cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasma Donors in the Southwestern United States Positively Contribute to the Diverse Therapeutic Antibody Profile of Immune Globulin Products

Human-plasma-derived immune globulin (IG) is used in augmentation therapy to provide protective levels of antibodies to patients with primary immune deficiency diseases (PIDD) and for prophylaxis against infectious diseases. To maintain the breadth of antibodies necessary for clinical protection, it is important to understand regional patterns of antibody seroprevalence in source plasma from which IG products are manufactured. In this study, source plasma from donation centers in various locations of the Southwestern quarter of the United States was surveyed for antibody titers to hepatitis A virus (HAV), measles virus (MeV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). A broad range of anti-HAV Ig plasma titers was observed among these centers, with some centers exhibiting 3-5 times the titers of the others. Minor to no differences were observed for levels of anti-MeV and anti-CMV, respectively. Importantly, elevated anti-HAV Ig titers were broadly observed across plasma units obtained from the centers exhibiting high titers, indicative of a potential regional phenomenon among donors as opposed to few donors with singularly high titers. Plasma from these high-titer centers conferred significantly greater neutralization against HAV in vitro. The outcomes of this study give a glimpse of the antibody diversity inherent in human plasma used to manufacture IG products..
Chapter 44 – Mucosal Eosinophils

Eosinophils are multifunctional granulocytes that have a variety of roles in host defense. Under homeostasis, eosinophils can be found in bone marrow, blood, fat, uterus, mammary gland, and intestinal tissue, with the latter being the largest reservoir. During inflammatory conditions, eosinophils home to their target tissues, a process primarily driven by the eotaxin-CCR3 axis, with all of the known putative ligands for CCR3 having been shown to be critical in tissue eosinophilia in mice and in humans. In addition, eosinophil migration is also tightly regulated by the eosinophil’s surface adhesion molecule expression during physiological and pathological conditions, a process regulated by Th2 cytokines. As a key innate and adaptive immunity regulator, the eosinophils is a source of pleotropic cytokines, which can directly regulate structural cells and other immunocytes. In addition, eosinophil-specific granule proteins are strong cytotoxins, as well as members of the RNAase family. Eosinophils also take a role in organ development and metabolism regulation under homeostasis, and orchestrate a series of tissue inflammatory injury along the full length of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in a variety of eosinophilic GI disorders (referred to by the acronym EGID). As a hallmark for human and murine asthma, the eosinophils has been proved to be a central regulator in asthmatic responses, especially in a subset of patients with “eosinophilic” asthma, as demonstrated with anti-IL-5 therapy, which is now becoming a promising intervention for asthma. Taken together, the eosinophils is both a key regulator and effector that is present in the circulation and mucosal immune system and specialized to launch a Th2-tilted response. Targeting eosinophil development, trafficking, survival, and effector functions may open new avenue of disease-specific intervention.
Medicinal Attributes of American Elderberry

American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) is a common fruiting shrub native to much of Eastern North America. While the fruit and flowers have been used for eons as food and medicine by both early and contemporary North Americans, its use is seeing a resurgence. This has resulted in a renewed interest in horticultural development and cultivation of elderberry, with numerous new products developed especially in the form of dietary supplements. Recent scientific research continues to underscore the health-benefitting attributes of both elderberry fruit and flowers, and is further fueling the development of a significant elderberry value chain from production, to processing, marketing, and consumption.
A pilot study of immunosuppression resumption following BK viremia resolution.

Background Immunosuppression reduction for BK viremia is associated with de novo humoral responses, which are a risk factor for rejection and graft loss. In this pilot project, we tested a protocol of immunosuppression resumption to standard dose after viral clearance for optimal protection against humoral immunity in patients undergoing treatment for BK viremia. Methods Thirty-six consecutive kidney transplant recipients who developed BK viremia from 7/1/2014 to 11/18/2016 underwent immunosuppression reduction. After 4 weeks of absent viremia, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was increased by 500mg/day every 2 weeks up to standard dosage, followed by increase of tacrolimus trough levels to 5-7 ng/mL. If viremia recurred during the increase, immunosuppression was reduced in this same stepwise fashion, with stepwise increase again after 2 months of negative viremia. Results Mean tacrolimus trough level (ng/mL) was 8.3 ± 2.7 at viremia onset, 5.3 ± 3.6 at resolution, and 5.6 ± 2.0 at study end date. Mean daily dose (mg) of MMF was 1574 ± 355 at onset, 910 ± 230 at resolution, and 1377 ± 451 at study end date. Only one patient developed low level viremia recurrence (peak 2875 copies/mL) during the period of immunosuppression resumption that ultimately resolved. Conclusions The results of our pilot project indicate that following BK viremia resolution, resumption of standard immunosuppression can be achieved safely without BK viremia recurrence. Larger trials with long-term follow up are required to determine whether such an approach improves long-term graft survival.
Can Overclocking Detect Hardware Trojans

