cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Development of the Autism Social Skills Profile: A Preliminary Analysis of Psychometric Properties

There is currently a critical need to develop reliable and valid social skills assessment tools for children and adolescents With autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Autism Social Skills Profile (...
His Bundle Electrograms of Dog Correlation with Intracellular Recordings

Transmembrane potentials from the penetrating and branching portions of the bundle of His were simultaneously recorded along with bipolar extracellular electrograms. Recordings were obtained during periods of normal antegrade and retrograde conduction and also during various degrees of conduction delay and block within and distal to the bundle of His. The onset and termination of extracellular electrogram coincided with the upstrokes of the transmembrane action potentials recorded from the penetrating and branching portions respectively and the duration of the extracellular electrogram equaled the interelectrode conduction time. Thus, the extracellular electrogram accurately reflected the timing and duration of the electrical activity of the entire bundle of His (penetrating and branching portions). Intra-His bundle conduction delay as determined by an increase in interelectrode conduction time and a decrease in the upstroke velocity of phase O of the action potentials, resulted in a decrease in the ampli...
Antiandrogen Effects of Mifepristone on Coactivator and Corepressor Interactions with the Androgen Receptor

Mifepristone is a potent antagonist of steroid hormone receptors such as glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors. We investigated the potential for mifepristone to act as an antiandrogen and compared it with partial androgen receptor (AR) agonists and antagonists, in particular bicalutamide. Mifepristone was an effective antiandrogen in vitro that inhibited transcription from three androgen-responsive promoters and blocked the agonist R1881 in a dose-dependent manner. Like bicalutamide, mifepristone also antagonized the action of androgen receptor with a (T877A) mutation. Mifepristone competed effectively with R1881 with a relative binding affinity comparable to that of cyproterone acetate, and much higher than that of hydroxyflutamide and bicalutamide in a binding assay. Mifepristone could effectively induce the binding of the herpes simplex viral protein 16/AR fusion protein to the hormone response elements in the murine mammary tumor virus-luciferase reporter. With either wild-type or T877A mutant AR, mifepristone alone was unable to induce any detectable interaction with coactivators transcriptional intermediary factor-2 or beta-catenin but could inhibit the R1881-induced binding of AR to transcriptional intermediary factor-2 and beta-catenin. Similarly, mifepristone could inhibit the R1881-induced N/C-terminal interaction in a dose-dependent manner even though mifepristone alone has no effect on the N/C-terminal interaction of AR. We found that mifepristone could induce a strong interaction between AR and corepressors nuclear receptor corepressor and silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors in both transactivation and two-hybrid assays to a greater degree than hydroxyflutamide, cyproterone acetate, and bicalutamide. The AR-corepressor interaction was also seen in coimmunoprecipitation assays. Finally, mifepristone at high concentrations induced a low level of prostate-specific antigen expression in LNCaP and antagonized prostate-specific antigen expression induced by R1881. Mifepristone also antagonized R1881 action on the growth of LNCaP prostate cancer cells.
Boundary Layer Dynamics and Cross-Equatorial Hadley Circulation

The behavior of the Hadley circulation is analyzed in the context of an idealized axisymmetric atmosphere. It is argued that the cross-equatorial Hadley circulation exhibits two different regimes depending on the depth of the planetary boundary layer and the sea surface temperature gradient in the equatorial regions. The first regime corresponds to a classic direct circulation from the summer to winter hemisphere. The second regime differs in that the return flow rises above the boundary layer in the winter hemisphere and crosses the equator within the free troposphere. This equatorial jump is associated with a secondary maximum in precipitation on the winter side of the equator. The transition between these two regimes can be understood through the dynamical constraints on the lowlevel flow. Strong virtual temperature gradients are necessary for the return flow to cross the equator within the planetary boundary layer. However, the mass transport driven by such a temperature gradient is highly sensitive to the thickness of the boundary layer. For a weak temperature gradient or a shallow boundary layer, the return flow is prevented from crossing the equator within the the boundary layer and, instead, must do so in the free troposphere. These dynamical constraints act equally in a dry and a moist atmosphere. However, a comparison between dry and moist simulations shows that the equatorial jump is much deeper in a moist atmosphere. This is interpreted as resulting from the feedbacks between the large-scale flow and moist convection, which results in establishing a very weak gross moist stability for the equatorial jump.
Tau Is Hyperphosphorylated at Multiple Sites in Mouse Brain In Vivo After Streptozotocin-Induced Insulin Deficiency

