cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concurrent performances: rate and accuracy of free-operant oddity responding

In pigeon's oddity performances, maintained by variable-interval reinforcement of pecks on the odd key of three keys in a triangular array, accuracy and response rate varied inversely with the rate of variable-interval reinforcement scheduled concurrently for pecks on a fourth, spatially isolated key. But when variable-interval and extinction components alternated in a multiple schedule for pecks on the spatially isolated key, oddity accuracy was greater during variable-interval components than during extinction components. Oddity response rate was not affected systematically by the alternating components. Changeovers between the oddity keys and the spatially isolated key were frequent during variable-interval components; responding occurred almost exclusively on the oddity keys during extinction components. This difference in performance during the two components was eliminated by arranging stimulus-correlated variable-interval reinforcement in the multiple schedule on the spatially isolated key: a stimulus was presented in the variable-interval components only when reinforcement became available, thereby reducing responding on this key to near-zero levels in both components while maintaining the variable-interval reinforcement. The effect of the multiple-schedule components on oddity accuracy was not altered, however, and thus apparently depended directly on concurrent reinforcement and not on differential sequential properties of concurrent responding during the two components.
Sterilization of conductive and nonconductive surfaces using atmospheric pressure dbd plasma

NASA spacecrafts are composed of a variety of conductive and non-conductive materials. For this reason, it is important to study sterilization efficacy of DBD plasma on varying substrates which are conductive, non-conductive, in wet conditions, and in dry conditions. In the experimental setup, “wet” bacteria designates that it is suspended in a 10 µl drop of water and when allowed to dry for 30 minutes, it is designated as “dry”. The bacteria chosen for these experiments are Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans. Initial results demonstrate an 8-log reduction in wet E. coli deposited on stainless steel after 30 seconds of plasma treatment; a 4-log reduction in dry E. coli deposited on a polyethylene substrate after 30 seconds of plasma treatment; and a 4-log reduction of wet D. radiodurans which was deposited on stainless steel after 15 seconds of plasma treatment. The results will allow NASA researchers to better design spacecraft for higher sterilization efficacy.
Safety and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Curcumin: A Component of Tumeric (Curcuma longa)

Introduction: Tumeric is a spice that comes from the root Curcuma longa, a member of the ginger family, Zingaberaceae. In Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine), tumeric has been used for its medicinal properties for various indications and through different routes of administration, including topically, orally, and by inhalation. Curcuminoids are components of tumeric, which include mainly curcumin (diferuloyl methane), demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcmin. Objectives: The goal of this systematic review of the literature was to summarize the literature on the safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin. Methods: A search of the computerized database MEDLINE™ (1966 to January 2002), a manual search of bibliographies of papers identified through MEDLINE, and an Internet search using multiple search engines for references on this topic was conducted. The PDR for Herbal Medicines, and four textbooks on herbal medicine and their bibliographies were also searched. Results: A large number of studies...
Chapter 7 – Neuromodulation: Deep brain stimulation, sensory neuroprostheses, and the neural–electrical interface

Although neuromodulation with implanted brain electrodes (deep brain stimulation, DBS) has been increasingly effective in treating many patients with movement disorders (e.g., advanced Parkinson's disease) over the past 20 years, the techniques have changed little for more than 50 years. After summarizing the current state of DBS, this chapter considers (1) the advances being offered by computational analysis techniques as well as (2) the benefits of monitoring and modulating brain chemical activity in addition to brain electrical activity. A review of the current state of sensory neuroprostheses follows, with consideration of emerging data on the optimal configuration of micron-sized retinal prostheses as well as on the optimal site for stimulation of cells in the retina. Very recent findings on nanotechniques to enhance charge transfer from prosthesis to cell (neuronal or glial), that is, enhancement of the neural-electrical interface, are then reviewed. The final section summarizes areas of potential cross-fertilization between those centers developing sensory neuroprostheses and those centers developing nanotechniques for DBS.
Concept Mapping: An "Instagram" of Students' Thinking.

ABSTRACTMinimal research has been accumulated in the field of social studies education for Novakian concept mapping, yet there are many benefits from adding this learning tool to a teacher's instructional toolbox. The article defines Novakian concept mapping and invites readers to adopt digital Novakian concept mapping into the social studies classroom as a means to build content knowledge, to understand what students are thinking about content, and to provide opportunities for students to make relevant and important connections within the body of knowledge defined as social studies. A concept map is like an Instagram of a student's thinking about a particular topic. Steps for teachers to teach students how to introduce and create a Novakian concept map are included in the manuscript along with sample focus questions and maps.
Effect of ornithosis on experimental fowl malaria.

Summary1) Ducklings infected with ornithosis 6 to 14 days before a challenge dose of P. lophurae malaria parasites exhibit a marked resistance to the challenge. 2) The resistance is associated with increase of the reticulo-endothelial elements in the enlarged liver and spleen due to the ornithosis infection.
Synergistic action of pneumococci and leukocytes in lowering cerebrospinal fluid glucose.

