cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multidisciplinary care in surgery: Are team-based interventions cost-effective?

Abstract Background Multidisciplinary care has been shown to improve outcomes for patients, and interprofessional collaboration has been demonstrated to be beneficial for providers. In the field of surgery, although a large number of multidisciplinary care teams have been described, no study to date has examined whether or not these team-based interventions are generally cost-effective. This is the first systematic review to examine cost savings attributable to multidisciplinary care across all surgical fields. Methods A comprehensive literature review of articles published on cost outcomes associated with multidisciplinary surgical teams was performed. Selected articles reported on cost outcomes directly attributable to a collaborative intervention. Cost savings were totaled on a per-patient basis. Each article was also reviewed to determine whether the authors ultimately recommended the team-based intervention described. Results A total of 1421 articles were identified in the initial query, of which 43 met inclusion criteria. Thirty-nine studies (91%) reported multidisciplinary care to be cost effective, with an average cost savings among all studies of $5815 per patient. No significant differences in the amount of savings achieved were found between different intervention subtypes. All studies ultimately recommended (40) or gave mixed reviews (3) of multidisciplinary care, regardless of whether cost savings were achieved. Conclusion Multidisciplinary surgical care is beneficial not only in terms of patient and provider outcomes, but also in reference to its cost-effectiveness. Well-designed multidisciplinary teams tend to optimize perioperative care for all involved parties. Efforts to improve surgical care should employ multidisciplinary teams to promote both quality and cost-effective care.
Regulation of Lymphatic Function in Obesity

The lymphatic system has many functions, including macromolecules transport, fat absorption, regulation and modulation of adaptive immune responses, clearance of inflammatory cytokines, and cholesterol metabolism. Thus, it is evident that lymphatic function can play a key role in the regulation of a wide array of biologic phenomenon, and that physiologic changes that alter lymphatic function may have profound pathologic effects. Recent studies have shown that obesity can markedly impair lymphatic function. Obesity-induced pathologic changes in the lymphatic system result, at least in part, from the accumulation of inflammatory cells around lymphatic vessel leading to impaired lymphatic collecting vessel pumping capacity, leaky initial and collecting lymphatics, alterations in lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) gene expression, and degradation of junctional proteins. These changes are important since impaired lymphatic function in obesity may contribute to the pathology of obesity in other organ systems in a feed-forward manner by increasing low-grade tissue inflammation and the accumulation of inflammatory cytokines. More importantly, recent studies have suggested that interventions that inhibit inflammatory responses, either pharmacologically or by lifestyle modifications such as aerobic exercise and weight loss, improve lymphatic function and metabolic parameters in obese mice. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pathologic effects of obesity on the lymphatic system, the cellular mechanisms that regulate these responses, the effects of impaired lymphatic function on metabolic syndrome in obesity, and the interventions that may improve lymphatic function in obesity.
Sociolinguistic evaluations of inequality

In this new contribution, John Baugh provides an analytical overview of how the field has addressed issues of power and inequality. Baugh addresses how both social hierarchies and the legal system affect the standing of different languages and their users. He then especially focuses on language use in relation to racial and gender dynamics, highlighting influential work that revealed and analyzed how language is used to make and deepen inequality. He concludes with a call for the promotion of “linguistic human rights” that would protect minority language speakers.
Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

A presentation of a young man with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation. Management considerations are reviewed.
Physical Attractiveness, Halo Effects, and Social Joining

Objective: Scholarship in psychology on halo effects demonstrates the powerful effects attractiveness has on social interactions. Here, we consider the influence of physical attractiveness on the development of social capital through social joining. With the unavoidable nature of attractiveness biases, we argue that more physically attractive individuals should be increasingly likely to join social organizations, which have been shown to be important parts of broader social engagement and the growth of social capital. Methods: Utilizing the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and an original survey experiment, we find that individuals who are rated as more attractive are consistently more likely to participate in organizations, particularly early in adult life. These effects persist when controlling for socioeconomic variables like income and education. Results: Our experimental results bolster these findings, showing that more attractive individuals are more likely to be invited to join both organizations and informal gatherings. Conclusions: These findings suggest a further mechanism through which the development of social capital differs between individuals in society.
Robust Extrinsic Regression Analysis for Manifold Valued Data

Recently, there has been a growing need in analyzing data on manifolds owing to their important role in diverse fields of science and engineering. In the literature of manifold-valued data analysis up till now, however, only a few works have been carried out concerning the robustness of estimation against noises, outliers, and other sources of perturbations. In this regard, we introduce a novel extrinsic framework for analyzing manifold valued data in a robust manner. First, by extending the notion of the geometric median, we propose a new robust location parameter on manifolds, so-called the extrinsic median. A robust extrinsic regression method is also developed by incorporating the conditional extrinsic median into the classical local polynomial regression method. We present the Weiszfeld's algorithm for implementing the proposed methods. The promising performance of our approach against existing methods is illustrated through simulation studies.
The Bioterrorist Attacks on America: A Historical Review

