cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional modeling of hydrogen sorption in metal hydride hydrogen storage beds

This paper conducts a three-dimensional (3D) modeling study to investigate the hydrogen absorption process and associated mass and heat transport in a metal hydride (LaNi5) hydrogen storage tank. The 3D model is further implemented numerically for validation purpose and the detailed investigation on absorption process. Results indicate that at the very initial absorption stage the bed temperature evolves almost uniformly, while it varies greatly spatially at the latter stage. At the initial seconds, most hydrogen is absorbed in the region near the cooling wall due to the better heat removal. The absorption in the core is slow at the beginning, but becomes important at the very end stage. It also shows that the initial hydrogen flow in the bed is several-fold larger than the latter stage and the flow may provide extra cooling to the hydriding process. By analyzing the Peclet number, we find that the heat convection by the hydrogen flow may play an important role in local heat transfer. This work provides an important platform beneficial to the fundamental understanding of multi-physics coupling phenomena during hydrogen absorption and the development of on-board hydrogen storage technology.
High efficiency electrotransformation of Lactobacillus casei

We investigated whether protocols allowing high efficiency electrotransformation of other lactic acid bacteria were applicable to five strains of Lactobacillus casei (12A, 32G, A2-362, ATCC 334 and BL23). Addition of 1% glycine or 0.9 M NaCl during cell growth, limitation of the growth of the cell cultures to OD600 0.6-0.8, pre-electroporation treatment of cells with water or with a lithium acetate (100 mM)/dithiothreitol (10 mM) solution and optimization of electroporation conditions all improved transformation efficiencies. However, the five strains varied in their responses to these treatments. Transformation efficiencies of 10(6) colony forming units μg(-1) pTRKH2 DNA and higher were obtained with three strains which is sufficient for construction of chromosomal gene knock-outs and gene replacements.
The role of nitric oxide in apoptosis

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to play important roles in modulating cell viability. Both proapoptotic and antiapoptotic functions of NO have been reported. This article discusses our current understanding on the mechanisms responsible for the dual actions of NO in regulating apoptosis and propose that one common mechanism for NO-mediated inhibition of apoptosis is the inhibition of caspases via nitrosylation
CIRCUMNUCLEAR STAR CLUSTERS IN THE GALAXY MERGER NGC 6240, OBSERVED WITH KECK ADAPTIVE OPTICS AND THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

We discuss images of the central ~10 kpc (in projection) of the galaxy merger NGC 6240 at H and K' bands, taken with the NIRC2 narrow camera on Keck II using natural guide star adaptive optics. We detect 28 star clusters in the NIRC2 images, of which only 7 can be seen in the similar spatial resolution, archival WFPC2 Planetary Camera data at either B or I band. Combining the NIRC2 narrow camera pointings with wider NICMOS NIC2 images taken with the F110W, F160W, and F222M filters, we identify a total of 32 clusters that are detected in at least one of these five infrared (λc > 1 μm) bandpasses. By comparing to instantaneous burst, stellar population synthesis models (Bruzual & Charlot), we estimate that most of the clusters are consistent with being ~15 Myr old and have photometric masses ranging from 7 × 105 to 4 × 107 M☉. The total contribution to the star formation rate (SFR) from these clusters is approximately 10 M☉ yr-1, or ~10% of the total SFR in the nuclear region. We use these newly discovered clusters to estimate the extinction toward NGC 6240's double nuclei and find values of AV as high as 14 mag along some sight lines, with an average extinction of AV ~ 7 mag toward sight lines within ~3'' of the double nuclei.
Cardiac Surgery for Premature and Low Birth Weight Neonates

Congenital heart defects in low birth weight infants are typically managed with supportive therapy or palliative surgery and definitive repair is delayed. However, the morbidity of this approach has been shown to be high. At the University of California San Francisco, our approach to these infants has been one of complete repair in the neonatal period or as early as possible. Since 1992, 116 neonates and infants under 2,500 g underwent complete repair of simple and complex cardiac defects using cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest was avoided in the majority. Actuarial survival was 80% at 1 year. Noncardiac abnormalities contribute significantly to perioperative and late morbidity and mortality. Reintervention rates are comparable to other neonates. Our data suggests that complete repair of simple and complex congenital heart defects can be performed safely and effectively in premature and low birth weight infants.
Remediation of undesirable secondary interactions encountered in hydrophilic interaction chromatography during development of a quantitative LC-MS/MS assay for a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor in monkey serum.

