cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding solid-phase HLA antibody assays and the value of MFI

As the practice of medicine becomes more reliant on imaging and laboratory tests, medical decisions will be increasingly based on numbers. Accordingly, following the introduction of solid-phase testing to the HLA testing repertoire, laboratory directors and physicians have employed preset mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) thresholds as the basis for decisions in the management of transplant patients. However, what do MFI values mean? The literature is rife with reports detailing numerous factors that influence antibody assessment including (but not limited to) sensitization history of the patient, level of mismatch between donor and recipient, presence of interfering substances in the serum, whether the antigen on multiplex beads is native or denatured, day-to-day and technologist variability, and the historical performance of an assay in a given institution. How are these variables incorporated into the interpretation of MFI values? Herein, the pitfalls and complexities of single antigen bead (SAB) testing and interpretation are discussed with specific attention to what can and cannot be inferred by MFI.
The SNOMED DICOM microglossary: controlled terminology resource for data interchange in biomedical imaging

This paper describes an authoritative, non-proprietary information resource that provides an efficient mechanism for embedding specialized clinical knowledge into the design of healthcare telecommunications systems. The resource marries two types of data interchange standards, a message/electronic-document standard and a terminology standard. In technical terms, it is part protocol and part database. Industry, academia, professional specialty societies, and the federal government participated in its development. The development of multi-specialty content has broadly engaged biomedical domain experts to an unprecedented degree in voluntary, non-proprietary message/document-standards development. The resource is the SNOMED DICOM Microglossary (SDM), a message-terminology (or document-content) mapping resource. The message/electronic-document standard is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine). The terminology standard is SNOMED, (Systematized Nomenclature of Human and Veterinary Medicine). The SDM specifies the mapping of multi-specialty imaging terminology from SNOMED to DICOM data elements. DICOM provides semantic constraints and a framework for discourse that are lacking in SNOMED. Thus the message standard and the computer-based terminology both depend upon and complete each other. The combination is synergistic. By substitution of different templates of specialty terminology from the SDM, a generic message template, such as the DICOM Visible Light (Color Diagnostic) Image or the DICOM Structured Reporting specification can be reconfigured for diverse applications. Professional societies, with technical assistance from the College of American Pathologists, contribute and maintain their portions of the terminology, and can use SDM templates and term lists in clinical practice guidelines for the structure and content of computer-based patient records.
A corrosion study of Ag–Al intermetallic compounds in chlorine-containing epoxy molding compounds

Typical epoxy molding compounds (EMC) contain chlorine ions that cause silver wire-bond failures under highly accelerated temperature/humidity stress test (HAST). To understand the corrosion mechanisms, experiments were designed to emulate the HAST environment and conditions and performed. Specifically, Ag–Al joints, Ag, Al, Ag3Al, and Ag2Al samples were encapsulated in chlorine-containing EMC, respectively, and went through HAST. EMC with high chlorine content (1000 ppm) was chosen to accelerate the corrosion rate and shorten experiment time. The experimental results show that chlorine-induced corrosion occurs only on Ag3Al and Ag2Al compounds. It does not occur on Ag or Al samples. The corrosion rates of bulk Ag3Al and Ag2Al disks were measured under HAST up to 125 h. The corrosion rate of Ag3Al is twice of that of Ag2Al, meaning that Ag2Al is more resistant to corrosion. Careful evaluations reveal that the corrosion is caused by both moisture and Cl− ions. Microstructures, compositions, and phases of corroded regions were examined in details. In the corroded regions, Ag3Al and Ag2Al compounds disintegrate into aluminum oxide pieces and dispersed Ag precipitates with voids and cracks. The chlorines detected near voids and cracks suggest formation of aluminum chloride as an intermediate product that is hydrolyzed into aluminum oxide. A corrosion chemical model is proposed to establish the reactions of Ag3Al and Ag2Al compounds with chlorine-containing EMC. New information obtained in this research can help the search of new processes and techniques to counter or reduce the chlorine-induced corrosion of devices and packages. The corrosion test method presented may possibly become an acceptable test standard to consider.
Introduction to Biofuels and Potentials of Nanotechnology

In recent decades, the development trends of biofuel technology worldwide have been staggering. In the US, the transition from conventional biofuels (derived from food crops) to advanced biofuels (cellulosic and algae-based fuels) occurred in less than a decade. Advanced biofuel technologies involve breaking down cellulose in plant biomass or extracting lipids from algae biomass, both of which are expensive processes driving up production costs. As of today, advanced biofuels are still cost-prohibitive, especially as they compete with low crude oil prices or even conventional biofuel prices. Despite unfavorable economics, both cellulosic ethanol and algae-based fuels help reduce GHG emissions, while also counteract the tradeoff between food and fuel production, as given with conventional biofuels/feedstocks. Nanotechnology has been implemented in the biofuel production process as a potential solution to economic infeasibility of advanced biofuels either by altering the feedstock or by increasing the biomass content. Although nanotechnology bears potential opportunities for biofuels production, full implementation of this technology is still challenging, while some studies report potential risks as well. This chapter presents an overview of different conventional and advanced biofuels and feedstocks, their developments and production trends at the global and US level. It also points out current challenges for advanced biofuels and discusses potentials and risks related to nanotechnology application in biofuels production.
When Does Religion Matter With Regard to Crime? Examining the Relationship Between Genetics, Religiosity, and Criminal Behavior:

