cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building disciplinary literacy: an analysis of history, science and math teachers' close reading strategies

This collective case study explores the strategies history, science and math teachers use to conduct close readings in their disciplines. Through qualitative analysis of forum posts and lesson plans submitted to a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed as professional development (PD), this study examines the strategies history, science and math teachers reported using to conduct close readings in their discipline, as well as how these teachers conduct close readings after receiving professional development on reading strategies for their disciplines. Ultimately, the research showed that while more teachers reported using disciplinary literacy strategies following the PD, they did not necessarily report using the strategies that, according to experts in their fields, are considered to be the most important for their discipline.
Assessing personality through objective behavioral sensing

Traditional personality assessment techniques often rely on subjective report obtained from questionnaires. This work complements traditional techniques by exploring objective measures of traits at the behavior level. We explored behavior features extracted from smartphone sensing data, and used selected features to predict the traits of the Five Factor Model. The specific dataset we explored was the StudentLife dataset. We found behavior features corresponding to each trait, and were able to predict the traits with varying degrees of accuracy. The best result of each trait are: Extraversion (91.2%), Agreeableness (67.6%), Conscientiousness (70.6%), Neuroticism (79.4%), Openness(73.5%). Our results suggest that behavioral measures extracted from smartphone sensing data has potential in the assessment of personality.
FoxO transcription factors modulate autophagy and proteoglycan 4 in cartilage homeostasis and osteoarthritis

Aging is a main risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA). FoxO transcription factors protect against cellular and organismal aging, and FoxO expression in cartilage is reduced with aging and in OA. To investigate the role of FoxO in cartilage, Col2Cre-FoxO1, 3, and 4 single knockout (KO) and triple KO mice (Col2Cre-TKO) were analyzed. Articular cartilage in Col2Cre-TKO and Col2Cre-FoxO1 KO mice was thicker than in control mice at 1 or 2 months of age. This was associated with increased proliferation of chondrocytes of Col2Cre-TKO mice in vivo and in vitro. OA-like changes developed in cartilage, synovium, and subchondral bone between 4 and 6 months of age in Col2Cre-TKO and Col2Cre-FoxO1 KO mice. Col2Cre-FoxO3 and FoxO4 KO mice showed no cartilage abnormalities until 18 months of age when Col2Cre-FoxO3 KO mice had more severe OA than control mice. Autophagy and antioxidant defense genes were reduced in Col2Cre-TKO mice. Deletion of FoxO1/3/4 in mature mice using Aggrecan(Acan)-CreERT2 (AcanCreERT-TKO) also led to spontaneous cartilage degradation and increased OA severity in a surgical model or treadmill running. The superficial zone of knee articular cartilage of Col2Cre-TKO and AcanCreERT-TKO mice exhibited reduced cell density and markedly decreased Prg4 In vitro, ectopic FoxO1 expression increased Prg4 and synergized with transforming growth factor-β stimulation. In OA chondrocytes, overexpression of FoxO1 reduced inflammatory mediators and cartilage-degrading enzymes, increased protective genes, and antagonized interleukin-1β effects. Our observations suggest that FoxO play a key role in postnatal cartilage development, maturation, and homeostasis and protect against OA-associated cartilage damage.
Predicting Future Elective Colon Resection for Diverticulitis Using Patterns of Health Care Utilization

Background: Recurrent diverticulitis is the most common reason for elective colon surgery and, although professional societies now recommend against early resection, its use continues to rise. Shared decision making decreases use of low-value surgery but identifying which patients are most likely to elect surgery has proven difficult. We hypothesized that Machine Learning algorithms using health care utilization (HCU) data can predict future clinical events including early resection for diverticulitis. Study Design: We developed models for predicting future surgery among patients with new diagnoses of diverticulitis (2009–2012) from the MarketScan® database. Claims data (diagnosis, procedural, and drug codes) were used to train three Machine Learning algorithms to predict surgery occurring between 52 and 104 weeks following diagnosis. Results: Of 82,231 patients with incident diverticulitis (age 51 ± 8 years, 52% female), 1.2% went on to elective colon resection. Using maximal training data (152 consecutive weeks of claims), the Gradient Boosting Machine model predicted elective surgery with an area under the curve (AUC) of 75% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 71–79%). Models trained on less data resulted in less accurate prediction (AUC: 68% [64–74%] using 128 weeks, 57% [53–63%] using 104 weeks). The majority of resections (85%) were identified as low-value. Conclusion: By applying Machine Learning to HCU data from the time around a diagnosis of diverticulitis, we predicted elective surgery weeks to months in advance, with moderate accuracy. Identifying patients who are most likely to elect surgery for diverticulitis provides an opportunity for effective shared decision making initiatives aimed at reducing the use of costly low-value care.
Urban Renewal Through Granularized Utility Generation

The Sewoon Sangga is a 3,280-foot building that has undergone continuous programmatic transformations since 1966. Having experienced phases of utopia and dystopia, the building has reached the limi...
Development and applications of NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) in low fields and zero field