Deficient signaling by insulin, as occurs in diabetes, is associated with impaired brain function, and diabetes is associated with an increased prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the hallmark pathological characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease is the presence of neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau, a microtubule-associated protein. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that insulin depletion caused by administration of streptozotocin may cause tau hyperphosphorylation in mouse brain by using site-specific phosphorylation-dependent tau antibodies to obtain precise identification of the phosphorylation of tau on individual residues. A massive (fivefold average increase) and widespread at multiple residues (detected with eight different phosphorylation-dependent tau antibodies) increase in the phosphorylation of tau was found in mouse cerebral cortex and hippocampus within 3 days of insulin depletion by streptozotocin treatment. This hyperphosphorylation of tau at some sites was rapidly reversible by peripheral insulin administration. Examination of several kinases that phosphorylate tau indicated that they were unlikely to account for the widespread hyperphosphorylation of tau caused by streptozotocin treatment, but there was a large decrease in mouse brain protein phosphatase 2A activity, which is known to mediate tau phosphorylation. These results show that insulin deficiency causes rapid and large increases in tau phosphorylation, a condition that could prime tau for the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease, thereby contributing to the increased susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease caused by diabetes.
Data Driven Language Transfer Hypotheses

Language transfer, the preferential second language behavior caused by similarities to the speaker’s native language, requires considerable expertise to be detected by humans alone. Our goal in this work is to replace expert intervention by data-driven methods wherever possible. We define a computational methodology that produces a concise list of lexicalized syntactic patterns that are controlled for redundancy and ranked by relevancy to language transfer. We demonstrate the ability of our methodology to detect hundreds of such candidate patterns from currently available data sources, and validate the quality of the proposed patterns through classification experiments.
The rise and fall of the third space: appropriate intraoperative fluid management.

Keywords : Perioperative fluid therapy, Intracellular fluid, Extracellular fluid, Third space, Fluid shifts
Role of Crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidae) as Pests of Rice in California and their Control

Studies in 3 successive years with Procambarus clarki (Girard) in rice fields showed significant reductions in rice seedling establishment when the associations were both as natural and confined populations. The natural infestations resulted in seedling reductions of 70 to 100%, whereas confined crayfish caused losses in seedlings ranging from 9% at 0.34 crayfish per m2 to 94% at 2.4/m2. Methyl parathion at 566.5 g/ha was highly effective in controlling P. clarki and Orconectes virilis (Hagen). Fenthion at 112.1 g/ha resulted in high mortality of the former species but not the latter.
Encapsulated Integrative Patterns vs. Spillover: The Cases of Agricultural and Transport Integration in the European Economic Community

The purpose of this paper is to examine developments in t-he agricultural and transport sectors of the European Economic Community (EEC) against the backdrop of Functionalist theory.' Specifically, I will address myself to the concept of spill-over as a mechanism for bringing about integration. It will be convenient to proceed in the following manner: First, I will speak in general terms of the treatment of spillover in the Functionalist literature; second, I will pay some attention to the development of integration in the transport and agricultural sectors of the EEC with an eye toward discerning how events here can aid us in generating testable propositions; third, I will evaluate my notion of spillover in light of the case material; and fourth, I hope to test several propositions derived from my understanding of the case material.
Fixed points of maps of odd prime period

We consider now the fixed point sets of differentiable maps T: M n → M n of odd prime period p. In section 38 we analyze the normal bundle ξ to the fixed point set. It turns out to be as simple as could be expected, breaking into a Whitney sum of complex vector bundles ξ k on which T acts as multiplication by ϱ k , ϱ = exp(2πi/p).
The CD4 and CD3δε Cytosolic Juxtamembrane Regions Are Proximal within a Compact TCR–CD3–pMHC–CD4 Macrocomplex

TCRs relay information about peptides embedded within MHC molecules (pMHC) to the ITAMs of the associated CD3γe, CD3δe, and CD3ζζ signaling modules. CD4 then recruits the Src kinase p56(Lck) (Lck) to the TCR-CD3 complex to phosphorylate the ITAMs, initiate intracellular signaling, and drive CD4(+) T cell fate decisions. Whereas the six ITAMs of CD3ζζ are key determinants of T cell development, activation, and the execution of effector functions, multiple models predict that CD4 recruits Lck proximal to the four ITAMs of the CD3 heterodimers. We tested these models by placing FRET probes at the cytosolic juxtamembrane regions of CD4 and the CD3 subunits to evaluate their relationship upon pMHC engagement in mouse cell lines. The data are consistent with a compact assembly in which CD4 is proximal to CD3δe, CD3ζζ resides behind the TCR, and CD3γe is offset from CD3δe. These results advance our understanding of the architecture of the TCR-CD3-pMHC-CD4 macrocomplex and point to regions of high CD4-Lck + ITAM concentrations therein. The findings thus have implications for TCR signaling, as phosphorylation of the CD3 ITAMs by CD4-associated Lck is important for CD4(+) T cell fate decisions.
Analysis of the reported incidence of viral hepatitis in Hubei(2004-2010)

Objective Epidemiological features of viral hepatitis in Hubei were analyzed to provide evidence for its control.Methods Viral hepatitis cases of Hubei province between January 2004 to December 2010 were collected from the China disease information system,integrated with the demographic data at the same period.SPSS soft was applied for statistical analysis.Results The incidence rate of viral hepatitis increased from 118.00/100 000 in 2004 to 145.71/100 000 in 2010,and more than 85% hepatitis cases were hepatitis B.The ratio of male/female hepatitis B patients was higher than 1.70.The average annual percentage changes in incidence rate were 4.23%.The same indexes for Hepatitis C were 28.78%.The percentage of patients under 15 years old declined significantly during this period.Farmers,students and workers were the main sufferers.Vaccination played an important role in virus hepatitis control.Conclusions To continuously notice the change of the incidence,analyze the cause of the change,and aim at the risk factors of the different group of the population,so as to develop strategy for hepatitis control.
Generation of kinin-like agents by chondroitin sulfate, heparin, chitin sulfate, and human articular cartilage: possible pathophysiologic implications.

