cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Class of Monolithium Salts for PEO-Based Solid Polymer Electrolyte Systems

Lithium ion conducting polymer electrolytes have significant potential in the field of secondary lithium batteries, including display and sensor devices. We report here a new class of lithium sulfonimide salts for use in lithium-ion battery electrolytes. These salts, prepared by a two- to three- step synthetic strategy from inexpensive and readily available starting materials, were characterized by 1H-NMR, FTIR and elemental analysis. The thermal properties of the salts were determined by thermogravimetric analysis and showed stabilities up to 300oC. Earlier studies demonstrated that the ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolytes could be improved by use of a borate ester plasticizer. In order to optimize conductivity, solid polymer electrolyte films were prepared by incorporating this plasticizer with each of the new salts in a PEO matrix. We observed that the Li:O ratio of 1:20 exhibits maximum ionic conductivity (2.05x10-6 S/cm at 30oC for the salt ALT01). A trend of decreasing conductivity with increasing size of the anionic moiety was also noted. It was found that 1 g of plasticizer can be loaded in a film containing 1 g of PEO without deterioration of mechanical properties. An improved ionic conductivity of 3.82x10-5 S/cm at 30oC was observed. The films also exhibited good thermal and electrochemical stabilities. Glass transition temperature of the films were determined using differential scanning calorimetry.
Cranial radiation exposure during cerebral catheter angiography

Background Radiation exposure to patients and personnel remains a major concern in the practice of interventional radiology, with minimal literature available on exposure to the forehead and cranium. Objective In this study, we measured cranial radiation exposure to the patient, operating interventional neuroradiologist, and circulating nurse during neuroangiographic procedures. We also report the effectiveness of wearing a 0.5 mm lead equivalent cap as protection against radiation scatter. Design 24 consecutive adult interventional neuroradiology procedures (six interventional, 18 diagnostic) were prospectively studied for cranial radiation exposures in the patient and personnel. Data were collected using electronic detectors and thermoluminescent dosimeters. Results Mean fluoroscopy time for diagnostic and interventional procedures was 8.48 (SD 2.79) min and 26.80 (SD 6.57) min, respectively. Mean radiation exposure to the operator9s head was 0.08 mSv, as measured on the outside of the 0.5 mm lead equivalent protective headgear. This amounts to around 150 mSv/year, far exceeding the current deterministic threshold for the lens of the eye (ie, 20 mSv/year) in high volume centers performing up to five procedures a day. When compared with doses measured on the inside of the protective skullcap, there was a statistically significant reduction in the amount of radiation received by the operator9s skull. Conclusions Our study suggests that a modern neurointerventional suite is safe when equipped with proper protective shields and personal gear. However, cranial exposure is not completely eliminated with existing protective devices and the addition of a protective skullcap eliminates this exposure to both the operator and support staff.
Oxford Textbook of Vertigo and Imbalance (Book)

edited by Adolfo M. Bronstein, 400 pp., Oxford, 2013, $195 Dizziness and falls are ubiquitous and debilitating complaints that plague all ages but are particularly nocuous to the elderly. Most of us, however, tackle this problem with a perfunctory understanding of the underlying mechanisms, not due to any lack of enthusiasm but due to the labyrinthine nature of the multifarious systems that keep the habitually erect human from becoming unpleasantly well-acquainted with the terrain below.
Light‐Dependent Shift in Bullfrog Tadpole Magnetic Compass Orientation: Evidence for a Common Magnetoreception Mechanism in Anuran and Urodele Amphibians

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of a light-dependent magnetic compass in a urodele amphibian, the eastern red-spotted newt Notophthalmus viridescens, mediated by extraocular photoreceptors located in or near the pineal organ. Newts tested under long-wavelength (‡500 nm) light exhibited a 90� shift in the direction of orientation relative to newts tested under full spectrum (white) or short-wavelength light. Here we report that bullfrog tadpoles Rana catesbeiana (an anuran amphibian) exhibit a 90� shift in the direction of magnetic compass orientation under long-wavelength (‡500 nm) light similar to that observed in newts, suggesting that a common light-dependent mechanism mediates these responses. These findings suggest that a lightdependent magnetic compass may have been the ancestral state in this group of vertebrates.
Effects of vinclozolin, an anti-androgen, on affiliative behavior in the Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis

Abstract Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) produce changes in physiology and behavior via diverse mechanisms including acting as hormone mimics or antagonists, affecting intracellular signaling pathways, and altering hormone production pathways. The fungicide vinclozolin acts as an anti-androgen and is known to affect affiliative behaviors in rodents, fish and amphibians. To investigate the possible effects of exposure to EDCs on reproductive behavior in a wild population of songbirds, we examined the effects of vinclozolin in wild-caught Dark-eyed Juncos ( Junco hyemalis ). For this and many other temperate songbird species, testosterone has powerful activational effects on affiliative behaviors in adulthood. We hypothesized that vinclozolin would affect male behaviors associated with female preference. Male juncos received daily oral gavage for 10 weeks with 2 mM vinclozolin in vehicle or vehicle alone. Juncos were photostimulated (16L:8D) to induce breeding behavior. Each pair of a treated and non-treated male was presented to an estrogen-primed female to assess female preference. Seven of eight females exhibited a strong preference for a male exposed to vinclozolin over a control male ( p =0.01). The only significant difference in measured male behaviors was increased beak wiping in controls ( p =0.006) and there was no difference in gonad size or brain weight ( p >0.05 for each). Our data suggest that estrogen-primed female juncos prefer to associate with male juncos exposed to this anti-androgen. This finding demonstrates that environmentally occurring anti-androgens can affect the social behavior of this species. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that vinclozolin has effects on the social behavior of songbirds.
VimA-dependent modulation of the secretome in Porphyromonas gingivalis

Summary The VimA protein of Porphyromonas gingivalis is a multifunctional protein involved in cell surface biogenesis. To further determine if its acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) transfer and putative sorting functions can affect the secretome, its role in peptidoglycan biogenesis and effects on the extracellular proteins of P. gingivalis FLL92, a vimA-defective mutant, were evaluated. There were structural and compositional differences in the peptidoglycan of P. gingivalis FLL92 compared with the wild-type strain. Sixty-eight proteins were present only in the extracellular fraction of FLL92. Fifteen proteins present in the extracellular fraction of the parent strain were missing in the vimA-defective mutant. These proteins had protein sorting characteristics that included a C-terminal motif with a common consensus Gly-Gly–CTERM pattern and a polar tail consisting of aromatic amino acid residues. These observations suggest that the VimA protein is likely involved in peptidoglycan synthesis, and corroborates our previous report, which suggests a role in protein sorting.
Revised model of thermally stimulated current in MOS capacitors

It is shown analytically and experimentally that, when significant densities of positive and/or negative charge are trapped in the bulk of the oxide, standard thermally stimulated current (TSC) measurements at negative gate bias may not provide accurate estimates of MOS oxide-trap charge densities. Combining TSC measurements at negative bias with capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements allows useful, self-consistent estimates of trapped electron densities in the oxide to be obtained. However, unless one can determine whether most of the trapped electrons lie in the bulk of the oxide or in border traps, unambiguous estimates of trapped positive charge densities cannot be obtained with negative or positive bias TSC, with or without C-V measurements. Implications are discussed for charge trapping in radiation-hardened thermal oxides, SIMOX buried oxides, and bipolar base oxides.
Analysis of a quantum logic device based on dipole-dipole interactions of optically trapped Rydberg atoms

We present a detailed analysis and design of a neutral atom quantum logic device based on atoms in optical traps interacting via dipole-dipole coupling of Rydberg states. The dominant physical mechanisms leading to decoherence and loss of fidelity are enumerated. Our results support the feasibility of performing single- and two-qubit gates at MHz rates with decoherence probability and fidelity errors at the level of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ for each operation. Current limitations and possible approaches to further improvement of the device are discussed.
Collecting Vehicle-Speed Data by Using Time-Lapse Video Recording Equipment

An innovative application of time-lapse video recording is used to assist in an evaluation of a highway safety improvement. The improvement is an icy-curve warning system near Fredonyer Summit in northern California that activates real-time motorist warnings via extinguishable message signs, based on weather readings collected from road weather information systems. A measure of effectiveness is whether motorist speed is reduced as a result of real-time warnings to drivers. Why indirect speed measurement with video was preferred over radar for this case is discussed, as is how specific methodological issues related to the custom-built equipment, including camera location and orientation, distance benchmarking, and data collection and reduction. Theoretical and empirical accuracy measurements show that the video surveillance trailers yield results comparable to radar and, hence, would be applicable for studies in which speed change is measured. Because this particular technology had not been used previously...
Root cortical aerenchyma inhibits radial nutrient transport in maize (Zea mays)

