cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Changing Landscape of Automation in the Practice of Diagnostic Medical Microbiology: But What about Safety?

Abstract The clinical microbiology laboratory is undergoing a transformation in diagnostic testing as result of entering the “machine” or “robotic” age with the development and availability of automation, primarily molecular-based multiplex instruments and total laboratory automation. Automation provides substantial benefits to the laboratory, administrators, clinician, and, ultimately, patient. Major benefits include faster and more accurate results, improved workflow efficiency, high-throughput testing, reduction of laboratory costs, reduction of human error, and, for the most part, saving valuable space. Although the benefits are welcome, the issue of safety, especially how to effectively decontaminate (sterilize) the internal compartments and components of these devices, is in need of resolution. An instrument that is contaminated with blood, body fluids, and other liquid specimens that may contain a virulent pathogen, such as Ebola virus or a biothreat agent, represents a safety hazard to personnel and the environment.
Granulated Systemic Insecticides for Vegetable Insect Control in South Texas

Granular systemic insecticides Were applied to the soil at planting time to evaluate the resulting insect control on okra, southernpeas, cucumbers, lettuce, turnips, and spinach. Insects which were controlled in varying degrees included the leafminer ( Liriomyza munda Frick), tobacco flea bectles ( Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer) and E. parvula F.), turnip aphid ( Rhopalosiphum pseudobrassicae (Davis), thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)) and the spotted cucumber beetle ( Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber). Insect control was evident from 19 to 97 days. Parasites of the leafminer were not significantly reduced by the insecticide treatments.
Research and application on method of 3DS file read,render and control

OpenGL is a strong there-the graph develop tools, 3DS format is a common format for saving there d model. Based on OpenGL, on the method of 3DS model file read, render and control is researched. First the file structure of 3DS is analyzed, and the data structure of face, material, object and model are abstracted by chunk structure used to read in data. The file data is read in with the method of recursion, the read data renders in screen after data disposal. The interactive control of model is accomplished by three kinds of geometric transformation, translate, rotate and scale and OpenGL select mechanism. Finally, those methods are applied into the system of the borehole operation operate simulation and drilling, and achieve better results.
3D MR microscopy with resolution by by

Abstract The technique of magnetic resonance imaging microscopy holds promise of bringing the full capabilities of NMR to arbitrarily specified positions within spatially inhomogeneous systems, including biological cells, yet the possibilities are limited by the need for adequate sensitivity and spatial resolution. We report proton magnetic resonance images obtained by combining advances in receiver coil sensitivity, gradient strength, and pulse/gradient sequence design. We achieve resolution of 3.7±0.4 μm by 3.3±0.3 μm by 3.3±0.3 μm for a volume resolution ∼40 femtoliters (corresponding to ∼3×10 12 proton spins).
MicroXRF tomographic visualization of zinc and iron in the zebrafish embryo at the onset of the hatching period

Transition metals such as zinc, copper, and iron play key roles in cellular proliferation, cell differentiation, growth, and development. Over the past decade, advances in synchrotron X-ray fluorescence instrumentation presented new opportunities for the three-dimensional mapping of trace metal distributions within intact specimens. Taking advantage of microXRF tomography, we visualized the 3D distribution of zinc and iron in a zebrafish embryo at the onset of the hatching period. The reconstructed volumetric data revealed distinct differences in the elemental distributions, with zinc predominantly localized to the yolk and yolk extension, and iron to various regions of the brain as well as the myotome extending along the dorsal side of the embryo. The data set complements an earlier tomographic study of an embryo at the pharyngula stage (24 hpf), thus offering new insights into the trace metal distribution at key stages of embryonic development.
Origin and quantification of diffuse CO2 and H2S emissions at Crater Hills, Yellowstone National Park

Abstract We characterized volatile emissions based upon diffuse soil degassing measurements and fumarolic gas chemistry at Crater Hills, a thermally-altered area adjoining the Sour Creek resurgent dome that is located within the Yellowstone Caldera. The objective of this study was to investigate the source and flux of CO2 and H2S gases to improve our understanding of both the total emissions and origin of the spatial distribution. The total emission of CO2 estimated using the sequential Gaussian simulation method (sGs) was 66 to 109 t day−1 with 95% confidence, which is an underestimation due to the: (1) inability to measure a high flux area on a steep slope, and (2) absence of measurements from fumarole and hot pool emissions. Based on gas chemistry data obtained for a fumarole at Crater Hills in 2007, the proportion of CO2 calculated to be derived from magma would be at least 38%, but could be as high as 50%. The spatial distribution of prominent geothermal features with the highest gas flux are broadly consistent with the regional fault pattern and, therefore, likely reflect the pattern of blind faults and/or fractures covered by overlying alluvium. The estimated emission of H2S was 0.39 t day−1, based on the linear correlation between H2S and CO2. The heat output was also estimated to be ~35 MW with an average heat flux of ~100 W m−2 based upon CO2-H2O-heat relations.
Transcriptional Networks Controlled by NKX2-1 in the Development of Forebrain GABAergic Neurons