Abstract PF-00734200 (3,3-Difluoropyrrolidin-1-yl)-((2S,4S)-4-(4-(pyrimidin-2-yl) piperazin-1-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl)methanone) is an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) for the treatment of diabetic complications and other disorders. A sensitive and selective LC–MS/MS assay capable of quantifying PF-00734200 in monkey serum was required to support regulated safety studies. Due to the polar nature of this compound and for ease of sample processing, hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) was identified as an ideal assay technique. During the initial phase of method development significant peak tailing was observed. The effects of polar organic modifier percentage, buffer concentration, column particle size, and flow rate were assessed to determine the final optimal conditions. PF-00734200 demonstrated a strong dependence on buffer concentration with respect to height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP), capacity factor (k′), and tailing factor (T). Improvements in chromatography were observed with increasing buffer concentration due to reduction of electrostatic secondary interactions with ionized silanols. A plot of log k′ versus percentage organic modifier at an elevated buffer concentration, produced a linear fit with a correlation coefficient of 0.996, indicating that the primary chromatographic retention mechanism was partitioning. A LC–MS/MS assay was successfully developed and validated for GLP bioanalysis of PF-00734200 in monkey serum utilizing the optimized HILIC conditions. Additionally, carryover was effectively minimized through fortification of ethylene glycol to the sample extract.
Citations, Theories, and Applied Anthropology: A Response to Rounds

It has been said that one reason the Society for Applied Anthropology and the journal Human Organization were established in 1941 was because many professional anthropologists concluded that "mainline" anthropological theory did not provide sufficient explanatory and predictive power for anthropologists involved in solving human problems. From such a position it could be argued that Rounds's (1982: 170) conclusion that articles published in Human Organization have ". . . had little impact on mainstream anthropological theory" is relevant to the goals of the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) and its journal, thus requiring no comment. On the other hand, many applied anthropologists not only aspire to contribute to mainstream anthropological theory but point with pride to various specific contributions. For these anthropologists, Rounds's analysis is a serious critique of SfAA and Human Organization that requires comment. The following comments on Rounds's analysis are based on (1) three years of experience with the SfAA's Publication Policy Committee during which time the Journal Citations Reports repeatedly was used to evaluate Human Organization, (2) a readership survey recently conducted by the SfAA Publication Policy Committee to evaluate Human Organization and its editorial policy, and (3) the 1980 issue of the Journal Citations Reports which appeared after Rounds's analysis was published. Rounds repeatedly qualified his conclusions, based on Journal Citations Reports (JCR) data, with phrases like ' . . while these data d o not clearly address the degree to which applied anthropology in Human Organization is a producer of theory, they strongly suggest . . ." and "No conclusive findings emerged from the analysis . . ." (Rounds 1982:170). Despite these qualifiers, Rounds provided a series of largely negative explanations for the Human Organization citation patterns he derived from the 1977 through 1979 JCRs. A basic question here is, Do citations reflect relationships between authors and therefore between journals? On the surface the answer is, "Of course they do." Closer inspection of this question indicates that in some journals, such as Current Anthropology, many citations within an article are to provide the reader with a listing of the literature on a topic. Even where the cited materials contribute to an article's analysis, one does not know from the citation whether or not the cited material made a positive contribution, much less, whether or not the contribution was t o theory, methods, or description of phenomena. Citation records can only document interactions between published research, not evaluate the significance of these interactions.
Effects of tapeworm infection on male reproductive success and mating vigor in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

Parasites may exert negative effects on host survivorship and reproductive success. The effects of parasites on female host fitness have been well documented; however, the effects of parasites on the reproductive success of male hosts and particularly the underlying mechanisms that alter male fitness are not well understood. Previous studies demonstrated that infection by rat tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta) reduced the fitness of male red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) in an environment of female mate choice and strong male–male competition. The present study determined the role of female mate choice and male insemination capacity on observed fitness reduction of male beetles by the tapeworm parasites. We found that infected males showed reduced mating vigor and consequently inseminated fewer females than did uninfected males. Specifically, tapeworm infection reduced the number of offspring sired by a male by 14–22% even when male–male competition and female mate choice were absent. Further, the inse...
Vertebral pelvic fusions in the rehabilitation of patients with sacral agenesis.

Four cases of spine fusion in sacral agenesis are presented. The need to achieve stable spines in patients with this disease is emphasized.
Attenuation of Seismic Waves in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Average frequency-independent Q values have been determined for the upper crust in a 105 × 105 km region centered around the active portion of the New Madrid seismic zone using the spectral decay of P waves from local earthquakes. Q values generally increase with increasing path length, both inside and outside the active region, a result which suggests that Q increases with depth in the upper crust. Q values for paths which are largely confined to the active region are reduced by 1/2 to 1/3 compared to those values for paths outside the active region. The low Q values correlate spatially with regions of low seismic velocity found previously for the New Madrid region (Al-Shukri and Mitchell, 1988), and can be explained by a greater density of fluid-filled cracks in the seismically active region than in the surrounding regions.
Abstract C95: Cancer health disparities in the U.S

