cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RacGap50C Negatively Regulates Wingless Pathway Activity During Drosophila Embryonic Development

The Wingless (Wg)/Wnt signal transduction pathway directs a variety of cell fate decisions in developing animal embryos. Despite the identification of many Wg pathway components to date, it is still not clear how these elements work together to generate cellular identities. In the ventral epidermis of Drosophila embryos, Wg specifies cells to secrete a characteristic pattern of denticles and naked cuticle that decorate the larval cuticle at the end of embryonic development. We have used the Drosophila ventral epidermis as our assay system in a series of genetic screens to identify new components involved in Wg signaling. Two mutant lines that modify wg-mediated epidermal patterning represent the first loss-of-function mutations in the RacGap50C gene. These mutations on their own cause increased stabilization of Armadillo and cuticle pattern disruptions that include replacement of ventral denticles with naked cuticle, which suggests that the mutant embryos suffer from ectopic Wg pathway activation. In addition, RacGap50C mutations interact genetically with naked cuticle and Axin, known negative regulators of the Wg pathway. These phenotypes suggest that the RacGap50C gene product participates in the negative regulation of Wg pathway activity.
Assessment of the Activation, Decay Heat, and Waste Disposal of a Dual Coolant Lithium Lead Test Blanket Module for ITER

The US is proposing a test blanket module (TBM) to be placed in half of the three dedicated test ports of ITER. The TBM is based on the dual coolant lithium lead (DCLL) blanket concept. Conventional ferritic steel (F82H) is used as the structure of the first wall (FW), the two breeder channels, the back plate, the inlet/out piping, and the shield plug. Two separate cooling circuits are employed: helium is used to cool the FW and blanket structure while the Pb-17Li is used as a coolant and breeder mainly in the two breeder channels. SiC flow channel inserts (FCI) are used to thermally and electrically isolate the flowing Pb-17Li from the relatively low-temperature structure. A 2 mm thick beryllium layer is used as a plasma facing material on the FW area (1.25 m2 ) subjected to 0.78 MW/m2 neutron wall load. In this paper, we present results pertaining to the radioactive inventory and decay heat levels at shutdown and at several post-irradiation times following the pulsed operation scheme of ITER
Use of the Restricted Academic Task in ADHD Dose-Response Relationships

Behavioral assessment techniques have been shown to make a significant contribution in the evaluation of stimulant medication response in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This article examines the role of a behavioral measure consisting of standardized observation of a child while he or she performs an academic-like task (Restricted Academic Task). This technique is reliable and valid for repeated administrations across medication dosages and placebo. It can assist in optimizing medication dosage for individual children, given its sensitivity to dosage effects. It also allows the capture of medication-related changes in an area of functioning that is not directly assessed by parent and teacher judgments and ratings. In this way the Restricted Academic Task may have greater ecological validity than the results of other, more traditional in-clinic measures. Finally, given the idiosyncratic nature of stimulant medication effects on individual children, it contributes to the explication of a specific child's behavioral dose-response relationship.
Competing Responses in a Discrete Mechanical System

This short paper takes a close look at a relatively simple harmonically-excited mechanical oscillator. Throughout the range of forcing frequencies the basins of attraction are investigated by apply...
Surface Lithologic Heterogeneity of Asteroid 4 Vesta

Abstract High precision spectrophotometry of 4 Vesta, the third largest asteroid, was used to establish the surface composition of this body and to investigate mineralogical variations across its surface. The average surface of Vesta is analogous to howardite and/or polymict eucrite assemblages, regolith-derived members of the HED meteorite suite which consist of a eucrite matrix containing differing amounts of a diogenite component. Color and/or spectral changes, which exhibit a consistent relationship to rotational phasing, are evident in 16 of 18 studies of Vesta dating back to 1929, including the present work. After elimination of possible sources of spurious spectral or color changes, it is concluded that these variations arise from hemispheric variations in surface materials, and hence provide a means of spatially resolving subhemispheric compositional units on the surface of Vesta. The background surface of Vesta is a relatively dark howardite or polymict eucrite (pyroxene–plagioclase) assemblage with several compositionally distinct bright regions clustered in one hemisphere viewed around the maximum in Vesta's lightcurve. These include what appears to be an olivine-bearing unit (suggested name “Leslie Formation”) located near Vesta's equator which probably represents an impact basin (and/or its associated ejecta) that penetrated through the basaltic crust. Other high-albedo compositional units including an apparently low-calcium eucrite region and several diogenite (pyroxenite) regions, at least one located near the southern pole, may be smaller, shallower impact basins. By analogy to the eucrite meteorites, which represent surface flows or shallow intrusions and which constitute the major component of the regolith-derived howardites and polymict eucrites, we conclude that the howardite/polymict eucrite units represent a regolith-gardened original surface of Vesta. It is probable that the low albedo of the background surface on Vesta is due to an age-related darkening effect similar to that inferred from the Galileo images of Gaspra and Ida. This mechanism is consistent with the correlation of absorption feature intensity with the lightcurve. Vesta appears to have an old eucritic surface, darkened with age and represented among the meteorites by the regolith-derived howardites and polymict eucrites, on which several impacts on one hemisphere have exposed fresher brighter diogenite and olivine-bearing material. Based on qualitative analysis of the mineralogical variations as a function of rotation, a generalized lithologic map of Vesta was produced. There is reasonable control on the longitude of lithologic features but little control on their latitudes, except where specifically noted. In producing this map, discrete circular features were used on the plausible assumption that impacts have been the most important geologic process on this surface for most of the age of the solar system. The shape of the features has thus been assumed rather than derived and is subject to future revision as data improve.
FOOD AVERSION: A TEAM APPROACH TO INFANT/TODDLER EATING DISORDERS

