cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiresolution optimal interpolation and statistical analysis of TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimetry

A recently developed multiresolution estimation framework offers the possibility of highly efficient statistical analysis, interpolation, and smoothing of extremely large data sets in a multiscale fashion. This framework enjoys a number of advantages not shared by other statistically-based methods. In particular, the algorithms resulting from this framework have complexity that scales only linearly with problem size, yielding constant complexity load per grid point independent of problem size. Furthermore these algorithms directly provide interpolated estimates at multiple resolutions, accompanying error variance statistics of use in assessing resolutionlaccuracy tradeoffs and in detecting statistically significant anomalies, and maximum likelihood estimates of parameters such as spectral power law coefficients. Moreover, the efficiency of these algorithms is completely insensitive to irregularities in the sampling or spatial distribution of measurements and to heterogeneities in measurement errors or model parameters. For these reasons this approach has the potential of being an effective tool in a variety of remote sensing problems. In this paper, we demonstrate a realization of this potential by applying the multiresolution framework to a problem of considerable current interest-the interpolation and statistical analysis of ocean surface data from the TOPEXPOSEIDON altimeter
Design of the equiangular spiral antenna on a dielectric substrate

This paper extends the work with an accurate full-wave simulation to examine the effects of the dielectric on the spiral's impedance and upper frequency of operation. A finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model of the spiral was constructed and verified with impedance and gain measurements.
Chemical Analyses of Washed, Bleached, and Scoured and Bleached Cotton Fiber

The chemical compositions of four cottons from a 1982 washed cotton study (MQ- 111) conducted by the Industry/Government/Union Task Force for Byssinosis Pre vention were established by proximate and elemental analyses. The four cotton samples were an unwashed control grown in Mississippi and the corresponding washed, bleached, and scoured/bleached processed cottons. The proximate analyses consisted of serial solvent extractions that furnished data on moisture, water extractables, ethanol extractables, ethanolamine extractables, cellulose, and insoluble residue. Ash produc tion was also measured for the four cotton lint samples. Elemental analyses were performed by x-ray fluorescence for potassium, calcium, magnesium, silicon, phos phorus, and sulfur, and by Kjeldahl analysis for nitrogen. The analyses demonstrate that the water wash and the scouring procedure are responsible for substantially in creasing the purity of the cotton fiber. The level of water extractables was reduced by the water washing proce...
Predictors of Pregnancy in Female Veterans Receiving a Hormonal Contraceptive Pill, Patch, or Ring

Background: Pregnancy rates in veterans are an understudied phenomenon. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify predictors of pregnancy within 1 year of starting hormonal contraception among female veterans. Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort study of female veterans from Veterans Affairs facilities within Southern California and Nevada, who newly started hormonal contraception (pill, patch, or ring only) between October 2008 and September 2012. Pregnancy was defined as any event corresponding to a pregnant state using ICD-9 codes. Patients were followed for 1 year post-initiation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: The final analysis included a total of 2166 patients. Approximately 5.9% (n = 127) of patients became pregnant during follow-up. Increased odds of pregnancy were associated with the following: mental health disease (odds ratio [OR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-2.58), lowest socioeconomic quintile (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05-2.09), and C...
Alterations in cerebral endothelial cell function in ischemia.

Abstract As summarized in Fig. 2, nearly all aspects of brain microvascular endothelial cell function may be affected by ischemia. These alterations not only interfere with BBB functions which are critical for protection of the brain, but they may also lead to the production of substances that are directly toxic to the brain. Thus, the cerebrovascular endothelial cell appears to be both a target and participant in the processes that produce damage in ischemic brain.
'Purgatory Cannot Be Worse than Hell': How the Commitment and Treatment Program Violates the Due Process Rights of Civilly Committed Sex Offenders

This Comment is a constitutional inquiry of the Commitment and Treatment Program (CTP) in place at Butner Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina. Participation in the CTP is exclusively for sex offenders who have been civilly committed under the Adam Walsh Act. This Comment argues that the current application of the CTP is ineffective in providing meaningful treatment to civilly committed inmates. This Comment further argues that, under current legal precedent, the program’s failure to provide adequate treatment is a violation of due process under the United States Constitution.
Effect of Citrus Rust Mite Damage on Citrus Fruit Growth

Weight per fruit at harvest was negatively correlated with damage by Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead) for ‘Valencia’ and ‘Pineapple’ oranges and for ‘Duncan’ grapefruit. For all 3 varieties, soluble solids and % acid were positively correlated with citrus rust mite damage. The transverse diameters of Duncan grapefruit with the same initial diam and different amounts of citrus rust mite damage were found to diverge with time. Damaged fruit grew slower, and its final diam was less than that for undamaged fruit. The amount of rust mite damage (D) (% of surface), (t) (day of the year) and diam (d) (cm) of Duncan grapefruit were related by d = (24.5/(D−105.5) + 10.6)/(1 + exp(aD−bt)) where aD is given by aD= bto + In (kD/ko(1 + exp (ao−bto))−1). kD, the final diam (cm) of fruit with D% of the surface damaged is given by kD = 24.5/(D−105.5) + 10.6. to is the day of the year at which the damage occurred, and ao and b are constants to be determined from the growth of undamaged fruit.
Wrong site frenulectomy in a child: a serious safety event