Florida Breast Cancer Foundation and Susan G. Komen have similar missions in that they both are dedicated to ending breast cancer through advocacy, education and research and empowering others and ensuring quality care for all. Komen is at a global level whole Florida Breast Cancer Foundation is the State9s breast cancer organization as it received the majority of its funds through the state license plate. This poster shows cancer disparities in the US, what they are, needs, and possible solutions. It will indicate the areas where more work is needed and hopefully will encourage others to become more involved through advocacy. Citation Format: Jeri Francoeur. Cancer health disparities in the U.S. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr C95.
Lessons of Wikileaks: The U.S. Needs a Counterinsurgency Strategy for Cyberspace

Over the past 10 years, the United States has devoted significant resources to the development of a counterinsurgency strategy for fighting non-traditional enemies on the ground. As the global scandal caused by the unauthorized publication of classified government material on the infamous WikiLeaks Web site has demonstrated, it is time for a counterinsurgency strategy in cyberspace as well. While the U.S. government has authored a number of cybersecurity strategies, they all focus too much on technology and not enough on a comprehensive approach to battling cyber insurgency. This paper explains what the U.S. should do if it wants to win the escalating cyber battle.
Detection of Breast Cancer: A Practitioner's Viewpoint

Ultimate responsibility for the early diagnosis of breast cancer rests upon the front line or primary care physician, just as management decisions following diagnosis fall principally upon the surgeon, radiotherapist, and oncologist. The value of mammography as an effective screening test for the early detection of disease has been enthusiastically endorsed over the past several years on the basis of encouraging results of several studies. Serious reservations regarding the safety of mammography as a screening procedure have subsequently been raised. The practicing physician is faced with a serious problem of time lag in gathering information upon which to base clinical decisions. The purpose of this article is to review the pros and cons in the controversy over mammography so that informed decisions can be made on behalf of patients.
Localization of Endothelin Receptors in the Human Prostate

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to localize endothelin receptors in the human prostate using quantitative autoradiography. Slide-mounted tissue sections 20μm. in thickness were obtained from the transition zones of seven patients undergoing radical prostatectomies for low volume prostate cancer. Sarafotoxin (S6C) and BQ123 have been used to distinguish endothelin receptor subtypes (ETA and ETB). The prostatic tissue sections were incubated in four different stock solutions containing the following: 0.1nM. 125I-endothelin-1 (125I-ET-1) (total ET-1 binding); 0.1nM. 125I-ET-1 and 100nM. S6C (total ETA binding); 0.1nM. 125I-ET-1 and 1μM. BQ123 (total ETB binding); and 0.1nM. 125I-ET-1 and 1 μM. ET-1 (nonspecific ET-1 binding). Nonspecific binding accounted for only 12 and 15% of total 125I-ET-1 binding in the stroma and glandular epithelium. Autoradiograms were quantitatively analyzed using a computerized image analysis system. Specific radioactive densities (nCi/mg.) were determined for the st...
Trends in fatty acid intakes of 10-year-old children, 1973 to 1982.

Diets of four groups of 10-year-old children (no. = 871, 30% black, 70% white) were examined over 10 years with 24-hour dietary recalls to study temporal trends in cholesterol, fat, and fatty acid intakes in a community. Boys had higher intakes per day and per kilogram body weight than girls for all nutrients (p less than .0001), but there were no sex differences in nutrients per 1,000 kcal. The only racial difference detected was a higher myristic acid intake in whites (p less than .02). There was a 16% decline in dietary cholesterol intake between 1978 and 1982. Three shifts in fatty acid intake increased the P:S ratio from 0.29 in 1973 to 0.45 in 1978: (a) a 5% decline in oleic acid, coupled with a 5% rise in linoleic acid; (b) a quadrupling of linolenic acid; and (c) less stearic and more myristic acid, with palmitic acid unchanged. Total fat intake provided 38% of the calories in each survey, but the changes in proportions of fatty acids paralleled trends in food consumption patterns and nutrient sources. Despite the changes, few children met prudent diet recommendations, and serum total cholesterol and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not change over time.
Political Regimes after the Third Wave

