cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Roughness receptivity and shielding in a flat plate boundary layer

Surface roughness can affect boundary layer transition by acting as a receptivity mechanism for transient growth. While experiments have investigated transient growth of steady disturbances generated by discrete roughness elements, very few have studied distributed surface roughness. Some work predicts a ‘shielding’ effect, where smaller distributed roughness displaces the boundary layer away from the wall and lessens the impact of larger roughness peaks. This work describes an experiment specifically designed to study this effect. Three roughness configurations (a deterministic distributed roughness patch, a slanted rectangular prism, and the combination of the two) were manufactured using rapid prototyping and installed flush with the wall of a flat plate boundary layer. Naphthalene flow visualization and hotwire anemometry were used to characterize the boundary layer in the wakes of the different roughness configurations. Distributed roughness with roughness Reynolds numbers ( ) between 113 and 182 initiated small-amplitude disturbances that underwent transient growth. The discrete roughness element created a pair of high- and low-speed steady streaks in the boundary layer at a sub-critical Reynolds number ( ). At a higher Reynolds number ( ), the discrete element created a turbulent wedge 15 boundary layer thicknesses downstream. When the distributed roughness was added around the discrete roughness, the discrete element’s wake amplitude was decreased. For the higher Reynolds number, this provided a small but measurable transition delay. The distributed roughness redirects energy from longer spanwise wavelength modes to shorter spanwise wavelength modes. The presence of the distributed roughness also decreased the growth rate of secondary instabilities in the roughness wake. This work demonstrates that shielding can delay roughness-induced transition and lays the ground work for future studies of roughness-induced transition.
Occurrence of Mercury in Dredge Tailings near Folsom South Canal, California

Toxicity of mercury and its compounds is well-known and widely recognized and publicized. Measurable amounts of mercury, used for amalgamation during the gold recovery process, were lost during placer mining of gold in California and elsewhere. This mercury seems to be concentrated in clay slickens and in dredge pond sediment portions of old dredgings. During 1970–1971 studies, for example, 0.018 to 37.5 ppm of mercury were detected in 14 grab samples of dredged material in the vicinity of the upstream 10 km of the Folsom South Canal, on the left (or southern) bank of the American River, east of the city of Sacramento. The 1982 laboratory testing of several 1971 samples showed some secondary migration of mercury from the inside portions of the samples toward their periphery, which occurred during prolonged laboratory storage. Mercury in clay slickens, which are located in depressions between tailings, is isolated from canal water by a concrete lining and appears to be of no immediate environmental concern. More important is the possibility of mercury pollution of local surface and ground water, which can enter the canal. Initial laboratory study of 11 samples of surface water and 3 samples of ground water yields a surprisingly, if not alarmingly, high content of mercury, ranging from 0.013 to 0.3 ppm. A simple calculation based on these data and on the average annual discharge of the American River yields an unrealistically large amount, totaling some 50 metric tons, of mercury being annually leached from the watershed. A reevaluation of laboratory data indicated that the presence of phosphate probably contaminated original determinations of mercury in water. Repeated water analyses yield much smaller amounts of mercury in the American River, which meets the drinking water standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The presence of mercury in dredge tailings may play a role of some importance in the rapidly spreading urbanization and commercial development of the vast tailing area in California and elsewhere. The present study is also a good example of possible confusion caused by erroneous laboratory data.
Comparison of hyper- and microgravity on rat muscle, organ weights and selected plasma constituents.

Background: Centrifugation has been proposed to be one possible countermeasure for the skeletal muscle, organ, hormonal, and plasma chemistry adaptations associated with chronic unloading (e.g., during spaceflight). Hypothesis: Our hypothesis was that there would be a continuum of physiological and morphological responses from zero gravity to hypergravity. Methods: Adult male rats were centrifuged continuously at 2G for 14 d and the weights of limb muscles and organs, and the levels of plasma constituents were compared with the same measurements from rats flown on a 14-d spaceflight (Cosmos 2044). Results: Mean body weights of centrifuge rats did not change, whereas age-matched controls grew 21%. There was a sparing of muscle protein in the centrifuge rats; the absolute weights of predominantly slow muscles in the hindlimb were maintained and the relative weights (expressed relative to body weight and as a percent difference from control) of almost all muscles studied were larger than control. In contrast, spaceflight resulted in a decrease in the relative weights of most extensor, but not flexor, hindlimb muscles studied. Relative organ weights, in general, were elevated in centrifuge rats compared with control rats. Relative organ weights in flight rats were similar to control, except for a decrease in testes weight. Plasma thyroxine and testosterone levels were significantly reduced following flight, whereas only thyroxine was decreased after centrifugation. Centrifugation resulted in a decrease in most other plasma chemistry measurements, whereas flight rats showed no change or an elevation in these measures. Discussion: These data indicate that the physiological responses to micro- and hypergravity are often in the opposite direction, suggesting that in general there is a continuum of physiological and morphological effects from microgravity to 1G to hypergravity. These data further suggest that the imposition of hypergravity conditions on animals that are in a microgravity environment may have a beneficial effect in maintaining some physiological systems at or near control levels.
Credit rating accuracy and incentives