Religiosity has been shown to be a predictor of initial criminal offending, reoffending, and desistance. To date, however, research has generally failed to assess the role that biological factors p...
Massive Debris Flow Event on Pacific Northwest Volcanoes, USA, November 2006: Causes, Effects and Relationship to Climate Change

During the second week of November, 2006 a warm, wet air mass, locally called the “Pineapple Express”, hit Oregon and Washington and dumped over 50 cm rain onto the volcanoes within 36 h before there was snow cover. It mobilized the abundant sediment on the slopes of the volcanoes and created many devastating debris flows. The amount of available sediment on the slopes has increased in recent years as glaciers have retreated, exposing the inside of lateral moraines. Mt. Hood was the most devastated with 7 of 11 major drainages producing significant debris flows. Eliot Creek and White River produced extensive debris flows that measured well over 2 million cubic meters each and closed major highways in the region for weeks. A large delta formed in the Columbia River at Hood River resulting from the debris flows. At Mt. Rainier the southwest drainages were hit hard. Kautz Creek rerouted. The Nisqually River enlarged greatly in size and almost undercut the Longmire emergency response headquarters of the national park. The Sunshine Campground disappeared. At Mt. St. Helens, the road to Lava Canyon was washed out in two places. Milk Creek was the major debris flow on Mt. Jefferson. On Mt. Adams, many debris flows were generated in the drainages of Salt Creek, Adams Creek and the Big Muddy. The largest debris flow collapsed the moraine at Crofton Ridge. As the climate continues to change, we will see more large debris flows as these air masses arrive before snow cover can shield their impact on the volcanoes.
Meningioma Mimicry: Biopsy confirmed neurosarcoidosis presenting as multiple extra axial intracranial masses (P5.421)

Objective: We present a biopsy-confirmed neurosarcoidosis case with an initial presentation of multiple extra axial masses thought to be multiple meningiomas. Background: n/a Design/Methods: A 63-year-old African American woman was seen for a two-year history of deterioration of right eye vision. This was slowly progressive to the point of complete unilateral blindness when she was seen in Kansas University of Medical Center. Her MRI showed multiple extra axial mass lesions which was comparable with meningiomas. One of the lesion was impinging the right optic nerve at the anterior clinoid process extending into the optic canal. She was taken to the operating room for decompression and resection of the mass impinging the right optic nerve. Histopathological review revealed inflammatory, granulomatous tissue consistent with sarcoidosis. Cervical MRI showed multiple extradural enhancing masses in her cervical spine. She was treated with high dose IV steroids and infliximab with the resolution of the extradural masses. The patient remains in remission. Results: Neurosarcoidosis without systemic disease is rare, with only 1–3% of cases of sarcoidosis isolated to the central nervous system. Isolated neurosarcoidosis may mimic glioma or meningioma on neuroimaging study which raises the diagnostic challenge because of the nonspecific clinical and neuroimaging features. It is important to consider neurosarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with multiple extra axial meningioma-like lesions. This will lead to proper investigation and management, and possibly prevent severe complications from delayed treatment. Conclusions: Tumors can be a rare presentation of neurosarcoidosis without systemic involvement and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracranial tumors. Disclosure: Dr. Siwoski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose.
Claims That Can Be Tested but Only Partially, Indirectly, or Inconclusively

This chapter discusses claims that can be examined by Universal Basic Income (UBI) experiments but shows that each of them can only be tested partially, indirectly, and/or inconclusively. It discusses the implications these limitations have for conducting a UBI experiment and communicating its results.
An optimized protocol for rapid and sensitive application of southern (Northern) hybridization by using fluorescein labeling and detecting system

An optimized complete protocol that produces consistent Southern hybridization results (RFLP) for as many as 240 samples in 36 h is presented. Signals can be detected from 0.1 μg genomic DNA. The protocol can be adapted to Northern hybridization by using 0.05 M NaOH as transfer buffer in a downward blotting method. Probes can be removed in stripping solution containing 2–5 mM EDTA. The protocol using this system has many advantages over the conventional radioactive method as safety, rapidness, sensitivity, and signal quality.
A Continuous Time Dynamical System Approach for Solving Robust Optimization

