cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship of Fe2+ concentration in solution and current efficiency in electrodeposition of CoFe films

Abstract Our published work on stress evolution in CoFe films [Electrochim. Acta 55 (2010) 9035], indicated that adsorption/desorption of hydrogen is a primary cause of tensile stress which increases with the increase of Fe-content in deposit and decrease of current efficiency, i.e. higher supply of protons to the electrode surface. Using the electroanalytical techniques in this study it has been demonstrated that a higher supply of protons to the electrode surface with increase of Fe 2+ concentrations in solution brings about higher Fe-content in deposit and lower current efficiency. First, it was found that the reduction rate of H + from the solution is faster on CoFe surface with higher Fe-content in CoFe deposit. Second, it was found that higher concentrations of Fe 2+ in solution bring about higher surface concentration of H + through the Fe 2+ hydrolysis reaction, i.e. Fe 2+ + HOH = FeOH + + H + . The proton liberated through hydrolysis reaction is reduced as soon as it is formed, together with other electroactive species.
The changing environment of a desert boomtown

Abstract World population growth has prompted the exploration and habitation of geographical regions previously considered undesirable or unsuitable for human comfort. The impact of humans and their civilization on desert regions, where water and vegetation are scarce, is not well understood. The high plain desert of the southwestern United States in the fastest growing region of the nation. Historically, the desert atmosphere was distinguised by extraordinary visibility and negligible particle and chemical pollution. Unfortunately, visitors and residents of the region have perceived a decline in the air quality during a 15–20-year period which corresponds to a rapid influx of population and the development of isolated urban areas. This study attempts to assess the relative impacts of demography, meteorology and air chemistry on the air quality of a rapidly growing, small city located in the Mohave Valley on the Nevada/Arizona border. Statistically significant trends were identified in the local meteorology and air quality over a 10-year period. Temperature and relative humidity values were observed to increase at the urban site. Increases were also noted in the concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSP) and the oxides of nitrogen. Observations at the urban site were compared with similar measurements at nearby non-urban sites and with the results of studies at two larger cities in the desert southwest, Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. Conclusions based on the combined analyses indicate that the desert environment has been strongly influenced in the immediate urban area and that the changes are due primarily to demographic influences. Changes in urban air quallity observed in the Mohave Valley were more pronounced and were apparent over a shorter period of time than air quality changes observed elsewhere in the southwest.
Blood Pressure Reactivity Does Not Correlate with Baseline Blood Pressure or Blood Pressure Change over Time in Preschool Children

Few studies have examined the relation of blood pressure reactivity to subsequent change in blood pressure of preschool children. The authors investigated relations between measurement-induced reactivity, exercise reactivity, and change in blood pressure over 16 months among 140 preschool children (46-67 months of age at baseline, 50.7% female, 92.9% Hispanic). Within-session measurement-induced reactivity was defined as the change in blood pressure between the first and the mean of the fourth and fifth readings obtained at each of 11 sessions. Between-session measurement-induced reactivity was defined as the change between mean blood pressure at session 1 and the mean of sessions 2 and 3. Both indices of measurement reactivity displayed poor reproducibility. Exercise reactivity was measured using a treadmill on two occasions and was moderately reproducible. There was no association between measurement and exercise reactivity. The change in systolic blood pressure over time was not associated with any measure of reactivity. The mean diastolic blood pressure did not change over the study period. Neither blood pressure reactivity to measurement nor blood pressure reactivity to exercise appeared to be a useful predictor of change in blood pressure in preschool children during a 16-month period.
The Buckling of Circular Cylindrical Shells Under Purely Random External Pressures

Summary The mean-square stability theory of Samuels and Eringen is applied to the stability of circular cylindrical shells subjected to purely random external pressures. It is found that stability is determined bjr the character of the roots of a determinantal equa­ tion of the 36th degree. Nyquist's method of determining sta­ bility is applicable to this determinantal equation in numerical examples. Explicit mean-square stability criteria are developed for a circular ring under purely random pressures. The study showed that all modes of vibration of the ring are unstable for sufficiently large spectral density of the pressure fluctuations.
Enhanced performance of offset-gain high-barrier vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The temperature dependence and power output of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are addressed. The peak wavelength of the quantum well has been offset from the wavelength of the device cavity mode so that they are aligned at elevated temperatures. The result of this design change is to produce an 8- mu m-diameter VCSEL capable of operation to 145 degrees C, as well as CW operation of broad-area (70- mu m diameter) heat-sunk devices to record power levels. Fiber coupling experiments were also carried out, and a record 33-mW CW power was coupled to a multimode fiber. >
Travelling-wave photodetectors with 172-GHz bandwidth and 76-GHz bandwidth-efficiency product