Credit agencies rate the quality of risky debt issued by firms, who themselves pay fortheseratings.Thispaymentstructurecreatesanincentiveproblemwithrespect to rating accuracy. This paper constructs an equilibrium model for studying the efficiency of this payment scheme and its accuracy. We show that this payment scheme increases welfare for the firm’s shareholders but generates inaccurate ratings that accentuate the credit risk business cycle. As the number of rated debt issues grows, however, the payment scheme inefficiency goes to zero and the ratings inaccuracy disappears.
Normal Kidney Function and Structure

The kidneys are paired retroperitoneal organs that filter blood and maintain the ionic composition of the extracellular fluid. The kidneys are composed of modular units called nephrons, which contain a filtration apparatus (glomerulus) and a complex tubular system to reabsorb water and solutes and secrete waste products. The macroscopic and microscopic anatomy of the nephron plays a vital role in its function. Various components of the nephron are the target of genetic, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. In addition to its filtration functions, the kidney plays an important role in the maintenance of blood pressure, calcium homeostasis, and the production of hormones such as erythropoietin and active vitamin D.
Frameworks of Alcohol Addiction: Alcohol Addiction as a Reward Deficit and Stress Surfeit Disorder

Alcoholism has been hypothesized to be composed of multiple stages that feed into each other in a three-stage cycle: binge/intoxication , withdrawal/negative affect , and preoccupation/anticipation . Alcoholism can be defined as a compulsion to seek and take alcohol, loss of control in limiting intake, and the emergence of a negative emotional state when access to alcohol is prevented. Alcoholism impacts multiple motivational mechanisms and can be conceptualized as a disorder that includes a progression from positive reinforcement to negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is defined as drug taking that alleviates a negative emotional state. Acute withdrawal from chronic alcohol sufficient to produce dependence increases reward thresholds, increases anxiety-like responses, and drives both hypothalamic-pituitary and extrahypothalamic stress response. The negative emotional state that drives such negative reinforcement is hypothesized to derive from the dysregulation of specific neurochemical elements involved in reward and stress within basal forebrain structures that involve the ventral striatum ( binge/intoxication stage), extended amygdala ( withdrawal/negative affect stage), and prefrontal cortex ( preoccupation/anticipation stage), respectively. Specific neurochemical dysregulations in these structures include decreases in reward neurotransmission, such as decreased dopamine and opioid peptide function in the ventral striatum. There is also recruitment of brain stress systems, such as corticotrophin-releasing factor and dynorphin, and possibly the frontal cortex. A brain stress-response system is hypothesized to be activated by acute excessive drug intake, to be sensitized during repeated withdrawal, to persist into protracted abstinence, and to contribute to the compulsivity of alcoholism. The combination of the loss of reward function and recruitment of brain stress systems provides a powerful neurocircuitry basis for negative emotional states that are responsible for the negative reinforcement that drives, at least partially, the compulsivity of alcoholism.
Evolutionary Graph Theory

Evolutionary graph theory (EGT), studies the ability of a mutant gene to overtake a finite structured population. In this chapter, we describe the original framework for EGT and the major work that has followed it. Here, we will study the calculation of the “fixation probability”—the probability of a mutant taking over a population and focuses on game-theoretic applications. We look at varying topics such as alternate evolutionary dynamics, time to fixation, special topological cases, and game theoretic results.
How Do Elementary Preservice Teachers Form Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Geometry Learning? Implications for Teacher Preparation Programs

Normal.dotm 0 0 1 232 1328 Kelly 11 2 1630 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false In my personal interactions with elementary preservice teachers (EPSTs) at a large Midwestern university in United States, many EPSTs held negative beliefs and attitudes about geometry learning. Although finding ways to help EPSTs change their negative beliefs and attitudes is an important issue, it can be best addressed by first investigating how they are formed. This study sought to document how EPSTs’ beliefs about and attitudes toward geometry were formed prior to and during a mathematics and pedagogy course at a large Midwestern university in United States. McLeod’s (1989) theoretical framework of influencing one’s beliefs and attitudes toward specific action events, and objects --- Representation, Discrepancy, and Metacognition --- was used to analyze data from two interviews with each of four EPSTs. The results of the analysis confirmed McLeod’s framework but also identified a fourth factor, understanding, as playing an important role in affecting EPST’s beliefs about and attitudes toward geometry. If in fact we can understand how EPSTs beliefs about and attitudes toward learning geometry are formed, we will be able to find out ways to help EPSTs change negative orientations, which can have positive implications for designing mathematics and pedagogy courses for EPSTs that will better prepare them to be effective mathematics teachers. Keywords : Beliefs, Attitudes, Geometry, Elementary Preservice Teachers.
Inter-team contests with power differential☆