Our primary empirical purpose in this book is to document and explain the long-term transformation of political regimes in Latin America. For this reason, Chapters 4 through 7 focused on explaining two opposite processes: transitions from authoritarianism and the breakdown of competitive regimes. Changes in the likelihood of these processes, acting together, account for the wave of democratization experienced by Latin America after 1977. This emphasis on basic regime types prevented us from analyzing subtler transformations within the set of competitive regimes. Figure 4.1 in Chapter 4 identified two important changes within the family of competitive regimes: the deepening of semi-democratic systems into full democracy and the erosion of democracies into semi-democratic politics. Although less dramatic, these transformations suggest that democratization is a latent, continuous process and that levels of democracy may vary considerably even within the set of competitive regimes. An analysis of the different levels of democracy achieved by competitive regimes is crucial to understand the evolution of Latin America in the aftermath of the third wave. This analysis is our purpose in this chapter. In the first section we show that, although all countries in Latin America except for Cuba have experimented with competitive regimes in recent decades, the level of democracy varies considerably among them. Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay have established what are fairly widely regarded as high-quality democracies, whereas many other countries including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Venezuela today have significant infringements of at least one of the four defining features of democracy. Post-transition countries have followed different democratic trajectories, making contemporary Latin America a politically diverse region.
Making, Relaying, and Using Knowledge

Many social theorists have had a vision of how society should be structured, what values should be passed on from one generation to the next, how individuals “should” interact with each other, how the “State” should interact with individuals, and how nations (states) should interact with other nations. Answering these kinds of questions has long been assumed to be the primary task of philosophers.
The association between intra- and juxta-cortical pathology and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis by quantitative T2* mapping at 7 T MRI.

Using quantitative T2* at 7 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated whether impairment in selective cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis (MS) can be explained by pathology in specific areas and/or layers of the cortex. Thirty-one MS patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation, acquisition of 7 T multi-echo T2* gradient-echo sequences, and 3 T anatomical images for cortical surfaces reconstruction. Seventeen age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. Cortical T2* maps were sampled at various depths throughout the cortex and juxtacortex. Relation between T2*, neuropsychological scores and a cognitive index (CI), calculated from a principal component analysis on the whole battery, was tested by a general linear model. Cognitive impairment correlated with T2* increase, independently from white matter lesions and cortical thickness, in cortical areas highly relevant for cognition belonging to the default-mode network (p < 0.05 corrected). Dysfunction in different cognitive functions correlated with longer T2* in selective cortical regions, most of which showed longer T2* relative to controls. For most tests, this association was strongest in deeper cortical layers. Executive dysfunction, however, was mainly related with pathology in juxtameningeal cortex. T2* explained up to 20% of the variance of the CI, independently of conventional imaging metrics (adjusted-R2: 52–67%, p < 5.10− 4). Location of pathology across the cortical width and mantle showed selective correlation with impairment in differing cognitive domains. These findings may guide studies at lower field strength designed to develop surrogate markers of cognitive impairment in MS.
The effect of iridium oxidation state on the electronic properties of perovskite-type solid solutions: Ba2- La InIrO6 and BaLaIn1- Ca IrO6

Abstract Two novel solid solution series, Ba2-xLaxInIrO6 (x=0–1.0) and BaLaIn1-yCayIrO6 (y=0–1.0), were prepared and several changes in structure, moment and charge transport were observed. The Ba2-xLaxInIrO6 series exhibits a transition from a 6M polytype to an orthorhombic perovskite structure with increased La content whereas the BaLaIn1-yCayIrO6 series transitioned from a disordered, orthorhombic perovskite to an ordered, cubic perovskite with increased Ca content. Seebeck measurements for both systems showed that Ir(IV)-rich compounds tended to have a n-type conduction mechanism while Ir(V)-rich compounds tended to be p-type. Both systems were found to be semiconducting and the magnitude of the resistivity is dependent on crystal structure and Ir environment. Magnetic measurements show that the μ eff values for both systems are significantly less than predicted for Ir(IV) (1.73 μ B ) and greater than predicted for Ir(V) (0 μ B ). These results are compared to other iridate compound families.
Joint Source-Channel Coding With Feedback

This paper quantifies the fundamental limits of variable-length transmission of a general (possibly analog) source over a memoryless channel with noiseless feedback, under a distortion constraint. We consider excess distortion, average distortion, and guaranteed distortion ( $d$ -semifaithful codes). In contrast to the asymptotic fundamental limit, a general conclusion is that allowing variable-length codes and feedback leads to a sizable improvement in the fundamental delay-distortion tradeoff. In addition, we investigate the minimum energy required to reproduce $k$ source samples with a given fidelity after transmission over a memoryless Gaussian channel, and we show that the required minimum energy is reduced with feedback and an average (rather than maximal) power constraint.
Performance and Return to Sport After Sports Hernia Surgery in NFL Players.

