cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coding Telemedicine Visits for Proper Reimbursement

Coding for patient visits and monitoring via telehealth have expanded over the past years with a wide acceptance of telemedicine as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Coding topics of interest to the allergist/immunologist in regard to services provided via telemedicine will be of increasing importance in the coming years. CPT coding for telephone as well as synchronous face-to-face telehealth visits has changed over the past few years. With the need for distancing and patient protection during the coronavirus pandemic, telehealth services have increased dramatically. The introduction of newer devices to remotely monitor patients will increase and be incorporated into patient care. This review will summarize current codes available for designating what services have been provided. The area of telemedicine is changing and will continue to evolve as other platforms for visits are designed and other methods of monitoring patients become available. Coding for these services will be an ongoing need for the provider.
Impact of Retzius-sparing Versus Standard Robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy on Penile Shortening, Peyronie's Disease, and Inguinal Hernia Sequelae.

Abstract Background Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) has improved urinary function compared with standard robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (S-RARP). As RS-RARP spares the dorsal vascular complex, pelvic fascia, and anterior abdominal fascia, it may also lower the incidence of "neglected" postprostatectomy sequelae such as penile shortening, Peyronie's disease, and inguinal hernias. Objective To determine whether there are patient-perceived differences in penile shortening, Peyronie's disease, and inguinal hernia rates among men undergoing RS-RARP versus S-RARP. Design, setting, and participants Researchers uninvolved in clinical care and blinded to surgical approach surveyed 60 RS-RARP versus 57 S-RARP men with validated patient-reported items to assess penile shortening, Peyronie's disease, and inguinal hernia sequelae following surgery. Intervention RS-RARP versus S-RARP. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Univariate differences between the two cohorts were analyzed using Student t test. Logistic regression was used to analyze variables associated with postoperative penile shortening. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the risk of developing Peyronie's disease and inguinal hernia postoperatively. Results and limitations RS-RARP was associated with less patient-reported penile shortening (41.7% vs 64.9%, p = 0.012), Peyronie's disease (0% vs 8.7%, p = 0.020), and inguinal hernia (0.0% vs 13.0%, p = 0.004). In adjusted analyses, RS-RARP (odds ratio [OR] 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–0.63, p = 0.004) was associated with lower odds of penile shortening, while a higher body mass index was associated with increased odds of penile shortening (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01–1.26, p = 0.037). RS-RARP was not associated with a decreased risk of Peyronie's disease on Cox proportion hazard model; however, these models are limited due to a limited number of events in our cohort. Limitations include retrospective design, patient-reported outcomes, and small cohorts. Conclusions RS-RARP is associated with less patient-reported penile shortening and may decrease the risk of Peyronie's disease and postoperative inguinal hernia development. These new findings add to research, showing improved urinary continence and quality of life following RS-RARP; however, a prospective study is needed to validate these findings. Patient summary Retzius-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) is an evolving surgical technique for prostate cancer treatment, which has shown improved postoperative urinary control compared with the standard technique, likely due to preservation of natural pelvic anatomy. Our findings suggest that the preservation of normal pelvic anatomy during RS-RARP may also reduce the risk of postprostatectomy penile shortening, Peyronie's disease, and inguinal hernia.
The Christian as Humus: Virtual/Real Earthly Rituals of Ourselves

How can we even write these days? The world is going through disasters upon disasters. Covid-19 came to change us forever; we still don’t know fully how. Our lives are changing, the world is being ...
Evaluation of the tri-axial accelerometer to identify and predict parturition-related activities of Debouillet ewes in an intensive setting

Abstract Identifying and monitoring parturition of individual animals may help producers increase attentiveness, enabling early detection of dystocia during parturition. Parturition events are marked by subtle behavioral changes often difficult to detect by observation alone. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of tri-axial accelerometer data to accurately identify and predict parturition-related behavior of mature ewes in a pen setting. Tri-axial accelerometers recording at 12.5 Hz were placed on ear tags and attached to 13 Debouillet mature ewes before parturition. Activity was monitored 7 days prior to lambing (d −7); on the day of lambing (d 0); and 7 days post lambing (d +7). Using random forest machine learning, accelerometer data and visual observations were used to predict (i) seven mutually-exclusive behaviors; and (ii) activity (active and inactive behavior) based on five metrics calculated using variation of movements recorded by the accelerometer. The accuracy of seven predicted behaviors from an independent validation set was 66.7 %, and the accuracy for activity was 87.2 %. In addition to predicted behavior and activity, metrics calculated from accelerometer data and used for random forest predictions were evaluated 7 d before and after lambing and 12 h before and after lambing on six of the 13 ewes where the actual time of lambing was observed. No differences were detected in the seven predicted behaviors either before or after lambing. Four of five accelerometer metrics (P ≤ 0.002) were higher during the 7 d after lambing than the 7 d before lambing. Values for three of the five metrics were highest (P
IPO Performance: A Cross-Country Comparison of the effect of Regulations

