cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth pattern-based grading of pulmonary adenocarcinoma—Analysis of 534 cases with comparison between observers and survival analysis

Abstract Objectives The 2015 WHO classification of pulmonary adenocarcinoma recommends recording observed architectural growth patterns in 5% increments for resected tumors, and determining the predominant growth pattern, which seems to be prognostic. There is debate over the best way to implement pattern-based grading, and whether such systems are reproducible. Materials and methods 534 resected adenocarcinomas were reviewed by 2 pulmonary pathologists to determine predominant pattern and percentages of all observed patterns. Three different grading schemes were applied based on predicted prognosis scores: score 1 (lepidic), score 2 (acinar/papillary), and score 3 (solid/micropapillary/cribriform). Mucinous tumors were separately evaluated as both scores 2 and 3 since their prognosis is more ambiguous. The first grading scheme used the score of the predominant pattern; the second used the worst observed pattern score; and the third scored tumors with ≥80% lepidic growth as 1, tumors with ≥20% of any score 3 pattern(s) as 3, and all remaining as 2. Results The predominant pattern assigned by each observer was an exact match in 51.7% of cases, a “close match” in 27.3% (same prognosis score), and a mismatch in 21%. Predominant pattern determined by both observers showed significant stratification of overall and progression-free survival (OS and PFS, respectively). All 3 grading schemes showed a significant difference in OS and PFS determined by both observers; but the worst score scheme provided suboptimal results, likely due to a very small score 1 group, and this scheme did not maintain significance on multivariable analysis. Survival differences for all grading schemes maintained significance whether mucinous was considered score 2 or 3, but mucinous tumors trended towards poor survival. Conclusion Pattern-based grading has prognostic significance in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Interobserver variation is present, but two observers were able to predict significant differences in OS and PFS using various pattern-based grading schemes.
Acute and chronic toxicity of aluminum to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and an amphipod (Hyalella azteca) in water-only exposures

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is reviewing the protectiveness of the national ambient water quality criteria (WQC) for aluminum (Al) and compiling a toxicity data set to update the WQC. Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the world, but little is known about their sensitivity to Al. The objective of the present study was to evaluate acute 96-h and chronic 28-d toxicity of Al to a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea) and a commonly tested amphipod (Hyalella azteca) at a pH of 6 and water hardness of 100 mg/L as CaCO3 . The acute 50% effect concentration (EC50) for survival of both species was >6200 μg total Al/L. The EC50 was greater than all acute values in the USEPA acute Al data set for freshwater species at a pH range of 5.0 to <6.5 and hardness normalized to 100 mg/L, indicating that the mussel and amphipod were insensitive to Al in acute exposures. The chronic 20% effect concentration (EC20) based on dry weight was 163 μg total Al/L for the mussel and 409 μg total Al/L for the amphipod. Addition of the EC20s to the USEPA chronic Al data set for pH 5.0 to <6.5 would rank the mussel (L. siliquoidea) as the fourth most sensitive species and the amphipod (H. azteca) as the fifth most sensitive species, indicating the 2 species were sensitive to Al in chronic exposures. The USEPA-proposed acute and chronic WQC for Al would adequately protect the mussel and amphipod tested; however, inclusion of the chronic data from the present study and recalculation of the chronic criterion would likely lower the proposed chronic criterion. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:61-69. Published 2017 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Relationship of the sinus anatomy to surface landmarks is a function of the sinus size difference between the right and left side: Anatomical study based on CT angiography.

BACKGROUND Several cadaveric studies demonstrate reliable localization of the transverse sinus and the transverse sigmoid junction (TSJ). These studies use the line drawn from the inion to the posterior root of the zygoma (IZ) and the asterion, respectively. We investigated how the size difference between the right and left transverse sinuses (TS) and sigmoid sinuses (SS) affected the accuracy of their respective superficial landmarks, particularly with regards to where this relationship may result in unsafe and/or complicated surgical access. METHODS We utilized Vitrea software to render three-dimensional images based on computed tomographic angiography (CTA). We measured the relationship between the TS and SS to their respective superficial landmarks. RESULTS We analyzed 50 patients in this study. The distal TS was found caudal to the inion-to-zygoma (IZ) line on average by 5.0 ± 4.3 mm on the right and 6.4 ± 9.3 mm on the left. The mid TS was found cranial on average 3.5 ± 5.7 mm on the right and 3.2 ± 6.0 mm cranial on the left to the superior nuchal line (SNL). The distance from the asterion to the SS was 11.5 ± 2.4 mm medial on the right and 12.1 ± 4.4 mm medial on the left. The average distance was greater on the left than the right when using the IZ landmark. This was directly proportional to the size difference of the sinuses (r2 = 0.15, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Statistically significant differences between the right and left TS and SS were seen in terms of size. This appeared to correlate nicely to the differences observed between the locations of the TSs' and their respective superficial landmarks.
Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Multisystem Organ Failure: Focus on Septic Shock