Results of the first fabrication and measurement of travelling-wave photodetectors are reported. The devices have bandwidths as high as 172 GHz, the highest reported for a p-i-n photodetector, and bandwidth-efficiency products as large as 76 GHz, the largest reported for any photodetector without gain. Comparisons with vertically illuminated and waveguide photodetectors fabricated on the same wafer establish the superior performance of travelling-wave photodetectors. Microwave loss on the travelling-wave photodetector structure is identified as a bandwidth limitation. >
Development of a Scale to Assess the Appropriateness of Curricula Materials for Diverse Populations

Abstract As America's public school population becomes more diverse, selecting culturally appropriate instructional materials becomes increasingly important. Though several existing scales assess the quality of curricula materials, most do not consider cultural relevance. The Curricula Appropriateness Scale (CAS) was designed to determine the appropriateness of curriculum materials for diverse populations. The final CAS contains six statements with a 4-point, Likert-type scale response option ranging from 1=strongly disagree to 4=strongly agree for each item. Item selection was based on a review of the professional literature and existing instruments. A local panel of experts (n=10) examined a draft version of the scale for content validity. Based on the panelists' comments, the scale was revised and piloted with 27 undergraduates enrolled in an elementary school health course. A national panel of experts (n=5) then examined the scale for content validity. Feedback from the national panel was used to revi...
Computing Market Equilibria with Price Regulations Using Mathematical Programming

One approach to modeling and solving for economic equilibria relies on mathematical programming. These models solve for competitive equilibria. However, policy analysis often requires measuring the impacts of government price regulations that differ from the competitive equilibrium. In this paper we provide a unified framework for computing market equilibrium in mathematical programming models in the presence of government price regulations. The iterative procedure that we use is essentially a Gauss-Seidel algorithmic strategy. The paper concludes by showing how to represent tax/rebate programs, average-cost pricing, and price ceilings.
Is High and Growing Spending on Cancer Treatment and Prevention Harmful to the United States Economy

I have been asked to offer some thoughts on the question of whether the economic consequences of current levels and rates of growth in spending on cancer treatment and prevention pose a problem for the US economy. I will interpret “pose a problem” as doing harm to the economy and the people who live, work, and consume in that economy; even this refinement will still require some discussion of what we might mean by “harm,” and, for that matter, what we might mean by “the US economy.” I offer two propositions, one certain and the other tentative. The certain proposition is this: No one can prove that cancer spending harms the economy. The tentative proposition must be tentative because data are incomplete (and sometimes nearly nonexistent) and concepts are vague, but here it is: current levels of spending and growth in spending probably benefit the economy, but the benefit may well be modest.
Clinical Research: Together, Stronger, Bolder

Clinical inquiry is the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating practice, providing informed practice based on best-available data, and innovating practice though research. It is about noticing subtle differences at the bedside and asking "what if" questions. Critically ill patients and their families require care that is based on our best-available evidence. In the quantitative research paradigm, the highest level of evidence is derived from randomized controlled clinical trials. Currently, few adequately powered clinical trials support our practice, but this is changing. In critical care, clinical research should be conducted in the same manner as we practice, collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. Our core value of the primacy of patient and family, our spirit of inquiry, and our passion for innovation centers our practice. During this year's Distinguished Research Lecture, Martha Curley describes how together, we can build stronger, bolder clinical research.
Terahertz detection sensitivity enhancement by using plasmonic contact electrode gratings

A novel photoconductive terahertz detector based on plasmonic contact electrode gratings is presented, which provides significantly higher detection sensitivities compared to conventional photoconductive terahertz detectors. Terahertz detection sensitivity enhancement is the result of reducing the average transport path of photo-generated carriers to the plasmonic contact electrodes, making it possible to generate higher output photocurrents under the same terahertz and pump power levels. We experimentally demonstrate a plasmonic photoconductive detector, which offers more than 30 times higher terahertz detection sensitivities compared to a comparable conventional photoconductive detector without plasmonic contact electrodes over 0.1-1.5 THz frequency range and under the same operation conditions.
Endocrine response to acute stress in pigs with differing backtest scores

Abstract In an attempt to quantify a pig's behavioral reaction to stress, pigs in previous studies were subjected to a backtest. Pigs scoring high on the backtest were thought to have a greater reaction to stress than those scoring lower on the test. To further understand this reaction eighty-eight gilts from 19 L were tested twice using the backtest. Gilts with the greatest (n = 15, High) and least (n = 15, Low) total time struggling were then selected for acute stress challenges. Pigs, in two replicates, were fitted with jugular cannulas at approximately 150 d of age. An acclimation time of 24 h was given between cannulation, testing and between tests. Blood samples were collected at 10 time points (− 60, − 30, 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 m relative to the application of the stressor). Pigs were challenged with 0.11 mol/kg BW of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) (n = 9 High, n = 9 Low) injected through the cannula to test the proposed model. The first stressor was snaring the pig with a nose-snare for 1 min (n = 10 High, n = 9 Low). The second stressor was depriving the pigs of feed for 24 h followed by placing feed next to the pig but out of reach (n = 6 High, n = 7 Low). Plasma samples were assayed for cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Data were analyzed using a model including fixed effects of time, replicate, and group (High or Low) and all two-way interactions. In response to the CRH challenge, cortisol levels peaked at 10 m and returned to basal levels by 90 m. Least squares means response in norepinephrine of the High exceeded Low at 5 m by 376 ± 99 pg/mL. Cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine response to snaring was similar. Cortisol peaked at 10 m and epinephrine and norepinephrine at 5 m. The response to feed deprivation failed to exceed basal levels. Response to the CRH challenge demonstrated the appropriateness of the model and that High and Low pigs were equally capable of responding. The biological significance of differences between High and Low groups in norepinephrine levels at 5 m following snaring is unknown.
Synthesis of Oximidine II by a Copper‐Mediated Reductive Ene–Yne Macrocyclization

