cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Do Learners and Pedagogical Agents Discuss When Given Opportunities for Open-Ended Dialogue?

Researchers claim that pedagogical agents engender opportunities for social learning in digital environments. Prior literature, however, has not thoroughly examined the discourse between agents and learners. To address this gap, we analyzed a data corpus of interactions between agents and learners using open coding methods. Analysis revealed that: (1) conversations between learners and agents included sporadic on-task interactions with limited follow-up; (2) conversations were often playful and lighthearted; (3) learners positioned agents in multiple instructional/social roles; (4) learners utilized numerous strategies for understanding agent responses; (5) learners were interested in agents' relationship status and love interests; and (6) learners asked personal questions to the agent but did not reciprocate to requests to talk about themselves.
Randomized trial of buccal versus vaginal misoprostol for induction of second trimester abortion

Abstract Background We evaluated the efficacy and acceptability of repeat doses of buccal misoprostol compared to vaginal misoprostol for second trimester pregnancy termination by induction. Study Design Women requesting termination of a pregnancy between18 and 22 weeks gestation were approached for participation. All women received 400 mcg misoprostol vaginally on admission. Participants were randomized to receive subsequent doses of 200 mcg misoprostol every 6 h either buccally or vaginally. All participants completed an acceptability survey. Results Sixty-four women participated. The mean gestational age was 19.7 weeks. The median time to abortion in the buccal group was 15 h, which was not significantly different (p=0.44) from the vaginal-only group of 12 h. Most women in both groups preferred their allocated administrative route. Conclusion Repeat doses of buccal misoprostol are as effective as vaginal misoprostol in inducing abortions in the midtrimester and are highly acceptable to most women. It is reasonable to offer both options to women.
The preparation of tritium labeled N‐nitrosamines

Dimethylnitrosamine, nitrosomorpholine, nitrosopyrrolidine, nitrosopiperidine, nitrosoazetidine, hexamethylenenitrosamine, nitrosomethylcyclohexylamine, nitrosomethylaniline and dinitrosopiperazine have been prepared labeled with tritium by nitrosation of the corresponding amines which had been labeled by exposure to tritium gas. The nitrosamines were purified by distillation in aqueous solution and by extraction with ether or chloroform. The specific activities varied from 17 μc/mg for nitrosomorpholine to 540 μc/mg for nitrosomethylaniline.
Neuronal and glial metabolite content of the epileptogenic human hippocampus

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is characterized by hippocampal atrophy, hypometabolism, and decreased N-acetylaspartate, often attributed to neuron loss and gliosis. Twenty hippocampal specimens were obtained during temporal lobectomy and frozen quickly. Perchloric acid extracts of the small metabolites were analyzed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. There were no significant associations between hippocampal neuron loss and the cellular content of N-acetylaspartate, glutamate, GABA, glutamine, or aspartate. The mean metabolite content of hippocampi with less than 30% of neurons remaining was the same as those with greater than 65% of neurons surviving. Mean N-acetylaspartate levels were below those reported by in vivo studies of control subjects. The highest and the lowest glutamate concentrations were seen in specimens with the worst neuron loss. A highly significant association between hippocampal N-acetylaspartate and glutamate content was seen with weak associations between N-acetylaspartate and aspartate and glutamate and aspartate. The hippocampal content of N-acetylaspartate, glutamate, GABA, glutamine, and aspartate is altered minimally by severe neuron loss in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. The epileptic human hippocampus has increased intracellular glutamate content that may contribute to the epileptogenic nature of hippocampal sclerosis.
Intravenous immunoglobulin use for Stevens–Johnson syndrome in children

Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis are severe cutaneous reactions that carry significant morbidity risks, and in more serious cases also mortality risks, for those affected. Overlap exists between SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis, which most experts agree are part of the same disease spectrum. Both are most commonly precipitated by drugs and generally begin with a prodrome of high fever, sore throat and malaise, followed by the rapid onset of cutaneous blistering. Immune-mediated keratinocyte apoptosis or programmed cell death precedes the epidermal detachment that occurs in SJS and toxic epidermal necrolysis, although, by definition, it is more focal in SJS. Both conditions are also characterized by epidermal detachment in addition to mucosal involvement, although the development of large sheets of epidermal detachment in the absence of mucosal involvement is more characteristic of toxic epidermal necrolysis. However, the frequent presence of overlapping clinical features in ...
Preclinical Evaluation of Two Real-Time, Reverse Transcription-PCR Assays for Detection of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

We verified the analytical performance characteristics of a previously described real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay targeting the open reading frame (ORF) 1b region of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) with RNA transcripts. We then compared it to a novel nucleocapsid gene real-time RT-PCR assay with genomic RNA. The assays differed only in the primer and probe sequences and final concentrations. A commercially available armored RNA (Ambion, Austin, Tex.) was evaluated as positive control for the ORF 1b assay. The analytical sensitivity, reproducibility, amplification efficiency, and dynamic range of the assays were similar. Both were specific for SARS-CoV as determined by testing against human CoV 229E and OC43, specimens from patients without SARS, and by BLAST searches of GenBank for primer and probe sequence homology. The armored RNA was found to be a suitable positive control for the ORF 1b assay that could be reliably recovered and amplified from a variety of clinical specimens.
Electroluminescence system for analysis of defects in CdTe cells and modules