Hardware Trojans can take various forms to manifest an integrated circuit (IC), causing altered functional behavior, and potential critical consequences, e.g., leaking secret information in encryption applications. This paper presents an approach that uses over-clocking to produce different bit flip patterns between clean design and Trojan-inserted design. Consequently, we apply machine learning algorithms to learn the bit flips distribution at the output of an IC, and therefore differentiate the divergence in the pattern of bit flips caused by the Trojan in IC from its baseline distribution. This approach is effective in detecting Trojan placed off the critical path. The proposed technique is evaluated on benchmarks from Trust-hub and show a detection accuracy of 87%.
A Reconfigurable Asynchronous SERDES for Heterogenous Chiplet Interconnects

With advancing packaging technologies, multi-die integration is gaining prominence among players in the semiconductor industry for its ability to create a system with heterogenous functionalities (Digital Logic/High-speed I/O etc. at its most efficient process node) hence improving overall silicon yield. This work presents a source- synchronous die-to-die I/O using a self-timed loop (behaviorally analogous to a gated ring oscillator) that generates high-speed edges, eliminating any power-hungry PLL/DLLs found in traditional die-to-die I/O interfaces. In addition, the proposed asynchronous architecture enables easy reconfigurability of data rates under a small form factor and efficient design-reuse. The scheme achieves a maximum of 4.8Gbps/wire at 0.4pJ/b generating an effective shoreline bandwidth of 1.47Tbps/mm.
Writing the Law: Developing the ‘Citizen Lawyer’ Identity Through Legislative, Statutory, and Rule Drafting Courses

At the time of the American Founding, Thomas Jefferson, among others, viewed lawyers as the class of citizens most suited to lead the American institutions of government, as well as preserve and protect them. Jefferson valued the ideal of the “Citizen Lawyer” who would have a broad liberal education, experiential learning, and be capable of using knowledge of the law to promote the public good. In more recent years, American law schools have been criticized for failing to achieve many of these goals first envisioned by Jefferson. Particularly, law schools have often failed to promote strong public service identities in students, failed to provide students with extensive experiential learning, and neglected to provide courses in public policy, legislation, and lawmaking. Today, our nation is once again in need of strong lawyers who can work for the public good, to protect our system of government, preserve the rule of law, and promote the positive reformation of law when needed. Through the teaching of more robust legislative and policy courses that include experiential learning components and consider issues of social justice and public policy, law schools can support the needs of law students and society. Such courses can help law students develop their “Citizen Lawyer” identity, and our society will be better off for having more lawyers who take their role of public service as a professional duty.
Multiphysics coupling in the Exascale computing project

Multiphysics coupling presents a significant challenge in terms of both computational accuracy and performance. Achieving high performance on coupled simulations can be particularly challenging in ...
Should schools be in loco parentis? Cautionary thoughts

The jurisdiction of schools has long been contested. Initially, under the sway of loco parentis, parents delegated all authority to educators. With ascendency of the common school movement in the 1...
Behavioral markers of pain: Understanding the cognitive, motor, and societal interactions in the pain experience

Abstract The behavioral expression of pain is our best current understanding of how pain can be recognized through either research or clinical evaluation. We rely heavily on how an individual may express themselves after receiving a painful stimulus, and thus it is critical to understand the factors that go into and mediate the expression of pain in patients and research participants. In this chapter, we explore three dominant themes of pain behaviors: psychology and cognition, motor behaviors, and social interactions. We provide an up-to-date analysis of how these themes are expressed and what needs to be focused on in future research. We explore brain and behavioral correlates and comment on how pain-related behavior should be managed as more objective clinical tools, such as magnetic resonance imaging, are developed alongside techniques that leverage higher level computing (e.g., machine learning). We focus our discussion using a precision pain medicine perspective.
SU-E-T-367: Evaluate the Dosimetric Impacts On Patient Specific Treatment Plans Due to Set Up Uncertainties During LINAC Annual QA and Commission

Purpose: To quantify the dosimetric impact on patient's specific treatment plans due to set up uncertainties during LINAC commission and annual QA and to determine the maximum set up uncertainty allowance range. Methods: A 60×60×60 cm3 solid water cube was created in Varian Eclipse TPS. Beam data profiles (crossline and diagonal) and PDDs for field sizes ranging from 2×2 cm2 to 40×40 cm2 were simulated. Three main uncertainty scenarios were purposely introduced for gantry position tilts (0–5°), source axis distance changes (100–105 cm), and iso-center position shifts (0–5 mm) during the simulation. A gamma analysis was used to compare the correct simulated profiles with the profiles for each scenario. Two static IMRT treatment plans (H&N and GYN) with tumors at 5 cm and 15 cm depths were compared using similar set up uncertainties. Results: A gamma analysis using ±3%/±3mm with 90% passing rate criteria is included to show the passing rate for each scenario. Crossline and diagonal profiles showed a gamma passing rating of ≥ 90% at depth ≤10 cm for these scenarios: gantry tilted from 0–5°, SAD changed from 100–105 cm, and iso-center shifted ≤ 4 mm. From 10 to 20 cm depths, all three scenarios failed with gamma passing ≤ 90% excepted for diagonal profiles at Gantry =2°, SAD =1 cm, and iso-center =1 mm off center. Diagonal profiles showed a higher gamma passing rating compared to crossline profiles for all three scenarios. PDD differences also increased as depth increased. For patient's specific treatment plans, maximum uncertainties allowed to obtain a ≥90% gamma passing rating are: gantry tilts ±1 degree, SAD shifts ±2 cm, and iso-center moves ±3 mm. Conclusion: This study validated AAPM TG 142 recommendations on the mechanical and dosimetry uncertainties and provided proofs on maximum acceptance tolerances for LINAC annual QA and commission.
Hydrologic Cycle, Water Resources, and Society