SummaryCerebrospinal fluid containing leukocytes was inoculated with a known quantity of pneumococci and incubated at 37°C. Under these conditions the fall in glucose was greater than when bacteria were incubated with cell-free CSF or when leukocytes were incubated in absence of bacteria. The data indicate that cells and bacteria act synergistically in producing the decrease in CSF sugar in bacterial meningitis.
Exploring the aldol reaction using catalytic antibodies and "on water" organocatalysts from QM/MM calculations.

The aldol reaction between benzaldehyde and acetone has been investigated using QM/MM Monte Carlo calculations and free-energy perturbation theory to determine the origin of the enhanced rates and enantioselectivities (% ee) derived from an enamine-based catalytic antibody 33F12 and a chiral organocatalyst. Electrostatic stabilization of the general acid/base TyrL36 by TrpH103, SerH100, and AsnL34 enabled the 33F12 active site to exclusively adopt an si-face benzaldehyde orientation for C–C bond formation with the LysH93-enamine. Whereas preorganization was responsible for the exclusive (S)-aldol product in the antibody, the organocatalyst featuring a chiral diphenyl amino alcohol moiety instead derived its preferred (R)-aldol product from an interplay between sterics and electronic stabilization. The si-face benzaldehyde conformation had unfavorable interactions with the organocatalyst in contrast to the re-face. Gas-phase calculations predicted a 73% ee; however, solution boosted the % ee values despite...
On the Stability of Large [4n]Annulenes

The stabilization energies (B3LYP/6-31G*) of planar [4n]annulenes, evaluated by a new indene-isoindene isomerization method (see Abstract graphic), reveal that all 4n π-electron rings larger than t...
Trans-Tech: Perspectives on the Development Process for New Microwave Dielectric and Magnetic Ceramics

Trans-Tech is a company, specializing in the manufacture of ceramic dielectric and magnetic components to support the wireless communication infrastructure business. The company has about 200 employees and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Skyworks Solutions Inc. Trans-Tech’s products are developed internally and this chapter focuses on the process of that development from using scientific concepts to invent the material and put it into production. Emphasis is placed on specific case studies for dielectric and magnetic materials, the necessity of designing and adapting to raw material price fluctuations and the importance parallel activities in intellectual property development.
Security Primitive Design with Nanoscale Devices: A Case Study with Resistive RAM

Inherent stochastic physical mechanisms in emerging nonvolatile memories (NVMs), such as resistive random-access-memory (RRAM), have recently been explored for hardware security applications. Unlike the conventional silicon Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) that are solely based on manufacturing process variation, RRAM has some intrinsic randomness in its physical mechanisms that can be utilized as entropy sources; for instance, resistance variation, random telegraph noise, and probabilistic switching behaviors. This paper reviews the challenges and opportunities in building security primitives with emerging devices. In particular, it presents research progress of RRAM-based hardware security primitives, including PUF and True Random Number Generator (TRNG).
Everybody, the historian, and the scientist.

L'histoire des sciences telles que la medecine et la pharmacie a pris sa propre direction, independamment des tendances de l'histoire generale. L'historien contribue ainsi a la connaissance de l'histoire de la pharmacie en apportant sa comprehension objective de la condition humaine
Implantable Devices Should Come With a Contract

Despite James's troubling refusal to accept the facts of his medical condition, we are told that he is competent (Pullman and Hodgkinson 2016). As a competent adult, he has the right to make his ow...
Coronararteriographie bei Idiopathischer Kardiomyopathie

Mit der zunehmenden Anwendung moderner Diagnoseverfahren wird eine immer grosere Gruppe von Patienten diagnostiziert, deren Herzerkrankung primar den Herzmuskel betrifft, und bei denen Coronarerkrankung, Hypertonie und Herzklappenfehler ausgeschlossen werden konnen. Krankheiten, die primar das Myokard betreffen, umfassen ein weites Gebiet, wie aus der Klassifikation von Perloff hervorgeht. Bei diesen verschiedenen Atiologien kann das Myokard entweder primar betroffen sein oder als Begleitbefund in den Krankheitsprozes verwickelt sein. Goodwin wies darauf hin, das eine atiologische Klassifikation dieser Art primare Kardiomyopathien schlecht unterscheidet und klassifizierte Kardiomyopathien nach anatomischen und funktionellen Gesichtspunkten.
The Voyage of Entrecasteaux: Part 7 Its Woeful End

During the ensuing weeks, as the two frigates passed through various island groups, the occasions for botanizing were no more. All attention became concentrated on the search for La Perouse. After exploring the reefs northwest of New Caledonia for four days, Entrecasteaux broke away on 13 May 1793 and set a course for Santa Cruz Island, also called Nendo Island, the largest in the Santa Cruz group.
Seven Deadly Sins of Manuscript Writing: Reflections of Two Experienced Reviewers