This article discusses the events surrounding the 9/11 bioterrorist attacks upon US citizens in which anthrax spores were utilized. The arguments presented in this article substantiate the shortcomings regarding the search of “domestic” terrorists, indicating that agents from the Arab world were involved in the organized attacks of sending letters with anthrax spores. Since the attacks employed the use of the weaponized aerosol form of anthrax, there is evidence which demonstrates that the manufacturing of the spores was carried out in a country with capabilities of developing bacteriological weapons. Special interest representatives reported results of the investigation regarding the sources of biological weapons, explaining the participants of the operation were localized. Ultimately, this article presents legitimate arguments in which further investigation is warranted.
Early Improvement in Patient-Reported Outcome Scores After Operative Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Humeral Capitellum.

Purpose Outcome measures that lack sensitivity for the detection of clinical changes early after surgery for capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) make it difficult to determine the optimal treatment for these defects. We sought to evaluate the early responsiveness of patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) scores in a cohort of patients operatively treated for capitellar OCD. Methods Four PROMIS questionnaires (mobility, upper extremity [UE], pain interference, and peer relations) were electronically administered to patients treated for capitellar OCD at a single tertiary academic medical center between January 1, 2015, and July 1, 2018. The questionnaires were administered at the initial preoperative outpatient clinic visit as well as at the 2-week, 6-week, and final return-to-play (RTP) visits. Results Twenty-nine patients (31 elbows, mean age 12.9 years) with available preoperative and postoperative PROMIS data were included. The mean final follow-up period was 26 weeks. Compared with that before surgery, there was a significant improvement in the mobility, pain interference, and UE scores at 6 weeks following surgery. The scores improved most significantly by 6 weeks, reached a relative plateau, and remained significantly improved through the RTP visit thereafter. Patients with preoperative, intra-articular loose bodies scored significantly better than those without them during the 6-week and RTP visits. Patients with lesions >1 cm2, compared with those with lesions ≤1 cm2, demonstrated greater improvement in the UE scores during the RTP visit. Conclusions In patients undergoing operative treatment for capitellar OCD, a significant improvement in the PROMIS domains of mobility, pain interference, and UE can be expected early in the postoperative period , with majority of patients reaching their greatest improvement in scores by 6 weeks following surgery. Clinical relevance This is important information for preoperative counseling. In addition, this information is helpful in confirming that PROMIS scores are responsive in the detection of changes in outcomes during the early postoperative period in this population.
Student Perceptions of Social Support in the Transition to Emergency Remote Instruction

University courses around the world suddenly transitioned to emergency remote instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We study changes in students' experience of support from their instructors and peers in large lecture courses. Social support can act as an important resource for students and buffer against mental distress. We find that students experienced more support from instructors but less support from their peers after the transition to remote instruction. Remote learning was less active and involved fewer peer interactions, with synchronous classes resembling online office hours and students struggling to get help. Our findings suggest the need for additional resources to help students stay connected and facilitate collaboration online.
Education Equity During COVID-19: Analyzing In-Person Priority Policies for Students with Disabilities (preprint)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools nationwide failed to provide essential supports and services to students with disabilities. Based on reviews of 115 school district reopening plans, this Note finds that numerous schools sought to remedy these gaps through in-person priority policies designed to return students with disabilities to physical classrooms before other students. This Note evaluates the legal and policy implications of such in-person priority policies through the lenses of critical race theory and DisCrit. This Note begins by identifying the structural barriers to learning that students with disabilities faced during school closures, including disparities in internet access and accessibility, removal or reduction of related services, absence of social interaction and structure, and heightened trauma and mental health concerns. While in-person priority policies are meant to mitigate these barriers, this Note argues that they ultimately create segregated classrooms and exacerbate already egregious disciplinary disparities. Consequently, these policies impose disproportionate harm on students of color with disabilities. Finally, this Note calls on policymakers to develop individualized approaches to in-person priority, adopt non-exclusionary disciplinary policies, and expand access to compensatory education and extended school year services. Beyond the current crisis, policymakers must commit to eliminating systems of stratification that categorically siphon students into segregated classroom settings. By centering students of color, schools can reimagine special education to ensure that all students receive the education they deserve.
Decoupling bulk and interfacial contributions to performance in localized high concentration electrolytes for Li metal batteries