This dissertation is about nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in the absence of applied magnetic fields. NMR is usually done in large magnetic fields, often as large as can be practically attained. The motivation for going the opposite way, toward zero field, is that for certain types of materials, particularly powdered or polycrystalline solids, the NMR spectra in zero field are easier to interpret than those obtained in high field. 92 refs., 60 figs., 1 tab.
Learning About Cognitive Activities

Reasoning about cognitive activities and epistemic states is important for both social interaction and academic tasks. Developmental changes in children’s understanding of cognition have been documented from early childhood through adolescence, including concepts of attention, memory, inference, and the stream of consciousness, and reasoning about the nature of knowledge and truth. The goals of this book are to trace developmental changes in those concepts and to identify experiences that inform children’s concepts of cognitive activities. This chapter outlines a model integrating (a) children’s conceptual knowledge of mental functioning, (b) children’s phenomenological awareness of their own cognitive activities, and (c) children’s social experience. According to the proposed model, the development of knowledge of cognitive activities is driven by combinations of these three types of information about mental functioning.
PIEZOELECTRIC SINGLE CRYSTAL SILICON CARBIDE MICROELECTROMECHANICAL RESONATORS

A resonator has a resonator body and a frame at least partially surrounding the resonator body, the resonator body being coupled to the frame by at least one tether. The resonator body, frame and at least one tether comprise silicon carbide. A plurality of interdigitated electrodes are disposed on the silicon carbide resonator body. The resonator body preferably comprises 6H silicon carbide and preferably has a crystalline c-axis oriented generally parallel to a thickness direction of the resonator body.
Expanding Your Team

In this chapter, we will focus on when it is time to grow, including developing your role as a mentor, growing your research team, and developing collaborations across research groups. The early activities of developing and organizing your research team were covered in chapter “ Your Team: Mentors, Staff, Colleagues, and Mentees.” That included seeking mentors, developing a research team, cultivating relationships with colleagues, and leveraging your early experiences as a mentor to others. All of these groups (your mentors, your team, your colleagues) form the innermost circle of your SEM. Chapter “ Expanding Your Team” therefore represents the next step-up. These activities are typically more common at the mid-career level, after you have achieved the early hurdles of career development programs and grants and have a good grasp of your area of research and skill set. Unfortunately, this is often a time when you have less available resources for guidance and information about these important milestones of expansion. So, stay strong! You still can rock your science when it is not just YOU!
Regulating Interfacial Na-Ion Flux via ArtificialLayers with Fast Ionic Conductivity for Stable and High-Rate Na MetalBatteries

Metallic Na electrodes are promising anodes for low-cost and high-energy density batteries due to their natural abundance and high specific capacity. Unfortunately, they are extremely reactive and ...
Women are More Likely to be Physically Frail Compared with Men in Heart Failure

Introduction Physical frailty is highly prevalent in heart failure (HF); however, little is known about the role of age, gender, ejection fraction phenotype (HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) vs. HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)), and HF etiology (ischemic vs. non-ischemic) in explaining physical frailty in HF. Hypothesis There is a higher prevalence of physical frailty in adults with HF who are ≥ 65 years, are women, have HFpEF, and have non-ischemic HF etiology. Methods This was an analysis of data collected from a study of adults with HF. Physical frailty was measured with the Frailty Phenotype Criteria: unintentional weight loss, weakness, slowness, physical exhaustion, and low physical activity. Physical frailty was determined by the number of criteria met; those who met 0-2 criteria were not physically frail, and those who met 3-5 were considered physically frail. Comparative statistics were used to compare prevalence of physical frailty between adults ≥ 65 years vs. Results The average age of the sample (n = 65) was 62.0±16.6 years, and 35.3% were female. A majority (84.6%) had HFrEF, and most (76.9%) had non-ischemic etiology. Physical frailty was identified in 43% of the sample. Adults ≥ 65 years were more likely to be physically frail than those Conclusions In HF, women have higher rates of physical frailty compared with men, irrespective of age, ejection fraction phenotype, and etiology, indicating that women with HF may be at increased risk for poor outcomes related to physical frailty.
Side chain virtual screening of matched molecular pairs: a PDB-wide and ChEMBL-wide analysis

Optimization in medicinal chemistry often involves designing replacements for a section of a molecule which aim to retain potency while improving other properties of the compound. In this study, we perform a retrospective analysis using a number of computational methods to identify active side chains amongst a pool of random decoy side chains, mimicking a similar procedure that might be undertaken in a real medicinal chemistry project. We constructed a dataset derived from public ChEMBL and PDB data by identifying all ChEMBL assays where at least one of the compounds tested has also been co-crystallized in the PDB. Additionally, we required that there be at least ten active compounds tested in the same ChEMBL assay that are matched molecular pairs to the crystallized ligand. Using the compiled dataset consisting of sets of compounds from 402 assays, we have tested a number of methods for scoring side chains including Spark, a bioisostere replacement tool from Cresset, molecular docking using Glide from Schrodinger, docking with Smina, as well as other methods. In this work, we present a comparison of the performance of these methods in discriminating active side chains from decoys as well as recommendations for circumstances when different methods should be used.
A Microbial Relationship Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Depressive Symptoms.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with depressive symptoms, but this relationship is poorly understood. Emerging research suggests that gut microbes are associated with symptoms in perso...
Piezo1 channels mediate trabecular meshwork mechanotransduction and promote aqueous fluid outflow