†Background and Aims Formation of root cortical aerenchyma (RCA) can be induced by nutrient deficiency. In species adapted to aerobic soil conditions, this response is adaptive by reducing root maintenance requirements, thereby permitting greater soil exploration. One trade-off of RCA formation may be reduced radial transport of nutrients due to reduction in living cortical tissue. To test this hypothesis, radial nutrient transport in intact roots of maize (Zea mays) was investigated in two radiolabelling experiments employing genotypes with contrasting RCA. †Methods In the first experiment, time-course dynamics of phosphate loading into the xylem were measured from excised nodal roots that varied in RCA formation. In the second experiment, uptake of phosphate, calcium and sulphate was measured in seminal roots of intact young plants in which variation in RCA was induced by treatments altering ethylene action or genetic differences. †KeyResults In each of three paired genotype comparisons, the rate of phosphate exudation of high-RCA genotypes was significantly less than that of low-RCA genotypes. In the second experiment, radial nutrient transport of phosphate and calcium was negatively correlated with the extent of RCA for some genotypes. †Conclusions The results support the hypothesis that RCA can reduce radial transport of some nutrients in some genotypes, which could be an important trade-off of this trait.
Acrylic acid containing copolymers as reactive compatibilitzers for toughening nylon 6

Nylon 6 has been toughened by rubber particles that were dispersed within the matrix via additives that physically interact with the elastomer phase but chemically react with the polyamide phase. To disperse a core-shell impact modifier having a poly(methyl methacrylate) or PMMA shell, most of the work presented is based on the use of a styrene/acrylic acid copolymer containing 8 wt% acrylic acid, SAA8. SAA8 is miscible with PMMA and should located in the PMMA grafted chains of the impact modifier while chemically reacting with the nylon 6 matrix; hence, it should aid in both the dispersal and strenghtening the modifier-matrix interface. Microscopy and mechnical properties confirm that SAA8 does function in this way but less effectively than styrene/maleic anhydride copolymers, which are also miscible with PMMA but evidently react more effectively with the polyamides. The use of ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer for dispersal of the coreshell impact modifier and a styrene/ethylene-butene/styrene block copolymer in nylon 6 was also briefly considered. Low-temperature toughness of the blends proved to be a much more critical test of the effectiveness of such additives than room temperature impact strenght.
Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies to Anthrax Edema Factor Protect against Infection

Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, and the tripartite anthrax toxin is an essential element of its pathogenesis. Edema factor (EF), a potent adenylyl cyclase, is one of the toxin components. In this work, anti-EF monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were produced following immunization of mice, and four of the antibodies were fully characterized. MAb 3F2 has an affinity of 388 pM, was most effective for EF detection, and appears to be the first antibody reported to neutralize EF by binding to the catalytic C B domain. MAb 7F10 shows potent neutralization of edema toxin activity in vitro and in vivo; it targets the N-terminal protective antigen binding domain. The four MAb react with three different domains of edema factor, and all were able to detect purified edema factor in Western blot analysis. None of the four MAb cross-reacted with the lethal factor toxin component. Three of the four MAb protected mice in both a systemic edema toxin challenge model and a subcutaneous spore-induced foreleg edema model. A combination of three of the MAb also significantly delayed the time to death in a third subcutaneous spore challenge model. This appears to be the first direct evidence that monoclonal antibody-mediated neutralization of EF alone is sufficient to delay anthrax disease progression.
Morphological Evidence for a Central Branch of Trans-Himalayan (Sino-Tibetan)

The verb agreement systems of Jinghpaw, Meyor, Northern Naga, and Northeast, Northwest and Southern Kuki-Chin contain material which is demonstrably inherited from Proto-Trans-Himalayan. Here we discuss morphological evidence that these systems share a common ancestor more recent than PTH. There is strong evidence connecting Jinghpaw with both Northern Naga and Kuki-Chin, and weaker evidence directly linking Northern Naga and Kuki-Chin, and both of these with Meyor. This is evidence that all of these languages belong to a single branch of the family, an idea which has been suggested in the past but never argued for. Les systemes d’accord verbaux des langues jinghpaw, meyor, naga du nord, et kuki-chin incluent des formes dont on peut demontrer l’origine proto-trans-himalayenne. Cet article presente des preuves morphologiques qui demontrent que ces systemes descendent d’un paradigme ancestral plus recent que le proto-trans-himalayen. Les caracteristiques morphologiques communes entre jinghpaw et naga du nord sont tres claires, et l’on trouve egalement des liens rapprochant le naga du nord avec le kuki-chin, et ces deux groupes avec le meyor. On propose que toutes ces langues appartiennent a une branche unique de la famille trans-himalayenne, une idee qui a ete suggeree dans des publications anterieures mais jamais developpee de facon argumentee.
Investigation of hardware-in-loop simulation (HILS) for guidance system

Flight motion simulator (FMS) is a high-bandwidth angular motion system for the simulation of missile dynamics. This paper describes the initial laboratory integration of the hardware-in-loop Simulation (HILS) for homing guided missile system. HILS facilities and methodology form an integrated system for transforming a preliminary guidance and control system design to flight software and hardware from initial launching till impact. FMS will be driven by the output of deterministic simulations and will replicate the time history of the command signals. This paper describes the motivation, the servo system, mechanical, and electronic subsystems, and control software and algorithms. Moreover, the software user interfaces for the FMS. Six-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) flying body model is utilized in association with graphical user interface (GUI) for FMS.
APPARENT DEPTH THRESHOLD FOR THE BENUSSI EFFECT