Wrong site surgery is a serious safety event that can result in temporary or even permanent harm. Various safety checklists and procedures have been added to our standard work in the operating room, but errors still get through our safety nets and patients are harmed. In this case report, we describe a wrong site frenulectomy in a child and discuss the root cause analysis of this error and also SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timed) preventative actions that could be put into place to prevent a recurrence.
Using an Income Index to Forecast Sales of Service Wholesale Druggists

IN DEVISING a method of forecasting sales for service wholesale druggists one of the procedures adopted was to correlate each of a number of existing indexes of business activity with sales of various wholesalers in an attempt to discover definite positive or negative relationships. Various indexes were tried such as Bank Clearings, Income Payments, Industrial Production, Wholesale Prices, Employment, Dun's Regional Trade Barometers, Business Week Index of Income, and Payrolls.1 Quite satisfactory results were obtained with the Index of Income as published in the Survey of Current Business. Unfortunately, however, there was practically no time lag between changes of income and changes in sales of service wholesale druggists, so that the use of this Index as a forecasting device seemed impractical, since the published government figures appear some six weeks to two months late. The results obtained by
Perspiration Nano-Patch for Hot Spot Thermal Management

A novel cooling scheme utilizing evaporative cooling for an ultra-thin, spatially confined liquid film is described for meeting the challenge of hot spot thermal management aiming at locally removing heat fluxes in excess of 200 W/cm2 . This work presents the conceptual system design and results of performance calculations supporting the feasibility of the proposed cooling scheme. The phase change heat transfer is one of the most efficient means of heat transfer due to an advantage offered by the significant latent heat of vaporization of liquids. Fundamentally, evaporation could be a much more efficient method of heat removal as compared to boiling if certain conditions are met. Theoretically, we demonstrate that if a stable monolayer of liquid can be maintained on the surface and fully dry sweeping gas (e.g., air) is blown at high velocity above this liquid monolayer one can dissipate heat fluxes of the order of several hundreds of Watts per cm2 . We also show that a more volatile FC-72 can outperform water in evaporative cooling using stable liquid microfilms.© 2007 ASME
Who Fathered Containment?: A Discussion

In his article "Who Fathered Containment" (Powers, 1971), Professor Powers suggests that "Truman in 1945 was not adequately prepared to define [foreign policy] conditionis to his subordinates"; and that it was they, not he, who "formulated the then existing policies" (Powers, 1971: 529). He then goes on to discuss the importance of the cable from Moscow by George Kennan of February 1946, which provided the rationale for containment, and of Clark Clifford's memorandum to the President of the following September. As I understand it, Professor Powers wishes to demonstrate that there were really two containment doctrines, one fathered by Kennan, which was subtle, moderate, hopeful, and eschewed any excessive reliance upon military power for its implementation. The other containment doctrine was fathered by Clifford; it was confrontationist, harsh, pessimistic about avoiding war, and marked by an excessive reliance upon military power to achieve its objectives. But was this the actual case? Were Kennan and Clifford as far apart as Powers actually thinks? And were they the only, or even the principal, source of advice upon whom Truman relied for policy guidance? There was another group of advisers with whom the President had day-to-day contact and whose importance has been virtually ignored. Thes'e were the Ambassadors and State Department and Foreign Service officers whose
An Algorithm for the Management of Ureteral Calculi

We evaluated 158 patients with ureteral calculi (28 impacted in the ureteropelvic junction, 42 in the upper, 29 middle and 36 lower third of the ureter, and 23 in the intramural tunnel) treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy, ureteroscopic methods, chemolysis or surgery. Of the patients 92.5 per cent were treated successfully by endourological methods. Twelve patients (7.5 per cent) required an operation. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was successful in 61 per cent of the patients without placement of a ureteral stent and in 100 per cent in whom stent placement or stone dislodgement was successful. Ureteroscopic removal was successful in 52 of 56 patients with lower third and intravesical tunnel ureteral calculi. An algorithm for ureteral calculi management is developed, which emphasizes stent bypass and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper third or ureteropelvic junction calculi, ureteroscopic removal or stent bypass with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for middle third calculi, and ureteroscopic techniques for lower third and intramural tunnel calculi. Percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy, chemolysis and surgery are recommended as complementary methods.
Cardiac Pacemakers and Implantable Cardiovascular-Defibrillators