The embryonic basal ganglia generates multiple projection neurons and interneuron subtypes from distinct progenitor domains. Combinatorial interactions of transcription factors and chromatin are thought to regulate gene expression. In the medial ganglionic eminence, the NKX2-1 transcription factor controls regional identity and, with LHX6, is necessary to specify pallidal projection neurons and forebrain interneurons. Here, we dissected the molecular functions of NKX2-1 by defining its chromosomal binding, regulation of gene expression, and epigenetic state. NKX2-1 binding at distal regulatory elements led to a repressed epigenetic state and transcriptional repression in the ventricular zone. Conversely, NKX2-1 is required to establish a permissive chromatin state and transcriptional activation in the sub-ventricular and mantle zones. Moreover, combinatorial binding of NKX2-1 and LHX6 promotes transcriptionally permissive chromatin and activates genes expressed in cortical migrating interneurons. Our integrated approach provides a foundation for elucidating transcriptional networks guiding the development of the MGE and its descendants.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BackgroundPatients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement can experience severe perioperative complications leading to hemodynamic instability and death. Venoarterial extracorporeal memb...
Optimization of Methods for the Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Milk and Colostrum of Naturally Infected Dairy Cows

Two decontamination chemicals, hexadecylpyridinium choride (HPC) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium hydroxide (NALC-NaOH), were compared for their efficacy of reducing the growth of non-specific microorganisms in milk while minimally affecting the recovery of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). In addition three culture mediums, Bactec 12B and Trek-ESP para-JEM, and Herrold’s egg yolk media (HEYM), were compared for the ability to suppress growth of non-specific microorganisms as well as their sensitivity of detection of low levels of MAP in milk. Results indicated that exposing the milk to 1.5% NALC-NaOH for 15 minutes most effectively reduced nontarget microorganisms without reducing MAP viability. In addition, the Bactec 12B medium detected the lowest levels of MAP more rapidly and more consistently than the other two mediums.
Engineering light scattering with low-loss dielectric nanostructures (Conference Presentation)

The ability to manipulate light-matter interactions using complex, aperiodic electromagnetic media is at the heart of current nanoplasmonics and metamaterials technologies. Efficient approaches for multiscale electromagnetic field enhancement, concentration and manipulation of fields with designed spatial-frequency spectra in complex media enable the control of propagating and non-propagating electromagnetic modes in optical nanostructures with broadband/multi-band enhanced responses. Besides its fundamental interest, photonic-plasmonic coupling in complex aperiodic environments is also of great importance for a number of device applications such as nano-antennas, ultrafast optical switchers, nanoscale energy concentrators, laser nano-cavities, and optical biochemical sensors. In this talk, I will discuss our work on the engineering of light scattering and resonance phenomena in low-loss dielectric nanostructures with designed aperiodic geometries for active devices integrated atop the widespread and inexpensive silicon platform. In particular, I will discuss applications to the optical beam shaping of partially coherent radiation and absorption enhancement in thin-film optical photodetectors and solar cells. To this purpose, a new class of aperiodic media generated from prime numbers in complex quadratic fields will be introduced, and their distinctive scattering properties will be discussed within the rigorous Green's matrix spectral method. The presented work will focus on the design, fabrication and characterization of novel photonic nanostructures that enables the control of anomalous light transport phenomena in silicon-compatible low-loss materials, such as the recently demonstrated logarithmic photon sub-diffusion, thus defining a novel approach to tailor light-matter interactions for technologically relevant applications to optical sensing, light emission, and energy conversion on a chip.
Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

With specialized care, patients with myasthenia gravis can have very good outcomes. The mainstays of treatment are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies. There is good evidence thymectomy is beneficial in thymomatous and nonthymomatous disease. Nearly all of the drugs used for MG are considered "off-label." The 2 exceptions are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and complement inhibition with eculizumab, which was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for myasthenia gravis. This article reviews the evidence base and provides a framework for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, highlighting recent additions to the literature.
Studies on the modification of the cellular response to injury. IV. Protective effect of extracellular acidosis against anoxia, thermal, and p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid treatment of isolated rat liver cells

Abstract Isolated rat liver cells were exposed in vitro to ageing in an aerobic condition and to the effects of anoxia, thermal and p -chloromercuribenzene sulfonic (PCMBS) acid treatment, The survival of the cells was studied at normal and acidic pH using vital dye staining, intracellular concentration of potassium and ATP as indicators of viability. In aerobic conditions at pH 7.4, control cells lost their viability within approximately 6 hours. Extracellular acidosis not only prolonged the life span of isolated control hepatocytes against mechanical and other possible stress factors associated with the incubation and the absence of substrates in the medium, but also protected the cells significantly against various other superimposed injurious effects. These observations augment our previous observations on Ehrlich ascites tumore cells and lend further support to the hypothesis that extracellular acidosis, a common phenomenon associated with cell injury, is not harmful to cell survival in vitro evidently prolongs it. The mechanism(s) behind this effect is not fully understood but it is suggested that extracellular acidosis stabilizes, and thereby protects cellular membrane systems making them more resistant to various deteriorating effects.
U.S. International Tax Reform: What Form Should it Take?