Key points Trabecular meshwork (TM) is a highly mechanosensitive tissue in the eye that regulates intraocular pressure through the control of aqueous humour drainage. Its dysfunction underlies the progression of glaucoma but neither the mechanisms through which TM cells sense pressure nor their role in aqueous humour outflow are understood at the molecular level. We identified the Piezo1 channel as a key TM transducer of tensile stretch, shear flow and pressure. Its activation resulted in intracellular signals that altered organization of the cytoskeleton and cell-extracellular matrix contacts and modulated the trabecular component of aqueous outflow whereas another channel, TRPV4, mediated a delayed mechanoresponse. This study helps elucidate basic mechanotransduction properties that may contribute to intraocular pressure regulation in the vertebrate eye. Abstract Chronic elevations in intraocular pressure (IOP) can cause blindness by compromising the function of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells in the anterior eye, but how these cells sense and transduce pressure stimuli is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate functional expression of two mechanically activated channels in human TM cells. Pressure-induced cell stretch evoked a rapid increase in transmembrane current that was inhibited by antagonists of the mechanogated channel Piezo1, Ruthenium Red and GsMTx4, and attenuated in Piezo1-deficient cells. The majority of TM cells exhibited a delayed stretch-activated current that was mediated independently of Piezo1 by TRPV4 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 4) channels. Piezo1 functions as the principal TM transducer of physiological levels of shear stress, with both shear and the Piezo1 agonist Yoda1 increasing the number of focal cell-matrix contacts. Analysis of TM-dependent fluid drainage from the anterior eye showed significant inhibition by GsMTx4. Collectively, these results suggest that TM mechanosensitivity utilizes kinetically, regulatory and functionally distinct pressure transducers to inform the cells about force-sensing contexts. Piezo1-dependent control of shear flow sensing, calcium homeostasis, cytoskeletal dynamics and pressure-dependent outflow suggests potential for a novel therapeutic target in treating glaucoma.
Shaping the Transient Response of Nonlinear Systems to Satisfy a Class of Integral Constraints.

We consider the problem of shaping the transient step response of nonlinear systems to satisfy a class of integral constraints. Such constraints are inherent in hybrid energy systems consisting of energy sources and storage elements. While typical transient specifications aim to minimize overshoot, this problem is unique in that it requires the presence of an appreciable overshoot to satisfy the foregoing constraints. The problem was previously studied in the context of stable linear systems. A combined integral and feedforward control, that requires minimal knowledge of the plant model, was shown to make the system amenable to meeting such constraints. This paper extends that work to nonlinear systems and proves the effectiveness of the same compensation structure under added conditions. Broadly, it is shown that the integral constraint is satisfied when this compensation structure is applied to nonlinear systems with stable open-loop step response and a positive DC gain. However, stability of the resulting closed-loop system mandates bounds on the controller gain.
Environmental and Spatial Factors Affecting Surface Water Quality in a Himalayan Watershed, Central Nepal

Abstract Various spatial interrelationships among sampling stations are not well explored in the spatial modeling of water quality literature. This research explores the relationship between water quality and various social, demographic, and topographic factors in an urbanizing watershed of Nepal with a comparison of different connectivity matrices to conceptualize spatial interrelationships. We collected electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen data from surface water bodies using a handheld probe and used the data to establish relationships with land use, topography, and population density-based explanatory variables at both watershed and 100-m buffer scales. The linear regression model was compared with different eigenvector-based spatial filtering models. These spatial filtering models were constructed using five different spatial conceptualizations based on different graph types generated from the geographic coordinates of the sampling sites. Population density, elevation, and percentage of sand in the watershed and riparian regions are most important in explaining dissolved oxygen concentration and electric conductivity. A human signature as population density and increased sand and gravel cover can be detected in this watershed impacting water quality. Among different graph types compared, the relative graph type provided the highest model strength signifying a stronger upstream-downstream relationship of dissolved oxygen, while k-nearest graph types with four neighbors provided the strongest model performance, indicating the impact of local factors on electrical conductivity. The relationships between socio-environmental factors and water quality and their spatial interrelationships identified in this work shed light on the source, mobilization, and transport of dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity and can assist the water quality management endeavor.
Cross-Classified Random Effects Modeling for Moderated Item Calibration:

In the research reported here, we propose a new method for scale alignment and test scoring in the context of supporting students with disabilities. In educational assessment, students from these s...
A Review of Two Key Provisions of the Taxpayer First Act

