cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Air Particulate Emissions Collected Downwind of an Automobile Shredding Operation: Implications for the Environment and Human Health

The disposal of materials at the end of their lifecycle, especially for complex manufactured products, presents challenges in terms of both protecting the environment and human health. In particular, used automobiles are disposed of by removal of various component parts, followed by shredding. In this study, air particulates were collected over several days by DRUM impactor downwind of an automobile shredding plant, size separated, and analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), in order to determine their particle size distribution and corresponding chemical composition. Results for larger particles, ranging in size from 2.5 to 10.0 μm, showed mainly diatoms and salts, from the plant’s ocean side location, and aluminosilicates, consistent with geological sources. As particle size decreased from 10 μm to 0.09 μm, particle loading decreased, and composition shifted to mainly oxygen and sulfur, indicative of sulfates, which along with nickel and vanadium that were detected, could be attributed to emissions from nearby shipping traffic. Iron was found to be present, including in spherical particles that were ∼ 2 μm in diameter, indicating they originated from a high temperature process. Spherical iron particles also were found to correlate with plant operations, making them a useful “tracer” material for plant emissions. Lead, cerium, barium, chromium and zinc were also detected and their possible correlation to plant feedstocks is discussed. The implications of these results for the environment, particularly soil and water deposition, and for human health as a result of inhalation, are discussed.
Fear of Falling in Older Mexican Americans: A Longitudinal Study of Incidence and Predictive Factors

OBJECTIVES To determine predictors of fear of falling in older Mexican Americans over time. DESIGN Longitudinal study. SETTING Community-dwelling residents throughout California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. PARTICIPANTS Community-dwelling Mexican Americans aged 72 and older participating in the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly from 2000-01 to 2010-11 (N = 1,682). MEASUREMENTS Fear of falling was measured at baseline and at each subsequent wave. Baseline demographic and clinical variables included social support, fall history, depression symptoms, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) limitations, and chronic health conditions. RESULTS Nine hundred fifty three (56.7%) subjects reported fear of falling at baseline, 262 of whom reported severe fear of falling. The predictors of reporting any fear of falling over time included female sex, frequent familial interaction, depression, chronic health conditions, IADL limitations, higher MMSE score, and three or more falls in the last 12 months. Predictors of severe fear of falling included older age, female sex, married, depressive symptoms, chronic health conditions, IADL limitations, higher MMSE score, and fall history. Protective factors included frequent friend interaction and higher levels of education. CONCLUSION Fear of falling is prevalent in older Mexican-American adults. The presence of friends nearby was shown to be protective against, whereas the presence of family nearby was shown to be predictive of fear of falling.
Joining Al 6061 to ZE41A Mg Alloy by Friction Stir Welding Using a Cold Spray Transition Joint

The joining of highly dissimilar metals such as aluminum and magnesium has proven to be a difficult challenge using most of the technologies available today. This paper presents a novel method to join dissimilar materials using a combination of two advanced metals processing technologies, friction stir welding (FSW) and cold spray. By utilizing both technologies the strengths of each can be employed, while at the same time mitigating otherwise disqualifying aspects if used alone. In this study, cast ZE41A-T5 magnesium was joined to wrought 6061 aluminum. The joint was accomplished by first cold spraying a 6061 transition zone onto the magnesium alloy, followed by FSW of a 6061 plate to the cold sprayed 6061 zone. Utilizing this method, the formation of detrimentally thick intermetallic layer between the aluminum and magnesium was avoided, providing a resultant joint which matched the strength of the magnesium cast alloy. Detailed materials characterization by electron and optical microscopy, along with mechanical test results is presented. Comparisons to conventional joining techniques and potential applications of this technique is discussed.
COSTIMULATORY BLOCKADE AS A THERAPEUTIC REGIMEN FOR PROLONGING ALLOGRAFT SURVIVAL AND INDUCING TOLERANCE: AN OVERVIEW OF RECENT RESEARCH

T lymphocytes are essential components of the immune response to allografts. Therefore, T lymphocytes are the target for almost all of the therapeutic regimens currently employed to prevent or control the immune response to the allograft. Indeed, monoclonal antibodies targeting the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and the receptor for interleukin-2 (IL-2) have proved useful for controlling the acute immune response to the allograft. Furthermore, inhibitors of TCR signal transduction pathways such as cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506, inhibitors of the serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin, have revolutionized the short-term survival rate of allografts. However, despite the marked increase in the survival rate of allografts past one year, no significant increase in long-term allograft survival has been achieved. Furthermore, because the currently employed therapeutic regimens do not discriminate between allograft-specific T cells and allograft-nonspecific T cells, such regimens induce a general and a marked immunosuppression that may render the patient susceptible to infection and to tumor progression.
Chapter 6 Non-Squamous Cell Causes of Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Cervical lymphadenopathy is a common indication for imaging evaluation of the neck. Besides metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, cervical lymphadenopathy can be due to many causes, with simple reactive lymphadenopathy on one end of the spectrum and malignant lymphadenopathy due to a distant infraclavicular primary, on the other end. A systematic approach to the cause of cervical lymphadenopathy, which includes pattern of lymph node enlargement, lymph node characteristics, systemic symptoms, and extranodal abnormalities, can be very useful in arriving at the correct diagnosis. In this article, various patterns of cervical lymphadenopathy due to non–squamous cell causes are discussed.
The Nature of Plasmonically Assisted Hot-Electron Transfer in a Donor–Bridge–Acceptor Complex