Summary We have reviewed some of the issues relevant to understanding the cardiovascular physiologic derangement most commonly seen with MSOF, which is septic shock. The standard pulmonary artery catheter derived hemodynamics are useful. The evolution of physiology in survivors of sepsis seems to follow a predictable pattern. Preshock ability to mobilize DOz, VOz, and CI is followed in the acute 24-hour decompensation phase by the ability to reduce heart rate and increase CI and peripheral vascular tone. Further information is provided by volume, rather than pressure-flow oriented monitoring. Both systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction are evident early in sepsis and a uniform inadequate response to volume challenge has been documented. Survivors manifest acute reversible cardiac dilation and reduction in ejection fraction. Overall, the majority of patients who expire due to sepsis demonstrate reduced ventricular compliance, tachycardia, and refractory peripheral vasodilation resulting in persistent shock or rapidly progressive MSOF. Less than a third of mortalities are associated with hypodynamic state. Considerable information is available as to regional circulation and metabolic function. The global oxygen metabolism demonstrates pathologic dependence of oxygen consumption and oxygen delivery; this seems to hold for vital organ systems. Myocardium shows profound coronary vasodilation and shift in substrate utilization to lactate. The possibility of endogenous myocardial substrate utilization exists with unclear implications as to cardiac function or relationship to circulating levels of myocardial depressant substances. Respiratory muscle blood flow and oxygen consumption increase drastically and can be beneficially modified by standard therapeutic interventions. Vasoactive drugs have predictable effects on oxygen metabolism and regional circulations. Their selective use can beneficially affect diastolic compliance, gas exchange, renal blood flow, and the ability to provide adequate fluid resuscitation. Positive pressure ventilation, PEEP, and nutritional infusions produce predictable hemodynamic changes that are frequently not considered in the assessment of patients in septic shock.
Surveillance Bias in Child Maltreatment: A Tempest in a Teapot

Background: Children are believed to be more likely to be reported for maltreatment while they are working with mental health or social service professionals. This “surveillance bias” has been claimed to inflate reporting by fifty percent or more, and has been used to explain why interventions such as home visiting fail to reduce official maltreatment reporting rates. Methods: We use national child abuse reporting data (n = 825,763), supplemented by more detailed regional data from a multi-agency administrative data study (n = 7185). We determine the percentage of all re-reports made uniquely by mental health and social service providers within and across generations, the report sources which could be subject to surveillance bias. Results: At three years after the initial Child protective services (CPS) report, the total percentage of national reports uniquely made by mental health or social service providers is less than 10%, making it impossible that surveillance bias could massively inflate CPS reporting in this sample. Analysis of national data find evidence of a very small (+4.54%) initial surveillance bias “bump” among served cases which decays to +1.84% within three years. Our analysis of regional data showed similar or weaker effects. Conclusions: Surveillance bias effects appear to exist, but are very small.
Concordance among FDG PET, CT and bone scan in men with metastatic prostate cancer

1576 Objectives: As an interim data analysis of an ongoing clinical imaging trial, we compared and correlated the imaging findings of FDG PET-CT and bone scan in men with metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: We performed 41 FDG PET-CT and 19 bone scans in 11 (5 with androgen-sensitive disease and 6 with androgen refractory disease) men with metastatic prostate cancer. The abnormal findings on PET, CT, and bone scan were dichotomized as “seen” and “not seen’ and cross-tabulated combining all scan dates and all lesions for all patients. The serial scans in the same patient were treated as independent studies. Concordance among the imaging modalities was evaluated using the Spearman partial correlation coefficients that were calculated among mean SUV, max SUV and the lesion size on CT, adjusting for patient, lesion location (bone, lymph node, visceral) and scan date. Results: Among the 140 bone lesions, 95 were seen on bone scan but not on PET, 116 were seen on bone scan but not on CT, and 5 were seen on both PET and CT but not on bone scan. There were 19% (14 of 72) of bone lesions, 2% (1 of 43) of lymph nodes, and 16% (4 of 25) of visceral lesions that were seen on PET but not on CT. The partial correlation coefficients for those lesions that were seen on both PET and CT was weak for bone (n=58, r=0.23, p=0.09), moderate for lymph nodes (n=42, r=0.66, p Conclusions: The concordance among FDG PET, CT, and bone scan is higher for lymph node and visceral lesions than for osseous lesions in metastatic prostate cancer. Further studies are currently underway on the effects of therapy and androgen responsiveness on diagnostic performance of FDG PET-CT and concordance with bone scintigraphy. Research Support: Supported by NIH/NCI R01-CA111613-01.
Local and regional wildfire activity in central Maine (USA) during the past 900 years