Water is more or less constantly moving and changing from one state to another (solid, liquid, or vapor) while interacting with the physical processes in the atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. These changes and movements of water are linked together into a grand scheme called the hydrologic cycle. Components of the hydrologic cycle include the water vapor and clouds in the atmosphere, and also liquid surface waters (oceans, lakes, and streams) on continents as well as groundwater. Other important components of the hydrologic cycle include glacial ice held on continents and water in biomass. Plants and animals are about 70% water by volume. Water evaporates in enormous quantities from the oceans and then falls as precipitation either on land or ocean. That portion which falls on land evaporates, evapotranspires, runs off, or infiltrates by some measure. Eventually, all water ends up back in the ocean. Between the various stages of the hydrologic cycle, water moves between temporary storage areas often called reservoirs. These movements are controlled by climatic conditions, which include rain, snow, wind, and other meteorologic processes. Keywords: atmosphere; biosphere; evapotranspiration; groundwater; hydrologic cycle; infiltration; lithosphere; precipitation; reservoir; society; stream flow; sublimation; throughfall; vegetation; water resources
Interpreting Migration Through the Prism of Reasons for Moves

Some interpretations of migration juxtapose jobs and amenities as alternative explanations for migration and regional growth but there is substantial evidence that migrants juggle a more complex set of motivations for migration than simply the attraction of a new job or a nice place to live. Occupational opportunities, family needs, communities, and lifestyles all play competing roles when households decide to move. This has always been true for local moves but appears to be relevant in longer distance moves also. We use data from the Housing, Income, and Labour Dynamics Survey in Australia to unpack the relative role of a wide variety of responses to the question – why did you move. The paper provides evidence that while migration is clearly related to labour market opportunities, non-economic motivations including family change, lifestyle choices, and housing needs also play powerful roles in long-distance migration decisions and often come with significant economic benefits. Clearly, jobs matter but it may be that they are the context within which migration occurs rather than simply an adjustment mechanism in the labour market. Survey data confirm that most moves are not generated by jobs per se, and the distribution of gains varies considerably by gender and reason for moves. Overall, this research emphasises the complexity of modern migration decisions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of Mutated Erythrocytes in Man

Two assay systems are being developed to measure the level of in vivo somatic mutations in human cells. Both are based on immunologic recognition and fluorescence-activated cell sorter enumeration of cells carrying variant proteins. The first assay is based on the detection of erythrocytes containing the single amino acid-substituted hemoglobins S or C. Frequencies of anti-hemoglobin S- and C-labeled red cells in the blood of normal hemoglobin A individuals were determined. In five samples, the S-frequencies ranged from 1.1 x 10-8 to 1.1 x 10-7. C-frequencies from 6.7 x 10-8 to 2.6 x 10-7 were observed in three samples. Methods to test the genetic validity of these results and to extend the measurements to additional point- and frameshift-mutant hemoglobins through the use of monoclonal antibodies are discussed. The second assay seeks to detect variant red cells arising as a result of “gene expression loss” and point mutations in the genes for the membrane-associated protein glycophorin A. Monoclonal antibodies, specific for the M and N allelic forms of the protein, have been produced and can be used to screen blood samples from MN heterozygotes for variant red cells which fail to present one of the glycophorin A forms. These antibodies may also be capable of detecting red cells in homozygotes expressing single amino acid-substituted glycophorin A.
Characterization of a new RNA helicase from nuclear extracts of HeLa cells which translocates in the 5' to 3' direction.