A highly versatile electroluminescence (EL) system was constructed to measure various non-uniformities in CdTe photovoltaic devices spanning a wide range of areas. The emitted photons from these devices are detected with a Si-CCD camera. A small-area cell with a thick and thin CdS region was investigated, and a separate set of cells with varying CdCl 2 treatment. Several modules were also investigated, demonstrating different defects. Such defects include a shunt, likely due to a defect that existed before the cell layers were deposited, and a conductive bridge across scribe line in a CdTe module. The mean EL signal has been found to vary exponentially with the open-circuit voltage (V OC ) of CdTe devices and holds for devices with differing CdS thicknesses and CdCl 2 treatment. A GaAs device was also compared to this trend.
Regulatory Hotspots in the Malaria Parasite Genome Dictate Transcriptional Variation

The determinants of transcriptional regulation in malaria parasites remain elusive. The presence of a well-characterized gene expression cascade shared by different Plasmodium falciparum strains could imply that transcriptional regulation and its natural variation do not contribute significantly to the evolution of parasite drug resistance. To clarify the role of transcriptional variation as a source of stain-specific diversity in the most deadly malaria species and to find genetic loci that dictate variations in gene expression, we examined genome-wide expression level polymorphisms (ELPs) in a genetic cross between phenotypically distinct parasite clones. Significant variation in gene expression is observed through direct co-hybridizations of RNA from different P. falciparum clones. Nearly 18% of genes were regulated by a significant expression quantitative trait locus. The genetic determinants of most of these ELPs resided in hotspots that are physically distant from their targets. The most prominent regulatory locus, influencing 269 transcripts, coincided with a Chromosome 5 amplification event carrying the drug resistance gene, pfmdr1, and 13 other genes. Drug selection pressure in the Dd2 parental clone lineage led not only to a copy number change in the pfmdr1 gene but also to an increased copy number of putative neighboring regulatory factors that, in turn, broadly influence the transcriptional network. Previously unrecognized transcriptional variation, controlled by polymorphic regulatory genes and possibly master regulators within large copy number variants, contributes to sweeping phenotypic evolution in drug-resistant malaria parasites.
Reduced Virulence of HWP1-Deficient Mutants of Candida albicans and Their Interactions with Host Cells

ABSTRACT The Candida albicans gene HWP1 encodes a surface protein that is required for normal hyphal development in vitro. We used mutants lacking one or both alleles of HWP1to investigate the role of this gene in virulence. Mice infected intravenously with the homozygous hwp1 null mutant, CAL3, survived a median of >14 days, whereas mice infected with a control strain containing two functional alleles of HWP1 survived only 3.5 days. After 1 day of infection, all strains produced similar levels of infection in the kidneys, spleen, and blood. However, after 2 and 3 days, there was a significant decrease in the number of organisms in the kidneys of the mice infected with CAL3. This finding suggests that the hwp1 homozygous null mutant is normal in its ability to initiate infection but deficient in its capacity to maintain infection. CAL3 also germinated minimally in the kidneys. The ability of the heterozygous null mutant to germinate and cause mortality in mice was intermediate to CAL3, suggesting a gene dosage effect. To investigate potential mechanisms for the diminished virulence of CAL3, we examined its interactions with endothelial cells and neutrophils in vitro. CAL3 caused less endothelial cell injury than the heterozygoushwp1 mutant. We conclude that the HWP1 gene product is important for both in vivo hyphal development and pathogenicity of C. albicans. Also, the ability to form filaments may be critical for candidal virulence by enabling the fungus to induce cellular injury and maintain a deep-seated infection.
Usability Evaluation for Software Keyboard on High-Performance Mobile Devices

Most of high-performance mobile devices called smartphone or slate computer which recently emerged uses general-purpose mobile operating system (Mobile OS) such as Android, iOS, Symbian OS, etc. These devices have two characteristics compared with previous mobile devices: 1) many of the devices have touchscreen as main user interface, hence users operate graphical user interfaces (GUIs) displayed on the screen directly by fingers or a pen and 2) different devices made by different companies have similar GUIs because the devices use the same mobile OS. Furthermore, usability evaluation and improvement for one of the mobile OS affects many devices which use same mobile OS, hence importance of the usability evaluation for mobile OS is more valuable than for previous mobile devices. In this paper, we evaluate how position of software keyboard on touchscreen affects usability of a mobile OS, Android. Software tool to record user operation history on software keyboard was developed for evaluation experience. In an experiment, three positions of software keyboard were tested. As a result, keyboard placed on top or middle of the display takes better error rate and subjective evaluation than the previous position, bottom of the display.
Inverse Problem of Structural Optimization