Abstract We investigate the impact of asymmetry on behavior in inter-team contests. In asymmetric environments, one team has a greater probability of winning given the same contribution level (unfair contests) or has a lower cost of contributing (uneven contests). We explore how such asymmetries impact behavior, asking how being advantaged or disadvantaged influences contributions. We find both advantaged and disadvantaged teams contribute much more than theory predicts, but in such a way that ex-post winning probabilities of the contests are consistent with theoretical predictions. At the individual level, contributions are predicted by beliefs about own team and opponent team contributions. The determinants of contribution by members of the disadvantaged team differ depending on the nature of asymmetry. Contributions by the disadvantaged team members are responsive to beliefs about contribution by opponents in unfair contests while in uneven contests they are responsive to beliefs about the contribution by teammates.
The relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number and stallion sperm function.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number has been utilized as a measure of sperm quality in several species including mice, dogs, and humans, and has been suggested as a potential biomarker of fertility in stallion sperm. The results of the present study extend this recent discovery using sperm samples from American Quarter Horse stallions of varying age. By determining copy number of three mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b (CYTB), NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1) and NADH dehydrogenase 4 (ND4), instead of a single gene, we demonstrate an improved understanding of mtDNA fate in stallion sperm mitochondria following spermatogenesis. Sperm samples from 37 stallions ranging from 3 to 24 years old were collected at four breeding ranches in north and central Texas during the 2015 breeding season. Samples were analyzed for sperm motion characteristics, nuclear DNA denaturability and mtDNA copy number. Mitochondrial DNA content in individual sperm was determined by real-time qPCR and normalized with a single copy nuclear gene, Beta actin. Exploratory correlation analysis revealed that total motility was negatively correlated with CYTB copy number and sperm chromatin structure. Stallion age did not have a significant effect on copy number for any of the genes. Copy number differences existed between the three genes with CYTB having the greatest number of copies (20.6 ± 1.2 copies, range: 6.0 to 41.1) followed by ND4 (15.5 ± 0.8 copies, range: 6.7 to 27.8) and finally ND1 (12.0 ± 1.0 copies, range: 0.4 to 26.6) (P < 0.05). Varying copy number across mitochondrial genes is likely to be a result of mtDNA fragmentation and degradation since downregulation of sperm mtDNA occurs during spermatogenesis and may be important for normal sperm function. Beta regression analysis suggested that for every unit increase in mtDNA copy number of CYTB, there was a 4% decrease in the odds of sperm movement (P = 0.001). Influential analysis suggested that results are robust and not highly influenced by data from individual stallions despite the low number of stallions sampled with low sperm motility. Further genome sequencing is necessary to investigate if mutations or deletions are the underlying causes of inconsistent copy numbers across mitochondrial genes. In conclusion, we show, for the first time, that increased mtDNA copy number is associated with decreased total sperm motility in stallions. We therefore suggest that mtDNA copy number may be an indicator of defective spermatogenesis in stallions.
Benign, High-Risk, and Premalignant Lesions of the Breast

Abstract This chapter presents a histopathologic classification of the wide variety of noncancerous lesions identified in the human female breast, stratified into categories that predict breast cancer risk in broad terms. The magnitude of risk in these various groups is based on the following assumption: any change that does not indicate an increased risk of subsequent breast cancer greater than 50% above that for women controlled for similar age and length of time at follow-up is assigned no elevation of risk. Many of these lesions are not associated with cellular proliferation and are designated as nonproliferative. Nonproliferative lesions may result in biopsy or present clinical symptoms without an association of increased risk. Other lesions that maintain an association with subsequent breast cancer risk are defined as proliferative lesions.
Medulloblastoma: Role of MYCN Gene Amplification Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Real Time Quantitative PCR Methods

Gene amplification is a mechanism that can activate cellular oncogenes to express abnormal levels of protein. The MYCN (v-myc myelocytomatosis viral-related oncogene) gene was the first amplified oncogene that was demonstrated to have a clinical significance in neuroblastoma. Moreover, it has also been reported in medulloblastoma, a malignant and invasive embryonal tumor of the central nervous system. In recent years, the improvement of cytomolecular techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR), has supplemented the classical cytogenetic analysis for diagnosis and prognosis of medulloblastoma. FISH has advanced the detection of gene amplification revealing episomes, not visible at the karyotype level and it has represented a powerful tool for investigating gene amplification on archival material. RQ-PCR analysis has been used for detecting MYCN copy number alterations and refining the breakpoints of the amplicon containing MYCN at higher resolution. Thus, these techniques investigating the MYCN amplification, have helped to identify a trend towards poorer outcomes in patients and, in combination with histo-pathological assessment, in the next future hopefully will assist a refined classifi­cation of medulloblastoma.
Negligible impacts of biomass removal on Douglas-fir growth 29 years after outplanting in the northern Rocky Mountains