RNA helicase II, isolated from nuclear extracts of HeLa cells, was purified 1,300-fold and contained a single protein band of 100 kDa when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme displaced partial duplex RNA exclusively in a 5' to 3' direction. This reaction was supported only by ATP and deoxy-ATP at relatively high concentrations (the Km was estimated as 1 mM). The enzyme displayed only ATPase and deoxy-ATPase activity that was stimulated preferentially by poly(C). RNA helicase catalyzed the unwinding of duplex RNA and RNA.DNA hybrids provided that single-stranded (ss) RNA was available for the helicase to bind. In the presence of MgCl2 and ATP or adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) RNA helicase II interacted with ssRNA and yielded a protein-RNA complex only when reaction mixtures were treated with glutaraldehyde after incubation. When the reactions contained nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs or GTP, ssRNA was converted into an electrophoretically slower migrating form by the helicase. The slower migrating RNA form was shown to be an RNA species containing secondary structure that resided within a putative hairpin loop. These observations indicate that RNA helicase II can introduce intramolecular secondary structure in ssRNA.
Coordinate-free, frequency-independent universal functions for BAW analysis in SAW devices

We critically consider the boundary element method (BEM) as applied to SAW devices and describe a convenient way for increasing the accuracy of the numerical data, while significantly reducing the required computer resources. We construct appropriately defined frequency-scaled Green's functions and show that a function A(|X|) exists such that, say, for the interaction between the k/sup th/ and l/sup th/ substrips in BEM applications the relationship A/sub kl/=A(|a/sub kl/|)-A(|b/sub kl/|)-A(|c/sub kl/|)+A(|d/sub kl/|) holds true, even for the more complicated self-action elements (k=l). The various arguments of the function A(|X|) are related to the geometrical data of the aforementioned substrips. The coordinate-free, frequency-independent universal function A(|X|) merely involves the associated Green's functions, and thus can be tabulated for any material and cut only once. We validate our approach by comparing simulation results with experimental data.
Problems and progress: survey on fat points in P2

This paper surveys certain problems involving numerical characters for ideals I(Z) defining fat points subschemes $Z=m_1p_1+...+m_np_n$ for general points $p_i\in {\bf P}^2$. It also presents some new results, and includes a suite of MACAULAY 2 scripts for computing actual or conjectured values of (or bounds on) these characters. One such script, for example, is findres, which implements an algorithm due to Fitchett, Harbourne and Holay for computing the syzygy modules in a minimal free resolution of the ideal I(Z) for any such Z with n<=8; since findres does not rely on a Gr\"obner basis calculation, it is very fast and can handle very large multiplicities.
Variance Ratio Tests Of Random Walk Hypothesis Of The Euro Exchange Rate

The introduction of the Euro has drawn interested parties’ attention on the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate market. In this research, three variance ratio tests: Lo-MacKinlay’s (1988) conventional variance ratio test, Chow-Denning’s (1993) simple multiple variance ratio test, and Wright’s (2000) non-parametric ranks and signs based variance ratio tests are adopted to test the random walk hypothesis (RWH) of the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate market using the data from January 1999 to July 2008. All of three variance ratio tests’ results show that the RWH cannot be rejected. Therefore, the Euro/U.S. Dollar exchange rate market is regarded as weak-form efficient.
Death to Tyrants: District of Columbia v. Heller and the Uses of Guns

A gun is not much use unless you can do something with it. Otherwise, it’s a very expensive paperweight or doorstop. Nonetheless, until recently, the gun control debate largely concerned limits on owning a gun rather than limits on actually firing it. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court changed that focus, probably for good. The Court held that the Second Amendment gives individuals a right not only to get a gun but also to use it for certain purposes, especially self-defense. And if the Constitution protects the right to use a gun for self-defense, then it follows that the Constitution must also protect the underlying right to self-defense itself. In other words, the Second Amendment reaches not only what we generally think of as firearms regulations—purchasing, registration, concealed carry and the like—but also what we generally think of as the bread-and-butter of criminal law. After Heller, the states may not eliminate the right of self-defense, and the Court may even limit their ability to trim it back. And in the future, the Court may find other uses protected by the Second Amendment—hunting and target shooting come to mind—and so the Constitution will presumably then limit what game wardens and zoning boards can and cannot do. Despite the Court’s confident pronouncement, it is not at all clear that the Second Amendment was meant to protect a personal right of self-defense. It is, however, crystal clear that the Amendment was meant to protect the right to keep and bear arms to resist tyranny—as the Heller Court itself concedes. Yet strangely, by the time the sixty-four-page opinion has wound to an end, the Court has purged the Amendment of its revolutionary quality. Justice Scalia’s opinion never hints that the right to resist tyranny might still be alive and well and relevant to the Amendment’s interpretation, and it lays down rules that will make the right a functional nullity.
A Survey Screen for Prediction of Apnea

Questionnaire data from patients presenting at three sleep disorders centers were used to develop and assess a screening tool for sleep apnea based on the reporting of the frequency of various symptoms of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders plus age, body mass index (BMI) and gender. Patients were not specifically referred for suspicion of sleep apnea. Separate factor analyses of survey responses from 658, 193 and 77 respondents from the first, second and third sites, respectively, each yielded four orthogonal factors, one of which accounted for all the questions concerned with the frequency of disordered breathing during sleep. The survey was shown to be reliable in a subset of patients from one of the sites (test-retest correlation = 0.92). Survey data were then compared to a clinical measure of sleep apnea (respiratory disturbance index) obtained from polysomnography. A multivariable apnea risk index including survey responses, age, gender and BMI was estimated using multiple logistic regression in a total sample of 427 respondents from two of the sites. Predictive ability was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The area under the ROC curve was 0.79 (p < 0.0001). For BMI alone, it was 0.73, and for an index measuring the self-report of the frequency of apnea symptoms, it was 0.70. The multivariable apnea risk index has potential utility in clinical settings.
The Influence of Ice Cover on Two Lake-Effect Snow Events over Lake Erie