ABSTRACTAcceptance rates of quality journals in the sport management field are typically below 20%. We have identified seven problems that often prevent submitted manuscripts from being accepted: (1) Failure to derive research from theory and/or a failure to consider more than one potential theory to support the research. (2) No synthesis of existing, similar information already published within the sport field. (3) A lack of assessment of the validity of prior research. (4) Creation of new scales when existing scales work sufficiently well. (5) Limiting potential explanatory variance. (6) Not reporting the variance explained and/or a failure to discuss the meaningfulness of the results. (7) A lack of reporting viable alternative explanations when the data do not support the hypotheses or focal model. We discuss each of these issues and provide examples, both good and bad.
Crystallisation behaviour during tensile loading of laser treated Fe-Si-B metallic glass

Effect of tensile loading on crystallisation behaviour of as-cast and laser thermal treated Fe–Si–B metallic glass foils was investigated. Tensile loading lacked any marked influence on the crystallisation behaviour of as-cast and structurally relaxed laser-treated metallic glass foils. Furthermore, the average crystallite/grain size in partially crystallised laser-treated metallic glass foil was nearly equal to the average crystallite/grain size in the region away from the fracture of the same partially crystallised laser-treated metallic glass foil after tensile loading. However, a significant crystallite/grain growth/coarsening of the order of two and half times was observed in the fractured region compared to the region around it for the laser-treated partially crystallised metallic glass foils. The simultaneous effects of stress generation and temperature rise during tensile loading were considered to play a key role in crystallite/grain growth/coarsening.
Assessment of using ultrasound images as prior for diffuse optical tomography regularization matrix

Imaging of tissue with Ultrasound-guided diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a rising imaging technique to map hemoglobin concentrations within tissue for breast cancer detection and diagnosis. Near-infrared optical imaging received a lot of attention in research as a possible technique to be used for such purpose especially for breast tumors. Since DOT images contrast is closely related to oxygenation and deoxygenating of the hemoglobin, which is an important factor in differentiating malignant and benign tumors. One of the optical imaging modalities used is the diffused optical tomography (DOT); which probes deep scattering tissue (1-5cm) by NIR optical source-detector probe and detects NIR photons in the diffusive regime. The photons in the diffusive regime usually reach the detector without significant information about their source direction and the propagation path. Because of that, the optical reconstruction problem of the medium characteristics is ill-posed even with the tomography and Back-projection techniques. The accurate recovery of images requires an effective image reconstruction method. Here, we illustrate a method in which ultrasound images are encoded as prior for regularization of the inversion matrix. Results were evaluated using phantom experiments of low and high absorption contrasts. This method improves differentiation between the low and the high contrasts targets. Ultimately, this method could improve malignant and benign cases by increasing reconstructed absorption ratio of malignant to benign. Besides that, the phantom results show improvements in target shape as well as the spatial resolution of the DOT reconstructed images.
The 'HLA conundrum in bone marrow transplantation': Correct interpretation of anti-HLA antibodies in haploidentical donor selection

The 'HLA conundrum in bone marrow transplantation': correct interpretation of anti-HLA antibodies in haploidentical donor selection
A Modified Rank Ordered Logit model to analyze injury severity of occupants in multivehicle crashes

Abstract The current study developed a simultaneous model of injury severity outcomes of all occupants in multi-vehicle crashes including all the drivers and the passengers of all vehicles involved in a crash. Specifically, a Modified Rank Ordered Logit (MROL) methodology that can predict the relative order of occupant injury severity as well as the actual injury severity was developed. The final model captures the effects of several key occupant, vehicle, and accident level variables on four possible levels of injury severity. The results indicate the presence of accident-specific unobserved factors that influence the severity outcomes of all people involved in the crash as well as unobserved heterogeneity in the effect of key covariates including occupant’s gender and speed limit. The performance of the MROL model was compared with the traditional mixed multinomial logit (MMNL) model that is the most commonly used model for injury severity analysis. Overall, the results demonstrate superior predictive ability of the MROL model in comparison to the MMNL model. The traditional MMNL model performed satisfactory in terms of replicating the simple shares of different injury severity levels across all occupants. However, the performance of the MMNL model dropped significantly when the observed and predicted shares were compared for combinations of injury severity levels among crashes involving multiple occupants. Lastly, elasticity effects were computed to demonstrate considerably different policy implications of the MROL and MMNL models.
Line end shortening and iso-dense etch bias improvement by ALD spacer shrink process