This work provides a mechanistic understanding of hot-electron-based catalysis on Au nanoparticles (NPs) induced under plasmonic excitation. Plasmon excitation-induced hot-electron transfer from an Au NP (donor) to a ferricyanide anion (acceptor) was studied as a function of the donor–acceptor distance set by a thiolate-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Hot-electron-transfer rates and activation barrier heights were measured as a function of the donor–acceptor distance, up to 20 A. Hot-electron transfer was found to be longer range than anticipated. The distance-dependent kinetics reveal that the hot-electron transfer takes place via multistep hopping in a “wire-like” manner across the insulating ligands, quite unlike the tunneling-dominated electron transfer known to take place across SAMs in the absence of plasmonic excitation. Field-assisted electron hopping may play a crucial role in hot-electron extraction and catalysis involving plasmon-excited NPs.
HPC on FPGA clouds: 3D FFTs and implications for molecular dynamics

The architecture of the Microsoft Catapult II cloud places the accelerator (FPGA) as a bump-in-the-wire on the way to the network and thus promises a dramatic reduction in latency as layers of hardware and software are avoided. We demonstrate this capability with an implementation of the 3D FFT. Next we examine phased application elasticity, i.e., the use of a reduced set of nodes for some phases of an HPC application. We find that, for the FFT phase within Molecular Dynamics, such contraction is beneficial with a 13%–14% performance improvement. Turning to MD, we show how this elasticity can be integrated into the existing data transformation to hide its communication overhead and increase the performance benefit to 16%–29%.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Oil Sequestration Properties of a Nonionic Rhamnolipid

A detailed molecular dynamics simulation study is presented on the behavior of aggregates composed of the nonionic monorhamnolipid α-rhamnopyranosyl-β-hydroxydecanoyl-β-hydroxydecanoate (Rha-C10-C10) and decane in bulk water. A graph theoretical approach was utilized to characterize the size and composition of the many aggregates generated in our simulations. Overall, we observe that the formation of oil in Rha-C10-C10 aggregates is a favorable process. Detailed analysis on the surfactant/oil aggregate shows that larger aggregates are stable. The shape and size of the aggregates are widely distributed, with the majority of the aggregates preferring ellipsoidal or cylindrical structures. Irrespective of the decane concentration in the system, we did not observe free decane in any of the simulations. Further insights into the binding energy of decane were carried out using free-energy perturbation calculations. The results showed that the trapped decane molecules provide stability to the Rha-C10-C10 aggregates of size N = 50 which are shown to be unstable in our previous study and allow for the growth of larger aggregates than pure Rha-C10-C10 in water. The density profile plots show that decane molecules encapsulated inside the aggregate preferred to remain closer to the center of mass. This study points to the feasibility of using this biosurfactant as an environmental remediation agent.
Downed by friendly fire: black girls, white girls, and suburban schooling

Anthropologist Signithia Fordham is probably best known for her collaborations with John Ogbu, and for the controversial “acting white” thesis she and Ogbu proposed as a partial explanation for the...
Multi-criteria techno-economic optimization of hybrid grid of nanogrids

The development of grid of nanogrids that is secure, resilient, sustainable, economical and affordable in an environmentally friendly manner has become a national priority. This paper presents a techno-economic optimal design of grid of nanogrids (GNG) with hybrid energy resources considering uncertainties in the resources and demand. The proposed techno-economic method uses non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to evaluate the benefit tradeoff of various designs, configurations, and operating modes for GNG. While GNG offer technological advantages, the practical engineering solution is to perform a comprehensive economic assessment of the technological merits. Thus, this paper explores the GNG configuration with higher energy availability and reliability while minimizing size and cost. In the optimization procedure, the benefits of load control and correlation in the distributed renewable energy resources across the GNG are considered to mitigate the requirement of a large energy storage system. The uncertainty in the resources and demand are characterized by a correlated auto-regressive moving average technique.
Does Epilepsy Cause a Reversion to Immature Function