Summary.-Using the single staircase psychophysical method, the apparent depth threshold for the Benussi effect was determined for 5 observers. The threshold occurred at an eccentricity of 2r/3, where r equals the radius of the larger circle expressed in millimeters. If two or more eccentric circles are drawn on a disc and the disc is then rotated, most observers report an experience of depth in the disc configuration. The experience is usually that of a truncated cone or a three-dimensional tube. This phenomenon has been referred to as the Benussi effect (vid. 4). It has also been shown that apparent depth increases as a function of the increasing eccentricity of the circles in the disc configuration (2, 3). Furthermore, Fischer (2) has indicated that the relationship between apparent depth and eccentricity is a linear function with apparent depth increasing up to an eccentricity equal to r, where r equals the radius of the larger circle. * Hence, the functional relationship between apparent depth and the eccentricity of two circles can be represented as follows: it is a line drawn from the point representing maximum apparent depth plotted against an eccentricity equal to r and then drawn to a point representing the threshold of apparent depth or the intercept of the function. It was the purpose of the current investigation to determine the latter value, the intercept, and to express it in terms of r, the larger circle's radius. Observers were 4 graduate students and a professor emeritus. In earlier work, it had been demonstrated that apparent depth was perceived when a computer-generated eccentric circle configuration was alternated rapidly and successively with its mirror image (1). In addition, this procedure yielded results consistent with other procedures in that an increase in apparent depth occurred with an increase in eccentricity of the circle (1). Therefore, in the current investigation, the threshold of apparent depth was to be determined by alternating, rapidly and successively, a concentric circle configuration with an eccentric circle configuration. Alternating an eccentric circle configuration with a concentric circle configuration seemed an appropriate strategy for determining an apparent depth threshold, since observers do not perceive depth when concentric circle configurations are rotated on a disc (2, 3).
Generation of field potentials and modulation of their dynamics through volume integration of cortical activity

Field potentials (FPs) recorded within the brain, often called “local field potentials” (LFPs), are useful measures of net synaptic activity in a neuronal ensemble. However, due to volume conductio...
Water economy of granivorous birds : a predictive model

A model has been devised by which to explore the efficiency of metabolic usage of seeds by granivorous birds in meeting simultaneously their water and enegy needs
Transactive Control of Commercial Buildings for Demand Response

Transactive control is a type of distributed control strategy that uses market mechanisms to engage self-interested responsive loads to achieve power balance in the electrical power grid. In this paper, we propose a transactive control approach of commercial building heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems for demand response. We first describe the system models, and identify their model parameters using data collected from systems engineering building (SEB) located on our Pacific Northwest National Laboratory campus. We next present a transactive control market structure for commercial building HVAC systems, and describe its agent bidding and market clearing strategies. Several case studies are performed in a simulation environment using building controls virtual test bed (BCVTB) and calibrated SEB EnergyPlus model. We show that the proposed transactive control approach is very effective at peak shaving, load shifting, and strategic conservation for commercial building HVAC systems.
When Brand Logos Describe the Environment: Design Instability and the Utility of Safety-Oriented Products

A core assumption underlying brand logo design is that inferences generated from a logo’s design are applied to the consideration target (e.g., product or brand) to which the logo is attached, and designs should therefore reflect the beliefs one wishes to promote about the target. The current work demonstrates an important case in which consideration targets are resistant to particular inferences, which leads such inferences to be applied instead to one’s environment. Specifically, when considering safety-oriented products, consumers exposed to unstable-looking brand logos infer the presence of unsafe conditions, and because safety-oriented products are resistant to inferences that they are unsafe, the inference is instead applied to the environment (i.e., “the environment is unsafe”). This process subsequently increases the perceived utility of safety-oriented products. Five experiments collectively demonstrate the core effect, uncover the underlying inferential mechanism, and demonstrate the crucial role of inference resistance in the process. Overall, the present findings suggest that in some cases, a logo design that is opposed to desired product or brand beliefs may ironically help in boosting demand.
An untethered mobile limb for modular in-space assembly