Some infants surviving long term care in an intensive care nursery may develop physical and behavioral problems which disrupt feeding and result in chronic eating disorders. A pilot project was initiated to provide nutritional/behavioral management and mutual problem solving, with the goal of attaining normal oral intake while maintaining growth. Six children ages 12-27 months(M) and their families were included. Four children were recovering from bronchopulmonary dysplasia, one had craniofacial anomalies, and one had an undefined neuromuscular disorder. Group meetings were held for 10 months. Changes in feeding method: tube(T), oral(O); food type: strained(S), soft (Sf), table(Tb); and weight velocity(WV) in grams/day are shown: Positive changes in feeding method, food type, or weight velocity were made with each child. The results suggest interaction of parents/professionals in a group support/outpatient format may be an effective approach to early eating disorders.
Enhanced Velocity Mixed Finite Element Methods for Flow in Multiblock Domains

The paper presents a new approach to discretizing flow in porous media via mixed finite element methods on non-matching multiblock grids. The velocity space along the interfaces is enhanced to give flux-continuous approximation. No additional matching conditions need to be imposed. The computational complexity of the resulting algebraic problem is comparable to the one for the single-block case. A priori error estimates for the pressure and the velocity and numerical experiments confirming the theory are presented.
Effects of experimental canopy manipulation on amphibian egg deposition

Although effects of forest management on amphibians are relatively well studied, few studies have examined how these practices affect egg deposition by adults, which can impact population recruitment. We quantified the effects of 4 canopy tree-retention treatments on amphibian oviposition patterns in clusters of 60-L aquatic mesocosms located in each treatment. We also related aquatic and terrestrial biophysical parameters in treatment plots to oviposition patterns. Cope's gray treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) deposited more egg masses in clear-cut and 25-50% tree-retention treatments than in controls. In contrast, mountain chorus frogs (Pseudacris brachyphona) deposited more egg masses in unharvested control and 75% retention treatments than in clear-cut or 25-50% retention treatments. Spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) only deposited eggs in 75% retention treatments and controls. The number of egg masses deposited by mountain chorus frogs was positively related to canopy cover and negatively related to water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen, whereas we noted the opposite relationships for Cope's gray treefrogs. We did not detect a relationship between the number of egg masses deposited by any species and the distance of mesocosms to either the nearest mature closed-canopy forest or to the nearest natural amphibian breeding pool. The impacts of the silvicultural treatments we studied were species-specific and depended on the amount of trees removed. In areas where protection of spotted salamander and mountain chorus frog breeding habitat is a priority, we recommend harvests retain at least 75% of the canopy. Our results also suggest that retention of 25-50% of canopy trees surrounding amphibian breeding pools has little conservation benefit.
POLARIZATION OF COSMIC-RAY MUONS.

We have measured the polarization of cosmic-ray muons arriving at seal level with different energies and from different zenith angles. The polarization of positive muons from the zenith with energies near 1.0 GeV was found to be -0.33 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.04, where the polarization in the direction of flight was measured and the negative sign indicates that the spin was antiparallel to the direction of flight. Muons from the zenith with energies near 3.5 GeV at sea level had polarizations of -0.38 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.04, and the polarization of muons with energies near 4.5 GeV incident at an angle of 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with the zenith was found to be -0.34 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.04. These polarizations are consistent with the polarizations calculated on the basis that the muons are derived almost wholly from the decay of pions produced by the interaction of primary and secondary cosmic-ray hadrons with the nuclei of the atmosphere.
Effect of three sources of long-chain fatty acids on the plasma fatty acid profile, plasma prostaglandin E2 concentrations, and pruritus symptoms in hemodialysis patients.