Climatic and environmental change has a direct effect on wildfire frequencies and distributions throughout many regions of the world. Reconstructions from natural archives such as lake sediments can extend temporally limited historical records of regional wildfire activity over longer timescales through sedimentary charcoal analysis or examining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations. To date, little work has been completed on sedimentary PAH distributions from lacustrine records in the Northeastern United States, making it difficult to assess how accurately PAHs trace fire activity in the region, the spatial scope of the signal (local vs. regional), or if certain compounds do a more adequate job of tracking fire than others. In this study, we examine PAHs and macrocharcoal from a varved sedimentary record from Basin Pond, Fayette, Maine (USA). We find that a drastic increase in the concentrations of 12 measured PAHs occurred during the nineteenth to twentieth centuries due to industrialization of the region. Additionally, elevated concentrations of the PAH retene were found to be coeval with known large-scale regional wildfire events that occurred in 1761–1762, 1825, and 1947 (A.D.). We used the ratio of the PAHs retene and chrysene to infer differences in biomass burning versus anthropogenic combustion sources because retene is associated with conifer resin whereas chrysene is associated with fossil fuel burning. Our new Basin Pond PAH records, along with a local signal of fire occurrence from charcoal analysis, offers the prospect of using this multi-proxy approach as a method for examining long-term wildfire frequency at both the local and regional scale in the Northeastern US.
Morphological consequences of ligand exchange in quantum dot - Polymer solar cells

Abstract Mixtures of conjugated polymers and quantum dot nanocrystals present an interesting solution-processable materials system for active layers in optoelectronic devices, including solar cells. We use scanning transmission electron microscopy to investigate the effects of exchanging the capping ligand of quantum dots on the three-dimensional morphology of the film. We created 3D reconstructions for blends of poly((4,8-bis(octyloxy)benzo(1,2-b:4,5-b’)-dithiophene-2,6-diyl)(2-((dodecyloxy)carbonyl)thieno (3,4-b)-thiophenediyl)) (PTB1) and PbS quantum dots capped with oleic acid (OA), butylamine (BA), OA to 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), and BA to MPA. We use these reconstructed volumes to evaluate differences in exciton dissociation and charge transport as a function of ligand processing. We show that the MPA exchange without an intermediate BA treatment results in severe changes to the film structure and a non-ideal morphology for an effective device. We also show that with a BA exchange, the morphology remains largely unchanged with the additional MPA treatment. This quantitative characterization elucidates previously reported device performance changes caused by ligand exchange and should inform future device fabrication protocols.
The Desired Role of Health Care Providers in Guiding Older Patients With Distal Radius Fractures: A Qualitative Analysis.

Purpose Understanding patient preferences for shared decision making is valuable for surgeons to advance patient-centered care, particularly in cases where there is not a clearly superior treatment option, like distal radius fracture. The existing evidence presents conflicting views on the desired role of the provider among older patients when making medical decisions. We aimed to investigate the perceived versus desired role of the provider in older adult patients with distal radius fracture. Methods Thirty patients (≥62 years old) who had sustained a distal radius fracture within the past 5 years were recruited from the screening process of the Wrist and Radius Injury Surgical Trial at the principal investigator's site using purposive sampling. A trained member of the research team conducted interviews in a semistructured format with the help of an interview guide. Findings were derived following the principles of grounded theory. Results Participants experienced varied levels of shared decision making with the hand surgeon. Subjects' perceived role of the surgeon did not always match their desired role. Most patients placed distinct trust in the recommendations of hand specialists regarding the technical aspects of the treatment. Nonetheless, respondents wanted to provide input when decisions pertained to outcomes or functionality. Many patients sought outside support from family or friends in the health care field, regardless of the outside source's medical specialty. Conclusions Despite conflicting evidence, most older adult patients desire a shared approach when making treatment decisions. Exchanging information and preferences on outcomes of each treatment option may be more important to the patient than detailing the specific technical aspects of their care. Clinical relevance To provide high quality care, surgeons should evaluate the desired role of the patient to make treatment decisions at the start of their interaction. Surgeons must be aware of outside medical influences that guide their patients' decision-making processes.
External Ventricular Drain Placement Accuracy and Safety When Done by Midlevel Practitioners