In-space assembly can enable new types of spacecraft and structures which are too large or fragile to be carried on a rocket in an assembled form, and robotic systems can make in-space assembly feasible and cost-effective. Such systems should be able to assemble large and complex structures while imposing minimal launch mass and mission risk. We propose an autonomous robotic limb, henceforth referred to as “Limbi,” which is self-mobile and symmetric. Two identical electromechanical docking mechanisms serve as end-effectors. With either end-effector anchored to a base structure, the other can grab modular elements and attach them to the growing structure. Power and computing are provided by the spacecraft through these docks, enabling Limbi to walk end-over-end across the structure without a battery or tether. We have constructed and tested a prototype system in a planar workspace that demonstrates the mobility and assembly capabilities of the proposed limb. We also introduce the concept of “Limboids,” consisting of multiple Limbi robots temporarily attached to each other to form more complex kinematic chains. The resulting configurations are application-specific and can be tailored to the degrees of freedom, range of motion, and general dexterity required by a particular task. Because Limbi and Limboids can assemble large and complex structures with minimal robotic complexity, the development of this class of robots is a critical step forward in low-risk and lightweight assembly.
Conclusion: Abled, Racialized, and Gendered Power in the Making of the Twentieth Century American State

It would be more comfortable if we could relegate abled, racialized, and gendered borders of belonging to history — here the history of America's long nineteenth century. We cannot. The founding assumptions that imagined legal personhood and, from it, citizenship and nation as able, white, and male in America's long nineteenth century fundamentally shaped the development of the American legal and constitutional order for the twentieth century and raise deeper questions regarding the relationship between borders of belonging, the liberal state, and modernity. The mobilization of law in defense of the able white male republic in the nineteenth century fostered a culture of identity politics that would define the twentieth century. This transformation began with the Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution in the wake of the Civil War. It is largely to white Southerners’ racial intransigence — embodied in such things as the enactment of Black Codes, the reelection of confederate leaders to Congress and state legislatures, and the savage repression of freedmen — that we owe the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. Even here, what might have been the real birth of a nation dedicated to the equality of all was hedged from its conception. Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment was carefully crafted to exclude from citizenship the vast majority of Native Americans. Fears of the budding women's rights movement led lawmakers to rephrase wording of the Thirteenth Amendment to avoid its application to other relationships of hierarchy, such as between man and wife, and to likewise limit the suffrage provision in Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment regarding denial of “male” suffrage.
The regulatory niche of intestinal stem cells

The niche constitutes a unique category of cells that support the microenvironment for the maintenance and self-renewal of stem cells. Intestinal stem cells reside at the base of the crypt, which contains adjacent epithelial cells, stromal cells and smooth muscle cells, and soluble and cell-associated growth and differentiation factors. We summarize here recent advances in our understanding of the crucial role of the niche in regulating stem cells. The stem cell niche maintains a balance among quiescence, proliferation and regeneration of intestinal stem cells after injury. Mesenchymal cells, Paneth cells, immune cells, endothelial cells and neural cells are important regulatory components that secrete niche ligands, growth factors and cytokines. Intestinal homeostasis is regulated by niche signalling pathways, specifically Wnt, bone morphogenetic protein, Notch and epidermal growth factor. These insights into the regulatory stem cell niche during homeostasis and post-injury regeneration offer the potential to accelerate development of therapies for intestine-related disorders.
Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region gene usage in human autoimmune diseases.

The variable regions of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains are assembled in pre-B cells by the somatic joining of genetic elements which, in the chromosome, are separated by thousands of base pairs. The repertoire of germline variable region genes represents the substrate upon which diversity is generated in the antibody system, since the recombination of one among different available VH, D, and JH, as well as VL and JL gene segments, provides each B lymphocyte with a unique immunoglobulin receptor molecule. Diversity is enhanced several orders of magnitude by the generation of junctional amino acids during the process of rearrangement and the combinatorial association of heavy and light chains. Somatic mutation and gene conversion are additional mechanisms which, working upon the already assembled antibody molecule, lead to a practically unlimited number of antibody specificities (reviewed in Reference 1).
Trapped Ventricle and Shunted Hydrocephalus

Occluded fourth ventricle (trapped ventricle) is reported in eight of 47 children (17%) receiving repeated shunt revisions for hydrocephalus at the Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL.
Radiotracer medical imaging technologies applied to environmental remediation systems

We demonstrate an alternate application of high-sensitivity radiotracer imaging technologies developed for nuclear medical imaging. There are several available radioisotopes, namely 51Cr and 99mTc, that are particularly appealing for studying environmental remediation techniques, notably for modeling toxic element runoff through the soil near former nuclear facilities such as the Hanford reactors in Washington state (USA). 52Cr (stable) and 99Tc (2.3×106 year half-life) are important reactor-generated contaminants that have entered the groundwater. There are numerous studies being conducted to model transport of these compounds in different types of soil such as sand, clay, dirt and gravel. The speed and character of contaminant transport through medium depends on chemical composition of the particles, chemical composition of water, physical properties of the medium (particle size, homogeneity, temperature) and on content of different types of microorganisms. Measurements are typically performed by flowing water containing 52Cr or 99Tc through sediment columns (tubes a few cm in diameter and 0.5-1 meter long) and monitoring the in-and out- flows of contaminants. We will support the effort to develop different methods of reducing the contaminant transport speed by using SPECT imaging to study transport of the singlephoton emitting surrogates 51Cr and 99mTc. By quantitatively imaging the contaminant distribution in the sediment column as a function of time, a much richer set of data can be obtained. We will compare contaminant transport in various media under different conditions including standard diffusion and flow at different speeds and volumes. Experimental work will be supplemented with theoretical analysis and modeling of transport processes, including studies of diffusion and chemical exchange using a standard multi-compartment model. In this conference record, we present the results of two studies of technetium 99m transport in hydrated sand, including both planar and tomographic SPECT images of the columns acquired at different conditions.
A case report describing diverticulosis of the appendix presenting as acute appendicitis.

