cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
WOOD DENSITY FOR ESTIMATING FOREST BIOMASS IN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA

Abstract Reliable estimates of the biomass of Amazonian forests are needed for calculations of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. Interpretation of forest volume data for the region is the most practical means of obtaining representative biomass estimates. The density of the wood used in converting volume data to biomass is a key factor affecting estimates of biomass and of emissions. Interpreting density data for biomass purposes, which is different from the normal use of these data for commercial timber uses, is complicated by a variety of factors. There is variability among individuals of a given species, among geographic locations, and within the vertical and radial dimensions of individual trees. Considerable confusion has resulted from the variety of ways that densities are reported with respect to humidity at time of the weight and volume measurements used in calculating the density value. The most appropriate measure for biomass is basic density, or oven-dry weight divided by wet volume. Corrections for hollow trees and the position of samples within trunks are also needed. Here, available data are brought together for 268 species of trees, with an unweighted mean basic density of 0.65 (range 0.14–1.21). Weighting the mean by the volume of wood of each species in a sample of vegetation types, and weighting the means of the vegetation types by the extent of each in the region, yields a mean density of 0.69. Although the weighted mean density calculated here has a much firmer empirical basis than previously available estimates for this parameter, uncertainty is still considerable, particularly as a result of doubt concerning taxonomic identifications in the forestry surveys. Were the wood density of a small but botanically well-studied plot near Manaus to apply to the region as a whole, Brazil's 1990 emissions of greenhouse gases would be higher by an amount equivalent to two-thirds of the country's annual emission from fossil fuels.
Examining specialty care.

The managed care revolution was not supposed to turn out this way. As outlined in Alain Enthoven’s influential, if immodestly titled, book, Health Plan: The Only Practical Solution to the Soaring Cost of Medical Care (1), the medical marketplace under managed competition would operate much like a deist’s vision of the way the world works: a basic, minimal set of regulations would ensure that the playing field was leveled among competing health plans so that they could not succeed by selecting low-risk patients. Then the invisible hand of the marketplace would result in a more efficient provision of health care. Leveling the playing field involves a short-term visible hand of regulation. Thereafter, the ways that health plans tame the medical market would be invisible to the parties involved: consumers (sometimes called managed care lives or patients) and providers (sometimes called contractors or employees or physicians). We have not succeeded in either part of the revolution. Evidence is mounting that the playing field has not been leveled, with substantial selection of low-risk patients and avoidance of high-risk patients (2,3) and concurrent growth in the number and proportion of the US population without health insurance (4). The mechanisms to control costs have become highly visible, and the rules
Quantifying the Impact of Bacterial Fitness and Repeated Antimicrobial Exposure on the Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli

The emergence of multidrug resistance among gram-negative bacilli is complex. Nu- merous factors need to be considered, including the biological fitness cost of resistance, fitness- compensatory mutations and frequency and type of antibiotic exposure. A mathematical model evaluating these complex relationships was developed in an individual colonized with strains of pan-susceptible, single-, two- and multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacilli (GN). The ef- fect of bacterial fitness, compensatory mutations and the frequency of three-antimicrobial regimen exposure to predominance of multidrug-resistant strains were quantified. The model predicts that initially, in the absence of antibiotic exposure, the biologically fitter pan-susceptible strain pre- dominates over the resistant strains. Over time, the fitness of the MDR strains increases faster with repeated antimicrobial exposure, through compensatory-fitness mutations. Increasing the frequency of exposure to the three-antimicrobial regimen or, increasing the initial fitness of the resistant strains, substantially decreases the time to MDR-GN predominance. The model implies that when MDR-GN strains evolve into strains that are fitter than susceptible strains, a reduction in antimicrobial exposure may not result in a decrease of MDR-GN, since the absence of selec- tive antimicrobial pressure would no longer favor susceptible strains. The model also implies that antimicrobial cycling may promote the emergence of MDR-GN.
A mathematical theory of strong emergence using multiscale variety