Background External ventricular drains (EVDs) measure intracranial pressure, divert cerebrospinal fluid, and allow for orthotropic administration of pharmacologic agents. Currently, neurosurgeons and neurosurgery residents are the primary practitioners placing EVDs. Due to the urgency of neurosurgical pathologies and the lack of qualified residents at most hospitals, midlevel practitioner (MLP) placement of EVDs would be advantageous. Objective To assess the accuracy and complication rates of MLP and neurosurgeon EVD placement. Methods This was a retrospective cohort of all patients with an EVD placed between January 2012 and September 2016 at a level 1 trauma center. We compared safety and accuracy of EVD placement between neurosurgeons and MLPs. Results MLP first attempted EVD placement in 238 patients and senior neurosurgeon first attempted EVD placement in 70 subjects. There was no significant difference between accuracy of placement within the ventricle (87.4% vs 90.0%, P = .5557), hemorrhage rate (5.9% vs 4.3%, P = .77), or infection rate (0.8% vs 1.4%, P = .5399) for placement attempted by an MLP compared with a neurosurgeon, respectively. Conclusion MLPs perform EVD placement safely with no significant difference in accuracy of placement or complication rates compared with placement by senior neurosurgeons. This may allow for earlier management of elevated intracranial pressure and access to care where previously unavailable; leading to improved patient outcomes.
Quadriceps Function, Knee Pain, and Self-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Context: Interactions among muscle strength, pain, and self-reported outcomes in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are not well understood. Clarifying these interactions is of clinical importance because improving physical and psychological function is thought to optimize outcomes after ACLR. Objective: To examine the relationships among neuromuscular quadriceps function, pain, self-reported knee function, readiness to return to activity, and emotional response to injury both before and after ACLR. Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty patients (11 females and 9 males; age = 20.9 ± 4.4 years, height = 172.4 ± 7.5 cm, weight = 76.2 ± 11.8 kg) who were scheduled to undergo unilateral ACLR. Main Outcome Measure(s): Quadriceps strength, voluntary activation, and pain were measured at presurgery and return to activity, quantified using maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs), central activation ratio, and the Knee Injury and Oste...
Determining Residual Stress from Boundary Measurements: A Linearized Approach

This article concerns the problem of recovering the residual stress in an elastic body from measurements taken on the boundary of the body. Since the Dirichlet problem for the equilibrium equation of elasticity has a unique solution, the Dirichlet to Neumann map is a well-defined map taking boundary displacement to boundary traction. The problem can thus be formulated by asking whether the mapping from possible residual stresses in a body to Dirichlet to Neumann maps is injective. As a first step in answering this question, we prove that the first order approximation of this mapping (in some cases) is injective.
Hankins’ Jean D’Alembert (1971)

“This book is intended as a study of the relations between science and philosophy during the Enlightenment as seen through the activities of one of its most prominent spokesmen, Jean d’Alembert.” After a brief description of d’Alembert’s training, Hankins details the quarrels with Clairaut, Daniel Bernoulli, and Euler which made up most of d’Alembert’s life in science. Next comes a description of the project and execution of the Encyclopedie, beginning with d’Alembert’s limited collaboration, followed by the literary success in the early 1750s which “went to his head” and seduced him into abandon of his real love, geometry, and ending with the rupture between him and Diderot. Here Hankins emphasizes the philosophical differences between the two men and in particular their difference of degree in understanding mathematics. Diderot, while respectably trained and competent in the pure mathematics of his day, was at a loss on the deeper issues of mechanics. He thought mathematics had been pushed as far as it could go, and he favored empirical science; nevertheless, his preference for “natural history, anatomy, chemistry, and experimental physics” was not founded upon any real understanding of them but was merely philosophical and did not lead him or those near him to advance these sciences.
Effect of pancreatic juice diversion on secretin release in rats.

Abstract We investigated a possible role of secretin in the mechanism of exocrine pancreatic secretion after exclusion of pancreatic juice from the intestine in anesthetized rats. Diversion of pancreatic juice from the duodenum resulted in a significant increase in plasma secretin concentration from 0.76 ± 0.39 pM at 0 time to 3.09 ± 0.30 pM at 4 h after diversion. This increase in secretin coincided with a steady but significant increase in pancreatic secretion of volume and bicarbonate. Intraduodenal administration of fresh pancreatic juice completely reversed the diversion-induced increases in both plasma secretin and pancreatic secretion. Intravenous injection of a rabbit-antisecretin serum blocked the increase of pancreatic secretion during diversion of pancreatic juice from the duodenum. Thus, we conclude that endogenous secretin is involved in a hormonal mechanism regulating increased pancreatic exocrine secretion in pancreatic juice-diverted rats.
An Experimental Study on User Interpretation of Icons

This paper reports on an experimental study that investigates the effect of domain knowledge on novice users' interpretation of icons. The results indicate that domain knowledge has no significant effect on the accuracy of interpretation. Domain knowledge, however, significantly affects the time taken to interpret the icons and the confidence level of the users. The theoretical perspective on the interpretation of icons is also discussed.
Self-Paced Instruction—Is it Really Individualized?

(1975). Self-Paced Instruction—Is it Really Individualized? Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Western College Reading Association: Vol. 8, Proceedings of the Eight Annual Conference of the WCRA. College Learning Skills Today and Tomorrowland, pp. 115-119.
Network analysis of drug effect on triglyceride-associated DNA methylation.

DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification, can be affected by environmental factors and thus regulate gene expression levels that can lead to alterations of certain phenotypes. Network analysis has been used successfully to discover gene sets that are expressed differently across multiple disease states and suggest possible pathways of disease progression. We applied this framework to compare DNA methylation levels before and after lipid-lowering medication and to identify modules that differ topologically between the two time points, revealing the association between lipid medication and these triglyceride-related methylation sites. We performed quality control using beta-mixture quantile normalization on 463,995 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites and deleted problematic sites, resulting in 423,004 probes. We identified 14,850 probes that were nominally associated with triglycerides prior to treatment and performed weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) to construct pre- and posttreatment methylation networks of these probes. We then applied both WGCNA module preservation and generalized Hamming distance (GHD) to identify modules with topological differences between the pre- and posttreatment. For modules with structural changes between 2 time points, we performed pathway-enrichment analysis to gain further insight into the biological function of the genes from these modules. Six triglyceride-associated modules were identified using pretreatment methylation probes. The same 3 modules were not preserved in posttreatment data using both the module-preservation and the GHD methods. Top-enriched pathways for the 3 differentially methylated modules are sphingolipid signaling pathway, proteoglycans in cancer, and metabolic pathways (p values < 0.005). One module in particular included an enrichment of lipid-related pathways among the top results. The same 3 modules, which were differentially methylated between pre- and posttreatment, were identified using both WGCNA module-preservation and GHD methods. Pathway analysis revealed that triglyceride-associated modules contain groups of genes that are involved in lipid signaling and metabolism. These 3 modules may provide insight into the effect of fenofibrate on changes in triglyceride levels and these methylation sites.
Copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Cu-BTC) metal-organic framework (MOF) and porous carbon composites as efficient carbon dioxide adsorbents.

Abstract The development of novel porous materials for CO2 capture and storage has received increasing attention due to the global warming problem. The aim of this work was to develop novel composites by merging Cu-BTC framework and porous carbon materials, including ordered mesoporous non-activated carbon (OMC), ordered mesoporous activated carbon (AC), and nitrogen-containing microporous carbon (NC) as efficient adsorbents for CO2 capture. The morphology, porosity and surface area of the parent materials and composites were fully characterized. All resulting composites were identified as microporous materials with type I adsorption isotherm. During synthesis of these composites, additional micropores were formed in the interfacial region between heterogeneous phases, which greatly enhances both their specific surface area and porosity. As compared to the parent materials, namely carbons and Cu-BTC, the CO2 uptake capability of the composites is greatly enhanced due to the presence of micropores at the interface. Specifically, NC-Cu-BTC composite exhibited the highest CO2 capacity with ∼8.24 and ∼4.51 mmol/g under 1 bar at 0 and 25 °C, respectively. These novel porous carbon/MOF composites may have great potential for adsorption application including CO2 capture.
Research on Engineering Practice: Catalyzing a Scholarly Community

This highly interactive special session has two goals: developing a deeper understanding of current research on engineering practice, and connecting and growing a diverse and vibrant scholarly community interested in this topic. There has arguably never been a more exciting time to examine engineering practice. In addition to a strong employment outlook for most engineering specialties, engineering careers are being reshaped and reimagined by rapid technological change, intensified globalization trends, new cross-disciplinary interactions, demographic shifts, and changing organizational structures. Colleges, universities, and organizations such as ABET, Inc., the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are leading the charge to improve the alignment of engineering education with the demands of professional practice in response to these trends, potentially revolutionizing how current and future engineers are prepared as innovators, leaders, and change agents. Yet, not much is known about the diverse and multi-faceted realities of modern engineering practice and how this knowledge can be used to improve the education and training of engineers across career stages. Through presentations, networking opportunities, and group discussions, the special session will focus on using research on engineering practice to transform engineering education and the workforce.
Choice-making at Tier 2: Linking and adapting choice by type and function

AbstractChoice-making is a strategy that can be implemented across varying age levels and abilities to target problem behavior as well as academic engagement/performance. It can be embedded within ...
Differences in Prevalence Rates of Hopelessness and Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents by Gang Membership and Latinx Identity

Despite the ongoing challenge of preventing youth gang membership in diverse communities across the United States, and increasing recognition of associations between trauma and gang involvement, the nexus between hopelessness, suicide, and gang membership has largely been ignored. We created two random samples of 1000 participants, with 50% identifying as non-Latinx White, and 50% identifying as Latinx of any race from 91,265 participants of the 2014–2015 California Healthy Kids Survey. Four Chi square tests of independence tested differences in prevalence rates of chronic hopelessness and suicidal ideation for self-identified Latinx and non-Latinx White gang and non-gang member youth. Grounded in a systems responsiveness framework, we predicted that hopelessness and suicidal ideation would be higher for groups that are more marginalized, which was supported by our findings. Specifically, gang membership and ethnicity were both associated with suicide and hopelessness. An unexpected finding, not related to the research questions, was the high prevalence of gender and sexual minority (GSM) youth who identified as gang members. This study represents a unique contribution to the adolescent suicidal ideation literature base, as most studies focus on race or ethnicity and neglect gang membership when identifying disproportionalities in suicidal ideation. Implications for practitioners, researchers, and schools and communities are discussed.
Merging compact binaries near a rotating supermassive black hole: Eccentricity excitation due to apsidal precession resonance