Localized high concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) are a promising class of electrolytes to enable stable cycling of the lithium metal anode. Here, we report the use of operando nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to observe electrolyte decomposition during Li stripping/plating and identify the influence of individual components in LHCEs on Li metal battery performance. Data from operando 19F solution NMR indicates that both bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI–) salt and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)ether (BTFE) diluent molecules play a key role in solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, in contrast to prior reports that suggest diluents are inert. Using a combination of solution 17O NMR and cyclic voltammetry (CV), we assess differences in solvation and electrochemical reduction in LHCEs and compare to low concentration electrolytes (LCEs). We find that BTFE diluents are chemically (rather than electrochemically) reduced during Li metal battery operation, which can be detected with operando NMR, but not conventional electrochemical methods. Solid-state NMR (SSNMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirm that LHCEs decompose to form a SEI on Li metal that contains organic BTFE reduction products as well as high quantities of lithium fluoride from both BTFE and FSI– reduction. Insight into the (electro)chemical reduction mechanisms underpinning SEI formation in LHCEs suggests that fluorinated ethers exhibit tunable reactivity that can be leveraged to control Li deposition behavior.
Augmentation of low frequency damping via hydrogen-doping in a hybrid shape memory alloy composite:

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites hybridized with hydrogen-doped NiTi wires can be used to design structures requiring high stiffness and high damping in the low frequency range, su...
Tissue macrophages break dogma

Gwendalyn Randolph reminds us of how our view of macrophage origin and identity has drastically changed over the past 15 years.
Israeli foreign policy toward the Kurdistan region of Iraq after 2003

The Israeli foreign policy witnessed many challenges in the years 2003-2015, as the fall of the regime in Iraq and the emergence of the terrorist group ISIS in it provided new opportunities and challenges for it. The strategic vacuum resulting from the occupation of Iraq increased the golden opportunity for Israel to penetrate Iraqi Kurdistan by focusing on designing and implementing its strategic plans as well as its geopolitical interests, taking into account its geopolitical heart. The relationship between Israel and the Kurds is an extension of the Israeli foreign policy and its national security strategy in the Middle East in order to break out of isolation and expand its presence in the region. Accordingly, Israel’s charter to direct presence in the region, and with its infiltration into economic and social activities in the region, seeking to obtain a new strategic ally in the Middle East. Therefore, Israel has identified the Kurdish minority as an ally in its hostile environment, where it establishes ties with it.
Plasmids as Genetic Tools for Study of Bacterial Gene Function

This chapter provides a broad overview of many applications of plasmids for genetic analysis, primarily in bacteria. Ever since DNA sequencing became accessible to most research laboratories, reverse genetic analysis has become a standard experimental approach to study bacterial gene function. Similar suicide vectors have also been used for nontargeted insertional mutagenesis by cloning random chromosomal DNA fragments into the plasmid. The use of suicide vectors also allows for easy identification of the insertion mutations. Plasmids that utilize different combinations of double-counter selective markers have been used for diverse applications, including the search for extremely rare suppressor mutations of essential Escherichia coli genes, and to improve the efficiency of allelic exchange on bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). Although temperature-sensitive vectors represent the majority of conditionally replicating plasmids, other plasmids that exhibit conditional replication have been described. Cloning by recombination was also achieved using the highly efficient DNA uptake and recombination systems in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Site-specific recombination machinery has also been incorporated into several expression vector systems to achieve very tight regulation of gene expression. Although antibiotic resistance is typically used to maintain selection for plasmids grown in culture, there are disadvantages to the use of antimicrobial agents for certain industrial, medical, and biotechnological applications.
A Generalized Hypothetical Extraction Analysis

We explicitly formulate (optimization) problems of finding a key sector and a key group of sectors within the framework of a hypothetical extraction method (HEM), and derive their solutions in terms of simple measures termed industries' factor worths. It is shown that the top k >= 2 sectors with the largest total contributions to some factor, in general, do not constitute the key group of k sectors, the issue which is totally ignored in the input-output linkage literature. The link to the fields of influence approach is discovered, which gives an alternative economic interpretation for the HEM problems in terms of sectors' input self-dependencies. Further, we examine how a change in an input coefficient affects the importance of an industry. The key group problem is applied to the Australian economy for factors of water use, CO2 emissions, and generation of profits and wages.
Laminated Materials, Glass