In this technical note, an inverse problem of structural optimization is considered. The problem is motivated by many real-world situations and is stated as: Given a structure, how much load can this structure support safely? A mathematical programming problem that answers this question is presented for general trusses and is applied to a damaged 25-member transmission tower. The problem considered is how to maximize the loads that a given truss may support, subject to the requirements that it satisfy equations of equilibrium and compatibility, stress, displacement, and buckling constraints. The mathematical program shows how to redistribute the loads of a damaged structure so that it may be put to some other use.
Structures, properties and disposition of drugs

Many of the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) published over the last twenty years are, in fact, determined by some common rate-limiting pharmacokinetic steps, such as permeation of the drugs through lipoprotein membranes [1,2] or renal elimination following administration. Although it is conceptually instructive to distinguish among various phases involved by a drug in exerting the pharmacological or toxicological action (i. e., pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic phases) [3,4], in real testing system it may be difficult to separate out the pharmacokinetic phase from the pharmacodynamic phase. This is shown schematically in figure 1. Even if one is studying a purified enzyme system, one can not eliminate the diffusion step and the ads orption-desorption between the drug (substrate or inhibitor) and the macromolecule (enzyme). A drug molecule will undoubtedly collide with nonspecific binding sites many times before it can reach the active site. On the other end of figure l, as in the case of percutaneous absorption or absorption through corneal membrane, there is always a possibility that the drugs being studied can affect either the structure and/or the function of the mem¬brane, so some pharmacodynamic effect may be mixed with the kinetic parameters being measured (e. g., absorption constant k) [5].
Fibrous xanthoma of synovium (giant-cell tumor of tendon sheath, pigmented nodular synovitis). A study of one hundred and eighteen cases.

One hundred seventeen patients with 118 fibrous xanthomas of synovium were studied. Ninety-one of these xanthomas were in the fingers. The most common site was the dorsal surface of the distal joints of the index, long, ring, and little fingers. Fourteen tumors were found in the knee joint; four each, in the hand, wrist, and foot; and one tumor was in the hip joint. There was clinical or roentgenographic evidence that the joint from which the tumor arose or the joint nearest the tumor was damaged by traumatic or idiopathic degenerative joint disease in fifty-three patients. All of the tumors in this study were locally excised; 17 per cent recurred one or more times. All of the recurrences were in the fingers. From our material it could not be determined whether or not incomplete excision of the tumors accounted for these recurrences. Fibrous xanthoma, xanthoma due to disturbed systemic lipid metabolism, tumors of histiocytes, pigmented villonodular synovitis, and synovitis due to traumatic or idiopathic degenerative joint disease were compared with respect to some of their clinical and pathological characteristics.
MTI Weightings

A comparison is made between optimum weighting, which maximizes Pd for a given ?, and several MTI weightings. It is shown that a special case of the optimal weighting is approximately equal to the MTI weighting which maximizes the MTI improvement factor.
LEFT VENTRICULAR OUTFLOW TRACT OBSTRUCTION RELATED TO MITRAL VALVE SURGERIES IN HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY PATIENTS

Symptomatic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients may develop after mitral valve (MV) surgery. We present two such cases treated with alcohol septal ablation (ASA). A 77-year-old woman who had received bioprosthetic MV replacement presented
A CASE OF CHOLESTEROSIS OF THE COMMON BILE DUCT

総胆管コレステローシスは非常に稀で術前診断が困難な疾患である.われわれは術前胆嚢・総胆管結石と診断され,術中胆道ファイバーにて総胆管ポリープ,病理組織診断にてポリープ型コレステローシスと診断された1例を経験したので,若干の文献的考察を加え報告した.症例は48歳,女性.嘔気,心窩部痛を主訴に当院内科受診.軽度の肝機能異常を認め,腹部超音波検査にて胆嚢結石, ERCPにて膵胆管合流異常症,胆嚢管低位合流,胆嚢総胆管結石と診断され,手術目的に当科紹介となった.手術は,胆嚢摘出術,総胆管切開術を施行した.総胆管内に結石を認めず,下部胆管に多数の黄白色のポリープ様病変を認めた.総胆管コレステローシスは,ほとんどが下部胆管の腫瘍性病変と診断され手術を施行されるが,病的意義は少ないとされており,胆道鏡での確診が容易なため,今後経内視鏡的胆道ファイバーの普及により,不要な手術を避けられるものと考えられた.
O-Atom Exchange between H2O and CO2 Mediated by a Bis(dithiolene)tungsten Complex

Inspired by the CO2-reductatse activity of tungsten-dependent formate dehydrogenases (W-FDHs), a reduced W-FDH model, [WIV(OH)(S2C2Ph2)2]−, was prepared in situ through hydrolysis of [WIV(OPh)(S2C2Ph2)2]− (1) and its reactivity with CO2 was investigated. The reaction between [WIV(OH)(S2C2Ph2)2]− and CO2 at room temperature leads to the formation of [WIV(O)(S2C2Ph2)2]2– (2), which slowly oxidizes to [WV(O)(S2C2Ph2)2]− (3). Isotopic labeling experiments reveal that the O atom in CO2 incorporates into 3. This implies that there is carbonic anhydrase like activity, in which carbonation and decarboxylation are mediated by a bis(dithiolene)tungsten complex.
Adult hypophosphatasia treated with teriparatide: Report of 2 patients and review of the literature

