cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-stationary noise characteristics for SPECT images

A theoretical formulation for characterization of SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) image noise for a filtered-backprojection reconstructed image was derived. The formulation takes into account all segments of the reconstruction process including the effects of discrete filtering and backprojection as well as nonstationarity in both the projection data and the reconstructed image. It allows calculations of the local noise properties of a reconstructed image in the spatial and frequency domains. This facilitates studies of nonstationary image noise. The formulation was validated by comparing the local autocovariance matrix and noise power spectrum calculated using the theoretical formulation with these quantities calculated from an ensemble of 12000 reconstructed images. The assumption of stationarity for SPECT reconstructed images is examined. The results show that SPECT image noise is nonstationary over large uniform regions, except near the center of the uniform region and over small regions of interest near image edges. >
The application of advanced manufacturing technology in semiconductor fabrication

An overview is presented of manufacturing techniques being pursued in a development line in support of advanced semiconductor production. Described are methods used to analyze alternate manufacturing techniques to provide leading-edge products in production volumes with aggressive defect reduction, process control, and turnaround time capability. Also outlined are the benefits associated with improved manufacturing techniques. Two examples are given. >
Inverse method to estimate anthocyanin degradation kinetic parameters in cherry pomace during non-isothermal heating

Abstract Cherry pomace, a by-product of juice production, is rich in health beneficial anthocyanins (ACY). This study aimed to determine ACY retention in 25, 41, and 70% moisture content (MC) pomace at elevated temperatures. Pomace was heated in sealed metal cans at 105 °C and 127 °C in a steam retort up to 125 min. ACY levels were measured by the pH-differential method. A first-order degradation model with an Arrhenius dependence for the rate constant was used for modeling ACY levels. The rate constant and activation energy for the pomace at each moisture level were estimated by two inverse methods. For 70% MC, k115.8°C = 0.0129 min−1 and Ea = 75.7 kJ/mol. MC had no significant effect on the parameter estimates. Sequential estimation showed that the experiment had to be run to ≤25% ACY retention to obtain accurate parameter estimates. The estimation methods presented will be helpful for designing dynamic processes.
Clinicopathologic heterogeneity in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) due to microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) p.P301L mutation, including a patient with globular glial tauopathy.

Aim The p.P301L mutation in microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is a common cause of frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). We compare clinicopathologic features of five unrelated and three related (brother, sister and cousin) patients with FTDP-17 due to p.P301L mutation. Methods Genealogical, clinical, neuropathologic and genetic data were reviewed from eight individuals. Results The series consisted of five men and three women with an average age of death of 58 years (52–65 years) and average disease duration of 9 years (3–14 years). The first symptoms were those of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia in seven patients and semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia in one. Three patients were homozygous for the MAPT H1 haplotype; five had H1/H2 genotype. The apolipoprotein E genotype was ϵ3/ϵ3 in seven and ϵ3/ϵ4 in one. The average brain weight was 1015 g (876–1188 g). All had frontotemporal lobar or more diffuse cortical atrophy. Except for one patient, the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus had minimal atrophy, whereas there was atrophy of middle and inferior temporal gyri. Dentate fascia neuronal dispersion was identified in three patients, two of whom had epilepsy. In one patient there was extensive white matter tau involvement with Gallyas-positive globular glial inclusions typical of globular glial tauopathy (GGT). Conclusions This clinicopathologic study shows inter- and intra-familial clinicopathologic heterogeneity of FTDP-17 due to MAPT p.P301L mutation, including GGT in one patient.
Kant's Theory of Normativity: Exploring the Space of Reason

Konstantin Pollok offers the first book-length analysis of Kant's theory of normativity that covers foundational issues in theoretical and practical philosophy as well as aesthetics. Interpreting Kant's 'critical turn' as a normative turn, he argues that Kant's theory of normativity is both original and radical: it departs from the perfectionist ideal of early modern rationalism, and arrives at an unprecedented framework of synthetic a priori principles that determine the validity of our judgments. Pollok examines the hylomorphism in Kant's theory of normativity and relates Kant's idea of our reason's self-legislation to the 'natural right' tradition, revealing Kant's debt to his predecessors as well as his relevance to contemporary debates on normativity. This book will appeal to academic researchers and advanced students of Kant, early modern philosophy and intellectual history.
Analysis of environmental pollutants by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. I: Phthalate esters

The separation of the selected phthalate esters by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (micellar EKC) was investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution, the mixture of SDS solution-methanol and bile salt solutions were examined as a carrier solution of micellar EKC. Bile salt solutions gave the best separation among them
Functions and substrates of plastoglobule-localized metallopeptidase PGM48.