Abstract To investigate the long-term impacts of biomass harvesting on site productivity, we remeasured trees in the 1974 Forest Residues Utilization Research and Development Program at Coram Experimental Forest in western Montana. Three levels (high, medium, and low) of biomass removal intensity combined with broadcast burning treatment were assigned after clearcut in western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) stands in 1974. From 1976 to 79, twenty five 2 + 0 bare root seedlings of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were consecutively planted in rows. In 2013, tree height, dbh (diameter at breast height), foliar N and C concentrations were measured. From cross-sectional sapwood area, growth efficiency (the ratio of 5-year-basal area increment to total leaf area) was calculated. Previous measurements from 1980, 1987, 1992, and 2001 were used for dbh and height growth analyses. At this site, none of the response variables were affected by biomass removal level. Only seedling planting year contributed significantly to affect tree mean height, dbh, volume. Growth efficiency was not affected by any treatment. These results indicate no apparent effect of biomass removal on site productivity for the range of biomass harvest levels performed.
Divalent Cations, Electrostatic Potentials, Bilayer Membranes

“How many? How tightly? Where? Why?” these were the questions posed by Scatchard (1949) in his elegant study of the adsorption of ions to proteins. These succinct questions also define what we wish to know about the adsorption of divalent cations to phospholipid bilayer membranes. The first two questions, which relate to the stoichiometry of the binding and the magnitude of the binding constants, will be addressed in this chapter. The third question, which relates to the exact location of the bound divalent cations in the phospholipid head group, requires a molecular approach such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and will be addressed in the following chapter. The fourth question, which relates to the physiological relevance of the adsorption of divalent cations to the bilayer component of biological membranes, cannot yet be completely answered. We shall, however, consider two phenomena: (1) the effect of divalent cations on the electrostatic potential at the surface of a nerve membrane and (2) the effect of the adsorption of calcium to intracellular membranes on the diffusion coefficient of this ion.
Multilevel Methods for Eigenspace Computations in Structural Dynamics

Modal analysis of three-dimensional structures frequently involves finite element discretizations with millions of unknowns and requires computing hundreds or thousands of eigenpairs. In this presentation we review methods based on domain decomposition for such eigenspace computations in structural dynamics. We distinguish approaches that solve the eigenproblem algebraically (with minimal connections to the underlying partial differential equation) from approaches that tightly couple the eigensolver with the partial differential equation.
A treatment algorithm for couples with unexplained infertility based on sperm chromatin assessment

To design a reproductive treatment algorithm based on the sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) for couples with unexplained infertility following a poor intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcome. Couples that failed IUI with no apparent reproductive issue in both partners were allocated to diverse reproductive treatments on the basis of SDF. Reproductive medical center in an academic setting. Over 4 years, couples with an unexpected poor IUI outcome and no apparent female or male partner reproductive issues were recruited. IUI, IVF, and ICSI were performed in the standard fashion following sperm SDF assays. Fertilization rate, implantation rate, pregnancy characteristics, and delivery rates. A total of 354 couples with unexplained infertility and normal semen parameters underwent 1133 IUI cycles. Clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) with IUI at our center in an age-matched cohort is 23.9% while the study cohort had 1.8%. Following SDF assessment, couples with failed IUI attempts but normal SDF (SCSA 9.8 ± 4.6%; TUNEL 11.8 ± 6.2%) underwent IVF with a CPR of 12.7%; those with abnormal SDF underwent ICSI with ejaculated spermatozoa, resulting in a CPR of 18.7%. This group included couples with normal SDF that had failed IVF. Couples with abnormal SDF that failed ICSI with ejaculated spermatozoa achieved a CPR of 31.0% with surgically retrieved spermatozoa. Couples with unexplained infertility that present with unexpectedly poor IUI outcomes can be funneled into a treatment algorithm guided by the integrity of the sperm genome for higher chances of pregnancy using an alternate method of insemination.
On the mobility of defect clusters and their effect on microstructure evolution in fcc Ni under irradiation

Abstract µs-scale molecular dynamics studies of vacancy and interstitial clusters in fcc Ni revealed three- and one- dimensional (3-D and 1-D) modes of the cluster motion. The 1-D mobility of interstitial defects is known to enhance swelling rate. The theoretical analysis performed here suggests two novel mechanism by which the 3-D mobile clusters affect microstructure evolution under irradiation. First, the mobility of vacancy clusters hinders nucleation of stable voids due to recombination with interstitial-type loops and edge dislocations. Second, the capture efficiency of dislocations is higher for 3-D mobile vacancy and interstitial clusters than single defects, with the combined effect depending on relative fractions of clustered vacancies and interstitials produced in cascades. The observed differences in radiation damage of most fcc and bcc metals is attributed to the difference in cascade-produced vacancy defects: immobile SFTs and loops in fcc metals and mobile clusters in bcc metals. In this context, fcc Ni is similar to bcc metals due to its high stacking fault energy.
Presentation of Ocular Syphilis in a HIV-Positive Patient with False-Negative Serologic Screening.