We compare short-term and longer-term returns around IPOs, as well as post-issue performance, between US and China IPOs. Short-term abnormal returns are higher for China IPOs than US IPOs, both in univariate test (difference of means and medians tests), and in multivariate tests, controlling for other variables and fixed effects. We postulate that this is due to the different regulations between the two countries that could lead to more underpricing and constraints on reaching true value, in the short run, for China IPOs. However, the upward price pressure leading to superior stock returns does not last. In the longer-term, not only do China and US IPO firms have similar abnormal stock returns – on average negative as documented in the extant literature - but also the firms’ operating performance, on average, as well as their book-to-market ratios (a proxy for future growth options) are not significantly different, in both univariate and multivariate tests.
Ethics consultations in neuro-oncology.

Background Management of patients with brain tumors can lead to ethical and decisional dilemmas. The aim of this study was to characterize ethical conflicts encountered in neuro-oncologic patients. Methods Retrospective review of ethics consultations performed upon patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors at a tertiary cancer center. An ethics consultation database was examined to characterize ethical conflicts, contextual factors, and interventions by the consultation team. Results Fifty consultations were reviewed; 28 (56%) patients were women, median age 54 (range 4-86); 27 (54%) patients had a primary central nervous system malignancy; 20 (40%) had brain metastasis. At the time of consultations, 41 (82%) patients lacked decisional capacity; 48 (96%) had a designated surrogate decision maker; 3 (6%) had an advance directive outlining wishes regarding medical treatment; 12 (24%) had a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) order. Ethical conflicts centered upon management of end-of-life (EOL) circumstances in 37 (72%) of cases; of these, 30 did not have decisional capacity. The most common ethical issues were DNAR status, surrogate decision making, and request for nonbeneficial treatment. Consultants resolved conflicts by facilitating decision making for incapacitated patients in 30 (60%) cases, communication between conflicting parties in 10 (20%), and re-articulation of patients' previously stated wishes in 6 (12%). Conclusions Decisional capacity at EOL represents the primary ethical challenge in care of neuro-oncologic patients. Incomplete awareness among surrogate decision makers of patients' prognosis and preferences contributes to communication gaps and dilemmas. Early facilitation of communication between patients, caregivers, and medical providers may prevent or mitigate conflicts and allow the enactment of patients' goals and values.
Recent progress in the development of small-molecule glucagon receptor antagonists

The endocrine hormone glucagon stimulates hepatic glucose output via its action at the glucagon receptor (GCGr) in the liver. In the diabetic state, dysregulation of glucagon secretion contributes to abnormally elevated hepatic glucose output. The inhibition of glucagon-induced hepatic glucose output via antagonism of the GCGr using small-molecule ligands is a promising mechanism for improving glycemic control in the diabetic state. Clinical data evaluating the therapeutic potential of small-molecule GCGr antagonists is currently emerging. Recently disclosed clinical data demonstrates the potential efficacy and possible therapeutic limitations of small-molecule GCGr antagonists. Recent pre-clinical work on the development of GCGr antagonists is also summarized.
Data mining in health care applications

Recent attention has turned to the healthcare industry and its use of voluntary community health information network (CHIN) models for e-health and care delivery. This chapter suggests that competition, economic dimensions, political issues, and a group of enablers are the primary determinants of implementation success. Most critical to these implementations is the issue of data management and utilization. Thus, health care organizations are finding value as well as strategic applications to mining patient data, in general, and community data, in particular. While significant gains can be obtained and have been noted at the organizational level of analysis, much attention has been given to the individual, where the focal points have centered on privacy and security of patient data. While the privacy debate is a salient issue, data mining (DM) offers broader community-based gains that enable and improve healthcare forecasting, analyses, and visualization.
Modern control applications in idle speed control

The automotive engine idle-speed regulation problem is one which lends itself to the application of a variety of control theory techniques. The process is distributed and nonlinear with a combination of continuous and discrete elements. There are known and unknown disturbances with both periodic and random process noise. The process is time varying over both short and long time intervals. This paper discusses the application of modern and classical control techniques to the idle speed regulation problem. The use of nonlinear simulation, discrete identification and in-vehicle control synthesis provides a framework for systematic control system design tradeoffs.
Polyarteritis nodosa involving the parotid gland: Report of a case

Abstract A case of bilateral enlargement of the parotid glands due to polyarteritis nodosa in a 65-year-old man is presented. A review of the literature fails to reveal previous instances of salivary gland involvement in which the typical histologic lesions were demonstrated.
Finding KBO Flyby Targets for New Horizons