ABSTRACTPlastoglobules (PGs) in chloroplasts are monolayer lipid-protein particles attached to thylakoids. The size and number of PGs per chloroplast respond dynamically to abiotic environmental stresses and developmental transitions. During senescence, the thylakoid membranes and its constituents are dismantled in controlled fashion. Leaf senescence coincides with a dramatic increase in the size of PGs, which is consistent with a functional role of PG in remobilization of thylakoid membrane components. In a recent publication,1 we showed that PG-localized metallopeptidase PGM48 promotes natural senescence. In plants, PGM48 has homologs in mitochondria and the endomembrane system, but PGM48 evolved specifically in photosynthetic organisms. Extensive analysis of Arabidopsis transgenic lines either under- or overexpressing PGM48, showed that PGM48 is a positive regulator of senescence, and we proposed that PG-localized carotenoid cleavage enzyme 4 (CCD4) is a potential substrate of PGM48. Here, we discuss P...
Abstract WP176: Electrocardiographic Left Atrial Abnormality and Silent Vascular Brain Injury: The Northern Manhattan Study

Background: Increased P-wave terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1) of a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), a marker of left atrial dilatation and possibly fibrosis, has been associated with stro...
Creating a Trauma-Informed Community Through University-Community Partnerships:An Institute Agenda

The impact of trauma on wellness has been identified as a community health crisis. The alliance of universities and communities is a plausible response to address the scope of the problem given their wealth of resources. The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-informed Care (ITTIC) is an exemplar of a university-community partnership and unique approach that has fostered a common language within and between organizations to foster at the community level an awareness and understanding of trauma. The present article provides an overview of university-community partnerships and their importance to social work practice. It describes the formation of the Institute and discusses its model and contributions to the local community and abroad. The implications of ITTIC for the School, University and community are discussed. An iterative process that includes active engagement, evaluation, and reflection, is recommended for the integration and advancement of trauma-informed care through university-community partnerships.
The Pain of Ambivalence over Emotional Expression

Ambivalence over emotional expression (AEE) is defined as the desire to express emotion but failing to do so. Recent studies have revealed that AEE is associated with more pain. Pain is common among cancer survivors. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between AEE and pain, its underlying mechanism, and cultural relevance among cancer survivors. Ninety-six Chinese American breast cancer survivors completed a questionnaire package assessing AEE and pain. AEE was positively associated with pain severity and pain interference. The association between AEE and pain interference was mediated by intrusive thoughts. Cancer survivors who are ambivalent over emotional expression may experience high levels of intrusive thoughts, which results in high levels of symptom reports in their pain. The study confirmed the association between AEE and pain and its underlying mechanism among a group whose culture generally encourages emotional suppression. Findings suggest interventions focusing on reducing intrusive thoughts may be effective at reducing pain.
Protein Intake and Calcium Homeostasis

The earliest study documenting the relationship between dietary protein and urinary calcium was published 70 years ago. Sherman (1920) reported that an all-meat diet fed to humans increased urinary calcium. Twenty years later McCance et al. (1942) confirmed this observation by showing that peptones, gluten, gelatin or egg white added to the diet increased urinary loss of calcium. Another 20 years elapsed until Engstrom and DeLuca (1963) reported that a doubling of dietary protein induced excess urinary calcium excretion, negative calcium balance, and reduced bone ash in rats. Up to this time there was little concern over protein-induced hypercalciuria, because it was thought that dietary protein enhanced the intestinal absorption of calcium and this would offset the urinary calcium loss (Yuen et al.,1984).
Planothidium sheathii, a new monoraphid diatom species from rivers in California, USA

Planothidium sheathii sp. nov. , a new species from rivers in California, USA, is described based on light and scanning electron microscopy. P. sheathii has broadly lanceolate to elliptic valves with obtusely rounded apices and a unique combination of morphological features, as follows: 1) cavum with broad hood aperture that flares out at the valve margin with open borders fused with the neighboring virgae on SV, 2) multiseriate striae, composed of five to six rows of same sized areolae on both valves, interrupted at valve mantle junction, and 3) areolae groups on valve mantle, with rounded areolae on RV, and rounded and elongated areolae on SV. Valve morphology of P. sheathii is discussed in comparison with similar freshwater taxa, from which the new species is clearly distinct.
FUNCTION AND METABOLISM OF NEURONAL PROTEINS: COMPARISONS AMONG THE IDENTIFIED NEURONS OF APLYSIA

