cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Neonates: An Update

Health-care–associated infections affect neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as length of stay and hospital costs. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) accounts for 6.8% to 32.2% of these infections. Low birthweight, duration of mechanical ventilation, opiate treatment for sedation, frequent suctioning, and reintubation have all been shown to increase the risk of VAP. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms that originate from endogenous or exogenous sources are responsible for VAP. Accurately diagnosing VAP in neonates is challenging because procedures such as tracheal aspirate culture and Gram-stain have low sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. Although several authors have shown that bronchial aspirates through nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage improve diagnostic accuracy, further studies are needed to investigate the diagnostic value and safety profile of these procedures. Very few randomized trials have been conducted in neonates to evaluate methods to prevent VAP, and thus most neonatal VAP prevention recommendations are based on adult trials. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of VAP and touches on a number of practical steps to prevent VAP in neonates.
Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection of Diatomic Products of Reactive Ion Etching: SiN, SiO, and SiF

Laser-induced fluorescence is used to detect a variety of silicon-containing diatomic radicals produced by the reactive ion etching and glow discharge sputtering of silicon and its oxide and nitride. The products include SiN, SiO, and SiF. Examination of the concentration of these molecules as a function of plasma conditions provides information about their production mechanisms.
Detection of Viruria in Cytomegalovirus-infected Infants by Electron Microscopy

In evaluating the electron microscopic (EM) method of diagnosing cytomegalovirus inclusion disease, each sample of urine was cultured on primary human embryonic lung cells and examined cytologically for intranuclear inclusions. When cytomegalovirus (CMV) particles were detected by electron microscopy in the urinary sediments of newborns, the sera of the infants usually had increased levels of IgM and significant titers of CMV antibody. The highest CMV complement-fixing titers were found in urines of infants excreting large concentrations of virus. Viral particles observed in urinary sediments were generally disrupted, but the core and attached portion of the outer capsule and envelope were easily distinguishable from cellular debris. Estimated numbers of viral particles in the urine specimens from several patients ranged from 106 to 1010 per ml, while infectious viral titers of urinary CMV from these cases ranged from 10 to 105 per ml. Serologic analysis showed that electron microscopy was a more sensitive method of detecting cytomegalovirus inclusion disease than either cell culture isolation or exfoliative cytology. Four cases were detected by EM, while viral isolation was successful in only two of the cases. Typical intranuclear inclusions were found in cytologic urinary smears in only one of the four cases. The diagnosis of cytomegalovirus inclusion disease by EM requires only four hours, while the times required by cell culture methods may range from four to 70 days, depending upon the amount of virus excreted in the urine. EM appears to be a rapid sensitive method for detecting viruria in cytomegalovirus inclusion disease of the newborn.
Nucleophilic Reactions of The Bis Ammonium Salt of 4,4′,5,5′-Tetranitro-2,2′-biimidazole

The reactivity of the bis ammonium salt of 4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-1,1′-biimidazole toward nucleophilic addition to the electrophiles dimethylsulfate and mesitylene-O-sulfonyl hydroxylamine has been studied. We have found that the tetranitrobiimidazolate bis anion has sufficient nucleophilicity to react with these electrophiles to form new products, 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2,2′-biimidazole (DMTNBI), 1,1′-diamino-4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2,2′-biimidazole, and ammonium 1-amino-4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2,2′-biimidazolate. These materials were characterized chemically and with respect to their thermal stability.
Effects of Scaling on the Correlation Coefficient: Additional Considerations:

Distortion in the Pearson product moment correlation due to a restricted number of scale points is evaluated in two ways. First, a simulation of the bivariate normal distribution is used to estimat...
Impact compressive ductility of basalt fiber reinforced concrete

In this paper,the impact compression tests of stress-strain curves of basalt fiber reinforced concrete(BFRC) with three different strain rate ranges got by Φ100 mm SHPB setup are introduced.The area of strain-stress curve is regarded as tenacity index,and the tenacity increase characteristics of the four kinds contains of basalt fiber(0、0.1%、0.2%、0.3%) reinforced concrete were analyzed and compared.The result shows that within BFRC with four different fiber ratios,the biggest tenacity value is the group with 0.2% fiber ratio within the strain range of 0～0.020,especially between 50/S～60/S strain rate ranges,the tenacity increase by 12.7% in comparing with that of the plain concrete.Tenacity index of the plain concrete is the highest in the lower strain.In comparison with the plain concrete,tenacity index of three kinds contains of basalt fiber reinforced concrete is improved in the lower strain rate.Between 80/S～100/S strain rate ranges,the smallest tenacity value is the group with 0.3% fiber ratio.
Nalidixic acid resistance influences sensitivity to ionizing radiation among Salmonella isolates.