Patients requiring device implantation need lifelong care. However, with appropriate selection of the device and appropriate follow-up, lifestyle changes attributed to the device can be minimized. Exercise limitations, beyond those needed to protect the device and the overlying skin, are often not necessary beyond those due to the underlying cardiac status. As new technologies are developed that minimize battery drain and increase the time between invasive procedures, device longevity is nowreaching 7 to 10 years. Devices for which longevity data are available are obsolete. Electrode lead longevity, however, can more accurately be estimated. In our experience, electrode lead longevity is between 10 to 12 years for transvenous leads and 5 to 8 years for epicardial ones.
induction of sister-chromatid exchanges by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons following metabolic activation with phorbol ester-stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

We have previously observed that the interaction of an oxidant generated by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with (+-)-trans benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol (BP-7,8-diol) resulted in covalent binding to DNA and elicited bacterial mutagenesis (PNAS 82:5194, 1985). We now report that this interaction also induces sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in Chinese hamster V-79 cells. This genotoxic response required stimulation of the PMNs by phorbol ester as no effect was observed with unstimulated cells. Likewise, no intrinsic activity of BP-7,8-diol alone was noted. The addition of azide, CuDIPS, or taurine markedly inhibited the induction of SCEs by the combination of BP-7,8-diol and stimulated PMNs, further suggesting the involvement of myeloperoxidase in the activation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. The (-) isomer of BP-7,8-diol as well as 7,8-dihydro-BP were more active than (+)-BP-7,8-diol in inducing SCEs. By contrast, benzo[a]pyrene or derivatives lacking a double bond at the 9,10 position were not effective in inducing SCEs above the level seen with phorbol ester-stimulated PMNs. These observations serve to underscore the potential for myeloperoxidase-dependent activation of xenobiotics by PMNs to result in a localized genotoxic environment.
Outcomes of implantation of modified capsule tension rings with multiple black occluder paddles for eyes with congenital and acquired iris defects: Report 3.

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Morcher 50F iris diaphragm implantation to manage moderate to large defects of the human iris. Setting Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA. Design Prospective nonrandomized interventional case series. Methods The demographic, preoperative, and postoperative data of patients who had implantation of modified capsular tension rings and followed to 1 year were reviewed. Safety measures included loss of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), surgical complications, adverse events, and secondary surgical interventions. Efficacy measures included CDVA with glare, daytime and nighttime glare symptom scores, and subjective cosmesis scores. Results The study comprised 12 patients. The median CDVA was 20/70 before surgery and 20/20 after surgery. There were no lost lines of CDVA and no intraoperative complications. The most common postoperative complication was posterior capsule opacification. Two adverse events were unrelated to the device. Four patients had secondary surgical interventions, the most common of which was laser capsulotomy. The median CDVA with glare improved from less than 20/400 before surgery to 20/50 after surgery. One patient worsened. The median subjective daytime glare symptom score improved from 9 to 3 on a 10-point scale ( P = .001). The median nighttime subjective glare symptom score improved from 8 to 2 ( P = .001). The subjective cosmetic appearance of the eye stayed the same or improved for all patients ( P = .031). Conclusion Iris diaphragm implantation was relatively safe and effective for reducing light and glare sensitivity in eyes with iris defects when combined with cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Financial Disclosure None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
An asthma-associated IL4R variant exacerbates airway inflammation by promoting conversion of regulatory T cells to TH17-like cells

Mechanisms by which regulatory T (Treg) cells fail to control inflammation in asthma remain poorly understood. We show that a severe asthma-associated polymorphism in the gene encoding the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha chain (Il4ra(R576)) promotes conversion of induced Treg (iTreg) cells toward a T helper 17 (TH17) cell fate. This skewing is mediated by the recruitment by IL-4Rα(R576) of the growth-factor-receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) adaptor protein, which drives IL-17 expression by activating a pathway that involves extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, IL-6 and the transcription factor STAT3. Treg cell-specific deletion of genes that regulate TH17 cell differentiation, including Il6ra and RAR-related orphan receptor gamma (Rorc), but not of Il4 or Il13, prevented exacerbated airway inflammation in mice expressing Il4ra(R576) (hereafter referred to as Il4ra(R576) mice). Furthermore, treatment of Il4ra(R576) mice with a neutralizing IL-6-specific antibody prevented iTreg cell reprogramming into TH17-like cells and protected against severe airway inflammation. These findings identify a previously unknown mechanism for the development of mixed TH2-TH17 cell inflammation in genetically prone individuals and point to interventions that stabilize iTreg cells as potentially effective therapeutic strategies.
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) as Predictor of Severe Sepsis (SS) in Hospitalized Patients (pts) with Hematologic Malignancies.