Introduction Diverticulosis of the appendix (DA) is a rare clinical finding which is often confused with acute or chronic appendicitis and is usually only identified during or after appendectomy. The symptoms of DA can last for up to two weeks and laboratory studies tend to reflect a more chronic inflammation. Distinguishing the two entities is important as DA has a higher risk for perforation and may be associated with an underlying malignancy.
Photographs of the “Dust of the Highway”: Georgiana Goddard King’s Way of Saint James

This article explores the use of photography in American art historian Georgiana Goddard King’s Way of Saint James (1920), a genre-defying book on the Camino de Santiago that intertwines art history with anthropology, literature, history, geography, and narrative. Despite King's groundbreaking scholarship on medieval Spain her legacy has been overshadowed by subsequent art historians, chief among them Arthur Kingsley Porter. Here, it is suggested that King’s emphasis on personal experiences of the pilgrimage—both historical and contemporary—diminished the value of her work, especially when compared with Porter’s supposedly ‘objective,’ ‘scientific’ studies. These methodological differences, visually manifest in King and Porter’s respective approaches to photographic evidence, have implications for medieval, historiographic, and feminist art historical inquiries.
251. Defining Conserved Structural Components of the AAV Capsid That Enable Tissue-Specific Transduction Following Systemic Administration

We have previously correlated the destabilization of hydrogen bond networks within recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) capsid surface loop variable region 1 (VR1) to transduction efficiency following intramuscular injection. To investigate the utility of this finding for systemic applications, the capsid structures of rAAV serotypes 1 through 9 were computationally analyzed and VR1 residues participating in hydrogen bonding were individually deleted. Mutant capsids were assessed for tissue tropism and transduction efficiency following intravenous administration into mice. Ex vivo luciferase assays revealed increased muscle transduction and targeting in five of the nine serotypes (rAAV1, rAAV6, rAAV7, rAAV8, rAAV9); cardiac and skeletal muscle transduction were enhanced by up to 170-fold and 9027-fold over parental serotypes, while hepatic transduction was decreased up to 427-fold. VR1 stability also appeared critical to the remaining serotypes, as VR1 deletion mutations rendered rAAV2 and rAAV3b defective in transduction, and rAAV4 and rAAV5 defective in virion production. Intriguingly, amino acid insertions into VR1 produced an opposing phenotype: rAAV1, rAAV2, rAAV3b, and rAAV6 capsids could instead be targeted to transduce the liver with high efficiency, increasing hepatic transduction up to 132-fold. Finally, VR1 mutation synergized with established tyrosine-to-phenylalanine mutations to further increase transduction efficiency while maintaining preferential cardiac/skeletal muscle targeting.
Complication of percutaneous gastrostomy tube placement

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the preferred method for administration of long-term enteral nutrition. However, due largely to the high acuity of the underlying disease among patients who receive PEG tubes, this procedure can be associated with a number of serious complications. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Medical knowledge, Patient care. Republished with permission from: Cite as: Stawicki SP. Complication of Percutaneous Gastrostomy Tubes. OPUS 12 Scientist 2008;2(4):5.
Waagen und Wägung

In der folgenden Darstellung wird in dem Teil, der sich mit den Prazisionshebelwaagen beschaftigt, hauptsachlich der Gebrauch dieser Instrumente fur Prazisionswagungen berucksichtigt. Die Ausfuhrungen gelten dabei fur Waagen von hoher Tragkraft ebenso wie fur Analysenwaagen, mikrochemische Waagen und Probierwaagen. Bei der Wahl von Definitionen wurde versucht, jene zu treffen, die die besten Aussichten fur allgemeine Annahme bieten.
Neurological outcomes of patients with history of obstructive sleep apnea after a cardiac arrest