Development of the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt is now fully funded by NASA (Stern and Spencer, this volume). If all goes well, New Horizons will be launched in January 2006, followed by a Jupiter gravity assist in 2007, with Pluto arrival expected in either 2015 or 2016, depending on the launch vehicle chosen. A backup launch date of early 2007, without a Jupiter flyby, would give a Pluto arrival in 2019 or 2020. In either case, a flyby of at least one Kuiper Belt object (KBO) is planned following the Pluto encounter, sometime before the spacecraft reaches a heliocentric distance of 50 AU, in 2021 or 2023 for the 2006 launch, and 2027 or 2029 for the 2007 launch. However, none of the almost 1000 currently-known KBOs will pass close enough to the spacecraft trajectory to be targeted by New Horizons, so the KBO flyby depends on finding a suitable target among the estimated 500,000 KBOs larger than 40 km in diameter. This paper discusses the issues involved in finding one or more KBO targets for New Horizons. The New Horizons team plans its own searches for mission KBOs but will welcome other U.S, or international team who wish to become involved in exchange for mission participation at the KBO.
The identification of myogenic cells in regenerating skeletal muscle. II. Early mammalian regenerates

Abstract Most of the recent studies on skeletal muscle regeneration have used the criteria of cell shape and position as the primary means of identifying early presumptive myogenic elements or satellite cells. Studies of anuran muscle regeneration indicate, however, that macrophages can mimic early myogenic cells by adopting a fusiform shape and a sublaminar position during the initial stages of phagocytic invasion. The present study confirms these observations in injured mammalian muscle. Gastrocnemius muscle tissues from Sprague-Dawley rats were killed by lyophilization or repeated freezing and implanted subcutaneously to examine the cytology of the invading macrophages free from contamination by any endogenous myogenic cells. Within 2 days the implants are infiltrated by large numbers of fusiform macrophages. These cells form continuous cuffs around the degenerating myofibers but initially show little evidence of phagocytosis. They contain dense concentrations of free ribosomes but display few lysosomes, phagosomes, or pseudopodia. These distinctive phagocytic features do not appear until the macrophages penetrate the cores of the injured fibers and actually begin removal of the myofibrillar debris. These observations indicate that the criteria of cell shape and location cannot reliably distinguish between early mammalian macrophages and myogenic cells.
Thermoelectric Properties of Nano-Meso-Micro β-MnO2 Powders as a Function of Electrical Resistance

Particle sizes of manganese oxide (β-MnO2) powders were modified by using a mortar and pestle ground method for period of times that varied between 15–60 min. Particle size versus ground time clearly shows the existence of a size-induced regime transition (i.e., regime I and II). Thermoelectric properties of β-MnO2 powders as a function of electrical resistance in the range of R P = 10 - 80Ω were measured. Based on the data presented, we propose a model for the β-MnO2 system in which nanometer-scale MnO2 crystallites bond together through weak van der Waals forces to form larger conglomerates that span in size from nanometer to micrometer scale.
Inverse Problems for Representation Functions in Additive Number Theory

For every positive integer h, the representation function of order h associated to a subset A of the integers or, more generally, of any group or semigroup X, counts the number of ways an element of X can be written as the sum (or product, if X is nonabelian) of h not necessarily distinct elements of X. The direct problem for representation functions in additive number theory begins with a subset A of X and seeks to understand its representation functions. The inverse problem for representation functions starts with a function f:X ->N_0 U {\infty} and asks if there is a set A whose representation function is f, and, if the answer is yes, to classify all such sets. This paper is a survey of recent progress on the inverse representation problem.
Spatial and temporal dynamics of coupled groundwater and nitrogen fluxes through a streambed in an agricultural watershed

[1] This paper presents results on the spatiotemporal dynamics of the coupled water flux (v) and nitrogen fluxes (fN = v[N], where [N] is the concentration of a dissolved N species) through a streambed in an agricultural watershed in North Carolina. Physical and chemical variables were measured at numerous points in the streambed of a 0.26-km reach: hydraulic conductivity (K) and head gradient (J) and the concentrations of NO3− and other N species in streambed groundwater, from which water flux (v = KJ) and N fluxes (e.g., fNO3 = v[NO3−]) through the streambed were computed, mapped, and integrated in space. The result was a novel set of streambed maps of the linked variables (K, J, v, and N concentrations and fluxes), showing their spatial variability and how it changed over a year (on the basis of seven bimonthly sets of maps). Mean fNO3 during the study year was 154 mmol m−2 d−1; this NO3− flux, together with that of dissolved organic nitrogen (fDON = 17 mmol m−2 d−1), accounted for >99% of the total dissolved N flux through the streambed. Repeat measurements at the same locations on the streambed show significant temporal variability in fNO3, controlled largely by changes in v rather than changes in [NO3−]. One of the clearest and most persistent aspects of spatial variability was lateral variability across the channel from bank to bank. K and v values were greater in the center of the channel; this distribution of K (ultimately a reflection of sediment dynamics in the channel) apparently focuses groundwater discharge toward the center of the channel. The opposite pattern (low values in the center) was found for J, [NO3−], and (to a lesser extent) fNO3. Overall, fNO3 was characterized by localized zones of high and low values that changed in size and shape over time but remained in basically the same locations (the same was true of K, J, and [NO3−], though less so for v), with 70% of NO3− flux occurring through about 38% of the streambed area. Lateral distributions of the physical hydrologic attributes (K, J, and v) were highly symmetrical across the channel, while those of [NO3−] and fNO3 showed higher values on the left than on the right, likely a reflection of different N use on opposite sides of the stream. The streambed-based approach taken here offers insights concerning the spatial and temporal dynamics of linked water and N fluxes through a streambed and their controls.
Is the Fda Too Conservative or Too Aggressive?: A Bayesian Decision Analysis of Clinical Trial Design