We study the dynamics of merging compact binaries near a rotating supermassive black hole (SMBH) in a hierarchical triple configuration. We include various general relativistic effects that couple the inner orbit, the outer orbit and the spin of the SMBH. During the orbital decay due to gravitational radiation, the inner binary can encounter an ``apsidal precession resonance'' and experience eccentricity excitation. This resonance occurs when the apsidal precession rate of the inner binary matches that of the outer binary, with the precessions driven by both Newtonian interactions and various post-Newtonian effects. The eccentricity excitation requires the outer orbit to have a finite eccentricity, and is most effective for triples with small mutual inclinations, in contrast to the well-studied Lidov-Kozai effect. The resonance and the associated eccentricity growth may occur while the binary emits gravitational waves in the low-frequency band, and may be detectable by future space-based gravitational wave detectors.
A study of the microstructure and optical properties of thin lead-dielectric cermet films

A transmission electron microscopy study involving direct and replicating techniques is directed to a definition of the microstructure of radio frequency-sputtered, thin lead-dielectric cermet films. Once defined, this microstructure is used to obtain theoretical film refractive indices. The Maxwell Garnett theory provides a basis for the theoretical results. Measurements of film transmission and reflectivity are used to obtain rough experimental values for film refractive indices by the Tekucheva method. More exact values are obtained via ellipsometry. The rough Tekucheva values are used to determine the range over which computer calculations interpreting the ellipsometric results must be made. This technique yields accurate values for the film refractive indices.
Children’s Understanding and Use of Four Dimensions of Social Status

Beginning early in life, children are exposed to people who differ in social status. In five studies, we investigate whether 3- to 6-year-old children recognize different dimensions of status (i.e....
Public perceptions of federal science advisory boards depend on their composition

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) provides expert advice to inform agency decision-making. Recent regulations have decreased the representation of academic scientists on the EPA SAB and increased the representation of industry scientists. In an experiment, we asked how the US public views the goals and legitimacy of the board as a function of its composition. Respondents perceived SABs with a majority of industry scientists to be more likely to promote business interests than SABs with a majority of academic scientists. Liberals were less likely than conservatives to perceive industry-majority SABs as promoting human health and the environment, and making unbiased and evidence-based decisions. Our findings underscore the potential for politicization of scientific advice to the government.
A parasite reduction conservation intervention does not improve fledging success or most condition metrics for Purple Martins

Eastern Purple Martins (Progne subis subis) have an unusually close relationship with humans, as they nest exclusively in man-made nest boxes. Current conservation policy directly promotes further interaction with this species by advocating regular replacement of nest materials during the nestling phase to reduce ectoparasite load and increase nestling fitness. We conducted the first test of the efficacy of this recommendation and found that it was partially effective in reducing parasite abundance, but had no effect on nestling fledging success, body mass, leukocyte count, or triglyceride or uric acid concentration. We found a small but significant increase in nestling hematocrit associated with nest material replacement, implying that parasites may induce nestling anemia. Contrary to our expectations, we also found elevated heterophil/lymphocyte ratios in nestlings with replacements, possibly indicating elevated physiological stress associated with nest replacements. Based on our results, we do not recommend nest material replacements to combat routine parasite infestations.LAY SUMMARYPurple Martins are believed to have a high abundance of blood-feeding parasites (fleas, mites, and blowfly larvae) in their nests.A current conservation policy recommends that nest box managers regularly remove and replace nest materials during the nestling phase to reduce parasite abundance. We tested the efficacy of this policy.Nest replacements reduced flea and blowfly larvae abundance, but mite abundance rebounded quickly.There was no difference in fledging rate, body mass, white blood cell count, or triglyceride or uric acid levels for nestlings with or without nest replacements.Nestlings with nest replacements were less anemic and had a higher ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes.
Preseason Cerebrovascular Function in Adolescent Athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sport participation, concussion history, and age of first exposure to football on preseason cerebrovascular function in adolescent athletes. Athletes (n = 53, age = 15.8 ± 1.2 years) were examined based on three exposure groupings: (1) sport participation (football vs. non-collision), (2) concussion history (none vs. ≥ 1), and (3) age of first exposure (football participants only). Transcranial Doppler assessed cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and neurovascular coupling (NVC), and separate independent samples t-tests evaluated group differences in CVR and NVC outcomes. Separate univariate linear regressions determined how age of first exposure related to CVR and NVC outcomes. Linear mixed effects models assessed group differences in CVR and NVC relative response curves. Differential response to NVC visual task response was significantly greater in non-collision sport athletes (F1,2946 = 38.69, p < 0.0001) and athletes without a concussion history (F1,2946 = 25.23, p < 0.0001). Older age of first exposure significantly predicted reduced breath-holding CVR response (F1,1560 = 2.92, p = 0.03). Healthy adolescent athletes have similar pre-season cerebrovascular function despite different sport participation and concussion history. However, age of first exposure may predict CVR in adolescent football athletes. Developmental literature identifies cerebrovascular function as dynamically changing throughout adolescence. Our study provides fundamental data informing the clinical meaningfulness of short- and long-term physiological function changes.
Inelastic Scattering Processes and Rearrangement Collisions