An intramolecular copper-mediated reductive Castro-Stephens reaction furnished a key macrocyclic triene intermediate for the total synthesis of oximidine II. Herein we describe the total synthesis of the natural product as well as studies to deduce the mechanism of this unprecedented reaction.
Imaging phonological similarity effects on verbal working memory

Studies of verbal working memory (VWM) report that performance declines as the phonemic similarity of stimuli increases. To determine how phonological similarity affects brain function during VWM, "standard" and "similarity" versions of the 2-Back task were presented to 34 healthy participants during functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI). Letter consonants presented during similarity blocks rhymed, while consonants did not rhyme during standard blocks. Empirical ROIs were identified from significant 2-Back-related activity observed during either condition. A priori ROIs were selected from functional neuroimaging literature on phonological processing. Although VWM-related activity was not modulated by similarity in any of four regions recruited (dorsolateral prefrontal, posterior parietal, anterior insular, and supplementary motor cortices), four of five regions of deactivation exhibited significantly greater deactivation during the similarity compared to the standard condition (posterior cingulate, paracentral lobule, posterior insula, and parahippocampal gyrus). In a priori phonological processing-related ROIs, similarity did not affect observed increases in activity (supplementary motor area, Broca's area, and cerebellum), while two of the three regions exhibiting decreased activity (near Wernicke's area and Heschel's Gyrus) also exhibited more deactivation during similarity. Accuracy was lower during the similarity 2-Back, positively related to activity within recruited VWM-related ROIs, and inversely related to activity in regions of VWM-related deactivation. Based on known functions of these ROIs, we conclude that language, audition, and self-reflection processes may disengage during phonological interference, while activity levels are maintained in regions recruited during VWM processing. Similarity effects likely include suspension of attention to unrelated and distracting processes to improve concentration.
The metabolism of ethanol to carbon dioxide by stomach and small intestinal slices.

SummaryIt has been demonstrated that slices of stomach and small intestine are able to convert 14C-ethanol to 14CO2. When compared to liver slices under the same conditions, the gastrointestinal oxidation was one-fifth to two-thirds of the hepatic capacity. Furthermore, organs obtained from germ-free animals were able to convert ethanol to CO2 at rates equal to or greater than their conventional counterparts. The significance of these observations in relation to the effects of ethanol on the intestine and to overall ethanol metabolism remains to be elucidated.
Population Growth and Development of the Psocid Lepinotus reticulatus at Constant Temperatures and Relative Humidities

We investigated the effects of temperature and relative humidity on population growth and development of the psocid Lepinotus reticulatus Enderlein. Part of this study assessed the effects of marking psocids by using methylene blue, chalk powder, and fluorescent powder to differentiate nymphal stages during development. We found that marking psocids by using methylene blue increased mortality and took twice as long to accomplish compared with marking by using fluorescent powder. Using chalk powder shortened the duration of third and fourth nymphal instars. Marking psocids by using fluorescent powder had no effect on mortality or duration of nymphal instars. Therefore, we recommend using fluorescent powder for marking psocids. L. reticulatus did not survive at 32, 43, and 55% RH, whereas populations increased from 22.5 to 32.5°C at 75% RH. The largest population growth was recorded at 30 and 32.5°C, whereas only 9% of nymphs developed to adults and populations declined at 35°C. We developed temperature-dependent developmental equations for eggs, individual nymphal, combined nymphal, and combined immature stages. These equations showed predicted optimal temperatures for the development of eggs, combined nymphal, and combined immature stages to be 32.3, 34.5, and 34.4°C, respectively; development at these temperatures was completed in 6.3, 16.7, and 23.3 d, respectively. Our study shows that psocids that consume their exuviae develop faster than those that do not, and this effect is more pronounced at lower temperatures. These data give us better understanding of L. reticulatus population dynamics, and they can be used to develop effective management strategies for this psocid.
The syndrome of chronic abruptio placentae, hydrorrhea, and circumvallate placenta

Circumvallate placenta is caused by repeated marginal hemorrhages. Three such cases are presented. Hydrorrhea gravidarum was present in each instance. The interrelation of these three entities (chronic abruptio placentae, hydrorrhea, and circumvallate placenta) is discussed.
Repetition priming induced changes in sensorimotor transmission

When a behavior is repeated performance often improves, i.e., repetition priming occurs. Although repetition priming is ubiquitous, mediating mechanisms are poorly understood. We address this issue...
Conservation of gene and tissue networks regulating insulin signalling in flies and vertebrates.