Objective: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited metabolic bone disease from deficient activity of the tissue-nonspecific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). Reportedly, teriparatide (parathyroid hormone 1–34) can benefit the adult form of HPP, including fracture healing. We studied 2 women with adult HPP given teripa-ratide and reviewed the reports of 6 additional patients. Methods: A 68-year-old black woman (patient 1) described low-trauma fractures and had subnormal serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Biochemical findings were consistent with HPP. Mutation analysis revealed a heterozygous defect in exon 10 of TNSALP (ALPL). Teriparatide was injected daily for 2 years. Four years later, she fractured her right hip. Treatment was resumed for 8 months without further fractures. A 53-year-old white woman (patient 2) reported low-trauma fractures and had subnormal serum ALP. Mutation analysis revealed a heterozygous defect in exon 8 of TNSALP. She injected teriparatide daily for 2 years....
Clinical and epidemiologic features for 5 cases of rabies

The clinical and epidemiological information as well as the laboratory data from 5 cases of rabies in Lishui City were analyzed in this article.
Multi-objective multi-view spectral clustering via pareto optimization

Traditionally, spectral clustering is limited to a single objective: finding the normalized min-cut of a single graph. However, many real-world datasets, such as scientific data (fMRI scans of different individuals), social data (different types of connections between people), web data (multi-type data), are generated from multiple heterogeneous sources. How to optimally combine knowledge from multiple sources to improve spectral clustering remains a developing area. Previous work on multi-view clustering formulated the problem as a single objective function to optimize, typically by combining the views under a compatibility assumption and requiring the users to decide the importance of each view a priori. In this work, we propose a multi-objective formulation and show how to solve it using Pareto optimization. The Pareto frontier captures all possible good cuts without requiring the users to set the “correct” parameter. The effectiveness of our approach is justified by both theoretical analysis and empirical results. We also demonstrate a novel application of our approach: resting-state fMRI analysis.
''This Position Requires Some Alteration of Your Brain'': On the Moral and Legal Issues of Using Neurotechnology to Modify Employees

Employers have long had programs for improving employee attitude and performance, from the simple such as free coffee in the break room to the more extensive such as gyms, counseling, team-building seminars, and skills training. Employees have also long used techniques for making themselves more competitive and productive for purposes of securing new positions or promotions. But what about more direct means of altering employee performance? Neurotechnology could allow for more powerful and precise methods of screening for desired traits and for modifying abilities—from memory to motivation to morality. In this paper, we examine the moral and legal issues of using neurotechnology in the employment context. We identify major types of technologies, the areas of employment where they might be used, and the moral and legal principles most likely to frame debates about use. We do not recommend a specific moral judgment but instead introduce the issues, describe the major possible policies that could be implemented to deal with employment neurotechnology, compare those policies to current ones, and lay out an analytical framework for further discussion based on the broad effectiveness of neurotechnology, balancing interests of employers and employees, and existing ethical and legal principles.
Exploratory blockmodeling for one-mode, unsigned, deterministic networks using integer programming and structural equivalence

Abstract Although there are well-known heuristics for the blockmodeling of one-mode, unsigned, deterministic networks using structural equivalence, the potential benefits of exact algorithms that generate globally optimal solutions are many. In this paper we extend the applicability of one such method – integer programming – to exploratory blockmodeling. Specifically, leveraging the work of Brusco and Steinley (2009) , we use the isomorphic properties of the image matrix to develop a minimal, representative set of image matrices with P positions. Not only does this drastically reduce the total number of image matrices the researcher must fit, but it also simultaneously solves all blockmodels with less than P positions. We demonstrate and prove the latter using the structural equivalence of positions, and we subsequently develop a minimal set of image matrices for four or fewer positions. These developments are illustrated using Fine's well-known Sharpstone Auto Little League Team network (1987), and we use the results to discover new structural features. In our account, competing, globally optimal alternatives are embraced as equally compelling, coexisting representations of a complex culture.
Messages that matter: Age differences in affective responses to framed health messages

Age differences in responses to framed health messages-which can influence judgments and decisions-are critical to understand yet relatively unexplored. Age-related emotional shifts toward positivity would be expected to differentially impact the affective responses of older and younger adults to framed messages. In this study, we measured the subjective and physiological affective responses of older and younger adults to gain- and loss-framed exercise promotion messages. Relative to older adults, younger adults exhibited greater negative reactivity to loss-framed health messages. These results suggest that health message framing does matter, but it depends on the age of the message recipient. (PsycINFO Database Record
Effect of voltage and charge of electrical ablation pulses on canine myocardium