Implicit in the drug-approval process is a host of decisions -- target patient population, control group, primary endpoint, sample size, follow-up period -- all of which determine the trade-off between Type I and Type II error. We explore the application of Bayesian decision analysis (BDA) to minimize the expected cost of drug approval, where the relative costs of the two types of errors are calibrated using U.S. Burden of Disease Study 2010 data. The results for conventional fixed-sample randomized clinical-trial designs suggest that for terminal illnesses with no existing therapies such as pancreatic cancer, the standard threshold of 2.5% is substantially more conservative than the BDA-optimal threshold of 23.9% to 27.8%. For relatively less deadly conditions such as prostate cancer, 2.5% is more risk-tolerant or aggressive than the BDA-optimal threshold of 1.2% to 1.5%. We compute BDA-optimal sizes for 25 of the most lethal diseases and show how a BDA-informed approval process can incorporate all stakeholders' views in a systematic, transparent, internally consistent, and repeatable manner.
Determination of critical shear stress of non‐cohesive soils using submerged jet test and turbulent kinetic energy

Laboratory tests using Jet Erosion Testing (JET) apparatus, impinging normally on a horizontal boundary, were conducted to determine the critical shear stress (τc) of non-cohesive soil samples. A three-dimensional (3D) SonTek/YSI 16 MHz Micro-Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (MicroADV) was used to measure turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) at a radial limit of entrainment in the wall jet zone and the measurements were used to calculate τc of the samples. The results showed that TKE increases exponentially with increasing particle size. The τc from this study were comparable (R2 = 0.8) to the theoretical τc from Shields diagram after bed roughness scale ratio (D/ks), due to the non-uniform bed conditions, was accounted for. This study demonstrated that JET and TKE can be used to determine τc of non-cohesive soils. The use of JET and TKE was found to be faster and easier when compared to the conventional approach of using flumes. A relationship of TKE at the onset of incipient motion (TKEc) and samples’ D50 developed in this study can be used to predict τc of non-cohesive soils under similar non-uniform conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of a catheter in the pharynx on the frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations.

Abstract Transient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is observed fairly frequently during prolonged continuous monitoring of the LES. The aim of this study was to test whether the presence of a catheter in the pharynx through the stimulation of mechanoreceptors may induce transient LES relaxation. LES and esophageal pressure recordings were obtained for 1 hour in six subjects with a manometric catheter placed via a gastrostomy tube. Swallowing was monitored by submental electromyographic recording. Additional recordings were obtained in these subjects with a catheter placed in the pharynx for 1 additional hour. Transient LES relaxations were recorded in both study periods, i.e., with and without a catheter in the pharynx. The frequency of transient LES relaxations was significantly higher in the presence of manometric catheters in the pharynx (6.4 ± 2.2 vs. 2.0 ± 1.1 total LES relaxations). The frequency of transient LES relaxation during the first and second hour after placement of the manometric catheter in a group of seven healthy subjects was not significant different. It is concluded that the pharynx is one of the sites that may mediate the induction of transient LES relaxation.
Processing process: The Gilbreath conjecture

Abstract There is one very important aspect of history that is often left out – the process. The development of the Gilbreath conjecture is described as an example of this issue. This includes a theorem that delineates the possible series of integers satisfying the conditions of the conjecture. Those who do not learn from history are destined to have less options. Processing a process can suggest relevant questions, it will increase our options – which is an important part of any exploration.
Effect of apiforol and apigeninidin on growth of selected fungi.