We argue conceptually and then demonstrate mathematically that it is possible to define a scientifically meaningful notion of strong emergence. A strong emergent property is a property of the system that cannot be found in the properties of the system's parts or in the interactions between the parts. The possibility of strong emergence follows from an ensemble perspective, which states that physical systems are only meaningful as ensembles rather than individual states. Emergent properties reside in the properties of the ensemble rather than of any individual state. A simple example is the case of a string of bits including a parity bit, i.e. the bits are constrained to have, e.g., an odd number of ON bits. This constraint is a property of the entire system that cannot be identified through any set of observations of the state of any or all subsystems of the system. It is a property that can only be found in observations of the state of the system as a whole. A collective constraint is a property of the system, however, the constraint is caused when the environment interacts with the system to select the allowable states. Although selection in this context does not necessarily correspond to biological evolution, it does suggest that evolutionary processes may lead to such emergent properties. A mathematical characterization of multiscale variety captures the implications of strong emergent properties on all subsystems of the system. Strong emergent properties result in oscillations of multiscale variety with negative values, a distinctive property. Examples of relevant applications in the case of social systems include various allocation, optimization, and functional requirements on the behavior of a system. Strongly emergent properties imply a global to local causality that is conceptually disturbing (but allowed!) in the context of conventional science, and is important to how we think about biological and social systems.
Experimental localized radar cross sections of aircraft

Localized RCS measurements are presented for the Boeing 727 and the Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. The measurements were made at X-band from a few degrees aft of broadside. The elevation angle was approximately 30 degrees . Four data sets, each of 128 pulses, were obtained from each airplane examined. The data presented are composites of measurements of five Boeing 727s and three L-1011s. >
Active Regulation of Speed during a Simulated Low-Altitude Flight Task:

This study examined active regulation of speed during a low-altitude flight task as a function of global optical flow rate, speed, and the presence or absence of a concurrent altitude disturbance. The results showed that altitude clearly had an impact on speed control. Control of speed was much more difficult when altitude disturbances were present. Even in the no altitude disturbance conditions, performance tended to be best at lower altitudes. Consistent with previous research, the results suggest that speed and altitude changes have additive effects on speed judgments. This is inconsistent with the simple global optical flow rate hypothesis that had suggested multiplicative effects. However, it is consistent with the general notion that judgments of self motion are based on properties of optical flow fields (i.e. angles and angular rates) that depend on distance and motion relative to textured surfaces.
Information Display Early in the 21st Century: Overview of Selected Emissive Display Technologies

Rapid advances in display technology over the past decade, in particular,have driven costs downward and spurred explosive growth worldwide in the demand for, and sales of, electronic equipment ranging from large screen televisions to mobile phones. Boasting a market well in excess of $79 billion in 2004,displays have surged to the forefront of the optoelectronics industry, largely on the strength of consumer sales. Flat panel technologies such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and plasma display panels (PDPs) now offer screens of unprecedented size but also brightness and contrast approaching or surpassing the quality afforded by the cathode ray tube (CRT). This brief review focuses on selected emissive display technologies:PDPs, field emission and surface-conduction electron emission displays, and microcavity plasma arrays. Spanning the range from mature, commercially developed displays to emerging concepts, these technologies underscore the growing importance of the display in consumer, commercial, and research applications for its critical role as an increasingly sophisticated interface between an electronic or electro-optical system and the user.
The Reliability of LNG Systems

Abstract The safety of the systems for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) has received intensive evaluation in the last several years1,2. A related but nevertheless distinct concern is the reliability of the gas supply that LNG would provide. This concern will become increasingly significant as more of the country's gas supply becomes dependent on LNG. In this article, the principal factors affecting the reliability of the various activities associated with LNG importation are discussed, from the supply source, through liquefaction, transportation, off-loading, storage, vaporization, and transmission and distribution. Internal failures in the systems involved in these activities, that lead generally to short-term supply outages at most, are considered. Externally caused major outages, such as could occur because of earthquakes, are also appraised. Means for avoiding or mitigating these outages, such as redundancy in system elements and gas storage and alternative supply capabilities, are described. Unc...
The Perceived Burden of Children

We expect that mothers vary in the degree to which they perceive their children as burdensome, and that this variation may help explain why past research on the effect of children on mothers' psychological distress often finds insignificant or inconsistent effects: mothers who feel their children are a burden may have high distress levels compared with mothers who do not feel burdened. We find that mothers experience their children as differentially burdensome at different stages in the life cycle: younger mothers' perceived burden increases with each additional child, but older mothers are less affected by increasing numbers of children. Preschool children increase all mothers' perceived burden because they tend to make mothers feel that they cannot be alone when they want to. Employed mothers feel less burdened by their children than the nonemployed. Social context - the density of people in the home, integration into the neighborhood, and the presence of relatives in the area - had a number of unexpect...
Production of superconducting Nb/sub 3/Sn wire using Nb or Nb(Ti) and Sn(Ga) solid solution powders