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses studies on the structure, metabolism, and function of the low molecular weight proteins that are synthesized in abundance by certain Aplysia neurons. To begin with, neuronal proteins are responsible most of the characteristic functions of the nerve cell. As the morphological and physiological properties of these neurons are well-known and vary from cell to cell, it is possible to take a comparative approach to the relation between neuronal proteins and neuronal functions in this system. Such comparisons have revealed that the various cells synthesize structurally similar low molecular weight proteins, that in each cell these proteins are generated via a precursor-product sequence, that they are subjected to axonal transport in great quantity, and that they are likely to function in neurosecretion. Moreover, many of the techniques for use with Aplysia neuronal proteins are simply scaled-down versions of standard methods so that extracts of single cells are normally kept smaller than 20 micro liters in volume. Further advances in better methodology of investigation will for a greater insight in the functions and metabolism of neural proteins.
Termites as Pests of Buildings

Of the more than 2,300 termite species in the world, 183 species are known to damage buildings and 83 species cause significant damage. Subterranean termites, including mound building and arboreal species, account for 147 (80%) of the economically important species. The genus Coptotermes contains the largest number of pest species (28), whereas the genus Cryptotermes, especially Cr. brevis, is the most widely introduced. The world-wide economic impact figure of termites is uncertain, but the control cost for termite pests in the United States was estimated at $1.5 billion annually in 1994. Because of differences in their life histories, control measures differ between subterranean and drywood species. Insecticide barriers are used for exclusion of soil-borne subterranean termites, whereas slow-acting baits are used for population control of subterranean termite colonies in and near structures. Whole-structure treatments (fumigation and heat), compartmental treatments (heat or cold), and local treatments (wood surface treatments or insecticide injection) are the primary tools for drywood termite control.
Physical and chemical properties of media suitable for containerized bare root whip production

Abstract Moisture retention characteristics, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and bulk density of media suitable for containerized bare root whip production and the effects of these media on red ...
Social work and research in advanced welfare states

Hǿgsbro and Shaw, formerly colleagues at Aalborg University in Demark, have edited fourteen chapters provided largely by Danish academics. Only four contributors to three chapters do not have roots...
Self-assembly of lobed particles into amorphous and crystalline porous structures

We report simulation studies on the self-assembly of hard-lobed particles (patchy particles where patches appear as lobes around a seed) of different shapes and show that various types of self-assembled morphologies can be achieved by tuning inter-lobe interactions. On self-assembly, the linear building blocks having two lobes around the seed formed rings, the trigonal planar building blocks formed cylindrical hollow tubes and two-dimensional sheets, and the square planar building blocks formed spherical clathrates. The tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and the octahedral-shaped particles formed compact porous crystalline structures which are constituted by either hexagonal close packed or face centered cubic lattices. The pore size distributions revealed that linear, trigonal planar, and square planar building blocks create highly porous self-assembled structures. Our results suggest that these self-assembled morphologies will potentially find applications in tissue engineering, host–guest chemistry, adsorption, and catalysis.
The Motivations and Needs of Rural, Low-Income Household Food Gardeners

In local food systems research and practice, little attention has been given to the motivations and behaviors of low-income household gardeners as food provisioners. In this paper, we examine the motivations, barriers, and practices of food gardening among low- income rural U.S. residents with the goal of informing policies and programs that might support these food provisioning activi­ties. This work draws from ethnographic inquiry, including surveys, interviews, and garden visits with households in rural, Western Pennsylvania. Over half of those surveyed (n=124) grow some of their own food, with higher rates of gardening among higher-income households. Low-income gardeners are most motivated by three things; (1) a desire to save money, (2) pleasure from the practice of gar­dening and time spent outside, and (3) a connec­tion to spiritual practice. For the low-income gardeners we interviewed, gardening creates and reinforces social connections and cultural traditions. For many, gardening is also a political act: a way to guard against an uncertain future and resist a centralized food system. The findings from this study suggest that local food systems programs and policies might better support low-income food-provisioning households by acknowledging and respecting the knowledge and skills held by these individuals, recognizing and supporting the social and cultural role of gardening, and providing structural support around the space and time con­cerns identified by survey respondents as major barriers to gardening. See the press release for this article.
Responsibility, Reactive Attitudes, and “The Morality System”

This paper explores one facet of Paul Russell’s unique “critical compatibilist” position on moral responsibility, which concerns his rejection of R. Jay Wallace’s “narrow construal” of moral responsibility as a concept tied exclusively to the Strawsonian reactive attitudes of resentment, indignation, and guilt. After explaining Russell’s critique of Wallace’s view, the paper considers a Wallace-inspired challenge based on the idea that questions of moral responsibility raise distinct issues of “fairness” that apply only to a narrow subset of the Strawsonian reactive attitudes. The paper offers a defense of Russell’s view against this challenge.
CF Lung Transplant Survival by Surrogate Markers for Socioeconomic Status