Abstract Kinin-like activity evolved in mixtures of normal human platelet-deficient plasma containing human articular cartilage, chondroitin sulfate, heparin, or chitin sulfate. No such activity evolved when these agents were incubated with Hageman factor-deficient platelet-deficient plasma. The kinin-like agent was eluted from a Sephadex G-25 column at a peak near that of synthetic bradykinin; it was inactivated by chymotrypsin (100 μg per milliliter), but not by trypsin (20 μg per milliliter). Generation of kinin-like substances induced by components of articular cartilage may involve the participation of Hageman factor and may contribute to secondary inflammatory reactions in joints.
Gender Imbalance in Higher Education: Insights for College Administrators and Researchers

University administrators often strive for racial, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity in their student populations. Today, administrators face a new demographic challenge as women increasingly outnumber men in applications, enrollments, and graduation rates. This article discusses the causes and potential consequences of the growing gender imbalance and the legality of admissions policies that attempt to restore balance by giving preference to males. Using multiple analytic approaches, we test whether a public institution with increasing female enrollments responded by giving preferences in admissions to males. We conclude with insights for administrators and researchers.
Student Demonstrations of Learning: Making Thinking Visible Using Pen and Touch

Teachers seek to create moments when students demonstrate their understanding of knowledge or skills and teachers provide feedback, known as formative assessment. Pen and touch input, in combination with apps that support digital ink and virtual manipulation, allow students to express their knowledge in more varied and natural ways, improving formative assessment and subsequent differentiation of instruction. Teachers and students at University Prep (Seattle) have used digital ink and virtual manipulation to increase the flexibility of formative assessment in a variety of subject areas. General purpose apps for writing, drawing, and making explainer videos have gained adoption more quickly at U Prep than subject specific learning apps that use a very specific pedagogical model. This paper describes the conceptual basis for our work with formative assessment, shares examples of student use of digital ink and virtual manipulation, and identifies themes among these examples.
Imaging of electrical response of NiOx under controlled environment with sub-25-nm resolution

The spatially resolved electrical response of polycrystalline NiOx films, composed of 40 nm crystallites, was investigated under different relative humidity (RH) levels. The topological and electrical properties (surface potential and resistance) were characterized with sub-25-nm resolution using Kelvin probe force microscopy and conductive scanning probe microscopy under argon atmosphere with 0%, 50%, and 80% RH. The dimensionality of surface features obtained through autocorrelation analysis of topological maps increased linearly with increased RH, as water was adsorbed onto the film surface. Surface potential decreased from 280 to 100 mV and resistance decreased from 5 GΩ to 3 GΩ, in a nonlinear fashion when RH was increased from 0% to 80%. Spatially resolved surface potential and resistance of the NiOx films was found to be heterogeneous throughout the film, with distinct surface features that grew in size from 60 to 175 nm at 0% and 80% RH levels, respectively. The heterogeneous character of the topological, surface potential, and resistance properties of the polycrystalline NiOx film observed under dry conditions decreased with increased RH, yielding nearly homogeneous surface properties at 80% RH, suggesting that the nanoscale potential and resistance properties converge with the mesoscale properties as water is adsorbed onto the NiOx film.
A computational framework for the analysis of rain-induced erosion in wind turbine blades, part II: Drop impact-induced stresses and blade coating fatigue life

Abstract With the current trend in wind energy production, the need to manufacture larger wind turbine blades is on the rise. The high blade tip velocities associated with large blades subject them to various damages due to high speed impact with foreign objects such as raindrops. This paper is the second part in a two-part paper that presents a framework for rain erosion prediction in wind turbine blades. In part I, a stochastic rain texture model and multi-resolution simulation of raindrop impact on solid object were discussed. In part II, the predicted impact pressure profiles are imported into a finite element model of the wind turbine blade shell to analyze the raindrop impact-induced transient stresses within the blade coating and the ensuing fatigue damage pattern. The analysis is complemented with a fatigue stress-life estimation process that integrates elements of fatigue life calculation with 3D fields of raindrops generated from the stochastic rain texture model to relate damage accumulation rates to rain intensities. These accumulation rates, together with the statistics of rainfall history, provide a means for estimating the expected fatigue life of the blade coating as an indication of the onset of surface roughening or the end of the incubation period.
A Longitudinal Examination of the Relation Between Internalizing Problem Behaviors and Early Adolescent Cigarette Smoking