Background:Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of athletic pubalgia (AP), also known as sports hernia, once underrecognized and undertreated in professional football, are becoming more common. Su...
Designing Effective Privacy Notices and Controls

Privacy notice and choice are essential aspects of privacy and data protection regulation worldwide. Yet, today's privacy notices and controls are surprisingly ineffective at informing users or allowing them to express choice. Here, the authors analyze why existing privacy notices fail to inform users and tend to leave them helpless, and discuss principles for designing more effective privacy notices and controls.
Naturwissenschaftliche Forschung in den USA

Die Veranstalter dieser Konferenz haben in hochst dankenswerter Weise die Gelegenheit geschaffen zur Diskussion eines Themas, das mit dem wichtigen Problem der internationalen wissenschaftlichen Cooperation eng zusammenhangt. Die vitale Notwendigkeit der Zusammenarbeit auf allen Gebieten ist wahrend der letzten 10 Jahre den westlichen Landern mehr und mehr bewust geworden. Naturlich stost die Verwirklichung dieses Zieles auf vielerlei Hemmungen auf den Gebieten der Politik, der militarischen Ver teidigung und der Wirtschaft, aber fur die ebenso bedeutungsvolle, ja vielleicht noch entscheidendere, kulturelle und spezifisch wissenschaftliche Zusammenarbeit bestehen keine ernsten Hindernisse auser dem immer vor handenen, allgemeinen Tragheitswiderstand. Jedenfalls mussen die wissen schaftlichen Kontakte uber die Landesgrenzen hinaus intensiv gepflegt werden, um die organische Einheit — nicht die Uniformitat — der westlichen Zivilisation zu starken und um ohne nationale Einengungen grose Aufgaben in Angriff nehmen zu konnen, welche den Kraften einzelner Lander nicht voll zuganglich sind (ich denke an das internationale Geophysikalische Jahr, oder an das erfolgreiche Unternehmen von CERN in Genf) Eine enge Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Wissenschaft in Deutschland und in Amerika scheint ganz besonders naturgemas, da ja die wissenschaftliche Entwicklung in USA durch lange Jahrzehnte nachhaltig von deutschen Lehrern und Forschern beeinflust worden ist. Ich hoffe, das die gegenwartige Veranstaltung einen kleinen Beitrag liefern wird zu der grosen Aufgabe, diese Zusammenarbeit zu fordern.
Naturally occurring $^{32}$Si and low-background silicon dark matter detectors

Abstract The naturally occurring radioisotope 32Si represents a potentially limiting background in future dark matter direct-detection experiments. We investigate sources of 32Si and the vectors by which it comes to reside in silicon crystals used for fabrication of radiation detectors. We infer that the 32Si concentration in commercial single-crystal silicon is likely variable, dependent upon the specific geologic and hydrologic history of the source (or sources) of silicon “ore” and the details of the silicon-refinement process. The silicon production industry is large, highly segmented by refining step, and multifaceted in terms of final product type, from which we conclude that production of 32Si-mitigated crystals requires both targeted silicon material selection and a dedicated refinement-through-crystal-production process. We review options for source material selection, including quartz from an underground source and silicon isotopically reduced in 32Si. To quantitatively evaluate the 32Si content in silicon metal and precursor materials, we propose analytic methods employing chemical processing and radiometric measurements. Ultimately, it appears feasible to produce silicon detectors with low levels of 32Si, though significant assay method development is required to validate this claim and thereby enable a quality assurance program during an actual controlled silicon-detector production cycle.
Ethnic Differences in Cigarette Use Trajectories and Health, Psychosocial, and Academic Outcomes.

Abstract Purpose Cigarette smoking among youth is associated with poorer health and psychosocial outcomes. However, few studies address how smoking may differentially relate to the emergence of disparities in functioning across races/ethnicities over adolescence. Methods Youth (n = 2,509) were surveyed eight times from ages 11 to 18. We measured cigarette use, academic and social functioning, mental and physical health, and delinquency. Sequelae of change models controlled for sociodemographic factors, and tested whether intercept and slope for smoking trajectories were associated with outcomes at the end of high school, and examined racial/ethnic differences in outcomes assuming similar smoking trajectories across groups. Results Youth were 45% Hispanic, 20% Asian, 20% white, 10% multiethnic, 2% black, and 1% other ethnicities. Higher average probability of smoking and steeper slopes of smoking trajectories were associated with poorer outcomes in multiple domains. Controlling for smoking trajectories, we observed the following disparities (vs. white youth; all p 's Conclusions Statistically adjusting for similar smoking trajectories, racial/ethnic minority youth demonstrated poorer outcomes in multiple domains compared with white peers. Smoking may be a particularly robust marker for risk of negative outcomes in racial/ethnic minority youth. Screening for cigarette use and intervening on smoking and associated risk behaviors among minority youth may help reduce disparities in functioning.
Engineering perfused microvascular networks into microphysiological systems platforms