Purpose Studies have shown that markers of socioeconomic status (SES) such as education level and non-private insurance status associate with decreased medical adherence in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), as well as increased CF mortality. Further, patients with lower SES are less likely to be referred for lung transplantation (Ltx) by their longitudinal providers. However, little is known about whether the presence of such factors is indeed associated with worse outcomes after Ltx. This study aims to evaluate the hypothesis that education and insurance status are associated with CF-patient survival following Ltx. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database for 2,697 adult CF LTx patients from 2005 through 2019. Patients were stratified by insurance status (private, Medicaid, Medicare, and other- including VA/CHIP), and educational attainment (grade school, high school, any college). All-cause mortality was examined with Cox proportional hazard regression (adjusted for age, sex, disease severity, center volume, and CMV mismatch), and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to model survival. Results Of 2,697 CF LTx recipients, 1,522 (56.4%) had private insurance; 410 (15.2%) had Medicaid; 666 (24.7%) had Medicare; and 97(3.6%) had other types. 20 (0.7%) patients had less than a high school education, 839 (31.1%) completed only high school, and 1,701 (63.1%) had any college or above. During the study period, there were 942 patient deaths (34.9%). Educational attainment of high school (or less) and non-private insurance status were strongly associated with lower survival rates at 2-years, 5 years, and 10 years. In multivariate analyses, non-private insurance and non-post-secondary education increased the risk of death with a hazard ratio 1.33 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.60, p=0.002) and 1.31(95% CI 1.08 to 1.59, p=0.006) respectively. Conclusion This study represents the largest cohort with longest follow-up evaluating the effect of two separate SES surrogates on survival in CF LTx recipients. Improved survival associated with private insurance and post-secondary education. Further investigation must be taken to understand the nuanced social determinants of health affecting this observation.
Chapter e16 – Local Area Network Security

With an ever-increasing amount of information being transmitted electronically, it is important for security to be considered in every phase of local area network design and maintenance. Although much emphasis has been placed on things such as wireless networks and remote access, it is imperative that the core local area network not be overlooked. Because the wired local area network is the nervous system of an organization's information systems, great care must be taken to secure it properly. This chapter begins by looking at the implications for wired local area network infrastructure security. Next, local area network segmentation and traffic isolation will be discussed. Using segmentation and isolation, there is an increased opportunity for security boundaries. Another concept that will be discussed is the security of the local area network equipment. The local area network is functional only if the core equipment is operational, so securing equipment is an important part of any security strategy. Finally, restriction of local area network access will be investigated and an organizational approach will be discussed. Because more and more users need access to local area network resources, there must be a way to identify and restrict who is allowed on the network and what access they are granted. In wired local area network infrastructure security, organizations must remember that they are only as secure as their weakest point. By carefully considering the various aspects of local area network security during design, these weak points can be reduced and the overall security of the network increased. Although it is impossible to be 100% secure and still be functional, by using some general guidelines to secure the wired local area network, many threats to the network can be reduced, if not eliminated.
Robotic-assisted Donor Nephrectomy: As Safe as Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVES Robotic-assisted donor nephrectomy has become increasingly popular in recent years. We sought to compare robotic-assisted outcomes to operative outcomes in a historical cohort of laparoscopic donor nephrectomies. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of 58 consecutive donor nephrectomies at a single center by two surgeons from 2015 to 2019 was performed. RESULTS Robotic-assisted (n = 32) and laparoscopic (n =26) donors were comparable in terms of estimated blood loss (66.4 vs. 62.5 mL; p=0.81) and length of stay (1.6 vs. 1.5 days; p=0.37). The post-operative change in creatinine was not significantly different between the groups (-0.45 vs. -0.45; p=0.97). Warm ischemia time was longer in the robotic group (7.36 vs. 5.15 minutes; p < 0.01). Case duration was significantly longer for robotic-assisted cases (306 vs. 247 minutes; p < 0.01). However, robotic cases were more likely to be right-sided (6/32 (18.8%) vs. 1/26 (3.8%)) and have vascular multiplicity (7/32 (21.9%) vs. 0/26 (0%)). There was one Clavien II or greater complication in the robotic group, and none in the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSIONS Our data agree with previous reports that robotic-assisted donor nephrectomy is safe and has similar outcomes to a laparoscopic approach. Moreover, cases with multiple renal arteries or veins and right-sided cases were completed safely using the robotic approach. The longer case duration in the robotic group was attributed to the learning curve associated with implementing a new technique, and later robotic operative times approached laparoscopic operative times.
Effects of 3-Month Exposure to E-Cigarette Aerosols on Glutamatergic Receptors and Transporters in Mesolimbic Brain Regions of Female C57BL/6 Mice