Abstract Multiple patterning employing etch shrink extends the scaling of hardmask open CD (HCD) to sub-50nm regime. A plasma-assisted shrink technique is primarily used in the back-end-of-line (BEOL) however it faces major challenges such as the line end shortening (LES) and large critical dimension iso-dense bias (IDB). In order to mitigate these two problems we apply an atomic layer deposition (ALD) spacer shrink process at 10nm metal interconnect layer with sub-20nm minimum half-pitch. As a result we observed 8nm LES improvement in tip-to-tip (T2T) two-dimensional (2D) structures, and 5nm IDB reduction in one-dimensional (1D) structures. These improvements suggest that the ALD spacer shrink can contribute to more precise CD control in multiple patterning.
Output-Input Stability: A New Variant of the Minimum-Phase Property for Nonlinear Systems

Abstract This paper studies the notion of output-input stability, which is a variant of the minimum-phase property for general smooth nonlinear control systems. In the spirit of the "input-to-state stability" philosophy, the definition of the new concept requires the state and the input of the system to be bounded by a suitable function of the output and derivatives of the output, modulo a decaying term depending on initial conditions. The class of output-input stable systems includes all affine systems in global normal form whose internal dynamics are input-to-state stable and also all left-invertible linear systems whose transmission zeros have negative real parts. A characterization of output-input stability for SISO systems is given in terms of suitable relative degree and detectability concepts.
Optimal blood pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass defined by cerebral autoregulation monitoring.

Objectives We sought to define the lower and upper limits of cerebral blood flow autoregulation (LLA and ULA) and the optimal blood pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We further sought to identify variables predictive of these autoregulation end-points.
Facial muscle tissue engineering

The regeneration of facial muscles through tissue engineering (TE) requires a highly specific and intricate process to produce fully functional facial muscle tissue, which can be tailored to the needs of the patient in terms of the ability to restore the structure, support, and the functions of the original lost facial muscles. In this chapter, we present a summary of the studies where the utilization of biomaterials has favorably influenced muscle repair and regeneration. In addition, several biomaterials-based approaches aimed specifically at stimulating vascularization, innervation, and inducing contractility in regenerating muscle tissues are also discussed. Finally, we outline promising future trends in the field of skeletal muscle TE involving a deeper understanding of the endogenous healing cascades and utilization of this knowledge for the development of biomaterials, which support and enable muscle TE under compromised conditions.
Nursing a disaster

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the needs of nurses predisaster and postdisaster. Design/Methods: This study involved an exploratory mixed methods approach, with semistructured in-depth interviews followed by a 10-item survey of resilience. Setting: The study took place in the PI's office in Tuscaloosa, AL. Subjects: Ten English speaking nurses from an area hospital who were on duty during the April 2011 tornado. Participant recruitment involved distribution of flyers in break areas and other well-populated areas within the hospital. Interventions: Each interview was audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were reviewed and analyzed for themes, which were categorized, coded, and thoroughly examined. The survey was administered to the participants at the conclusion of the interview. Main Outcome Measure: Study used an exploratory method; to gain an understanding of the needs of nurses predisaster and postdisaster. Findings: All 10 participants were found to have higher levels of resilience than the general population. Results of the interviews included valid concerns for more disaster planning and education, as well as postdisaster counseling. Conclusions: Organizations have the responsibility to keep the nursing workforce happy and healthy. Because disaster response can be both emotionally and physically damaging, it is imperative to increase disaster training and education to those who have the potential to be involved in a disaster event. Postdisaster counseling is also needed to help nurses deal with the stress that occurs during and after a disaster.
State estimation of IEEE 14 bus with unified interphase power controller (UIPC) using WLS method

Conventional state estimation methods are unsuitable for power systems with FACTS devices. A new approach to state estimation of power systems with unified interphase power controllers (UIPC) is proposed. The required extension of the conventional model of the system necessitates use of constraints on the limits of operation and ratings of the UIPC. Results of tests of the IEEE 14 bus system using weighted least-squares (WLS) are presented.
Single-molecule dynein motor mechanics in vitro

Abstract The ability of dynein to walk processively along a microtubule is the result of a set of complex structural changes driven by ATP hydrolysis. Previous biochemical and biophysical work on dynein revealed the nucleotide-induced conformational arrangements of monomeric constructs. In vitro single-molecule studies on active dynein motors revealed how key structural elements and biochemical states of the multiple ATPase sites are synchronized to facilitate motility and force generation. This chapter will first cover the recent in vitro single-molecule studies primarily on Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Dictyostelium cytoplasmic dynein, and then discuss more recent work on mammalian dynein/dynactin complexes that have begun to shed light on the mechanism of dynein motility.
Moisture Adsorption Isotherm and Storability of Hazelnut Inshells and Kernels Produced in Oregon, USA.