Patients with chronic renal failure exhibit plasma fatty acid patterns indicative of essential fatty acid deficiency. The plasma fatty acid profile of 25 hemodialysis patients with a history of pruritus symptoms indicated lower 20:3n-9 (eicosatrienoic acid), 20:4n-6 (arachidonic acid), and 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) concentrations; a higher 18:1n-9 (oleic acid) concentration; and above-normal ranges of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) compared with 22 subjects chosen from a normal population. No significant difference in 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid) was shown between the hemodialysis patients and the normal subjects. The dietary intake of 20:5n-3 was higher and that of 18:1n-9 lower in the patients compared with the normal population group. In this 8-wk double-blind study the hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to receive daily supplements of 6 g ethyl ester of either fish oil, olive oil, or safflower oil. At the end of 8 wk of treatment the fish oil group (FO group) had a greater decrease in 18:1n-9 (P P > 0.05) compared with the other two groups. The increases in 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in the FO group indicate compliance with fish oil supplementation. Results indicate that hemodialysis patients have abnormal fatty acid profiles and increased PGE2 values. Fish oil intervention changes the fatty acid profile and may improve the symptoms of pruritus.
Electron beam lithography and liftoff of molecules and DNA rafts

Electron beam lithography patterning of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a versatile tool for defining molecular structures on the sub-10 nm scale. We demonstrate lithographic resolution to about 5 nm using a cold development technique. Narrow trenches are used to pattern Creutz-Taube molecules with resolution to about 15 nm. In addition, DNA rafts are patterned with high fidelity at linewidths of about 100 nm. This technique can be applied to molecular patterning in general, and quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) in particular.
The Versatile Information Processor: A Unique Concept for an Adaptable Satellite Telemetry System

A data-handling concept is described which provides a great degree of flexibility in the sampling and formatting of satellite data, the flexibility being achieved without design or wiring changes. The system was conceived and breadboarded at Goddard Space Flight Center and is now successfully flying on the Nimbus IV spacecraft.
Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in closed head injury: high correlation with initial glasgow coma scale score and score on modified Rankin scale at discharge.

PURPOSE: To determine whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings and conventional MR imaging findings correlate with initial Glasgow Coma Scale score and score on modified Rankin scale at discharge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients (18 male and eight female patients; mean age, 25.2 years; age range, 4–72 years) with diffuse axonal injury were examined with diffusion-weighted MR imaging and with fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, T2-weighted fast spin-echo, and T2*-weighted gradient-echo sequences. All images were evaluated by two neuroradiologists in consensus. Tissue volume with trauma-related signal-intensity abnormality on images from each sequence, number of lesions for each sequence, number of lesions for all sequences, and number of lesions with reduced apparent diffusion coefficient were correlated with scores on Glasgow Coma Scale and modified Rankin scale. Involvement of brainstem, deep gray matter, and corpus callosum were also correlated with clinical scores...
Microstructure and Secondary Phase Segregation Correlation in Epitaxial/Oriented ZnO Films with Unfavorable Cr Dopant

Low solubility dopant-host systems are well suited to study secondary phase segregation-microstructure dependence. We discuss the effect of microstructure on secondary phase segregation in epitaxial/oriented ZnO thin films with Cr as an unfavorable dopant (Cr:ZnO). Since differences in thin film microstructure are a function of the substrate and its orientation, simultaneous chemical vapor depositions were carried out on single crystals of Si (100), c-axis oriented Al2O3 (c-ALO), and r-axis oriented Al2O3 (r-ALO) resulting in epitaxial film growth on r-ALO and c-axis oriented film growth on Si and c-ALO, with a difference in vertical grain boundary density. To enhance the analysis sensitivity to the microstructure difference, the thickness of Cr:ZnO films was maintained at ∼50 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis indicates uniform stress distribution in Cr:ZnO grown on r-ALO. Surface sensitive x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) techniques were utilized for analysis of the data. We observe that a higher grain boundary density and the presence of an amorphous layer at the interface for films grown on Si(100) single crystal led to interfacial Cr-based secondary phase segregation as opposed to lower grain boundary density and epitaxial films grown on c-ALO and r-ALO single crystals, respectively. We also discuss the effects of trace carbon solubility on the film microstructure/secondary phase segregation relationship.
The Roles of Government and Nonprofit Suppliers in Mixed Industries

In what ways, if any, does the behavior of government and nonprofit organizations differ? This article examines evidence from two industries-nursing homes and mentally handicapped facilities-to determine whether government and nonprofit organization behavior differs in identifiable dimensions and, if it does, why the differences occur. Behavior is studied in terms of consumer access, as measured by the use of waiting lists, and output quality, as measured by consumer satisfaction. Considerable differential behavior is found across the two institutional forms, even though both governmental and nonprofit organizations are subject to the nondistribution constraint. By contrast with private firms, both types of organizations may not lawfully distribute profit or surplus to owners, managers, or trustees. The behavioral differences found are consistent with varied models, one of which is that government and nonprofit providers have different objective functions, trading off quality and consumer access different...
Pulsed Microamperage Stimulation: A Controlled Study of Healing of Surgically Induced Wounds in Yucatan Pigs