Pts with hematologic malignancies (HM) are at high risk of developing SS and sepsis-related mortality. The diagnosis of sepsis requires suspicion of infection accompanied by at least two signs of systemic inflammation. The SIRS criteria were devised to improve the early bedside detection of sepsis and provide objective inclusion criteria for clinical research. Cut-point values based on consensus opinion are: HR >90, Temp > 100.4 or 20, and WBC >12k or <4k. SIRS is defined by the presence of ≥2 abnormalities. Although widely used, SIRS criteria have not been studied in pts with HM because factors such as immunosuppression and other disease characteristics result in clinical and laboratory changes which are thought to potentially invalidate the SIRS criteria. Since HM pts have been excluded from pivotal sepsis trials, clinicians must extrapolate data from other populations to make diagnostic and treatment decisions for HM patients with SS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the SIRS criteria as predictors of development of SS in pts with HM. Methods: The association between the SIRS and SS was evaluated in hospitalized adult pts (age 18–83) with HM in a prospective single-center, nested case-control study. The primary outcome was SS, defined as an infection resulting in cardiovascular or respiratory failure. Vital signs were performed every eight hours. Of the 547 pts who consented for the study, 54 developed SS (9.9% CI 7.7–12.7%). Using incidence density sampling, 211 controls were selected by matching on length of stay at time of SS. Evidence-based cut-points were then derived for the individual SIRS variables by examining risk estimates based on variable percentiles. Results: At hospital admission, HR, RR, BP, WBC, ANC, age, diagnosis, and transplant status were similar between the groups. In univariable analysis (24° prior to SS), significance of the four individual SIRS variables were: HR (p=.001), RR (p 20, OR 8.3, CI 2.8–24.4 p<.001), ROC area= 0.79 (24° prior to SS). Conclusions: This study is the first to evaluate and define the test characteristics of the SIRS criteria in hospitalized pts with HM. The rationale for excluding HM patients from SS clinical trials based on diagnostic concerns should be revisited when planning future SS studies. Fever, tachycardia and tachypnea seem most predictive in this population. These results suggest that cut-points for significant SIRS variables can be redefined to improve the specificity of the SIRS score. Additional markers for the early detection of SS may further improve upon SIRS in HM pts. | SIRS Score | Sensitivity % (95 CI) | Specificity | LR(+) | |:---------- | --------------------- | ----------- | ----- | | 1 | 98 (97–99) | 12 (8–18) | 1.1 | | 2 | 76 (71–81) | 60 (54–66) | 1.9 | | 3 | 39 (33–45) | 91 (88–94) | 4.3 | | 4 | 7 (4–11) | 99 (99–100) | 15.6 |
Abstract 806: Modeling human UV-induced skin cancer through genetic manipulation of Src-kinases and Srcasm

UV-induced skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and its incidence continues to increase. Novel in vivo models that mimic human UV-induced skin cancer are needed to further studies and evaluate new therapies. Keratinocyte growth is regulated through oncogenic signals from EGFR and Src-family tyrosine kinases (SFKs); these tyrosine kinases are primary drivers of keratinocyte growth in UV-induced skin cancer. At the proteomic level, activated EGFR and SFKs are negatively regulated by Srcasm which targets activated tyrosine kinases for lysosomal degradation. Studies have shown that SFK activity is increased and Srcasm levels are decreased in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and related precancerous lesions. We hypothesized that genetic downregulation of Srcasm by gene deletion or lentivirally mediated shRNA knockdown would promote oncogenic signaling and keratinocyte growth thereby promoting UV-induced skin cancer. To test this hypothesis Srcasm null mice and Srcasm lentiviral knockdown in human keratinocytes were generated and studied. Western blotting of epidermal lysates from Srcasm null mice demonstrates that loss of Srcasm promotes activation of EGFR and Src kinases and decreases levels of p53, NICD and p21. Activation of the canonical Erk1/2, STAT-3 and PDK-1 oncogenic pathways also was seen in Srcasm null keratinocytes. The epidermis of Srcasm null mice exhibits a higher Ki-67 index of 8.7 +/- 2.0 compared to 1.5 +/- 1.1 in controls (p 2 × 15 doses) produced precancerous lesions in Srcasm null mice resembling human actinic keratoses but not in controls; the precancerous lesions show an increased Ki-67 index and activation of Src kinases, STAT-3 and PDK-1. Acute UVB irradiation (1200 mJ/cm 2 × 1 dose) of Srcasm null mice induced prominent erythema, epidermal necrosis and a prominent increase in the TUNEL-positive index (14.0 vs 1.3). Srcasm knockdown in human keratinocytes accelerated keratinocyte growth 130%; it also increased levels of EGFR and accelerated the kinetics of EGFR and MAPK activation in response to EGF stimulation. In human keratinocytes, Srcasm knockdown accelerated cell growth post-UV exposure which could promote neoplasia. These data show that loss of Srcasm is associated with increased oncogenic signaling, impaired p53 function and keratinocyte proliferation. Loss of Srcasm promotes keratinocyte proliferation post-UV exposure leading to the early stages of UVB-induced cutaneous neoplasia. Citation Format: Xiaoping Yang, Sheila Shankar, Hiroshi Maeno, Micheal Gober, Christine Marshall, Tzvete Dentchev, John Seykora. Modeling human UV-induced skin cancer through genetic manipulation of Src-kinases and Srcasm. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 806. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-806
Chapter Seven - Recent Advances in the Development of P2Y12 Receptor Antagonists as Antiplatelet Agents