Seizures have variable effects on brain. Numerous studies have examined the consequences of seizures, in light of the way that these may alter the susceptibility of the brain to seizures, promote epileptogenesis, or functionally alter brain leading to seizure-related comorbidities. In many –but not all- situations, seizures shift brain function towards a more immature state, promoting the birth of newborn neurons, altering the dendritic structure and neuronal connectivity, or changing neurotransmitter signaling towards more immature patterns. These effects depend upon many factors, including the seizure type, age of seizure occurrence, sex, and brain region studied. Here we discuss some of these findings proposing that these seizure-induced immature features do not simply represent rejuvenation of the brain but rather a de-synchronization of the homeostatic mechanisms that were in place to maintain normal physiology, which may contribute to epileptogenesis or the cognitive comorbidities.
Ecological Network Analysis, Environ Analysis

Environ analysis, based on network theory, is a methodology to quantify how objects interact with and depend on other objects in a system. The primary result from the method provides input and output ‘environs’. In addition, application of network environ analysis on empirical data sets and ecosystem models has revealed several important and unexpected results that have been identified and summarized in the literature as network environ properties. Data requirements for the analysis include the intercompartmental flows, compartmental storages, and boundary input and output flows. This article reviews the theoretical underpinning of the analysis and briefly introduces some the main properties such as indirect effects ratio, network homogenization, and network mutualism.
A randomized clinical trial using research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders-axis II to target clinic cases for a tailored self-care TMD treatment program.

Aims: To carry out a randomized clinical trial (RCT) contrasting usual conservative treatment of TMD by clinical TMD specialists with a structured self-care intervention, targeted to clinic cases independent of TMD physical diagnosis, who were reporting minimal levels of psychosocial dysfunction; the intervention was delivered by dental hygienists in lieu of usual treatment. Methods: The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) was used to target subjects who exhibited minimal TMD-related psychosocial interference. Criteria for study inclusion were: (1) self-report of facial and/or masticatory muscle pain discomfort for which usual care was prescribed by the clinic TMD specialist; (2) RDC/TMD Axis II graded scale of chronic pain (GCP) score of 0, I, or II-Low. (3) Age 18 to 70 years. Results: On 1-year follow-up, while both groups showed improvement in all clinical and self-report categories measured, patients in the tailored self-care treatment program compared to usual TMD treatment showed significantly: (a) decreased TMD pain, (b) decreased pain-related interference in activity; (c) reduced number of masticatory muscles painful; (d) fewer additional visits for TMD treatment. Groups were comparable with regard to measures of vertical range of motion. The self-care program was associated with consistent, but non-statistically significant, trends towards lower levels of depression and somatization. Ability to cope with TMD, knowledge concerning TMD and patient satisfaction was significantly enhanced for the self-care group. No participating patients experienced physical or personal adverse effects during the 1-year post-treatment follow-up period. Conclusion: Use of RDC/TMD psychosocial assessment criteria can contribute to successful clinical decision-making for the management of TMD.
The U.S. Constitution and the Global Trade of Human Rights

This short paper briefly was originally created for Constitution Day 2011. The paper describes the impact the U.S. Bill of Rights has had on other human rights instruments and how other nations and international human rights instruments have moved beyond the socio-political rights found in the Bill of Rights to include environmental and economic rights. The paper concludes by noting that the U.S. seems mostly unwilling to look beyond its borders to determine what "rights" means and how doing so could benefit U.S. citizens.
Analysis of Mating-Type Locus Organization and Synteny in Mushroom Fungi: Beyond Model Species

In this chapter genes that are in or near the MAT locus but do not function in determining mating-type specificity are referred to as non-mating-type MAT-linked genes. When trying to study the MAT genes of mushroom fungi other than Coprinopsis cinerea and Schizophyllum commune, there are three major obstacles. First, the loci are likely to be complex and may comprise several genes. Second, the loci display high sequence variation among MAT alleles and cannot be cloned by heterologous hybridization using probes from C. cinerea or S. commune. Finally, the absence of a transformation system in which to test the cloned fragments prevents definitive proof that an isolated DNA region carries MAT. The chapter focuses on how MAT genes may be cloned in nonmodel mushroom species. Although most of this chapter has focused on how conserved gene order can be used to clone MAT from nonmodel species, a more direct option is through PCR amplification of the MAT homologues themselves. The authors have targeted the few conserved amino acids of the homeodomain region (HD1) by degenerate PCR and isolated the entire HD1 gene from this species by genome walking using cassette-mediated PCR.
CD33 in Alzheimer's Disease - Biology, Pathogenesis, and Therapeutics: A Mini-Review.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects nearly 50 million people worldwide, and currently no disease-modifying treatment is available. With continuous failure of anti-amyloid-beta- or tau-based therapies, identification of new targets has become an urgent necessity for AD prevention and therapy. Recently, conventional genetic approaches and computational strategies have converged on immune-inflammatory pathways as key events in the pathogenesis of AD. A number of genes have been highly linked to the onset and development of late-onset sporadic AD, the most common form of AD. Strikingly, most of these genes are involved in microglial biology. Mutations and/or differential expression of microglial receptors such as TREM2, CD33, and CR3 have been strongly associated with an increased risk of developing AD. The mechanistic actions of these risk factors in AD etiology have been actively investigated since they were identified. Whether these genes can be targeted for a disease-modifying treatment is under hot debate. CD33 is one of the top-ranked AD risk genes identified by genome-wide association studies. This review summarizes the recently advanced biology of CD33 and its association with AD. It also provides insights from a drug discovery perspective into the druggability, therapeutic strategies, and challenges to target CD33 for treating this devastating disorder.
Emergent Management of Neck Trauma