Background and Purpose. Microamperage direct current and microamperage electromagnetic stimulation are used to accelerate healing in bone. Although many clinicians are using microamperage stimulation to relieve pain and facilitate wound healing, there is significant question regarding whether this low-intensity direct current significantly accelerates soft tissue wound repair. The purpose of this study was to determine whether low-voltage pulsed microamperage current (100 μA, 60 V, 0.1 Hz) enhances the healing of superficial, full-thickness, or incisional wounds created to simulate acute abrasions, ulcers, and lacerations. Subjects. Ten adult Yucatan mini pigs served as the subjects for this study. Methods. Variables associated with healing were measured in 60 matched pairs of surgically induced partial-thickness, full-thickness, and incisional wounds after either sham or anodal (positive-polarity) stimulation with pulsed microamperage current (100 μA) was administered for 1 hour per day for 5 days. Sterile, disposable electrodes (2×4 cm) were placed over each wound, which was kept wrapped and protected throughout the study. Results. At 7 days postinjury, all wounds were healing well with no signs of infection. There were no differences in tensile strength, collagen density, maturity, or deposition (hydroxyproline), wound size, or visual appearance between the sham treatment and treatment lesions. No changes in local subcutaneous oxygen or temperature were found in the swine during or after microamperage stimulation. Conclusion and Discussion. This study did not provide any evidence to support the use of microamperage stimulation to accelerate wound healing. No negative effects, however, were found. Further research is needed to determine whether there is a critical interaction between the size of the electrode relative to the wound, the density of the current, the duration of the treatment, the polarity of the treatment electrode, and the acuity or chronicity of wounding and the effectiveness of microcurrent stimulation for wound healing.
Perceptual Evaluation of Hypernasality Compared to HONC Measures: The Role of Experience

Abstract Objectives: Nasality ratings from experienced and inexperienced listeners were compared to accelerometric measures using the Horii Oral Nasal Coupling (HONC) Index to determine if one group's ratings are more closely related to the HONC Index measures. The reliability of listener ratings was studied to determine if experienced listeners had better reliability than inexperienced listeners. The influence of phonetic content was analyzed to learn if ratings of sentences with stop consonants yielded higher correlations with HONC scores than sentences containing glides. Design: Experienced and inexperienced listeners' ratings of hypernasality were correlated to the HONC measures for two nonnasal sentence productions. Analysis of variance compared experienced versus inexperienced listener ratings. Participants: Ten listeners who were speech-language pathologists with at least 10 years of experience in assessing hypernasality and 10 listeners who were graduate students in communicative disorders with le...
Performance comparison of overlaid bluetooth piconets (OBP) and bluetooth scatternet

In a large scale Bluetooth network, scatternet is regarded as the only interconnection method among piconets. But, most Bluetooth devices do not support scatternet connection. Moreover, in high mobility situations, scatternet is not useful because of frequent disconnections and reconnections. We propose overlaid Bluetooth piconets (OBP) to interconnect piconets and form a virtual scatternet. Every piconet continuously changes its stages and collects metadata of piconets in the communication range. If metadata shows existence of data to transfer, an inter-piconet connection is made and data is transferred. We compared throughput and efficiency of OBP with those of scatternet. Results show the feasibility of OBP usage instead of scatternet
A study of the viability of exploiting memory content similarity to improve resilience to memory errors

Building the next-generation of extreme-scale distributed systems will require overcoming several challenges related to system resilience. As the number of processors in these systems grow, the failure rate increases proportionally. One of the most common sources of failure in large-scale systems is memory. In this paper, we propose a novel runtime for transparently exploiting memory content similarity to improve system resilience by reducing the rate at which memory errors lead to node failure. We evaluate the viability of this approach by examining memory snapshots collected from eight high-performance computing (HPC) applications and two important HPC operating systems. Based on the characteristics of the similarity uncovered, we conclude that our proposed approach shows promise for addressing system resilience in large-scale systems.
Synthesis of polar block grafted syndiotactic polystyrenes via a combination of iridium-catalyzed activation of aromatic CH bonds and atom transfer radical polymerization

A combination of iridium-catalyzed CH activation/borylation and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to generate polar graft copolymers of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS). The borylation at aromatic CH bonds of sPS and subsequent oxidation of boronate ester proceeded without negatively affecting the molecular weight properties and the tacticity of sPS. A macroinitiator suitable for ATRP could be synthesized by the esterification of 2-bromo-2-methylpropionyl bromide and hydroxy-functionalized sPS. The graft polymerizations of methyl methacrylate and tert-butyl acrylate from the macroinitiator using ATRP afforded polar block grafted sPS materials, syndiotactic polystyrene-graft-poly(methyl methacrylate) (sPS-g-PMMA) and syndiotactic polystyrene-graft-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (sPS-g-PtBA). The latter was hydrolyzed to yield an amphiphilic graft copolymer, syndiotactic polystyrene-graft-poly(acrylic acid) (sPS-g-PAA). The structures of the copolymers were characterized by NMR and FTIR spectroscopies. Size exclusion chromatography and 1H NMR spectroscopy were used to study any changes in the molecular weight properties from the parent polymer. A decrease in the hydrophobicity of the graft copolymers was confirmed by water contact angle measurements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6655–6667, 2009
Vertices missed by longest paths or circuits