Abstract P2Y 12 receptor antagonists are now the primary mode of treatment for acute coronary syndromes and for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting. Antagonism of the receptor inhibits ADP-mediated platelet aggregation and results in a reduction in occlusive thrombotic events. Four FDA-approved agents are currently in use. Of these, clopidogrel has seen significant use in the clinic but suffers from inter-individual variation due to genetic differences in patient populations. Additionally, P2Y 12 antagonists have demonstrated bleeding risks in certain patient populations. A number of structural analogs have been synthesized in an attempt to circumvent this issue while maintaining strong antiplatelet activity. Improved pharmacokinetic properties as well as potent antiplatelet activity of several of these agents warranted further examination.
Large Granular Lymphocytosis Following Transplantation: Institutional Experience over a 10-Year Period at City of Hope.

Large Granular lymphocyte (LGL) expansion and LGL leukemia have been described in patients following both ablative and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and have been associated with viral infection and graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD). We describe here an analysis of 41 cases of clonal LGL expansion identified at our institution over a 10-year period. Of these, 18 occurred in patients post autologous HCT (autoHCT), 23 in patients post allogeneic HCT (alloHCT). In the same time period, an additional 23 diagnoses were made in patients who had never undergone HCT. LGL expansion appeared an average of 485 days (range 30 – 1935 d) from alloHCT. In most patients, this occurred as an isolated finding, while in 5 patients, the clonal expansion was detectable on serial evaluations over a period of months or years (75 – 1662 d). LGL expansion was detected an average of 133 days from auto HCT, and only one patient had detectable clonal expansion over a prolonged period of time (70d). AutoHCT patients ranged from 23 to 72 years, average age 48.5 years. AlloHCT patients ranged from 26 to 62 years, average age 47.8 years. Incidence of reactivation of CMV postHCT was 56.5% in the alloHCT and 11% in the autoHCT. Relapse rates were 39% in the alloHCT and 28% in the autoHCT groups. At a median follow-up of 1372 days, 14 alloHCT patients remain in remission, with 9 relapses, and 5 deaths. At a median follow-up of 887 days, autoHCT patients remain in remission, with 5 relapses, and 3 deaths. Deaths were primarily attributed to relapse of disease and infectious complications, while no deaths were attributable to LGL clonal expansion. No patients with LGL clonal expansion have required treatment specifically for this condition.
Effect of Metabolic Syndrome on the Mobility Benefit of a Structured Physical Activity Intervention—The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives To test whether structured physical activity (PA) is associated with a greater reduction in major mobility disability (MMD) in older persons with metabolic syndrome (MetS) than in those without. Design Data from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study, a multicenter randomized trial of 1,635 persons with assessments every 6 months (average 2.7 years). Setting Eight U.S. centers. Participants Sedentary men and women aged 70 to 89 with functional limitations (N = 1,535); 100 participants were excluded because of missing MetS data. Intervention Participants were randomized to a moderate-intensity PA program (n = 766) or a health education program (n = 769). Measurements MetS was defined according to the 2009 multiagency harmonized criteria. Outcomes included incident MMD (loss of ability to walk 400 m) and persistent MMD (two consecutive MMD diagnoses or one MMD diagnosis followed by death). Results Seven hundred sixty-three (49.7%) participants met criteria for MetS. PA reduced incident MMD more than health education did in participants with MetS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.57–0.91, P = .007) but not in those without MetS (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.73–1.25, P = .75); the test for statistical interaction was not significant (P = .13). PA reduced the risk of persistent MMD in participants with MetS (HR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.41–0.79, P < .001) but not in those without MetS (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.67–1.41, P = .87). The test for statistical interaction was significant (P = .04). Conclusion Moderate-intensity PA substantially reduces the risk of persistent MMD in older persons with functional limitations with MetS but not in those without MetS. Comparable results were observed for incident MMD. The LIFE PA program may be an effective strategy for reducing mobility disability in vulnerable older persons with MetS.
Resistance-area product and size dependence of spin-torque switching efficiency in CoFeB-MgO based magnetic tunnel junctions

Magnetic tunnel junctions have seen active development for spin-transfer-torque based magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM), a new technology attractive for low-power applications, especially when embedded in semiconductor logic processors. Such efforts open new frontiers for materials and device physics involving interface magnetic states and materials properties, such as an unexpected dependence of spin-torque switching efficiency on a tunnel junction's resistance-area product. This paper examines the observation and some possible causes. An experiment-based understanding will improve device performance for wider adaptation, while at the same time deepening the knowledge about magnetic excitations and materials physics.
Peak-End Effects for Subjective Mental Workload Ratings:

The present study examines the possible impact of the peak-end rule as it applies to the measurement of subjective workload. Researchers presented participants with the same three tasks presented i...
Hormonal modifications of plant citrate synthase in vitro

Abstract Citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7.) from roots of bean seedlings and mitochondria of cauliflower buds was purified 400-fold and had specific activity of 6 to 10. Such enzyme was stimulated by the plant hormone indoleacetic acid (IAA). Consistent with the accepted molecular size of the enzyme, it was eluted as a single peak off Sephadex G-200. Treatment with IAA increased the molecular size of the enzyme. It is demonstrated that while increasing its activity and modifying its size, the hormone binds with the enzyme.
Pulmonary Issues Related to Cardiac Rehabilitation

Chronic cardiac diseases and chronic pulmonary diseases coexist in many patients. In a review of the National Hospital Discharge Survey (1979-2001), 16% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients had coexistent hypertension, 15% had coexistent ischemic heart disease, and 10% had coexistent congestive heart failure (1). In the outpatient setting, the majority of the patients entering a pulmonary rehabilitation program were identified as having important cardiovascular issues such as hypertension (34%) and arrhythmias or coronary artery disease (27%) (2). The fact that these two categories of disease have so much overlap is important when considering these patients for rehabilitation programs. Indeed, although the principles of rehabilitation are similar for both types of patients, there are important differences in focus, assessment, monitoring, and rehabilitation methods that need to be understood. The remainder of this chapter will draw from the pulmonary rehabilitation evidence base to illustrate the mechanisms by which pulmonary disease can impact cardiac patients and to provide approaches to cardiac patients with pulmonary disease in terms of pulmonary assessment, rehabilitation strategies, and expected outcomes.
Deposition of bolus and continuously inhaled aerosols in rhythmically moving terminal alveoli

The particle dynamics in an oscillating alveolus under tidal breathing can be dramatically different from those in a static alveolus. Despite its close relevance to pulmonary drug delivery and heal...
Isotope-resolved atomic beam laser spectroscopy of natural uranium

We present our results on the development of a technique for conducting laser absorption spectroscopy of uranium in a collimated atomic beam using a compact and potentially fieldable device. A solid natural uranium metal sample is vaporized in a modest vacuum of several mTorr via resistive heating of a tantalum foil micro-crucible. A temperature of over 2000 °C is reached by applying only 200 W of electrical power to the crucible. At this temperature, the vapor pressure of uranium is large enough to generate a stable atomic beam. A diode laser is tuned around the 861.031 nm uranium transition, which allows the observation of absorption bands from both the 238U and 235U isotopes. The isotopic composition of uranium Standard Reference Material 960 is obtained from the absorption signal, in excellent agreement with the nominal value. Our approach can be readily applied to the isotopic analysis of other actinides, and it is expected to lead to the development of compact, fieldable instrumentation.
Joint screening of ultrahigh dimensional variables for family-based genetic studies.

Mixed models are a useful tool for evaluating the association between an outcome variable and genetic variables from a family-based genetic study, taking into account the kinship coefficients. When there are ultrahigh dimensional genetic variables (ie, p ≫ n), it is challenging to fit any mixed effect model. We propose a two-stage strategy, screening genetic variables in the first stage and then fitting the mixed effect model in the second stage to those variables that survive the screening. For the screening stage, we can use the sure independence screening (SIS) procedure, which fits the mixed effect model to one genetic variable at a time. Because the SIS procedure may fail to identify those marginally unimportant but jointly important genetic variables, we propose a joint screening (JS) procedure that screens all the genetic variables simultaneously. We evaluate the performance of the proposed JS procedure via a simulation study and an application to the GAW20 data. We perform the proposed JS procedure on the GAW20 representative simulated data set (n = 680 participant(s) and p = 463,995 CpG cytosine-phosphate-guanine [CpG] sites) and select the top d = ⌊n/ log(n)⌋ variables. Then we fit the mixed model using these top variables. Under significance level, 5%, 43 CpG sites are found to be significant. Some diagnostic analyses based on the residuals show the fitted mixed model is appropriate. Although the GAW20 data set is ultrahigh dimensional and family-based having within group variances, we were successful in performing subset selection using a two-step strategy that is computationally simple and easy to understand.
The Palgrave handbook of dark tourism studies

The concept ‘dark tourism’ has been controversial since it emerged in 1996 to describe travel to places that represent calamity, suffering, and death. Scholars have wondered whether the term is too...
Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future