Nalidixic acid (Nal) resistance has been used as a selective marker for studies of pathogen-inoculated fruits and vegetables. A collection of 24 Salmonella isolates were screened for natural resistance to Nal (50 μg/ml). The resistance to ionizing radiation was determined and compared for i) three naturally Nal-resistant (NalR) strains, ii) three naturally Nal-sensitive (NalS) strains, and iii) three strains derived from NalS strains that were made resistant to Nal (NalRi) by successive culturing and selection in Nal-amended broth. The radiation D10-values (the radiation dose required to achieve a 1-log reduction in population) were determined in buffer solution and in orange juice. D10-values were significantly (P < 0.05) different among the Salmonella isolates tested. When considered as a group, NalR isolates were significantly more sensitive to ionizing radiation than NalS isolates in both media tested. In buffer, D10 of NalR was 0.210 kGy versus 0.257 kGy for NalS. In orange juice, D10 of NalR was 0.5...
The Effects of Stress on Measures of Alcohol Drinking in Rodents

Although the causes of alcohol abuse and alcoholism are complex and still not well understood, one important factor in alcohol abuse is stress. This chapter reviews the current understanding—based on the rodent-based preclinical literature—of the relationship between stress and the seeking and consumption of alcohol. Emerging evidence shows that the corticotropin-releasing factor and neuropeptide Y systems play an important role in determining susceptibility to alcohol abuse, in part by influencing the severity of withdrawal. The ability of stress exposure to increase consumption levels and promote relapse is variable and dependent upon factors including stressor type and chronicity as well as genetic background. Recent research also demonstrates how chronic alcohol exposure can sensitize stress systems, thereby potentially promoting sensitivity to stress-related behaviors and disease. Although modeling the role of stress in propensity for alcohol abuse is challenging, understanding this relationship remains a key factor for the field going forward.
Known and plausible modulators of depressed immune functions following spinal cord injuries.

AbstractRecent evidence suggests that depression of immune function occurs early after spinal cord injury (SCI) and is maintained thereafter. Deviations from immune function observed in healthy per...
Effect of zoledronic acid on bone loss by letrozole

11077 Background: The aromatase inhibitors cause bone loss by estrogen depletion. Zoledronic acid (ZA) can prevent bone mineral density (BMD) loss associated with the use of aromatase inhibitors. A...
Older/Younger Sibling Pairs in the Context of a Community Outreach Children's Choir.

This article was designed to explore the behaviors observed and document the interactions of older and younger siblings in a children’s choir rehearsal environment. Observations by a music educatio...
Deterministic view selection for data-analysis queries: properties and algorithms

The view-selection problem is a combinatorial optimization problem that arises in the context of on-line analytical processing (OLAP) in database management systems. We pose the problem as an integer programming (IP) model, study its structural properties, and propose effective techniques for reducing the search space of views and thus the size of the corresponding IP model. We then use these results to design both exact methods and heuristic algorithms that are effective for solving relatively large realistic-size instances of the problem.
Water Resources Planning Cost Estimating Tools

Abstract Water resources planners often need to determine costs of proposed, projects yet do not have time and money to perform detailed designs. This paper presents a discussion of the alternative methods for producing these estimates, and describes two computer programs developed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, which overcome many of the shortcomings of the other approaches
The detection of cold dark matter with the Mössbauer effect in earth satellites

Abstract It is proposed that cold dark matter (CDM) consists of gravitationally interacting Planck mass particles. With the weakness of the gravitational interaction compensated by the large Planck mass m ≅ 10 − 5 g , it becomes possible to detect Planck mass particles by their classical gravitational scattering on small macroscopic particles provided the impact velocity is small. While Planck mass particles falling towards the sun are expected to have a velocity of ≅ 300 k m s , this would not be the case for by the gravitational field of the Earth entrapped Planck mass particles moving with same velocity as an earth satellite in the same orbit. For this reason, the collision of a Planck mass particle with a macroscopic particle in an Earth satellite might be detected by a small increment in the velocity of the macroscopic particle with the Mossbauer effect.
Penalized estimation of sparse concentration matrices based on prior knowledge with applications to placenta elemental data

When weights are placed only on hubs, the accuracy increases sharply as the weights go up.When weights are assigned on random nodes, accuracy fluctuates without clear improvement.There is a connection between Ca and K distinct from the larger network regardless of weights.There exists a smaller sub-network consisting of Mg, P, Sr and Ba regardless of weights. Identifying patterns of association or dependency among high-dimensional biological datasets with sparse precision matrices remains a challenge. In this paper, we introduce a weighted sparse Gaussian graphical model that can incorporate prior knowledge to infer the structure of the network of trace element concentrations, including essential elements as well as toxic metals and metaloids measured in the human placentas. We present the weighted L1 penalized regularization procedure for estimating the sparse precision matrix in the setting of Gaussian graphical models. First, we use simulation models to demonstrate that the proposed method yields a better estimate of the precision matrix than the procedures that fail to account for the prior knowledge of the network structure. Then, we apply this method to estimate sparse element concentration matrices of placental biopsies from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. The chemical architecture for elements is complex; thus, the method proposed herein was applied to infer the dependency structures of the elements using prior knowledge of their biological roles.
A three dimensional large deformation meshfree method for arbitrary evolving cracks