Abstract : Let G denote a graph with v(G) vertices, and let c(G) and p(G) denote the maximal numbers of vertices contained in any simple circuit or path in G. The author denotes by c(j,k) (p(j,k)) the greatest lower bounds of v(G) where G is a k-connected graph such that for every choice of j vertices of G there exists in G a simple circuit (path) with c(G) (p(G)) vertices that misses the j chosen vertices. Analogously defined numbers with G restricted to planar graphs are denoted by (c sub 0)(j,k) and (p sub 0)(j,k). Extending various known results it is established that (c sub 0)(1,3) < or = 124, (p sub 0)(1,3) < or = 484, c(2.3) < or = 90 and p(2.3) < or = 324. (Modified author abstract)
Evaluation and management of lymphadenopathy in children.

1. Alison M. Friedmann, MD, MSc* 1. *Department of Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Define lymphadenopathy. 2. Develop a systematic approach to the evaluation and management of lymphadenopathy. 3. Discuss the differential diagnosis of localized and generalized lymphadenopathy. 4. Recognize worrisome features of lymphadenopathy that should prompt a referral for a biopsy. Examining the lymph nodes is an important aspect of the general physical examination of both well and ill children and adolescents. Lymph nodes are normal structures, and certain lymph nodes may be palpable in a healthy patient, particularly in a young child. Conversely, the presence of abnormally enlarged lymph nodes (“lymphadenopathy”) can be a clue to a serious underlying systemic disease, and the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy can be broad. Thus, the challenge for the general pediatrician is to learn how to distinguish pathologic from nonpathologic lymph nodes and to develop a rational approach to the evaluation of lymphadenopathy. Because of its association with malignancy, lymphadenopathy can be a major source of parental anxiety. Therefore, it is crucial to know when to provide reassurance and to recognize when concern is sufficient to warrant referral to a subspecialist. The lymphatic system is an open circulatory system that is a component of the immune system. It includes lymph, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, adenoids, Peyer patches, and the thymus. Lymph contains lymphocytes and is an ultrafiltrate of blood that is collected in lymphatic capillaries present throughout the body in all organs except the brain and heart. Lymph moves slowly, without a central pump and under low pressure, via peristalsis and through the milking action of skeletal muscles. Lymph is transported from the head and extremities to progressively larger lymphatic vessels and ultimately into either the right lymphatic duct (lymph from the right upper body) or the thoracic duct (lymph from the rest of the body). These ducts …
AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND PRODUCTIVITY: INTERNATIONAL EVIDENCE

The aggregate agricultural production function is estimated jointly with a political model that explains differences in policy across countries and over time to test the hypothesis that agricultural policy has had a significant impact on aggregate agricultural productivity. The econometric results strongly support this hypothesis. However, this productivity effect is found to be large and statistically significant only for those countries that tax or subsidize agriculture moderately. In countries that tax or subsidize agriculture at a high rate, the impact of marginally-reducing the tax or subsidy rate is not found to be significant, presumably because high levels of taxation or subsidization distort farmers' incentives to such a degree that marginal changes in policy do not measurably affect their behavior.
Do rewards benefit the organization? the effects of reward types and the perceptions of diverse R&D professionals

Previous compensation research has focused primarily on individual benefits derived from monetary rewards and has tacitly assumed that diverse organization members hold similar beliefs regarding the efficacy of specific rewards. This article compares the beliefs held by members of diverse demographic groups in R&D organizations regarding the extent to which different types of rewards produce organizational benefits. Results based on evaluations from over 1000 R&D scientists and engineers across 30 companies found that intrinsic rewards and salary increases were widely believed to provide benefits to an organization. Individual cash rewards were generally seen as providing the fewest benefits. However, members of different ethnic groups and genders held different beliefs about the utility of several rewards. The article concludes by suggesting how similarities and differences in beliefs across a diverse group of employees could affect the management of rewards in R&D settings.
Low band gap conformal polyselenophene thin films by oxidative chemical vapor deposition