We propose a dynamical system-based approach for solving robust optimization problems. The well-known continuous-time dynamical system for solving deterministic optimization problems arises in the form of primal-dual gradient dynamics where the vector field is derived as the gradient of the Lagrangian. The new continuous-time dynamical system we introduce for solving robust optimization problems differs from the primal-dual dynamics in the sense that the vector field is not derived as the gradient of the Lagrangian function. We call this new dynamical system as saddle point dynamics. In the saddle point dynamics, the uncertain variable arises as a dynamical state. For a general class of robust optimization problem, where the cost function is convex in decision variable and concave in uncertain variable, we show that the robust optimal solution can be recovered as a globally asymptotically stable equilibrium point of the saddle point dynamical system. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the capability of this new dynamical system to solve various robust optimization problems. We also compare our proposed approach with existing methods based on robust counterpart and scenario-based random sampling.
Mosquito-Borne Viruses and Insect-Specific Viruses Revealed in Field-Collected Mosquitoes by a Monitoring Tool Adapted from a Microbial Detection Array

Several mosquito-borne diseases affecting humans are emerging or reemerging in the United States. The early detection of pathogens in mosquito populations is essential to prevent and control the spread of these diseases. In this study, we tested the potential applicability of the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array (LLMDA) to enhance biosurveillance by detecting microbes present in Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex mosquitoes, which are major vector species globally, including in Texas. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the LLMDA were tested in mosquito samples spiked with different concentrations of dengue virus (DENV), revealing a detection limit of >100 but <1,000 PFU/ml. Additionally, field-collected mosquitoes from Chicago, IL, and College Station, TX, of known infection status (West Nile virus [WNV] and Culex flavivirus [CxFLAV] positive) were tested on the LLMDA to confirm its efficiency. Mosquito field samples of unknown infection status, collected in San Antonio, TX, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), TX, were run on the LLMDA and further confirmed by PCR or quantitative PCR (qPCR). The analysis of the field samples with the LLMDA revealed the presence of cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV) in A. aegypti populations. Wolbachia was also detected in several of the field samples (A. albopictus and Culex spp.) by the LLMDA. Our findings demonstrated that the LLMDA can be used to detect multiple arboviruses of public health importance, including viruses that belong to the Flavivirus, Alphavirus, and Orthobunyavirus genera. Additionally, insect-specific viruses and bacteria were also detected in field-collected mosquitoes. Another strength of this array is its ability to detect multiple viruses in the same mosquito pool, allowing for the detection of cocirculating pathogens in an area and the identification of potential ecological associations between different viruses. This array can aid in the biosurveillance of mosquito-borne viruses circulating in specific geographical areas.IMPORTANCE Viruses associated with mosquitoes have made a large impact on public and veterinary health. In the United States, several viruses, including WNV, DENV, and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), are responsible for human disease. From 2015 to 2018, imported Zika cases were reported in the United States, and in 2016 to 2017, local Zika transmission occurred in the states of Texas and Florida. With globalization and a changing climate, the frequency of outbreaks linked to arboviruses will increase, revealing a need to better detect viruses in vector populations. With the capacity of the LLMDA to detect viruses, bacteria, and fungi, this study highlights its ability to broadly screen field-collected mosquitoes and contribute to the surveillance and management of arboviral diseases.
Shadows in the New Testament: Cognitive Approaches to Early Christian Literature

This article treats the roughly half dozen instances of shadows in the Christian New Testament using evolutionary-cognitive approaches and understandings. This literary-historical data set generally conforms to predictions from cognitive science in two ways. First, shadows stimulate cognitive interest due to their evolutionary ties to predation and humans as both prey species and hunter. Second, shadows fortify the status of supernatural agents due to shadows’ uncertain and shifting boundaries, which lend themselves to agency attribution. Additional discussion theorizes shadows as a type of object particularly related to religious beliefs, due to shadows’ particular set of characteristics that differ from standard folk ontologies. This unique typology is shared with certain other objects likewise possessing outsize presence in religious history such as clouds, flame, and smoke.
Predictors of Cervical Vertebral and Carotid Artery Dissection During Blunt Trauma: Experience From a Level 1 Trauma Center.