Fruit flies have emerged as a powerful tool to investigate metabolism. Not only are gene structures and gene networks that control metabolism conserved through evolution, but the interactions among organs to store and process metabolites have strong similarities between flies and humans. Accordingly, the Drosophila system has the potential to address human disorders associated with metabolic dysfunction including obesity, type 2 diabetes and lipotoxicity.
Derivational Morphology in Reading Comprehension of Chinese-speaking Learners of English: A Longitudinal Structural Equation Modeling Study

This longitudinal study examined the contribution of morphological awareness to English as a Second Language (ESL) reading comprehension. Young Chinese-speaking ESL learners completed twice with a one-year interval the same set of tasks that measured derivational awareness, vocabulary breadth, fluency of reading derived words, and passage comprehension. Structural Equation Modeling analyses revealed that at both Time 1 and Time 2, morphological awareness had a significant direct effect on reading comprehension over and above vocabulary knowledge, and such an effect became stronger over time. A significant indirect effect of morphological awareness on reading comprehension was also observed at both times. However, how the indirect effect was achieved varied across times. Longitudinally, Time 1 morphological awareness failed to significantly predict Time 2 reading comprehension over and above Time 1 reading comprehension and vocabulary knowledge; however, an indirect effect through the latter two variables was significant. This study indicates an increasingly important role of morphology in ESL reading comprehension, and highlights a need of explicit teaching of morphology to facilitate ESL learners’ reading development.
Interactions Between Fe(III)-Oxides and Fe(III)-Phyllosilicates During Microbial Reduction 1: Synthetic Sediments

ABSTRACTFe(III)-oxides and Fe(III)-bearing phyllosilicates are the two major iron sources utilized as electron acceptors by dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB) in anoxic soils and sediments. Although there have been many studies on microbial Fe(III)-oxide and Fe(III)-phyllosilicate reduction with both natural and specimen materials, no controlled experimental information is available on the interaction between these two phases when both are available for microbial reduction. In this study, the model DIRB Geobacter sulfurreducens was used to examine the pathways of Fe(III) reduction in Fe(III)-oxide stripped subsurface sediment that was coated with different amounts of synthetic high surface area (HSA) goethite. Cryogenic (12K) 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy was used to determine changes in the relative abundances of Fe(III)-oxide, Fe(III)-phyllosilicate, and phyllosilicate-associated Fe(II) [Fe(II)-phyllosilicate] in bioreduced samples. Analogous Mossbauer analyses were performed on samples from abio...
Greener Techniques for the Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts, Enzymes, Bacteria, Biodegradable Polymers, and Microwaves

The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is gaining in popularity due to silver’s antibacterial properties. Conventional methods for AgNP synthesis require dangerous chemicals and large quantities of energy (heat) and can result in formation of hazardous byproducts. This article summarizes recent activity in this general area where environmentally friendly synthetic techniques are currently being explored for the synthesis of “greener” AgNPs including the use of plant extracts, biodegradable polymers, and enzymes/bacteria and alternative energy input systems, such as microwave irradiation. Microwave heating enables efficient formation of nanostructures of uniform small sizes in shorter reaction times with reduced energy consumption; preventing agglomeration of ensuing nanoparticles is an additional attribute.
Transition Probabilities in Argon I.

In order to derive transition probabilities from intensity measurements of Ar I lines made by Dieke and Crosswhite, new transition probabilities for 26 lines from high levels in Ar I have been measured in a high current constricted arc. With these data, relative level populations of Ar I in Dieke and Crosswhite's rnicrewave discharge are determined and transition probabilities for 240 lines of Ar I in the wavelength range 4100 to 9800 A are derived. The new values are compared with other published values.
Gene Flow between Gossypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadense L. is Asymmetric

As both Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) and Acala (Upland; G. hirsutum L.) are grown in the southwestern United States, understanding gene fl ow within and among these species is important to maintain genetic purity. In small scale and commercial fi elds, gene fl ow decreased exponentially from 1.44% at 1 m to less than 0.50% at 10 m in Acala cotton. Corresponding values for Pima cotton were 0.19% at 3 m and 0% at 10 m or beyond. When interspecies outcrossing occurred, Pima cotton was preferentially pollinated by Acala cotton. Gene fl ow was nondetectable in 7.5 m borders. Asymmetric pollination between Acala and Pima cotton was also observed in samples collected in borders located 6 m from the pollen source with no detectable gene fl ow beyond 7.5 m. At a given distance, in commercial scale Pima fi elds, gene fl ow was tenfold less than reported in Acala fi elds with gene fl ow not exceeding 0.43% beyond 10 m. No gene fl ow was detected beyond 800 m (0.5 mile). This study indicates that isolation distances can be shorter in Pima cotton than in Acala cotton to maintain the same level of genetic purity. Comparison with historical evidence suggests that there has been a shift in the relative gene fl ow among species in modern cultivars of Pima cotton.
Madam Science Communicator A Typology of Women’s Experiences in Online Science Communication