Moisture adsorption isotherms and storability of dried hazelnut inshells and kernels produced in Oregon were evaluated and compared among cultivars, including Barcelona, Yamhill, and Jefferson. Experimental moisture adsorption data fitted to Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model, showing less hygroscopic properties in Yamhill than other cultivars of inshells and kernels due to lower content of carbohydrate and protein, but higher content of fat. The safe levels of moisture content (MC, dry basis) of dried inshells and kernels for reaching kernel water activity (aw ) ≤0.65 were estimated using the GAB model as 11.3% and 5.0% for Barcelona, 9.4% and 4.2% for Yamhill, and 10.7% and 4.9% for Jefferson, respectively. Storage conditions (2 °C at 85% to 95% relative humidity [RH], 10 °C at 65% to 75% RH, and 27 °C at 35% to 45% RH), times (0, 4, 8, or 12 mo), and packaging methods (atmosphere vs. vacuum) affected MC, aw , bioactive compounds, lipid oxidation, and enzyme activity of dried hazelnut inshells or kernels. For inshells packaged at woven polypropylene bag, MC and aw of inshells and kernels (inside shells) increased at 2 and 10 °C, but decreased at 27 °C during storage. For kernels, lipid oxidation and polyphenol oxidase activity also increased with extended storage time (P < 0.05), and MC and aw of vacuum packaged samples were more stable during storage than those atmospherically packaged ones. Principal component analysis showed correlation of kernel qualities with storage condition, time, and packaging method. This study demonstrated that the ideal storage condition or packaging method varied among cultivars due to their different moisture adsorption and physicochemical and enzymatic stability during storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Moisture adsorption isotherm of hazelnut inshells and kernels is useful for predicting the storability of nuts. This study found that water adsorption and storability varied among the different cultivars of nuts, in which Yamhill was less hygroscopic than Barcelona and Jefferson, thus more stable during storage. For ensuring food safety and quality of nuts during storage, each cultivar of kernels should be dried to a certain level of MC. Lipid oxidation and enzyme activity of kernel could be increased with extended storage time. Vacuum packaging was recommended to kernels for reducing moisture adsorption during storage.
A Spotlight on Appetite.

Remarkably few hormones have been identified that stimulate appetite. The recent discovery of asprosin, a hormone that activates AgRP neurons to increase food intake and body weight, begins to fill this gap (Duerrschmid et al., 2017; Romere et al., 2016).
Puromycin induction of transient regeneration in mammalian spinal cord

Publisher Summary This chapter outlines the rationale and experimental approach in the use of the protein synthesis inhibitor, puromycin, to enhance spinal cord regeneration and discuss its effects in relation to the causes of abortive regeneration in the mammalian central nervous system. The chapter reviews the action of puromycin in the injured spinal cord. Inhibition of protein synthesis for a period of 6-24 hour after spinal cord injury has long-lasting consequences. These data indicate that the central nervous system is in a continual state of growth. Inhibition of protein synthesis results in suppression of pathological responses but allows for the continuation of the normal growth processes in the injured spinal cord resulting in transient growth of nerve fibers into the site of spinal cord injury.
Interaction of Underwater Blasts and Submerged Structures

This chapter examines the interaction of shock waves generated by underwater explosions and submerged structures. Cylindrical shells filled with air, water, or a liquid with a different speed of sound are considered and the specific issue considered is the prediction of the position of the various wave fronts as a function of time. This is a challenging problem for both analytical and numerical approaches due to the sharp discontinuities, the complex shapes of these wave fronts and their numbers. A simple ray tracing procedure is developed to predict the exact position of all the wave fronts. It provides great insight into the physics of the problem and explains the evolution of the shape of the various fronts and the formation of singularities. Applications to the medical field are also presented.
Not getting high with a little help from your friends: Social versus drug network correlates of marijuana use among YMSM

Substantial evidence has documented the importance of social connections in shaping health and drug use behaviors among adolescents and young adults. The current study extends previous research into the associations between network characteristics and drug use behavior among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) by 1) examining multiple network characteristics, 2) simultaneously assessing multiple network types (i.e., social and drug use), and 3) examining change in network characteristics and drug use behavior over time. Data for the current study comes from RADAR, a longitudinal cohort study of YMSM. Latent growth curve models examined the change in frequency of marijuana use across four observations and individual and network correlates of this change including: demographics, drug network size, drug network density, social network size, and social network density. Baseline frequency of marijuana use was positively associated with drug network size and density, while it was inversely related to social network size and density. In addition, increasing frequency of marijuana use was associated with increases in drug network size and density, while it was associated with decreases in social network size. These findings highlight the complexity of multiple network types (e.g., drug and social) and network structures (e.g., size and density) in understanding drug use behavior among YMSM. Furthermore, as changes in drug and social networks may be indicative of changes in marijuana use, peer relationships may be especially important in understanding an individual's trajectories of marijuana use.
Geologic Origins of the North American Shale-Gas Revolution: Can it Happen Elsewhere?