So far, we have seen the usefulness of the operator form of the Green’s function and the integral equation for the scattering problem in iterating the Born approximation for the scattering of structureless point particles from structureless point particles. The method becomes equally useful in discussing the scattering of composite particles from composite particles, where inelastic processes and rearrangement collisions come into play.
Structured LDPC codes for high-speed long-haul optical communications

We present a class of structured LDPC codes based on mutually orthogonal Latin rectangles having high code rates, high girth and very low complexity encoder/decoder implementations suitable for high-speed long-haul optical communications.
Model Switching for Bayesian Classification Trees with Soft Splits

Due to the high number of insolvencies in the credit business, automatic procedures for testing the credit-worthiness of enterprises become increasingly important. For this task we use classification trees with soft splits which assign the observations near the split boundary to both branches. Tree models involve an extra complication as the number of parameters varies as the tree grows and shrinks. Hence we adapt the reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo procedure to this model which produces an ensemble of trees representing the posterior distribution. For a real-world credit-scoring application our algorithm yields lower classification errors than bootstrapped versions of regression trees (CART), neural networks, and adaptive splines (MARS). The predictive distribution allows to assess the certainty of credit decisions for new cases and guides the collection of additional information.
BIOLOGICAL CELL AND MOLECULAR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY: OVERVIEW AND CHALLENGES

This paper outlines the study and overview of molecular and cell communication technology. It provides cell communication as a new paradigm in reference with engineering and communication mechanisms. Unlike current telecommunication paradigm, cell communication uses molecules as carriers of information. This study summarizes the features, characteristics and architecture of molecular communication.
Microscopy, Scanning Force

Recent advances in technology have allowed us to study our world at molecular, even subatomic, resolution. One of the devices in the forefront of such studies is the atomic force microscope (AFM), which is a relatively complex device with two major applications. It can be used for imaging of biological samples in near-physiological conditions at atomic-level resolution. The AFM can also be used as a force apparatus to measure forces of receptor-ligand interactions down to the single-molecule level, acquire information about the mechanical properties of biological materials including cells, as well as to measure forces of protein folding/unfolding. Keywords: AFM; force spectroscopy; intermittent contact mode; noncontact mode; contact mode; protein unfolding; cell adhesion; cell compliance; single-molecule measurements
Counting Methods and the EM Algorithm

In this chapter and the next, we undertake the study of estimation methods and their applications in genetics. Because of the complexity of genetic models, geneticists by and large rely on maximum likelihood estimators rather than on competing estimators derived from minimax, invariance, robustness, or Bayesian principles. A host of methods exists for numerically computing maximum likelihood estimates. Some of the most appealing involve simple counting arguments and the EM algorithm. Indeed, historically geneticists devised many special cases of the EM algorithm before it was generally formulated by Dempster et al. [5, 12]. Our initial example retraces some of the steps in the long march from concrete problems to an abstract algorithm applicable to an astonishing variety of statistical models.
Maxwell’s Scientific Papers

This article is a review of a reprint of the 1890 commemoration edition of The Scientific Papers of James Clerk Maxwell (Dover Publications, Inc., New York), $12.50. Vol. 1, 607 pp.; Vol.2, 806 pp. One hundred and one of Maxwell's shorter papers, articles, speeches, and reviews on electricity and magnetism, the dynamical theory of gases, theory of light, color vision and other optical problems, elastic solids, molecular physics, etc., are in this reprint; his longer treatises on electricity and magnetism, heat, and matter and motion are not included. This review is illustrated with photographs from the Maxwell family archives which have not been published before.
Further observations on the interaction of prostaglandin F2α with cholinergic mechanisms in canine salivary glands