Neck injuries are rare but carry significant morbidity and mortality. Airway injuries must be managed immediately and continued oxygenation and ventilation provided. The loss of a patent airway remains a significant cause of mortality, and clinicians must have a stepwise approach to these challenging cases. Esophageal injuries are difficult to predict and carry a high mortality when there is a delay to diagnosis. CT technology has advanced and should be performed in all stable patients with suspected aerodigestive injuries. Vascular injury should be suspected in patients with hard signs and evaluated further in patients with soft signs. CTA is becoming the imaging study of choice, especially for initial screening. Management of these injuries in the unstable patient should focus on hemostatic control. In stable patients, anticoagulation, endovascular repair, and open surgical techniques may be necessary to decrease the risk of stroke. Injuries to the cervical spine should be assumed in all trauma patients until CT imaging of bony structures is obtained. Institutional guidelines should be developed to maintain a consistent approach to the timing of cervical collar removal and when MRI is necessary to evaluate for ligamentous injury. This remains an area of some controversy. Ultimately, the goals of managing neck trauma are to maintain a patent airway, control hemorrhage, and avoid worsening any neurologic impact.
The Shifting Role of mRUE for Regulating Ecosystem Production

To create a comprehensive view of ecosystem resource use, we integrated parallel resource use efficiency observations into a multiple-resource use efficiency (mRUE) framework using a dynamic factor analysis model. Results from 56 site-years of eddy covariance data and mRUE factors for a site in the US Midwest show temporal dynamics and coherence (using Pearson’s R) among resources are associated with interannual variation in precipitation. Loading factors are derived from mRUE observations and quantify how strongly data are connected to the underlying ecosystem state. Water and light resource use loading factors are coherent at annual timescales (Pearson’s R of 0.86), whereas declining patterns of carbon use efficiency loading factors highlight the ecosystem’s trade-off between carbon uptake and respiration during the growing season. At annual and monthly timescales, influence decreases from ~ 85 to ~ 65% for loading factors for carbon use, while influence of light use loading factors peaks to ~ 60% at growing season timescales. Quantifying variation in ecosystem function provides novel insights into the temporal dynamics of changing importance of multiple resources to ecosystem function.
Efficient and Zero Net Energy-Ready Plug Loads

Author(s): Meier, Alan; Brown, Richard E; Gerber, Daniel; Khandekar, Aditya; Kloss, Margarita; Koyanagi, Hidemitsu; Liou, Richard; Rainer, Leo; SANDERS, Seth | Abstract: Plug loads are the devices plugged into common electrical outlets. Modern buildings contain hundreds of these devices which, together, are responsible for at least 25 percent of the energy use in California buildings. Energy consumed by plug loads is increasing because the “Internet of Things” is, to a great extent, the “Internet of Plug Loads.” This project developed technologies that will reduce the energy use of plug loads. Two crosscutting strategies were investigated in detail: (1) technologies to reduce standby power use to near zero, and (2) methods to increase the use of direct current (DC) as a power source. Two new approaches to reduce standby to near zero were developed and have potential applicability to a wide range of devices. Prototype DC appliances were developed to demonstrate energy savings by bypassing power supplies and avoiding other losses. Networks of DC-powered devices can save even more energy and provide other benefits, such as resiliency during power outages. A unique category of energy-using devices was identified that provide life safety, health, and security to building occupants. Their installation or use is dictated by building codes, health providers, insurance companies, and other entities—none of whom would ordinarily prioritize energy efficiency. In the case of ground fault circuit interrupts (GFCIs), savings of 80 percent appear possible, simply by adopting the most efficient designs. Home medical equipment, particularly oxygen concentrators, are a rising category of energy use where significant savings are possible. This report also reviews the codes, standards, and other policies that affect energy use of plug loads.
The coordination between digit forces is altered by anticipated changes in prehensile movement patterns