The “shale-gas revolution” has been a largely North America phenomenon despite efforts to transfer it to other countries with likely gas-shale resources. Understanding how this “revolution” has occurred on North America may be critical in duplicating it elsewhere as in North Africa and the Middle East. North America holds in excess of 30 major shale-gas basins most of which reflect the influence of plate tectonics. From Ordovician to Tertiary, continental-margin orogenies and rifting events were crucial in generating not only large, mostly undeformed, basin repositories for the shales, but also conditions favorable for organic-rich shale deposition. Time and place (paleogeography and paleoclimate) were also important. Developmental factors having to do with culture, population, economics, and technology, along with detailed characterization of the shales and careful planning, can be just as significant as the geologic factors. Hence, the situation in North American reflects more of an evolution of understanding than any kind of revolutionary change. Whether or not a similar alignment of factors, like those that have occurred in North America, can happen elsewhere is uncertain; but thus far, the evidence suggests that it is unlikely.
Indirect Detection of Visual Signals for Emergency Notification

Flashing visual signal lights for emergency notification have usually used xenon strobe light sources, which produce very short flashes of light. Photometric performance specifications for these signal lights use the effective intensity as the primary metric. Effective intensity appears to be a suitable metric for characterizing detection of signal lights when directly viewed at or near the line of sight. For the indirect detection of xenon strobe light sources, when the light source is in the far periphery or outside of the field of view and the primary cue of the signal’s flashing is the increase in brightness of adjacent room surfaces, an effective intensity of 15 cd seems to be sufficient. When signal lights produce longer flashes of light than xenon strobe sources, much higher effective intensities are needed for indirect detection, suggesting that effective intensity is poorly correlated with detection performance. A series of human factors experiments confirmed this suggestion. Based on the experimental results, a modified metric for characterizing the indirect detection of visual signals, termed the indirect effectiveness quantity (IEQ), was developed. The IEQ metric may be particularly useful at predicting indirect detection of visual signals with flash durations longer than those of xenon strobe light sources, such as some configurations using light-emitting diodes. Experimental data from the present study suggest that under ambient room illumination of 500 lx, an IEQ value of 750 cd will elicit indirect detection percentages of about 90%, independent of the flash duration.
The Reform of the Pension System in Italy

Italy’s pension system was reformed in August 1995. The new system has various desirable long-run properties and, overall, it represents an improvement over earlier systems. However, it fails to address two longstanding problems: extremely high contribution rates, and a lack of provisions for dealing with the substantial deterioration in demographic ratios expected over the next 30-40 years.
Sex differences in serial pattern learning in mice.

Abstract Numerous investigators have examined the hypothesis that males and females learn or perform differentially on various tasks. However, many of the behavioural investigations with nonhuman animals (e.g., rats) have used paradigms that do not permit the exploration of complex learning and memory between the sexes. To this end, we explored the ability of male versus female mice to learn three different patterns in succession in three separate experiments: single alternation (e.g., right, left, right, left), double alternation (e.g., right, right, left, left), and runs (e.g., 123, 234, 345, 456, 567, 678, 781, 812, where digits represent locations within a circular array in the counterclockwise direction). We hypothesized that sex differences, if they existed, would be most likely to appear as the pattern to be learned became more complex (required more rules to capture how elements relate to one another). The results indicated that mice can learn all three pattern types, but learning was more difficult as pattern complexity increased. Males learned the runs pattern significantly more quickly than females did; no significant differences were found between males and females for acquisition of the single-alternation or double-alternation patterns. These results suggest that sex differences in serial pattern learning within rodents are not unique to rats and are more likely to be seen during acquisition of more complex patterns.
Does 2-FDG-PET Accurately Reflect Quantitative In vivo Glucose Utilization?

2-Deoxy-2-18F-fluoro-d-glucose (2-FDG) with PET is undeniably useful in the clinic, being able, among other uses, to monitor change over time using the 2-FDG SUV metric. This report suggests some potentially serious caveats for this and related roles for 2-FDG PET. Most critical is the assumption that there is an exact proportionality between glucose metabolism and 2-FDG metabolism, called the lumped constant, or LC. This report describes that LC is not constant for a specific tissue and may be variable before and after disease treatment. The purpose of this work is not to deny the clinical value of 2-FDG PET; it is a reminder that when one extends the use of an appropriately qualified imaging method, new observations may arise and further validation would be necessary. The current understanding of glucose-based energetics in vivo is based on the quantification of glucose metabolic rates with 2-FDG PET, a method that permits the noninvasive assessment of various human disorders. However, 2-FDG is a good substrate only for facilitated-glucose transporters (GLUTs), not for sodium-dependent glucose cotransporters (SGLTs), which have recently been shown to be distributed in multiple human tissues. Thus, the GLUT-mediated in vivo glucose utilization measured by 2-FDG PET would be masked to the potentially substantial role of functional SGLTs in glucose transport and use. Therefore, under these circumstances, the 2-FDG LC used to quantify in vivo glucose utilization should not be expected to remain constant. 2-FDG LC variations have been especially significant in tumors, particularly at different stages of cancer development, affecting the accuracy of quantitative glucose measures and potentially limiting the prognostic value of 2-FDG, as well as its accuracy in monitoring treatments. SGLT-mediated glucose transport can be estimated using α-methyl-4-deoxy-4-18F-fluoro-d-glucopyranoside (Me-4FDG). Using both 2-FDG and Me-4FDG should provide a more complete picture of glucose utilization via both GLUT and SGLT transporters in health and disease states. Given the widespread use of 2-FDG PET to infer glucose metabolism, it is relevant to appreciate the potential limitations of 2-FDG as a surrogate for glucose metabolic rate and the potential reasons for variability in LC. Even when the readout for the 2-FDG PET study is only an SUV parameter, variability in LC is important, particularly if it changes over the course of disease progression (e.g., an evolving tumor).
Operative Times Have Remained Stable for Total Hip Arthroplasty for >15 Years: Systematic Review of 630,675 Procedures.