Superconducting Nb/sub 3/Sn wire was produced by a powder metallurgy method using Nb or Nb-2.9 at.% Ti powder in combination with Sn-x at.% Ga powders (x=3, 4.2, 6.2, and 9.0). Ga additions to the Sn caused considerable solid solution hardening, which improved its workability. It made the Nb-Sn(Ga) powder combination convenient for swaging and extensive wire drawing. Anneals at 950 degrees C produced wires with an overall J/sub c/ of 10/sup 4/ A/cm/sup 2/ at 21.9 T for wires with both Ti in the Nb and 6.2 at.% Ga in the Sn. Comparison of this wire with best Nb(Ti)-Cu-internal Sn(Ti) shows a higher J/sub c/ per A15 area, especially in fields of 22 T and above.
A TDC-based test platform for dynamic circuit aging characterization

An on-chip 45nm test platform that directly monitors circuit performance degradation during dynamic operation is demonstrated. In contrast to traditional ring-oscillator (RO) based frequency measurements, it utilizes a Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) with 2ps resolution to efficiently monitor circuit delay change on-the-fly. This new technique allows the capability of measuring signal edge degradation under various realistic circuit operating scenarios, such as asymmetric aging, dynamic voltage/frequency scaling, dynamic duty cycle factors, and temperature variations.
High-Voltage Self-Aligned p-Channel DMOS-IGBTs in 4H-SiC

SiC power MOSFETs designed for blocking voltages of 10 kV and higher face the problem of high drift layer resistance that gives rise to a high internal power dissipation in the ON -state. For this reason, the ON-state current density must be severely restricted to keep the power dissipation below the package limit. We have designed, optimized, and fabricated high-voltage SiC p-channel doubly-implanted metal-oxide-semiconductor insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) on 20-kV blocking layers for use as the next generation of power switches. These IGBTs exhibit significant conductivity modulation in the drift layer, which reduces the ON-state resistance. Assuming a 300 W/cm2 power package limit, the maximum currents of the experimental IGBTs are 1.2x and 2.1x higher than the theoretical maximum current of a 20-kV MOSFET at room temperature and 177 degC, respectively.
Integrating the Management of Psychosocial and Behavior Risk Factors into Clinical Medical Practice

Coronary heart disease (CHD) constitutes the leading cause of death in Western societies and is increasingly prevalent in developing nations. Advances in modern medical treatment for CHD has helped to tame the clinical consequences of heart disease, but the overall prevalence of CHD risk factors remains very high in society and is increasing in epidemic proportion for obesity and diabetes, both among adults and children. Hence, a high prevalence of CHD is predicted for well into the twenty-first century. It is apparent, therefore, that the development of better strategies for reducing the overall risk burden for CHD has become necessary.
Lipoxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid in ischemic preconditioning and PKC-induced protection in heart

We tested the hypothesis that activation of the 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism contributes to the protective effect of protein kinase C (PKC) activation and ischemic preconditioning (PC), and we report, in perfused rat heart, that both PC and the PKC activator 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG) confer a similar protective effect and stimulate a comparable accumulation of 12-LO metabolites. The 12-LO product, 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(S)-HETE], was increased in DOG-treated (22.8 +/- 4.4 ng/g wet wt) and PC hearts (26.8 +/- 5.5 ng/g wet wt) compared with control (13.8 +/- 2.1 ng/g wet wt, P < 0. 05), and this increase was blocked by 12-LO or PKC inhibitors. Both DOG pretreatment and PC improved recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) nearly twofold after 20 min of ischemia; this improvement was blocked by 12-LO inhibitors and was mimicked by infusion of 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(S)-HpETE; 67 +/- 6% recovery of LVDP vs. 35 +/- 3% for untreated hearts]. Also, the protection afforded by 12(S)-HpETE, as well as by PC, was attenuated by the K+-channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate, suggesting that the downstream mechanisms of 12(S)-HpETE-mediated protection are similar to PC. Furthermore, PC stimulates 12-LO metabolism in perfused rabbit heart, and 12-LO inhibition blocks PC-induced cardioprotection. Thus the data suggest that 12-LO metabolism plays an important role in cardioprotection.
Mouse tracking reveals that bilinguals behave like experts

We used mouse tracking to compare the performance of bilinguals and monolinguals in a Stroop task. Participants were instructed to respond to the color of the words (e.g., blue in yellow font) by clicking on response options on the screen. We recorded participants’ movements of a computer mouse: when participants started moving (initiation times), and how fast they moved towards the correct response (x-coordinates over time). Interestingly, initiation times were longer for bilinguals than monolinguals. Nevertheless, when comparing mouse trajectories, bilinguals moved faster towards the correct response. Taken together, these results indicate that bilinguals behave qualitatively differently from monolinguals; bilinguals are “experts” at managing conflicting information. Experts across many different domains take longer to initiate a response, but then they outperform novices. These qualitative differences in performance could be at the root of apparently contradictory findings in the bilingual literature.
Interdisciplinary Client Care with the Neuman Systems Model