Stability is the ability of a system to maintain a desired static or dynamic motor pattern. Maneuverability, on the other hand, is the ability to transition between motor patterns, and it is antagonistic to stability. Animals frequently reduce the stability of an ongoing task to facilitate anticipated movement transitions. Such stability-maneuverability tradeoffs are observed in human locomotion. However, the notion applies to other behaviors and this paper reports the first study on the stability-maneuverability tradeoff in human prehension. We tested if the coordination between the digit forces during the manipulation of a hand-held object is altered in response to an expected change in the manipulation pattern. We focused on the coupling between the grip and the load force and between the opposing forces exerted by the thumb and the four fingers, and on the transition from rhythmic vertical oscillation to non-vertical oscillation of the object. The nature of these couplings depends on the oscillation direction. Therefore, the stability-maneuverability tradeoff predicts that an expected volitional change to the object's movement will diminish the strength of these couplings so that the force patterns generating the current movement can efficiently transition into new ones that generate the new movement. The strength of the grip-load coupling did not alter in tasks that required a change in movement compared to tasks that did not. We speculate that participants preferred safety over maneuverability and maintained the grip-load coupling strength to counter high inertial loads and avoid object slip. In contrast, the strength of the coupling between the thumb and the four fingers' opposing forces reduced in tasks that required a change in movement compared to tasks that did not. Thus, the stability-reduction aspect of the stability-maneuverability tradeoff occurs in prehensile behavior. Future work should focus on associating the reduction in stability with gains in maneuverability, and on developing a comprehensive account of this tradeoff in prehensile tasks.
SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Children in the Biospecimens from Respiratory Virus-Exposed Kids (BRAVE Kids) Study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Children with SARS-CoV-2 infection typically have mild symptoms that do not require medical attention, leaving a gap in our understanding of the spectrum of illnesses that the virus causes in children. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of children and adolescents ( RESULTS Of 382 children, 289 (76%) were SARS-CoV-2-infected. SARS-CoV-2-infected children were more likely to be Hispanic (p CONCLUSIONS Hispanic ethnicity and an infected sibling close contact are associated with increased SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among children, while a history of asthma is associated with decreased risk. Age-related differences in the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection must be considered when evaluating children for COVID-19 and in developing screening strategies for schools and childcare settings.
Maternal anxiety and depression in pregnancy and DNA methylation of the NR3C1 glucocorticoid receptor gene.

Aim: To quantify associations of anxiety and depression during pregnancy with differential cord blood DNA methylation of the glucorticoid receptor (NR3C1). Materials & methods: Pregnancy anxiety, trait anxiety and depressive symptoms were collected using the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Index and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, respectively. NR3C1 methylation was determined at four methylation sites. Results: DNA methylation of CpG 1 in the NR3C1 CpG island shore was higher in infants born to women with high pregnancy anxiety (β 2.54, 95% CI: 0.49-4.58) and trait anxiety (β 1.68, 95% CI: 0.14-3.22). No significant association was found between depressive symptoms and NR3C1 methylation. Conclusion: We found that maternal anxiety was associated with increased NR3C1 CpG island shore methylation.
Change in Renal Function and Its Impact on Survival in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Bridged to Heart Transplantation With a Left Ventricular Assist Device.

The study investigates the incidence of change in renal function and its impact on survival in renal dysfunction patients who were bridged to heart transplantation with a left ventricular assist device (BTT-LVAD). BTT-LVAD patients with greater than or equal to moderately reduced renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≤ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) at the time of listing between 2008 and 2018 were identified from a prospectively maintained database of the United Network for Organ Sharing. Patients with a baseline eGFR less than or equal to 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis were excluded. Patients were divided into three groups based on percent change ([Pretransplant eGFR - listing eGFR/listing glomerular filtration rate (GFR)] × 100) in eGFR: Improvement greater than or equal to 10%, no change, decline greater than or equal to 10%, and their operative outcomes were compared. Posttransplant survival was estimated and compared among the three groups with the Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to identify predictors of posttransplant survival. Out of 14,395 LVAD patients, 1,622 (11%) met the inclusion criteria. At the time of transplant, 900 (55%) had reported an improvement in eGFR greater than or equal to 10%, 436 (27%) had no change, and 286 (18%) experienced a decline greater than or equal to 10%. Postoperatively, the incidence of dialysis was higher in the decline than in the unchanged or improved groups (22% vs. 12% vs. 12%; p = 0.002). After a median follow-up of 5 years, there was no difference in posttransplant survival among the stratified groups (improved eGFR: 24.8%, unchanged eGFR: 23.2%, declined eGFR: 20.3%; p = 0.680). On Cox proportional hazard modeling, independent predictors of worse survival were: [hazard ratio: 95% CI; p] history of diabetes (1.43 [1.13-1.81]; p = 0.002) or tobacco use (1.40 [1.11-1.79]; p = 0.005) and ischemic time greater than 4 hours (1.36 [1.03-1.76]; p = 0.027). More than half of the patients with compromised renal function who undergo BTT-LVAD demonstrate an improvement in renal function at the time of transplant. A 10% change in GFR while listed was not associated with worse posttransplant survival.
Machine learning for the prediction of pathologic pneumatosis intestinalis