Abstract The microvasculature is an essential component of nearly all tissues, with most cells residing within 200 μm of a vessel. Endothelial cells form the inner wall of microvessels and control which nutrients, cells and drugs cross into the underlying tissue. Given these critical roles, it makes sense to include functioning microvessels when creating tissue models, and these can be generated by pre-patterning of channels, 3D printing, or by “biology-directed” vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. These methods have been used to create tissue-specific vascularized micro-organs, vascularized microtumors, and vascular beds for studying tumor cell and immune cell extravasation. Recent innovations in 3D printing and high-throughput technologies have enabled more complex geometries and facilitated more comprehensive studies. Future developments hold promise for increasingly relevant models of healthy and diseased tissues, with implications for studying biological mechanisms and screening for new drugs.
Fluorescence lifetime-based contrast enhancement of Indocyanine green-labelled tumors (Conference Presentation)

A great unmet need in oncologic surgery is the ability to accurately identify tumor-positive margins during surgical resections and to rapidly assess the margin status of resection specimens immediately following surgery. While the development of tumor-targeted fluorescent probes is a major area of investigation, it will be several years before these probes are realized for clinical use. We report the use of Indocyanine-green (ICG), a clinically approved, non-targeted dye, in conjunction with fluorescence lifetime detection to provide high accuracy for tumor detection in living mice. The improved performance relies on the distinct fluorescence lifetimes of ICG within tumors compared to tissue autofluorescence, and is further aided by the well-known enhanced permeability and retention of ICG in tumors and the clearance of ICG from normal tissue several hours after intravenous injection. Using in vivo models of human breast and brain tumors, we show that fluorescence lifetime contrast can provide a more than 98% sensitivity and specificity, and a 10-fold reduction in error rates compared to fluorescence intensity. Our studies suggest the significant potential of lifetime-contrast for accurate tumor detection using ICG and other targeted probes under development, both for intra-operative imaging and for ex-vivo margin assessment of surgical specimens
Similarities and Dissimilarities Between Hypnosis and Behavior Therapy

Hypnosis can potentiate behavior therapy by making the therapeutic experience more vivid and realistic. Hypnotherapists should be alerted to covert conditioning procedures to facilitate this approach.
Immunoreactive Glucagon in the Salivary Glands of Man and Animal

Recent observations that immunoreactive glucagon levels rise following pancreatectomy and even after total evisceration suggested that extra-pancreatic sources of glucagon other than the gastrointestinal tract probably did exist. Acid-saline extractions of many tissues failed to reveal glucagon-like material except in the salivary glands of rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, and man. This material appeared to be in greatest quantity in the submaxillary glands of rodents. Sephadex column fractionation and gel electrophoresis indicate that this material has a molecular weight of approximately 70,000. Refractionation or treatment with urea and acetic acid failed to alter the chromatographic pattern of this material. Injection of rat submaxillary gland glucagon-like immunoreactive material produced hyperglycemia equivalent to that obtained with immunoequivalent amounts of pure porcine pancreatic glucagon. Low glucose concentrations stimulated and high glucose concentrations suppressed the release of this material into tissue culture medium and arginine was a potent stimulus to the release of salivary gland glucagon. Despite a chromatographic profile quite different from that of native pancreatic glucagon, this material cross-reacted identically with the 30K glucagon antiserum thought to be specific for A cell glucagon. Electron microscopy of the submaxillary glands revealed marked accumulation of electron dense secretory granules in the basilar portion of ductular cells and occasional acinus cells with similar appearing granules.
Recursive Sliding-Window Algorithm for Constrained Multiple-Model MAP Estimation

In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for a recursive implementation of constrained multiple model (MM) maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation. The recursive procedure is formulated in a sliding window fashion, where the measurements are processed sequentially. For each recursion, an iterative alternating coordinate-ascent (ACA) maximization process and our previously developed constrained sequential list Viterbi algorithm (CSLVA) are used to find the best constrained solution (mode and state sequence estimates) within the window. Performance results from simulation of two application examples are provided to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed method.
Outcomes following implantable cardioverter-defibrillator generator replacement in patients with recovered left ventricular systolic function: The National Cardiovascular Data Registry

Background Some patients with heart failure (HF) experience recovery of left ventricular (LV) systolic function by the end of their implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) generator battery life. Outcomes following generator replacement in this setting are poorly understood. Objective We sought to describe outcomes following ICD generator replacement associated with recovery of LV systolic function. Methods We evaluated 26,197 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry ICD Registry who underwent primary prevention ICD generator replacement between 2006 and 2009, stratified by LV ejection fraction (LVEF): reduced (LVEF ≤35%), partially recovered (LVEF >35% and ≤50%), and recovered (LVEF >50%). Results At the time of generator replacement, 1915 (7.3%) patients had recovered LVEF and 4576 (17.5%) had partially recovered LVEF. Periprocedural events were rare ( Conclusion Patients with partially recovered and recovered LVEF have lower risks of mid-term adverse outcomes than do those with reduced LVEF following ICD generator replacement. Approximately 3 in 4 patients continue to have reduced LVEF at the time of generator replacement and are at high risk of HF readmission and mortality. These data highlight the prognostic associations of LVEF in patients undergoing generator replacement as well as the clinical encounter for generator replacement as an opportunity to identify those at increased risk of adverse outcomes.
Architecture and energy saving potential of future active roll control systems