Background The current data available to identify the factors associated with vertebral and carotid artery dissection in the trauma setting are conflicting, and further research is needed to accurately assess these predictors. Methods The data from 950 patients who had undergone neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) at a level 1 trauma center were analyzed. Of the 950 patients, 435 were included who had undergone neck CTA for blunt traumatic injuries. The mechanism of injury was classified as high or low impact according to the hospital criteria for trauma. Positive neurological signs included altered mental status (Glasgow coma scale score ≤15 than baseline) or focal neurological deficits. Fractures and dissections were radiologically confirmed. Multivariable logistic regression software was used to analyze the data. Results Of the 435 patients, 236 (54.25%) had experienced high-impact injuries, 124 (28.51%) had vertebral fractures (including 63 displaced fractures [50.81%]), and 180 (41.38%) had had positive neurological signs on presentation. Of the 435 patients, cervical carotid artery injury had been diagnosed in 9 (2.07%), and 18 patients (4.14%) had had a cervical vertebral artery injury (VAI). Carotid artery injuries did not have significant associations with positive neurological signs, age, sex, mechanism of injury, or vertebral fracture (P > 0.05 for all). Positive neurological signs and vertebral fractures were significant predictors for VAI (odds ratio, 3.19; P 0.05 for all). Conclusions Positive neurological signs and the presence of cervical vertebral fractures are significant predictors for VAI. All trauma patients with cervical spine fractures and/or positive neurological findings should be considered for surveillance imaging with neck CTA and/or magnetic resonance angiography for vascular injury screening.
Fast Automatic Parameter Selection for MRI Reconstruction

This paper proposes an automatic parameter selection framework for optimizing the performance of parameter-dependent regularized reconstruction algorithms. The proposed approach exploits a convolutional neural network for direct estimation of the regularization parameters from the acquired imaging data. This method can provide very reliable parameter estimates in a computationally efficient way. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified on transform-learning-based magnetic resonance image reconstructions of two different publicly available datasets. This experiment qualitatively and quantitatively measures improvement in image reconstruction quality using the proposed parameter selection strategy versus both existing parameter selection solutions and a fully deep-learning reconstruction with limited training data. Based on the experimental results, the proposed method improves average reconstructed image peak signal-to-noise ratio by a dB or more versus all competing methods in both brain and knee datasets, over a range of subsampling factors and input noise levels.
Beta class amino methyltransferases from bacteria to humans: evolution and structural consequences

S-adenosyl-l-methionine dependent methyltransferases catalyze methyl transfers onto a wide variety of target molecules, including DNA and RNA. We discuss a family of methyltransferases, those that act on the amino groups of adenine or cytosine in DNA, have conserved motifs in a particular order in their amino acid sequence, and are referred to as class beta MTases. Members of this class include M.EcoGII and M.EcoP15I from Escherichia coli, Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle-regulated DNA methyltransferase (CcrM), the MTA1-MTA9 complex from the ciliate Oxytricha, and the mammalian MettL3-MettL14 complex. These methyltransferases all generate N6-methyladenine in DNA, with some members having activity on single-stranded DNA as well as RNA. The beta class of methyltransferases has a unique multimeric feature, forming either homo- or hetero-dimers, allowing the enzyme to use division of labor between two subunits in terms of substrate recognition and methylation. We suggest that M.EcoGII may represent an ancestral form of these enzymes, as its activity is independent of the nucleic acid type (RNA or DNA), its strandedness (single or double), and its sequence (aside from the target adenine).
Evaluation of lumbar spine bracing as a postoperative adjunct to single-level posterior lumbar spine surgery

Background: Clinical practice in postoperative bracing after posterior single-level lumbar spine fusion (PLF) is inconsistent between providers. This study seeks to assess the effect of bracing on short-term outcomes related to safety, quality of care, and direct costs. Methods: Retrospective cohort analyses of consecutive patients undergoing single-level PLF with or without bracing at a three-hospital urban academic medical center (2013–2017) were undertaken (n = 906). Patient demographics and comorbidities were analyzed. Test of independence, Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon test, and logistic regression were used to assess differences in length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition/need for postacute care, quality-adjusted life year (QALY), surgical site infection (SSI), hospital cost, total cost, readmission within 30 days, and emergency room (ER) visits within 30 days. Results: Among the study population, 863 patients were braced and 43 were not braced. No difference was seen between the two groups in short-term outcomes from surgery including LOS (P = 0.836), discharge disposition (P = 0.226), readmission (P = 1.000), ER visits (P = 0.281), SSI (P = 1.000), and QALY gain (P = 0.319). However, the braced group incurred a significantly higher direct hospital cost (median increase of 41.43%, P
Debye Screening and Nonperturbativity in Hot QCD

The Debye screening effect for non-Abelian theories is investigated gauge-invariantly through static interquark potentials. Attempts to compute these potentials in the weak-coupling expansion reveal that perturbation theory is inapplicable even at the very high temperatures where it is naively expected to apply. The results suggest that the infrared divergences responsible for the perturbative breakdown might be severe enough to cause a condensation of the electrostatic potential. Whether such a condensation, which would invalidate even low-order perturbative results, does in fact occur can only be determined non-perturbatively. To this end, a lattice computation is proposed.
Subsidizing Car Ownership for Low-Income Individuals and Households:

This article presents the findings from interviews with thirty individuals, living in Maryland and Virginia, who received subsidized cars from a nonprofit organization to examine how their lives ch...
The Americanization of Kurt Hahn’s Values: Commentary on “Outward Bound and Civic Minded”