This article focuses solely on the big picture issue of whether international tax reform should take the form of a territorial system or an alternative full inclusion system. Of course, it is also necessary to compare these possible new systems with the current hybrid deferral system that has been in place for many years. With little if any explanation of how it might be better for our nation and society as a whole, many persons and commentators whose companies or clients stand to benefit have called for a territorial system. Such persons have included CEOs, members of the professional tax community, business groups, and lobbyists. This article attempts to assess this issue on a more objective basis through a balanced understandable summary of the principal policy issues and consequences.
Microvascular Decompression of the Trigeminal Nerve for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Facial pain is a relatively common complaint with many different etiologies and anatomical origins. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as tic douloureux, is one of the most common causes of facial pain. Classically, TN is characterized by excruciating, episodic, lancinating pain in the distribution of one or more branches of cranial nerve V (CNV) that is triggered by a sensory stimulus. The pathophysiology of TN is not completely understood nor agreed upon; however, the prevailing hypothesis is that neurovascular compression of the trigeminal nerve by an artery or vein damages the nerve, resulting in neuronal dysfunction and development of neuropathic pain. Compression may result in damage to the myelin sheath which results in ephaptic transmission of impulses that are perceived as pain. Injured neurons often respond abnormally with heightened sensitivity, increased excitability, spontaneous signaling activity, or aberrant neuronal connectivity. Other neurovascular compression syndromes include hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, which involve, respectively, the facial nerve, cranial nerve VII (CNVII), and the glossopharyngeal nerve, cranial nerve IX (CNIX).
Cannabis Use Disorder: Recent Findings and Future Directions

The purpose of this review was to examine the definition of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and recent findings regarding the risks for developing CUD and the associated outcomes. Frequent use of cannabis, use of other substances, and mental health disorders are associated with CUD. Although few individuals seek treatment, addressing CUD is associated with improved health outcomes and quality of life. Public health officials and policymakers need to be aware of the potential consequences of more permissive cannabis use policies and to take the appropriate intervention and prevention actions to improve overall health and social outcomes.
Light-induced stabilization of ACS contributes to hypocotyl elongation during the dark-to-light transition in Arabidopsis seedlings.

Hypocotyl growth during seedling emergence is a crucial developmental transition influenced by light and phytohormones such as ethylene. Ethylene and light antagonistically control hypocotyl growth in either continuous light or darkness. However, how ethylene and light regulate hypocotyl growth, including seedling emergence, during the dark-to-light transition remains elusive. Here, we show that ethylene and light cooperatively stimulate a transient increase in hypocotyl growth during the dark-to-light transition via the light-mediated stabilization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthases (ACSs), the rate-limiting enzymes in ethylene biosynthesis. We found that, in contrast to the known inhibitory role of light in hypocotyl growth, light treatment transiently increases hypocotyl growth in wild-type etiolated seedlings. Moreover, ACC, the direct precursor of ethylene, accentuates the effects of light on hypocotyl elongation during the dark-to-light transition. We determined that light leads to the transient elongation of hypocotyls by stabilizing the ACS5 protein during the dark-to-light transition. Furthermore, biochemical analysis of an ACS5 mutant protein bearing an alteration in the C-terminus indicated that light stabilizes ACS5 by inhibiting the degradation mechanism that acts through the C-terminus of ACS5. Our study reveals that plants regulate hypocotyl elongation during seedling establishment by coordinating light-induced ethylene biosynthesis at the post-translational level. Moreover, the stimulatory role of light on hypocotyl growth during the dark-to-light transition provides additional insights into the known inhibitory role of light in hypocotyl development.
Detecting neuroinflammation in the brain following chronic alcohol exposure in rats: A comparison between in vivo and in vitro TSPO radioligand binding.