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) use has been dramatically increased recently, especially among youths. Previous studies from our laboratory showed that chronic exposure to e-cigs, containing 24 mg/mL nicotine, was associated with dysregulation of glutamate transporters and neurotransmitter levels in the brain of a mouse model. In this study, we evaluated the effect of three months' continuous exposure to e-cig vapor (JUUL pods), containing a high nicotine concentration, on the expression of glutamate receptors and transporters in drug reward brain regions such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core (NAc-core), NAc shell (NAc-shell) and hippocampus (HIP) in female C57BL/6 mice. Three months' exposure to mint- or mango-flavored JUUL (containing 5% nicotine, 59 mg/mL) induced upregulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (phosphorylated and total PSD95) expression, and downregulation of mGluR5 and glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) in the NAc-shell. In addition, three months' exposure to JUUL was associated with upregulation of mGluR5 and GLT-1 expression in the HIP. These findings demonstrated that three-month exposure to e-cig vapor containing high nicotine concentrations induced differential effects on the glutamatergic system in the NAc and HIP, suggesting dysregulation of glutamatergic system activity in mesolimbic brain regions.
Predicting Suboptimal Transitions in Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

OBJECTIVES Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are at risk for disease exacerbations and increased health care utilization around the time of transition to adult care. Our aim was to identify risk factors predictive of a suboptimal transition for AYA with inflammatory bowel disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with pediatric inflammatory bowel disease transferred to adult care from our institution in 2016 and 2017, recording demographic, psychosocial, and disease-specific data. Post-transfer data were obtained via the health care information exchange from the adult provider within our electronic medical record. We defined suboptimal transition as either a return to pediatric care or requiring care escalation within 1 year of transfer. RESULTS Out of 104 subjects 37 (36%) were found to have had a suboptimal transition. Our models suggest that a suboptimal transition is associated with several risk factors including any mental health diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 4.15; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.18-14.59), history of medication nonadherence (OR = 5.15 [95% CI: 1.52-17.42]), public insurance (OR = 6.60 [95% CI: 1.25-34.96]), higher Physician Global Assessment score at time of transition (OR = 6.64 [95% CI: 1.60-27.58], and short Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index scores (OR = 1.17 [95% CI: 1.03-1.33]). Higher hemoglobin levels at transition were protective (OR = 0.69 [95% CI: 0.48-0.98]). Age at time of transition, disease duration, and medication type at transition were not found to be associated with transition outcomes. CONCLUSION AYA with public insurance, a mental health history, medication nonadherence, and evidence of active disease may be at greater risk for suboptimal and poor health outcomes at transition.
Intrathecal Therapy for Nonmalignant and Malignant Abdominal Pain

In patients who have not achieved adequate pain control with pharmacological therapy, the use of intrathecal therapy is a very safe and useful alternative. Catheter tip placement, drug or combinations to be used, and rate of administration are critical factors to guarantee a high success rate. Moreover, a trial via an epidural infusion is also very important as part of the strategy to appropriately assess the appropriate requirements of the patient to both improve the quality of analgesia, and decrease the incidence of side effects. Complications and side effects are rare if an appropriate technique and protocols are utilized. This chapter describes the steps that we have found are critical for the success of this therapy.
Kindergarteners’ perceptions of belonging and inclusion in a two-way immersion classroom

Little systematic attention has been paid toward belonging for young children, particularly in contexts of diversity that are regularly part of school settings. Two-Way immersion (TWI) programs pro...
The effects of commercial propagation on bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) foraging and worker body size

Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) have been commercially propagated for over three decades. As the environmental conditions experienced by commercial bumble bees differ greatly from those experienced by wild bumble bees, commercial rearing of bumble bees may cause phenotypic changes. Here, we compare the foraging behavior and size of worker bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) from commercial and wild colonies. For this experiment, we measured worker body size, recorded if the workers returned with pollen, and examined the contents of pollen loads via microscopy. We found that, while commercial and wild bumble bees foraged on similar communities of flowers, wild bumble bees returned to colonies with purer pollen baskets (higher proportion of the most common species) and were more likely to return to the colony with pollen than their commercial counterparts. Commercial bumble bees were also smaller than wild bees. Our work highlights differences between commercial and wild bumble bees, in addition to raising important unanswered questions about the mechanism and drivers of these differences.
Development and Validation of an Obstetric Comorbidity Risk Score for Clinical Use.