Abstract It is generally understood that extensive regions of significant lake ice cover impact lake-effect (LE) snow storms by decreasing the upward heat and moisture fluxes from the lake surface; however, it is only recently that studies have been conducted to more thoroughly examine this relationship. This study provides the first examination of Great Lakes LE snow storms that developed in association with an extensively ice-covered lake. The LE snow events that occurred downwind of Lake Erie on 12–14 February 2003 and 28–31 January 2004 produced maximum snowfall totals of 43 and 64 cm in western New York state, respectively. The presence of widespread ice cover led these snows to be less anticipated than snowfalls from Lake Ontario, which had limited ice cover. For both events, a variety of ice-cover conditions and meso- and synoptic-scale factors (i) helped support LE snow storm development, (ii) lead to the transitions in LE convective type, and (iii) resulted in noteworthy snowfalls near Lake Erie....
Dynamic Aerosol In-Situ Imager (DAISI)

Transverse confocal imaging with pulsed laser illumination enables real-time multi-parameter characterization of individual aerosol particles. Independent values for size, shape, dynamics, and cross-section enable enhanced PM speciation.
The Management of the International Executive Compensation and Benefits Process

Scant attention has been given to the organizational locations of the various tasks that comprise the management process responsible for the international compensation and benefits program of particular international firms. The organizational locations of 3 managerial tasks associated with these compensation and benefits programs are examined in this article: development of policies and procedures; financing; and supervision and control. The article examines the management of U.S. expatriate and third-country manager programs, based on the reported practices of U.S.-based firms representing a variety of industries. Management and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.
Mechanism of Epac activation. Structural and functional analyses of Epac2 hinge mutants with constitutive and reduced activities

Epac2 is a member of the family of exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac). Our previous studies suggest a model of Epac activation in which cAMP binding to the enzyme induces a localized "hinge" motion that reorients the regulatory lobe relative to the catalytic lobe without inducing large conformational changes within individual lobes. In this study, we identified the location of the major hinge in Epac2 by normal mode motion correlation and structural alignment analyses. Targeted mutagenesis was then performed to test the functional importance of hinge bending for Epac activation. We show that substitution of the conserved residue phenylalanine 435 with glycine (F435G) facilitates the hinge bending and leads to a constitutively active Epac2 capable of stimulating nucleotide exchange in the absence of cAMP. In contrast, substitution of the same residue with a bulkier side chain, tryptophan (F435W), impedes the hinge motion and results in a dramatic decrease in Epac2 catalytic activity. Structural parameters determined by small angle x-ray scattering further reveal that whereas the F435G mutant assumes a more extended conformation in the absence of cAMP, the F435W mutant is incapable of adopting the fully extended and active conformation in the presence of cAMP. These findings demonstrate the importance of hinge motion in Epac activation. Our study also suggests that phenylalanine at position 435 is the optimal size side chain to keep Epac closed and inactive in the absence of cAMP while still allowing the proper hinge motion for full Epac extension and activation in the presence of cAMP.
Building a CISCO-feel linux router to enable students learn and configure dynamic routing protocols

Routing is an important concept in networking. Many commercial routers are available, but they can be expensive, not affordable to many schools. The alternative is to turn a Linux machine into a fully functional router. The Zebra suite of routing daemons makes this possible. In this paper, we give detailed instructions on how to design the network topology, set up the network, install and run the Linux router, and how to configure dynamic routing protocols such as RIPv1. By following the steps described in the paper, students will be able to gain real world experience with configuring dynamic routing protocols, and watch how routers exchange routing updates and build routing tables dynamically.
Lipid composition of testes from various species

Abstract 1. 1. Of eight species, guinea pig testis had the highest total lipid content (3·4 per cent) and the human had the lowest (1·6 per cent). Phospholipids ranged from 64 to 86 per cent of testicular total lipids in dog, mouse, rat, rabbit, chicken and hamster while guinea pig had 41 per cent and human 56 per cent. 2. 2. Total fatty acid patterns, especially the twenty-two-carbon polyunsaturated acids, were characteristic for most species. Rat, hamster, rabbit and dog testes had high 22:5 (11–16 per cent) and low 22:6. Mouse and guinea pig had low but similar amounts of these acids. Human testis had 8·5 per cent 22:6 and negligible 22:5. Chicken testis contained 22:4 and no 22:5 or 22:6 acids. 3. 3. Large variations in amount of dietary linoleic acid had little effect on the polyunsaturated acids of rat testis. Essential fatty acid deficiency or the feeding of only linoleic or linolenic acids produced distinctive fatty acid patterns.
"Head Start and Children's Nutrition, Weight, and Health Care Receipt"