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with neuroinflammation, which likely contributes to alcohol-related pathology. However, positron emission tomography (PET) studies using radioligands for the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), which is considered a biomarker of neuroinflammation, reported decreased binding in alcohol use disorder (AUD) participants compared to controls. In contrast, autoradiographic findings in alcohol exposed rats reported increases in TSPO radioligand binding. To assess if these discrepancies reflected differences between in vitro and in vivo methodologies, we compared in vitro autoradiography (using [3 H]PBR28 and [3 H]PK11195) with in vivo PET (using [11 C]PBR28) in male, Wistar rats exposed to chronic alcohol-vapor (dependent n = 10) and in rats exposed to air-vapor (nondependent n = 10). PET scans were obtained with [11 C]PBR28, after which rats were euthanized and the brains were harvested for autoradiography with [3 H]PBR28 and [3 H]PK11195 (n = 7 dependent and n = 7 nondependent), and binding quantified in hippocampus, thalamus, and parietal cortex. Autoradiography revealed significantly higher binding in alcohol-dependent rats for both radioligands in thalamus and hippocampus (trend level for [3 H]PBR28) compared to nondependent rats, and these group differences were stronger for [3 H]PK11195 than [3 H]PBR28. In contrast, PET measures obtained in the same rats showed no group difference in [11 C]PBR28 binding. Our in vitro data are consistent with neuroinflammation associated with chronic alcohol exposure. Failure to observe similar increases in [11 C]PBR28 binding in vivo suggests the possibility that a mechanism mediated by chronic alcohol exposure interferes with [11 C]PBR28 binding to TSPO in vivo. These data question the sensitivity of PBR28 PET as a methodology to assess neuroinflammation in AUD.
Examining the Value of Mentoring in Youth Engineering Programs: What Motivates a Mentor to Mentor?

The purpose of this research study is to examine the motivations of undergraduate students, graduate students, and teaching professionals to serve as mentors for elementary school-aged kids participating in the Summer Engineering Experiences for Kids (SEEK) program hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews (n=25), which we analyzed using a two-pronged approach: 1) through attribute coding, we identified demographic information, and 2) through value coding, we identified the participant motivations for mentoring, which enabled us to identify the value attributed to the mentoring experience and thus each participant’s rationale for participating in the mentoring experiences. The themes that emerged from this analysis were mentors valuing their roles as influencers for the younger generation, mentors’ enjoyment in teaching and sharing their interest in science, and the belief that their roles in the camp enhanced their professional opportunities. The results of this study contribute to the literature on mentor motivation and provide empirical evidence for educators and administrators who aim to incentivize mentor engagement.
Efficient estimation of accelerated lifetime models under length-biased sampling

In prevalent cohort studies where subjects are recruited at a cross-section, the time to an event may be subject to length-biased sampling, with the observed data being either the forward recurrence time, or the backward recurrence time, or their sum. In the regression setting, it has been shown that the accelerated failure time model for the underlying event time is invariant under these observed data set-ups and can be fitted using standard methodology for accelerated failure time model estimation, ignoring the length-bias. However, the efficiency of these estimators is unclear, owing to the fact that the observed covariate distribution, which is also length-biased, may contain information about the regression parameter in the accelerated life model. We demonstrate that if the true covariate distribution is completely unspecified, then the naive estimator based on the conditional likelihood given the covariates is fully efficient.
The Catholic Origins and Calvinist Orientation of Dutch Reformed Church Law

This article analyzes the theological and jurisprudential foundations of the church laws and consistory courts of the Calvinist or Reformed churches in the early modern Netherlands. Catholic authorities had governed the Netherlands until the 1550s, but they were forcibly removed with the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish monarchy and its papal supporters. In the immediate aftermath of the Revolt, the new Reformed Churches rejected the canon law and church courts that had traditionally governed most aspects of Dutch public and private life, calling instead for the magistrate to assume plenary jurisdiction. They also rejected the medieval “two-sword” theory that the Catholic Church had used to justify its rule over spiritual and temporal matters, calling instead for a greater separation of church and state, of spiritual and temporal power. Over time, however, the Dutch authorities gradually established Calvinism as the official state religion, the Dutch churches gradually reintroduced consistory courts and church laws modeled in part on medieval church courts, and the universities gradually resumed the study of canon law as a valid source of law for both church and state, albeit a canon law stripped of Catholic theological features that were not compatible with the new Reformed theology.
Intraoperative Conversion to Five-Strand Hamstring Autograft Configuration Significantly Increases Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Diameter Independent of Patient Characteristics.

Intraoperative conversion of a four-strand hamstring autograft to a five-strand configuration during an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has been reported. However, the expected change in graft size and the dependence on patient characteristics are currently not well described. The purpose of this study was to determine the effective change in hamstring graft diameter and reliance on patient characteristics when intraoperatively converting a four-strand hamstring autograft into a five-strand configuration during an ACL reconstruction. A prospective, paired cohort study design was used to measure individual hamstring autograft diameter intraoperatively using traditional four-strand configuration followed by a five-strand configuration. All hamstring tendons included were long enough to consider a five-strand configuration. Five-strand hamstring autograft increased graft diameter in all patients. Hamstring tendon graft diameter increased by an average of 0.99 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84–1.11) in the five-strand configuration compared with the traditional four-strand configuration (mean: 7.8 mm). There was no significant difference in the average increase in graft diameter between males (1.04 mm) and females (0.92 mm) (p = 0.323). Eighty-three percent (95% CI: 57.8–95.6) of average graft diameters ≤ 8 mm in the four-strand configuration achieved an average graft diameter of >8 mm in the five-strand configuration, and 70% (95% CI: 35.4– 91.9) of four-strand configuration average diameters 8.0 mm in the five-strand configuration. Five-strand hamstring autograft reliably increased intraoperative hamstring tendon autograft diameter, with an average of 1 mm, compared with traditional four-strand configuration. This increase in diameter is independent of sex and remained significant when controlling for age, laterality, body mass index, and semitendinosus length.
An implementation of data assimilation techniques for transmural visualization of action potential propagation in cardiac tissue