Background: A comorbidity summary score may support early and systematic identification of women at high risk for adverse obstetric outcomes. The objective of this study was to conduct the initial development and validation of an obstetrics comorbidity risk score for automated implementation in the electronic health record (EHR) for clinical use. Methods: The score was developed and validated using EHR data for a retrospective cohort of pregnancies with delivery between 2010 and 2018 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health care system. The outcome used for model development consisted of adverse obstetric events from delivery hospitalization (e.g., eclampsia, hemorrhage, death). Candidate predictors included maternal age, parity, multiple gestation, and any maternal diagnoses assigned in health care encounters in the 12 months before admission for delivery. We used penalized regression for variable selection, logistic regression to fit the model, and internal validation for model evaluation. We also evaluated prenatal model performance at 18 weeks of pregnancy. Results: The development cohort (n = 227,405 pregnancies) had an outcome rate of 3.8% and the validation cohort (n = 41,683) had an outcome rate of 2.9%. Of 276 candidate predictors, 37 were included in the final model. The final model had a validation c-statistic of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-0.73). When evaluated at 18 weeks of pregnancy, discrimination was modestly diminished (c-statistic 0.68 [95% CI 0.67-0.70]). Conclusions: The obstetric comorbidity score demonstrated good discrimination for adverse obstetric outcomes. After additional appropriate validation, the score can be automated in the EHR to support early identification of high-risk women and assist efforts to ensure risk-appropriate maternal care.
Some Connections between Global Differential Geometry and Nonlinear Analysis

For many centuries the areas of geometry and analysis were considered as separate entities. With the advent of far-reaching results in linear analysis, very important linear structures were found throughout geometry. These structures were linked with questions in both geometry and analysis. This link between the two fields can be seen in the theories of Hodge and the spectral theory of operators, e.g. the Laplace operator on manifolds. When a more global point of view is taken, the linear structures inherent in geometry problems can sometimes be supplemented by adding nonlinear effects. The key nonlinear effect inherent in geometry is the notion of curvature in all its ramifications. This notion is a fundamental source of deep problems involving global problems of geometry and fundamental aspects of nonlinear analysis.
Successful Heart Transplantation From a Donor With Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

Heart transplantation is the most effective therapy for children with end-stage heart disease; however, its use is limited by the number of donor organs available. This shortage may be further compounded by concerns about organ quality, leading to refusal of potential donor organ offers. We report on the successful transplantation and 5 year follow-up of a heart from a donor with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD). The candidate was critically ill at the time of the transplant and the donor organ was declined repeatedly on the match run list due to concerns about organ quality, despite having normal cardiac function by echocardiography on minimal inotropic support. We believe the diagnosis of “muscular dystrophy” in the donor combined with a lack of understanding about the specifics of the diagnosis of UCMD enabled our candidate to receive a primary offer for this organ. We are unaware of any previous reports of the use of a heart from a donor with UCMD for orthotopic heart transplantation in adults or children.
The effect of altering the ambient salinity of the freshwater teleost Xiphophorus maculatus on the histophysiology of its prolactin cells. I. Progressive changes in one-third sea water.

Abstract The platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus , requires prolactin for survival in its natural fresh-water habitat but can be maintained in dilute sea water if deprived of the hormone. In the current study, males were transferred from fresh water to one-third sea water for periods ranging from 2 hr to 30 days, and several were returned from 30 days in the saline medium to fresh water for up to 72 hr. Progressive cytometric and cytological changes of the prolactin cells were compared with autoradiographic labeling after injections of tritiated leucine. Reduced synthetic activity, as judged by cytologic and autoradiographic evidence, was seen as early as 12 hr after the fish were placed into dilute sea water. A marked reduction in cytoplasmic granulation and cell size was first noted at 48 hr, suggesting that hormonal release was continuing independently of the rate of synthesis during this period. After 30 days, cytometry, cytology, and labeling of the prolactin cells were similar to that observed at 48 hr. There was cytologic and autoradiographic evidence of increased synthetic activity in the prolactin cells by 72 hr after the fish were returned to fresh water from 30 days in one-third sea water. Our observations suggest that there is a reduction in synthesis when platyfish are placed in sea water which can be increased when they are returned to fresh water. These changes in synthetic activity presumably reflect requirements for prolactin in these two environments.
Choking and Supercavitating Valves

The occurrence of choking flow or supercavitation downstream of valves can result in unsatisfactory performance. A valve chokes when the mean pressure immediately downstream drops to vapor pressure. For a given upstream pressure, the maximum discharge through the valve has been reached. Vibrations, noise, and possibly erosion damage due to cavitation reach their peak intensity near choking. Supercavitation occurs when the entire pipe cross-section for several diameters below the valve is filled with water vapor. When this occurs, the collapse of the cavitation and thus, the vibrations, noise, and erosion potential occur remote from the valve. Information is provided from which the conditions under which a valve will choke or supercavitate can be predicted. Data are presented for ball, gate, glove, and butterfly valves in sizes from 1 in. through 16 in. The testing covered ranges of pressure from 15-260 psi. Scale effects on choking cavitation due to variations in size and pressure are negligible.
Carbene Generation by α‐Elimination with Lithium 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidide: 1‐Ethoxy‐2‐p‐Tolylcyclopropane