This study uses discourse analysis to explore online science communication experiences from the perspectives of 43 female opinion leaders. Women described their experiences in terms of their lifelo...
WE-H-207A-02: Attenuation Correction in 4D-PET Using a Single-Phase Attenuation Map

Purpose: 4D-PET imaging has been proposed as a potential solution to the respiratory motion effect in thoracic region. CT-based attenuation correction (AC) is an essential step toward quantitative imaging for PET. However, due to the temporal difference of 4D-PET and a single breath-hold CT, motion artifacts are observed in the attenuation-corrected PET images that can lead to error in tumor shape and uptake. We introduce a practical method for aligning single-phase CT to all other 4D-PET phases using a penalized non-rigid demons registration. Methods: Individual 4D-PET frames were reconstructed without AC. Non-rigid Demons registration was used to derive deformation vector fields (DVFs) between the PET matched with CT phase and other 4D-PET images. While attenuated PET images provide enough useful data for organ borders such as lung and liver, tumors are not distinguishable from background due to loss of contrast. To preserve tumor shape in different phases, from CT image an ROI covering tumor was excluded from non-rigid transformation. Mean DVF of the central region of the tumor was assigned to all voxels in the ROI. This process mimics a rigid transformation of tumor along with a non-rigid transformation of other organs. 4D XCAT phantom with spherical tumors in lung with diameters ranging from 10 to 40 mm was used to evaluate the algorithm. Results: Motion related induced artifacts in attenuation-corrected 4D-PET images were significantly reduced. For tumors smaller than 20 mm, non-rigid transformation was capable to provide quantitative results. However, for larger tumors, where tumor self-attenuation is considerable, our combined method yields superior results. Conclusion: We introduced a practical method for deforming a single CT to match all 4D-PET images for accurate AC. Although 4D-PET data include insignificant anatomical information, we showed that they are still useful to estimate DVFs for aligning attenuation map and accurate AC.
Living in the Red: Black Steelworkers and the Wealth Gap

A database built from recently released archival bankruptcy records shows that African-American steelworkers compared with white steelworkers were disproportionately represented as bankruptcy petitioners soon after the 1959 national steel strike began. On its face, it would appear that the strike forced low-level workers in the mills toward a financial precipice, but a deeper exploration finds that black steelworkers in Chicago at this time, despite their security in the union, faced a myriad of financial barriers, which when combined hindered workers’ ability to build wealth and lead their families into the middle class. Even though black workers enjoyed the benefits of the union’s promise to deliver wage and pension security, as well as better workplace conditions, the union failed to address the most pressing matter for black workers—equity in the workplace. In addition, the union’s outward look at civil rights did little to combat social policies that left black steelworkers disenfranchised along with...
A 28-GHz phased-array transceiver with series-fed dual-vector distributed beamforming

This paper presents a 28-GHz four-element phased-array transceiver in 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS technology for 5G cellular application. The array employs scalar-only weighting functions within each front-end and a global quadrature function, enabling small footprint for each element. A dual-vector series feed network also reduces size of the array. Measurements show that each receive front-end achieves 8.7 to 11.5 dB gain, 4.5 to 6.9 dB noise figure, −25.4 to −18.4 dBm input 1-dB compression point, and < 0.5dB/2.1° RMS gain/phase error at 24 to 28 GHz. Each transmit front-end achieves 9.4 to 14.3 dB gain, 5.5 to 10.6 dBm output 1-dB compression point, and < 0.4dB/4.2° RMS gain/phase error at 24 to 28 GHz. The four-element transceiver array occupies 2.9 mm2 area and consumes 1.08 W in transmit mode and 0.68 W in receive mode.
Abstract 14079: Outside-in Signaling of Integrin α IIb β 3 Mediates Shear-dependent Platelet Microvesicle Formation and Phosphatidylserine Exposure