This commentary discusses a 2019 JOREL article by Cheryl Bolick and Ryan Nilsen that reported on a study of the way Outward Bound participants came to define public service after their courses. The present essay elaborates on the “pluralistic” view of service, which they found to be prevalent. This view can be contrasted with Outward Bound founder Kurt Hahn’s “traditionalistic” view based in muscular Christianity. The commentary here argues that the pluralistic view is an artifact of Outward Bound USA’s affiliation with the human potential movement in the 1970s and is aligned with the civic tradition known as expressive individualism.Subscribe to JOREL
A Pragmatist Theory of Judgment

In this chapter I reconstruct Dewey’s conception of judgment as situated in a larger process of inquiry that is permeated by both aesthetic–qualitative and reflective experience. I discuss the conception of judgment in connection with Dewey’s notion of experience and his method of inquiry. I show that Dewey thought of judgments as emerging from a conception of inquiry that integrates both aesthetic and epistemic conditions of experience, and that he should have thought of judgments as being oriented towards “getting it right” (despite his own reservations in that regard). I do that by explicating how the notions of judgment and inquiry relate to his conceptions of experience, warranted assertibility and truth. I will present the pattern of inquiry with a clear focus on the statement that judgments are the temporary end products of an investigative process that has a transformative and expressive character starting from an undetermined and problematic situation on the basis of a holistic concept of experience. I will use Dewey’s own juridical metaphor to conceptualize the process of inquiry in terms of a trial by jury, and the resulting judgment as a verdict. It is here in this chapter that it will become clear how Dewey thought of judgments as being a special form of human action: namely an intelligent, controlled form of inferential action. Forming judgments as the outcome of inquiry-processes is thus the result of a specific epistemic form of activity, namely judging.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19: Results of an Emergent Pilot Study.

Background:Amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has emerged as an alternative for inpatient point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) monitoring. ...
Ultralong Electrospun Copper–Carbon Nanotube Composite Fibers for Transparent Conductive Electrodes with High Operational Stability

Metal nanowire networks are promising materials to replace metal oxide films in transparent conductive electrodes (TCE), but they suffer from low stability in actual working conditions. Here, carbo...
Performance potential of classical machine learning and deep learning classifiers for isometric upper-body myoelectric control of direction in virtual reality with reduced muscle inputs

Abstract Electromyography (EMG) signals can be classified by machine learning (ML) algorithms to command prosthetic devices that functionally assist persons after neuromuscular traumas, including amputation and spinal cord injury. This pilot study evaluated several ML algorithms in mapping isometric EMG signals from the upper body (dominant-side arm, chest, back) of able-bodied participants to directional commands across multiple muscle recording sets. Each set (up to 14 muscles) was based on muscles presumed under volitional control following various levels of nerve lesion or amputation. Among the evaluated ML algorithms were those that did and did not rely on feature extraction. The ML algorithms included: support vector machine, adaptive boosting, bootstrap aggregating, Naive Bayes, linear discriminant analysis, and variations of neural networks (NN). Specifically, we examined a shallow (single-layer feedforward) NN and two ‘deep’ NN structures (ten-layer feedforward network, convolutional NN). The ML algorithms were evaluated according to classification accuracy and performance in a maze navigation task in virtual reality. Adaptive boosting and bootstrap aggregating demonstrated significantly greater (p
Information System Control Selection Using Spreadsheet Optimization

Today even the smallest organization depends heavily on information systems (IS) to support achievement of its objectives. Thus there exists a need for tools and techniques for choosing controls, or IS components that assure system dependability. Several researchers have developed quantitative models of controls. One such model for choosing controls incorporated the trade-off between the cost of establishing controls and the cost of not having them. The model was a refinement of the control evaluation table method used by auditors, enhanced with a probability model of control effectiveness, and formulated as a 0-1 nonlinear optimization problem. This paper presents a brief review of the model formulation and then goes on to provide a spreadsheet model solution.
PV panel power optimization using sub-panel MPPT

Photo-voltaic systems are affected by converter losses, partial shading and other mismatches in the panels. This paper presents a sub-panel maximum power point tracking that removes the bypass diodes of the panels to optimize the individual sub-panels. Compared to the panel maximum power point tracking, the sub-panel maximum power point tracking reduces the mismatches, losses and increases the output power of the system. The design was implemented in a prototype board and tested to verify its performance. The sub-panel level power optimization improves the output power of a shaded panel by up to 20%, compared to panel MPPT with internal bypass diodes.
Naive physics I: ontology for liquids

Here I discovered water–a very different element from the green crawling scum that stank in the garden but. You could pump it in pure blue gulps out of the ground, you could swing on the pump handle and it came out sparkling like liquid sky. And it broke and ran and shone on the tiled floor, or quivered in a jug, or weighted your clothes with cold. You could drink it, draw with it, froth it with soap, swim beetles across it, or fly it in bubbles in the air. You could put your head in it, and open your eyes, and see the sides of the bucket buckle, and hear your caught breath roar, and work your mouth like a fish, and smell the lime from the ground. Substance of magic–which you could tear or wear, confine or scatter, or send down holes, but never bum or break or destroy.
Pair Distribution Functions Analysis