Abstract The mechanism by which prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) produces salivation has been further characterized. Intraarterial injection of PGF2α (0.05–0.5 μg) or acetylcholine (10–100 μg) produced dose-related salivation. Treatment with atropine (30 μg, i.a.) shifted the dose-response curve for acetylcholine to the right in parallel fashion, but shifted the response curve for PGF2α to the right in non-parallel fashion. Tetrodotoxin (12 μg, i.a.) antagonized salivation induced by chorda tympani nerve stimulation and by PGF2α, while the response to exogenous acetylcholine remained unaltered. PGF2β produced salivation but was considerably less potent than PGF2α. 15-epi PGF2α did not produce salivation. Chronic decentralization of the chorda shifted the dose-response curve for PGF2α to the left. Saliva produced by stimulation of the chorda or by infusion of PGF2α (4 μg/kg/min) was slightly alkaline, rich in sodium, and contained low concentrations of potassium and total protein. These results are consistent with the previous suggestion that PGF2α produces salivation by liberation of endogenous acetylcholine.
International technology transfer and the technology gap

Abstract We build a quality ladders product cycle model that explores how the quality of technology transferred through foreign direct investment (FDI) is linked to innovation and imitation when the absorptive capacity of LDCs is limited. Successful imitation of low quality levels makes FDI involving high quality levels possible through reduction of the technology gap. A subsidy to imitation or a tax on low quality FDI production encourages imitation relative to innovation, thus releasing the constraint faced by foreign firms seeking to produce in the South. These forces that stimulate high-quality FDI raise Southern welfare through lower prices, faster innovation and higher wages.
Effect of hypertension on upper airway function and sleep apnoea

Current evidence suggests that elevations in blood pressure during obstructive apnoeic episodes increase pharyngeal collapsibility and the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Articulators in Orthodontics

This article discusses the subject of articulators in orthodontics. It is in 3 parts: the first deals with why articulators are used; the second deals with techniques needed to use the instrumentation; and the third illustrates how they are used in diagnosis. Using articulators, occlusal problems otherwise hidden can be uncovered, especially the cases that involve the vertical dimension. As with any diagnostic instrumentation, the practitioner has to learn how to use the instrument and the limitations imposed by said instrument.
Early spring phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract Our observations of the distribution of early spring phytoplankton blooms (27 March to 5 April 1984) in the Gulf of Maine support previous contentions that bloom propagation begins when the depth averaged in situ solar irradiance within the upper mixed layer is about 40 ly d −1 . We found that prior to vernal warming and thermal stratification, the formation of an upper mixed layer in these waters appears to be determined in three ways: (1) by density stratification resulting from freshwater runoff immediately adjacent to the coast, (2) by intrusions of dense slope water and its subsequent doming to form a pycnocline in Jordan Basin, and (3) by local bathymetry.
Foliar application of potassium silicate induces metabolic changes in strawberry plants

Abstract The effect of foliar silicon (Si) applications on metabolic changes in strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) was studied. Silicon was used in the form of the potassium (K) salt. Foliar spray with K silicate (containing 0, 4.25, 8.50, 12.75, or 17.00 mm of Si) showed increased chlorophyll content and plant growth. Potassium silicate treatments also induced metabolic changes such as increases in citric acid and malic acid levels, and decreases in fructose, glucose, sucrose, and myo‐inositol contents. The treated tissues also had higher ratios of fatty acid unsaturation [(18:2+18:3)/18:1] in glycolipids and phospholipid and elevated amounts of membrane lipids. These results suggest that Si has beneficial effects on strawberry plant metabolism.
Pathogenesis of escherichia coli gastroenteritis in man--another mechanism.

ESCHERICHIA COLI infection of the gastrointestinal tract may cause diarrhea by two pathogenic mechanisms that have been well described in laboratory animals and man: direct invasion of the intestin...
Parallel slope retreat in humid climate

Three different statistical tests are applied to slopes on relatively uniform lithologies in northern Alabama. The tests applied are: Student's t, the correlation coefficient r, and analysis of variance. One hundred forty-five slope measurements were available for study. The following conclusions are drawn for the study area: (1) streams in V-shaped valleys are flanked by convex-upward slopes; (2) slopes above pediments, valley strips, or floodplains are lower than the slopes above actively downcutting streams; and (3) slopes above pediments, valley strips, or floodplains retreat at essentially constant angles. All three statistical tests yield the same results.
The effect of instructions to forget on proactive inhibition

By using the Peterson and Peterson technique, the effect of instructions to forget on proactive inhibition was assessed. The experimental group was instructed prior to testing to “forget items after they are recalled. ” The control group was not given the “forget” instructions. The results indicated no significant difference between experimental and control group on the average number of items recalled. It is hypothesized that active erasure is not possible.
Clinical outcomes after hybrid coronary revascularization versus off-pump coronary artery bypass: a prospective evaluation.

ObjectiveHybrid coronary revascularization is offered as an alternative strategy for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). We present our experience and provide a comparative ana...