Introduction and Hypothesis: Platelets promote coagulation mainly by exposing membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) and releasing PS-expressing microvesicles (MV). We have recently shown that PS exposure and MV release induced by platelet agonists requires shear stress. To identify the receptor responsible for the shear-dependent signaling leading to PS exposure and MV release, we investigated the hypothesis that Integrin αIIbβ 3 may play a role in shear-dependent platelet MV release and PS exposure. Methods and Results: To determine the role of integrin αIIbβ 3 in shear-dependent PS exposure and MV release, we compared platelets from β 3 -/- mice and wild-type mice in MV release and PS exposure under shear introduced using a cone-plate rheometer. MV release and PS exposure were determined by flow cytometry. Shear-dependent PS exposure and MV release were significantly suppressed in β 3 -/- platelets. Similarly, Wild type platelets treated with integrin antagonists also showed defective PS exposure and MV release. These data indicate an important role for the ligand binding function of integrin αIIbβ 3 in shear-dependent MV release and PS exposure. To determine whether the role of integrin αIIbβ 3 is due to its outside-in signaling, β 3 -/- platelets were transplanted with wild type β 3 or a mutant β 3 with the critical Gα13 binding site of the β 3 cytoplasmic domain (EEE) changed to alanines (AAA), which selectively abolish outside-in signaling of αIIbβ 3 . Transplantation of wild type β 3 rescued the defective MVs release and PS exposure of β 3 -/- platelets. In contrast, AAA mutant failed to rescue these defects. Consistently, wild type platelets treated with the selective inhibitor of Gα13-integrin interaction, inhibited integrin outside-in signaling and also PS exposure and MV release under shear stress. Furthermore, inhibition of Src, which is important in outside-in signaling downtream of Gα13, also abolished shear-dependent MV release and PS exposure. Conclusions: These data suggest that integrin outside-in signaling mediated by the Gα13-β3 interaction and Src-dependent signaling pathway plays an important role in transmitting shear-induced mechanical signals leading to MV release and PS exposure in activated platelets.
A surgical residency preparatory course for senior medical students leads to earlier independence in ACGME competencies

Abstract Background It is unknown whether surgery residency preparatory courses lead to earlier independent practice. Methods A four-week surgical residency preparatory course was offered to graduating medical students. Upon entering residency, participants reported supervised and unsupervised performance of patient management and procedural competencies. Those who participated in the course (Group A) were compared with graduates from our institution who did not participate but entered surgery residency (Group B) and with residents from other medical schools in the same program as Group A (Group C). Time to independence was observed. Results Group A achieved independence earlier than Group B in 15/18 (83.3%), earlier than Group C in 14/18 (77.8%) and earlier than both in 12/16 (75%) competencies. Independence occurred 43.6 days earlier than Group B (range 6–112 days) and 49 days earlier than Group C (range 11.5–165 days). Conclusion A surgical residency preparatory course led to earlier independent performance of the ACGME recommended patient management and procedural competencies compared to students from our institution and others who did not participate in such a course.
National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01 offshore India; gas hydrate systems as revealed by hydrocarbon gas geochemistry

Abstract The National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01 (NGHP-01) targeted gas hydrate accumulations offshore of the Indian Peninsula and along the Andaman convergent margin. The primary objectives of coring were to understand the geologic and geochemical controls on the accumulation of methane hydrate and their linkages to underlying petroleum systems. Four areas were investigated: 1) the Kerala-Konkan Basin in the eastern Arabian Sea, 2) the Mahanadi and 3) Krishna-Godavari Basins in the western Bay of Bengal, and 4) the Andaman forearc Basin in the Andaman Sea. Upward flux of methane at three of the four of the sites cored during NGHP-01 is apparent from the presence of seafloor mounds, seismic evidence for upward gas migration, shallow sub-seafloor geochemical evidence of methane oxidation, and near-seafloor gas composition that resembles gas from depth. The Kerala-Konkan Basin well contained only CO2 with no detectable hydrocarbons suggesting there is no gas hydrate system here. Gas and gas hydrate from the Krishna-Godavari Basin is mainly microbial methane with δ13C values ranging from −58.9 to −78.9‰, with small contributions from microbial ethane (−52.1‰) and CO2. Gas from the Mahanadi Basin was mainly methane with lower concentrations of C2-C5 hydrocarbons (C1/C2 ratios typically >1000) and CO2. Carbon isotopic compositions that ranged from −70.7 to −86.6‰ for methane and −62.9 to −63.7‰ for ethane are consistent with a microbial gas source; however deeper cores contained higher molecular weight hydrocarbon gases suggesting a small contribution from a thermogenic gas source. Gas composition in the Andaman Basin was mainly methane with lower concentrations of ethane to isopentane and CO2, C1/C2 ratios were mainly >1000 although deeper samples were
A comparison of the test-negative and the traditional case-control study designs for estimation of influenza vaccine effectiveness under nonrandom vaccination.

As annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all U.S. persons aged 6 months or older, it is unethical to conduct randomized clinical trials to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). Observational studies are being increasingly used to estimate VE. We developed a probability model for comparing the bias and the precision of VE estimates from two case-control designs: the traditional case-control (TCC) design and the test-negative (TN) design. In both study designs, acute respiratory illness (ARI) patients seeking medical care testing positive for influenza infection are considered cases. In the TN design, ARI patients seeking medical care who test negative serve as controls, while in the TCC design, controls are randomly selected individuals from the community who did not contract an ARI. Our model assigns each study participant a covariate corresponding to the person’s health status. The probabilities of vaccination and of contracting influenza and non-influenza ARI depend on health status. Hence, our model allows non-random vaccination and confounding. In addition, the probability of seeking care for ARI may depend on vaccination and health status. We consider two outcomes of interest: symptomatic influenza (SI) and medically-attended influenza (MAI). If vaccination does not affect the probability of non-influenza ARI, then VE estimates from TN studies usually have smaller bias than estimates from TCC studies. We also found that if vaccinated influenza ARI patients are less likely to seek medical care than unvaccinated patients because the vaccine reduces symptoms’ severity, then estimates of VE from both types of studies may be severely biased when the outcome of interest is SI. The bias is not present when the outcome of interest is MAI. The TN design produces valid estimates of VE if (a) vaccination does not affect the probabilities of non-influenza ARI and of seeking care against influenza ARI, and (b) the confounding effects resulting from non-random vaccination are similar for influenza and non-influenza ARI. Since the bias of VE estimates depends on the outcome against which the vaccine is supposed to protect, it is important to specify the outcome of interest when evaluating the bias.
Undocumented and unaccompanied: children of migration in the European Union and the United States

Thousands of minors are migrating unaccompanied to high-income countries. This special issue focuses on unaccompanied migrant minors from the Global South to Europe and the United States. In this introduction we seek to complement the contributions to this special issue by shedding light on what resources and experiences unaccompanied migrants arrive with, stressing these young migrants' challenges at each stage prior to arrival and the challenges they face navigating the receiving context. We first clarify how the international community defines "unaccompanied minors" or "unaccompanied children." We then provide brief histories of unaccompanied minors in immigration flows to the U.S. and the EU. Next, we review the literature on the experiences of unaccompanied minors before, during, and after migration. Finally, we discuss key themes and insights from the articles provided in this special issue.
A New Peircean Response to Radical Skepticism

The radical skeptic argues that I have no knowledge of things I ordinarily claim to know because I have no evidence for or against the possibility of being systematically fed illusions. Recent years have seen a surge of interest in pragmatic responses to skepticism inspired by C.S. Peirce. This essay challenges one such influential response and presents a better Peircean way to refute the skeptic. The account I develop holds that although I do not know whether the skeptical hypothesis is true, I still know things I ordinarily claim to know. It will emerge that although this reply appears similar to a classic contextualist response to radical skepticism, it avoids two central problems facing that response.
EXTRACTION OF VITAL SIGNS USING REAL TIME VIDEO ANALYSIS FOR NEONATAL MONITORING

One of the major concerns within the health system in the United States is the higher number of infant deaths (23,215 in 2014). This has triggered the need for intensive care facilities for at-risk infants and especially for neonates. Premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) need constant monitoring due to conditions like bradycardia, apnea and hypoxia that can lead to dangerous conditions including death. A contact-less method to record critical vital signs is a subject of interest for neonates as their skin is fragile and damageable by traditional sensors. Video monitoring of infants in NICU can be one of the solutions to this problem. Automated analysis of video feeds as opposed to manual approaches can render promising results. One of the important cues to detect the occurrence of conditions such as bradycardia is the pulse rate of the subject. In this paper, we present an approach to monitor patient’s pulse rate using video processing algorithms. A multi-step procedure was designed and tested on several subjects. Video from the frontal facial pose was captured and a region of interest (ROI) was selected. Statistical features such as the gray level average were extracted from the ROI in each frame and plotted as a function of time after Gaussian Smoothing. The feature signals were then de-noised using Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (MODWT). Filter banks tuned to the application were designed using bandpass cutoff frequencies and applied to the signal. The output signal resembled the actual pulse rate to a high degree of accuracy. Using Welch approximation, the Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the output signal was determined to display pulse rate. Further work to perform signal processing steps in the spatial domain is planned so that real time display of pulse rate will be possible.
Emerging opportunities for electrochemical processing to enable sustainable chemical manufacturing

Electrochemical processes are poised to play a critical role in the future energy economy by supporting widespread decarbonization efforts and providing new avenues for sustainable energy use including the electrification of industry. Opportunities exist for the development and integration of novel electrochemical processes that offer carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative synthetic routes to important products by exploiting new reactivities that enable molecular transformations difficult to realize via thermochemical methods. This mini-review highlights these opportunities by first considering the factors that have enabled electrochemical technologies to flourish in certain industrial sectors and then contemplating how those attributes may be leveraged to enable broader adoption. Hydrogen production, carbon dioxide fixation, and organic hydrogenation are discussed as promising electrochemical processes that may find industrial use in the near future.
Customizing an Information Extraction System to a New Domain

We introduce several ideas that improve the performance of supervised information extraction systems with a pipeline architecture, when they are customized for new domains. We show that: (a) a combination of a sequence tagger with a rule-based approach for entity mention extraction yields better performance for both entity and relation mention extraction; (b) improving the identification of syntactic heads of entity mentions helps relation extraction; and (c) a deterministic inference engine captures some of the joint domain structure, even when introduced as a postprocessing step to a pipeline system. All in all, our contributions yield a 20% relative increase in F1 score in a domain significantly different from the domains used during the development of our information extraction system.
Transoral Endoscopic Resection of High Cervical Osteophytes with Long-Term Symptom Resolution: Case Series, Imaging, and Literature Review.