The foundations and practical aspects of atomic pair distribution functions analysis as a tool for characterizing the structure of materials of limited structural coherence are described in brief. Keywords: X-ray diffraction; atomic-scale structure; materials of limited structural coherence; pair distribution functions analysis
Identifying sets of key players in a network

Two problems are considered: finding a set of nodes that is maximally connected to all other nodes (KPP-Pos), and finding a set of nodes whose removal would result in a residual network of minimum cohesion. The problems are solved by the introduction of connectedness and fragmentation metrics, which are incorporated in a combinatorial optimization procedure.
Networks within networks: Service link overlap, organizational cliques, and network effectiveness

This study explored the use of clique analysis for explaining network effectiveness. In data from networks of mental health agencies in three cities, effectiveness, measured as client outcomes, was...
Aldrin epoxidase activity of rat liver and rat liver microsomes under various conditions of storage.

Abstract The stability of rat hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidation systems stored under various conditions was assessed by a measurement of aldrin epoxidase, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, NADPH neotetrazolium reductase activities and cytochrome P-450 levels. Male rat livers stored at − 20° for 30 days showed little loss of the two NADPH-dependent microsomal reductase activities and cytochrome P-450. Microsomal suspensions from these livers showed higher protein content, increased aldrin epoxidase activity, decreased endogenous as well as NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation and higher stability during storage at 4°. The microsomal epoxidase systems of liver were less stable when stored as microsomal pellets than as whole liver at either −10° or−20°. Enzymes in microsomal suspensions prepared from fresh liver were unstable at 4°, but retained full activity if the suspensions contained 10−2 M KCN or were prepared from prefrozen livers. These results indicate that freezing of the liver causes a structural change in microsomes resulting in an increase in epoxidase activity.
Efficient algorithms for finding depth-first and breadth-first search trees in permutation graphs

Abstract This paper presents an O(n log log n) time algorithm for finding a depth-first search tree and an O(n) time algorithm for finding a breadth-first search tree in a permutation graph, respectively.
Energy levels of the Ce activator relative to the YAP(Ce) scintillator host

The electronic structure of the cerium-activated yttrium aluminum perovskite [YAP(Ce)] scintillator has been studied by core level x-ray spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. X-ray absorption and emission spectra at the oxygen K-edge of YAP(Ce) and CeO2 have been measured and compared with the calculated partial density of states. With the known band gap of CeO2, the measured oxygen K-edge absorption and emission spectra are used to construct a fixed relation between the valence and conduction bands of YAP and CeO2. This allows us to determine the fundamental band gap of YAP to be 8.1 ± 0.3 eV. A comparison between the cerium M4,5-edges x-ray absorption spectra of the YAP(Ce) and Ce model compounds (CeO2, CeF3, and Ce foils) then shows that the Ce activator is in the desired Ce(3+), with a small fraction of Ce(4+) due to oxidization at the surface. Finally, we determine that the ground state 4f(1) energy level of the Ce(3+) activator lies 1.8 ± 0.5 eV above the top of the valence band of the host YAP.
Phenotypic expression of recombinants arising in phage-infected bacteria

Abstract Recombinant h genomes, formed in bacteria infected by two different h + mutants, efficiently produced h tail-fiber protein.
Selective Binding of Group IIIA and Lanthanide Metals by Hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene Macrocycles

The hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene macrocycles 1 are observed to bind trivalent metals (Sc3+, Lu3+,Y3+, La3+) more strongly than alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+). Complexes of macrocycle 1a with Lu(II...
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in North America—the early years☆

Abstract In this paper, we present a brief overview of the beginning years of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in the USA, with particular emphasis on activities in Berkeley with which we are more familiar, but comments also on some other significant developments during this period. With some arbitrariness, we have limited ourselves to topics that were at least underway by the time of the first conference in this series in 1971, and thus finally published by 1973 or so. Some key first results or analyses are illuminated with figures from the literature.
Patient-centered care: the influence of patient and resident physician gender and gender concordance in primary care.