A number of models have been put forward which describe the motion and propagation of action potentials within cardiac muscle tissue. The information produced by these models can be unverifiable, as no techniques currently exist to accurately measure voltage within the walls of the cardiac tissue, especially in an in vivo environment. In most situations it is much simpler to measure the contractile motion of the cardiac muscle, which is one of the results of the propagation of these action potentials. Prior work has suggested that one can solve an inverse problem to derive the action potentials present in the cardiac tissue from measurements of the displacement caused by the contractile motion; nevertheless, the solutions to this inverse problem degrade quickly in the face of error in the measurements of these displacements. In our work, we show that one potential solution for reducing the effects of these errors is through the implementation of the Unscented Kalman Filter. This technique allows us to assimilate our error-prone measurements with knowledge of an electrophysiological model to improve our estimates and help refine our solutions to the inverse problem. Using this process, we are able to solve the one dimensional problem in a way that reduces the error present in our estimates significantly, which, in turn, allows us to more accurately resolve the electrical behavior in our system.
Development of a CFD-Based Artificial Neural Network Metamodel in a Wastewater Disinfection Process with Peracetic Acid

AbstractComputational fluid dynamics (CFD) have been applied to predict the performance of chemical water treatment disinfection systems in recent decades. However, computation times remain suffici...
Video Assessment of Head Impact Exposure in American Football

Previous research has sought to quantify head impact exposure using wearable kinematic sensors. However, validation studies have shown that most sensors suffer from poor accuracy in estimating impact severity and count, motivating the need for additional independent impact exposure quantification. Here, we implemented a tiered video assessment to collect American football head impact exposure data. We also developed a new exposure metric unique to American football quantifying number of impacts per player-play, and found significantly higher exposure during games (0.40, 95% CI: 0.33-0.47) than practices (0.26, 95% CI: 0.23-0.30) (p<0.05). Using the more traditional impacts per player-hour metric, we observed higher exposure during practices (4.7) than games (3.6) due to the greater number of player-plays per hour (17.8 practices vs. 9.1 games). Thus, our exposure metric accounts for variability in on-field participation, providing more accurate depictions of impact likelihood when in play. We further coupled our video assessment with an instrumented mouthguard, and found median impact linear acceleration angular velocity, and angular acceleration magnitudes of 19.0g, 9.9rad/s, and 1358.8rad/s2 respectively during practices, and more severe 23.7g, 13.4rad/s, and 1483.5rad/s2 respectively during games (p<0.5 in linear acceleration magnitude). Our results agree with previous findings showing higher exposure and more severe impacts during games. However, our impact directionality results differed substantially, with 1.5% identified as rear impacts in video assessment, and 30.9% identified as rear impacts in previous sensor-based exposure studies. This discrepancy demonstrates the need for collecting independent, unbiased impact exposure data to compare against sensor-based findings.
Lowest Instrumented Vertebra Selection in Posterior Cervical Fusion: Does Cervicothoracic Junction Lowest Instrumented Vertebra Predict Mechanical Failure?

Study design Retrospective. Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of posterior cervical fusion lowest instrumented vertebra (PCF LIV) selection on incidence of mechanical failure, revision surgery, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Summary of background data Recent studies indicate that the LIV in PCF may contribute to the risk of mechanical failure. To date, the evidence available to guide spine surgeons in the selection of PCF LIV remains limited. Methods All patients undergoing PCF at a single institution were prospectively entered into a spine registry which was retrospectively queried. Data collection included demographics, pathology, operative variables, construct LIV, outcomes of mechanical failure, revision surgery, and patient-reported disability, pain, and quality of life. Results Of 438 patients undergoing PCF from 2006 to 2019, 106 patients had an LIV of C7, T1, or T2, a minimum of 1-year follow-up, and met all study inclusion criteria. LIV cohorts were C7 LIV (36), T1 LIV (42), and T2 LIV (28). There were no between-group differences in patient demographics, operative variables, or postoperative follow-up across the three LIV cohorts. Mechanical failure rates for C7, T1, and T2 LIV were 30.6%, 23.8%, and 0%, respectively (P = 0.007). Revision rates for C7, T1, and T2 LIV were 25.0%, 11.9%, and 0%, respectively (P = 0.013). No difference was noted in average time to revision/failure between C7 (39.68 months) and T1 (29.85 months) LIV cohorts. No differences in baseline, 3-month, and 12-month postoperative PRO measures were noted in the C7 and T1 LIV cohort when compared to the T2 LIV cohort. Conclusion The findings in this study indicate that PCF LIV selection may play a significant role in the development of mechanical complications and need for revision surgery. T2 LIV selection demonstrated a significantly lower rate of mechanical failure and revision surgery. Postoperative PROs up to 36 months are needed to evaluate effect of LIV selection on PROs.Level of Evidence: 3.
Profile of a Conspiracy Theorist: The Role of Government Trust and Technology on Misinformation during an Epidemic