ABSTRACTObjective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the longitudinal relation between internalizing problem behaviors (measured with the anxious/depressed and somatic complaints subscales of the Achenbach Teacher's Report Form) and self-reported cigarette smoking behavior and intentions during early adolescence. In addition, a possible mediating role of perceived harm was investigated. Methods: Sixth graders and their teachers were surveyed in the sixth grade and students were surveyed again in the seventh grade. Smoking behavior and intentions were assessed with five items including lifetime use, 30-day use, tobacco user status (nonsmoker to heavy smoker), and two intentions/behavioral expectations items. In addition to perceived harm from smoking, reasons for smoking and reasons for not smoking were included on the survey. Results: As hypothesized, teacher reports of sixth-grade internalizing problem behaviors were negatively related to seventh-grade smoking behavior and intentions. M...
A Quantitative Approach to Determining the Ideal Female Lip Aesthetic and Its Effect on Facial Attractiveness

ImportanceAesthetic proportions of the lips and their effect on facial attractiveness are poorly defined. Established guidelines would aid practitioners in achieving optimal aesthetic outcomes duri...
William McKinley, Fat Tails, Optimal Reneging, and the Spanish-American War

President William McKinley’s decision to go to war with Spain is not well understood. Since McKinley kept very few written records, little is known about his actual thought process. As a result, historians have struggled with the apparent contradiction between McKinley’s initial commitment to peace and subsequent decision to go to war and tend to focus on identifying outside forces that can explain the reversal. In this paper, I develop a model of optimal reneging. Contrary to conventional narratives among historians that McKinley’s decision to go to war was a contradiction of his earlier position, my model suggests that McKinley’s decision can be understood as an optimal timing problem. I start with the premise that a country would prefer to enter conflict only when its military capability is sufficient to make a victory likely. Thus, a country will commit to peace until its military capability reaches some threshold. Once military capability reaches this threshold, it is optimal to renege on a commitment to peace. I conduct simulations of the model to determine the likelihood that McKinley would renege during his first term. I find that if the ex ante estimate of the benefits of war were 2 - 2.6 times the ex ante estimate of cost, then the probability of reneging after one year is approximately 1% - 18%. If the perceived benefits were 2.7 times the ex ante estimate of cost (or greater), entry during McKinley’s first term is certain.
Moving the CFT into the bulk with $$ T\overline{T} $$

Recent work by Zamolodchikov and others has uncovered a solvable irrelevant deformation of general 2D CFTs, defined by turning on the dimension 4 operator $$ T\overline{T} $$ ,the product of the left- and right-moving stress tensor. We propose that in the holographic dual, this deformation represents a geometric cutoff that removes the asymptotic region of AdS and places the QFT on a Dirichlet wall at finite radial distance r = rc in the bulk. As a quantitative check of the proposed duality, we compute the signal propagation speed, energy spectrum, and thermodynamic relations on both sides. In all cases, we obtain a precise match. We derive an exact RG flow equation for the metric dependence of the effective action of the $$ T\overline{T} $$ deformed theory, and find that it coincides with the Hamilton-Jacobi equation that governs the radial evolution of the classical gravity action in AdS.
Combination of computer extracted shape and texture features enables discrimination of granulomas from adenocarcinoma on chest computed tomography

Differentiation between benign and malignant nodules is a problem encountered by radiologists when visualizing computed tomography (CT) scans. Adenocarcinomas and granulomas have a characteristic spiculated appearance and may be fluorodeoxyglucose avid, making them difficult to distinguish for human readers. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate whether a combination of radiomic texture and shape features from noncontrast CT scans can enable discrimination between granulomas and adenocarcinomas. Our study is composed of CT scans of 195 patients from two institutions, one cohort for training ([Formula: see text]) and the other ([Formula: see text]) for independent validation. A set of 645 three-dimensional texture and 24 shape features were extracted from CT scans in the training cohort. Feature selection was employed to identify the most informative features using this set. The top ranked features were also assessed in terms of their stability and reproducibility across the training and testing cohorts and between scans of different slice thickness. Three different classifiers were constructed using the top ranked features identified from the training set. These classifiers were then validated on the test set and the best classifier (support vector machine) yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 77.8%.
Industry-Academia Interaction: Key to IT Relevance

Much of the discussion on the relevance of IS academic research to industry tends to take sides. I propose that it would be more constructive if the interaction with industry is recognized and nurtured. I suggest that to stay up to date, IS professors and doctoral students should actively interact with the industry and also encourage industry professionals to collaborate with IS academic programs.
Pathological Aspects of Cerebral Dysplasia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the pathological aspects of cerebral dysplasia. Cerebral dysplasias, most commonly associated with seizure disorders, may be divided into two broad groups which include migration disorders and neuroectodermal dysplasias. Most individuals with a malformation of migration disorders group have seizure disorders, often difficult to control, and many are mentally retarded with or without more specific neurologic defects. The cerebral surface in micropolygyria condition may be composed of many small, irregular gyri separated by shallow sulci, or the gyral surface is unusually broad or even normal on external view. The relative increase in treatment of intractable seizure disorders by extirpative surgery has allowed pathologists to identify cortical malformations which are not otherwise recognizable by other diagnostic parameters. It is found that there are numerous subtypes of neuroectodermal dysplasias only a few of which are typically associated with a seizure disorder as a primary manifestation. The meningo-encephalo-angio-neurinomatosis (MEAN) disease which is composed of varying combinations of arachnoidal cells, blood vessels, and Schwann cells, and is most typically located over the surface of the brain, is also elaborated in the chapter.
Turning Inward: Using Insight as a Catalyst for Change in "The Corrections"