Abstract Background The radiographic finding of pneumatosis intestinalis can indicate a spectrum of underlying processes ranging from a benign finding to a life-threatening condition. Although radiographic pneumatosis intestinalis is relatively common, there is no validated clinical tool to guide surgical management. Methods Using a retrospective cohort of 300 pneumatosis intestinalis cases from a single institution, we developed 3 machine learning models for 2 clinical tasks: (1) the distinction of benign from pathologic pneumatosis intestinalis cases and (2) the determination of patients who would benefit from an operation. The 3 models are (1) an imaging model based on radiomic features extracted from computed tomography scans, (2) a clinical model based on clinical variables, and (3) a combination model using both the imaging and clinical variables. Results The combination model achieves an area under the curve of 0.91 (confidence interval: 0.87–0.94) for task I and an area under the curve of 0.84 (confidence interval: 0.79–0.88) for task II. The combination model significantly (P Conclusion This study suggests that combined radiographic and clinical features can identify pathologic pneumatosis intestinalis and aid in patient selection for surgery. This tool may better inform the surgical decision-making process for patients with pneumatosis intestinalis.
Extrapolation of Green's functions using the waveguide invariant theory

The broadband interference structure of sound propagation in a waveguide can be described by the waveguide invariant, β, that manifests itself as striations in the frequency-range plane. At any given range (r) there is a striation pattern in frequency (ω), which is the Fourier transform of multipath impulse response (or Green's function). Moving to a different range (r+Δr), the same pattern is retained but either stretched or shrunken in ω in proportion to Δr, according to Δω/ω=β(Δr/r). The waveguide invariant property allows a time-domain Green's function observed at one location, g(r,t), to be extrapolated into adjacent ranges with a simple analytic relation: g(r+Δr, t) ≈ g(r,α(t-Δr/c)) where α = 1+β(Δr/r) and c is the nominal sound speed of 1500 m/s. The relationship is verified in terms of range variation of the eigenray arrival times via simulations and using real data from a ship of opportunity radiating broadband noise (200–900 Hz) in a shallow-water environment, where the steep-angle arrivals contributing to the acoustic field have β ≈ 0.92.
Association between temperature exposure and cognition: a cross-sectional analysis of 20,687 aging adults in the United States.

Background Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects of extreme temperature-related events. A growing body of literature highlights the importance of the natural environment, including air pollution and sunlight, on cognitive health. However, the relationship between exposure to outdoor temperatures and cognitive functioning, and whether there exists any differences across climate region, remains largely unexplored. We address this gap by examining the temperature-cognition association, and whether there exists any variation across climate regions in a national cohort of aging adults. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we obtained data on temperature exposure based on geocoded residential location of participants in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. For each participant, this information was linked to their cognitive scores from Word List Learning and Recall tests to assess cognitive functioning. We used distributed lag non-linear models (dlnm) to model temperature effects over 2 days. Multivariable linear regression was used to compute temperature-cognitive functioning associations, adjusted for important covariates. Region-specific ("Dry", "Mediterranean/oceanic", "Tropical" and "Continental") associations were examined by including an interaction term between climate region and temperature. Results Amongst 20,687 individuals (mean age = 67.8; standard deviation = 9.2), exposure to region-specific extreme cold temperatures in the "dry" region (e.g., Arizona) over 2 days was associated with lower cognitive scores (Mean Difference [MD]: -0.76, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: - 1.45, - 0.07). Associations remained significant for cumulative effects of temperature over 2 days. Extremely cold exposure in the "Mediterranean/oceanic" region (e.g., California) over 2 days was also associated with significantly lower cognitive performance (MD: -0.25, 95% CI: - 0.47, - 0.04). No significant associations were observed for exposure to hot temperatures. Cognitive performance was slightly higher in late summer and fall compared to early summer. Conclusion We noted adverse cognitive associations with cold temperatures in traditionally warmer regions of the country and improved cognition in summer and early fall seasons. While we did not observe very large significant associations, this study deepens understanding of the impact of climate change on the cognitive health of aging adults and can inform clinical care and public health preparedness plans.
Excitation, emission, and synchronous fluorescence for astrochemical applications: Experiments and computer simulations of synchronous spectra of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their mixtures