Carbene generation by α-elimination with lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide: 1-ethoxy-2-p-tolylcyclopropane reactant: 7.06 g. (0.0501 mole) of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine product: 1-ethoxy-2-p-tolylcyclopropane product: 1-methoxy-2-phenylcyclopropane Keywords: annulation, carbocyclic-[3]; cyclization, free radical-carbenoid/nitrenoid; assay methods, for methyllithium with 2-butanol, 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2′-bipydridyl or 2,2′-biquinoline indicator; ethyl vinyl ether; lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide; 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine
The Principles and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration: Enforcement of the Award

In many instances, a losing party will voluntarily comply with an arbitration award, so that enforcement proceedings will not be necessary. If, on the other hand, the prevailing party is required to initiate judicial enforcement because of the recalcitrance of the losing party, the good news is that the award is likely to be enforced. One of the prime reasons parties include an arbitration clause in an international contract is the relatively certain enforceability of the award. The likelihood of enforcement is high because so many countries have adopted international conventions that are pro-enforcement, that is, they provide only narrow grounds for refusing to enforce. This chapter will discuss some of the issues and procedures pertinent to recognition and enforcement of awards under international conventions and various national laws, as well as the limited grounds for refusing enforcement. APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS The Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the New York Convention, requires courts of Contracting States to enforce both arbitration agreements and arbitration awards. Currently, more than 140 countries are parties to the New York Convention. The New York Convention has contributed to the growth of international arbitration because parties in Contracting States are confident that if they prevail in an arbitration, they will obtain a remedy. A recent study noted that for corporate counsel, the most important reason for choosing arbitration over litigation to settle disputes was the enforceability of awards.
A CMOS switched-current filter technique

Basic design techniques and considerations for switched-current (SI) circuits are presented, and experimental results from integrated filters are given. By means of analogies to switched-capacitor circuits, a five-pole lowpass Chebyshev SI filter has been integrated in a 2- mu m N-well, double-metal CMOS technology. The average die area is about 200 mil/sup 2/ per SI pole. The current mirror gain factors were derived by means of signal flow-graph techniques starting with the RLC prototype. A doubly terminated five-pole Chebyshev filter was designed for a 0.1-dB ripple bandwidth of 5 kHz with a sampling frequency of 128 kHz. The measured response is shown. The noise floor is about 70 dB down with respect to the passband. A three-pole elliptic SI filter has also been integrated to illustrate the realization of transmission zeros with SI filter techniques. >
Estimating the Cost of Capital with Debt Financing in a Foreign Currency

Many firms have debt financing in a foreign currency. What are the tax implications of the foreign loan for the calculation of the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)? With a foreign loan, there are two effects. First, there is the standard tax savings from the interest deduction with the foreign loan. Second, we assume that changes in the value of the loan in the foreign currency can be listed in the income statement for tax purposes. In this teaching note, we examine how the WACC must be properly used to take into account both of the effects: the interest deduction and the change in the value of the foreign debt.
Stress, alcohol and drug interaction: an update of human research

A challenging question that continues unanswered in the field of addiction is why some individuals are more vulnerable to substance use disorders than others. Numerous risk factors for alcohol and other drugs of abuse, including exposure to various forms of stress, have been identified in clinical studies. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie this relationship remain unclear. Critical neurotransmitters, hormones and neurobiological sites have been recognized, which may provide the substrates that convey individual differences in vulnerability to addiction. With the advent of more sophisticated measures of brain function in humans, such as functional imaging technology, the mechanisms and neural pathways involved in the interactions between drugs of abuse, the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and stress systems are beginning to be characterized. This review provides a neuroadaptive perspective regarding the role of the hormonal and brain stress systems in drug addiction with a focus on the changes that occur during the transition from occasional drug use to drug dependence. We also review factors that contribute to different levels of hormonal/brain stress activation, which has implications for understanding individual vulnerability to drug dependence. Ultimately, these efforts may improve our chances of designing treatment strategies that target addiction at the core of the disorder.
An Investigation into the Effects of Confucian Filial Piety in the Intercultural Christian Education Experience

The internationalization of higher education is a growing reality in state and private universities. Theological schools that wish to impart religious values in addition to liberal arts and discipline specific curriculum may experience cultural barriers that prevent the successful teaching of religious ideologies. This study investigates the implications of the filial piety as a value that Chinese learners bring to Western classrooms and how the comparing of Confucian filial piety to similar values in biblical theology serves as a means for cultural exchange and moral development. Confucian teachings of filial piety, affective domain learning, and biblical teachings of family and society are explored. The study concludes with suggestions of how to integrate similar teachings of two different cultures in order to teach religious values.
Setting up a practical accountable care organization

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gives new impetus to form accountable care organizations to better coordinate the care of their patients, especially those with chronic diseases, and to ensure a continuum of care.
High-density, array, optical interconnects for multi-chip modules