The Taxpayer First Act (TFA), signed into law on July 1, 2019, established the new IRS Independent Office of Appeals. While most of the new provisions simply formalized current Appeals practice and procedure, the TFA specifically codified, in the new IRC section 7803(e), the right to an IRS appeal when a taxpayer has received a statutory notice of deficiency, (commonly referred to as the 90-day letter). In addition, the TFA also provides “specified taxpayers” are entitled to the non-privileged portions of their files, no later than 10 days before their scheduled Appeals conference. Though this discussion primarily focuses on those two provisions, it also covers other aspects of the TFA — notably, the prohibition on ex parte communications and the IRS’s plans to issue guidance on implementing the new provisions.
Interfacial fracture energy of a single cantilevered beam specimen using the J-integral method

Sandwich composites are widely used in the aerospace industry due to their high stiffness and strength-to-weight ratios. However, debonding between the core and facesheets in sandwich panels can occur at relatively low out-of-plane loads due to low interlaminar properties. Increasing interlaminar properties is achievable by using through-the-thickness stitching. Current test standards to estimate the fracture energy of composite materials assume small-scale yielding near the crack front and do not consider large plastic zone sizes due to large-scale bridging. Therefore, this study explores the use of the J-integral approach to better approximate the mode I dominant interfacial fracture energy in a stitched sandwich composite specimen that develops large-scale bridging. A single cantilevered beam test is performed to estimate the nonlinear and linear elastic fracture energies experimentally. Additionally, finite element analysis is used to verify the analytical predictions at crack initiation. Results indicate that a J-integral approach is a promising method to estimate the fracture energy of stitched sandwich composites.
An Exploratory, Qualitative Study of How Organizations Implement the Hierarchy of Controls Applied to Total Worker Health®

Understanding of how Total Worker Health® (TWH) guidelines are implemented in employment organizations in the USA is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to explore how the principles of the Hierarchy of Controls Applied to NIOSH Total Worker Health (TWH HoC), have been implemented among organizations featured as Promising Practices for TWH between 2012–2019, with special focus on the work-related issues of fatigue, stress, sedentary work, and tobacco control. We also sought to identify benefits, obstacles, and lessons learned in the implementation of the TWH HoC. Eighteen organizations were identified to be included in the study. Using a qualitative cross-sectional design and purposive sampling, seven in-depth interviews were conducted with thirteen key informants. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to guide the thematic analysis and interpretation of qualitative data. Four themes identified include recognition of the TWH approach and TWH HoC, implementation of the TWH HoC, barriers and facilitators in addressing specific work-related issues, and implementation climate primes benefits, obstacles, and lessons learned. The inner setting (i.e., culture, implementation climate, readiness for implementation) of organizations was a prominent determinant of the implementation of integrated worker safety, health, and well-being interventions.
Analysis of Dual Shock-Wave, Electric Pulsing Strategy for Electromanipulation of Biomembrane Nanopores

Electric pulse driven membrane poration finds applications in the fields of biomedical engineering and drug/gene delivery. Shock waves are known to permeabilize cell membranes as well. Here we focus on the synergistic effects of both inputs in concert based on molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show that shockwaves could be used for pretreating cell membranes in the electroporation process. The dual strategy would either reduce the external voltage requirements (leading to more compact external circuitry) or help create larger pores. Furthermore, shockwaves could form pores at any desired membrane site location, and suitable combinations of nanojets and electric pulses would help control the aspect ratio and size as desired.
Conflict and Psychological Development: Women in the Family

Almost all family therapists have developed a concept that suggests that the family is “stuck” in one way or another. Most of their ideas revolve around the inability of families to move beyond a “pathological homeostasis,”1 to disrupt a family myth,2 to overcome a repetitive “double-bind” communication system,3 to break out of a “pseudomutuality,”4 to relinquish the recycling of ”shared fantasies and projective identifications,”5 and the like.
SU-E-T-106: An Institutional Review of Using Commercially Available Software to Evaluate Treatment Plan Quality for Various Treatment Sites and Beam Deliveries

Purpose: Use Sun Nuclear Quality Reports™ with PlanIQ™ to evaluate different treatment delivery techniques for various treatment sites. Methods: Fifteen random patients with different treatment sites were evaluated. These include the Head/Neck, prostate, pelvis, lung, esophagus, axilla, bladder and abdomen. Initially, these sites were planned on the Pinnacle 3 V9.6 treatment planning system and utilized nine 6MV step-n-shoot IMRT fields. The RT plan, dose and structure sets were sent to Quality Reports™ where a DVH was recreated and the plans were compared to a unique Plan Algorithm for each treatment site. Each algorithm has its own plan quality metrics and objectives, which include the PTV coverage, PTV maximum dose, the prescription dose outside the target, doses to the critical structures, and the global maximum dose and its location. Each plan was scored base on meeting each objective. Plans may have been reoptimized and reevaluated with Quality Reports™ based on the initial score. PlanIQ™ was used to evaluate if any objective not met was achievable or difficult to obtain. A second plan using VMAT delivery was created for each patient and scored with Quality Reports™. Results: There were a wide range of scores for the different treatment sites with some scoring better for IMRT plans and some better for the VMAT deliveries. The variation in the scores could be attributed to the treatment site, location, and shape of the target. Most deliveries were chosen for the VMAT due to the short treatment times and quick patient throughput with acceptable plan scores. Conclusion: The tools are provided for both physician and dosimetrist to objectively evaluate the use of VMAT delivery versus the step-n-shoot IMRT delivery for various sites. PlanIQ validates if objectives can be met. For the physicist, a concise pass/fail report is created for plan evaluation.
Matters of Consequence