In order to meet future suspension requirements, new trends for active roll control systems become apparent. Main motivating factors are the modularity of those systems as well as reduced power consumption. Electro-hydraulic and electro-mechanical roll control systems meet these requirements. Describing and comparing the systems’ architectures, both have different properties regarding energy consumption, fluid, modularity, performance, disturbance decoupling, weight and costs.
Significance of otolith calcium carbonate crystal structure diversity to microchemistry studies

Otoliths, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) ear stones of fish, contain a wealth of information about fish life and environmental history yet the CaCO3 polymorph form the otolith is made of is a critical, but seldom considered, piece of information during otolith analysis. Otolith trace element chemistry data increasingly informs management decisions, but recent work has shown that CaCO3 polymorphs—aragonite, vaterite, and calcite—can bear on incorporation of trace elements in a non-trivial way. Most fishes are thought to have otoliths of the aragonite CaCO3 form, but this construct is potentially outdated with many recent literature reports showing otherwise. Our study used previously unpublished neutron diffraction data and reports from published literature to address three objectives: (1) summarize the relative effects of otolith CaCO3 polymorphism on otolith microchemistry, (2) summarize reports of otolith polymorphs to gain a better understanding of the extent of non-aragonite otoliths among fishes, (3) outline future research needed to align interpretations of microchemistry with our current understanding of otolith polymorph diversity. We found that while aragonite otoliths are the most common, so are exceptions. For example, the ostensibly rare (among species) CaCO3 form vaterite was reported in at least some otoliths of 40% of the species surveyed. Our work suggests that examination of the CaCO3 polymorph composition of otoliths should become more common particularly in studies where results will or may be used to inform management decisions. Future research should work to attribute controls on otolith CaCO3 polymorph expression using a combination of -omics and material characterization approaches to enrich the life history and environmental information output from otoliths and increase our understanding of the assumptions made in otolith trace element chemistry studies.
Gene Expression Studies and Complex Diseases

Gene expression studies have become a widely used approach in biological research. Modern laboratory technologies make it now feasible to accurately characterize essentially the entire human transcriptome in a single experiment. Aided by the enormous progress in molecular biological techniques, the quantification of the expression levels of genes (and parts thereof) is now a routine part of many types of investigations. Some transcriptional profiling studies are designed to identify transcriptional correlates of disease, in order to gain insight into the etiology or pathophysiology of disease. Other gene expression studies are focused on understanding and characterizing the genetic regulation of gene expression itself. Transcriptome studies can also be used to examine the influence of the environment on human health and disease and to study drug response. And there are myriad of other scientific questions that can be addressed via the study of gene expression. Integrative genomic approaches, in which transcriptional profiling is combined with other high-dimensional, modern molecular information sources about how our genome and our cells function, are becoming increasingly important in the study of human health and disease. This chapter gives a short overview of gene expression studies, focusing on the big picture and key underlying assumptions rather than details of laboratory procedures or analytical minutiae.
Development of transfer learning datasets using realistic simulation of myocardial perfusion SPECT images for a deep learning model

404 Objectives: The goal is to develop an effective transfer learning (TL) dataset using realistic simulation techniques for the highest possible performance of a deep learning (DL) model in automatic detection of myocardial perfusion (MP) defect in MP single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. The hypothesis is the use of realistic simulated MP SPECT images with known ‘truth’ in a TL dataset to supplement the limited number of clinical data in training a DL model will enhance its accuracy in detecting MP defects. An upgraded perfusion 4D eXtended CArdiac-Torso (XCAT) phantom, or PXCAT, that included a model of computer-generated coronary artery was used in the study. Models of realistic stenosis-driven MP defect were generated by simulating stenoses with different severities, physiological heterogeneities, and inter-ventricular and inter-layer variations at various coronary arterial segments. To simulate ensembles of patients with anatomical variation, 3 major single vessel diseases (LAD, LCX, RCA) with 3 different degrees of stenosis (50%, 70%, 90%) at 3 different stenosis locations (proximal, distal, diagonal) were simulated. Double vessel diseases were also simulated using the similar combinations as for single vessel disease. Finally, for each MP defect model, SPECT projection datasets of the PXCAT phantoms were generated with combinations of 5 count levels (125%, 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of clinical count rate) with multiple noise realizations. The simulated MP SPECT images obtained from the reconstruction of the projection datasets were used to prepare TL dataset with known location and severity about the MP defect status. A classification method of the MP defect images was performed based on the TL technique using a pre-trained deep learning model, Inception V3 from Google. Several methods were used to optimize the DL model for its higher performance including, changing the number and quality of training images, altering the training options, etc. Eighty percent and 10% of the images were used for the main training and validation during the training, respectively, and then a final 10% were used for testing the performance of the DL model in terms of detection accuracy of the MP defects. The results showed that the performance of the DL model depends on the complexity of disease status and acquired count level. That is images of single vessel disease had higher classification accuracies than those of double vessel disease or lower count levels (e.g., such as 25% of clinical count rates). We conclude that realistically simulated clinical images with known ‘truth’ used in the TL datasets was successfully applied to a DL model, and shows potential to address the major difficulty in current application of DL technology to biomedical imaging in acquiring sufficiently large number of clinical datasets with accurately known disease status.
Scope and Characteristics of Choosing Wisely in Cancer Care Recommendations by Professional Societies.