What characterizes a conspiracy theorist? Combining data on beliefs about the origin of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia with conventional and machine learning methods, we uncover that, contrary to popular beliefs, socio-demographic and economic indicators play a minor role in predicting who is more likely to believe false information about the origin of the epidemic. Conspiracy theorists are not any poorer, older, less educated, more economically distressed, more rural, or ethnically different than individuals who are correctly informed. They are, however, significantly more likely to report high levels of distrust, especially towards governmental institutions. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that access to cell phone coverage can play a key role in belief-updating: individuals with coverage are 7 percentage points more likely to switch from misinformed to informed by the end of the epidemic. These results highlight the importance of government trust and information and communication technologies in reducing misinformation during epidemics.
Contributions, Constraints, and Facilitations for Sustained Engagement of Anthropology in Medical Education

Anthropologists are being called upon to reconfigure a more humanistic medical school curriculum, to refocus on clinical patient care, elucidate patient life situations in family and community, highlight inequalities in health, distribution of health services, and caring for culturally diverse patients, as well as informing government policies. In this chapter, we assembled the major contributions of anthropology in medical education, the constraints encountered in educating physicians, and ways to facilitate impact and influence the future training of anthropologists, physicians, and health professionals. Major contributions include ethnography, engaging communities, understanding the socio-cultural context of health, communication and collaboration skills, program development and management. Learning from the quarter century of experiences reflected by the chapter authors, we present what anthropologists, as well as the field of medical education, can do better to ensure more successful and sustained engagement of anthropologists in medical education. Dialogue between anthropology and medicine needs to occur at higher levels to address the constraints identified in this chapter and facilitate the continued engagement of anthropologists in medical education. This fulfills a primary purpose of applied medical anthropology, to improve health outcomes for populations by changing health care delivery for the better by strategically influencing the training of physicians.
Entry Timing in the Face of Switching Costs and its Welfare Effects: Evidence from Same-Day Grocery Delivery Platforms

The online grocery market has seen significant entry over the last five years by firms with different business models. Most firms offer subscriptions, and, in the data, consumers rarely switch between them. I find that switching costs significantly affect consumer platform choice, suggesting potential for future exercise of market power. I estimate the welfare impact of the acquisition of a national grocery chain by of a major online retailer and highlight the role played by this feature of demand and by delivery cost structures. I model competition between two large platforms. The first is the major online retailer engaging in the merger. The rival is an independent platform with low entry costs. The platforms compete in a dynamic entry game, and two opposing forces influence entry timing. I find that firms chase a first-mover advantage resulting from consumer lock-in at the expense of higher entry costs, leading to significant costs of early entry. I estimate that, before the acquisition, the major online retailer had very large entry costs. The acquisition reduced this cost, posing a competitive threat to the rival. Consumer lock-in then contributed to raising the stakes of early entry for both firms, accelerating entry across new markets and generating over \$ 800 M in welfare gains to consumers due to earlier entry. Further, I find that a merger between the two platforms, resulting in a monopoly, would delay entry significantly. These results show that strategic competition in entry timing plays an important role in mergers' welfare effect.
Vitamin D and bone minerals in neonates.

Abstract Osteopenia and rickets remain a problem for high-risk infants, especially preterm infants
Proprietary and Public Standards

When the organisers of this conference first approached me they suggested that my subject should be from proprietary to public standards. I chose not to speak on that exact theme because I could not have supported the general direction implied. But strange as it may seem I cannot address even the rather bland title of Proprietary and Public Standards without some important qualification.
Spatio-temporal analysis in functional brain imaging