Purpose. The ocular sequelae of syphilis are devastating and may cause blindness. The ambiguous nature of its ocular manifestations makes syphilis difficult to detect. Though uncommon, the rise of syphilis in the United States requires a renewed understanding of its ophthalmic presentation to prevent devastating outcomes. We present this case to raise awareness for the increasing prevalence of ocular syphilis and appropriate serologic testing. Observations. We describe a 65-year-old HIV-positive male with worsening retinitis, uveitis, and rapid visual loss. Initial lab results showed a nonreactive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) for syphilis. However, subsequent Treponema pallidum antibody testing was positive 48 hours after initial false-negative serologic screening. The patient had a rapid and successful recovery following treatment with penicillin. Conclusions and Importance. The incidence of syphilis is on the rise once again, and patients living with HIV are at increased risk. Ocular syphilis should be considered in susceptible populations in the clinical setting of retinitis, uveitis, and worsening visual loss with unknown cause. In addition, retesting for syphilis will decrease the prevalence of false-negative results, especially in patients with high clinical suspicion.
The BAF complex in development and disease

The ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complex BAF (= mammalian SWI/SNF complex) is crucial for the regulation of gene expression and differentiation. In the course of evolution from yeast to mammals, the BAF complex evolved an immense complexity with a high number of subunits encoded by gene families. In this way, tissue-specific BAF function and regulation of development begin with the combinatorial assembly of distinct BAF complexes such as esBAF, npBAF and nBAF. Furthermore, whole-genome sequencing reveals the tremendous role BAF complex mutations have in both neurodevelopmental disorders and human malignancies. Therefore, gaining a more elaborate insight into how BAF complex assembly influences its function and which role distinct subunits play, will hopefully give rise to a better understanding of disease pathogenesis and ultimately to new treatments for many human diseases.
“SPORTS ARE FUN”: A Guide for the Discussion of Sport-Related Films

Sport participation is an important part of the development of children and adolescents in the United States. Due to the popularity of sport-related films, coaches, athletic trainers, and parents have used these films to both educate and motivate pediatric athletes. The objective of this study was to develop a discussion guide template based on common positive and negative themes depicted in sport-related films, and demonstrate the application of this discussion guide template to a select number of sport-related films released from 2014 to 2018. A discussion guide template ("SPORTS ARE FUN") was developed by the co-investigators, reflecting common themes of "Sportsmanship, Participation for All, Obstacles, Relationships, Teamwork, Setting Realistic Goals, Academics, Responsibility, Exercise/Nutrition/Rest/Drugs/Performance Enhancing Drugs, Fun, Unrelenting Spirit, and "No Pain, No Gain." The authors hope that pediatric health care providers, athletic coaches/staff, and parents can utilize this discussion guide template in the education and development of children and adolescents who participate in sports.
Factors Affecting Health-Promoting Lifestyle Behaviors Among Arab American Women:

Introduction: An estimated 3.6 million Arab Americans live in the United States. Limited studies have addressed Arab American women's health needs. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between personal factors (sociodemographic factors, degree of acculturation, psychological stress), health self-efficacy, social support, and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among Arab American women in California. Method: A cross-sectional, correlational survey study involved 267 women. The survey assessed women's personal factors, health self-efficacy, social support, and health promotion behaviors. Results: Age, education, orientation to American culture, psychological stress, health self-efficacy, and social support were strongly correlated with health promotion behaviors and explained 46% of its variance among participants, F(18, 248) = 10.657, p = .000, R2 = .46. Discussion: Participants scored low on both the physical activity and stress management of the health promotion subscales. Culturally sensitive interventions are needed to improve engagement in health promotion behaviors among these women.
The Vector-Relaxation Method

This chapter discusses the vector-relaxation method. The vector-relaxation method applies a gradient search, steepest descent approach to multi-objective programming problems. It is particularly geared to problems with nonlinear objective functions that cannot be combined faithfully into a global scalar objective function and to problems where conversion of all but one objective into constraints is not an acceptable option. The vector-relaxation method extends the gradient search approach to problems with multiple objectives. Unlike the single objective case, where the gradient search produces a uniquely defined search direction, in the multi-objective case, there is a range of possible search directions even with the imposition of constraints. A single search direction is chosen by identifying that direction that maximizes the minimum improvement among all the objectives. Three alternative methods for deriving this maximin direction have been described. Two of the methods employ linear programming, while the other utilizes quadratic programming. Once the search direction has been determined, the optimal working step size is derived using one of the well-known single-dimensional, line-search methods.
Evaluation of the lower histologic threshold for gastric graft versus host disease