Abstract Using a sample of low-income children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (N ≈ 4350) and propensity-score weighted regressions, we analyzed children's nutrition, weight, and health care receipt at kindergarten entry, comparing (1) Head Start participants and all non-participants, and (2) Head Start participants and children in prekindergarten, other center-based care, other non-parental care, or only parental care. Overall, we found that compared to all non-participants, Head Start participants were more likely to receive dental checkups but showed no differences in getting medical checkups; they were also more likely to have healthy eating patterns but showed no differences in Body Mass Index (BMI), overweight, or obesity. However, these results varied depending on the comparison group—Head Start participants showed lower BMI scores and lower probability of overweight compared to those in other non-parental care, and the effects on healthy eating and dental checkups differed by comparison group.
Existing Supply of Watershed Services in the Panama Canal Watershed

Summary Markets for ecosystem services are gaining the interest of both entrepreneurs and environmentalists as a way to further environmental protection and conservation goals while turning a profit for investors and land managers. The Panama Canal Watershed is currently struggling with the effects of land use change on its water quality and quantity. This paper examines two types of land management in the Panama Canal Watershed (large-scale reforestation with native species and smallholders' agroforestry projects) to analyze the supply side of a possible market for watershed services. Forest cover provides the following watershed services: (1) regulates water flow by controlling flooding and peak flows, and possibly increasing dry season flows; and (2) improves water quality by increasing dissolved oxygen levels and reducing erosion, sedimentation, pathogens, eutrophication, and chemical contaminant loading. Based on the research presented in this paper, large-scale reforestation may not be desirable in ...
Implicit bias and its relation to health disparities: a teaching program and survey of medical students.

Background: The varying treatment of different patients by the same physician are referred to as within provider disparities. These differences can contribute to health disparities and are thought to be the result of implicit bias due to unintentional, unconscious assumptions. Purposes: The purpose is to describe an educational intervention addressing both health disparities and physician implicit bias and the results of a subsequent survey exploring medical students’ attitudes and beliefs toward subconscious bias and health disparities. Methods: A single session within a larger required course was devoted to health disparities and the physician's potential to contribute to health disparities through implicit bias. Following the session the students were anonymously surveyed on their Implicit Association Test (IAT) results, their attitudes and experiences regarding the fairness of the health care system, and the potential impact of their own implicit bias. The students were categorized based on whether th...
Fluorescent carbon by covalently attaching a BODIPY fluorophore

This work reports the preparation and characterization of fluorescent carbon particles by covalently attaching a BODIPY fluorophore and demonstrates the feasibility of using the fluorescent carbon particles for visualization in micro/nanofluidics.
Low-Level Turbulence Structure in the Vicinity of a Hurricane

Abstract Turbulent low-level properties, as determined from aircraft measurements on 17 September 1975, are presented for a peripheral portion of Hurricane Eloise. Application of the Deardorff (1972b) planetary boundary layer parameterization scheme to the mean data indicates that the shear production of turbulence is far greater than that due to buoyancy. it is inferred from an examination of the terms contributing to the energy budget for the upper mixed-layer levels that the vertical shear production of turbulence principally occurs in the surface layer. The surface stress calculated from Deardorff's approach is almost identical to that observed from the momentum flux profile. This profile also shows that the top of the mixed layer is delineated by a vanishing stress, in agreement with previous undisturbed trade wind environment observations.
Second-forbidden electron-capture decay of 55Fe.

Superimposed on the continuous inner-bremsstrahlung spectrum of $^{55}\mathrm{Fe}$, we observe a weak \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray line at an energy of 126.0 keV. The intensity of this line with respect to the inner-bremsstrahlung spectrum does not change with time. We interpret this \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray line to be produced by the second-forbidden nonunique decay of $^{55}\mathrm{Fe}$ to the first excited state of $^{55}\mathrm{Mn}$ with a branching of (1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}7}$%.
Comparison of NFPA and ISO approaches for evaluating separation distances

Abstract The development of a set of safety codes and standards for hydrogen facilities is necessary to ensure they are designed and operated safely. To help ensure that a hydrogen facility meets an acceptable level of risk, code and standard development organizations (SDOs) are utilizing risk-informed concepts in developing hydrogen codes and standards. Two SDOs, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) through its Technical Committee (TC) 197 on hydrogen technologies have been developing standards for gaseous hydrogen facilities that specify the facilities have certain safety features, use equipment made of material suitable for a hydrogen environment, and have specified separation distances. Under Department of Energy funding, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has been supporting efforts by both of these SDOs to develop the separation distances included in their respective standards. Important goals in these efforts are to use a defensible, science-based approach to establish these requirements and to the extent possible, harmonize the requirements. International harmonization of regulations, codes and standards is critical for enabling global market penetration of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The Dr. Bovary syndrome (DBS).