Multiple paired lesions produced by a train of high-voltage low-charge rectangular pulses (20 A, 30 microsecond) and a train of low-voltage high-charge rectangular pulses (2 A, 300 microsecond) were made to the left ventricular epicardium of 23 dogs to determine the relative influence of voltage and charge delivery on injury of canine myocardium. Both pulsing methods contained equal amounts of energy (15 J) delivered over equal periods of time (100 ms), and both pulsing methods were nonarcing and therefore nonbarotraumatic. The volume of cardiac tissue injury resulting from both types of pulses was then evaluated from planimetered serial histological sections after 1, 10, and 30 days. Over the 30-day period, lesion size progressively decreased to 56% of its original value for the high-voltage low-charge pulse. In contrast, lesion size from the low-voltage high-charge pulse remained relatively constant, decreasing only 12% of its original value. These results indicate that when energy delivery is held constant, voltage, not charge, is the dominant mediator of cell injury. Also, cells subjected to high voltages appear to recover partially over time with significantly less constancy of tissue injury than that seen with low-voltage high-charge pulses.
Vice-Presidential Comedy and the Traditional Female Role: An Examination of the Rhetorical Characteristics of the Vice Presidency.

This essay explains the vice‐presidential role and its rhetorical characteristics through an examination of public talk by and about those who run for the vice‐presidential office. More specifically, the essay argues that the vice presidency is a traditional female role in what Burke would describe as comedic drama, the symbolic form where protagonists are controlled by the situations around them, and that nominees must undergo a sublimation process during their candidacy. As part of this analysis, the essay also analyzes an apparent aberration in public talk about vice‐presidential candidates, the campaign of Geraldine Ferraro, and how the rhetorical “rules” of the vice presidency impacted upon her candidacy. Finally, the essay notes how the campaign of Dan Quayle paralleled, in many ways, that of Ferraro.
A selective insecticidal protein from Pseudomonas for controlling corn rootworms

The coleopteran insect western corn rootworm (WCR) (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) is a devastating crop pest in North America and Europe. Although crop plants that produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins can limit insect infestation, some insect populations have evolved resistance to Bt proteins. Here we describe an insecticidal protein, designated IPD072Aa, that is isolated from Pseudomonas chlororaphis. Transgenic corn plants expressing IPD072Aa show protection from WCR insect injury under field conditions. IPD072Aa leaves several lepidopteran and hemipteran insect species unaffected but is effective in killing WCR larvae that are resistant to Bt proteins produced by currently available transgenic corn. IPD072Aa can be used to protect corn crops against WCRs.
Genetics, Diagnosis, and Monitoring of Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Purpose of Review Pseudoexfoliation is the most common identifiable cause of glaucoma. However, its precise mechanism remains unknown.
Medication Exposure and Survival in ALS: An Observational Study Using Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (P3.182)

Objective: Examine the effect of exposure to commonly used medications on survival in a large cohort of ALS patients using inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) estimators. Background: There is little information on the effect of commonly used medications on survival in ALS. Design/Methods: An institutional database of self-reported measures and discrete health record elements (Knowledge Program Data Registry) was queried for the diagnosis of ALS, demographic information, self-reported measures (including ALSFRS-R), and medication use. Site of onset, duration of disease prior to initial assessment and death dates were obtained by chart review and from additional sources. The probability of exposure to treatment conditional on multiple predictors was estimated using logistic regression. Survival models weighted by the inverse of the probability of treatment assignment were used to estimate causal effect of treatment adjusted for confounding covariates. Missing data was addressed with multiple imputation. Seven a priori treatments were examined. Results: Of 1067 patients seen over 8 years, dates of death were known in 499. Median survival was 729 days (2 years) from initial assessment. Treatments examined (and numbers exposed) were as follows: Riluzole (679), any antidepressant (561), aspirin (418), non-tricyclic antidepressant (415), statin (313), tricyclic antidepressant (260), and dextromethorphan-quinidine (125). Dextromethorphan-quinidine was the only agent with a consistent and highly significant beneficial effect on survival (IPTW HR 0.74, CI 0.63-0.88, p<.001). A favorable trend was seen with statin, and a weak deleterious effect was seen with tricyclic antidepressant. Conclusion: Short of randomized controlled trials, propensity-based methods on observational data (including IPTW presented here) provide the best information on causal effect of treatment. Although there may be several non-pharmacological reasons for the apparent survival benefit of dextromethorphan-quinidine in this cohort of ALS patients, these findings warrant careful examination of this medication as a potential disease-modifying treatment. Disclosure: Dr. Thakore has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pioro has nothing to disclose.
Accurate MM-wave-to-THz power measurements with large-area pyroelectric detectors

We present an improved method for measuring power at ∼100 GHz and above using a large-area (5-mm diam) LiTaO 3 pyroelectric detector. The pyroelectric element is packaged in a lid-free TO-5 can, which in turn is mated to one end of a 1/2-inch-diam brass tube whose opposite end is flared for improved coupling efficiency. This “light-pipe”-like arrangement is cross-calibrated against a thermistor-based waveguide Anritsu ML83A power sensor using a 104-GHz Gunn oscillator and precision attenuator. It also stabilizes the pyroelectric element against background (IR) radiation and air currents. The resulting power detector is useful in the ∼10-nW-to-1-uW region where waveguide power sensors do not operate and free-space sensors like Golay cells and pyroelectrics have always been uncalibrated and unstable.
inSIRT trial: Single-center phase II study of yttrium-90 radioactive resin microspheres in the treatment of liver-predominant metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma after failure of first-line combination chemotherapy.