Leopold's land ethic provides hopeful perspectives of having multiple management tools, interdisciplinary guidance, and community, which can all be utilized in marine fisheries management.
A High Performance Message-Passing System for Network of Workstations

With the proliferation of Network of Workstations (NOW) environment, there has been a great demand for a high performance message-passing system to implement High Performance Distributed Computing (HPDC) applications over NOW environment. NYNET (ATM wide area network testbed in New York state) Communication System (NCS) is a multithreaded message-passing system developed at Syracuse University that provides low-latency and high-throughput communication services over the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) based HPDC environment. NCS provides High Performmance Application Communication Interface (HPI) to support applications that demand high-throughput and low-latency communication services. This paper outlines the general architecture of NCS and presents the implementation approach of NCS HPI over an ATM network. This interface has been developed by modifying Fore Systems‘ ATM Application Programming Interface (API) and its device driver. NCS HPI uses read/writetrap routines to bypass traditional operating system calls and kernel-level communication interface (e.g. UNIX System V Streams). It reduces latency, data transfer time, and avoid using traditional communication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP). This substantially improves the communication performance.
The influence of mare numbers, ejaculation frequency and month on the fertility of Thoroughbred stallions.

Summary Reason for performing the study: Although considerable variation in per cycle pregnancy rates exists between Thoroughbred (TB) stallions, there is little information on factors that may influence this figure. Objective: To assess the influence of month, mare numbers and mating frequency on the fertility of TB stallions standing on studfarms in East Anglia, England. Methods: The daily breeding records of 31 TB stallions mating 3034 mares on 4851 occasions during the 2010 season were surveyed and related to first scan pregnancy rates. The influences of mare book size, month, number of matings per day and mating frequency or abstinence on per mating pregnancy rates were analysed. Results: The overall per mating pregnancy rate for all the stallions was 59.6%, but for individual stallions the figures ranged from 19.0% to 80.1%. The first mating occurred on 9 February and the last on 24 July and the per mating pregnancy rate per month was significantly reduced in June and July. The number of mares mated by individual stallions ranged from 15 to 161, giving a mean overall workload of 160 matings per 100 mares. The per mating pregnancy rate was not related to book size, the number of matings in the season or the mating frequency per day. However, some stallions showed differences in per mating pregnancy rate related to month or the number of ejaculations in the preceding 3 days. Conclusions: The majority of TB stallions are able to maintain good fertility despite large books of mares. However, 5 of the 31 stallions surveyed showed a per mating pregnancy rate of ≤50%. Potential relevance: This survey has identified wide differences between the per mating pregnancy rate in TB stallions. Identification of the factors involved through more comprehensive surveys would provide useful information for mare and stallion owners.
Transgenic Technology in the Study of Oncogenes and Tumour-Suppressor Genes

Genetic manipulation of the mouse via transgenic or knockout techniques has revolutionized the study of genes that cause cancer. The development of this technology has allowed investigators to examine the biological activity of genes that are important for the formation of cancer. In this chapter, the basic experimental design for the use of genetic manipulation of the mouse for the study of oncogenes and tumour-suppressor genes will be discussed. Chromosome engineering techniques will be described. More recent strategies that allow investigators to have exquisite control over gene activation and inactivation have refined the use of mouse models to more accurately reflect and model human cancer. However, limitations to the use of mouse models still exist and will be discussed. Keywords: mouse models; knockout mice; conditional knockouts; transgenic techniques; conditional transgene activation; chromosome engineering
Discovery of the magnetic behavior of hemoglobin: A beginning of bioinorganic chemistry

Two articles published by Pauling and Coryell in PNAS nearly 80 years ago described in detail the magnetic properties of oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin, as well as those of closely related compounds containing hemes. Their measurements revealed a large difference in magnetism between oxygenated and deoxygenated forms of the protein and, along with consideration of the observed diamagnetism of the carbonmonoxy derivative, led to an electronic structural formulation of oxyhemoglobin. The key role of hemoglobin as the main oxygen carrier in mammalian blood had been established earlier, and its allosteric behavior had been described in the 1920s. The Pauling–Coryell articles on hemoglobin represent truly seminal contributions to the field of bioinorganic chemistry because they are the first to make connections between active site electronic structure and the function of a metalloprotein.
HOLMIUM: YAG LITHOTRIPSY: PHOTOTHERMAL MECHANISM CONVERTS URIC ACID CALCULI TO CYANIDE