This paper considers the processes by which characters actively affect change that is registerable and demonstrative over the course of a narrative. In Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections, insight emerges as an influential thematic which triggers and determines the change that is possible for the three Lambert children by widening narrow perspectives, highlighting Franzen’s commitment to processes of the mind by which his characters seek to know and understand the world and their relationship to that world more completely. The importance of insight strengthens the opposition of critics like Rachel Greenwald Smith who believe the novel strengthens the “affective hypothesis” in fiction whereby individuals engineer their own feelings and emotions in such a way as to confirm neoliberal agendas that privilege the subject over networks (Smith 2). Attention to the specific peculiarities of insight in this novel, however, reveals the community strengthening potential of psychological change wrought by a strong commitment to “see[ing] the world differently” (Franzen 305).
Assessment of a Statistical Algorithm for the Prediction of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Importance Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is an otologic pathologic condition defined as a sensation of spinning triggered by changes in head position relative to gravity and caused by an entrapment of fragmented endolymph debris most commonly in the posterior semicircular canal. Confirmation of diagnosis requires experience with procedures that are poorly known by those other than practitioners with advanced otologic training. The complexity in the diagnosis of BPPV inspired the design of a questionnaire-based algorithm that would be useful for determining a vestibular diagnosis and treatment options. Objective To assess a statistical algorithm for the diagnosis of BPPV in a busy tertiary care setting, with the long-term goal of implementing a clinical pathway to efficiently diagnose and treat patients with dizziness. Design, Setting, and Participants In this retrospective case series, 200 patients who visited the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for their initial vertigo symptoms from September 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016, were assessed. Interventions Use of a validated patient questionnaire as a tool to differentiate patients with dizziness in an electronic medical record review. Main Outcomes and Measures Linear predictor (LP) value based on the questionnaire for the diagnosis of BPPV. Results Of the 200 patient visits reviewed (132 [66%] female), 106 (53.0%; 68 [64%] female) had the information necessary to calculate the LP value and had a confirmed final diagnosis. On the basis of an LP value of 0.2 or greater, the sensitivity for a diagnosis of BPPV was 0.75 and the specificity was 1.0. The positive predictive value was 1.0, whereas the negative predictive value was 0.96. Patients with BPPV had a statistically significantly different LP value (odds ratio, 5.92; 95% CI, 2.73-12.83) than did patients without BPPV. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this study suggest that the algorithm is efficient for the diagnosis of BPPV in a clinical care setting.
Hubert Aquin et l’esthétisation du politique Échecs et inachèvement dans Prochain épisode

Le rapport entre esthetique et politique est central dans Prochain episode (1965) d’Hubert Aquin. S’il est clair que le roman appartient au « texte national » et en cela est une emanation de la Rev...
What Attracts Medical Students to Primary Care? A Nominal Group Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE To examine the perceptions of first-year medical students on their experiences in primary care. METHODS Nominal group technique sessions were conducted with first-year medical students for 5 years. Questions were designed to evaluate primary care experiences and the role of primary care physicians. The questions explored what would make them consider primary care, what would detract from it, and what primary care has to offer that no other specialty can. Responses were weighted and ranked. The main outcome was the top five responses to three questions that were obtained at each session. RESULTS Thirty-four students generated 280 responses to 3 questions. The top 5 responses for each year resulted in 29 experiences that strengthen enthusiasm: patient interactions (weighted sum, 43%), physician interactions/role modeling (22%), community interactions (20%), healthcare system/finances (8%), and other (6%). The top 5 responses resulted in 26 experiences that weaken enthusiasm, including hidden curriculum (45%), poor role models (29%), uncertainties about the healthcare system such as finances and documentation (20%), and patient interactions (6%). The top 5 responses regarding the uniqueness of primary care resulted in 37 experiences, including patient interactions (38%), continuity of care (20%), knowledge base (13%), community impact (10%), lifestyle benefits (10%), and education/prevention (9%). CONCLUSIONS Medical students highlighted unique relationships with patients and continuity of care as experiences that increase their enthusiasm for primary care. Negative experiences that weakened enthusiasm for primary care included hidden curriculum and poor role models. Programs that provide experiences in primary care can increase student interest in primary care careers.
Environmental conditions leading to fogging in commercial poly(vinyltoluene) plastic scintillators