This quality improvement study describes the cancer types, treatments, and services often targeted in the recommendations generated by oncology societies for the Choosing Wisely campaign.
Response to "Letter to the Editor: Vaccine Failures in Pediatric Cases Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 19A".

We are happy to answer to the Letter from Ozkaya-Parlakay et al. to the Editor commenting on our recent paper, 1 Â investigatedÂ impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13)Â Â on...
Reduction in paediatric intensive care admissions during COVID-19 lockdown in Maryland, USA

As a public health measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world instituted a variety of interventions to 'flatten the curve'. The government of Maryland instituted similar measures. We observed a striking decline in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions during that period, mostly due to a decease in respiratory infections. We believe this decline is multifactorial: less person-to-person contact, better air quality and perhaps 'fear' of going to a hospital during the pandemic. We report an analysis of our PICU admissions during the lockdown period and compared them with the same time period during the four previous years.
Distinct molecular profile and restricted stem cell potential defines the prospective human cranial neural crest from embryonic stem cell state

Neural crest cells are an embryonic multipotent stem cell population. Recent studies in model organisms have suggested that neural crest cells are specified earlier than previously thought, at blastula stages. However, the molecular dynamics of early neural crest specification, and functional changes from pluripotent precursors to early specified NC, remain to be elucidated. In this report, we utilized a robust human model of cranial neural crest formation to address the distinct molecular character of the earliest stages of neural crest specification and assess the functional differences from its embryonic stem cell precursor. Our human neural crest model reveals a rapid change in the epigenetic state of neural crest and pluripotency genes, accompanied by changes in gene expression upon Wnt-based induction from embryonic stem cells. These changes in gene expression are directly regulated by the transcriptional activity of β-catenin. Furthermore, prospective cranial neural crest cells are characterized by restricted stem cell potential compared to embryonic stem cells. Our results suggest that human neural crest induced by Wnt/β-catenin signaling from human embryonic stem cells rapidly acquire a prospective neural crest cell state defined by a unique molecular signature and endowed with limited potential compared to pluripotent stem cells.
Predicting Coordinated Actuated Traffic Signal Change Times using Long Short-Term Memory Neural Networks:

Vehicle acceleration and deceleration maneuvers at traffic signals result in significant fuel and energy consumption levels. Green light optimal speed advisory systems require reliable estimates of...
Icosapent Ethyl - More than Just a Fish Tale?

Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa®) is a purified preparation of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid, which is marketed by Amarin Pharma. The product was initially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the use of a high dose (4 g/day) in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. On the basis of the results of the REDUCE-IT trial, the agency later granted a label extension to include the additional indication of a reduction in risk of cardiovascular events in persons with serum triglyceride levels 150 mg/dl or greater and established cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Data supporting the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of cardiovascular disease have been inconsistent and controversial. The story of the development of icosapent ethyl has been fraught with challenges, including the invalidation of six core patents on the product, and recently, the completion of a new clinical trial, STRENGTH, that directly contradicts REDUCE-IT and calls into question whether icosapent ethyl is actually effective in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. This article traces the course of the development of this fascinating product and discusses lessons that can be learned from its complex history, which is still continuing to unfold.
Empirical likelihood confidence band for the difference of survival functions under proportional hazards model

Abstract Under the stratified Cox model, an empirical likelihood based simultaneous confidence band for the difference of two individualized survival functions is proposed. Simulation studies demonstrate its superiority over the normal approximation based competitors.
Laser Applications in Medicine

The sections in this article are 1 Laser Physics 2 Interaction of Electromagnetic Radiation with Biological Tissues 3 Effect of Laser Radiation on Biological Tissues 4 Laser Delivery Systems 5 Types of Lasers Used in Medical Applications 6 Medical Applications of Lasers 7 Laser Safety 8 Laser Classifications