Data regarding the lower diagnostic threshold for gastric graft-versus-host disease is lacking. The aim of this study was to review a cohort of gastric biopsies taken to evaluate for graft-versus-host disease, and to correlate histologic findings with clinical and endoscopic evidence of graft-versus-host disease as well as biopsy findings from other locations to define a lower diagnostic threshold for gastric graft-versus-host disease. Gastric biopsies were evaluated for the maximum number of apoptotic bodies per 10 contiguous gastric pits, presence of ≥1 apoptotic body per biopsy (NIH criteria), and presence of gastric pit dropout and/or ulceration. To evaluate histologic specificity, sixty gastric biopsies from non-stem cell transplant patients were selected as a control group. Clinical information was collected from chart review. The study group consisted of 65 gastric biopsies from 52 stem cell transplant patients. The mean apoptotic count per 10 contiguous gastric pits for stem cell transplant biopsies was 1.8 (range 0–8) and for control cases 1.0 (range 0–5). Nineteen stem cell transplant biopsies (29%) had ≥1 apoptotic body per biopsy and only a single case had >6 apoptotic bodies per 10 contiguous gastric pits. When the NIH guidelines were combined with presence of at least two apoptotic bodies per 10 contiguous gastric pits, this cutoff point was significantly associated with treatment for graft-versus-host disease (OR = 9.4, 95% CI = 1.7–176.7, p = 0.04) and evidence of extraintestinal graft-versus-host disease (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.1–10.7, p = 0.04). The diagnostic specificity for our proposed cutoff value is 94%. We present criteria for the lower diagnostic threshold of gastric graft-versus-host disease, which uses a lower apoptotic cutoff value than has been utilized in colonic biopsies. Although sensitivity remains a challenge for gastric graft-versus-host disease biopsies, this newly proposed cutoff provides higher specificity than NIH guidelines alone and better correlates with clinical evidence of graft-versus-host disease.
"Beating the Bad Rap:" A Qualitative Study of Social Studies Educators Using Film.

The film-based practices of four social studies teachers were examined using a qualitative methodology. The research interviewed teachers twice over a 2-month period, collected handouts, and collec...
Transplantation of viral-positive hepatitis C-positive kidneys into uninfected recipients offers an opportunity to increase organ access.

The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has provided the impetus to transplant kidneys from hepatitis C virus-positive donors into uninfected recipients (D+/R-). Thirty D+/R- patients received DAA treatment. Sustained virologic response (SVR12) was defined as an undetectable viral load in 12 weeks after treatment. An age-matched cohort of uninfected donor and recipient pairs (D-/R-) transplanted during same time period was used for comparison. The median day of viral detection was postoperative day (POD) 2. The detection of viremia in D+/R- patients was 100%. The initial median viral load was 531 copies/μL (range: 10-1 × 108 copies/μL) with a median peak viral load of 3.4 × 105 copies/μL (range: 804-1.0 × 108 copies/μL). DAAs were initiated on median POD 9 (range: 5-41 days). All 30 patients had confirmed SVR12. During a median follow-up of 10 months, patient and graft survival was 100%, and acute rejection was 6.6% with no major adverse events related to DAA treatment. Delayed graft function was significantly decreased in D+/R- patients as compared to the age-matched cohort (27% vs 60%; P = .01). D+/R- transplantation offers patients an alternative strategy to increase access.
Abstract P250: The Impact of Recreational Cannabis Legalization on All-cause Hospitalizations and Acute Cardiovascular Event Hospitalizations in Colorado

Background: Cannabis may have adverse consequences for cardiovascular health. Colorado decriminalized cannabis on November 2012 and retail sales of cannabis began in January 2014. We examined wheth...
Optimal control of switchable ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) cushions for building façades

Abstract Switchable ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) cushions with kinetic shading mechanisms are increasingly being used in building enclosures to dynamically control the transmission of solar and visible light. While buildings with switchable ETFE facades typically utilize simple Rule-Based logic to control their operation, this study uses a novel co-simulation approach to optimize the operation of switchable ETFE facades on two hypothetical office buildings in Chicago, IL. Four seasonally representative simulation days are used to demonstrate the approach. The daily source energy savings potential of the Optimal Control schedule is up to 8.2%, 11.1%, and 25.5% compared to Rule-Based, Always-Dark, and Always-Bright control strategies, respectively.
#Metoo in practice: revisiting social media’s influence in individual willingness to mobilize against sexual assault

The topic of sexual violence has received significant attention in recent years through both the public and media agendas. This study replicates a 2014 study by Armstrong and Mahone using the backd...
The impact of cell-of-origin, MYC/Bcl-2 dual expression and MYC rearrangement on disease relapse among early stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients treated with combined modality therapy.