Localizing sources of activity from electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) measurements involves solving an ill-posed inverse problem, where infinitely many source distribution patterns can give rise to identical measurements. This thesis aims to improve the accuracy of source localization by incorporating spatio-temporal models into the reconstruction procedure. First, we introduce a novel method for current source estimation, which we call the l1l2-norm source estimator. The underlying model captures the sparseness of the active areas in space while encouraging smooth temporal dynamics. We compute the current source estimates efficiently by solving a second-order cone programming problem. By considering all time points simultaneously, we achieve accurate and stable results as confirmed by the experiments using simulated and human MEG data. Although the l1l2-norm estimator enables accurate source-estimation, it still faces challenges when the current sources are close to each other in space. To alleviate problems caused by the limited spatial resolution of EEG/MEG measurements, we introduce a new method to incorporate information from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) into the estimation algorithm. Whereas EEG/MEG record neural activity, fMRI reflects hemodynamic activity in the brain with high spatial resolution. We examine empirically the neurovascular coupling in simultaneously recorded MEG and diffuse optical imaging (DOI) data, which also reflects hemodynamic activity and is compatible with MEG recordings. Our results suggest that the neural activity and hemodynamic responses are aligned in space. However, the relationship between the temporal dynamics of the two types of signals is non-linear and varies from region to region. Based on these findings, we develop the fMRI-informed regional EEG/MEG source estimator (FIRE). This method is based on a generative model that encourages similar spatial patterns but allows for differences in time courses across imaging modalities. Our experiments with both Monte Carlo simulation and human fMRI-EEG/MEG data demonstrate that FIRE significantly reduces ambiguities in source localization and accurately captures the timing of activation in adjacent functional regions. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
A Framework for Determining Component and Overall Accuracy for Computer Assisted Surgery Systems

Computer assisted surgery (CAS) systems have generated a great deal of interest in the research and medical communities due to their promise of improved results with less invasive access to the surgical site. While some systems have been checked against a minimum acceptable standard set by the system’s developers, no overall methodology is in place to insure that a system is thoroughly characterized. A framework to assess the accuracy of CAS systems will provide developers and researchers with a common starting point with which to test their systems, and will provide surgeons with a consistent basis for comparing different systems. We describe this framework and its application to the HipNav system.
Hydrothermal venting at Vailulu'u Seamount: The smoking end of the Samoan chain

[1] The summit crater of Vailulu'u Seamount, the youngest volcano in the Samoan chain, hosts an active hydrothermal system with profound impact on the ocean water column inside and around its crater (2 km wide and 407 m deep at a 593 m summit depth). The turbidity of the ocean water reaches 1.4 NTU, values that are higher than in any other submarine hydrothermal system. The water is enriched in hydrothermal Mn (3.8 ppb) and 3He (1 × 10−11 cc/g) and we measured water temperature anomalies near the crater floor up to 0.2°C. The hydrothermal system shows complex interactions with the ocean currents around Vailulu'u that include tidally-modulated vertical motions of about 40–50 m, and replenishment of waters into the crater through breaches in the upper half of the crater wall. Inside and outside potential density gradients suggest that hydrothermal venting exports substantial amounts of water from the crater (1.3 ± 0.2 × 108 m3/day), which is in good agreement with fluxes obtained from a tracer release experiment inside the crater of Vailulu'u (0.8 × 108 m3/day [Hart et al., 2003]). This mass flux, in combination with the differences in the inside and outside crater temperature, yields a power output of around 760 megawatts, the equivalent of 20–100 MOR black smokers. The Mn output of 300 kg/day is approximately ten times the output of a single black smoker.
Recurrent Jaundice in Chronic Relapsing Pancreatitis

Summary Recurrent jaundice in chronic relapsing pancreatitis without associated gallbladder disease is not rare. Six cases are presented. Obstructive biliary cirrhosis of the liver is a possible serious complication. The normal gall-bladder may become secondarily involved in chronic pancreatitis. In persons with chronic pancreatitis, cholecystectomy should not be done except for the same indications one observes in the patient without pancreatitis.
Spectroscopic characterization of the oxyferrous complex of prostacyclin synthase in solution and in trapped sol-gel matrix.

Prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) is a member of the cytochrome P450 family in which the oxyferrous complexes are generally labile in the absence of substrate. At 4 °C, the on-rate constants and off-rate constants of oxygen binding to PGIS in solution are 5.9 × 105 m−1·s−1 and 29 s−1, respectively. The oxyferrous complex decays to a ferric form at a rate of 12 s−1. We report, for the first time, a stable oxyferrous complex of PGIS in a transparent sol–gel monolith. The encapsulated ferric PGIS retained the same spectroscopic features as in solution. The binding capabilities of the encapsulated PGIS were demonstrated by spectral changes upon the addition of O-based, N-based and C-based ligands. The peroxidase activity of PGIS in sol–gel was three orders of magnitude slower than that in solution owing to the restricted diffusion of the substrate in sol–gel. The oxyferrous complex in sol–gel was observable for 24 h at room temperature and displayed a much red-shifted Soret peak. Stabilization of the ferrous–carbon monoxide complex in sol–gel was observed as an enrichment of the 450-nm species over the 420-nm species. This result suggests that the sol–gel method may be applied to other P450s to generate a stable intermediate in the di-oxygen activation.
AN ANALYSIS OF YORUBA AND ISLAMIC LAWS OF INHERITANCE