Abstract Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy is a variation of the fluorescence technique for detection and characterization of many single ring aromatic organic molecules, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fluorescent amino acids among other molecules. To our knowledge this technique has not been used in space exploration. In order to demonstrate the utility of this technique for planetary and astrochemical applications, we present several laboratory experiments and computer simulations with pure samples and mixtures. Computer deconvolution of experimental excitation and emission fluorescence bands is presented and used to generate synchronous spectra. The computer simulation successfully predicts the number of synchronous fluorescence (SF) bands, band shapes, and band maximum wavelengths for any constant wavelength difference (Δλ). To test the simulation, emission, excitation, and synchronous spectra were obtained for anthracene in n-hexane. Excellent agreement is obtained reproducing and finding the origin of the experimental SF bands for values of Δλ between 2 and 100. The excitation, emission, and synchronous (Δλ = 10) spectra of toluene, aniline, naphthalene, acenaphthene, pyrene, and anthracene are obtained. Excitation of a mixture of the six compunds at three wavelengths (249, 266, and 355 nm) produce fluorescence emission spectra identifying some compounds. The synchronous spectrum (Δλ = 10) of the same mixture is presented and assigned based on the synchronous bands of the individual compounds. The synchronous fluorescence technique and the computer simulation method are proposed to complement other techniques in the analysis of fluorescent samples from comets, as well as in missions to planets and satellites of the solar system.
Experimental and Computational Investigations on Fixture Interference for BARC Systems

For most dynamical systems, there is much uncertainty for boundary conditions between experiments, simulations, and service environments. The Box Assembly with Removable Component attempts to investigate these uncertainties to provide a higher degree of certainty in replicating service environment fixtures. This study investigates the previous nonuniformities in the literature between numerical simulations and experimental testing for the dynamical system and fixture interface. The common experimental setup is to attach the system directly to the fixture, allowing for heavy contact between the system and the fixture that corrupts the results. In this work, the experimental results are carried out by adding a spacer between these contact points to provide tests that better match numerical simulations and show the mismatch for past studies in the literature.
Number Theoretic Applications of Polynomials with Rational Coefficients Defined by Extremality Conditions

It is well known that classes of polynomials in one variable defined by various extremality conditions play an extremely important role in complex analysis. Among these classes we find orthogonal polynomials (especially classical orthogonal polynomials expressed as hypergeometric polynomials) and polynomials least deviating from zero on a given continuum (Chebicheff polynomials). Orthogonal polynomials of the first and second kind appear as denominators and numerators of the Pade approximations to functions of classical analysis and satisfy familiar three-term linear recurrences. These polynomials were used repeatedly to study diophantine approximations of values of functions of classical analysis, especially exponential and logarithmic functions at rational points x = p/q [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. The methods of Pade approximation in diophantine approximations are quite powerful and convenient to use, since they replace the problem of rational approximations to numbers with the approximations of functions. There are, however, arithmetic restrictions on rational approximations to functions if they are to be used for diophantine approximations. The main restriction on polynomials here is to have rational integer coefficients or rational coefficients with a controllable denominator. Such arithmetic restrictions transform a typical problem of classical analysis into an unusual mixture of arithmetic and analytic difficulties. For example, recurrences defining orthogonal polynomials must be of a special type to guarantee that their solutions will have hounded denominators. In this paper we consider various classes of polynomials generated by imposing arithmetic restrictions on classical approximation theory problems (orthogonal or Chebicheff polynomials).
Dynamics of Intelligent Systems

Recent advances in nonlinear dynamics demonstrate a remarkable complexity ofpatterns outside of equilibrium, which are derived from simple basic laws ofphysics. A class of mathematical models has been identified providing a varietyof such patterns in the form of static, periodic, or chaotic attractors. These modelsappear to be so general that they predict not only physical, but also biological,economic, and social patterns of behavior. Such a phenomenological reductionismmay suggest that, on the dynamical level of description, there is no differencebetween a solar system, a swarm of insects, and a stock market. However, thisconclusion is wrong for a very simple reason: Even primitive living speciespossess additional non-Newtonian properties which are not included in the lawsof Newtonian or statistical mechanics. These properties follow from a privilegedability of living species to possess a self-image (a concept introduced inmathematical psychology). In this paper we consider the existence of aself-image as a postulate to be added to classical physics for modeling behavior ofliving systems. We show that self-image can be incorporated into the mathematicalformalism of a nonlinear dynamics which evolves in probability space. Wedemonstrate that one of the basic invariants of living systems is their ability topredict the future, which is associated with intelligence.
Retuning Gideon's Trumpet: Retelling the Story in the Context of Today's Criminal Justice Crisis