This article describes how the Neuman Systems Model (NSM) can be used in a two-step process to provide both the form and the function for interdisciplinary client care. The NSM proposes five dimens...
Effect of hemorrhage on complement of blood

The effects of hemorrhage on the cellular elements of the blood have been fairly well established. According to Drinker,1 within 10 minutes after hemorrhage, the leukocyte count begins to rise, and reaches its height within a few hours. Following a single large hemorrhage it may remain elevated for a week. Next comes an increase in platelets, which begins to be manifest during the first 24 hours, and reaches a maximum within the first few days. The young red forms are slower to appear ; and the red count is made up much more slowly than either of the others, depending on the size and duration of the hemorrhages. The hemoglobin content is the last to return to normal. The anemia following chronic conditions of loss of blood according to Lee and Minot2 shows less tendency to marked leukocytosis, less tendency to marked increase in immature forms, but aplasia of the blood forming organs never results from hemorrhage. As pointed out by Robertson and Bock,3 the fluid content of the blood is not fully made up until the third day; and hence the red count may continue to fall until that time, due to gradual dilution, unless fluids are forced on the patient. On the other hand, the relation between these changes and complementing power of the blood have not been studied. Coca 4 states that the regeneration of complement after hemorrhage, when the bulk of the lost blood is replaced with inactivated serum and washed corpuscles, is more rapid than can be accounted for, on the grounds of the addition of complement to the blood by the lymph, the latter being supposed to have the same titer as the normal blood. It, therefore, seemed to us desirable to ascertain the changes induced in the complement of the blood by profound and multiple hemorrhages and subsequent blood regeneration; and what, if any, were the relations of this change to changes in the cellular elements.
Thoughts on modeling complexity: Research Articles

The simplest and probably the most familiar model of statistical processes in the physical sciences is the random walk. This simple model has been applied to all manner of phenomena, ranging from DNA sequences to the firing of neurons. Herein we extend the random walk model beyond that of mimicking simple statistics to include long-time memory in the dynamics of complex phenomena. We show that complexity can give rise to fractional-difference stochastic processes whose continuum limit is a fractional Langevin equation, that is, a fractional differential equation driven by random fluctuations. Furthermore, the index of the inverse power-law spectrum in many complex processes can be related to the fractional derivative index in the fractional Langevin equation. This fractional stochastic model suggests that a scaling process guides the dynamics of many complex phenomena. The alternative to the fractional Langevin equation is a fractional diffusion equation describing the evolution of the probability density for certain kinds of anomalous diffusion. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 11: 33–43, 2006This paper was submitted as an invited paper resulting from the “Understanding Complex Systems” conference held at the University of Illinois–Urbana Champaign, May 2005
Mitral Valve Repairs

Mitral valve congenital anomalies may involve one or more components of the valve and may result in stenosis, insufficiency, or a combination of both. Classification of these anomalies is challenged by the different anatomic conditions that produce the aberrations causing hemodynamic compromise. A segmental approach is useful from an anatomic point of view. Stenotic lesions can be characterized as supravalvar (encircling rings), annular hypoplasia, valvar restrictions, and subvalvar conditions. Congenital regurgitant lesions, which are less common, can be characterized as annular dilatation, valvar deficiencies, chordal abnormalities, and papillary muscle anomalies. Advanced diagnostic imaging modalities and improved surgical techniques have resulted in reproducible and excellent clinical outcomes; most patients can now be treated with valve repair techniques instead of valve replacement options.
Results of Treatment of Skin Cancers

When the results of treatment of skin cancer are analyzed, it is obvious that any of the three methods can be used to achieve a five-year cure rate of 90 per cent or better [1–9]. This is true for both basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Since any of these three commonly used methods of treatment, when properly applied, are capable of achieving cure rates of over 90 per cent, the physician can confidently apply the modality most suited to that particular tumor. He also can consider such secondary factors as convenience, expense to the patient, and time for patient and physician. This ability to select the method most suitable for each tumor will result in even higher cure frequencies than if one method is used almost exclusively.
Directive and non-directive food-related parenting practices: Associations between an expanded conceptualization of food-related parenting practices and child dietary intake and weight outcomes.