AbstractPurpose: Holmium:YAG lithotripsy fragments stones through a photothermal mechanism. Uric acid when heated is known to be converted into cyanide. We test the hypothesis that holmium:YAG lithotripsy of uric acid calculi produces cyanide.Materials and Methods: Human calculi of known uric acid composition were irradiated with holmium:YAG energy in water. Stones received a total holmium:YAG energy of 0 (control), 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 or 1.25 kJ. The water in which lithotripsy was performed was analyzed for cyanide concentration. A graph was constructed to relate holmium:YAG energy to cyanide production.Results: Holmium:YAG lithotripsy of uric acid calculi in vitro produced cyanide consistently. Cyanide production correlated with total holmium:YAG energy (p <0.001).Conclusions: Holmium:YAG lithotripsy of uric acid calculi risks production of cyanide. This study raises significant safety issues.
Using Two-Stage Chemical Amplification To Determine the Density of Defects in Self-Assembled Monolayers of Alkanethiolates on Gold

This paper describes a technique to measure the surface density of the defects in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of hexadecanethiolates on gold that lead to etching of the gold when the system is etched with aqueous ferricyanide solution. This technique uses two steps of amplification through chemical reaction to convert pinhole defects in SAMs into easily imaged, micron-scale pits in an underlying Si support. With this technique, it is possible to evaluate the density of defects in SAMs and in the structures prepared by using SAMs as resists under conditions that may be encountered in lithographic processing. At present, the lowest density of pits that we have measured for SAMs of hexadecanethiolates on 50 nm thick gold is ∼5 pits/mm2. This density is an upper limit for the density of defects that expose bare gold to the etching solution or that comprise regions of SAM sufficiently thin that the SAM is not able to block access of the etchant to the gold.
Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst in a young child

Ciliated hepatic foregut cysts are a rare entity usually found in adults. We present a case of a 3-year-old boy incidentally noted to have a radiographically complex liver cyst on computed tomographic scan. Given the complex appearance, the cyst was excised. Pathology revealed a ciliated hepatic foregut cyst. This is the second child and youngest patient affected with this lesion reported in the literature. The etiology of the lesion and an argument for surgical removal in pediatric patients are presented.
Controlling emesis related to cancer therapy

Abstract Combinations of dopamine antagonists or high-dose metoclopramide with steroids can provide complete control of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in up to 60–70% of patients undergoing high-dose cisplatin-based chemotherapy. High-dose metoclopramide probably acts as a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, but because of its dopamine-receptor antagonism it is the cause of extrapyramidal side-effects. These compounds, and the agents used in combination with them, tend to cause sedation, an undesirable effect in the outpatient setting. Specific 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron) give a similar control of chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting, with minimum side-effects. These drugs can cause headaches and constipation and some have been related to transient liver enzyme abnormalities in cancer patients; however, disease and chemotherapy might also be the cause of the enzyme anomalies. Combinations of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists with steroids may provide a very high degree of protection.
Autism is a Portmanteau Syndrome

Editor:I whole-heartedly agree with Professor Belmonte and hiscolleagues that case studies are important, and that moreautism theory syntheses could be constructed.The key difference between my view of autism and thatof Belmonte et al. (2009) is that they believe there is oneshared neurofunctional deficit in autism. My researchconducted with others, and my review of the research andtheories of others has led me to conclude that brain deficitvariation in autism as currently diagnosed is too great toassume that one shared neurofunctional deficit will “befound to provide a unifying causal explanation for autism”(2008, p. 284). I am not alone in this view: Reiss (2009)asserted “it is unlikely that a single cause or pathophysio-logical mechanism will be described that applies to mostindividuals currently diagnosed with autism” (p. 91).Belmonte and colleagues, however, labeled my argumenta “defeatist fallacy”. But there is no defeat and no fallacy inviewing autism as an aggregation of many micro-subgroupsof neural deficits. Only if you believe, as Belmonte andcolleagues do, that there is one pan-autism neural informa-tion processing deficit, can you interpret the un-reconciledexisting variation in autism as defeating.Belmonte and colleagues deny that their generalizations inBonneh et al. (2008) constitute an ad hoc theory. However,A. M. is one individual with autism in whom a strongersense representation extinguishes a weaker one. Bonneh etal. (2008) proposed that A. M.’s abnormal processing:“could be common in autism” (p. 641); “may be a generalproperty of autism” (p. 648); is “a valuable window onto thevery large population of ‘low-functioning’ individuals withautism” (p. 636); and, “maybecommontomanypeoplewith low-functioning autism” (p. 650).Lakatos (1978) argued that generalization based on newdata constitutes an “ad hoc theory” if the generalizationfails to work for a synthesis with existing theories. In fact,Bonneh et al. (2008) argued against synthesis. Theyasserted that the hyper- and hyposensitivity theories were“unlikely to account for” (p. 647) A.M.’s abnormalprocessing, and that the monotropism theory positedmonochannel response under perceptual load, whereas A.M.’s monochannel perception occurred without “anyapparent perceptual load” (p. 648). Because Bonneh et al.proposed A.M.’s processing as a “general property ofautism”, but claimed A.M.’s processing was not consonantwith three existing theories, consequently their claimsconstitute an ad hoc theory.Belmonte and colleagues claim that I argued that autismis a set of single-variable relationships linearly aligned fromgenes and environment to behavior. However, nowhere inmy paper does this view appear. What I do believe is thatautism is a portmanteau syndrome, e.g., is a large carryallsyndrome in which can be found very many different genemutations and chromosomal copy number variants, verymany different neural deficits, and very many differentpatterns of behavioral expression (Waterhouse 2008). Aseven autism endophenotypes have multiple genetic sources(Waterhouse, in press), a reasonable assumption is that
The Effect of Social Isolation on Resistance to Some Infectious Diseases