The Gideon Court recognized a truism: until we ensure that poor people have access to the same quality of counsel that people with means can pay for, we cannot have equal justice. But fifty years later, the promise of equal justice has not materialized. In so many ways, our criminal justice system is less fair; less equal; less humane. Since Gideon was decided, the U.S. imprisonment rate has nearly quadrupled, and the percentage of people charged with crimes who are poor has roughly doubled. As compared to 1963, poor people today are more likely to be arrested, convicted, and sentenced to lengthier prison terms than their wealthier counterparts.Given these depressing developments, some have questioned whether the right to counsel has made much of a difference for indigent defendants and whether it is even worth defending as a force to end the injustices of the system. This Essay takes a different view of the problem and argues that a strong public defender system is necessary to achieve systemic reform. This is so both because of the role the public defender plays in interrupting a process that is increasingly designed to convict and punish poor people en masse, and because of the potential of a strong community of public defenders to galvanize the movement needed to push for important policy reform.
Immunization of chickens with live Escherichia coli expressing Eimeria acervulina merozoite recombinant antigen induces partial protection against coccidiosis

Inoculation of chickens with live Escherichia coli N6405 transformants containing a plasmid which encodes ampicillin resistance and an immunodominant p250 surface antigen of Eimeria acervulina merozoites induced partial protection against challenge with live coccidia. The inoculation with E. coli transformants induced antigen-specific immunoglobulin and cell-mediated immune responses. Challenge with infective oocysts of Eimeria acervulina enhanced both immune parameters, indicating that administration of live E. coli transformants served to prime the immune system for recognition of specific epitopes on the 250-kilodalton protein. Although the mechanism of antigen presentation is unclear, the data suggest that in vivo expression of recombinant merozoite antigen is operative. After administration, no E. coli N6405 transformants could be recovered from intestinal or fecal materials of inoculated chickens, as assessed by enumeration on selective medium. However, ampicillin-resistant E. coli originating from the normal flora and harboring the gene sequences for both antibiotic resistance and Eimeria acervulina merozoite surface protein could be recovered from these chickens. Furthermore, normal-flora E. coli transformants were capable of generating functional beta-lactamase product, as evidenced by their resistance to ampicillin, and immunoreactive E. acervulina merozoite recombinant antigen, as revealed by immunofluorescence staining with p250-specific antiserum.
Varieties of contexts

We believe that a deeper understandingof the uses of contexts, in terms of its impact on knowledge representation structures, as reflected by a corpus of examples, is vital to the programme of formalizingcon texts in Artificial Intelligence. In this paper, we examine a number of examples from the literature from the perspective of identifying general usage patterns. We identify four important varieties of contexts -- Projection Contexts, Approximation Contexts, Ambiguity Contexts and Mental State Contexts. We define each type, describe sub-types, list benchmark examples of each sub-type, discuss their practical uses and the requirements they make of the underlyinglog ic. We pay particular attention to the problem of lifting, i.e., of using information obtained from one context in another and describe how these different varieties of contexts tend to require different kinds of liftingrules.
From the Jordan River to Lake Titicaca: Paintings of the Baptism of Christ in Colonial Andean Churches

The arts of the colonial Andes bear witness to a complex and contested story of evangelization that involved a variety of actors, including priests, artists, indigenous congregations, and confraternities. Sculptures of saints, sumptuous retablos (altarpieces), canvas paintings with elaborate gilded frames, and mural cycles devoted to a variety of biblical themes were employed in the religious instruction of indigenous communities, and as catalysts for sensorial modes of communication. The visual arts provided a tangible analogue to sermons and printed catechisms, offering parishioners a lens through which to envision the sacred. Adapted from European iconographic models and infused with local references and symbolism, religious art throughout the colonial Americas introduced new visual vocabularies to indigenous congregations, who quickly became conversant in these images of conversion.
Analysis of genitourinary anomalies in patients with VACTERL (Vertebral anomalies, Anal atresia, Cardiac malformations, Tracheo-Esophageal fistula, Renal anomalies, Limb abnormalities) association

The goal of this study was to describe a novel pattern of genitourinary (GU) anomalies in VACTERL association,which involves congenital anomalies affecting the vertebrae,anus, heart, trachea and esophagus, kidneys, and limbs.We collected clinical data on 105 patients diagnosed with VACTERL association and analyzed a subset of 89 patients who met more stringent inclusion criteria. Twenty-one percent of patients have GU anomalies, which are more severe (but not more frequent) in females. Anomalies were noted in patients without malformations affecting the renal, lower vertebral, or lower gastrointestinal systems. There should be a high index of suspicion for the presence of GU anomalies even in patients who do not have spatially similar malformations.
Preparation of zirconia fibers by directional solidification of ZrO2–Fe3O4 eutectic

Abstract Directionally solidified composites of the pseudobinary system ZrO2–Fe3O4 were grown by the floating zone method at solidification rates from 2.5 to 40 mm/h in an air atmosphere. The composite had a fibrous microstructure which contained ZrO2 fibers in a magnetite matrix. Monoclinic ZrO2 fibers were obtained by dissolving the matrix in a concentrated hydrochloric acid. The diameters of the fibers were about 0.5–2 μm, and their lengths were up to 100 μm.