Abstract A new approach for modelling discrete cracks in meshfree particle methods in three dimensions is described. The cracks can be arbitrarily oriented, but their growth is represented discretely by activation of crack surfaces at individual particles, so no representation of the crack’s topology is needed. The crack is modelled by a local enrichment of the test and trial functions with a sign function (a variant of the Heaviside step function), so that the discontinuities are along the direction of the crack. The discontinuity consists of cylindrical planes centered at the particles. The method is formulated for large deformations and arbitrary nonlinear and rate-dependent materials; cohesive laws govern the traction-crack opening relations. To reduce computational cost and since more accuracy around the crack tip is needed to obtain adequate results, h-adaptivity is incorporated in the method. The model is applied to several three-dimensional problems, some of which are compared to experimental data.
Use of a National Database to Assess Pediatric Emergency Care Across United States Emergency Departments.

Objectives Differences in emergency care for children exist between general and pediatric emergency departments (EDs). Some pediatric quality measures are available but are not routinely employed nationwide. We sought to create a short list of applied measures that would provide a starting point for EDs to measure pediatric emergency care quality and to compare care between general and pediatric EDs for these measures. Methods Previously reported lists comprising 465 pediatric emergency care quality measures were reconciled. Preset criteria were used to create a diverse list of quality measures measurable using a national database. We used the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2010 to 2015 to measure performance. Measures were excluded for total observation counts under a prespecified power threshold, being unmeasurable in the data set, or for missing clear definitions. Using survey-weighted statistics, we reported summary performance (mean, proportion, or count) with 95% confidence intervals for each analyzed quality measure and compared general and pediatric ED performance. Results Among 465 quality measures, 28 (6%) were included in the analysis, including seven condition-specific measures and 21 general measures. We analyzed a sample of 36,430 visits corresponding to 179.0 million survey-weighted ED visits, of which 150.8 million (84.3%) were in general EDs. Performance was better in pediatric EDs for three of seven condition-specific measures, including antibiotics for viral infections (-6.2%), chest X-rays for asthma (-18.7%), and topical anesthesia for wound closures (+25.7%). Performance was similar for four of seven condition-specific measures: computed tomography for head trauma, steroids for asthma, steroids for croup, and oral rehydration for dehydration. Compared with pediatric EDs, general EDs discharged and transferred higher proportions of children, had shorter lengths of stay, and sent patients home with fewer prescriptions. General EDs obtained fewer pain scores for injured children. Pediatric EDs had a lower proportion of pediatric visits in which patients left against medical advice. General and pediatric EDs had similar rates of mortality, left without being seen, incomplete vital signs, labs in nonacute patients, and similar numbers of medications given per patient. Conclusions Using a national sample of ED visits, we demonstrated the feasibility of using nationally representative data to assess quality measures for children cared for in the ED. Differences between pediatric and general ED care identify targets for quality improvement.
Endogenous metabolic acid-base abnormalities: lactate and other strong ions

Some of the most common clinical problems in critically ill and injured patients are disorders of acid-base equilibrium. Although alkalosis is also common and severe alkalosis may be life-threatening, acidosis appears to be the most frequently encountered acid-base abnormality and has a considerably larger differential diagnosis. Acidosis may occur as a result of increases in arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (respiratory acidosis) or from a variety of organic or inorganic, fixed acids (metabolic acidosis). There appears to be a difference in physiological variables and outcomes in patients with either respiratory acidosis or metabolic acidosis [1], [2], leading some investigators to hypothesise that the cause of acidosis rather than the acidosis per se drives the association with clinical outcomes. Although the true cause-effect relationship between acidosis and adverse clinical outcome remains uncertain, metabolic acidosis remains a powerful marker of poor prognosis in critically ill patients [3]–[5].
Transformation in vitro of Human Uroepithelial Cells

Normal human uroepithelial cells can now be routinely cultured in vitro, immortalized by SV40 T antigen oncoprotein gene, and tumorigenically transformed after exposure to oncogenic agents including the human bladder carcinogen, 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP) and its metabolites and mutant EJ/ras to carcinoma phenotypes that resemble human bladder cancers. Neoplastic transformation of HUC in vitro is accompanied by chromosome changes that recapitulate many cytogenetic changes reported in clinical bladder cancers.
Lessons Learnt from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD)

Acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and a long history of challenges to both diagnose and manage this condition successfully. The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) was established in 1996 with the mission to raise awareness of this condition and provide insights to improve and guide diagnosis and treatment. Since then, more than 6500 cases have been included in more than 40 sites located in 12 countries. Although presenting symptoms and physical findings have not changed significantly over two decades, the use of computed tomography in the diagnosis has increased. Moreover, more patients are managed with interventional procedures: surgery in type A and endovascular therapy in type B, with these changes in diagnostic testing and care, there has been significant decrease in overall in-hospital mortality in type A but not in type B. Herein, we summarise the key lessons learnt from this IRAD over the past 20 years.
The Dark Side of Gadolinium: A Study of Arthrographic Contrast at Extreme Concentrations.