Low band gap conjugated polymers are attractive for their applications in many devices including field-effect transistors, light-emitting diodes, electrochromic devices and photovoltaics. Selenophene-based polymers have many advantageous properties over polythiophene. However, poor solubility of solution-synthesized polyselenophene restricts its applications in the form of thin films. Electrochemical deposition of polyselenophene thin films is possible, but this process is limited to conductive substrates only. In this work, for the first time, we report deposition of polyselenophene (pSe) thin films on non-conductive substrates by a vapor based method, known as oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD). oCVD synthesized pSe thin films were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. Moreover, the oCVD made pSe shows 0.14 eV lower band gap than its calculated values. Vapor phase deposition of pSe by oCVD provides conformal thin films in a single and dry step. The conformal and dry nature of the pSe film deposition by oCVD may be employed for fabrication of devices on paper based substrates.
Effects of vapor–liquid mass transfer on feasibility of reactive distillation

A cascade model including the Stefan–Maxwell model for mass transfer is developed to assess the feasibility of reactive distillation. The model fixed points are determined as a function of the Peclet number and other parameters, using a pseudo arc-length continuation method. The approach is illustrated with two examples: a parametric study of an idealized ternary system, and the esterification of acetic acid to produce isopropyl acetate. In the limit of little or no reaction, the fixed points are independent of the mass-transfer resistance, and a model based on phase equilibrium can be used for feasibility. When the chemical reaction rates or extents are more significant, the fixed points do depend on the Peclet number, and mass transfer can influence the feasible products. However, best estimates of the mass-transfer parameters and the processing conditions typical of reactive distillation indicate that these effects are small for the examples studied. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 1795–1813, 2004
Diurnal variation of outgoing longwave radiation in the tropics

The diurnal harmonic in longwave emission in the tropical belt (30 deg N-30 deg S) is estimated from nine years of NOAA polar-orbiting satellite data. The results are compared successfully with Nimbus-7 ERB scanner data and with GOES-West geosynchronous satellite data. An interesting and consistent diurnal variation in longwave emission is found over the regions of intense oceanic convection, such as the ITCZ and SPCZ regions, with a peak-to-peak variation of 6-8 W/sq m and a maximum in the morning (0600-1200 LST). Histogram analysis indicates that this variation is associated with a diurnal variation in convective cloud (about 400 mb). Over regions of very intense convection, a diurnal variation of very high clouds (above 100 mb), which is out of phase with the variations at lower levels in the atmosphere, reduces the magnitude of the diurnal harmonic in longwave emission. It is interesting that histograms based on data averaged over 8-km and 250-km boxes give the same qualitative information about cloud and emission variability.
The Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Terrifying experiences that rupture people’s sense of predictability and invulnerability can profoundly alter the ways that they subsequently deal with their emotions and with their environment. The syndrome of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can follow such widely different stressors as war trauma, physical and sexual assaults, accidents, and other natural and man-made disasters. Mirroring the confusion and disbelief of people whose basic assumptions are shattered by traumatic experiences, the psychiatric profession periodically has been fascinated by trauma, followed by sudden disbelief in the importance of trauma in the genesis of psychopathology. Over the past decade our profession has experienced the third intense wave of efforts to grasp the reality of trauma on body and soul, after the first at the Salpetriere during the closing decades of the 19th century, and the second, spearheaded by Abram Kardiner (1941), in the 1940s. The findings about the consequences of trauma and what constitutes effective treatment have been extraordinarily consistent over these 120 years.
The Effect of Colonoscopy Reimbursement Reductions on Gastroenterologist Practice Behavior.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of decreased colonoscopy reimbursement on gastroenterologist practice behavior, including time to retirement and procedure volume. In 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed reductions in colonoscopy reimbursements. With new initiatives for increased colorectal cancer screening, it is crucial to understand how reimbursement changes could affect these efforts. Randomly selected respondents from the American College of Gastroenterology membership database were surveyed on incremental changes in practice behavior if colonoscopy reimbursement were to decrease by 10, 20, 30, or 40 %. Data were analyzed using both Pearson’s Chi-square and analysis of variance. Two thousand and nine gastroenterologists received the survey with a 16.3 % response rate. Procedure volume significantly decreased with degree of reimbursement reductions (p < 0.001). With a 10 % decrease, 72 % of respondents reported no change in the number of colonoscopies performed. With a 20 % decrease, 39 % would decrease their procedure volume, while 21 % of respondents would increase their procedure volume. With a 30 and 40 % decrease, procedure volume decreased by 48 and 50 %, respectively. In terms of retirement, current plans predict a cumulative retirement rate of 29.4 % at 10 years. More than 42 % of respondents plan to retire after 2030. In the 2014–2023 retirement subgroup (N = 74 responses), there was a significant hastening of retirement year at 20 % (p = 0.016), 30 % (p < 0.001), and 40 % (p < 0.001) reimbursement reductions as compared to baseline responses. Decreasing colonoscopy reimbursements may have a significant effect on the effective gastroenterology work force.
Thermodynamic Assessment of the Pr–O System