We addressed the prognostic impact of cell-of-origin (COO), MYC and Bcl-2 overexpression as well as isolated MYC rearrangement among 111 patients with limited stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (D...
Photovoltaic effect by vapor-printed polyselenophene

Abstract Polyselenophene (PSe) donor layers are successfully integrated into organic photovoltaic devices (OPV) for the first time. Thin, patterned films of this insoluble semiconductor were fabricated using a vacuum-based vapor-printing technique, oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) combined with in-situ shadow masking. The vapor-printed PSe exhibits a reduced optical bandgap of 1.76 eV and enhanced photo-responsivity in the red compared to its sulfur containing analog, polythiophene. These relative advantages are most likely explained by selenium’s enhanced electron-donating character compared to sulfur. The HOMO level of PSe was determined to be at −4.85 eV. The maximum power conversion efficiency achieved was 0.4% using a bilayer heterojunction device architecture with C 60 as the donor.
Messianic Religious Zionism Confronts Israeli Territorial Compromises

1. Zionist perceptions in the thought of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook and the roots of Gush Emunim 2. Gush Emunim and the Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement 3. The statist approach confronted with the Oslo Accords 4. 'Hearing a baby's cry': political reality and messianic retreat in the thought of Rabbi Yehuda Amital 5. Post-Zionism in the religious-Zionist camp: the 'Jewish leadership' movement 6. Fundamentalism in crisis: the response of messianic religious Zionism to the theological dilemmas raised by Israel's disengagement plan 7. The position of the messianic religious Zionist rabbis to political violence and incitement 8. The American fundamentalist response to 'land for peace' solutions.
Comunicación y salud mental de la pareja humana

En el intento de presentar un esquema de relacion sana, psicologicamente, en la vida de pareja, se pasa revista a los criterios utilizados tradicionalmente para la valoracion de la misma asi como a los factores internos y sociales que la condicionan. Se establecen como fundamentales para el ajuste de la pareja los valores aceptados y asumidos por ella de modo critico, y se detallan las dimensiones intervinientes, a juicio del autor, tanto a nivel individual (conciencia de la propia identidad, auto-estima, auto-realizacion y autonomia) como a nivel interrelacional (afectividad-cohesion, eficacia-adaptabilidad y comunicacion). Por ultimo se proponen siete pautas para una buena comunicacion.
High sensitivity piezoelectric sensors using flexible PZT thick-film for shock tube pressure testing

Abstract With excellent electromechanical performance and flexibility, piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thick-film fabricated by tape-casting processing has been considered as sensing element in pressure sensor design. The use of flexible PZT thick-film in sensors makes it possible to withstand relatively large deformation or install onto curved surfaces such as those in pipeline pressure sensing, human pulse or heart rate monitor. In this paper, the performance of PZT thick-film pressure sensors is investigated, unimorph structure of pressure sensor was designed and fabricated, and the relationship between generated voltage signals to applied pressures of the model has been analyzed theoretically. Blast wave pressure test was conducted using shock tube setup to test its sensing ability in response to air pressure loading. Different sized sensors were tested and showed nearly linear relationship to blast pressure in the experimental conditions. The voltage sensitivities of the sensor samples tested are several times higher than a commercial pressure sensor.
Baryon-number-induced Chern-Simons couplings of vector and axial-vector mesons in holographic QCD.

We show that holographic models of QCD predict the presence of a Chern-Simons coupling between vector and axial-vector mesons at finite baryon density. In the Anti de Sitter/Conformal Field Theory dictionary, the coefficient of this coupling is proportional to the baryon number density and is fixed uniquely in the five-dimensional holographic dual by anomalies in the flavor currents. For the lightest mesons, the coupling mixes transverse $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and ${a}_{1}$ polarization states. At sufficiently large baryon number densities, it produces an instability, which causes the $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and ${a}_{1}$ mesons to condense in a state breaking both rotational and translational invariance.
Adaptive cost efficient deployment strategy for homogeneous wireless camera sensors

Availability of low cost low power camera sensors is likely to make possible applications that may otherwise have been infeasible. In this paper we investigate a cost efficient camera sensor deployment strategy based on random deployment of homogeneous sensors to monitor and/or surveillance a region of interest. We assume that there are costs associated with the sensors as well as with the deployments and our goal is to minimize the total cost while satisfying the desired coverage requirement. We consider two cases which assume the sensing field is obstacle free or with obstacles, and we develop analytical methods to derive the expected coverage of a single sensor as well as the joint coverage for a given number of homogenous camera sensors. Following this we propose an adaptive sensor deployment strategy, which deploys different number of sensors in each iteration, based on our analytical method. We then evaluate the expected cost of our deployment strategy by deriving expressions for the number of deployments and the number of sensors deployed during each deployment as a function of the probability distributions of joint coverage by sensors. We carry out simulation studies to validate the analytical results. Simulation studies are also used to demonstrate that our deployment strategy leads to near optimal values of sensors and deployments and hence achieves the overall low cost.
Laboratory Batch Experiments and Geochemical Modelling of Water-rock-super Critical CO2 Reactions in Gulf of Mexico Miocene Rocks: Implications for Future CCS Projects