Magnetic resonance arthrography is used to optimally image the detailed intraarticular anatomy of the joint space. A common iatrogenic complication of arthrography is the extra-articular injection of the gadolinium solution in the periarticular tissues; however, a less common complication involves the abnormal concentration of gadolinium within the prepared injectate. The following describes the inadvertent injection of a hyper-concentrated intraarticular solution of gadolinium and the subsequent appearance that resulted in the post-procedure magnetic resonance imaging examination. In addition, an in-vitro experiment was performed to determine the exact etiology of the abnormal magnetic resonance imaging findings that resulted in this case. The subsequent discussion revisits the signal intensity of gadolinium at extreme concentration ranges and proposes modifications of procedure protocol to mitigate the chance of a repeat event.
Qualitative study on the price of drugs for multiple sclerosis: Gaming the system

Objective To describe pricing decisions, justifications, and attitudes among current and former biotech industry executives for companies that manufacture multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapies. Methods Four leaders in biotech who have been directly involved in multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy pricing or marketing volunteered to participate in 30-minute semistructured interviews conducted via telephone. An expert in qualitative methods moderated and analyzed the interviews alongside the principal investigator. Brief, preinterview online surveys were also administered to provide additional context and insight for discussion. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed. Results Participants consistently stated that initial price decisions were dictated by the price of existing competitors in the market. Revenue maximization and corporate growth were drivers of price escalations in the absence of continued market penetration. Lower revenue predictions outside the United States also informed pricing strategies. The growing complexity and clout of drug distribution and supply channels were also cited as contributing factors. Although decisions to raise prices were motivated by the need to attract investment for future innovation, recouping drug-specific research and development costs as a justification was not strongly endorsed as having a significant influence on pricing decisions. Conclusions Contrary to prevailing narratives that underscore drug development costs, findings from our interviews suggest that the existing price ecosystem, overall corporate growth, international pricing disparities, and supply chain–related distortions may play a more central role in drug pricing decision.
Size effects and odd–even effects on hydrogen adsorption on Janus MoSSe nanosheets: first-principles studies

Nanosheets of molybdenum dichalcogenides have been widely explored for their catalytic applications including hydrodesulfurization and hydrogen evolution reactions, in which the adsorption of hydrogen plays a key role in determining the catalytic efficiency. Herein, we studied the nanosize effects of triangular Janus MoSSe nanosheets as well as their odd–even effects on hydrogen adsorption using first-principles calculations. It is found that, after structural relaxation, the Janus MoSSe nanosheets form an arch structure bending toward the S layer because of the structural asymmetry, which is unlike the case of molybdenum disulfide, MoS2. Moreover, the calculated changes of the Gibbs free energy for the hydrogen adsorption exhibit an odd–even oscillation as the size number (n) of the nanosheets changes from an odd number to an even number. These results highlight the unique structural and catalytic properties of two-dimensional Janus transition-metal chalcogenide nanostructures.
Food Safety on the Farm: Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices – Water

As part of the Food Safety on the Farm series, a collection that reviews the generally recognized principles of GAPs as they relate to produce, primarily at the farm level and with particular focus on fresh Florida crops and practices, this publication focuses on GAPs and GHPs relating specifically to water use. The publications in this series can be found online at the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ topic_series_food_safety_on_the_farm. Introductionagricultural practices (GAPs) and good handling practices (GHPs) encompass the general procedures grow- ers, packers and processors of fresh fruits and vegetables should follow to ensure the safety of their product. GAPs usually deal with pre-harvest practices (i.e., in the field), while GHPs cover post-harvest practices, including pack- ing and shipping. This fact sheet covers GAPs and GHPs relating to water use. Seven other Florida Cooperative Extension factsheets will focus on other specific aspects of the GAPs program and how they relate to Florida crops and practices. Water is one of the most critical components of food safety on the farm and in post-harvest handling and processing. Water has the potential to transmit both chemical and biological hazards to fresh produce. It is used in every phase of operation: irrigation, transplant establishment, the application of pesticides and fertilizers, frost protection, product rinsing and washing, direct processing, facility cleaning, cooling operations, and personal hygiene for workers. The application of contaminated water at any of these points can introduce pathogens that could potentially reach the consumer.
Incomplete utterances as critical assessments

Using video recordings of draft meetings conducted as part of an intramural basketball program as data, this conversation analytic study examines the use of an incomplete utterance in a joint evalu...
Mineralogical associations with soil carbon in managed wetland soils.