Abstract Light scattering particles can appear in environmentally-exposed pieces of plastic scintillator materials, leading to decreased scintillation light output. In this work, 1” cubes of commercially-available plastic scintillators were aged hydrothermally at temperatures between 25–55 °C, and 0%–100% relative humidity (R.H.), and the mass uptake and degree of light scattering were measured after cooling below the aging temperature. A correlation was found between moisture mass uptake and degree of light scattering, and the fogging phenomenon was found to be reversible upon moisture desorption . Additionally, variable temperature light scattering studies revealed a correlation between the temperature of fog onset and moisture mass uptake in hydrothermally-aged 1” scintillator cubes. The fog onset data was further used in a local weather-based model to predict the appearance of light scattering in deployed radiation portal monitor panels, and the model was validated with several specimens collected from retired portal panels. Together, the results quantitatively characterize the observed environmental aging of plastic scintillator radiation portal panels, give insight to deployed panel lifetime as a function of environment, and pave the way for future developments in environmentally-stable radiation portal monitors.
Reconsidering the Chronology: Carbonized Food Residue, Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Dates, and Compositional Analysis of a Curated Collection from the Upper Great Lakes

Recent reexamination of pottery, copper objects, and glass trade beads using modern analytic methods has amended the occupational history of the Cloudman site (20CH6), once interpreted as an early “Contact” period site in Michigan. The original chronology of the site, located on northern Michigan's Drummond Island in Lake Huron, was based on an apparent association of Iroquoian pottery with European-made trade goods relatively dated to circa AD 1630. Current advances in archaeological dating methods have revealed new insights into the poorly understood settlement patterns and social interactions of various Upper Great Lakes groups between AD 1300 and 1700. Accelerator mass spectrometry dating of carbonized food residue collected from late Late Woodland and Ontario Iroquoian pottery vessels suggests some contemporaneous use of both styles and the culmination of occupation by pottery-making groups by AD 1500. Elemental analysis of glass beads indicates that the recovered trade items were likely manufactured post–AD 1650. Likewise, compositional analysis of copper-base metal artifacts clarifies how such objects were made and used over time at the site. The results demonstrate how the application of modern analytic methods to curated collections can lead to significant reinterpretation, ultimately enhancing understandings of regional chronologies, social relationships, and population movements.
A Model of Community-Engaged Scholarship Across “Institutional Borders” to Assess the Role of Rural Libraries in Community Engagement in the Southern and Central Appalachia

The paper explores a model of community-engaged scholarship developed in a planning grant entitled “Assessment of Rural Library Professionals’ Role in Community Engagement in the Southern and Central Appalachian Region: Mobilization from Change Agents to Community Anchors (CA2CA@SCA-RL)” awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the University of Tennessee, recently sub-contracted to the University of Alabama (July 2017 – June 2019). It provides insights bridging “institutional borders” at multiple levels to spotlight “invisible voices” of rural librarians and glimpses best practices in community engagement that might be relevant to other rural areas historically facing similarly challenging socio-cultural/socio-economic circumstances.
The evolution of respiratory systems in Theropoda and Paracrocodylomorpha, the end-Triassic extinction, and the role of Late Triassic atmospheric O2 and CO2

Abstract During the Late Triassic Period (235–201.3 Ma), Paracrocodylomorpha and Theropoda switched predatory roles, with the former filling the subsidiary predator niche and the latter filling the top predator niche at the end-Triassic extinction. Reasons for the transition in predator guilds remain unknown, but atmospheric conditions during this time, which involved high CO2 and low O2 concentration levels, may be associated with the event. Evidence of bird-like pneumatic post-crania, present in both groups as foramina and fossae, correlates with an avian-like respiratory system. This may have allowed organisms to cope with declining atmospheric O2 environments of the Late Triassic. This study estimated pO2 throughout the late Triassic using organic carbon isotope measurements from Newark-Hartford basin paleosols and examined the morphological change in skeletal remains of Theropoda, focusing on pneumatic bones, compared with Paracrocodylomorpha during the Late Triassic and across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. With data compiled from the Paleobiology Database and published anatomical literature, the change of pneumaticity in taxa is quantified by a Pneumatic Index (PI), in which the number of pneumatized units is divided by the total number of bones examined. Patterns of pneumaticity are individually scored for the presence or absence of pneumatic bones. Morphological data are compared to corresponding femur length, estimated atmospheric O2 and CO2 level reconstructions, and an ancestral state reconstruction depicting how PI values change throughout various clades. Our results suggest that PI values in Theropoda and Paracrocodylomorpha correspond with the vacillating pO2 and pCO2 throughout the Late Triassic and into the Jurassic. High PI values are prevalent in advanced theropod taxa, while Paracrocodylomorpha PI values vary by clade with a generally negative trend throughout the Triassic. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis highlights the increasing PI values within Theropoda and clade dependent trends in Paracrocodylomorpha. This study is instrumental in reconstructing how Theropoda became evolutionarily successful and perhaps how and why the avian-like respiratory system originated.
Handheld spectrally encoded coherence tomography and reflectometry for point-of-care ophthalmic OCT and OCTA (Conference Presentation)

