global minimum. While QPBO is very effective overall there are still many difficult problems where it can only label a small subset of the variables. We propose a new approach that, instead of optimizing the original graphical model, instead optimizes a tractable sub-model, defined as an energy function that uses a subset of the pairwise interactions of the original, but for which exact inference can be done efficiently. Our Bounded Treewidth Subgraph (k-BTS) algorithm greedily computes a large weight treewidth-k subgraph of the signed graph, then solves the energy minimization problem for this subgraph by dynamic programming. The edges omitted by our greedy method provide a per-instance lower bound. We demonstrate promising experimental results for binary deconvolution, a challenging problem used to benchmark QPBO [2]: our algorithm performs an order of magnitude better than QPBO or its common variants [4], both in terms of energy and accuracy, and the visual quality of our output is strikingly better as well. We also obtain a significant improvement in energy and accuracy on a stereo benchmark with 2nd order priors [5], although the improvement in visual quality is more modest. Our method's running time is comparable to QPBO.
Effects of Eastern Hemlock Decline on Large Wood Loads in Streams of the Appalachian Mountains

Evans, Daniel M., C. Andrew Dolloff, W. Michael Aust, and Amy M. Villamagna, 2012. Effects of Eastern Hemlock Decline on Large Wood Loads in Streams of the Appalachian Mountains. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(2): 266-276. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00610.x Abstract: Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), a foundation species important to riparian forests of the Appalachian Mountains, is in decline due to the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae). The effect of this insect on large wood (LW) production and recruitment to streams is largely unknown. We measured LW load, riparian forest composition, and T. canadensis health in 47 streams from Maine to Alabama and developed a conceptual model that frames the expected forest stand and instream LW response to the disturbance caused by HWA. In stands with HWA, 24.3% of the overstory T. canadensis basal area was stressed and 7.5% was dead, whereas only 3.0% was stressed and 2.0% was dead in stands without HWA. Mean T. canadensis effective LW load was 0.20 m3/100 m2 in streams with adjacent stands infested by HWA, almost three times higher than in streams flowing through uninfested stands (p = 0.048). Higher frequencies of LW were found at streams with HWA present and there was a positive association between the percent of dead T. canadensis and T. canadensis LW load (ρ = 0.4468; p = <0.0001). Greater total LW loads were associated with higher stream gradients, lesser bankfull widths, and streams at lower latitudes. Our research supports the hypothesis that HWA infestation of T. canadensis in riparian forest stands has increased LW loads in streams. This episodic disturbance to the riparian forest overstory may have lasting impacts on aquatic ecosystem structure and function.
Immune regulation of the tumor/bone vicious cycle.

The bone destruction attending skeletal metastasis is mediated by tumor-recruited osteoclasts (OCs). Hence, OCs are principal therapeutic targets in afflicted individuals. On the other hand, one-third of patients develop further skeletal-related events within two years of initiating antiresorptive therapies, suggesting that additional cells modulate bone tumor growth. Previous studies showing amelioration of bone metastases by targeting the OCs were performed in immune-compromised animals injected with human breast cancer cells. Consequently, the contribution of the immune system to bone tumor growth was unclear. Using genetic models of immune and OC modulation (PLCγ2 and Lyn), as well as pharmacological inhibition of OCs and T cells, we now demonstrate that a condition of immune deficiency can interfere with the antitumor effects of OC blockade. Thus, our findings expand the current tumor/bone vicious cycle model to include T cells as additional regulators of bone tumor growth, regardless of the OC status.
The Influence of Tire Factors on the Stability of Trucks and Tractor Trailers

SUMMARY The mechanical properties of tires and trucks are contrasted with comparable properties of the motor car to explain why the motor truck and the tractor-trailer can exhibit fixed-control instability at moderate levels of lateral acceleration. The (1) rearward bias in the distribution of roll stiffness, (2) large ratio of e.g. height to track, and (3) low torsional stiffness of the parallel-rail frame (as typically employed in heavy commercial vehicles) are found to be the major factors implicated in this phenomenon. Experimental and analytical evidence is provided to show how tire inflation pressure and mixes of (a) tire-carcass construction and (b) tread design also influence stability at moderate levels of lateral acceleration. Conclusions relating to the safety of commercial vehicle operations are drawn.