A compact, planar-processed package using flip-chip, self-aligned optoelectronic components is described. The optoelectronic module contains both a four-channel AlGaAs laser transmitter and a four-channel GaAs MESFET integrated detector/preamp receiver on a single substrate. The optical waveguides act as an optical bench which mechanically aligns the optoelectronic components, waveguides, and off-module fiber ribbon connector interface. Preliminary measurements have been carried out by operating the packaged receiver arrays with a commercially available reference laser source at a data rate of 1 Gb/s. Results are reported. >
Factors that identify survival after liver retransplantation for allograft failure caused by recurrent hepatitis C infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is becoming the most common indication for liver retransplantation (ReLTx). This study was a retrospective review of the medical records of liver transplant patients at our institution to determine factors that would identify the best candidates for ReLTx resulting from allograft failure because of HCV recurrence. The patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of indication for initial liver transplant. Group 1 included ReLTx patients whose initial indication for LTx was HCV. Group 2 included patients who received ReLTx who did not have a history of HCV. We defined chronic allograft dysfunction (AD) as patients with persistent jaundice (> 30 days) beginning 6 months after primary liver transplant in the absence of other reasons. HCV was the primary indication for initial orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in 491/1114 patients (44%) from July 1996 to February 2004. The number of patients with AD undergoing ReLTx in Groups 1 and 2 was 22 and 12, respectively. The overall patient and allograft survival at 1 year was 50% and 75% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .04). The rates of primary nonfunction and technical problems after ReLTx were not different between the groups. However, the incidence of recurrent AD was higher in Group 1 at 32% versus 17% in Group 2 (P = .04). Important factors that predicted a successful ReLTx included physical condition at the time of ReLTx (P = .002) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (P = .008). In conclusion, HCV is associated with an increased incidence of chronic graft destruction with a negative effect on long-term results after ReLTx. The optimum candidate for ReLTx is a patient who can maintain normal physical activity. As the allograft shortage continues, the optimal use of cadaveric livers continues to be of primary importance. The use of deceased donor livers in patients with allograft failure caused by HCV remains a highly controversial issue. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1497–1503.)
The Relationship Between the Lesser Mealworm and Avian Viruses. 1. Reovirus 24

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the importance of Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer as a potential carrier and possible disseminator of reovirus 24 within poultry environments. The virus survived within the lesser mealworm for at least 9 days when fed infected chorioallantoic membrane for 2 days, followed by a 9-day starvation period. The titer, however, decreased with time. Reovirus 24 also survived the metamorphosis of the insect but the concentration of the virus in the newly emerged adults was relatively low. Artificially infected mealwomls successfully contaminated a mixture of poultry litter, feed, and feces, and this mixture remained contaminated for 7 days. The excrement of infected mealworms was the major source of contamination for at least 3 days. When mealworms free of reovirus 24 were exposed to the infected mixture of litter, feed, and feces, the virus was recovered from the insects following the 1st day of feeding. However, the titer of the virus within the adults never increased in spite of its high concentration in the infected medium. Reovirus 24 could not be detected in these insects 5 days after exposure. In general, the lesser meal worm is a relatively ineffective carrier of reovirus 24, even when exposed to highly infected sources.
Spontaneous bladder wall abscess in a child

Spontaneous bladder wall abscess in the pediatric population is a rare event. We present a unique case of spontaneous Staphylococcus aureus bladder wall abscess in a 2-year-old boy who had no underlying risk factors. The abscess was successfully managed with intravenous antibiotics followed by complete surgical excision.
Fate of juvenile hormone in mammalian cell culture

The metabolism of juvenile hormone (JH) I has been examined in fetal mouse liver cells maintained in culture. Diffusion of the hormone into the cells appears to be passive. The hormone is metabolized essentially to organic-soluble metabolites (diol ester, diol acid and acid) by the action of epoxide hydrase and carboxylesterases. Conjugative reactions play a minor role, less than 3% of the hormone being excreted as conjugates (glucuronides, sulfates and mercapturic acid). About 0.8% of the cellular radioactivity is bound to macromolecules, mainly those of nuclear and mitochondrial origin. Metyrapone and SKF 525-A inhibit covalent binding of the hormone to cytoplasmic macromolecules, which suggests participation of the cytochrome P-450 system in covalent binding of the hormone.
Synthesis of di- and trivalent β″-aluminas by ion exchange

Abstract Many of the mono-, di-, and trivalent cations in the periodic chart diffuse rapidly in the β″-alumina structure. β″-Aluminas containing multivalent cations can be synthesized by ion exchange reactions starting with the sodium form of the compound. These facile reactions make it possible to prepare a wide variety of β″-alumina compositions, many of which are metastable and inaccessible by normal synthetic means. This paper describes the methods used to synthesize multivalent β″-aluminas and the preparation of a number of specific transition metal and lanthanide forms of these compounds.