Abstract This study examines associations between an expanded conceptualization of food-related parenting practices, specifically, directive and non-directive control, and child weight (BMI z-score) and dietary outcomes [Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010, daily servings fruits/vegetables] within a sample of parent-child dyads (8–12 years old; n = 160). Baseline data from the Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME Plus) randomized controlled trial was used to test associations between directive and non-directive control and child dietary outcomes and weight using multiple regression analyses adjusted for parental education. Overall variance explained by directive and non-directive control constructs was also calculated. Markers of directive control included pressure-to-eat and food restriction, assessed using subscales from the Child Feeding Questionnaire; markers of non-directive control were assessed with a parental role modeling scale and a home food availability inventory in which an obesogenic home food environment score was assigned based on the types and number of unhealthful foods available within the child's home food environment. Directive control Food restriction and pressure-to-eat were positively and negatively associated with BMI z-scores, respectively, but not with dietary outcomes. Non-directive control An obesogenic home food environment was inversely associated with both dietary outcomes; parental role modeling of healthful eating was positively associated with both dietary outcomes. Neither non-directive behavioral construct was significantly associated with BMI z-scores. Total variance Greater total variance in BMI-z was explained by directive control; greater total variance in dietary outcomes was explained by non-directive control. Including a construct of food-related parenting practices with separate markers for directive and non-directive control should be considered for future research. These concepts address different forms of parental control and, in the present study, yielded unique associations with child dietary and weight outcomes.
Mapping Brittle and Ductile Behaviors of Polymeric Glasses under Large Extension

We have carried out a series of tensile extension tests on the two most common polymer glasses to describe their generic mechanical responses as a function of deformation rate at different temperatures. The essentially defect-free polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) both show remarkable re-entrant failure: being ductile at intermediate rates and showing diminishing toughness at both higher and lower rates. We draw phase diagrams to map out the relationship between brittle-like and yield-like states in terms of temperature, rate, and stress. A coherent understanding of the rich phenomenology requires us to describe in more detail the interplay between the chain network and the primary structure bonded by intersegmental van der Waals forces.
The Effect of Anticoagulation on Bleeding-related Complications Following Ureteroscopy.

Objective To analyze bleeding-related complications among patients on long-term anticoagulation (AC) undergoing ureteroscopy (URS). Current American Urological Association/International Consultation on Urological Diseases guidelines state that it is safe to continue AC in routine URS; however, these recommendations are based on small case series. Patients and Methods There were 4799 identified URS procedures performed at our institution between June 2009 and February 2016. Records were then retrospectively reviewed to confirm AC use and identify periprocedural complications. Anticoagulant agents evaluated included warfarin, enoxaparin, and non-vitamin K antagonists (ie, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apibaxan). Patients were excluded if they were taking a concurrent antiplatelet (AP) agent or if additional non-URS procedures were performed. Results Of the 4799 URS procedures, 272 (5.6%) were done on patients taking chronic AC. Of these, 193 (71%) held AC, 53 (19%) were bridged with enoxaparin, and 26 (10%) continued AC. The median age was 70.2 years and the majority of patients (64.2%) underwent a stone procedure with a stone-free rate of 73%. The overall bleeding-related complication rate was 8.1% whereas the significant bleeding-related event rate was 5.9%. Patients continuing AC had the highest significant bleeding-related event rate at 15.4% compared to 9% and 3% for those bridged with enoxaparin and those who held, respectively (P = .01). Conclusion Continuation or bridging of AC may increase the risk of perioperative bleeding. The risks and benefits of proceeding with URS on AC must be weighed carefully. Pending external validation, this information may be used for patient counseling and risk stratification.
Chiral Alkyl Halides: Underexplored Motifs in Medicine

While alkyl halides are valuable intermediates in synthetic organic chemistry, their use as bioactive motifs in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry is rare in comparison. This is likely attributable to the common misconception that these compounds are merely non-specific alkylators in biological systems. A number of chlorinated compounds in the pharmaceutical and food industries, as well as a growing number of halogenated marine natural products showing unique bioactivity, illustrate the role that chiral alkyl halides can play in drug discovery. Through a series of case studies, we demonstrate in this review that these motifs can indeed be stable under physiological conditions, and that halogenation can enhance bioactivity through both steric and electronic effects. Our hope is that, by placing such compounds in the minds of the chemical community, they may gain more traction in drug discovery and inspire more synthetic chemists to develop methods for selective halogenation.
Charging Effects on Nuclear Spin Relaxation in Quantum Dots

We study the mechanism of nuclear spin relaxation in quantum dots due to the electron exchange with 2D gas. We show that the nuclear spin relaxation rate T1−1 is dramatically affected by the Coulomb blockade (CB) and can be controlled by gate voltage. In the case of strong spin–orbit (SO) coupling the relaxation rate is maximal in the CB valleys whereas for the weak SO coupling the maximum of 1/T1 is near the CB peaks. The physical mechanism of nuclear spin relaxation rate at strong SO coupling is identified as Debye–Mandelstam–Leontovich–Pollak–Geballe relaxational mechanism.
Association Between Discrimination and Objective and Subjective Sleep Measures in the Midlife in the United States Study Adult Sample.