Current-generation optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) systems are slit-lamp based, which limits imaging to patients who are able to sit upright and fixate. Prototype handheld OCTA has demonstrated imaging of supine patients, but these systems are susceptible to bulk-motion artifacts that degrade OCTA resolution and contrast. Here, we demonstrate bulk-motion correction and multi-volumetric mosaicking of OCTA volumes acquired using our handheld spectrally encoded coherence tomography and reflectometry (SECTR) system. In addition, we leverage variable-velocity scanning to reduce OCTA acquisition times. We believe SECTR overcomes the limitations of current-generation handheld OCT/OCTA and will enable functional imaging in bedridden patients and infants.
Decays of Mn-58, Mn-57, and Mn-56

We have measured with high accuracy the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays from 66-sec $^{58}\mathrm{Mn}$, 1.6-min $^{57}\mathrm{Mn}$, and 2.6-h $^{56}\mathrm{Mn}$. Thirty-seven $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays were observed from $^{58}\mathrm{Mn}$ decay which were incorporated into a $^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$ level scheme with 17 excited states below 4.9 MeV. Present evidence favors a ${3}^{+}$ assignment for the $^{58}\mathrm{Mn}$ ground state, but the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decays to low-lying ${2}^{+}$ states are hindered. Additional weak $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transitions giving rise to new $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay modes were observed from $^{57}\mathrm{Mn}$ and $^{56}\mathrm{Mn}$ decays.RADIOACTIVITY $^{58}\mathrm{Mn}$, $^{57}\mathrm{Mn}$, $^{56}\mathrm{Mn}$; measured ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, ${I}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$. $^{58}\mathrm{Fe}$, $^{57}\mathrm{Fe}$, $^{56}\mathrm{Fe}$ deduced levels, $log\mathrm{ft}$, ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$. Enriched targets, Ge(Li) detector.
Giant isotope effect on phonon dispersion and thermal conductivity in methylammonium lead iodide

Lead halide perovskites are strong candidates for high-performance low-cost photovoltaics, light emission, and detection applications. A hot-phonon bottleneck effect significantly extends the cooling time of hot charge carriers, which thermalize through carrier-optic phonon scattering, followed by optic phonon decay to acoustic phonons and finally thermal conduction. To understand these processes, we adjust the lattice dynamics independently of electronics by changing isotopes. We show that doubling the mass of hydrogen in methylammonium lead iodide by replacing protons with deuterons causes a large 20 to 50% softening of the longitudinal acoustic phonons near zone boundaries, reduces thermal conductivity by ~50%, and slows carrier relaxation kinetics. Phonon softening is attributed to anticrossing with the slowed libration modes of the deuterated molecules and the reduced thermal conductivity to lowered phonon velocities. Our results reveal how tuning the organic molecule dynamics enables control of phonons important to thermal conductivity and the hot-phonon bottleneck.
An Archaeology of the Aesthetic: Slavery and Politics at the Jesuit Vineyards of Nasca

This article makes the case for the utility of an aesthetic approach to the archaeological record, drawing on the philosophical work of Jacques Ranciere on aesthetics and politics. The case of an archaeology of African slavery on Jesuit vineyards in colonial Peru is offered to explore nuances in power and the production of enslaved subjectivities that become visible through a consideration of aesthetic fields. Of particular interest are the aesthetics of administrative policy as materialized in space and the built environment and enslaved responses through aesthetic interventions. Rather than focusing on the specific meaning or hybridity involved in the creation of the material, a Rancierean aesthetic approach considers how materials were potentially charged with multiple, sometimes contentious meanings through activation and engagement in the aesthetic experience.
Abstract IA10: Targeting melanoma metabolism to overcome resistance to treatment

Despite adequate oxygen levels, cancer cells undergo anaerobic glycolysis converting glucose to lactate (the Warburg effect). It is now thought that the advantage of this for the cancer cell is that it provides the carbon and nitrogen precursors critical for macromolecule synthesis (amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids) while still providing an adequate supply of ATP needed for growth. Understanding this metabolic landscape may provide strategies to overcome mechanisms of resistance to therapy in melanoma. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been shown to inactivate BRAF by phosphorylating Ser 729, and in preclinical models, this can be used to enhance inhibitors of BRAFV600E. In the high ATP environment of a melanoma cell, AMPK is typically low but inducers of AMPK, such as biguanides, increase AMPK. The biguanide metformin does not enter melanoma cells efficiently due to the lack of organic cation transporter (OCT) expression on melanoma cells. However, phenformin does not require OCT for uptake. We are conducting a phase I trial in BRAF V600E-mutated melanoma patients using dabrafenib/trametinib and escalating doses of phenformin. One of the pharmacodynamic effects of phenformin is weight loss, which we are measuring. Interestingly, obesity has been associated with improved outcome in male melanoma patients treated with anti-PD1 antibodies. In contrast, our data in melanoma patients treated with anti-PD1 antibody immunotherapy do not show an association between outcome and obesity. Another consequence of anaerobic glycolysis is generation and excretion of large amounts of lactate. There is evidence that lactate can inhibit T-cell function, and we will discuss strategies to block lactate transport to enhance immunotherapy. Citation Format: Allison Betoff, Jonathan Zippin, Taha Merghoub, Paul B. Chapman, Jedd Wolchok. Targeting melanoma metabolism to overcome resistance to treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Melanoma: From Biology to Target; 2019 Jan 15-18; Houston, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(19 Suppl):Abstract nr IA10.
Abdominal Laser Lipolysis Using a Microprocessor-Controlled Robotic Arm With Noncontact Heating and Cooling.