Carbon (C)-rich wetland soils are often drained for agriculture due to their capacity to support high net primary productivity. Increased drainage is expected this century to meet the agricultural demands of a growing population. Wetland drainage can result in large soil C losses and the concentration of residual soil minerals such as iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al). In upland soils, reactive Fe and Al minerals can contribute to soil C accumulation through sorption to poorly crystalline minerals and coprecipitation of organo-metal complexes, as well as C loss via anaerobic respiration by Fe-reducing bacteria. The role of these minerals in soil C dynamics is often overlooked in managed wetland soils and may be particularly important in both drained and reflooded systems with elevated mineral concentrations. Reflooding drained soils have been proposed as a means to sequester C for climate change mitigation, yet little is known about how reactive Fe and Al minerals affect C cycling in restored wetlands. We explored the interactions among soil C and reactive Fe and Al minerals in drained and reflooded wetland soils. In reflooded soils, soil C was negatively associated with reactive Fe and reduced Fe(II), a proxy for anaerobic conditions (reactive Fe: R2 = .54-.79; Fe(II): R2 = .59-.89). In drained soils, organo-Al complexes were positively associated with soil C and Fe(II) (Al R2 = .91; Fe(II): R2 = .54-.60). Soil moisture, organo-Al, and reactive Fe explained most of the variation observed in soil C concentrations across all sites (p < .01). Reactive Fe was negatively correlated to soil C concentrations across sites, suggesting these Fe pools may drive additional C losses in drained soils and limit C sequestration with reflooding. In contrast, reactive organo-Al in drained soils facilitates C storage via aggregation and/or formation of anaerobic (micro)sites that protect residual soil C from oxidation and may at least partially offset C losses.
Exploring Cancer Treatment Experiences for Patients With Preexisting Mobility Disability.

Objective We explored the process of cancer care for patients with preexisting mobility disability, focusing on treatment decisions and experiences. Design We recruited 20 participants with preexisting mobility disability, requiring use of an assistive device or assistance with activities of daily living, subsequently diagnosed with cancer (excluding skin cancers). We conducted open-ended individual interviews, which reached data saturation and were transcribed verbatim for conventional content analysis. Results Concerns coalesced around 4 themes: disability-related healthcare experiences affect cancer treatment decisions; concerns about cancer treatment worsening functional impairments; access barriers; and limited provider awareness and biases about treating people with disability. Residual fear from previous medical interventions and concerns about exacerbating functional impairments influenced cancer treatment preferences. Participants also raised concerns that their underlying disability may be used to justify less aggressive treatment. Nevertheless, cancer treatment did exacerbate mobility difficulties for some participants. Inaccessible hospital rooms, lack of accessible medical equipment, and attitudinal barriers complicated treatments. Conclusions People with preexisting mobility disability experience barriers to cancer treatment, compromising quality of care and potentially outcomes. Further training and proactive planning for accommodating disability during cancer treatment and rehabilitation are warranted. To claim cme credits Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME. Cme objectives Upon completion of the article, the reader should be able to: (1) Recognize inadequate accommodations that compromise the diagnosis and treatment of a new cancer in patients with preexisting disability; (2) Recommend involving rehabilitation specialists in the process of care and clinical decision making from the time of cancer diagnosis for patients with preexisting disability newly diagnosed with malignancy; and (3) In the setting of accessibility barriers, facilitate efforts to accommodate patients with preexisting disability to improve quality of care in diagnosing and treating cancer. Level Advanced. Accreditation The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Hypothesis Testing when Data Sources are Uncertain

The Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau used BISG to find Ally Financial and Ally Bank guilty of bias in auto loans. Federal authorities claim to use BISG tools in their investigations with no details on how this tool is being used. In this article, we develop different ways to use the BISG in order to test for disparity. This article offers methods that use the highest probability provided by the BISG as well as a method that uses all the probabilities coming from BISG.
NICMOS OBSERVATIONS OF THE TRANSITING HOT JUPITER XO-1b

We refine the physical parameters of the transiting hot Jupiter planet XO-1b and its stellar host XO-1 using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) NICMOS observations. XO-1b has a radius Rp = 1.21 ± 0.03 RJ , and XO-1 has a radius R = 0.94 ± 0.02 R ☉, where the uncertainty in the mass of XO-1 dominates the uncertainty of Rp and R . There are no significant differences in the XO-1 system properties between these broadband NIR observations and previous determinations based upon ground-based optical observations. We measure two transit timings from these observations with 9 s and 15 s precision. As a residual to a linear ephemeris model, there is a 2.0σ timing difference between the two HST visits that are separated by three transit events (11.8 days). These two transit timings and additional timings from the literature are sufficient to rule out the presence of an Earth mass planet orbiting in 2:1 mean motion resonance coplanar with XO-1b. We identify and correct for poorly understood gain-like variations present in NICMOS time series data. This correction reduces the effective noise in time series photometry by a factor of 2 for the case of XO-1.
Induced Membrane Curvature Bypasses Clathrin's Essential Endocytic Function

During clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), flat plasma membrane is rapidly remodeled to produce a nanometer-scale spherical vesicle. The mechanisms underlying this shape change are not known, but it has been hypothesized that the clathrin coat stabilizes membrane curvature. Here, we used nanopatterning to produce glass-like substrates with U-shaped features mimicking membrane shapes induced by fibrillar materials such as collagen. These substrates bend the ventral plasma membranes of cells grown on them into shapes characteristic of the energetically-unfavorable U-shaped intermediate stage of CME. This induced plasma membrane curvature recruits the endocytic machinery and promotes productive endocytosis. Curvature-based localization of the endocytic machinery is unaffected by clathrin disruption, and induced curvature partially bypasses clathrin9s role in cargo uptake, supporting the conclusion that clathrin9s essential endocytic function is to stabilize membrane curvature.
Tuberculosis in Indigenous Persons - United States, 2009-2019.

Populations of indigenous persons are frequently associated with pronounced disparities in rates of tuberculosis (TB) disease compared to co-occurring nonindigenous populations. Using data from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System on TB cases in U.S.-born patients reported in the United States during 2009–2019, we calculated incidence rate ratios and risk ratios for TB risk factors to compare cases in American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (NHPI) TB patients to cases in White TB patients. Annual TB incidence rates among AIAN and NHPI TB patients were on average ≥10 times higher than among White TB patients. Compared to White TB patients, AIAN and NHPI TB patients were 1.91 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–2.71) and 3.39 (CI: 1.44–5.74) times more likely to have renal disease or failure, 1.33 (CI: 1.16–1.53) and 1.63 (CI: 1.20–2.20) times more likely to have diabetes mellitus, and 0.66 (CI: 0.44–0.99) and 0.19 (CI: 0–0.59) times less likely to be HIV positive, respectively. AIAN TB patients were 1.84 (CI: 1.69–2.00) and 1.48 (CI: 1.27–1.71) times more likely to report using excess alcohol and experiencing homelessness, respectively. TB among U.S. indigenous persons is associated with persistent and concerning health disparities.
Translation or Transliteration?: ‘Gender’ Troubles in Russia

Gender, as a word and as a concept, reached Russia only after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and nearly as soon as it was translated—or, perhaps, transliterated—the word became the target of a backlash. It represented a threat to a vulnerable new state—understood in the Russian context as the governing body of the nation—and a still-forming civil society, and the word and its roots continue to sit at the center of a heated debate about no less than the health and future of Russia itself. The primary aim of this paper is to examine the contours of the reception and uses of ‘gender’ through official church and state treatments of the word and what it carries, through the mainstream consciousness and media of an evolving civil society, and through contemporary Russian feminist commentary. This analysis is an examination of precisely the obstacles that ‘gender’ meets in transit and the ways in which these obstacles are, in the target language, transformed into multiple and sometimes conflicting opportunities. To this end, I examine the linguistic and cultural contexts of a target audience that is sensitive to the rapid imposition of ideological language, as well as the obstacles that such a context poses for translation and, most crucially, the ways in which political, mainstream, and feminist voices navigate and operationalise the foreignness of these words, either through overt rejection or through resignification.
Original ContributionsThe utility of CA 19-9 in the diagnoses of cholangiocarcinoma in patients without primary sclerosing cholangitis

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma is often difficult, making management approaches problematic. A reliable serum tumor marker for cholangiocarcinoma would be a useful additional diagnostic test. Previous studies have demonstrated that elevated serum concentrations of CA 19-9, a tumor-associated antigen, have good sensitivity and specificity for cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. However, the value of this tumor marker for cholangiocarcinoma unassociated with primary sclerosing cholangitis is unclear. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the usefulness of a serum CA 19-9 determination in the diagnosis of de novo cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: We prospectively measured serum CA 19-9 concentrations in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (n = 36), nonmalignant liver disease (n = 41), and benign bile duct strictures (n = 26). Serum CA 19-9 concentrations were measured by an immunoradiometric assay (CIS Bio International) without knowledge of the clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: The sensitivity of a CA 19-9 value >100 U/ml in diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma was 53%. When compared with the nonmalignant liver disease and the benign bile duct stricture groups, the true negative rates were 76% and 92%, respectively. Patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma had significantly greater mean CA 19-9 concentrations compared to patients with resectable cholangiocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the serum CA 19-9 determination is a useful addition to the available tests for the differential diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.
Christine Montalbetti’s Unreasonable Mission