Abstract Background Cardiac arrest survivors may have disabilities due to hypoxic brain injury. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are exposed to intermittent hypoxemia that may lead to ischemic preconditioning. We have hypothesized that patients with obstructive sleep apnea have better neurological outcomes following a cardiac arrest due to preconditioning of the brain. Methods We retrospectively analyzed all the survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest from January 2006 to September 2016. Patients with confirmed or suspected obstructive sleep apnea were selected for further analysis and those without were used as comparison. Primary outcome was neurological functionality on hospital discharge by the Cerebral Performance Category. Results A total of 739 patients had cardiac arrest within the study period. The immediate mortality rate was 59% (N = 43) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and 94% (N = 623) in those without (p Conclusion Patients with obstructive sleep apnea had better unadjusted survival rates, and favorable adjusted neurological outcomes at discharge compared to those without obstructive sleep apnea. These results suggest that obstructive sleep apnea patients may tolerate better acute brain ischemia due to preconditioning.
Implementing a Multidisciplinary Tumor Board in the Community Practice Setting.

Multidisciplinary tumor boards are an opportunity for radiologists to demonstrate value to referring clinicians, the hospital, and patients. Multidisciplinary tumor boards are commonly utilized in academic institutions, but may not be readily available in community practice. We discuss strategies academic radiologists may employ to assist in the implementation of a multidisciplinary tumor board in the community practice setting. Summary: Strategies to assist in the implementation of a multidisciplinary tumor board in the community practice setting are described.
The Paradox of the Missing Biological Function in Understanding: Implications for Moral and General Education

This essay argues that the endemic moral crisis and the crisis of confidence in education are related; and both are a function, in part, of a paradoxical divide between two types of human understanding: psychological and biofunctional. In the psychological realm, people cause understanding using the psychological theories they know. Biofunctionally, understanding is caught by the understander, by analogy to catching a cold, caused by an unknown biological function, without the understander (a) having direct access to the cause, (b) knowing what the cause is, and (c) realizing how the cause works. This paradox introduces a divide between people’s psychological and biofunctional types of understanding. Unwarily, people tend to overlook this divide thereby compromising their full understanding potential. In this essay, I elaborate on the nature of this paradox, the awesome divide that it causes, and its implications for moral and general education.
Out on Campus: Sexual Orientation and Academic Climate in a University Context

Although lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) students often “come out” in university settings, empirical studies have demonstrated that these environments are often hostile toward them. The current paper posits that such hostile contexts adversely affect their educational experiences. Results from a survey of a stratified random sample of 1,927 undergraduate and graduate students on a scale measuring perceptions of academic climate (General Campus Climate) supported this claim: LGB students had more negative perceptions of a variety of campus factors. In addition, a scale measuring perceptions of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Campus Climate found that LGB students were more likely than heterosexuals to perceive the campus as inhospitable to LGB people. Women and racial and ethnic minorities were also more likely to rate the LGB climate as hostile. Finally, data from two scales measuring attitudes believed to influence these perceptions yielded gender, racial/ethnic, religious, and sexual orientation differences in theoretically meaningful directions. Results indicate that LGB students often experience the university in more negative ways than heterosexual students, and that certain campus communities— particularly women and racial/ethnic minorities—are more aware of this negativity and contribute to it less because of their relatively more progay attitudes. Implications for how to improve LGB students' experiences are discussed.
Translation and Evaluation of a Lung Cancer, Palliative Care Intervention for Community Practice.

Abstract Context A notable gap in the evidence base for palliative care (PC) for cancer is that most trials were conducted in specialized centers with limited translation and further evaluation in “real-world” settings. Health systems are desperate for guidance on effective, scalable models. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a nurse-led PC intervention for patients with non–small-cell lung cancer and their family caregivers (FCGs) in a community-based setting. Methods Two-group, sequential, quasi-experimental design with Phase 1 (usual care [UC]) followed by Phase 2 (intervention) was conducted at three Kaiser Permanente Southern California sites. Participants included patients with Stage 2–4 non–small-cell lung cancer and their FCG. Standard measures of quality of life (QOL) included Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spirituality Subscale, City of Hope Family QOL; other outcomes were distress, health care utilization, caregiver preparedness, and burden. Results Patients in the intervention cohort had significant improvements in three (physical, emotional, and functional well-being) of the five QOL domains at one month that were sustained through three month compared to UC (P Conclusion Our findings suggest that a research-based PC intervention can be successfully adapted to community settings to achieve similar, if not better, QOL outcomes for patients and FCGs compared to UC. Nonetheless, additional modifications to ensure consistent referrals to PC and streamlining routine assessments and patient/FCG education are needed to sustain and disseminate the PC intervention.
MARKER-HF (Machine Learning Assessment of RisK and EaRly mortality inHeart Failure): Development and Validation of a Novel Model MARKER-HF (Machine Learning Assessment of RisK and EaRly mortality inHeart Failure): Development and Validation of a Novel Model that AccuratelyIdentifies High Risk Heart Failure Patientsthat AccuratelyIdentifies High Risk Heart Failure Patients