Selected fungi were grown on agar plates in the presence of naringenin, apiforol, apiforol 7-O-rhamnoglucoside, or apigeninidin. Of the four compounds tested, only apigeninidin inhibited the growth ofFusarium oxysporum, Gibberella zeae, Gliocladium roseum, Altemaria solani, and Phytophthora infestons. In contrast, the growth ofRhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Rhizopus stolonifer (− and +) was not effected by any compound. Since apigeninidin is present in seeds ofSorghum sp., we hypothesize that apigeninidin may play a role in mold resistance and that apiforol accumulates as a biosynthetic precursor of apigeninidin, not as a fungal defense compound.
Aerospace plane guidance using time-scale decomposition - A geometric approach

A method is proposed for developing the necessary guidance logic to steer single-stage vehicles into orbit. The minimum-fuel ascent problem is first considered to analyze the effects of dynamic pressure, acceleration, and heating constraints on guidance systems to thereby develop the guidance logic. The optimal solution consists of behavior with two time scales, and the control law is used to develop near-optimal guidance. The solution uses the slow manifold to delineate the control for minimum-fuel reduced-order trajectory and a separate control for tracking the optimal reduced-order trajectory. A family of fast manifolds is then employed to resolve the tracking problem via the feedback linearization methodology from nonlinear geometric control theory. The two-time-scale decomposition is found to produce a near-optimal ascent by tracking the applicable state-constraint boundary, as well as to simplify the control-design task.
Midrange Reflection: The Underlying Practice of Wabash Center Workshops, Colloquies, and Consultations

Abstract. This article argues that the primary intellectual embodiment of the Wabash Center's ethos of hospitality is a particular kind of reflection on teaching and learning, “midrange reflection.” It defines and describes midrange reflection and then discusses the two essential skills required to facilitate it as distinct from other types of reflection and discussion: (1) the ability to identify issues in the life of a learning community, and (2) the ability to design sequences of questions and intellectual activities that promote reflection on those issues. As the underlying, if not defining practice of Wabash Center workshops, colloquies, and consultations, midrange reflection is crucial to the significant learning that occurs in Wabash Center programs and to participants’ ability to take their deeper understanding and insights back into their classrooms and professional lives.
Modeling the nucleation kinetics and aerosol dynamics of particle formation during CVD of silicon from silane

Product contamination by gas-phase nucleation within the processing environment often limits the deposition rate that can be obtained during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of materials for microelectronics applications. A fundamental understanding of how these particles nucleate and grow may allow us to enlarge the process envelope, providing higher growth rates without particle contamination .Since these particles are formed by a series of chemical reactions involving multiple chemical species with formation and breakage of strong chemical bonds, classical homogeneous nucleation theory fails to adequately describe their generation. The work presented here is part of an ongoing effort to develop a generalized framework for describing these chemical nucleation processes. This study focuses on particle formation during thermal CVD of silicon from silane. We have modeled particle nucleation, growth, and transport in both low-pressure and atmospheric-pressure CVD of silicon from silane, and present results of those modeling efforts here. The nucleation of particles has been modeled by a series of chemical reactions that lead from silane to larger silicon hydrides and finally to hydrogenated silicon clusters that can be considered particles. The thermochemistry and kinetics of these reactions are estimated based on the known reactivity and thermochemistry of the smaller silicon hydrides .A group additivity scheme for estimating the thermodynamic properties of arbitrary silicon hydride clusters was developed by fitting group parameters to the results of the extensiv e ab initio calculations of Katzer et al (1997). Pressure-dependent rate parameters for reactions of silicon hydrides with up to three silicon atoms were taken from the work of Ho, Coltrin and Breiland (1994). For the larger silicon hydrides, four classes of reversible chemical reactions were considered, as shown in Table 1. The polysilanes produced by these reactions can grow either by eliminating hydrogen to form a silylene (reaction type 1) that then reacts with silane (reverse of reaction type 2), or by reacting directly with silylene (reverse of reaction type 2) produced by thermal decomposition of silane .Silylenes can reversibly isomerize to silenes (reaction type 3), which are thermodynamically more stable than silylenes and are effectively unreactive. Silylenes with the proper geometry can undergo intramolecular insertion to form a ring (reaction type 4). The growth process described above is in competition with polysilane decomposition (reaction type 2). Ring formation plays a key role in the growth process, because once a silicon atom is incorporated into a ring i t cannot directly be eliminated by a reaction of type 2. Ring formation also accounts for the dehydrogenation of the particles, since cyclic compounds have lower silicon-to-hydrogen ratios than acyclic compounds .To our knowledge, this cyclization has not been included in any previous models of silicon hydride chemistry.
Characterization of Human, Mouse, and Frog Rhodopsin Microdomains Within Native Disc Membranes