We found that the Calphad method was used to perform a thermodynamic assessment of the Pr–O system. Compound energy formalism representations were developed for the fluorite α-PrO 2–x and bixbyite σ-Pr 3 O 5 ± x solid solutions while the two-sublattice liquid model was used to describe the binary melt. The series of phases between Pr 2 O 3 and PrO 2 were taken to be stoichiometric. Moreover, the equilibrium oxygen pressure, phase equilibria, and enthalpy data were used to optimize the adjustable parameters of the models for a self-consistent representation of the thermodynamic behavior of the Pr–O system from 298 K to melting.
Influence of Macrocyclic Ligands on Ion Transport in Solid Polyelectrolytes

Cryptands and crown ethers increase the cation transport in phosphazene and alkoxyaluminate polyelectrolytes. Vibrational spectroscopy indicates that the increased conductivity originates from reduced ion pairing.
Topical Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Nanoparticles Prevent HIV-1 Vaginal Transmission in a Humanized Mouse Model

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with 1% tenofovir (TFV) vaginal gel has failed in clinical trials. To improve TFV efficacy in vaginal gel, we formulated tenofovir disoproxil fumarate nanoparticles in a thermosensitive (TMS) gel (TDF-NP-TMS gel). TDF-NPs were fabricated using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer and an ion-pairing agent by oil-in-water emulsification. The efficacy of TDF-NP-TMS gel was tested in humanized bone marrow-liver-thymus (hu-BLT) mice. Hu-BLT mice in the treatment group (Rx; n = 15) were administered TDF-NP-TMS gel intravaginally, having TDF at 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% (wt/vol) concentrations, whereas the control (Ctr; n = 8) group received a blank TMS gel. All Rx mice (0.1% [n = 4], 0.5% [n = 6], and 1% [n = 5]) were vaginally challenged with two transmitted/founder (T/F) HIV-1 strains (2.5 × 10(5) 50% tissue culture infectious doses). Rx mice were challenged at 4 h (0.1%), 24 h (0.5%), and 7 days (1%) posttreatment (p.t.) and Ctr mice were challenged at 4 h p.t. Blood was drawn weekly for 4 weeks postinoculation (p.i.) for plasma viral load (pVL) using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Ctr mice had positive pVL within 2 weeks p.i. Rx mice challenged at 4 h and 24 h showed 100% protection and no detectable pVL throughout the 4 weeks of follow-up (P = 0.009; Mantel-Cox test). Mice challenged at 7 days were HIV-1 positive at 14 days p.i. Further, HIV-1 viral RNA (vRNA) in vaginal and spleen tissues of Rx group mice with negative pVL were examined using an in situ hybridization (ISH) technique. The detection of vRNA was negative in all Rx mice studied. The present studies elucidate TDF-NP-TMS gel as a long-acting, coitus-independent HIV-1 vaginal protection modality.
Fiber dispersion measurement using chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy technique

Utilizing the fundamentals of chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy, an alternative method of fiber dispersion measurement is presented. The dispersion of the device under test is probed through the interaction of copropagating electromagnetic waves and subsequent heterodyne detection and frequency demodulation. Measurement of the dispersion parameter, D, is possible with this direct measurement scheme.
Low back pain after a dental procedure: a case of Streptococcus viridans vertebral osteomyelitis.

Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Streptococcus viridans following a dental procedure is a rarely reported phenomenon. We discuss the case of a 67-year-old immunocompetent woman who presented with low back pain of 3 weeks duration associated with subjective fever and chills. On admission, the MRI of the lumbar spine showed L5-S1 vertebral osteomyelitis with associated paravertebral and epidural abscesses. Subsequently, detailed history was retaken and the patient reported having had a maxillary tooth extraction followed by a dental implant 2 months prior to the onset of her symptoms. Blood and abscess fluid cultures grew S. viridans. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed no evidence of endocarditis. The patient was started on intravenous ceftriaxone but her treatment course was complicated by agranulocytosis requiring a switch to vancomycin. She required a total of 9 weeks of intravenous antibiotics for complete clinical cure.
Thermodynamics and kinetic analysis of F0F1-ATPase

Abstract In this review, we discuss the thermodynamics and its implications on kinetics for ATP synthesis and hydrolysis by F o F 1 -ATP synthase, a rotary molecular machine. We summarize mainly some of the recent efforts in building a simple theoretical model for this enzyme and focus on showing how simulations and experimental results are combined together to yield new insight into the chemomechanical coupling mechanism. It is shown that the negative cooperativity in nucleotide binding and the positive cooperativity in catalysis together render F 1 -ATPase an efficient molecular machine. It is also shown that, through proton–motive–force–driven conformational changes, efficient ATP synthesis and hydrolysis are both achieved under cellular conditions. We also discuss the possible biological significance of these thermodynamic and kinetic properties of this ‘splendid enzyme’.
Predictive overbooking and active recruitment increases uptake of endoscopy appointments among African American patients.