Abstract IN PREVIOUS experiments (Gross and Siegel, 1965; and Gross and Colmano, 1967) it was shown that cockerels which were moved daily among unfamiliar individuals were much more resistant to Escherichia coli infection than cockerels kept in groups of 6 for 4 weeks prior to challenge. It was also shown (Gross and Colmano, 1967) that plasma corticosterone levels could identify highly resistant or highly susceptible birds. No effect of social stress on Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection was reported (Gross and Siegel, 1965). Roberts and McDaniel (1967) associated mycoplasmal bacteremia with fighting that occurred following the mixing of cockerels which had been raised separately until they were placed together at the time of inoculation. Brown (1968) reported that turkeys selected for low plasma corticosterone response to cold stress were more resistant to Mycoplasma meleagridis infection than birds selected for high plasma corticosterone response. The present report describes the effect of social interaction in…
Stem cell research: future implications for internal medicine.

Over the last 20-30 years, signifi cant advances have occurred in diagnose and treatment of human disease. Notwithstanding the progress in both the quality and effectiveness of overall medical treatment, the U.S. and Europe are faced with a growing threat to the national health care systems mainly because by 2030, the number of Americans and Europeans over 65 will double (1). This will create an increasingly large group at high risk for debilitating, life threatening and costlyto-treat diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis, and neurodegenerative disorders. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the Western world. In addition, cardiovascular disorders are associated with signifi cant morbidity which requires expensive surgical procedures and lengthy hospitalizations(2,3). It is estimated that 50% of adults between the ages of 55 and 64 years have
Reconsideration of criteria for the Fontan operation. Influence of pulmonary artery size on postoperative hemodynamics of the Fontan operation.

BACKGROUNDThe outcome of the Fontan operation largely depends on the selection of patients because this procedure is a physiological correction. Among the several selection criteria for the Fontan operation, the importance of adequate size of the pulmonary artery remains controversial. In this series, in order to clarify whether the pulmonary artery size is indispensable or not as one of the selection criteria for the Fontan operation, we considered the physiological meaning of pulmonary artery size and investigated how it influenced postoperative hemodynamics of the Fontan operation.METHODS AND RESULTSIn congenital heart disease of decreasing pulmonary blood flow, 40 patients were examined for this analysis. Pulmonary artery indexes (cross-sectional area of the right and left pulmonary arteries divided by body surface area) were measured as the expression of pulmonary artery size, and the relations of pulmonary artery index (PAI) to pulmonary vascular resistance (Rp) and compliance (Cp) were studied. The...
Alprazolam-ritonavir interaction: implications for product labeling

Background Pharmacokinetic interactions involving antiretroviral therapies may critically influence the efficacy and toxicity of these drugs, as well as pharmacologic treatments of coincident or complicating diseases. The viral protease inhibitor ritonavir is of particular concern since it both inhibits and induces the activity of cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) isoforms. Methods The inhibitory effect of ritonavir on the metabolism of alprazolam, a CYP3A-mediated reaction in humans, was tested in vitro using human liver microsomes. In a double-blind clinical study, volunteer subjects received 1.0 mg of alprazolam concurrent with low-dose ritonavir (four doses of 200 mg) or with placebo. Results Ritonavir was a potent in vitro inhibitor of alprazolam hydroxylation. The 50% inhibitory concentration was 0.11 μmol/L (0.08 μg/mL); this is below the usual therapeutic plasma concentration range (generally exceeding 2 μg/mL). In the clinical study, ritonavir reduced alprazolam clearance to 41% of control values (P < .001), prolonged elimination half-life (mean values, 30 versus 13 hours; P < .005), and magnified benzodiazepine agonist effects such as sedation and performance impairment. Conclusion Consistent with in vitro results, administration of low doses of ritonavir for a short duration of time resulted in large impairment of alprazolam clearance and enhancement of clinical effects. Removal from product labeling of a warning against coadministration of ritonavir and alprazolam was based on a previous study only of extended exposure to ritonavir, in which CYP3A induction offset inhibition. Kinetic interactions involving antiretroviral therapies may be complex and time dependent. Product labeling should reflect this complexity. (Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000;67:335-41.) Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2000) 67, 335–341; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2000.105757
Detection of radar signal in noise using optimum time-frequency receiver