Rhodopsin is the light-activated receptor located in the disc membranes of rod photoreceptor cells in the retina and initiates vision via the phototransduction signaling cascade. There are divergent views on rhodopsin's quaternary organization within native disc membranes. The classical view posits that rhodopsin molecules function as freely diffusing monomers. However, recent evidence suggests that rhodopsin oligomerizes and forms higher order structures within the membrane. An accurate description of signaling events in phototransduction and of associated disease mechanisms is reliant on a comprehensive understanding of how rhodopsin is organized within native disc membranes. The aim of the current study was to determine and quantify the physiological arrangement of several vertebrate rhodopsins within their native disc membranes using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM is a microscopic method that allows for the imaging of membrane proteins in their native environment under physiological conditions. Disc membranes, with 90% of the total protein content comprised of rhodopsin, were isolated from human, mouse, and frog ocular tissue. AFM images of single-bilayer disc membranes revealed that these vertebrate disc membranes have similar topographies. Topographic features in these images indicate that rhodopsin is organized into microdomains and that the formation of these microdomains is not an effect of a low temperature environment. The microdomains formed by rhodopsin from each species were quantified and comparatively analyzed. By characterizing these microdomains, a baseline has been established for the organization of rhodopsin in human, mouse, and frog disc membranes. These characterizations of microdomain rhodopsin organization may serve as a guide in future investigations which will need to address the importance and role of such an organization on phototransduction and diseased states.
LATE APPEARANCE OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AS A SEQUELA OF PREMATURITY

Emotional disturbance associated with prematurity may not appear until the adolescent years. Referral for special ed. on the basis of substantial classroom difficulty is a documented complication of prematurity. A representative sample of 500 Emotionally Disturbed Special Education classified students had at least 12% preterm birth rate with 4% weighing below 2000g at birth. The emotional disorder frequently began after age 12yrs. as a disturbance in conduct. The child's behavior was due to frustration in reaction to learning disability and to overprotection by parents concerned about their child's vulnerability. The psychiatric diagnosis and academic achievement of classified students with preterm births differed from classified students with term births, but the age of onset was similar. Special Ed. for Emotionally Disturbed classification contrasts with other classifications in New Jersey in the age of onset: Since emotional disturbance may present in adolescent yrs., follow up of greater than 10 years is necessary to evaluate the incidence of emotional disturbance in infants with preterm births.
BAND STRUCTURE AND FERMI SURFACE OF BERYLLIUM

Using a self-consistent potential, the energy eigenvalues along the symmetry edges, on the zone faces, and at the equivalent of 5184 general points in the first Brillouin zone were calculated for beryllium by expanding the conduction electron wave functions in a linear combination of 23 orthogonalized plane waves. From this the Fermi energy and density of states were calculated and the Fermi surface constructed. The density of states is in agreement with soft x-ray emission and absorption data and with the experimental low-temperature specific heat coefficient. The Fermi surface consists of three pieces: A region of unoccupied states in the first double zone which resembles a coronet, and two identical pockets of electrons in the second double zone similar in shape to a cigar with a triangular cross section. The de Haas-van Alphen frequencies in $\frac{1}{H}$ predicted from the Fermi surface are in good agreement with those measured experimentally.
Cellular porous polyvinylidene fluoride composite membranes for lithium-ion batteries

Macroporous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) membranes were prepared by a phase inversion method and evaluated as battery separators. Two totally different morphologies (cellular and finger-like) were obtained by coagulating PVdF solutions with two different solvents. The cellular membranes were formed immediately by precipitating the PVdF solution with a latent solvent (acetone) in water, while the finger-like membranes were precipitated from the PVdF solution with a true solvent (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone). The incorporation of a silica filler decreased the ionic resistance of the PVdF membranes of both morphologies. However, the cellular membranes showed better mechanical properties and enabled higher ionic conductivities than the finger-like ones, especially when the silica loading was low. Compared with a conventional untreated polyolefin separator, the porous PVdF membranes showed good wettability by a liquid electrolyte. After being activated with a commercial LiPF6–ethylene carbonate–dimethyl carbonate electrolyte, the PVdF membranes were tested for their applications in lithium-ion batteries. Coin cells with these PVdF membranes exhibited stable cycling performance and good rate capability at room temperature. However, the cellular membranes are preferred over the finger-like ones because they offer higher mechanical performance, and can be processed into flat membranes more easily.
Ecomorphological Differences in Toepad Characteristics between Mainland and Island Anoles

Abstract Anoles (Anolis, Chamaeleolis, Chamaelinorops, Phenacosaurus) differ greatly in size and shape of their subdigital toepads. We sampled 79 anole species to address two issues. First, is toepad size significantly related to habitat use? Second, do anoles from mainland Central and South America differ from Caribbean anoles in either the size of their toepads or in the relationship between toepad shape and habitat use? Among all anoles, toepad size increases with both perch height and diameter, although when the effects of body size are removed, these relationships are weakened. Morphological differences exist between toepads of anoles from the two regions. Caribbean anoles have larger toepads relative to snout–vent length and wider pads at larger body sizes compared to mainland species. Relationships between toepad morphology and habitat use characteristics do not differ significantly between the two groups of anoles. However, with effects of size removed, Caribbean anoles have larger and wider toepa...
Monoclonal antibodies defining the skin-selective alloantigens, Skn.