Laminated glass has been in use since the early twentieth century, beginning with automotive applications and expanding to applications in locations where strong, durable, transparent panels were required and hazards to life and injury were critical. Poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB), with suitable additives and plasticizers, has enjoyed the bulk of the market for interlayer material for use with glass. Relatively recently, other materials such as polyurethanes, acrylics, and polycarbonates have found applications as interlayer materials because of their respective properties. Types of applications, properties, and construction details of various laminates are presented, as well as fabrication techniques. Specifications are referenced that govern the use of laminated glass products in motor vehicles and in building construction. In addition to providing shatter resistance and improved security to conventional windows and viewing panels, laminated glass may also be used to provide unique colors, patterns, electromagnetic filtering/shielding, and electrical/electronic capabilities. Many of these applications are discussed in detail. Keywords: Laminated glass; Poly(vinyl butyral); Windshields; Aircraft; Penetration resistant; Architectural products
Absorption of Escherichia coli endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) from the uteri of postpartum dairy cows.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that Escherichiacoli (E.coli) endotoxin is readily absorbed from uteri of early postpartum cows and that the absorbed endotoxin provokes systemic relcase of prostaglandins. Eleven postpartum Holstein dairy cows (aged 3 to 7 yr) with normal puerperium were selected and divided into a treatment group (n=7), which received intrauterine infusions of E.coli endotoxin, and a control group (n=4), which received intrauterine infusions of 10 ml of saline on Days 5 and 20 post partum. Blood samples were collected once every 30 min for 6 h starting from the time of infusion. Harvested sera samples were analyzed for concentrations of stable metabolites of prostacyclin (PCM), prostaglandin F2α (PGFM), and thromboxane A2 (TXB2). Plasma samples were qualitatively tested for the presence of endotoxin. Endotoxin was detected in the plasma samples of cows that received endotoxin on Day 5 post partum 4 h after the infusion. Endotoxin was not detected in any of the samples from control cows on Days 5 and 20 post partum or from treatment group cows on Day 20 post partum. Cows treated on Day 5 post partum showed increases in serum PGFM concentrations from 710 ±64pg/ml to peak concentrations of 1223 ± 47 pg/ml within 2 h, followed by a decline to baseline concentrations within 4 h. The amount of PGFM released in treated cows on Day 5 post partum was higher (P < 0.05) than in control cows on Day 5 or in treated and control cows on Day 20 post partum. Serum PCM concentrations increased from 156±24 pg/ml to peak concentrations of 1348±127 pg/ml within 1 h. The amount of PCM released in treated cows on Day 5 postpartum was higher (P< 0.05) than in control cows on Day 5 or in treated and control cows on Day 20 post partum. The TXB2 concentrations increased from 315±38 pg/ml to peak concentrations of 5043 ± 242 pg/ml within 1 h and fell to baseline concentrations within 5 h. The amount of TXB2 concentrations released in treated cows on Day 5 post partum was significant (P < 0.05) compared with those of cows in the other groups. The results support the hypothesis that uteri of early postpartum cows are capable of absorbing endotoxin, and the absorbed endotoxin provokes changes in the serum concentrations of prostanoids.
Diagnosing magnetized liner inertial fusion experiments on Za)

Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion experiments performed at Sandia's Z facility have demonstrated significant thermonuclear fusion neutron yields (∼1012 DD neutrons) from multi-keV deuterium plasmas inertially confined by slow (∼10 cm/μs), stable, cylindrical implosions. Effective magnetic confinement of charged fusion reactants and products is signaled by high secondary DT neutron yields above 1010. Analysis of extensive power, imaging, and spectroscopic x-ray measurements provides a detailed picture of ∼3 keV temperatures, 0.3 g/cm3 densities, gradients, and mix in the fuel and liner over the 1–2 ns stagnation duration.
Visual In-Pile Fuel Disruption Experiments

An area of considerable importance in reactor safety concerns the early time fuel behavior in a loss-of-flow (LOF) accident in fast reactor systems. Redistribution of core materials, dependent on the mode of fuel pin disruption, can have a dominant effect on the probability of a subsequent energetic excursion. In an LOF, occluded fission gases in the fuel may produce rapid clad and fuel dispersal following fuel heating. The net effect may be significant negative reactivity and a non-energetic accident termination. In the absence of dispersal, a recriticality may occur. Hypotheses of fuel disruption have included, among others, that the fuel could (1) break up into a ''dust-cloud'', and disperse rapidly; (2) swell in the solid state, without rapid dispersal; (3) form a liquid froth and disperse rapidly; or (4) melt and slump with release of fission gas. In order to determine which of these hypotheses, if any, are correct, in-pile experiments and corresponding analyses have been conducted at Sandia Laboratories. This paper presents the first results from these experiments.
Protistan herbivory and bacterivory