Dans le Yorubaland, l'heritage peut etre defini comme une succession et une entree dans les droits du decede en respect de la propriete individuelle. Le testament n'est pas une pratique usuelle. Pour la loi islamique, il est preferable que le decede laisse ses heritiers dans une situation confortable. La loi de succession du Yorubaland ne discrimine pas les heritiers en raison de leur religion ou de leur sexe comme le fait la loi islamique. Souvent, dans la distribution de la propriete, le chef de famille joue un role significatif. La loi de succession du Yorubaland se fait sur un mode patrilineaire
Rate effects in metal-ceramic interface sliding from the periodic film cracking technique

Abstract The periodic film cracking technique [Agrawal and Raj, Acta metall. 37 , 1265 (1989)] was used to characterize sliding mechanisms at the copper-silica interface of silica films on a copper substrate at temperatures up to 550°C and at strain-rates ranging from 1.7 × 10 −3 to 1.6 × 10 −5 s −1 . Two regimes of behavior were observed. The sliding was strongly rate sensitive in the high temperature/low strain-rate regime, with a power law stress component of n = 1.00 ± 0.04. At low temperatures and/or high strain-rates, the crack-spacing was strain-rate independent. These results, when analyzed in terms of the global mechanisms of deformation in crystalline materials, lead to the following interesting ideas: (a) the diffusional accomodation mechanism of sliding which assumes that diffusional transport can be applied to sliding at a wavy metal-ceramic interface shape, is consistent with the phenomenology of the strain-rate sensitive regime; (b) the non-linear power law creep mechanism ( n ≈ 4.5) is not observed for deformation near the interface, presumably because the width of the deformation zone near the interface is smaller than the characteristic subgrain size required in power law creep; (c) in the low temperature regime, interface sliding occurs by dislocation slip in the metal at or near the interface. We extend the concept of “deformation mechanism map” first introduced for bulk crystalline materials by Ashby [ Acta metall. 20 , 887 (1972)] to sliding at metal-ceramic interfaces.
Laser photoacoustic spectroscopy of iodine molecule: Single and two-photon absorption

Photoacoustic spectroscopy of iodine molecule has been studied in gas phase using nitrogen laser-pumped tunable dye laser. The experiment yielded the vibrational spectrum corresponding toX 1Σ+(0 g + )→B 3Π(0 g + ) transition up to the convergence limit. The photo-acoustic spectrum in the region 17580–18850 cm−1 is presented along with the vibrational analysis. Five of the vibrational bands reported earlier by Venkateswarlu, Kumar and McGlynn have been partially resolved and the structure of one of them has been analyzed and shown to be due to an overlap of (14, 2) and (12, 1) bands. The analysis was based on a comparison with the highly resolved spectrum of Gerstenkorn and Luc. The structure observed in the region 20200–20750 cm−1 which is beyond the convergence limit of the transitionX 1Σ+(0 g + )→B 3Π(0 u + ) has been analyzed as due to two-photon absorption. Most of the bands could be assigned to two transitions both originating in the ground state and terminating in two different electronic states 1 g andE(0 g + ), atT e=40821 cm−1 (orT 0=41355 cm−1) andT e=41411 cm−1 (orT 0=41355 cm−1) respectively.
Russian military performance in Chechnya: An initial evaluation

(1995). Russian military performance in Chechnya: An initial evaluation. The Journal of Slavic Military Studies: Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 681-690.
A Bayesian interpretation of the "proper" binormal ROC model using a uniform prior distribution for the area under the curve

Maximum likelihood estimation of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves using the "proper" binormal model can be interpreted in terms of Bayesian estimation as assuming a flat joint prior distribution on the c and d a parameters. However, this is equivalent to assuming a non-flat prior distribution for the area under the curve (AUC) that peaks at AUC = 1.0. We hypothesize that this implicit prior on AUC biases the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) of AUC. We propose a Bayesian implementation of the "proper" binormal ROC curve-fitting model with a prior distribution that is marginally flat on AUC and conditionally flat over c . This specifies a non-flat joint prior for c and d a . We developed a Monte Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) algorithm to estimate the posterior distribution and the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate of AUC. We performed a simulation study using 500 draws of a small dataset (25 normal and 25 abnormal cases) with an underlying AUC value of 0.85. When the prior distribution was a flat joint prior on c and d a , the MLE and MAP estimates agreed, suggesting that the MCMC algorithm worked correctly. When the prior distribution was marginally flat on AUC, the MAP estimate of AUC appeared to be biased low. However, the MAP estimate of AUC for perfectly separable degenerate datasets did not appear to be biased. Further work is needed to validate the algorithm and refine the prior assumptions.