ABSTRACTObjectiveEvidence suggests that sleep quality is worse in nonwhite minorities compared with whites. Poor sleep is associated with higher levels of perceived interpersonal discrimination, which is consistently reported among minorities. However, the literature is limited in exploring discrimi
NOTES Transanal Colorectal Resection

The transanal natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) approach for rectal cancer is one of the few NOTES applications that has successfully transitioned from experimental model to clinical practice. Transanal NOTES total mesorectal excision (taTME) facilitates the completion of minimally invasive, sphincter-preserving, total mesorectal excision (TME) in patients with distal rectal tumors who would otherwise require abdominoperineal resection (APR) or conversion from laparoscopic to open TME. This chapter reviews the evolution of transanal NOTES applied to colorectal surgery, as well as the most recent published outcomes of taTME to date, for both benign and malignant indications. A detailed description of laparoscopic-assisted taTME for a low rectal tumor is provided, with description of instrumentation, team, and operative setup and related technical pearls. The chapter emphasizes appropriate patient and tumor selection, a stepwise approach during transanal dissection, troubleshooting, and the recommended training pathway for taTME, all of which are critical to achieve an adequate oncologic resection and favorable perioperative outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.
State Science Standards and Students’ Knowledge of What States Value: The Example of Lunar Phases

This study of science standards of all 50 states and 1958 American early adolescents asked whether there is agreement among states about a science topic, lunar phases, that appears in all recent national standards documents, is of cultural significance, and has been widely studied for misconceptions held by children and adults. Secondly, we asked whether there is a significant correlation between what students know about lunar phase ideas which appear in state standards and the degree to which states value those ideas. Data about student knowledge was collected from a volunteer sample of early adolescents by a forced-choice, online test, the questions of which corresponded to 24 lunar phase ideas found among published state science standards. States were found not to be in agreement about what early adolescent students should learn about lunar phases, although all but one state expected students to learn something about lunar phases. Also, there was not a significant correlation between the number of students who could successfully answer questions about the states' various lunar phase standards and the number of states that had standards addressing those ideas. If the issue of lunar phases is representative of American science standards, states are not in agreement about what students should learn about science and students do not necessarily know the ideas, which more states value.
Modification des capacités ventilatoires chez un enfant polyhandicapé sévère, infecté par cytomégalovirus par stimulations de réflexes locomoteurs dans l’approche Vojta : propos d’un cas clinique

Resume Les enfants atteints de pathologies neurologiques severes (IMC, polyhandicap) souffrent de troubles de la coordination des muscles respiratoires. L’immobilite relative de ces patients, les deformations thoraciques, l’epilepsie et le reflux gastro-œsophagien peuvent conduire a des troubles de la ventilation/perfusion et a des difficultes pour avaler. Ces troubles peuvent a leur tour engendrer atelectasies et fausses routes favorisant la survenue d’infections recidivantes representant la premiere cause de mortalite. Le cas d’etude concerne un enfant âge de 3 ans presentant une atteinte neurologique severe due a une sequelle d’encephalopathie congenitale a cytomegalovirus (CMV), avec une seroconversion au premier trimestre de grossesse, qui se presente au cabinet avec une radio des poumons montrant une atelectasie partielle des deux poumons. L’objet de cette analyse a ete de montrer l’evolution de cet enfant apres 2 semaines de therapie Vojta et comparer son bilan radiographique et clinique avant et apres cette prise en charge.
Multisite Evaluation of APEX for Water Quality:I. Best Professional Judgment Parameterization

The Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) model is capable of estimating edge-of-field water, nutrient, and sediment transport and is used to assess the environmental impacts of management practices. The current practice is to fully calibrate the model for each site simulation, a task that requires resources and data not always available. The objective of this study was to compare model performance for flow, sediment, and phosphorus transport under two parameterization schemes: a best professional judgment (BPJ) parameterization based on readily available data and a fully calibrated parameterization based on site-specific soil, weather, event flow, and water quality data. The analysis was conducted using 12 datasets at four locations representing poorly drained soils and row-crop production under different tillage systems. Model performance was based on the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), the coefficient of determination () and the regression slope between simulated and measured annualized loads across all site years. Although the BPJ model performance for flow was acceptable (NSE = 0.7) at the annual time step, calibration improved it (NSE = 0.9). Acceptable simulation of sediment and total phosphorus transport (NSE = 0.5 and 0.9, respectively) was obtained only after full calibration at each site. Given the unacceptable performance of the BPJ approach, uncalibrated use of APEX for planning or management purposes may be misleading. Model calibration with water quality data prior to using APEX for simulating sediment and total phosphorus loss is essential.
Pesticide Losses in Surface Runoff from Irrigated Fields