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the two experimental protocols commonly used to examine bacterivory and herbivory by phagotrophic protists. Preceding the description of each method is a short discussion of the theory, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental approaches for measuring protistan food web interactions. A number of variations on these methods and alternative approaches are discussed in this chapter. Reference to alternative protocols and variations on these two methods are provided as space permits. Experimental approaches for measuring protistan trophic activity—that is, herbivory and bacterivory—is characterized according to the taxonomic level at which they are directed, and the general approach taken to assess the activity of the assemblage. Experimental designs are classified into one of two general approaches; (1) perturbation of trophic relationships and monitoring consequent changes in prey abundance/biomass, or (2) tracer experiments that attempt to follow the uptake of prey into consumers or their removal from the water.
Planar Equilibrium Radionuclide Angiocardiography Acquisition and Processing Protocols

SPECT ERNA is not routinely performed in most nuclear cardiology laboratories. Although the equipment used for the acquisition of ECG-gated SPECT myocardial perfusion images allows for acquisition of ECG-gated SPECT ERNA without additional hardware or modifications, the processing software and the calculation of global LVEF is not fully standardized and/or widely validated. It is likely that in the near future SPECT ERNA will be utilized with increasing frequency.
An Ontological Approach towards the next Generation Engineer

This paper proposes society specifi c research and reform in the fi eld of engineering education and subsequently professional engineering. This is done by building on the ontological aspects of engineering, and then providing evidence to show how engineering and engineering education do not directly transcend over societies. The specifi c cases presented here are in the context of India, however the underlying theme can be applied to other societies as well. This reading attempts at making three broad claims: (1) it is different to become an engineer in India, it is different to be an engineer in India, and(3) reforms in curriculum and professional practice can help elevate the case of the Indian engineer, and thus contribute to greater progress in the fi eld. By doing so, the author subsequently makes a case for future research to aid society-specifi c (in this case India specifi c) reforms in curriculum and professional practice.
Minimizing uncertainty and improving accuracy when fusing multiple stationary GPS receivers

Low-cost GPS receivers are increasing in availability and performance, but do not provide the low-level information typically needed for more accurate positioning, which limits their use in favor of more complex and expensive commercial GPS systems. Three approaches are presented for fusing positioning data from multiple low-cost GPS receivers. One method finds a linear combination, while the remaining two attempt to reduce the uncertainty through maximum likelihood estimation and covariance trace minimization. All methods show improvements in both simulation and experiments, but trace minimization showed the most with a 23–70% reduction seen experimentally. When including uncertainty in the fusion process, the results illustrate how the fused position estimate can be improved in both accuracy and precision. With such improvements, the use of multiple, inexpensive GPS receivers may find cost effective uses in improving performance of stationary systems or lead to further research for extensions with dynamic systems.
The probability of electrophoretic idendity of proteins as a function of amino acid divergence.

Whenever proteins differ by two or more substitutions involving charged amino acids, there is a possibility of spurious electrophoreiic identity because one difference may cancel another. Probability of spurious identity can be calculated as a function of the total number of site differences between the two proteins. This in turn is a complex function of the number of evolutionary events in the divergence of the proteins from a common ancestor and of the number of sites able to accept evolutionary substitutions during the period of divergence. The probability of electrophoretic identity is a decidedly nonlinear, although monotonic, function of the genetic distance.
Factors Related to Coping with Severe Mental Illness in the Latter Half of Life

Adapting to severe mental illness (SMI) can be a lifelong endeavor. This study examined mental illness coping versus general life stress coping among older SMI sufferers. Eighty-five middle-aged and older adults with SMI completed a coping questionnaire as part of a larger study on SMI in late life. Participants described significantly more strategies for coping with mental illness-related stressors than with other stressors, but used similar types of strategies. Older participants reported fewer coping strategies for mental illness coping, and women reported more strategies than men. Age differences were not explained by length of illness experience. Despite the added coping burden of mental illness, adults in this sample were experiencing similar stressors, and coping similarly, as their same-aged peers without mental illness.
Method for detection and quantitation of fathead minnow vitellogenin (Vtg) by liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

Abstract Vitellogenin (Vtg) is a well-recognized biomarker of estrogen exposure in many species, particularly fish. This large protein shares a high degree of sequence homology across a large number of species. Quantitative measurement is currently done using antibody-based assays. These assays frequently require purification of Vtg and antibody production from each species because there is poor cross reactivity between antibodies for different fish. Therefore, complementary methods of measuring Vtg are desirable. Mass spectrometric (MS) analysis coupled to database searching offers the promise of a general method for protein identification. In this study, we used the well-characterized Vtg from rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) to evaluate the analytical parameters for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis of the intact protein. The low sensitivity observed for the intact protein demonstrated that a proteolytic digestion would be necessary for MALDI-MS identification of Vtg. An analytical scale high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation combined with MALDI-MS was used to measure and confirm the identity of Vtg from the plasma of an important species for regulatory agencies, fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ). The small volume requirement of this method (
GPS: a graph processing system