The purpose of this communication is to describe a second Skn-specific monoclonal antibody, designated SK4, recognizing the Skn 1.1 alloantigen which has been used to provide information regarding the Skn 1.1 allotype of a panel of inbred strains using immunofluorescence and flow cytometric analysis
Photosensitised electron transport across phospholipid vesicle walls

AS a means of solar energy conversion, we are interested in the photosensitised decomposition of water with pigmented lipid bilayer membranes that have O2- and H2-evolving catalysts at opposing membrane surfaces. Our present work toward this goal involves the investigation of light-induced electron transfer reactions between aqueous solutions of electron donors and acceptors that are on opposite sides of single-lamella liposomes (vesicles) with incorporated surfactant photosensitisers. Related experiments with planar bilayer membranes1 or liposomes2–4 using chlorophyll as the photosensitiser have been reported, but it is not clear that energy storage has been achieved in these systems. A possible exception is the photo-oxidation of water with vesicles that contain chlorophyll and trapped aqueous ferricyanide3, although attempts to duplicate this experiment have been unsuccessful5. We report here that we have observed the photosensitised reduction of methyl-viologen (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium2+, abbreviated to MV2+) dissolved in the exterior aqueous phase of a phospholipid vesicle dispersion containing a surfactant analogue of tris-(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium2+ when ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate (EDTA) is dissolved in the enclosed aqueous phase of the vesicles.
Some aspects of the Aharonov-Bohm effect

It is shown that the Aharonov-Bohm scattering cross section diverges. This presents a problem since the range of the scattering force (Lorentz force) is finite. The cross section found by Aharonov and Bohm (AB) results whether one takes an incident wave function corresponding to particles moving in the incident direction, as was done by AB, or just takes the incident state to be a plane wave. The mechanism by which a localized force results in an infinite cross section is not clear. This is an apparent contradiction to recent proofs that electrodynamics is a local theory.
SENSITIVITY OF FOUR FINGFR SWEAT PRINT DURATIONS TO AN ANTICHOLINERGIC AGENT

Four durations of finger sweat prints (FSPs) were compared for their relative sensitivity to atropine sulfate in a double-blind study with 24 normal volunteers. The statistically significant results indicate: 1) FSPs within a wide range of duration are sensitive indicators of treatment effects; 2) however, shorter durations are clearly superior to longer ones in sensitivity; and 3) there can be greater flexibility in the use of this technique since length of the measurement period can now be more appropriately determined by experimental requirements rather than by an a priori standard.
Morphological, mechanical, and electrical properties as a function of thermal bonding in electrospun nanocomposites

Abstract Poly lactic acid (PLA) was electrospun with various concentrations of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and thermal bonding was utilized as a post-processing treatment to improve the mechanical and electrical properties of the nanofibrous mats. Thermally bonded fiber–fiber junctions were observed with scanning electron microscopy. An increase in either the strength or modulus of the PLA mats both with and without MWNTs was observed; the maximum modulus and maximum strength occur at different treatment conditions. The electrical conductivity of the MWNT loaded mats showed significant improvement after treatment just below the composite melting point.
Holographic investigation of sonic transducers

Abstract Holographic interferometry has been applied to the study of two power sonic transducers. Whole field displacement distributions for longitudinal and radial motions are obtained.
MO‐A‐217BCD‐01: Internal Emitter Dose Estimation

Tissue absorbed dose (D) is a computed result for internal emitters. For fixed geometries, D is calculated by a matrix (S) multiplication of the integrated activity vector (A). The last quantity is usually measured by nuclear imaging of activity in various source organs and performing a temporal integration. A is the same as the total number of source decays. Dose is computed for a number of target organs — some of which will be the same as the source organs. The D = S*A relationship is general in that the same formula may also be used for voxels within organs or even down to the cellular level. Finding the activity (A) in source tissues may be done by a number of methods of which 6 are described. The most common clinical technique is the geometric mean (GM) image of an organ. Uncertainties in the GM method are ≈ +/− 30%. If one can do quantitative SPECT , PET or CAMI imaging, the variation is reduced to around +/− 6%. These last three techniques, however, require fusion of anatomic (e.g. CT) and nuclear images. The S matrix is generated via Monte Carlo methods and may be used in two formats. The most common is a set of phantom‐derived values for regulatory or scientific considerations. An example is the OLINDA program from Vanderbilt University. In this case, the corresponding animal or patient A value must be normalized using blood flow arguments. A second format is modification of a phantom's S values for a particular patient using the latter's geometry as found in CT or MRI scans. Corrections in such cases may be 2‐fold or more because of patient organ size variability. These variations may be due to genetic reasons and/or disease. Two caveats to the use of the above dose formulation should be mentioned. One exception is that the geometry may vary during tissue irradiation; e.g., by tumor size decrease due to immediate radiation dose effects. In this case, the standard formula is replaced by its differential form: dD/dt = S(t)*A(t). Dose rate may also be an important biological factor in assessing tissue response. A second important biological consideration is that effects — such as tumor regression — may depend upon higher powers of D than the first. Thus, the tissue response may not be a linear function of D, but would exhibit a sigmoid shape. One would anticipate such responses due to saturation of a biological system. Learning Objectives: 1. Knowing the general formula for internal emitter absorbed dose estimation. 2. Understanding the various methods used to measure activity, at depth, in source organs in a living animal or patient. 3. Realizing that two types of dose may be computed: one for a phantom and a second type for an individual patient. S values must be modified accordingly for these two computations. 4. Estimating uncertainties — including those in both A and S ‐ involved in the dose estimation process.
Numerical Simulations of a Hydrogen-Enriched Methane Fueled Spark Ignition Engine