Understanding trends in operative times has become increasingly important in light of total hip arthroplasty (THA) being added to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2019 Potentially Misvalued Codes List. The purpose of this review was to explore the mean THA operative times reported in the literature in order (1) to determine if they have increased, decreased, or remained the same for patients reported on between 2000 and 2019 and (2) to determine what factors might have contributed to the difference (or lack thereof) in THA operative time over a contemporary study period. Methods The PubMed and EBSCOhost databases were queried to identify all articles, published between 2000 and 2019, that reported on THA operative times. The keywords used were "operative," "time," and "total hip arthroplasty." An article was included if the full text was available, it was written in English, and it reported operative times of THAs. An article was excluded if it did not discuss operative time; it reported only comparative, rather than absolute, operative times; or the cohort consisted of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) and THAs, exclusively of revision THAs, or exclusively of robotic THAs. Data on manual or primary THAs were extracted from studies including robotic or revision THAs. Thirty-five articles reporting on 630,675 hips that underwent THA between 1996 and 2016 met our criteria. Results The overall weighted average operative time was 93.20 minutes (range, 55.65 to 149.00 minutes). When the study cohorts were stratified according to average operative time, the highest number fell into the 90 to 99-minute range. Operative time was stable throughout the years reported. Factors that led to increased operative times included increased body mass index (BMI), less surgical experience, and the presence of a trainee. Conclusions The average operative time across the included articles was approximately 95 minutes and has been relatively stable over the past 2 decades. On the basis of our findings, we cannot support CMS lowering the procedural valuation of THA given the stability of its operative times and the relationship between operative time and cost.
Correction to: A Research Note on the Convergence of Childlessness Rates Between Women with Secondary and Tertiary Education in the United States.

A gap in childlessness rates between women with and without tertiary education in low-fertility settings has been well documented by scholars. However, in the United States, high rates of childlessness are declining for women with tertiary education. Will this current trend lead to a closing of the gap in childlessness across educational subgroups in this country? We answer this question using data from the Current Population Survey from 1976 through 2018. We present population-level trends in permanent childlessness by level of education and estimate the differences in the prevalence of childlessness across educational subgroups. Our findings indicate that the rates of childlessness for women aged 40–44 with tertiary education in the United States are the lowest they have been in over three decades and that rates of childlessness are converging among women with secondary and tertiary education. The declines in childlessness rates and the convergence in childlessness rates between women with secondary and tertiary education are observed for all of the three largest race/ethnicity sub-populations of American women: non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic women. This report contributes to the emerging literature on the convergence of childlessness rates across sub-populations of women with different levels of educational attainment, which questions the well-established observation that there is a positive relationship between education and childlessness.
Loc’d and Faded, Yoga Pants and Spaghetti Straps: Discrimination in Dress Codes and School Pushout

In this paper, we review the current dress code violations that have made national news. These issues have spotlighted racist and sexist issues embedded within common K-12 dress codes. We also analyze all school dress codes within one county in a mid-western state to examine various racist and sexist issues. We end the paper with an assessment for readers to determine the levels of racism and sexism in their own K-12 district dress codes.
Pressure-induced ferroelectric-like transition creates a polar metal in defect antiperovskites Hg 3 Te 2 X 2 (X = Cl, Br)

Ferroelectricity is typically suppressed under hydrostatic compression because the short-range repulsions, which favor the nonpolar phase, increase more rapidly than the long-range interactions, which prefer the ferroelectric phase. Here, based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction and density-functional theory, we provide evidence of a ferroelectric-like transition from phase I213 to R3 induced by pressure in two isostructural defect antiperovskites Hg3Te2Cl2 (15.5 GPa) and Hg3Te2Br2 (17.5 GPa). First-principles calculations show that this transition is attributed to pressure-induced softening of the infrared phonon mode Γ4, similar to the archetypal ferroelectric material BaTiO3 at ambient pressure. Additionally, we observe a gradual band-gap closing from ~2.5 eV to metallic-like state of Hg3Te2Br2 with an unexpectedly stable R3 phase even after semiconductor-to-metal transition. This study demonstrates the possibility of emergence of polar metal under pressure in this class of materials and establishes the possibility of pressure-induced ferroelectric-like transition in perovskite-related systems. Generally, ferroelectricity in ABO3 perovskites is suppressed by hydrostatic compression, but the evidence for pressure-induced ferroelectricity remains elusive. Here, the authors find a direct ferroelectric-like structural transition induced by pressure in defect antiperovskites.
The Effect of Virtual Tours on House Price and Time on Market