GPS (for Graph Processing System) is a complete open-source system we developed for scalable, fault-tolerant, and easy-to-program execution of algorithms on extremely large graphs. This paper serves the dual role of describing the GPS system, and presenting techniques and experimental results for graph partitioning in distributed graph-processing systems like GPS. GPS is similar to Google's proprietary Pregel system, with three new features: (1) an extended API to make global computations more easily expressed and more efficient; (2) a dynamic repartitioning scheme that reassigns vertices to different workers during the computation, based on messaging patterns; and (3) an optimization that distributes adjacency lists of high-degree vertices across all compute nodes to improve performance. In addition to presenting the implementation of GPS and its novel features, we also present experimental results on the performance effects of both static and dynamic graph partitioning schemes, and we describe the compilation of a high-level domain-specific programming language to GPS, enabling easy expression of complex algorithms.
Student Demographics and Outcomes in Civil Engineering in the United States

AbstractUsing a data set from universities in the United States that includes over 17,000 civil engineering (CE) students, this work describes the demographics and outcomes for students starting in, switching into, and transferring into CE to inform the decision making of faculty, department heads, and deans. Pathways in CE vary by race but not gender. Although women generally outpersist men in CE, the difference is small. While Asian and Hispanic men choose CE at lower rates than others, the Asian and Hispanic men who do major in CE have higher graduation rates than expected. Black students of both genders are underrepresented in choosing CE and in completing the degree. Among Asian, Hispanic, and White students, those who start in CE and leave are replaced by those who transfer or switch in, but Black students entering CE later do not make up for the large losses of Blacks who start in CE. The work suggests a range of qualitative questions to better understand CE students.
Orientation relationships between niobium thin films and sapphire substrates

Abstract Single crystal films of niobium grown on sapphire substrates of various orientations were characterized by X-ray diffraction techniques. The orientation relationship of niobium films with respect to sapphire orientations is explained by appropriately choosing a hexagonal lattice for niobium which is aligned with the sapphire lattice.
The optimum population and an affluent society

Abstract The population optimum is formulated such that income-related shifts are permitted in rates of substitution between arguments in the welfare function. Under plausible assumptions, when income, the number of people, open space, leisure, and pollution are explicitly included in the welfare function, and even though the income elasticity of added children is positive, families will tend to have fewer children as incomes rise, while enjoying more open space and reduced levels of pollution. A shift toward leisure tends to have the partial effect of increasing the optimum. The model predicts that consumption will become increasingly extra-market as incomes rise.
Next-Generation Nanoelectromechanical Switch Contact Materials: A Low-Power Mechanical Alternative to Fully Electronic Field-Effect Transistors.

The deficiency of existing electrical contact materials is currently a significant impediment to the commercialization of nanoelectromechanical (NEM) contact switches?a low-power ?beyond complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology? [1]. NEM switches using traditional metallic electrical contact materials, even those composed of inert, noble metals such as gold (Au) and platinum (Pt), demonstrate premature failure due to either their adhesiveness or catalytic activity, leading to a buildup of insulating interfacial contaminants. Commercially viable NEM switches demand novel contact materials along with efficient methods to evaluate the performance of these materials.
Rectal administration of iodide and propylthiouracil in the treatment of thyroid storm

We administered potassium iodide and propylthiouracil per rectum, in conjunction with intravenous dexamethasone and propranolol, for emergent treatment of a patient in thyroid storm with small bowel obstruction. Shortly after initiation of this treatment, the patient successfully underwent two emergent surgical procedures for resection of an intestinal volvulus with advanced peritonitis. Serum levels of iodide and propylthiouracil showed substantial absorption of these drugs via the rectal route. Measurement of 24-h urinary-free iodide indicated that the bioavailability of potassium iodide delivered by retention enema was at least 40%. Parenteral iodide preparations have been unavailable in the past, and continue to be difficult to obtain emergently. Rectal administration of inorganic iodide is an effective, readily available and less expensive alternative to parenteral sodium iodide for patients in thyroid storm with upper gastrointestinal tract dysfunction.
Evidence for dual mechanisms of mesoderm establishment in Xenopus embryos.