Background Anterior cervical osteophytes (ACOs) are a common radiologic finding in the elderly; rarely, they can cause dysphagia, dysphonia, and dyspnea. Symptomatic ACOs are most commonly found between C4 and C7 and much less commonly at higher cervical levels. Here, we present a case series, with an example case of a 57-year-old woman with high cervical osteophytes at C1–C2 causing globus sensation, dysphagia, and dysphonia. Additionally, we provide a literature review regarding the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of ACOs, with a focus on management of high ACOs. Case Description A 57-year-old smoker with a history of chronic neck pain and previous cervical spinal instrumentation presented with several months of globus sensation, dysphagia, and dysphonia. Imaging revealed 2 large anterior osteophytes at C1–C2. She underwent endoscopic transoral osteophytectomy, with resolution of symptoms. Five other patients are also presented who underwent similar procedures. Conclusions ACOs are a potential cause of dysphagia, and their diagnosis is best made with computed tomographic imaging and oropharyngeal swallow study. Although high ACOs at C1–C2 are a rare finding, here we show with an exemplary case and small case series that they can be effectively treated with transoral endoscopic osteophytectomy.
Chapter 10 – Property Integration

A common feature of the previously covered mass-integration techniques is that they are “chemocentric”; namely they are based on tracking individual chemical species. Nonetheless, many material reuse problems are driven and governed by properties or functionalities of the streams and not by their chemical constituency. The following are some examples of property-based problems: • The usage of material utilities (e.g., solvents) relies on their characteristics such as equilibrium distribution coefficients, viscosity, and volatility without the need to chemically characterize these materials. • Constraints on process units that can accept recycled/reused process streams and wastes are not limited to compositions of components but are also based on the properties of the feeds to processing units. • The performance of process units depends on properties. For instance, a heat exchanger performs based on the heat capacities and heat-transfer coefficients of the matched streams. The chemical identity of the components is only useful to the extent of determining the values of heat capacities and heat-transfer coefficients. Similar examples can be given for many other units (e.g., vapor pressure in condensers, specific gravity in decantation, relative volatility in distillation, Henry's coefficient in absorption, density and head in pumps, density, pressure ratio, and heat-capacity ratio in compressors, etc.). • Quantities of emissions are dependent on properties of the pollutants (e.g., volatility, solubility, etc.). • The environmental regulations involve limits on properties (e.g., pH, color, toxicity, TOC, biological oxygen demand (BOD), ozone-depleting ability). • Tracking numerous chemical pollutants is prohibitively difficult (e.g., complex hydrocarbons and lignocellulosic materials) while tracking properties is manageable. Therefore, it is important to have a systematic design methodology that is based on properties and functionalities. In response, the paradigm of property integration has been introduced by El-Halwagi and coworkers. Property integration is a functionality-based, holistic approach to the allocation and manipulation of streams and processing units, which is based on the tracking, adjustment, assignment, and matching of functionalities throughout the process. In this chapter, we focus on the problem of identifying rigorous targets for direct reuse in property-based applications through visualization techniques. The chapter also discusses the identification of interception tasks. First, the problem of direct recycle with a single-property constraint is addressed through a material-recycle pinch diagram similar to the one presented in Chapter 4, Direct-Recycle Networks: Graphical and Algebraic Targeting Approaches. Then, we deal with the problem of multiple properties.
Inheritance of Provisia™ rice resistance to quizalofop- p -ethyl under laboratory and greenhouse environments

The BASF Corporation recently developed Provisia™ rice that is resistant to the ACCase inhibitor quizalofop-p-ethyl (QPE) for control of grassy weeds and that is complementary to the existing Clearfield® technology. The objective of this research was to determine the inheritance of resistance to QPE in different populations of rice evaluated under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Five QPE-resistant lines and 13 susceptible U.S. varieties and breeding lines were used to develop 16 F1 populations that showed dominant gene control for QPE resistance in the greenhouse. Germinating seeds and young seedlings from 16 F2 and 12 BC1F1 populations, along with corresponding susceptible and resistant parents, were exposed to minimum lethal concentrations of QPE. The results indicated that resistance to QPE under the two environments was governed by a single dominant Mendelian gene with no observable maternal effects. Allele-specific SNP markers for QPE resistance were developed that also followed Mendelian segregation in four F2 and six BC1F1 populations. Results from this study have direct implications for breeding strategies of inbred and hybrids varieties resistant to QPE in the laboratory and greenhouse and for effective stewardship of the Provisia™ technology.