Abstract Storage of CO 2 in deep saline formations in a super critical liquid state has been proposed as a way to mitigate the effects of increased atmospheric CO 2 levels. The ultimate fate of the CO 2 after injection requires an understanding of mineral dissolution/precipitation reactions occurring between the target formation minerals and the existing formation brines at formation temperatures and pressures in the presence of supercritical CO2. In this experiment core material taken from a Miocene age Gulf of Mexico core from a depth of 2806 m was reacted with synthetic brine at varied but high temperatures and pressures in the presence of super critical CO2. XRD and SEM analyses were conducted before and after reaction to identify dissolution of existing minerals and precipitation of authigenic mineral phases. Periodic geochemical analysis of the reaction fluid was used to quantify changes in the elemental composition of the reaction fluid which helps identify potential mineral dissolution/precipitation reactions. Reaction brine (140 ml) was loaded into a high pressure reaction vessel with 8 g of core sample. Experimental temperature was set to 70, 100 or 130 °C; pressure was set to 200 or 300 bar, and solution chemistry was changed from de-ionized (DI) water to a 1.88 M NaCl solution. After the introduction of CO 2 the Ca and alkalinity concentrations showed the largest increases, Ca concentrations increased ∼1000 ppm, suggesting carbonate dissolution was the dominant geochemical reaction. Final equilibrium Ca concentrations increased with decreasing reaction temperature because of greater CO 2 solubility. In addition, the reactions with the NaCl brine produced higher equilibrium Ca concentrations than the DI water experiment, likely due to the decrease in ion activity with higher ionic strength solutions. Pressure change from 200 to 300 bar did not significantly alter reaction rates. Unlike Ca, silicate dissolution reactions appear to be positively correlated with reaction temperature. Silicate dissolution rates are 2 orders of magnitude slower than carbonate dissolution rates. In this study, PHREEQC was used to simulate brine-rock-CO 2 interactions in batch experiments under high pressure and high temperature. Generally, the geochemical models reproduced concentration of Ca, Mg, K and Si seen in the water rock experiments suggesting that carbonate and K-feldspar dissolution are the dominant geochemical reactions. In addition, geochemical models show that dawsonite precipitates in higher salinity (higher Na+ concentration) experiments.
Paleoazolla, a new heterosporous fern from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina

Megaspore and microspore massulae of Paleoazolla patagonica gen. et sp. nov. are described from the Upper Cretaceous of La Colonia Formation, Chubut Province, Argentina. The new fern possesses megaspore complexes with three to four glochidiate floats attached directly to the megaspore; a columella-like structure appears to be absent. The megaspore wall consists of a two-layered exine that is smooth to irregularly perforate, a two-layered perine with a spongy, densely packed endoperine, and a loosely organized exoperine. Infrafilosum hairs cover the exoperine. Microspore massulae are irregular in size and shape and bear multibarbed glochidia that generally have anchor-shaped tips. A comparison with other azollaceous and salviniaceous genera, particularly Azolla, is provided, together with a discussion of some evolutionary trends within the family.
A Method for Systematic Workload Estimation (SWE)

Using the information available in the literature, a coding method has been developed which reduces the difficulties associated with the estimation of metabolic workloads. A person can be trained to use the system with minimum time and effort. The only equipment required are worksheets, watch and a clip board. Systematic Workload Estimation (SWE) can be applied to the activities with constant or changing paces. Its validity has been examined by coding and calculating the metabolic costs of numerous activities and comparing the results with the values given in published tables.
Double reimplantation technique to reconstruct arterial bifurcations with giant aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the double implantation technique, a variation of standard radial artery or saphenous vein bypass that can be used to reconstruct arterial bifurcations in the management of giant aneurysms with complex branch arteries. METHODS: This technique was applied in two patients with giant aneurysms. A 74-year-old woman presented with a ruptured thrombotic middle cerebral artery aneurysm, and a 24-year-old man presented with an enlarging infectious aneurysm of the distal anterior cerebral artery (ACA). RESULTS: In the first case, a saphenous vein graft was anastomosed end-to-end to the external carotid artery. The temporal M2 middle cerebral artery trunk was disconnected from the aneurysm and reimplanted onto the graft with an end-to-side anastomosis. The graft was anastomosed end-to-side to the frontal M2 middle cerebral artery trunk, and the aneurysm was trapped. Similarly, in the second case, a radial artery graft was connected to a proximal ACA branch (anterior internal frontal artery) and to the distal pericallosal artery, with reimplantation of the callosomarginal artery onto the graft. The aneurysm was occluded proximally with a clip. CONCLUSION: The combination of two arterial reimplantations onto a bypass graft connected to a proximal donor artery (3 anastomoses overall) reconstructs an arterial bifurcation and enables the exclusion of a giant aneurysm. Ischemia times are minimized by completing the proximal anastomosis first, successively reimplanting efferent arterial trunks distally, and restoring cerebral perfusion to reimplanted arteries while other anastomoses are performed. This technique may be indicated when critical efferent arteries require revascularization, conventional donor arteries are diminutive, the aneurysm has ruptured, or intraluminal thrombus requires debulking.