Background and Aims Use of GI endoscopy is historically lower in nonwhite ethnic and racial groups compared with whites. These disparities are multifactorial but likely contribute to differences in GI clinical outcomes. We sought to improve endoscopy uptake overall and in minorities by predictive overbooking and active recruitment in a hospital-based GI clinic. Methods From January to October 2014, we alternated between traditional booking for Veterans Affairs Healthcare Network patients with a physician recommendation for endoscopy and active recruitment of patients to fill projected open endoscopy appointment slots. On intervention weeks, patients attending a GI clinic were given the opportunity to "fast track" to an endoscopy appointment on short notice. During control weeks, patients were not actively recruited. We compared uptake of endoscopy appointments in both groups and performed logistic regression to determine predictors of participation in fast-track active recruitment. Results During fast-track active recruitment for endoscopy, the clinic recruited an additional 111 patients for endoscopy over passive recruitment, including 46 African Americans (41.4%). In a logistic regression model controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics, African Americans were twice as likely (adjusted OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.26-3.17) than whites to participate in the fast-track option for recommended endoscopy. Conclusions Interventions to actively recruit patients for endoscopy increased the overall percentage of GI clinic patients undergoing endoscopy and disproportionately improved endoscopy appointment uptake in African Americans.
Influence of the Nb growth surface on the allotropic Ti phase transformation in Nb/Ti/Nb nanolaminates

As the thickness of a thin film is decreased, the interfacial structure becomes paramount and crystals can undergo phase transformations. Molecular dynamic simulations have been performed to capture how such transformation could occur under the growth surface of a film. An hcp to bcc transition in Ti for Ti/Nb multilayers was used as the case studies. The simulations had good agreement with experiments. The simulations further predicted a mixed phase state for Ti for particular equal layer thicknesses.
Synthesis of allocations of authority in air traffic concepts of operation

Innovative air traffic concepts of operation are now possible that enable novel allocations of authority and responsibility between air and ground, and between humans and automation. This paper proposes a systematic approach for the synthesis of allocations of authority and responsibility early in the design of a concept of operations to achieve its performance and safety goals. The methodology models the concept of operations as a network of actions to treat the synthesis of authority allocation as a network optimization problem. A case study involving merging and spacing operations is provided in which allocations of authority are created to minimize information transfer between agents under varying responsibility allocations and varying requirements for balancing taskload across agents. The results demonstrate how significantly metrics such as information transfer between agents, and their taskload, can vary with different allocations and, thus, how the methodology proposed here can quickly help identify appropriate allocations of authority and responsibility.
"Tabula Rasa": The Relevance of Debate to Argumentation Theory.

Theorists have recently proposed a dialectical test for argument quality. For example, in academic debate advocates of the tabula rasa perspective have claimed that the best test of any argument, t...
Challenges in Improving Cochlear Implant Performance and Accessibility

Here I identify two gaps in cochlear implants that have been limiting their performance and acceptance. First, cochlear implant performance has remained largely unchanged, despite the number of publications tripling per decade in the last 30 years. Little has been done so far to address a fundamental limitation in the electrode-to-neuron interface, with the electrode size being a thousand times larger than the neuron diameter while the number of electrodes being a thousand times less. Both the small number and the large size of electrodes produce broad spatial activation and poor frequency resolution that limit current cochlear implant performance. Second, a similarly rapid growth in cochlear implant volume has not produced an expected decrease in unit price in the same period. The high cost contributes to low market penetration rate, which is about 20% in developed countries and less than 1% in developing countries. I will discuss changes needed in both research strategy and business practice to close the gap between prosthetic and normal hearing as well as that between haves and have-nots.
Infant formula trade and the family-friendly workplace

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, and breastfeeding with complimentary feeding for up to 2 years. We use a gravity model of trade to a...
Perioperative Management of Pacemakers and Internal Cardioverter-Defibrillators

The response of pacemakers and internal cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to monopolar cautery can be deleterious to the patient. Bradycardia or asystole can occur with suppression of demand pacing, and ICDs can deliver undesired shocks to the heart. Ideally, each institution should have a system in place to obtain pertinent information about the device or perform an evaluation themselves, but all too often the process is left to the anesthesia caregivers who may treat these devices as “black boxes.” In fact, anesthesia providers can (and should) routinely extract basic information about the device prior to surgery. The device type and model can be obtained from the patient and chest X-ray or by calling the manufacturer. Pacemaker (but not ICD) battery status can be checked by simply placing a magnet, since the pacing rate decreases as the battery is depleted. Rhythm strip analysis provides information on whether the patient is currently being paced and provides clues to possible pacing dependency, if not already known, and the need for a plan if demand pacing is suppressed by monopolar cautery. Cautery applied below the umbilicus is unlikely to affect device function. With an ICD, magnet placement should inactivate tachyarrhythmia therapy, but the caregiver should know which devices emit audible tones in confirmation of that inactivation.