Gustave Flaubert wrote a controversial, sensational novel, Madame Bovary. It was published in 1856 in serial form and created such a sensation that Flaubert was publicly attacked and put on trial in January 1857. After he was acquitted in February 1857, the book eventually was recognized to be a masterpiece of writing, perhaps one of the finest novels ever written. Flaubert became famous and was accepted as a gifted novelist, one who struggled over finding ‘‘le mot juste,’’ with a great ability to describe the human condition and its foibles. His novel was scandalous in its day because it dealt with the adulterous relationships of the wife of a small-town surgeon, Dr. Bovary. Buried in its pages, as a minor part of the story, is the account of some of the challenges faced by Dr. Bovary [1]. This report is about the work of Dr. Bovary and illustrates some of our weaknesses and vulnerabilities as health care providers even today. Although, fiction and set in the France of the 1800s, many of Flaubert’s descriptions ring true today. Perhaps we can learn something from this story, which should, not surprisingly, remind us that human-kind has not changed much over the years. We still are easily misled, and we fall into many traps along the way. Background of Dr. Bovary
Alcoholism prevention among Native-American youth

Although Native-Americans represent a diverse population, alcoholism prevention programs need to apply general knowledge of alcohol use and misuse, rather than search for extraordinary cultural factors. Such an approach would emphasize the importance of social relationships, peer group associations, family interactions, and individual adjustment in the prevention of alcoholism among Native-Americans.
Solid state and solution structures of 2-halophenolate complexes of lithium

Abstract Solvent-free 2-halophenolate complexes of lithium, [LiOC6H4-2-X)]n (X = F, Cl, Br), were synthesized by treating the corresponding 2-halophenols with n-butyllithium. ortho-Lithiation was avoided by cooling the reaction mixture to −78 °C and using n-hexane as solvent. Recrystallization from THF/n-hexane lead to tetrameric [Li(THF)(μ3-OC6H4-2-X)]4 (X = F, 1; X = Cl, 2; X = Br, 3), which was verified by X-ray crystallography for 1 and 2 and derived for 3 by the strong similarities in the 1H, 13C and 7Li NMR data for 1, 2 and 3. Cubane structures were revealed for the Li4O4 core of 1 and 2. While complex salt 2 possesses only slight distortions within its cubane core, complex salt 1 has an unusual C2v distortion towards a butterfly shape. Additionally, dimeric [Li(H2O)2(μ-OC6H4-2-Br)]2 was obtained containing an extensive network of hydrogen bonding between water molecules. Upfield shifts in the 1H NMR spectra for the coordinated THF molecules as well as 13C and 7Li NMR spectra are interpreted as indicating the tetrameric form observed in the X-ray crystal structure is preserved in solution.
Quantitative analysis of platelet membrane glycoproteins: Effect of platelet washing procedures and isolation of platelet density subpopulations

Abstract Many procedures for the analysis of platelet proteins use platelets isolated by washing in protein-free buffers. We examined platelet glycoproteins after isolation by two washes in albumin-containing buffer (with 92% recovery of total whole blood platelets) and compared these to the platelets washed an additional four times in protein-free buffer (37% recovery of total whole blood platelets). Platelet recoveries were checked by three methods of quantitation (electronic particle counter, phase microscopy, and optical density) and equal results were obtained with each method. Platelet glycoproteins were quantitatively analyzed with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and staining by the periodic acid-Schiff reaction. The concentration per platelet of the granule glycoprotein (GP-G) and all four major membrane glycoproteins was significantly decreased (by 30–43%, p
WE-G-217BCD-01: BEST IN PHYSICS (IMAGING) - High-Quality CT Imaging in the Presence of Surgical Instrumentation Using Spectral System Models and Knowledge of Implanted Devices.

Purpose:Imaging in the presence of implants (instrumentation and prostheses) presents a notoriously difficult challenge to CT because of photon starvation and beam hardening. To alleviate these limitations, a statistical reconstruction approach that includes knowledge of implant shape and composition was previously reported. This work extends the approach to modeling of photon transport, including polychromatic x‐ray beams and scatter, and evaluates the method in simulated and real data. Methods: Previous work on Known‐Component Reconstruction (KCR) is first extended to include a polyenergetic beam (KCR‐POLY). The method simultaneously estimates the unknown background volume and the position of implants with known attenuation and shape. Simulations included an anthropomorphic knee with a Co‐Cr‐Mo implant and system model for an extremities CT system (110 kVp+0.2 mm Cu). Experimental validation was performed on an imaging bench in which a Titanium spine fixation rod (65 mm long, 5.5 mm diameter) was imaged within a 20.5 cm diameter water cylinder (120 kVp+0.2 mm Cu) in geometry simulating an interventional C‐ arm. Results: The polyenergetic system model was essential to high image quality in KCR reconstructions of large, highly attenuating implants such as knee prostheses and spine instrumentation, where standard penalized‐ likelihood and monoenergetic variants of KCR fail. The first application of KCR‐POLY in real data demonstrates the potential of the algorithm in practice, reducing or eliminating artifacts and restoring image uniformity. Conclusions: The KCR‐POLY algorithm yielded major reduction in metal artifacts, owing both to a priori component knowledge (the implant) and account of the polyenergetic beam, object attenuation, and x‐ray scatter. Ongoing research focuses on improvements to the registration algorithm, scatter, and experimental studies with complex, deformable implants. The work supports application of CT to a range of applications conventionally prohibited by metal implants ‐ e.g. surgical guidance or diagnostic imaging of joints with prostheses. This work was supported in part by NIH 2R01‐CA‐112163
Studies on the rate of isotopic oxygen exchange between [Re(py)4O2]+ and solvent water