Abstract Background: Patient-centered care (PCC) is thought to significantly influence the process of care and its outcomes and has been identified as part of a comprehensive strategy for improving our nation's healthcare delivery system. Patient and physician gender, as well as gender concordance, may influence the provision of PCC. Methods: Patients (315 women, 194 men) were randomized to care by primary care resident physicians (48 women, 57 men). Sociodemographic information, history of health risk behaviors (tobacco use, alcoholism, and obesity), and self-reported global pain and health status were collected before the first visit. That visit and subsequent patient visits to the primary care physician (PCP) were videotaped during the year-long study period. PCC was measured by coding all videotapes using a modified version of the Davis Observation Code. Results: No significant gender differences in PCC were found between the male and female patients; however, female physicians provided increased PCC ...
Response-outcome versus outcome-response associations in instrumental learning

In three experiments with rats as subjects, instrumental training procedures were used to study the format of encoding of the reinforcing outcome (O). At issue is the relative contribution of response-outcome (R-O) associations between responses and their earned outcomes and of O-R associations between anticipated outcomes and responses reiaforced in their presence. In Experiments 1 and 2, R earned one O during a stimulus that controlled the anticipation of another O. Devaluation and transfer tests suggested that the earned O was more critical than the anticipated O in controlling behavior. In Experiment 3, a differential-outcomes procedure was used, with consistent R-0 relations arranged in groups that differed in the consistency of O-R relations. Subsequent devaluation of O produced similar selective depression of R, regardless of the O-R relations. These results suggest that an R-O association can contribute to instrumental performance more than does an O-R association.
Equidistribution of energy and other quantities in oscillating systems

Energy of a high harmonic standing wave tends to be distributed equally over the whole wave even in a stratified medium where the wave's peak amplitude can be much larger near the upper boundary than the lower one. This fact is generalized to the many diverse physical problems which solve second-order differential equations of Sturm-Liouville type. For any such solution y(z) whose sign fluctuates along the z-axis, quantities are found which have the same value between any two neighboring zeros of y. One of the equidistributed quantities for an oscillating fluid sphere is similar to kinetic energy but is identical only in limiting cases. The acoustic midpoint of a cavity can be a unique place where some nonlinear perturbations have extra strength. This may apply to the puzzling solar phenomenon called supergranulation.
Numerical Investigation of Supersonic Jet Interaction for Axisymmetric Bodies

A detailed numerical investigation of the interaction between a lateral jet and the external e ow has been performed for several axisymmetric bodies. Numerical predictions of the supersonic viscous e ow has been obtained using an existing Reynolds-averaged Navier ‐Stokes computational technique. The computational results have been validated using surface pressure and global force and moment measurements from a previously published experimental investigation. Surface-pressure measurements on the body are generally in good agreement with the experimental measurements, particularly in the region downstream of the side jet. Force and moment predictions also show excellent agreement with experimental measurements. The results show that the interaction of the jet with theexternal e ow produces a complex e owe eld that may be dife cult to characterize using simplerapproaches. The effects of nose shape, angle of attack, mass e ow, and e ight velocity have been investigated. For the geometries and e ight conditions considered here, e ight velocity and jet mass e ow appear to have the most signie cant effect on the force and moments, whereas nose shape and small variations in angle of attack produced relatively small effects. These conclusions are supported by the results obtained in the prior experimental investigation.
Untreated seronegative mothers of syphilitic children

Summary There are presented two cases of untreated seronegative mothers of children with prenatal syphilis. Among 78 mothers of children with prenatal syphilis admitted to this clinic during the seven years 1930 to 1936, inclusive, only 2 (2.6 per cent) were seronegative on admission or gave no history of a previous positive Wassermann reaction. Six (7.7 per cent) mothers who were seronegative on admission had been seropositive before treatment had been instituted previous to admission. Although only 70 (89.7 per cent) mothers were seropositive on admission, a total of 76 (97.4 per cent) were seropositive on admission or had been seropositive before treatment had been instituted previous to admission. The nearest comparison to our series is Wile's series of 95 per cent seropositive mothers of syphilitic children. Of the mothers in our series, 44.9 per cent were from sixteen to twenty-five years of age, and 69.3 per cent were from sixteen to thirty years of age. Of the syphilitic children in our series, 23.6 per cent were less than two years of age, 34.8 per cent less than four years of age, and 51.7 per cent less than five years of age. Whether or not pregnancy had anything to do with the apparently spontaneous cure of syphilis in the two mothers of our series cannot be determined. A review of the literature shows that there is no difference of opinion as to the benign clinical course of syphilis in women; but there is a difference of opinion as to whether pregnancy is the cause of this.
A simplified transient model for pipeline-riser systems

Abstract Low liquid and gas flow rates in a pipeline-riser system can cause occurrence of the undesirable severe slugging phenomenon. An improved model for the prediction of the transient flow behavior in this system is presented. The improved model and other existing models for severe slugging are tested against a broad range of data. The present model predicts more accurately the system variables such as pipeline pressure transients, liquid accumulation, slug length, and cycle time for all flow conditions.
An Automated Drug Delivery Tracking Device Utilizing RFID Technology