Pesticide concentrations were determined in surface irrigation runoff water following the application of pesticides to large fields of cotton, sugar beets, lettuce, alfalfa, onions, or melons in Imperial Valley, CA. The concentrations and total amounts of pesticides in runoff water were dependent upon the characteristics of the pesticides and methods and rates of application. The percentages of the applied pesticides lost in runoff water were generally low with seasonal totals for insecticides in runoff below 1% of the amounts applied. Seasonal losses of the soil-applied herbicides were usually 1 to 2% of the amounts applied. Time elapsed between pesticide application and the irrigation event was inversely related to log concentration, indicating an approximate first-order rate of decrease in concentration with time. The concentration of pesticides in the 0- to 1-cm depth of soil was a good indicator of concentrations and amounts to be expected in runoff water and using the average of three concentrations of methomyl from each peak flow and the flow volume under the peaks resulted in a calculated runoff of 6.1 g/ha methomyl, which was within ± 2% of the integrated estimate using 24 data points.
Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein Regulates Activity-Dependent Membrane Trafficking and Trans-Synaptic Signaling Mediating Synaptic Remodeling

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading monogenic cause of autism and intellectual disability. The disease arises through loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which normally exhibits peak expression levels in early-use critical periods, and is required for activity-dependent synaptic remodeling during this transient developmental window. FMRP canonically binds mRNA to repress protein translation, with targets that regulate cytoskeleton dynamics, membrane trafficking, and trans-synaptic signaling. We focus here on recent advances emerging in these three areas from the Drosophila disease model. In the well-characterized central brain mushroom body (MB) olfactory learning/memory circuit, FMRP is required for activity-dependent synaptic remodeling of projection neurons innervating the MB calyx, with function tightly restricted to an early-use critical period. FMRP loss is phenocopied by conditional removal of FMRP only during this critical period, and rescued by FMRP conditional expression only during this critical period. Consistent with FXS hyperexcitation, FMRP loss defects are phenocopied by heightened sensory experience and targeted optogenetic hyperexcitation during this critical period. FMRP binds mRNA encoding Drosophila ESCRTIII core component Shrub (human CHMP4 homolog) to restrict Shrub translation in an activity-dependent mechanism only during this same critical period. Shrub mediates endosomal membrane trafficking, and perturbing Shrub expression is known to interfere with neuronal process pruning. Consistently, FMRP loss and Shrub overexpression targeted to projection neurons similarly causes endosomal membrane trafficking defects within synaptic boutons, and genetic reduction of Shrub strikingly rescues Drosophila FXS model defects. In parallel work on the well-characterized giant fiber (GF) circuit, FMRP limits iontophoretic dye loading into central interneurons, demonstrating an FMRP role controlling core neuronal properties through the activity-dependent repression of translation. In the well-characterized Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) model, developmental synaptogenesis and activity-dependent synaptic remodeling both require extracellular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes interacting with the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) glypican dally-like protein (Dlp) to restrict trans-synaptic Wnt signaling, with FXS synaptogenic defects alleviated by both MMP and HSPG reduction. This new mechanistic axis spanning from activity to FMRP to HSPG-dependent MMP regulation modulates activity-dependent synaptogenesis. We discuss future directions for these mechanisms, and intersecting research priorities for FMRP in glial and signaling interactions.
Alterations in Biochemical Control Mechanisms of Neoplastic Cells

An alteration in the regulation of cell growth underlies the basic defect in the transformed state. A primary goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms by which control of cell-cycle proliferation differs in normal versus neoplastic cells. Much attention is being paid to several areas in an effort to develop knowledge of the molecular processes involved in these changes: (1) regulation of gene expression and their messenger RNA (mRNA); (2) growth factor—receptor interactions and their subsequent messenger processes; (3) alteration in biochemical control mechanisms, including the role of ion transport in signal transduction mechanisms; and (4) changes in the bioenergetics or metabolism of the cell that contribute to the maintenance of an active proliferative cycle. Consider­able data have been obtained from experiments with cell culture, and attempts to integrate findings in relationship to the classic periods of cell cycle have been made.
Hydric Soils Across Pennsylvania Reference, Disturbed, and Mitigated Wetlands