Introduction The prevalence, costs and mortality associated with heart failure (HF) continue to rise in the United States. Identifying patients at highest risk for mortality is critical to ensure that appropriate resources can be deployed to those in greatest need. This is particularly true for patients with end-stage HF, as the gold standard therapy, heart transplant, requires significant expense and extremely limited resources. Although numerous risk prediction tools have been developed to predict mortality in HF patients, they have not achieved widespread clinical use. Some are difficult to deploy as they have many inputs which are not readily available. Most previous HF prediction tools were derived using statistical analysis methods and do not capture prognostic information in large data sets that contain multi-dimensional interactions as well as non-parametric analysis methods like machine learning (ML). Conversely, ML has long been used by other fields, including high energy physics, to discriminate between signal and background. We hypothesized that ML could be used to predict mortality in HF patients. Methods We designed MARKER-HF, Machine learning Assessment of RisK and EaRly mortality in Heart Failure, a novel model for HF mortality that discriminates between those with very high risk (signal) and very low risk of death (background). The eight variables needed to calculate our score are routinely collected in HF patients and are readily available for extraction through electronic medical record (EMR) queries. To test and validate the score, we extracted de-identified data from a retrospective cohort of 14,589 patients diagnosed with HF at the UC San Diego Health System since 2006. Results MARKER-HF achieved an AUC of 0.88 (95% Confidence Interval 0.85–0.90) in the separation of low and high-risk patients in the validation cohort. In patients who died after 90 days (intermediate-risk), increasing MARKER-HF scores were associated with decreasing time to mortality (Spearman rank correlation –0.22, p Conclusion MARKER-HF, derived using ML, is an accurate tool that discriminates between HF patients at high and low risk of mortality. Its ease of use and technical soundness greatly increase its potential for widespread adoption in guiding timely and targeted interventions, such as transplant or palliation, in HF patients. These results further support the potential of EMR-based ML analysis in medical practice.
Digestif: Promoting Science Communication in Online Experiments

Online experiments allow researchers to collect data from large, demographically diverse global populations. Unlike in-lab studies, however, online experiments often fail to inform participants about the research to which they contribute. This paper is the first to investigate barriers that prevent researchers from providing such science communication in online experiments. We found that the main obstacles preventing researchers from including such information are assumptions about participant disinterest, limited time, concerns about losing anonymity, and concerns about experimental bias. Researchers also noted the dearth of tools to help them close the information loop with their study participants. Based on these findings, we formulated design requirements and implemented Digestif, a new web-based tool that supports researchers in providing their participants with science communication pages. Our evaluation shows that Digestif's scaffolding, examples, and nudges to focus on participants make researchers more aware of their participants' curiosity about research and more likely to disclose pertinent research information.
Just Say ‘No’: Obligations to Voice Disagreement

It is uncontroversial that we sometimes have moral obligations to voice our disagreements, when, for example, the stakes are high and a wrong course of action will be pursued. But might we sometimes also have epistemic obligations to voice disagreements? In this paper, I will argue that we sometimes do. In other words, sometimes, to be behaving as we ought, qua epistemic agents, we must not only disagree with an interlocutor who has voiced some disagreed-with content but must also testify to this disagreement. This is surprising given that norms on testimony are generally taken to be permissive, and epistemic obligations are usually taken to be negative. In this paper I will discuss some occasions in which epistemic obligations to testify may arise, and I will attempt to investigate the nature of these obligations. I'll briefly discuss the relationship between epistemic and moral norms. I'll offer an account of what it takes to discharge epistemic obligations to testify. Finally, I'll look at some accounts of epistemic obligation that might explain these obligations.
How to Generate Robust Keys from Noisy DRAMs

Security primitives based on Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) can provide cost-efficient and practical security solutions, especially for resource-constrained devices, such as hardware used in the Internet of Things (IoT), as DRAMs are an intrinsic part of most contemporary computer systems [1]. Over the past few years, DRAM-based physical unclonable functions became very popular among researchers in this field. However, similar to other types of PUFs, DRAM PUF reliability for authentication and key generation is highly dependent on its resistance against the environmental noises such as Temperature variation, Voltage variations, and Device aging. This paper addresses the challenges related to the reliability and robustness of DRAM PUFs under noisy environments. In this paper we apply a new approach (Quantization) that extracts keys from DRAM startup values with a high reliability and stability rate. This quantization technique identifies suitable features from power-up values of DRAM memories and quantize them into binary bits using tunable parameters that control and predict the environmental noises. Our experimental result shows a high reliability and min-entropy rate for relatively large number of DRAM key bits.