In Mon ancetre Poisson (2019), Christine Montalbetti looks through her family tree in order to find the oldest ancestor whom she can identify, one Jules Poisson (1833–1919), her great-great-grandfa...
Seed-based generation of personalized bio-ontologies for information extraction

Biologists usually focus on only a small, individualized, subdomain of the huge domain of biology. With respect to their sub-domain, they often need data collected from various different web resources. In this research, we provide a tool with which biologists can generate a sub-domain-size, user-specific ontology that can extract data from web resources. The central idea is to let a user provide a seed, which consists of a single data instance embedded within the concepts of interest. Given a seed, the system can generate an extraction ontology, match information with the user's view based on the seed, and collect information from online repositories. Our initial experimentations indicate that our prototype system can successfully match source data with an ontology seed and gather information from different sources with respect to user-specific, personalized views.
Performance evaluation of heuristic algorithms for wavelength assignment in WDM optical networks

Given a set of connection requests in a WDM optical network and a designated lightpath for each connection request, the wavelength assignment problem is to assign a wavelength to each lightpath in such a way that lightpaths sharing common links are assigned different wavelengths and the number of wavelengths used is minimized. The main result of the paper is to show that there exist simple heuristic wavelength assignment algorithms whose average-case performance is very close to the optimum. Our strategy is to convert wavelength assignment on an optical network with randomly generated connection requests into vertex coloring on a random lightpath graph.
Analysis of Isoaccepting Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Species of Bacillus subtilis: Changes in Chromatography of Transfer Ribonucleic Acids Associated with Stage of Development

Changes in chromatographic profiles of tyrosyl-, leucyl-, tryptophanyl-, and lysyl-transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNAs) are presented as a function of the growth stage in Bacillus subtilis. All of the tRNA groups investigated expressed different temporal patterns of change in isoaccepting species. Tyrosyl-tRNAs were the earliest to change and were followed by changes in leucyl- and then tryptophanyl-tRNAs. Lysyl-tRNAs were unique in having two times of change: one early and one very late. As an aid in understanding the temporal aspect of tRNA alterations during sporulation, the chromatographic profiles of aminoacyl tRNAs from an early blocked asporogenous mutant were studied. The asporogenous mutant used was blocked at the axial filament stage, stage 0 of sporulation. Nevertheless, those tRNAs which showed differences between the spore and cells in exponential growth exhibited similar changes in the asporogenous mutant after 24 h of growth. The data suggest that several tRNA changes occur during development in B. subtilis but that the events leading to these changes are either independent of, or occur before, stage 0 of sporulation, except in the case of lysyl-tRNA.
Constitutional Contortion? Making Unfettered War Powers Compatible with Limited Government

War requires strong, centralized and efficient government. But that same sort of government is a conservative's worst nightmare when it comes to domestic policy. This has left conservatives with a stark constitutional conundrum, at least since the First World War: Must they sacrifice a commitment to limited government in order to play an essential world role? Or, conversely, must they sacrifice that world role to assure liberty and limited government at home? This essay, a review of John Yoo's "The Powers of War and Peace: The Constitution and Foreign Affairs After 9/11," argues that Yoo's is struggling to develop a constitutional justification for an assertion of extraordinarily broad Executive power and yet, at the same time, a theory that attempts to build barricades against the risk that this massive central power might blow back, and erodeconstitutional limits on central government at home.
Systems of Systems Communication for heterogeneous independent operable systems

Swarms of robots in heterogeneous environments working together in a System of Systems, raise the need for suitable inter-swarm communication. This paper presents a potentially viable solution. Communication for land swarms was found to be successful through ZigBee Radio Modems, and a suitable counterpart is necessary for underwater swarms in a system of systems. An extensible standards based protocol to accommodate different types of data was developed for use among the swarm robots. This communication system allows for dynamic swarm expansion, where new members can be added to the swarm family. This enables coordination among robots within and between swarms in a system of systems framework
Food and Everyday Life on Kentucky Family Farms, 1920-1950

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Willigen van, John and Anne van Willigen Year: 2006 Pages: 280 Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky ISBN: 0-8131-2387-9 (hard cover). Prices: $35.00 USD(hard cover).
Biological Control of Weeds

Weeds are one of the most costly and limiting factors in crop production, causing losses in yield by competing with crop plants for light, water, nutrients, heat energy, carbon dioxide, and space. In the United States, chemical herbicides account for 60% of the agricultural pesticides applied. Chemical herbicides, although effective, have problems associated with their use. As a result, avenues have been opened for use of plant pathogens as biological control agents for weeds. This process involves the use of a pathogen to suppress or control a weed population through the intentional creation of a plant disease epidemic. Keywords: weeds; chemical herbicides; plant pathogens; biological control; biological control agents; bioherbicides; deleterious rhizobacteria
Differing Methodology and Equations Used in Quantitating Immunoglobulins by Radial Immunodiffusion—A Comparative Evaluation of Reported and Commercial Techniques