685 Background: Liver metastases develop in half of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and once metastatic ~90% die due to consequences from the hepatic metastases. We are evaluating the aggressive management of liver metastases through the incorporation of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) using yttrium-90 radioactive microspheres after evidence of progressive disease following first-line FOLFOX ± bevacizumab. Optimal timing for microsphere treatment relative to chemotherapy is not clearly established. We present preliminary data of a phase II study evaluating tumor response rates to SIRT following FOLFOX ± bevacizumab and prior to FOLFIRI. Methods: Subjects with predominant hepatic metastatic CRC despite first-line FOLFOX based therapy ± bevacizumab are eligible. Interventional radiology and nuclear medicine assess the liver lesions and the subject receives SIRT followed by second-line FOLFIRI (without bevacizumab) 4-6 weeks after the final SIRT. The primary objective is PFS at 6 mos and secondary ...
Acid denaturation of horse carbonylhemoglobin in the absence of oxygen.

Abstract Unlike ferrihemoglobin (Hb+), denatured carbonylhemoglobin (COHb) has almost the same absorption spectrum in the visible and near ultraviolet region as the native form; the very slight difference appears only in the Soret band. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments under anaerobic conditions show that COHb is considerably more resistant to acid denaturation at 25° than is Hb+ although the rates of denaturation of both proteins depend on pH in much the same way. These conclusions are based on assays of denatured protein by precipitation at the isoionic point, by the measurements of unmasking of imidazole groups inaccessible in the native protein, and by changes in optical rotatory dispersion. Air, when present, oxidizes the denatured protein practically instantaneously, but it has no discernible effect on the denaturation rate. It does, however, predictably shift the equilibria by removing the initial product, unoxidized acid-denatured protein. COHb, unlike Hb+, is not stabilized by formate, but another stabilizer of Hb+, azide, produces complex effects. Bromphenol blue greatly accelerates the rate of denaturation and shifts the denaturation equilibrium to higher pH. The possible significance of the absence of a marked spectral change is discussed in terms of a possible nonbonded clathrate structure for the prosthetic group in COHb. Changes in the Cotton effects in the Soret band differ in acid-denatured COHb and Hb+, and there are differences in the regenerability of the denatured proteins. These facts add support to the evidence that conformation differences exist in the native forms; thus the difference in stability between COHb and Hb+ need not be solely the direct consequence of the positive charge on the prosthetic group of the latter as previously postulated.
Internal consistency of the inorganic carbon system in the Arctic Ocean

Highly accurate and precise measurements of the inorganic carbon system are crucial for monitoring and assessing the uptake of anthropogenic CO2 by the ocean. The Arctic Ocean is an area of particular interest due to Arctic amplification of climate change. Internally consistent constants are essential for making high quality CO2 system measurements and for calculating the full suite of carbon parameters. Temperatures and salinities in the Arctic are near or below the valid ranges of most carbon system constants, but the applicability has never been fully assessed in the Arctic. Using measurements of all four carbon parameters (total alkalinity, total CO2, pH, and pCO2) made on the Arctic GEOTRACES/GO-SHIP cruise in summer 2015, we evaluate the internal consistency of six different sets of constants for surface waters at in situ temperature. Five of the six sets of constants are generally internally consistent, but each is statistically significantly different from each other. Although differences among constants are generally within the uncertainty of the calculations, these results indicate caution should be used when comparing data using different constants as biases may result from the choice of constants. We also find significant uncertainty in converting measured pH to pH at in situ temperature. The uncertainty in the pH temperature conversion limits our ability to determine the accuracy of pH measurements, particularly in polar regions. Measurements in marginal ice zones indicate that dissolution of semi-stable ikaite (CaCO3) may bias total alkalinity measurements, and should therefore be analyzed immediately upon collection or filtered before storage.
Survivorship and Outcomes in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently require total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The outcomes of TJA in patients with MS, who are frequently on immunomodulatory medications and physically deconditioned, remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to elucidate the survivorship and reasons for failure in this patient population. Methods A single-institution retrospective review of 108 TJAs (46 knees and 62 hips) was performed from 2000 to 2016. An electronic chart query based on MS medications and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes was used to identify this population followed by a manual review to confirm the diagnosis. Outcomes were then assessed using revision for any reason as the primary end point. Functional outcomes were assessed using Short Form 12 scores. Survivorship curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results At an average follow-up of 6.2 years, 19.4% (21/108) of patients required a revision surgery. Instability (5.6%, P = .0278) and periprosthetic joint infection (4.6%, P = .0757) were among the most common reasons for revision. The overall survivorship of TJA at years 2, 5, and 7, respectively, was 96.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.6-100), 86.3% (95% CI, 77.7-94.5), and 75.3% (95% CI, 63.5-87.0). Functional score improvement was less in MS cohort than patients without MS. Conclusion Patients with MS are at increased risk of complications, particularly instability and periprosthetic joint infection. Despite this increased risk of complications, patients with MS can demonstrate improved functional outcomes, but not as much as patients without MS. Patients with MS should be counseled appropriately before undergoing TJA.
How Should Physicians Make Decisions about Mandatory Reporting When a Patient Might Become Violent