BACKGROUND A novel FDA-cleared device uses a 1064-nm laser to noninvasively induce apoptosis for lipolysis of subcutaneous abdominal fat while maintaining comfortable skin temperatures with a proprietary jet cooling system (eon; Dominion Aesthetic Technologies, Inc., San Antonio, TX). A programmable articulated robotic arm moves the treatment head without any subject contact, maintaining an appropriate 3-dimensional treatment path, compensating for patient movement. OBJECTIVES The goal of this prospective, single center, open-label study was to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of this device for reducing subcutaneous abdominal fat when operated with an updated power delivery curve. METHODS Male and female subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types I to VI (N = 26) were treated. Four abdominal zones up to 150 cm2 each, customized in size and location for body habitus, were treated. Each zone underwent a single 20-minute treatment session. Follow-up visits occurred after 6 and 12 weeks. A standardized protocol was used to obtain ultrasound measurement of subcutaneous abdominal fat thickness, abdominal circumference, reported patient satisfaction and digital images. RESULTS The mean treatment area was 378.5 cm2. At Week 12, there was a 21.6% or 6.3 mm mean reduction in abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness and a 4.1-cm (1.6-inch) mean reduction in abdominal circumference. Most subjects (84.6%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their results. The mean pain score was 2.5 on an 11-point ordinal scale. There were no nonresponders. Only 2 adverse events were noted: mild transient erythema (n = 1, 3.8%) and localized subcutaneous firmness (n = 1, 3.8%) which resolved without intervention within 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS This contact-free device is safe and effective for reducing subcutaneous abdominal fat and represents an improvement on the prior treatment protocol. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4
Utilizing telemedicine for delivery of postoperative care following minimally invasive gynecologic surgery: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: Determine if patient satisfaction is greater after delivering postoperative care via telemedicine following minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Materials and Methods: University-based outpatient clinic; Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). Females between 18 and 60 years of age scheduled to undergo laparoscopic hysterectomy or laparoscopic excision of endometriosis were invited to participate. Eligible patients were randomized to receive postoperative care either through a traditional office visit or via telemedicine. PSQ-18 satisfaction surveys were performed by phone after the visit. Results: Forty-one patients were analyzed out of which 25 were in the office group and 16 in the telemedicine group. Groups were homogenous to age (41.4 vs. 43.3 p. 48), body mass index (31.9 vs. 30.6 P = 0.52), distance in miles from home (12.7 vs. 12.4 P = 0.92), and parity (P = 0.51). PSQ-18 questionnaire was scored and each category was compared between the office and telemedicine groups. When comparing medians (interquartile range), the general satisfaction and time spent with doctor categories were significantly higher in the telemedicine group (4.0 [4.0, 4.5] vs. 4.5 [4.5, 5.0] P = 0.05), (4.0 [4.0, 4.5] vs. 4.5 [4.0, 5.0] P = 0.05). The remainder of the categories analyzed were not different between groups Technical Quality (4.0 [3.8, 4.5] vs. 4.5 [3.9, 5.0] P = 0.13), Interpersonal Manner (4.0 [4.0, 4.5] vs. 4.5 [4.0, 5.0] P = 0.34), Communication (4.5 [4.0, 4.5] vs. 4.5 [4.3, 5.0] P = 0.21), Accessibility and Convenience (4.0 [3.5, 4.5] v 4.0 [3.6, 4.5] P = 0.84). A chart review was performed, examining the first 30 days after surgery. One (4%) patient in the office group went to the ER after postoperative visit, and 0 in the telemedicine group (P = 0.42). Conclusion: Postoperative care via telemedicine after gynecologic surgery results in higher patient satisfaction.
Nuclear soluble cGAS senses DNA virus infection

ABSTRACT The cytosolic DNA sensor cGAS detects foreign DNA from pathogens or self-DNA from cellular damage and instigates type I interferon (IFN) expression. Recent studies find that cGAS also localizes in the nucleus and binds the chromatin. Despite how cGAS is inhibited in the nucleus is well elucidated, whether nuclear cGAS participates in DNA sensing is not clear. Here, we report that herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection caused the release of cGAS from the chromatin into the nuclear soluble fraction. Like its cytosolic counterpart, the leaked nuclear soluble cGAS could sense viral DNA, produce cGAMP, and induce mRNA expression of type I IFN and interferon-stimulated genes. Furthermore, the nuclear cGAS limited HSV-1 infection. Taken together, our study demonstrates that HSV-1 infection releases cGAS from the chromatin tethering and, in turn, the nuclear soluble cGAS activates type I IFN production.
Considering taste after gamification: collective selection, cultural intermediation, and casual gaming

In the past few years, Covet Fashion and Redecor have emerged as popular options in the invest/express genre of casual games, where players create outfits and decorate rooms, respectively, to be ju...