Medication errors are one of the most common types of medical errors involving a substantial number of individuals and accounting for a sizable increase in healthcare costs (Institute of Medicine, 2000, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, National Academies, Washington, DC). These errors are also potentially injurious or fatal (2008, “National Study on the Frequency, Types, Causes and Consequences of Voluntarily Reported Emergency Department Medication Errors,” J. Emerg. Med., in press). Currently, particularly in time critical tasks, such as during the treatment of a cardiac arrest, drugs may not be properly documented. This leads to an increased likelihood of subsequent medication errors with the patient. In order to efficiently and accurately record the time a drug is delivered, a device is needed that (1) records information with little or no intervention by the healthcare professional, so that they are free to focus on their primary task (of particular relevance in time critical tasks), (2) provides a precise time mark, and (3) is reliable for proper documentation. The prototype device proposed here for marking the time of drug delivery involves the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Each drug dose (i.e., the typically used preloaded syringes or packages) is labeled by a RFID tag mounted on it in terms of the type of drug and its dosage. Both the drug and the tag are enclosed in a radio frequency shielded sleeve to prevent the tag from being read prematurely by the time marking system. The time marking system itself consists of a RFID reader and a software or hardware based internal clock. When a drug is administered to a patient, the sleeve is opened, the drug is removed, and the RFID tag transmits encoded information to the reader, which then records the time of an internal clock. This setup results in the proposed time marking system providing a hands-free documentation of the time at which a specific drug is administered. The device requires little or no training on its use, is fast and efficient, can be easily integrated with current medical technology, and can be adapted to the various constraints of a healthcare setting. Requiring no time from healthcare professionals to mark the time of drug administration, the proposed time marking system will help alleviate error in documenting drug delivery.
Very high-energy collisions of hadrons

Proposals are made predicting the character of longitudinal-momentum distributions in hadron collisions of extreme energies.
Numerical and experimental investigation of acid wormholing during acidization of vuggy carbonate rocks

Abstract Both small- (micron) to large- (centimeter) scale heterogeneities in carbonates cause the injected acids to propagate very differently than that predicted by a homogeneous model. Very few studies, either theoretical or experimental, address the effect of large scale heterogeneities (vugs) on matrix acidizing. This study explores the effects of heterogeneity on vuggy carbonate acidizing with high resolution computerized tomography imaging, image processing, geostatistical characterization, acid core-flood experiments (with 4-inch by 20-inch vuggy cores), and numerical simulations. We observed that acid propagates wormholes through vuggy carbonates much more rapidly than those in homogeneous rocks. In fact, an order of magnitude early acid breakthrough observed in the experiments highlighted the necessity of understanding the flow and transport in vuggy carbonates. The fact that acid channeled through the vugular cores and following the path of the vug system, is underlined with computerized tomography scans of the cores before- and after acid injection and with the connected component labeling (CCL) algorithm. This observation suggests that the local pressure drops created by vugs are more dominant in establishing the wormhole flow path than the chemical reactions occurring at the pore level. Following this idea, we present a modeling study to understand the flow in porous media in the presence of vugs. Use of coupled Darcy and Stokes flow principles, known as Darcy–Brinkman formulation (DBF), underpin the proposed approach. The results demonstrate that the total injection volume to breakthrough is affected by spatial distribution, and the amount and connectivity of vuggy pore space. Much deeper penetration of wormholes is predicted for the vugular rocks with low pore volumes to breakthrough or PVbt ranging from 0.04 to 0.15, compared to the homogeneous cases with PVbt close to one.
Medieval Archaeology at Qsar es-Seghir, Morocco

Abstract The medieval port fortress of Qsar es-Seghir is located midway between the modern cities of Tangier and Sebta on the Moroccan coast of the Strait of Gibraltar. Qsar es-Seghir was an active participant in the events and developments of the 12th through 16th centuries, although its population never grew to urban proportions. In addition to an historical and material reconstruction of human activities during that era, another primary goal of the Qsar es-Seghir project is the improvement and evaluation of methods of archaeological research for examining complex society. This article presents the historical context of the investigations, a brief discussion of basic research strategies employed, and a summary of findings from the excavation.
Computed arthrotomography of the shoulder: comparison of examinations made with internal and external rotation of the humerus

We assessed the best positioning of the humerus for CT scans obtained after air-contrast shoulder arthrography by performing 54 examinations with both external and internal rotation of the humerus. Of the 30 abnormalities of the anterior portion of the labrum, 27 (90%) were identified on the scans obtained with the arm in internal rotation. The other three (10%) were shown best or solely on the scans obtained with the arm in external rotation. All 22 abnormalities of the anterior capsule were shown on the scans obtained with internal rotation. In no case were scans obtained in external rotation superior. Five posterior labral and capsule abnormalities were found; two of them were identified best or only on scans obtained with external rotation. The other three were shown equally well with the arm in either position. The results show that a modest (9%) increase in diagnostic yield can be expected when CT scans obtained with the arm in external rotation are added to studies performed solely with the arm int...