The integration of augmented reality in virtual tours was recently identified as a top emerging trend in real estate. However, little research has been conducted to examine the impact of existing v...
[Treatment of borderline personality disorder with opioid antagonists: buprenorphine, nalmefene, naloxone and naltrexone in the treatment of dissociative symptoms, self-mutilation and suicidal behavior].

Objective Recent theory has proposed that a dysfunction of the opioid system modulates mood, reward and pain; seems to be unstable in people with Borderline Personality Disorder. Our purpose is to analyze the evidence on the efficacy of the use of buprenorphine, nalmefene, naloxone and naltrexone, in the treatment of dissociative symptoms, self-mutilation and suicidal behavior of these patients. Method We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE and LILACS databases, to retrieve relevant articles. Included studies were experimental and observational designs of borderline personality samples in which dissociative symptoms, self mutilation or suicidal behavior was reported as an outcome and evaluated with some impact measures. Results A total of eight studies were reviewed. These provided interesting expectations about posible treatment lines in Borderline Personality Disorder using opioid antagonists. The subgroup most benefited was the one who has analgesia and highest number of diagnostic criteria. Conclusions Studies of higher methodological quality are needed, in larger population samples and using control of confounding variables that allow us to estimate a value power calculation, and thus be able to support firm conclusions.
Stable Meta-Networks, Noise, and Artifacts in the Human Connectome: Low- to High-Dimensional Independent Components Analysis as a Hierarchy of Intrinsic Connectivity Networks

Connectivity within the human connectome occurs between multiple neuronal systems-at small to very large spatial scales. Independent component analysis (ICA) is potentially a powerful tool to facilitate multi-scale analyses. However, ICA has yet to be fully evaluated at very low (10 or fewer) and ultra-high dimensionalities (200 or greater). The current investigation used data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) to determine the following: (1) if larger networks, or meta-networks, are present at low dimensionality, (2) if nuisance sources increase with dimensionality, and (3) if ICA is prone to overfitting. Using bootstrap ICA, results suggested that, at very low dimensionality, ICA spatial maps consisted of Visual/Attention and Default/Control meta-networks. At fewer than 10 components, well-known networks such as the Somatomotor Network were absent from results. At high dimensionality, nuisance sources were present even in denoised high-quality data but were identifiable by correlation with tissue probability maps. Artifactual overfitting occurred to a minor degree at high dimensionalities. Basic summary statistics on spatial maps (maximum cluster size, maximum component weight, and average weight outside of maximum cluster) quickly and easily separated artifacts from gray matter sources. Lastly, by using weighted averages of bootstrap stability, even ultra-high dimensional ICA resulted in highly reproducible spatial maps. These results demonstrate how ICA can be applied in multi-scale analyses, reliably and accurately reproducing the hierarchy of meta-networks, large-scale networks, and subnetworks, thereby characterizing cortical connectivity across multiple spatial scales.
DIAGNÓSTICO AMBIENTAL DE POSTOS DE COMBUSTÍVEIS EM PROCESSO DE REMEDIAÇÃO DE ÁREA CONTAMINADA NO MUNICÍPIO DE PORTO ALEGRE

Os comercios varejistas de combustiveis possuem servicos essenciais a populacao, entretanto essas atividades sao altamente poluidoras. Qualquer vazamento em tanques de combustiveis pode causar contaminacao na agua e solo subterrâneos, necessitando de tecnicas eficazes de descontaminacao, a fim de minimizar, ao maximo, os impactos ambientais. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo apresentar um diagnostico ambiental em postos de combustiveis localizados na cidade de Porto Alegre – RS que estao em processo de remediacao de area contaminada e um estudo sobre as principais tecnicas de remediacao. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, o trabalho foi estruturado em 3 etapas, sendo: (i) coleta de dados; (ii) analise e diagnostico ambiental; e (iii) mapeamento dos metodos de remediacao. Conforme os dados coletados, dos 380 postos de combustiveis da cidade de Porto Alegre, 242 sao classificados como area nao contaminada, equivalendo a 63,68% e 49 estao em processo de remediacao ativos, 12,89%. Posteriormente, foram avaliados os metodos de descontaminacao mais utilizados, dando enfase aos processos oxidativos avancados. A partir dos artigos consultados foi possivel evidenciar uma lacuna na literatura, na qual nao foi evidenciado estudo comprovando a eficiencia dos processos oxidativos avancados aplicados em postos de combustiveis.