Differing methods of plotting have been used to describe the results of radial immunodiffusion (RID). Two, logarithm of antigen concentration (log c ) vs. precipitin-ring diameter ( d ) (Fahey) and log c vs. area ( A or d 2) (Mancini), are linear while rings are enlarging. Another, c vs. A (or c vs. d 2), becomes linear when enlargement ceases at equivalence (Mancini). Because of methodological inaccuracy, I could not experimentally determine whether log c = d or log c = d 2 is appropriate; either one or both semilogarithmic graphs may be linear as precipitin circles enlarge. I could confirm the c = d 2 linearity at equivalence. Because smaller circles cease growth first, intermediate readings produce plots that are partially curved and partially straight. Commercial RID plates produce linear and curved plots of log c vs. d and of c vs. d 2. They often create too small a diameter range for great accuracy. I conclude that semilogarithmic plots are of questionable value. For greatest accuracy plates should be designed for measurement at equivalence. At this time, a straight-line graph of c = d 2 will include a maximal diameter range.
The toxicity and bioaccumulation of selenate, selenite and seleno-L-methionine in the cyanobacterium Anabaena flos-aquae.

A laboratory investigation was conducted to study the toxicity and bioaccumulation of seleno-L-methionine, selenate and selenite in the cyanobacteriumAnabaena flos-aquae. The first sub-lethal effects of seleno-L-methionine, selenite and selenate occurred at 0.1, 3.0, and 3.0 mg/L, respectively with a decrease in chlorophylla concentration (P < 0.0001). Selenium bioconcentration factors (BCF) were in the order of seleno-L-methionine, selenite, and selenate. Significant decreases in intracellular selenium concentration were observed at both the no effect (NOEL) and low effect levels (LOEL) at each oxidation state tested in the given experiment (p < 0.0001). Mechanisms for the assimilation, toxicity and regulation of selenium are presented.
Ab initio NMR Chemical Shift of Diamond, Chemical-Vapor-Deposited Diamond, and Amorphous Carbon

The NMR chemical shift spectra of diamond, chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) diamond, and diamondlike amorphous carbon are computed from first principles. The results of our calculation are in excellent agreement with experiments, and are useful for the interpretation of the NMR spectra in terms of the microscopic structure of the materials. In particular, we show that the NMR and Raman linewidths in polycrystalline CVD diamond are due to stress fluctuations, and we support a heterogeneous model for the amorphous hydrogenated phase. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
X-ray photoelectron spectra and electronic structure of zirconium trisulfide and triselenide

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectra of ZrS3 and ZrSe3 have been recorded. These compounds may be regarded as Zr(Ch2)Ch (Ch=S,Se) with both (Ch2) groups and isolated Ch atoms. An unambiguous assignment of the chalcogen core levels was made by comparing the spectra with those of ZrS2 and ZrSe2 (where all chalcogen atoms are isolated). The levels of the (Ch2) groups are found at higher binding energies than those of the isolated Ch atoms, which is consistent with a larger negative charge on the isolated atoms. The structures of the valence bands of ZrS3 and ZrSe3 are discussed in terms of a molecular-orbital scheme for the (Ch2) groups. The exciton peaks observed in the optical absorption spectra of ZrS3 and ZrSe3 are assigned as due to excitations of the (Ch2) groups.
Mechanical properties of polycrystalline neodymium from 78 to 600 K

Abstract The flow-stress temperature dependence, strain-rate sensitivity, strainhardening exponent and ductility of neodymium were determined from 78 to 600 K at strain rates of 0.005, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 min −1 . The results are presented, and comparisons of the properties of neodymium with those of some rare-earth metals and other h.c.p. materials are discussed.
Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR)

Under Instrument Flight Rules, pilots are not permitted to make changes to their approved trajectory without first receiving permission from Air Traffic Control (ATC). Referred to as "user requests," trajectory change requests from aircrews are often denied or deferred by controllers because they have awareness of traffic and airspace constraints not currently available to flight crews. With the introduction of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and other information services, a rich traffic, weather, and airspace information environment is becoming available on the flight deck. Automation developed by NASA uses this information to aid flight crews in the identification and formulation of optimal conflict-free trajectory requests. The concept of Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR) combines ADS-B and airborne automation to enable user-optimal in-flight trajectory replanning and to increase the likelihood of ATC approval for the resulting trajectory change request. TASAR may improve flight efficiency or other user-desired attributes of the flight while not impacting and potentially benefiting the air traffic controller. This paper describes the TASAR concept of operations, its enabling automation technology which is currently under development, and NASA s plans for concept assessment and maturation.