Soils were compared among natural HGM wetland types, contrasting reference standard wetlands to disturbed wetlands of that type. These latter sites were disturbed to some extent, from stressors occurring on site, within the buffer, and/or from the surrounding landscape. As expected the soils affected by glaciation in the northeastern and northwestern corners of Pennsylvania were wetter than soils from other ecoregions, and the number and density of wetlands was higher. Soil texture was coarser where hydraulic energies were greater, such as in riverine wetlands. Disturbed wetlands tended to have finer textured soils composed of more silt and clay, suggesting that they receive inputs of eroded sediments from the surrounding landscapes. Organic matter was higher in some HGM types, such as fringing and riparian depressions where soils are more saturated or inundated. Soils data from Riparia’s set of reference wetlands is available through a searchable web interface at their website. A review of the literature comparing reference wetlands to mitigation projects continues to indicate the latter are not reaching the functional performance of natural wetlands.
Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in the alcoholic

In a retrospective review from 1987 to 1989, we identified seven alcoholics who had severe acute hepatocellular injury soon after using acetaminophen for therapeutic purposes and who had no suicidal intent. All had markedly elevated serum transaminase values (aspartate aminotransferase greater than 4000 U/L) and prolonged prothrombin times. Three died. Use of acetaminophen by the alcoholic patient is potentially lethal.
Improving Sar Automatic Target Recognition Using Simulated Images Under Deep Residual Refinements

In recent years, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been successfully applied for automatic target recognition (ATR) in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. However, it is challenging to train a CNN with high classification accuracy when labeled data is limited. This is often the case with SAR ATR in practice, because collecting large amounts of labeled SAR data is both difficult and expensive. Using a simulator to generate SAR images offers a possible solution. Unfortunately, CNNs trained on simulated data may not be directly transferable to real data. In this paper, we introduce a method to refine simulated SAR data based on deep residual networks. We learn a refinement function from simulated to real SAR data through a residual learning framework, and use the function to refine simulated images. Using the MSTAR dataset, we demonstrate that a CNN-based SAR ATR system trained on simulated data under residual network refinements can yield much higher classification accuracy as compared to a system trained on simulated images, and so can training on real data augmented with these simulated data under refinements compared to training with real data alone.
Long-Term Prognostic Value of Stress Perfusion Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The purpose of this review is to analyze the long-term prognostic value of stress perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD). Stress perfusion CMR provides high diagnostic accuracy for detection of CAD, with high sensitivity and relatively lower specificity. A normal stress perfusion CMR examination is highly predictive of overall low patient risk. Conversely, abnormal stress perfusion CMR results are associated with mortality and increased risk for adverse cardiac-related events. Stress perfusion CMR is a useful and robust tool for risk reclassification across different CAD risk categories, and most significant for patients of intermediate risk. Stress CMR is reliable for excluding clinically significant coronary artery disease in patients presenting with low-risk acute chest pain. An ischemic burden threshold of less than 1.5 cardiac segments has been found to be most appropriate for safe deferral from revascularization therapy. A stress perfusion CMR-guided strategy has been shown to be noninferior compared to fractional flow reserve (FFR) for revascularization in patients with stable CAD. In clinical practice, CMR offers a multiplicity of useful techniques besides stress perfusion which may add significant prognostic value when combined with the findings of the stress test itself. Stress perfusion CMR is an accurate noninvasive diagnostic test for patients with suspected CAD and provides strong prognostic value across different risk categories.
Outcomes in Pediatric Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery Stratified by the Use of Image Guidance: An Analysis of the Kids' Inpatient Database from 1997 to 2016.

Background To evaluate the utilization of image guidance technology for pediatric transsphenoidal pituitary resection (TSPR) and analyze the complication rates, length of stay (LOS), and total cost for such surgeries as function of time and utilization of image guidance. Methods The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) was queried for all cases of TSPR between 1997 and 2016. Factors extracted included patient demographics, use of image guidance, LOS, total cost, and complications, including panhypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus (DI), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, and cranial nerve (CN) III, IV, and VI palsies. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to determine the odds ratio of developing panhypopituitarism, DI, CSF rhinorrhea, and CN palsies for image-guided versus nonimage-guided cases. A generalized linear model was used to determine the effect of image guidance on inflation-adjusted total cost and LOS. Results A total of 1,297 cases of TSPR were included in the KID over this time period. The majority were female, Caucasian, and older than 15 years. Utilization of image guidance has rapidly increased since 2006. Complication rates were comparable, but when controlling for other factors, the use of image guidance showed a lower risk of postoperative DI (p = 0.05). The use of image guidance also resulted in a shorter LOS by 2.84 days (p Conclusion The use of imaging guidance for pediatric TSPR has precipitously increased in recent years, as it is cost-effective, decreases LOS, and may lead to lower complication rates, such as DI.