In Xenopus embryos, the maternally encoded transcription factor VegT (also known as Xombi, Antipodean, Brat, and Xtbx6) is essential for normal endoderm and mesoderm formation. This finding and the localization of VegT mRNA in the vegetal hemisphere of the oocyte are consistent with several models of germ layer patterning. Specific models have been proposed in which (1) combinations of cytoplasmic determinants, (2) inductive signals, or (3) intracellular concentration (morphogen effects) predominate. We test predictions of these models. We show that contrary to previous proposals, FGF does not suppress endoderm formation and so cannot be an anti-endoderm mesodermal determinant. We further show that, at the right dose, VegT can induce mesodermal marker expression cell autonomously and that it induces mesoderm at concentrations below those that induce endoderm. These results are consistent with a dual mechanism of mesoderm establishment in which both VegT-initiated inductive signals and an intracellular VegT morphogen gradient play a part. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Excluded middle and bivalence

I consider two related objections to the claim that the law of excluded middle does not imply bivalence. One objection claims that the truth predicate captured by supervaluation semantics is not properly motivated. The second objection says that even if it is, LEM still implies bivalence. I show that LEM does not imply bivalence in a supervaluational language. I also argue that considering supertruth as truth can be reasonably motivated.
False positive bacteriological reports in diseases simulating pulmonary tuberculosis.

Summary The bacteriological examination of sputum and gastric contents for tubercle bacilli is by far the most important of any specific laboratory finding in cases of questionable pulmonary disease. However, the factors related to the laboratory examination itself may be in question. A positive sputum smear, sputum or gastric culture, or guinea pig inoculation in the presence of either a negative roentgenogram or pulmonary infiltration still requires analysis of the history, the physical examination, and the roentgenogram in addition to the positive bacteriology.
Cyclic stretch-induced cPLA2 mediates ERK 1/2 signaling in rabbit proximal tubule cells

Cyclic stretch-induced cPLA 2 mediates ERK 1/2 signaling in rabbit proximal tubule cells. Background Recent evidence from this laboratory have demonstrated a critical role of phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) and arachidonic acid in angiotensin II type 2 (AT 2 ) receptor-mediated kinase activation in renal epithelium independent of phosphoinositide- specific phospholipase C (PLC) and without the necessity of eicosanoid biosynthesis. In the present study, we investigated whether cyclic stress phosphorylates and activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and whether PLA 2 activation mediates mechanotransduction in renal epithelial cells. The rational for studying kidney epithelial cells relates to their similarity to podocytes, which undergo mechanical stretch related to changes in intraglomerular pressure. Methods To produce strain or stretch, primary cultures of rabbit proximal tubular cell cells are grown in tissue culture wells having a collagen-coated Silastic deformable membrane bottoms and applying vacuum to the well to generate alternating cycles of stretch and relaxation (30 cycles/min). Results We found that cyclic stretching of rabbit proximal tubular cells caused a time- and intensity-dependent activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2) in proximal tubular cells as detected by its phosphorylation. In addition, mechanical stretch induced PLA 2 activation and a subsequent rapid release of arachidonic acid. Inhibition of PLA 2 by mepacrine and methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate ketone (AACOCF 3 ) attenuated both arachidonic acid release and ERK 1/2 activation by cyclic stretch, supporting the importance of PLA 2 as a mediator of mechanotransduction in renal proximal tubular cells. A requirement for extracellular Ca 2+ and stretch-activated Ca 2+ channels was also documented. Complete inhibition of ERK 1/2 by PD98059, a MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, did not suppress stretch- induced PLA 2 activation and arachidonic acid release, suggesting the later events were upstream of ERK 1/2. Cyclic stretch also caused rapid phosphorylation of the EGF receptor kinase and c-Src. Furthermore, arachidonic acid itself induced time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation of c-Src. In addition, the c-Src inhibitor PP2 and selective EGF receptor kinase inhibitor AG1478 attenuated both ERK 1/2 and EGF receptor phosphorylation by cyclic stretch. Conclusion PLA 2 dependence for ERK 1/2 activation in response to cyclic stretch in proximal tubular epithelial cells was established in this report. In addition, these findings indicate cyclic stretch increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and c-Src and that c-Src acts upstream of the EGF receptor to mediate its phosphorylation, whereby both are critical for stretch- induced ERK 1/2 activation in rabbit proximal tubular cells. These observations documents for the first time a mechanism of mechanical stretch-induced kinase activation mediated by stretch activated Ca 2+ channels and PLA 2 -dependent release of arachidonic acid.
Observations on Methadone Withdrawal in 16 Neonates

The recent extensive use of methadone for treatment of heroin addiction has taught that, in adults, withdrawal of methadone can produce a withdrawal syndrome similar to heroin. After considerable experience with heroin withdrawal in neonates and in view of controversy and limited studies regarding methadone withdrawal, the study herein reported was undertaken to compare the experiences with both heroin and methadone withdrawal symptoms in newborns. A number of methadone-treated pregnant women deliver their infants at Freedmen's Hospital, affording the opportunity to observe neonates born to methadone-addicted mothers.
Effects of acute marijuana smoking on pulse rate and mood states in women.