585 Objectives: The degree to which a single metabolic pattern is present (pattern expression score, PES) has recently been evaluated as a powerful predictor of conversion to Alzheimer9s disease (AD) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We recently proposed controls-based denoising (CODE), a novel approach to improve PES-based image analysis by identifying patterns of physiological variance in a separate control sample using principal component analysis and removing them from patient data. Our aim was to improve prediction of conversion to AD from FDG-PET with CODE and to compare classification performances between various classification algorithms (including clinical features and machine learning based on multiple ROI). Methods: Multi-center FDG-PET from 110 patients with MCI (80 non-converters with follow-up > 4 years and 30 AD-converters with time to conversion < 4 years) were obtained from the ADNI-database. 243 healthy controls were used to determine the patterns of physiological variance. Classification performance was calculated for classification based on PES only and PES combined with neuropsychological and ApoE4 genotype (support-vector machine, cross-validated). Classification performance was compared between standard analysis (without CODE), improved analysis (using CODE) and a state-of-the-art machine learning approach (support vector machine) based on multiple ROIs. Results: With CODE, applied in its basic form (optimizations are possible), we were able to significantly improve the area under curve from 0.78 to 0.87 (p=0.03, DeLong’s method) and accuracy from 69% to 82% using PES only and from 83% to 88% when combining PES with clinical features. The state-of-the-art approach based on multiple ROIs yielded an accuracy of 74%. Conclusions: In our sample, we could significantly improve classification based on PES. When combined with CODE, classification based on PES was superior to a state-of-the-art machine learning algorithm based on multiple ROI data, presumably owing to the fact that including healthy controls in the analysis allowed us to use a much larger data set as compared to the limited number of MCI subjects available for training in machine learning. We conclude that the proposed method is a powerful tool to improve image analysis and offers a wide spectrum of biomedical applications, even beyond image analysis.
Diversity Issues and the Special Education Teaching Force: Advancing the Discussion:

This piece is a commentary on the papers included in the special issue on the racial/ethnic diversity of the special education teacher workforce.
Pain Stickiness in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A role for the Nucleus Accumbens

Abstract Some individuals with chronic pain experience improvement in their pain with treatment, whereas others do not. The neurobiological reason is unclear, but an understanding of brain structure and functional patterns may provide insights into pain’s responsivity to treatment. In this investigation, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to determine grey matter density alterations on resting functional connectivity (RFC) strengths between pain responders and nonresponders. Brain metrics of pediatric patients at admission to an intensive pain rehabilitative treatment program were evaluated. Pain responders reported significant pain improvement at discharge and/or follow-up whereas nonresponders reported no improvements, increases in pain, or emergence of new pain symptoms. The pain (responder/nonresponder) groups were compared with pain-free healthy controls to examine predictors of pain responder status via brain metrics. Our results show: (1) on admission, pain nonresponders had decreased grey matter density (GMD) within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and reduced RFC strength between the NAc and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex vs. responders; (2) Connectivity strength was positively correlated with change in pain intensity from admission to discharge; (3) Compared with pain-free controls, grey matter and RFC differences emerged only among pain nonresponders; and (4) Using a discriminative model, combining GMD and RFC strengths assessed at admission showed the highest prediction estimate (87%) on potential for pain improvement, warranting testing in a de novo sample. Taken together, these results support the idea that treatment responsiveness on pain is underpinned by concurrent brain structure and resting brain activity.
Microstructural Origins of Wave Modulus of Elasticity of Concrete

AbstractNondestructive ultrasound-based methods have been applied to evaluate the elastic properties of concrete materials. Although the wave modulus of elasticity of concrete frequently is reporte...
On the power of some sequential multiple testing procedures

We study an online multiple testing problem where the hypotheses arrive sequentially in a stream. The test statistics are independent and assumed to have the same distribution under their respective null hypotheses. We investigate two recently proposed procedures LORD and LOND, which are proved to control the FDR in an online manner. In some (static) model, we show that LORD is optimal in some asymptotic sense, in particular as powerful as the (static) Benjamini–Hochberg procedure to first asymptotic order. We also quantify the performance of LOND. Some numerical experiments complement our theory.
Data for: Early Mandated Social Distancing is a Strong Predictor of Reduction in Highest Number of New COVID-19 cases per Day within Various Geographic Regions

Mandated social distancing has been globally applied to limit the spread of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from highly pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) -associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The benefit of this community-based intervention in limiting COVID-19 has not been proven nor quantified. We examined the effect of timing of mandated social distancing on the rate of COVID-19 in 119 geographic regions derived from 41 states within United States and 78 countries. We found that highest number of new COVID-19 cases per day per million persons was significantly associated with total number of COVID-19 cases per million persons on the day before mandated social distancing (Beta;=0.66, p
13 – Vacuum Systems

Vacuum pumps, aspirator, manifold, vacuum stopcocks, pressure gauge, vacuum gauge, manometer, McLeod gauge, vacuum trap, liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, mercury spills.
Inter-Subject Analysis: A Partial Gaussian Graphical Model Approach

Different from traditional intra-subject analysis, the goal of inter-subject analysis (ISA) is to explore the dependency structure between different subjects with the intra-subject dependency as nu...
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