Mandatory reporting of persons believed to be at imminent risk for committing violence or attempting suicide can pose an ethical dilemma for physicians, who might find themselves struggling to balance various conflicting interests. Legal statutes dictate general scenarios that require mandatory reporting to supersede confidentiality requirements, but physicians must use clinical judgment to determine whether and when a particular case meets the requirement. In situations in which it is not clear whether reporting is legally required, the situation should be analyzed for its benefit to the patient and to public safety. Access to firearms can complicate these situations, as firearms are a well-established risk factor for violence and suicide yet also a sensitive topic about which physicians and patients might have strong personal beliefs.
Field and laboratory responses to drought by Common Side-blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana)

Abstract Starting in 2012, and peaking in 2013, drought conditions in the Great Basin Desert persisted for almost four years. By studying a meta-population of Common Side-blotched Lizards in the wild, we found that a failure of spring rains correlated with a marked reduction of body condition in female, but not male, lizards. Likewise, rainfall correlated with reproductive scores of females such that a failure of spring rains in 2013 resulted in a cessation of the breeding season. By 2014 it was apparent that the drought had caused a general failure of recruitment into the population, which affected the body-size distribution of lizards for several subsequent years. To disentangle the effects of both water and food availability during a drought, we next conducted a laboratory experiment by imposing a drought on breeding animals, but not otherwise limiting food. Results indicate that the absence of drinking water alone tends to delay the breeding season as well as cause reproductive failure in females even as body condition was maintained. Our combination of field and laboratory data reveal that body condition and reproductive responses to drought are not strictly about food limitations, but are also caused by a lack of available drinking water.
Regulating Chemical Exposures: Using Legal Epidemiology to Determine Enforceable PFAS Standards

PFAS is a large family of man-made chemicals present in stain-resistant, waterproof, and non-stick consumer products. PFAS accumulates in biological tissues and does not break down when exposed to ...
Forest land-use history affects outcomes of habitat augmentation for amphibian conservation.

Abstract Historical land use (especially agriculture) has seldom been considered in the development of conservation programs for amphibians, a group in global decline. Habitat augmentation (e.g., wetland creation) is a growing conservation strategy to stem population declines in regions affected by habitat loss, but such actions are often implemented indiscriminately of landscape contexts that may mediate conservation outcomes for species with complex life cycles (i.e., distinct larval, juvenile, and adult stages). We examined the contribution of variation in quantity of larval (aquatic) and quality of juvenile/adult (terrestrial) habitat to the distribution of two pool-breeding and forest-dependent amphibian species in upland forest patches with histories that ranged from former agricultural lands (secondary forests) to never having been deforested (legacy forests). Using area-constrained visual encounter surveys in two consecutive years with contrasting precipitation conditions (extreme drought and extreme rainfall), we estimated forest patch occupancy probabilities of wood frogs ( Lithobates sylvaticus ) and spotted salamanders ( Ambystoma maculatum ) at a study area in central New York State, USA, and characterized terrestrial microhabitats in 29 population “neighborhoods” (9.3 ha) that varied in larval habitat availability (0–10 constructed vernal pools) and extent of secondary versus legacy forest. Terrestrial amphibian habitat in secondary forests featured shallower leaf litter, denser understory vegetation, and fewer cover object refuges than in legacy forests. The presence of wood frogs was solely affected by breeding pool densities whereas that of the longer-lived and less dispersive spotted salamanders depended on both quantity of larval habitat and quality of terrestrial habitat, with higher levels of occurrence in legacy forests and, during the drought year, where pool densities were greater. These results suggest that larval habitat augmentation can boost populations of amphibians with complex life cycles, but climate variation and land-use legacies mediate conservation outcomes for long-lived habitat specialists.
Transition Narratives, Priming Events and Reproductive Processes in Lives of Black Families Living in Poverty

Este artigo relata uma etnografia de tres anos com nove familias negras que vivem na pobreza. Vendo a socializacao como um processo de reproducao interpretativa, o artigo examina a linguagem e os estilos comunicativos em varias culturas locais nas quais as familias estao inseridas. Esses estilos comunicativos sao cruciais para compreender as atividades rotineiras em que pais e filhos enfrentam as exigentes estruturas e circunstâncias socioeconomicas de suas vidas diarias. Microanalises de entrevistas em profundidade e interacao natural em casa, comunidade e escolas geram narrativas detalhadas das transicoes das criancas pequenas da familia para a escola e para a comunidade em geral.
Supermagic Graphs with Many Odd Degrees