The effects of marijuana cigarette (1.8% THC) smoking on pulse rate and mood were studied under double-blind placebo-controlled conditions in 28 adult female volunteers during the follicular, luteal, and ovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle. Statistically significant increases in pulse rate, subjective levels of intoxication, and the POMS confusion factor occurred after marijuana smoking. However, no statistically significant differences for any measure were observed following marijuana smoking as a function of menstrual cycle phase. Subjects with a past history of intermittent marijuana use (five or less times weekly) had significantly higher pulse rates, subjective levels of intoxication, and POMS confusion factor scores than did subjects with a past history of regular (six or more times weekly) marijuana use. Persistence of marijuana-induced changes in pulse rate, intoxication, and confusion were also of longer duration for subjects with a past history of intermittent marijuana smoking. The influence of past history of marijuana use on marijuana-induced alterations in pulse rate, intoxication, and mood for females appears to be similar to males. These similarities are not attenuated as a function of the menstrualcycle phase of females.
Tectonic implications of diverse igneous blocks in Franciscan melange, Northern California and southwestern Oregon

More than 50% of the igneous blocks from melanges of the Franciscan subduction complex in northernmost California and from the equivalent Dothan Formation of southwestern Oregon are more silica-rich than basalt, and some contain supra-subduction zone geochemical signatures such as elevated Th/Ta ratios. In contrast, blocks from more southerly parts of the Franciscan melange belt are more commonly mid-ocean ridge and ocean island/seamount basalts. The data indicate a north-south variation in the block population, due to differences in source terrane, or in the processes that provided the blocks and transported them into the melange, or both. We suggest that, in the northern Franciscan, a relatively greater fraction of igneous melange blocks was emplaced by block slumping from the forearc crust into the trench than was the case to the south.
Fault detection and localization using measured surface vibration and local inversion

We present progress we have made in developing a structural acoustic-based methodology allowing interior fault detection and localization in plate-like structures using only processed vibration data readily available on the structure's surface. Our methods use measurements of surface displacement associated with vibration of the structure caused by externally applied forces. These forces can be created simply by a local actuator in direct contact with the structure or in some cases by an incident airborne acoustic wave. The measured normal surface displacements, u z (x, y) , are then inverted locally using various mathematically optimized algorithms in order to obtain a desired material parameter, for example, the elastic modulus, whose spatial variation then serves to detect and localize the fault. This structural acoustic approach is not limited to any particular length scale requiring only that the structure be mechanically excited at frequencies for which the structural wavelength is within an order of magnitude of the fault dimension and that the dynamic surface displacements be mapped with a spatial resolution smaller than the fault size. We present the results of deploying the structural acoustic technique in the US Capitol Building to locate faults within plaster walls and ceilings bearing large expanses of precious nineteenth century frescoes, in composite airframe skins in laboratory experiments to detect and locate de-bonding of thin (~1mm) stiffeners and frames, and in micro-structures to detect and locate faults in silicon micro-oscillators and their supporting structures with resolutions approaching 1μm.
Observations on Childhood Infections with the Epstein-Barr Virus

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpes group and first detected in cultures of Burkitt's lymphoma cells [1], has been identified as the probable cause of infectious mononucleosis (IM) [2-4]. Patients who develop IM were found to lack antibodies to EBV prior to illness and to form high levels of antibody during illness, often in rising titer. A history of typical IM could be elicited only from individuals with antibodies [5, 6], and the disease occurred only among laboratory technicians and students who had no antibodies at an earlier time [2-5, 7]. EBV appears to have a growth-stimulating effect on cultured peripheral leukocytes from antibodynegative, healthy donors [8-11], an observation which might explain the ready and rapid establishment of continuous lines of Mastoid cells from
Predicting seismic liquefaction potential of sands by optimum seeking method

Abstract The feasibility of using the optimum seeking method to assess the seismic liquefaction potential of sands has been investigated. Optimization theory is a very important branch of applied mathematics and has a wide application in the practical world. Using the available field sand liquefaction data, the influence of various factors is quantified using the optimum seeking method. The factors considered are: the earthquake magnitude M , the distance of the site from the source of the earthquake L , the depth of the water table D w , the depth of the sand deposit D s , and the standard penetration test (SPT) blow count N . The most important factors have been identified as the earthquake magnitude and the SPT blow count. Prediction results show that the proposed method is effective and feasible. Since neither normalization of the SPT blow count nor calculation of the seismic shear-stress ratio are required, the proposed method is simpler and more direct than the conventional methods of evaluating liquefaction potential.