1. Sujatha Seetharaman, MD, MPH* 2. Errol L. Fields, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP* 1. *Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD * Abbreviations: AN: : anorexia nervosa ARFID: : avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder BN: : bulimia nervosa CBT: : cognitive behavior therapy DSM-5: : Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition FBT: : family-based therapy In 2013, revised guidelines were published on eating disorders with the introduction of a newly classified eating disorder diagnosis called “avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder” (ARFID) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Recognize the diagnostic criteria for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). 2. Distinguish how patients with ARFID lack fear of weight gain or body image disturbances that are evident in other eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa. 3. Recognize how ARFID is more often seen in males and younger patients compared with other eating disorders. 4. Recognize that ARFID is associated with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses such as anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder and developmental disorders such as autism. 5. Understand that patients with ARFID can have significant disordered eating, resulting in impaired growth, pubertal delay, and malnutrition that might require medical stabilization in a hospital. 6. Identify how ARFID management requires a multidisciplinary approach. We present three cases to introduce and exemplify the clinical characteristics of ARFID. ### Case 1: A 15-year-old Boy with Poor Appetite, Lack of Interest in Food A 15-year-old boy presents to an adolescent medicine eating disorder clinic after referral from his gastroenterologist for long-standing malnutrition and a BMI less than the 5th percentile for all of his life. He has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and learning disability. ### Case 2: A 9-year-old Girl with Restrictive Eating Due to Fear of Choking A 9-year-old girl presents to the eating disorder clinic with a history of restrictive eating due to a “fear of choking.” The parents and the child said that 4 months ago she had an episode of choking while eating ice cream. Since then, the child started to obsessively worry that she would choke if she ate any food. ### Case 3: A 12-year-old Boy with Restrictive Eating Related to Food Texture A 12-year-old boy …
At Play in the Cosmos

At Play in the Cosmos is a game for University-level Astronomy courses. Designed as a collaboration between the Games + Learning + Society Center, an academic center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Norton & Company, Cosmos is intended to support a “game-first” model of curriculum in which students play the game before engaging in other activities. Cosmos includes about 4 hours of game play and spans the entirety of course. It includes over 25 embedded simulations that are also used for homework, lectures, and demonstrations. The design process and resulting artifact was colored by institutional constraints, specifically a lengthy pre-production that demanded extensive documentation. The subsequent development process followed a relatively linear, waterfall process and resulted in linear game. Designers attempted to mediate this linearity through a crafting system that enabled players to explore the Universe and mine celestial bodies for resources. As a game intended to compete in the market, Cosmos included a relatively high production quality led by a team experienced in AAA development processes, and the chapter focuses on the development of art styles, interfaces, and fitting voice overs in on a constrained budget and timeline.
Secukinumab treatment and vaccination efficacy.

Dear Editor, Secukinumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin (IL)-17A, is used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The effect of this treatment on COVID-19 vaccination is not well characterized. While IL-17 deficiency states are associated with mucocutaneous infection with Candida albicans, there is no apparent increased risk of viral infection, and redundancy between IL-17A and IL-17F limits the impact of IL-17A deficiency on immune responsiveness.
Our Town on the Plains: J. J. Pennell's Photographs of Junction City, Kansas, 1893-1922

By the beginning of the twentieth century, photography had become accessible to average Americans as a means of documenting their lives. Although most people did not yet own cameras, they flocked to commercial photographers for affordable portraits that became the family heirlooms we gape at in wonder today. One of the most accomplished of these photographers was Joseph Judd Pennell of Junction City, Kansas. Pennell had one of the best equipped studios in the state and took thousands of photographs recording the public life of his town. People from all walks of life posed for his camera, and his images not only constitute one of America's great photography collections but also one of the richest visual documentations we have of this era. "Our Town on the Plains" reproduces more than one hundred of Pennell's best photographs. Taken from 1893 to 1922, these wonderfully crisp images depict life in Junction City and nearby Fort Riley: people posing with studio props or in front of their homes, group shots of schools and clubs, commissioned photographs of buildings and businesses, public events like parades and unveilings, and ordinary people at work on their farms and in their shops. These photographs suggest a world of solid civic and personal values, with Pennell's wide-angle lens lending a sense of spaciousness to everyday life. We see a baseball diamond from the late 1800s and a bar so typical of its day it was used in the opening credits of Cheers, images as inspiring as Teddy Roosevelt on the campaign trail or as nostalgic as storefront windows with groceries or corsets. They also depict a time of major transition in American life, as some people pose with their horse and buggy and others with their automobile. James Shortridge's text, interwoven with Pennell's images, takes readers on a stroll through Junction City in this golden age and points out many of the changes that were sweeping America. An introductory essay by art historian John Pultz reviews Pennell's career during the heyday of studio photography. Pennell's work is widely celebrated, having appeared in numerous books and PBS documentaries. "Our Town on the Plains" now preserves some of the best of those photographs in a volume through which we can visit our past and, in the process, discover ourselves.