A graph \(G=(V,E)\) is called supermagic if there exists a bijection \(f: E\rightarrow \{1,2,\dots ,|E|\}\) such that the weight of every vertex \(x\in V\) defined as the sum of labels f(xy) of all edges xy incident with x is equal to the same number m, called the supermagic constant.
Measures of Community Well-Being: a Template

A proposal is put forward for a measure of community well-being that can be adapted to numerous specific contexts. The community well-being measure extends beyond simple measures of community satisfaction which are often currently employed. The proposed measure includes items in six domains relevant to community well-being: flourishing individuals, good relationships, proficient leadership, healthy practices, satisfying community, and strong mission. Adaptation of the measure for a variety of contexts is provided so that the proposed approach can be used in nations, cities, neighborhoods, families, workplaces, schools, and religious communities. Discussion is given to the complex relationships between individual and community well-being, and how measures of community well-being may be useful for tracking and assessment or reflection purposes, and how it might ultimately be used for the improvement of community well-being.
Student Perceptions of Academic Service Learning in the Online Public Health Classroom: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Online learning is increasingly common in university programmatic offerings, particularly in fields that often require human or social services such as public health. Academic Service Learning (ASL) is a strategy frequently implemented in traditional, face-to-face courses to promote community and civic engagement and to improve learning outcomes for students by connecting coursework to the related professional field. Given the ubiquity of online courses, however, more needs to be known about the role ASL can play in the web-based classroom. Methods: In 2016-2017, a pilot study was conducted to determine student perceptions toward ASL including civic engagement, course satisfaction, and satisfaction with ASL experiences using a mixed-methods design. Participants (n=32) were students enrolled in two health related undergraduate courses that required a service learning project. Results: The findings suggest that students’ ASL experience is generally positive and is expressed in a variety of ways. There are several challenges, to implementing ASL in the online course setting that should be considered. Conclusions: This paper presents student feedback and explores challenges and opportunities presented by offering ASL experiences in the online classroom, particularly in health and human services academic disciplines. Keywords: Academic Service Learning, Online Learning, Online Andragogy, Public Health Education
"The Back and Forth of the Brazilian Political Economy in the 21st Century." Review of Laura Carvalho. Valsa Brasileira – Do boom ao caos econômico. 2018.

A book review of Laura Carvalho's Valsa Brasileira, focusing on the Brazilian economy of the past Workers' Party administrations. The book was published in Brazil in Portuguese.
Features of Blood Clotting on Thromboelastography in Hospitalized Patients with Cirrhosis

Abstract Introduction Thromboelastography (TEG) provides a global assessment of hemostasis and may have value for patients with cirrhosis who have multiple hemostatic defects. We sought to examine the characteristics of TEG in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and its relationship with outcomes. Methods We performed a cohort study of all adults with cirrhosis hospitalized at Indiana University Hospital between November 2015 and October 2018 with a TEG. We examined the relationships among TEG, traditional measures of hemostasis, liver disease severity, and outcomes, including mortality, discharge to hospice, length of stay, and 30-day readmission. Results A total of 344 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria. R-value was elevated (≥10 min) in 4.5%, alpha angle was low ( Conclusions TEG provides insight into the hemostatic state of patients with cirrhosis beyond that of standard measures of hemostasis. It is associated with liver disease severity and outcomes and may play a role complementary to standard measures of hemostasis in this population.
The Great Cyber Solarium Dialogue

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a provision by U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) to establish a Cyberspace Solarium Commission. The 14-member commission is charged with the task of “develop[ing] a consensus on a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace against cyber attacks of significant consequences.” But here’s the dilemma: If the purpose of the commission is to produce a national cyber doctrine and encourage a “deliberate, structured debate,” then why is participation limited to only 14 hand-selected cybersecurity and national security experts? And who chooses these experts? Isn’t such cherry-picking likely to result in confirmation bias, or at least fuel other forms of cognitive bias? Cyberspace is everyone’s space; is it not therefore reasonable to incorporate a more diverse cross-section of society to debate these issues? So, if a greater cross-section of the people, cannot be included in the commission, why not bring the ‘commission-concept’ to the people -- in the form of a Platonic-style dialogue. The ancient Greek Philosophers Socrates and Plato valued this form of testing arguments because “reasoning and truth can only be gained through dialogue. They saw the search for truth as a process of assertions and testing those assertions.” Reader, you are invited to join the Cyberspace Solarium Dialogue.
Pressure to be Thin from a Religious Source Increases Perceived Pressure to be Thin in Women

Pressure to be thin through thin-idealization norms is something that women contend with daily in today’s world. Increased research has explored the effects this pressure can have on attitudes abou...