The use of alternative fuels such as natural gas (methane) in spark-ignition (SI) engines is beneficial to the environment as it reduces emissions of pollutants such as NOx from these engines with slight penalty on the performance. This paper investigated the use of methane and hydrogen/methane mixtures in an SI engine by numerical simulations. The numerical simulations were based on the models of finite heat release, cylinder heat transfer, pumping losses, and friction losses. Simulations were carried out to evaluate the effects of compression ratio, equivalence ratio, ignition timing, and engine speed on the performance of the SI engine. The results showed that the current model could satisfactorily predict the performance of an SI engine fueled by gaseous fuels.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Identification of failure modes in composite materials

Recently a new structural health monitoring system that employs a "continuous acoustic emission sensor" and an embeddable local processor has been proposed. The development of a processor that integrates the functions of signal conditioning, feature extraction, data storage, and digital communication is currently in progress. A prototype of this local processor chip has been developed. The integration of a continuous sensor with an embeddable local processor can potentially enable an inexpensive method of monitoring large and complex structures using acoustic emission signals. Such a system can reduce the cost, complexity, and weight of the required instrumentation. It is potentially scalable to large and complex structures and could be integrated into the structural material. The success of the acoustic emission based structural health monitoring technique depends on its ability to discriminate between valid acoustic emission signals and ambient noise. In addition, the technique should be able to identify the damage mode from the acoustic emission waveforms. This paper focuses on the use of acoustic emission technique for the identification of failure modes in composite materials. Three types of failure modes in glass fabric epoxy composite laminates are considered. These are two types of delamination growth and transverse crack growth. Wavelet analysis is used to extract time frequency information from the acoustic emission signals. Different features of the waveform including the frequency components, Symmetric and Antisymmetric components, and amplitudes are used to classify the signals and identify the failure modes. The laboratory tests indicate that it is possible to distinguish the individual failure modes under consideration. It was also possible to filter out spurious AE signals that originate from extraneous sources using an appropriate choice of sensors and frequency components. An attempt is made to relate the rate of damage growth with the detected acoustic emission signal parameters.
Docosahexaenoic acid induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo via reactive oxygen species formation and caspase 8 activation.

Background The present study sought to further investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of a representative omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with a focus on assessing the induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis as an important mechanism for its anticancer actions. Methodology/Principal Findings In vitro studies showed that DHA strongly reduces the viability and DNA synthesis of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture, and also promotes cell death via apoptosis. Mechanistically, accumulation of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase 8 contribute critically to the induction of apoptotic cell death. Co-presence of antioxidants or selective inhibition or knockdown of caspase 8 each effectively abrogates the cytotoxic effect of DHA. Using athymic nude mice as an in vivo model, we found that feeding animals the 5% fish oil-supplemented diet for 6 weeks significantly reduces the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vivo through inhibition of cancer cell proliferation as well as promotion of cell death. Using 3-nitrotyrosine as a parameter, we confirmed that the fish oil-supplemented diet significantly increases oxidative stress in tumor cells in vivo. Analysis of fatty acid content in plasma and tissues showed that feeding animals a 5% fish oil diet increases the levels of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid in both normal and tumorous mammary tissues by 329% and 300%, respectively. Conclusions/Significance DHA can strongly induce apoptosis in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. The induction of apoptosis in these cells is selectively mediated via caspase 8 activation. These observations call for further studies to assess the effectiveness of fish oil as a dietary supplement in the prevention and treatment of human breast cancer.
Exploring the Relationship between Undergraduate Service-Learning Experiences and Global Perspective-Taking.

This study examines the relationship between service-learning participation and global perspective-taking. A global perspective is broadly defined to include both the acquisition of knowledge, atti...
What Happens to Artistic Aspirants Who Do Not "Succeed''? A Research Note From the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project

Scholars have often portrayed the arts as a winner-take-all market. However, data from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project suggest that many artistic aspirants who do not work within the arts still incorporate artistic elements within their diverse careers and often engage in art avocationally. Further, these individuals continue to mobilize the skills and human capital involved in arts training in diverse realms. There are compelling reasons to examine the careers of the high numbers of aspiring artists who do not earn money in this capacity, and to pay attention to their alternative ways of putting together creative careers.