Cinetique simple du 1er ordre, les 2 O sont equivalents. La constante de vitesse observee pour l'echange augmente avec l'acidite de pH 4 a 6, diminue avec [py] et est presque independant de la force ionique. Parametres d'activation
Combination of the Ross II operation with stentless bioprosthesis and radiofrequency maze IV operation.

The search for an ideal mitral valve substitute continues. Ross1 described the use of a pulmonary autograft for mitral valve replacement in 1967, and this operation is only now being reappraised because of its many advantages.2,3 In patients with irreparable mitral valvulopathy complicated with chronic atrial fibrillation, addition of some sort of ablative procedure has been recommended to make its benefits more complete.4 Currently, a stentless bioprosthesis is accepted as the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) substitute of choice in the Ross procedure.4,5 We report on 2 patients who had satisfactory results with the use of a Freestyle aortic root bioprosthesis (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) for RVOT reconstruction in the Ross II procedure combined with the radiofrequency maze IV procedure that was developed in our center.6,7
An off-the-shelf wearable HUD system for support in indoor environments

In this paper we introduce a system based on commercial off-the-shelf components for augmented reality support in general assisted living scenarios. Our system is comprised of (i) a smartphone with near field communication (NFC) capabilities and (ii) a wearable 3D see-through display. Both components utilize the Android operating system and are connected wirelessly. We demonstrate how such system can be used for aiding interaction of mobile users with their environment, e.g., as patients in assisted living or rehabilitation facilities. In our demonstrated state, the system allows users to gain language-independent contextual hints about their environment by touching tagged objects with their phone, which displays corresponding information on the head-mounted display.
AMLR-reactive T cells isolated by autologous rosette formation.

Abstract Peripheral blood lymphocytes capable of binding autologous erythrocytes in vitro (A-RFC) have been characterized and tested for their capacity to respond in autologous and allogeneic mixed-lymphocyte reactions. The incidence of human A-RFC ranged from 0 to 18%, however, several variables were found to increase the detectable percentage to 40–60%, these being the presence of serum in the assay mixture and pretreatment of erythrocytes with neuraminidase. No significant differences were detected when comparing allogeneic to autologous erythrocytes in the formation of rosettes, indicating a lack of MHC restriction of the phenomenon. Human A-RFC were surface immunoglobulin-negative, complement receptor-negative, nonphagocytic α-napthylacetate esterase-positive cells, approximately 90% of which were small lymphocytes exhibiting a punctate staining reaction. Remaining A-RFC exhibited a diffuse staining reaction and were morphologically identified as large granular lymphocytes (LGL). One hundred percent of A-RFC corosetted sheep and autologous human erythrocytes and stained positive with Leu-1 monoclonal anti T-cell antibody. Approximately 16% of A-RFC expressed receptors for IgG and an average of 66% expressed receptors for IgM after overnight culture. The ability of A-RFC enriched and depleted T-cell subpopulation to respond to stimulation with autologous and unrelated allogeneic non-T lymphoid cell populations was also examined. We found that A-RFC-enriched populations responded vigorously to autologous stimulation, but poorly to allogeneic stimuli. In contrast, A-RFC-depleted populations responded vigorously to allogeneic but poorly to autologous stimuli.
Synthesis of bovine growth hormone by Streptomyces lividans

Streptomyces lividans 66 was transformed with a plasmid containing the regulatory region of the Streptomyces fradiae aph gene and a structural gene that specifies bovine growth hormone (bGH). When grown in liquid culture the transformant contained a protein identical to authentic bGH, as judged by radioimmunoassay and immuno-blotting (Western analysis). The bGH was present in cells that had been in culture for up to four weeks but was not found in the medium. The strategy employed should be generally applicable to the expression of foreign genes in actinomycetes.
Witt vectors and K-theory of automorphisms via noncommutative motives

We prove that the functor ring-of-rational-Witt-vectors W0(−) becomes co-representable in the category of noncommutative motives. As an application, we obtain an immediate extension of W0(−) from commutative rings to schemes. Then, making use of the theory of noncommutative motives, we classify all natural transformations of the functor K-theory-of-automorphisms.