An optimal time-frequency receiver based on wavelet transforms is presented in this paper. To characterize the transient in time-varying radar signals, a more generalized representation which can reflect both the time and the frequency behavior of signals is desirable. The joint time-frequency representation provides a way to localize information in both the time and the frequency domain, simultaneously. We use wavelets sampled in both the time and the frequency domain as an orthonormal basis to represent radar signals in the joint time- frequency domain. With the wavelet representation, the optimum time-frequency receiver can be derived. The joint time-frequency representation allows us to separate signals and interferences which may not be separatable by conventional time gating or frequency filtering. In this paper, we also describe some general issues on the detection of known signals, the detection of signals with unknown parameters and the wavelet based estimation of parameters.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Left ventricular lead proximity to an akinetic segment and impact on outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy.

CRT and LV Lead Proximity to an Akinetic Segment. Background: Previous studies report that the optimal pacing site for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is along the left ventricular (LV) lateral and postero-lateral (PL) wall. However, little is known regarding whether pacing over an akinetic site impacts the contractile response and long-term outcome from CRT. Methods and Results: A total of 38 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy were studied for their acute hemodynamic and 12-month clinical response to CRT. The intraindividual percentage change in dP/dt (%ΔdP/dt), over baseline, was derived from the mitral regurgitation (MR) Doppler profile with CRT on versus off. Two-dimensional echocardiography was used for myocardial segmentation and determinination of akinetic sites. LV lead implant site was determined using angiographic and radiographic data and categorized as being "on" (group 1) or "off" (group 2) an akinetic site. Long-term response was measured as a combined endpoint of hospitalization for heart failure and/or all cause mortality at 12 months. Time to primary endpoint was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinical characteristics and acute hemodynamic response was similar in both (group 1 [n = 14]; %AdP/dt 48.8 ± 67.4% vs group 2 [n = 24]; %ΔdP/dt 32.2 ± 40.1%, P = 0.92). No difference in long-term outcome was observed (P = 0.59). In contrast, lead placement in PL or mid-lateral (ML) positions was associated with a better acute hemodynamic response when compared to antero-lateral (AL) positions (PL, %ΔdP/dt 45.7 ± 50.7% and ML, %ΔdP/dt 45.1 ± 58.8% vs AL, %AdP/dt 2.9 ± 30.9%, respectively, P = 0.014). Conclusion: LV lead proximity to an akinetic segment does not impact acute hemodynamic or 12-month clinical response to CRT.
Recent advances in blazed grating fabrication by electron-beam lithography

ABSTRACT Convex and concave diffraction gratings are required for co ncentric imaging spectrometer forms. Direct-write electron-beam lithography has proven to be an effective method for fabricating high-efficiency blazed gratings on non-flat substrates. Recently fabricated convex gratings have demonstr ated relative efficiency greater than 90%, diffuse scatter and ghosts less than 5x10 -4 of the main diffraction order, and zeroth-order wavefront error less than ¼-wave at 633 nm. Such gratings can be fabricated on JPLs JEOL JBX-9300FS electron-beam lithography system with a writing speed of approximately 1 to 2 cm 2 per hour. The technique was recently used to fabricate flight-qualified gratings for the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) instrument that is scheduled to fly on the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2005. Keywords: electron-beam lithography, diffractio n gratings, imaging spectrometers 1. INTRODUCTION Concentric imaging spectrometer forms have become popular in recent years owing to their compact size and high-performance.
Unstable Motion of an Edge Dislocation in a Solute Atom Atmosphere Studied by Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulations

The discontinuous yielding of a model material, which contains an edge dislocation moving in the atmosphere of solute atoms, is studied by Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. The stress-strain curves for a constant strain rate were obtained at different temperatures. The dislocation moves discontinuously, producing three types of serrated yielding behavior at intermediate temperatures for different imposed strain rates. Positive dependence of flow stress on temperature and negative strain rate sensitivity were observed in the regime of discontinuous motion. The present model, though highly simplified and not taking into account the collective behaviors of dislocations in real materials, does exhibit some of the basic features observed in experiments.
Characterization of ovarian tissue using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

We characterized ovarian tissue by using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT). Phase retardation changing rate along with optical scattering coefficient and phase retardation were extracted from 33 ex vivo human ovaries from 18 patients. By using phase retardation changing rate as a classifier, we could achieve 71% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Combining those three parameters together, we could achieve 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. These initial results showed that the quantitative analysis of PS-OCT could be a useful tool to characterize normal and malignant ovarian tissue.